Because “curve” doesn’t quite do it justice, especially when it comes to writing.

So I’m working today and going over some pointers and worksheets I’ve amassed at workshops et cetera, and something both discouraging and encouraging occurred to me. I’m still on the front side of becoming a writer, and I don’t really have a problem with that, because I’ve been here before.

Let me equate it with nursing. When I first started nursing school, we went over things like blood pressure, heart rate, the normal ranges. I remember being terrified to take someone’s vital signs! Catching that pulse in your stethoscope when it appearred and disappeared was tricky. I mean, it made me sweat when I had to perform it on a teacher. 

Now I do it at the drop of a hat. (Cliche, but I don’t care. It’s my blog. Nyah.)

The point is, writing is like everything else. You study, try to do something, come up a little short, study some more, and keep going until you’ve got it. I’ m ten times the nurse I was 2 years ago, but not half the nurse I’ll ever be. (Unless some extraordinary offer sweeps me away from hard labor)  : )

This month is National Novel Writing Month, or to the devout, Na No Wri Mo. I didn’t even know that until last week! Not only have I been working on characters, plot, and all the other goodies for a book, but I’ve been organizing all my worksheets and “How to Write” info. It highlights my strengths and weakness and is a good way to see how far I’ve come.

I may not be Dan Brown…yet…but I can recite the elements of a good romance novel as surely as I can catch that pulse. I just have to get it down on paper. Effortlessly.

Well, still practising that part, and the more I practise, the better.

Write, write, write, write, write.

Suza

I just had to take a minute to address this. The V-factor? I’m sure many of you know where I’m going.

As I lay stretched across my bed doing some research in Esquire magazine…yes..in Esquire…I came across an article that asked, “What’s really going on with all these vampires?” The author of the article had his own idea about that.

And I quote, “young, straight women want to have sex with gay men.”

Huh? Now hold up for just one blood-soaked minute. The jealousy that some (not all) males have over the female fascination with vampires is getting completely out of control. Now it’s because we don’t really want straight men at all? Give me a break.

Here it is guys, and girls who just don’t understand it either.

The V-factor

1) They’re always hot, because entertainment professionals know that’s the cornerstone of catching our attention.

2) They’re dead and have historically been portayed as monsters, therefore, they are the quintessential bad boys. We all know the saying about the attraction there.

3) They only come out at night. That’s just sexy, and frankly, I don’t know why.

4) Relationship conflicts finally have a new twist, and there are all kinds of interesting “situations” that can come up.

5) The new breed of vampire is special, because they’ve been written from a female perspective. They are strong and protective and most important of all…

6) They have walked the earth for centuries, at minimum, and have finally found the one woman they just have to have. Who doesn’t want to be that special?

But would I trade my guy for Edward, Eric, or even (gulp) Bill? No way.

Relax guys, it’s all just entertainment. And True Blood has some pretty good looking female vampires, too. Why don’t you give it a try?

Feel the love.

With love and murder by exsanguination in mind,

Suza

Before I explain this latest title, I have an O’Malley cat story. My five precious felines have their own domain in the house, because some of the humans that live here are allergic to them. They basically have the run of my office and the backyard that is enclosed by a cat-fence. (Yes, they do make them.)

Now, O’Malley is almost 14 years old and used to being with his “mom” whenever he wants. He’s still not used to the division when I’m inside, and to make matters worse, the door that keeps him out has glass panes that allow him to see that I’m just inside and am neglecting him. He tends to scratch and meow. Really pitifully. If we’re sleeping, this is an issue. So, the plan was to take some of the leftover mesh from the cat fence and drape it across the door at night, so he couldn’t scratch. It worked like a charm.

And it totally pissed him off. He let into a torrent of loud yelling that was worse than anything previously. It took about 15 minutes for him to quiet down. And that was the last night we put up the mesh. O’Malley, the king, has gotten his way once again.

As to the title of this blog. I’ve mentioned before not knowing where to put my energy as far as writing. I’m in wait-mode for She Who is Hidden, and have been torn. Work on the follow-up book or another project all together?

Until I know how the suspense/riddles/history combo is going to work, I think I’ll work on a story that’s been tugging at me for a while. The other night I got out of bed three times to run to the computer and get scenes or dialogue onto paper because it was gushing out in bigger chunks than I could remember. That hasn’t happened in a long time, so I’m taking it as a sign.

I’m going to get to work on some of it right now, actually. Maybe you’ll see a new excerpt on the website soon, and you can let me know how you like the new direction.

Still nothing but love and murder in mind,

Suza