Live your Dreams Are You Devoted To One or Love the One…
Writing Can Be Like Dating
Barbara Bettis
In the past few weeks I’ve had an issue with my WIP. When I hit a major obstacle, I thought I’d try what several fellow authors do so successfully—work on another book to divert my thoughts and move back and forth between the two stories.
Some of my friends always have two books going at once, usually in different genres. It works for them beautifully, they say.
Well, I undertook beginnig another story. And learned that for me, writing is a lot like dating was when I was younger. I’m a one-boyfriend-at-a time kind ’a gal. And I learned it the hard way.
My roommates successfully juggled boyfriends with no problem. Surely I could do the same, I thought. So I found myself dating more than one guy—no serious relationships mind, just casual dates here and there. They were delightful boys, very different, and I liked them all.
Until they unexpectedly showed up to visit, all on the same night. To give them credit, they were perfect gentlemen and when each arrived a few minutes after the other, they all sat down to talk. My roommates saw what was happening and joined us to ease the tension. The third and last one brought ice cream. I did what any good hostess would do—I served it to everyone.
Later, my roommates thought it was all hilarious. I did not. I was stressed, I felt guilty and conflicted. I felt like a horrible person. And right then, my dating rules solidified. One at a time, no matter how casual.
That story does have a happy ending. All three guys called to ask me out again and I did date one throughout the summer until college started again in the fall.
Barb’s Best Tips
So how does that apply to writing more than one book at a time? I found myself getting completely wrapped up in the new story to the point I couldn’t concentrate on the first one. Which would take precedence? This switching back and forth didn’t work for me—when I was deep in the medieval mindset, getting back into the Regency rhythm took forever. When I was immersed in the Regency period, my medieval knights sounded way too sophisticated. And anachronistic. And I became conflicted.
For those who can juggle more than one book at a time successfully, I have nothing but respect and awe. But I don’t see how you do it.
Barb’s latest is a medieval
THE LADY OF THE FOREST
Blurb:
He must pursue his enemy; she must protect her people. Can their love survive the duties that drive them apart?
When her elderly husband dies, Lady Katherine fakes her own death and disappears into the forest with others escaping the brutish new lord. Determined to protect her people, she knocks the wrong man senseless. But Lord Henry isn’t an enemy, he’s the brother of her childhood friend. Although his tender confidence tempts her, she’s bound by duty.
Henry of Chauvere has found the one lady he wants for his own, never mind she’s tied him hand and foot. When he learns the king has ordered her to wed Stonehill’s ruthless new master, he insists Kate seek haven with his sister. But she won’t desert her friends. Henry vows to solve her problem, provided he catches a traitor before the threat from Kate’s past catches her.
When a daring rescue compels Henry and Kate to join forces, their attraction grows into love. If only duty didn’t drive them apart.
Buy link:
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www.barbarabettis.blogspot.com
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Making time for promotion and then actually finding effective ways to get your name out there can be a real challenge for authors—especially when we’re deeply involved in a story and we’d prefer to stay in our fictional world and write. But putting yourself out there can really pay off as well. I’m sharing today how doing local events and getting my name in the paper led to a dream-come-true opportunity—signing books beside the “Queen of Suspense”, Mary Higgins Clark, as well as many other very well-known authors whose books I have enjoyed.
I quickly hunted down the two other paperbacks we owned, A Stranger is Watching and The Cradle Will Fall. Over the years, I read all three again many times in between waiting for new releases. And before I began writing my debut novel, Silver Lake, I re-read Where Are The Children? as a lesson on building tension and suspense. I was surprised to discover the book was set on Cape Cod, a place which meant little to me as a child, but has now become my home for the last 18 years.
As a mostly introverted, newly minted author, the prospect of promoting my novel was daunting, if not terrifying. Public speaking was nowhere in my vocabulary. I was grateful that my first two book signings required only one-on-one contact. But my third book signing was different. It was a game changer.
I’m not advocating self-gratification. Especially in the all about me society we seem to live in these days. But when I feel good about myself––who and where I am emotionally and physically––I live happier, love better, and open a door to inspire and encourage others. Life and love thrives when filtered through internal contentment.
Strike a Pose
The song, Through The Eyes Of A Child by Air Supply, is the epitome of my website, my brand, my passion… It’s all about love and living your dreams.
Okay, I admit it, I’m one of those people who believes the day just…won’t…go…right if I don’t read my damned daily horoscope. I know the words generated by whoever writes these daily doses of woo-woo are usually so generic, they can apply to anybody in any situation at any time.
