Archive for July, 2009

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Plan/Draft/Rewrite–Stumbling Across Plot & Character…

Friday, July 31st, 2009

You hear the question a lot, when you teach writing craft: Do you plan your books, or are you a “pantser?”

My answer is inevitibly: everyone plans. Some of us do it before we begin a draft, while others plan WHILE they draft. The pre-planners, if you will, approach the draft with a bit more purpose, while those “writing by the seats of their pants” find their purpose within the drafting process.

Either way, I teach the importance of:

  1. Planning(my process is character-centered, while others who find story more organically by working through external plot first)

    Planning Workshop Handout

    2. (more…)

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Dark Legacy Scavenger Hunt:Q3

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Loot at the bottom of the post for the third and final question for this month’s hunt–we’ll be in full swing starting next week, counting down to Dark Legacy’s August 25th release! July winners to be announced early next week.

So leave one final commentthen check back to catch the winners and all the fun announcements I’ve been saving for next month ;o) It will be a month-long release party, including tons of guest blogs, review links, special excerpts and reading opportunities, and a grand prize (you guessed it, because I couldn’t resist) COACH PURSE ;o) (more…)

Posted in Where Contests Go When They're Over | 9 Comments »

Dark Legacy July Scavenger Hunt: Q 2

Friday, July 24th, 2009

Look for July Scavenger Hunt questions at least every other day through the end of the month! If you missed Q 1, scroll back through the category to find it.

Here’s how it works:

Read each question, search through the Dark Legacy and Dream Theories categories for the anser, then post your answer within each question’s post. Leave an answer to each “Q” post for more chances to win. At the end of the month, I’ll draw winners:

  • One commenter will win a Dark Legacy ARC! 
  • Two  commenters will win a Dark Legacy pendant, which displays a portion of the cover art and is finished in a sterling silver bale that’s large enough for you to use the pendant with nearly any chain.
  • One commenter will win a Dream Flutters leather and sterling-silver embellished necklace, a Dark Legacy pendant, and one of my signature butterfly pendants–all designed by Marci Fried as part of the Dream Flutters line of jewelry she crated, inspired by Dark Legacy.

And here’s what the Dream Flutters pendants and leather necklace look like ;o) (more…)

Posted in Where Contests Go When They're Over | 18 Comments »

A Little Dream For Me…

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

At least once a week from now through the August 25th release of Dark Legacy and into September, we’ll be  talking up dreams and dream symbols. Oh, and “partying” with my ongoing Dream Flutters scavenger hunt contest–look for a new post and new questions later today. Check  back regularly to share in both. You never know what’s going to happen out here ;o) I’ll be spotlighted on Borders.com, running off on “blog” tour where new prizes await those who visit and comment on hosted sites, Dark Legacy will be spotlighted in the Romantic Times issue that hits newstands in August, and I’ll even have a special giveaway for those who visit me at a Barnes and Noble signing my publisher’s set up in Lincoln Center, of all places…

To start things off in our spiral into release-day mayhem… A topic I’m frequently asked and haven’t yet tackled in my Dream Theories blogs… Where exactly did the idea for Dark Legacy come from???

The original idea for Dark Legacy was based on the sibling rivalry between Dark Legacy’s twins, and how I could use their conflict to give readers a fresh look at the traditional themes of good vs. evil, light vs. dark, redeemable vs. forsaken. The symbols in the dream world that emerged (a parallel place that at first mirrored my characters’ realities, then overtook them, then began to weave a new existence for my twins where their brokenness could finally begin to be whole again) quickly took on marvelous lives of their own. My characters and plot and dream sequences and relationships were transported to a places I couldn’t have imagined when I first embarked on my “Legacy” series.

Sure I’d planned to use a raven and a haunted forest and recurring storms to play up the “dark” metaphor I was going after. (more…)

Posted in Dream Theories | 9 Comments »

“You don’t check your email every day???”

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

I LOVE the Internet for all the wonderful things it makes accessible to my writing, reading, social and personal life. As a self-employed writer in a very solitary profession (commercial fiction and, when the job’s right, nonfiction), the Information Superhighway is a miracle that allows introverted, often-allergic-to-the-insanity-of-the-outside-world’s-manic-pace me to be a more well-rounded, reachable person. The writers and readers and colleagues and potential clients I can now network with WHILE I’m chained to my computer and work-in-progress is an amazing thing I never take for granted.

However…there are a few realities of my creative life (because I am first and foremost a publishing professional who makes a living trading on my passion to create) that I can never lose site of, no matter how essential the Internet is to my career and day-to-day business goals. I’m recording these realities and truths here, because writing truth down helps us remember what’s real. And there’s alwasy the hope that my ramblings might help other writers, readers and online friends who find themselves wondering if the “miraculous” things we now do online are sometimes interfering with our lives/work more than they’re improving them…

Truth 1:
———–

Just because the Internet makes contacting others possible around the clock, doesn’t mean focusing outside my physical “world” should be my first goal every time I turn on my computer/smart phone(yes, I have data line Internet now, wherever my iPhone’s 3G network will allow me). (more…)

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Conference/Networking In A Bottle…

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Preparing for big events involves several rituals I’ve come to take for granted.I speak at events so frequently as a fiction author, and before that travelled at one time something like 90% of the year as an IT project manager and consultant. The whole “organize my life, pack it up, schedule the event, hop on a plane or drive, 1-2-3 immerse myself into a temporary other world” thing has honestly become something I can do in my sleep.

Except…It’s actually a lengthy, detailed process to pack up my tent and move my often introverted “business” onto a public stage for a week. I’m more efficient at it these days, have gotten better at getting the most out of each event, and rarely forget anything important now. But looking back over the last few days (weeks, actually) of prep for RWA’s National Convention in DC, the items I’ve mentally checked off my “fleeing my life” list can seem sizable (and exhausting) when viewed all together.

Wouldn’t it be nice to bottle all that work/energy? So next time I can just shake, uncork, pour, sit back and watch as the prep work takes care of itself since I do basically the same things for each event… Except each event, just like each day of my publishing life, is different even while it’s the same, so each new conference and day requires its own special attention and planning time.

Still, I’m endeavoring to make a list of the prep work to share (and to save for myself to help in the future). And also, while I’m thinking about it, to inspire those not venturing into another world this week to claim some of the same benefits by reaching out and doing a little conference/networking “work” in their stay-at-home lives. So, here’s to planning to get the most out of attending a writing conference AND the most out of staying home… (more…)

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Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

July’s Hunt for Prizes: Rules/Q 1

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

I’ll be announcing June’s blog contest winner (randomly drawn from every comment left throughout that month) this afternoon. But since there’s already been questions about this month’s fun, I thought I’d kick things off with the Julycontest information first!

Here are the details–I’m mixing things up, since we’re getting closer to Dark Leacy’s release, and the suspense is KILLING me ;o)

1) The first of every week in July (starting today), I’ll post a question (see this week’s below).

2) Your job is to search the Dark Legacy excerpts (found in the Dark Legacy category under Blog Links to the right) and/or Dream Theory posts (found in the Anna’s Dream Theories category under Blog links) to find the answer.

3) Add a (ONE) comment to the weekly contest post that includes your answer and anything else you’d like to share.

4) Enter every week, with your new answer.

5) At the end of the month, I’ll draw winners from the comments.

  • One commenter will win a Dark Legacy ARC!

  • Two  commenters will win a Dark Legacy pendant, which displays a portion of the cover art and is finished in a sterling silver bale that’s large enough for you to use the pendant with nearly any chain.
  • One commenter will win a Dream Flutters leather and sterling-silver embellished necklace, a Dark Legacy pendant, and one of my signature butterfly pendants–all designed by Marci Fried as part of the Dream Flutters line of jewelry she crated, inspired by Dark Legacy.

Here are fresh pics of the pendants and the designer leather necklaces! Leave any questions you have in the comments, and, oh…

Here’s this week’s question(s)…

**July Question 1: What do you think so far about Maddie’s relationship with Dr. Jarred Keith? How do you think their “connection” will develop and deepen as the story unfolds? ==>Leave your answer in the comments field for your chance to win a prize, then COME BACK NEXT MONDAY for a new question and another chance to win!!!

pendants-necklaces-charm

Posted in Where Contests Go When They're Over | 20 Comments »

Newest Dark Legacy Excerpt!

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Count Down to Dark Legacy’s release!

Look for the June Dream Flutters Necklace and Dark Legacy ARC winner tomorrow, PLUS the July contest deadlines!!! Sorry for the delay–life wiped out the first of the month, but there will be a July, August and September contest for more Dream Fluters and ARCs. I have some fun ideas, so check back tomorrow ;o)

Until then, enjoy a litte more insight into Jarred and Maddie and the gothic dream theory that will thrill you in Dark Legacy! Scroll back through the Dark Legacy category for previous excerpts…

Dark Legacy
On Shelves August 25th
Somewhere in Chapter Eight

She was at the door. The door Jarred had left open, as if he’d sensed she’d feel safer that way. She yanked it wider. Stared at the floor. Waited for him to catch a clue. Jarred walked closer, but stopped in front of her instead of leaving. She could feel him staring. Wondering. Leaning in.

She flinched away.

Whimpered.

Relax…The word, in Jarred’s voice this time, echoed through her mind.

 ”So, it’s not just when you touch a patient?” he said out loud.

She left him and the door behind. (more…)

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Posted in The Psychic Realm | 6 Comments »

Scheduling the “Windmills of Your Mind”

Friday, July 10th, 2009

A shorter post today–because I’m buried in family time (”helping my mother” family time, which can take up more brain power than first suspected ;o). But I didn’t want to get off track answering those frequently asked questions we’re working through. Today’s topic–”how exactly do I do the work I’ve discussed over the last few days?” A single blog post can only scratch the surface of answering a broad question like that, but we’ll give it a good start and follow up later…

So today, we’ll delve into the craziness I call my schedule and a little more of the “how,” which can be hard to put down in writing. The ”how” of my writing life depends at times on something close to magic. I’m not really sure how it all gets done. I’m amazed on a regular basis by the books I write, once they’re all revised and edited and polished into beautiful things I’m bursting with pride for you to read. I’m often asking myself, “How did you do that?” It’s a lovely magical thing, this crazy-making career I’ve chosen to pursue. (more…)

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Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »

Inspiration and Ideas…

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

Yesterday’s blog tackled a couple of the most common questions I’m asked by writes and readers alike. The positive response gives me hope I’m not boring everyone to tears ;o) So, to review, here’s the list o’ questions (with an asterisk beside the items already covered that you’ll have to click back in Anna’s Articles to read about):

  • What is your schedule like?
  • Where do the ideas come from?
  • How do you complete so many books a year?
  • How many books do you work on at one time? How do you do that? *
  • What else do you have to do besides writing?
  • Is this your dream job come true? *

Today (well, this morning, since it’s early because I have to head out soon for a long drive), let’s grapple with the unanswerable “Where do the ideas come from?” I think this is the one question that readers and writers ask with most and equal frequency. Why? I think because inspiration fascinates us all, whether we’re simply enjoying its fruits are wanting to dissect it so we can find us some of our own.

How does someone create? (more…)

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Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

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