Comments on: Balancing Two Distinctive Writing Voices http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:11:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: LoriFoster http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1266 LoriFoster Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:52:26 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1266 Hey Nina, thanks. Ideas come from everywhere and I always have at least 10 books in my head. The only issue is sometimes deciding what length they should be - novella, single title, etc... Sometimes as I'm writing one book, another comes to mind because of the characters that pop up. Surprise characters have turned out to be reader favorites, like Joe Winston. I didn't know there WAS a Joe Winston until he popped onto the page - and took over. Of course he needed a story. LOL Tracey, and everyone else, thanks for having me here. It was fun! My best to all of you, Lori Hey Nina, thanks. Ideas come from everywhere and I always have at least 10 books in my head. The only issue is sometimes deciding what length they should be – novella, single title, etc…
Sometimes as I’m writing one book, another comes to mind because of the characters that pop up.
Surprise characters have turned out to be reader favorites, like Joe Winston. I didn’t know there WAS a Joe Winston until he popped onto the page – and took over. Of course he needed a story. LOL

Tracey, and everyone else, thanks for having me here. It was fun!
My best to all of you,

Lori

]]> By: Nina Johnson http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1265 Nina Johnson Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:57:42 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1265 Lori, You are an amazing lady, writing so many books! How do you keep coming up with new stories? Does one ms generate the next or do you have a series of stories in mind when you start? I love the idea of Time Travel. Bravo for you. I will have to go out and buy it! Nina Lori,
You are an amazing lady, writing so many books! How do you keep coming up with new stories? Does one ms generate the next or do you have a series of stories in mind when you start?

I love the idea of Time Travel. Bravo for you. I will have to go out and buy it!
Nina

]]> By: Tracey Devlyn http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1263 Tracey Devlyn Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:50:54 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1263 Lori, Thank you for taking time out of your VERY busy schedule to blog with us. You were so forthcoming with your answers - we really appreciate it! I wish you and The Kindred many sales. :) Tracey Lori,

Thank you for taking time out of your VERY busy schedule to blog with us. You were so forthcoming with your answers – we really appreciate it!

I wish you and The Kindred many sales. :)

Tracey

]]> By: LoriFoster http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1261 LoriFoster Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:33:10 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1261 Hi Carrie. First, no one really needs an agent until they're given an offer. THEN it's important to get one. Until then, it's really tough to get a good agent and a mediocre agent is worse than no agent at all. This varies for each author. Like a marriage, we're all looking for different qualities. I want an agent who doesn't require me to sign a long-term contract - book by book is how I go. I want an agent in NY, because I still believe a lot of deals are made over lunch or in passing. She has to return my calls and emails in a timely fashion, and be approachable should I have questons. However, I don't believe in bugging an agent too often. She has more than one client and has enough on her plate without handholding. She also has to have contacts or be part of a bigger agency so that if something comes up - movie options, offer for comics, etc... - she'll know what she's doing or can access someone who does. That's off the top of my head. ;-) Lori Hi Carrie.
First, no one really needs an agent until they’re given an offer. THEN it’s important to get one. Until then, it’s really tough to get a good agent and a mediocre agent is worse than no agent at all.

This varies for each author. Like a marriage, we’re all looking for different qualities.
I want an agent who doesn’t require me to sign a long-term contract – book by book is how I go.
I want an agent in NY, because I still believe a lot of deals are made over lunch or in passing.
She has to return my calls and emails in a timely fashion, and be approachable should I have questons.
However, I don’t believe in bugging an agent too often. She has more than one client and has enough on her plate without handholding.
She also has to have contacts or be part of a bigger agency so that if something comes up – movie options, offer for comics, etc… – she’ll know what she’s doing or can access someone who does.

That’s off the top of my head. ;-)

Lori

]]> By: LoriFoster http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1260 LoriFoster Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:29:33 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1260 Hey Tonya, wow, lots and lots of compliments. Thank you. LOL I really appreciate it. Yes, Margo seems lovely. I've enjoyed her feedback so far. Remember, back when I started (first book sold in 96, so was TRYING to sell years before that) the amazing internet and all the info on it wasn't so common. Now, it's much easier to know what you're doing. Not that it's easy by any stretch! But at least you can face it all better armed with information. LOL Lori Hey Tonya, wow, lots and lots of compliments. Thank you. LOL
I really appreciate it.
Yes, Margo seems lovely. I’ve enjoyed her feedback so far.

Remember, back when I started (first book sold in 96, so was TRYING to sell years before that) the amazing internet and all the info on it wasn’t so common. Now, it’s much easier to know what you’re doing. Not that it’s easy by any stretch! But at least you can face it all better armed with information. LOL

Lori

]]> By: carrie http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1259 carrie Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:01:36 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1259 Hi Lori! Thanks for posting today - I have your tails of love book - it's so heartwarming! My question is about an agent - what do YOU look for in an agent? What are your expectations for an agent? I'm nowhere near close to looking for one...=) but it's on my horizon someday! congrats on your benefit anthologies..that's a brilliant idea and for great causes! carrie Hi Lori!

Thanks for posting today – I have your tails of love book – it’s so heartwarming!
My question is about an agent – what do YOU look for in an agent? What are your expectations for an agent? I’m nowhere near close to looking for one…=) but it’s on my horizon someday!
congrats on your benefit anthologies..that’s a brilliant idea and for great causes!
carrie

]]> By: Tonya Kappes http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1257 Tonya Kappes Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:43:47 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1257 Lori thanks for the insight on your road to publishing. It really helps aspiring writers to keep going-FIVE YEARS/10MS?!! My heart sank when I read that, but I have read many of your books and I loved them all-if I could be 1/4 of you. You are amazing! I love coming to the Get Together during the summer. I met Margo and she is fantastic. Any one will be lucky to work with her. Good luck!!!!! Lori thanks for the insight on your road to publishing. It really helps aspiring writers to keep going-FIVE YEARS/10MS?!! My heart sank when I read that, but I have read many of your books and I loved them all-if I could be 1/4 of you. You are amazing! I love coming to the Get Together during the summer. I met Margo and she is fantastic. Any one will be lucky to work with her. Good luck!!!!!

]]> By: LoriFoster http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1256 LoriFoster Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:10:14 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1256 Hey Adrienne, great question! I'm not much of an analyzer. I write the book, finish the copy edits and proofs, and then I pretty much forget about it. I almost never consciously do anything. LOL. Sad but true. I'm very much a "gut" writer. I follow my muse wherever it leads me, even into TT - which sure infuriated a LOT of readers. But that's the only way that I CAN write. If I tried another way, I'm sure I wouldn't be nearly so prolific. It's that absolute freedom to write the book however the book wants to be written that keeps it fun and exciting, making it easy for me to stay motivated and productive. I can tell you that when I started my Servant series, I wasn't really thinking about having romance in there at all. But I guess my romantic writing tendencies came through, with or without my conscious decision. The 2nd book won Amazon's #1 Editors' Pick in Romance - which totally blew my mind. I didn't realize there was that much romance in there. Shows what I know, right? LOL I think that with the darker books, my muse is focused more on the plot than the relationship, but I can never totally rule out one over the other. Thanks! Lori Hey Adrienne, great question!
I’m not much of an analyzer. I write the book, finish the copy edits and proofs, and then I pretty much forget about it.
I almost never consciously do anything. LOL. Sad but true. I’m very much a “gut” writer. I follow my muse wherever it leads me, even into TT – which sure infuriated a LOT of readers. But that’s the only way that I CAN write. If I tried another way, I’m sure I wouldn’t be nearly so prolific. It’s that absolute freedom to write the book however the book wants to be written that keeps it fun and exciting, making it easy for me to stay motivated and productive.

I can tell you that when I started my Servant series, I wasn’t really thinking about having romance in there at all. But I guess my romantic writing tendencies came through, with or without my conscious decision. The 2nd book won Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance – which totally blew my mind. I didn’t realize there was that much romance in there.
Shows what I know, right? LOL

I think that with the darker books, my muse is focused more on the plot than the relationship, but I can never totally rule out one over the other.

Thanks!

Lori

]]> By: LoriFoster http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1255 LoriFoster Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:05:48 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1255 Hi Jenn, and thank you! I don't do outlines because if I did, I'd feel like I'd already written the book. Too much prep of any kind makes me feel that way. Mostly I keep stories in my head and when it's time to write, I just sit down and get started. As I go along, I compile info that I keep in a word.doc file called "Characters." I name each file by the hero's name. I list height, eye and hair color, location, time of the story (for instance, fall, summer, etc... or if it's a holiday) and as secondary characters show up, I list them. When I need to, I can pull up one of those files to refresh myself. But yeah, it gets pretty confusing sometimes! Especially when I have a series going and the relationships intertwine. LOL As to keeping the stories straight... um, sometimes I don't. I've reused names a few times by mistake. I've given unrelated characters in separate series the same last name which can confuse the heck out of readers! But yeah, after 70 or 80 books, it can easily befuddle my brain. Without my character sheets I'd be totally lost! Hugs! Lori Hi Jenn, and thank you!

I don’t do outlines because if I did, I’d feel like I’d already written the book. Too much prep of any kind makes me feel that way. Mostly I keep stories in my head and when it’s time to write, I just sit down and get started. As I go along, I compile info that I keep in a word.doc file called “Characters.” I name each file by the hero’s name. I list height, eye and hair color, location, time of the story (for instance, fall, summer, etc… or if it’s a holiday) and as secondary characters show up, I list them.
When I need to, I can pull up one of those files to refresh myself.
But yeah, it gets pretty confusing sometimes! Especially when I have a series going and the relationships intertwine. LOL
As to keeping the stories straight… um, sometimes I don’t.
I’ve reused names a few times by mistake. I’ve given unrelated characters in separate series the same last name which can confuse the heck out of readers!
But yeah, after 70 or 80 books, it can easily befuddle my brain. Without my character sheets I’d be totally lost!
Hugs!

Lori

]]> By: Adrienne Giordano http://romanceuniversity.org/2009/08/31/balancing-two-distinctive-writing-voices/comment-page-1/#comment-1254 Adrienne Giordano Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:45:08 +0000 http://romanceuniversity.org/?p=1340#comment-1254 Hi Lori. Thank you for being with us today. Do you find with your edgier books that the balance between the number of "relationship" scenes and the external plot scenes are about equal? If so, is it something you conciously do? I'm curious because I'm a plotter and often times I will go back and find that my suspense scenes outweigh the relationship scenes (or vice versa), but it's not something I consciously do as I'm outlining the book. Hi Lori. Thank you for being with us today. Do you find with your edgier books that the balance between the number of “relationship” scenes and the external plot scenes are about equal? If so, is it something you conciously do? I’m curious because I’m a plotter and often times I will go back and find that my suspense scenes outweigh the relationship scenes (or vice versa), but it’s not something I consciously do as I’m outlining the book.

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