I’m reading an excellent book for writers called The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell.

I love his Plot and Structure book and this new one is the perfect pick me up when I feel all alone doing my thing and just need to get both a kick in the back side and being told all will be fine.

Somewhere in the book, Bell suggests to write a simple list of things to remember when the writing feels flat. A little list of how to make that scene more better (as my son would say).

He suggest to post that list somewhere near our writing space.
So here is my own list:

Make it sexy

Make it spooky

Make it both

Make it cool

Make me cry

There…. my writing the way I like it.

Added 500 words yesterday and 1400 today! Getting there!!

Blessed Be

Winter Mists by ~DeheartedNature on deviantART

Do you ever think of taking the time to enjoy the small joys in your life?

I woke up to produce about 700 words today. Such a slow writer. But the scene I wrote was a complete unit. A complete mini story. Hopefully starts with a hook, progress with enough drama, then end in a way that make the reader want more.

Those 700 words should expand to maybe 1100 words or so at edits when I add the things I’m not good at such as, for today, the description of a lush bedroom and some French history to weave into the dialog. So not too bad for a Sunday where I would have rather rolled over and fall asleep again than get up at 7:00 to write.

Later today, as my brain was spinning and I saw everything so dark, I caught myself as I saw the mountains in the background of Seattle. What are my small joys? It’s funny how you sometimes forget, or you let external forces affect how you are inside.

Those words I wrote this morning were my small joys and also the words from my son who told me today that I was a good mum and when I asked why he said because I loved him.

Seing my youngest on his skateboard today, this tiny boy surrounded by the concrete of the park and teenagers twice as big as he is, my son rolling down those ramps like he was born to do it, that made me smiled.

The music which I know is so close to me, my favorite bands ready to take me somewhere as I listen, that is joy, that can’t be taken from me.

The art work I post here, they are small joys too and I understand how the artists had something to share by creating, how sometimes emotions need a way to channel themselves.

I leave you with another art work today as a Steampunk Sunday inspiration.

And if you ever pass by my blog, please tell me, what was the last thing that made you smile, what was your small joy?

Blessed Be

Steampunk Ivy by *iKink on deviantART

I found it hard these days to just wake up and write as I used to do. Had to wait a little today and this time I found that perhaps the only way to focus was to listen to music to get me going.

I always daydream about the book with music, but this time listening to it did wonder while I write and yes I added another 4 pages or so to Ancient Secrets today.

The song I like for it these days is NIN The Great Destroyer, the remixed version. I just love that whole album indeed. In This Twilight works great too.

Regardless, I’ll see if it works again tomorrow.

Still working on the Warrior Writer course. This time we had to ask ourselves why? Why do we want to accomplish these goals.
Here are some of my answers:

Stragetic Goals – Why

Why the solid carreer writer:
To leave a legacy, to leave my two boys a series of books written by their mom, so they have a legacy when I am gone; to have a sense of accomplishment, to have done a solid tangible body of work, acknowledged by the traditional publishing world, when I look back as I get old.

Why the paranormal/steampunk genres:
For the “wow” factor I feel in that genre. I am totally boring in real life but I can be in those awesome worlds when I write. I control it and it is just so so cool to be there. Keep that feeling of awe with me all the time.

Tactical Goals (Books) – Why

Series one (Ancients)
Because I was heart-broken by the fate of tragic lovers from old legends passed down, told and sung in my family. I felt compelled to reunite these lovers in modern day time using paranormal elements. A way to connect with my family and roots especially after my father died, which is what prompted me to start writing.

Series two (Steampunk)
The wow/cool factor. I just want to be in that Steampunk world so badly (I want to live in an Abney Park song! LOL) It just fascinates me and reconnects me with the really cool side of my science background (climate, gadgets, being at sea, exploration, ect) The series is been with me for over a year now.

Blessed be

last of the wilds by =WCS-Wildcat on deviantART

I added another scene to Ancient Secrets today again. A short scene, about 3 pages or so.

After all the magic and scary visions and also two fairly explicit love scenes, I had to remember how to do a sexual tension, almost there kind of scene. That moment where she doesn’t know if he loves her, doesn’t really want him to, but oh how she’d like to feel those lips on her neck.

It was fun to play with that for a change. The next scene is back to magical ritual again and I have to find that balance between romance and paranormal/gothic/action stuff.

I feel rusty but like any muscles the more I write to better it feels.
In my attempt to get back in shape I ran 15 min this morning for the 3rd time this week. This time to the pharmacy. I found myself incredibly craving holiday romance from Debbie Macomber. I’ve only read her knitting series, but she’s the type of comfort I kind of need maybe.

But I also picked the latest series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. She is really the paranormal romance writer I truly like for fun. All the elements are there.
I could do worse then read her Born in series and see how she dies sexual tension, right?

And speaking of love scenes, here is a link to
bad sex scenes
The little sailboats one got me there..

frost flowers by =WCS-Wildcat on deviantART

Well, I didn’t “win” the Nano. Found out that trying to write more than one scene a day doesn’t work for me. For now at least. Not with all the other life concerns clogging both my schedule and my brain.
But I find that the 20,000 words I wrote are heading in the right direction. I like a lot about it. I love my heroine. Lily in Ancient Whispers is good but more of a sensible nurturing type.
My new heroine is more fun to write because she is not so sensible and curious about everything. Which makes it fun when she encounters a hero with such deep secrets.

Here is a good post for aspiring writing about genre and where your book fits at the bookstore,
from Scott Eagan

Ancient Whispers and the rest of the series is easy: it goes in the paranormal romance section!

Leaving you with a great song from NIN, inspiration for my current work Ancient Secrets.

At Musetracks, I am hosting fellow Dorchester paranormal romance author Ann Marsh. She discusses RWA writing contest and has some great advice to share on how to succeed on the contest route.

Check it out at Musetracks

by Marie-Claude Bourque

I really like this one:

Cassandra; by fantasy artist Alice Agostini (Portfolio here)

by Marie-Claude Bourque 

I am hosting fantasy author Robin D. Owens today at Musetracks. She talks about the working space of a writer and a lucky commenter will win one of her book!

With my new brand new goggles!

by Marie-Claude Bourque

What is Steampunk style? I am probably the last one to know. That’s why when I headed for Steamcon in Seattle last week-end I didn’t really know what to expect, expect for a bunch of brass goggles and a few corsets.

Steamcon 09: The Airship Pirate look?

So it’s with my own corset (laced tight and rescued from the Romantic Times Convention) that I sat down in the lobby of the Seatt;le Marriot  and sipped my venti nonfat latte doing what I like best (after writing) and… people watched.

I was glad I had read about all the various Steampunk spin-off  in Suzanne Lazear blog post at Steamed! Dieselpunk, Monsterpunk, Oilpunk, Clockpunk, coompleted with Steampunk fairies, I think I saw it all.

Steamcon 09: A Victorian Gentleman (courtesy of Chadwick Ayers)

Steamcon 09: Steampunk Fairy (courtesy of ChadWick Ayers

What striked me the most was that really all goes. As you long as you have your goggles on, you are good to go. I did expect the clockwork and victorian look but I have to say that I was surprised by the intrincacy of it all and by how well dressed everyone was.

I saw plenty of victorian ladies and gentlemen in full regalia, top hats and elaborate googles and ornate canes, beautiful skirts and expensive corsets (mine is a cheap one, be warned) but also feather in upswept hair, parasol and yes, fans! So many things I want (need?) to buy!!!

Steamcon 09: Dieselpunk? (courtesy of Chadwick Ayers)

Beside the victorian look, was also the western look. Think of the movie Wild Wild West, with variation on steampunk  guns, cowboy hats. Some were on the goths or dark side with black and spooky outfit closer to MadMax that is probably what they would call Dieselpunk. And some ladies had on simpler dresses that wouldn’t have been out of place in Anne of Green Gables.

Steamcon 09: More Airship Pirates!

All in all, I think the rule is to let your imagination run, and yes get those goggles and that corset! Can’t down too many lattes with it on but your waistline may thank you!

Steamcon 09: A Steampunk Gun! (courtesy of Chadwick Ayers)

 Steamcon 2010 is on! Get your tickets as soon as they come on sale! I bet they will fly really fast! (yep, stood in line for four hours  to get mine!). I’ll be there

 Urban Fantasy author Jessa Slade is visiting Musetracks today with some inspiration of her own for writers.

Visit, leave her a comment and you can win a copy of her latest novel: Seduced by Shadows.

At Musetracks Blog