Sasha White

I started out as a completely solitary writer. I had no idea about groups like RWA, or even what a Critique was. I just decided I wanted to be a writer, so I started writing, and submitting. The first story I ever submitted was accepted, and published. And so went the first three or four, then I had one rejection, but sold that story at a later date to a different publisher. This was all done with no one but me reading my stories before they were submitted. I think that my lack of knowledge in the industry was actually beneficial to me, as I had no fear.

After half a dozen short stories were published, I found eHarlequin and started learning about stuff. I joined RWA, excited about meeting other writers (even if it was online) and having people to talk to who ‘got it’ when I talked about a story or character.

However, I soon found that critiques, and contests were not really for me. They wreaked havoc on my confidence because every contest I entered, I had unpublished judges telling me every microscopic thing they thought I was doing wrong - and the only good thing I did was sexual tension.

I started to doubt my writing, my style, and myself. It didn’t matter that a large publisher like Virgin Books had already published me, several times over, and my editor never once mentioned my grammar skills. Yet, what these others said got under my skin.

It took a while, and final semi-temper tantrum to say “Fuck it” and do things my way. A big part of that was reading Julie Leto’s BOOK OF YOUR VOICE article. And when I finally got back to doing things my way, and trusting myself, things fell back into place at an amazing rate.

Less than a year after I decided to trust myself, and write what I wanted how I wanted, I had books sold too both Kensington and Berkley, on proposal, with more contracts incoming.

That first book for Berkley was BOUND, and there were times when I posted excerpts for it on a message board or a private writers loop for feedback. After the first time I did that, I had several responses from unpublished and published authors alike. All telling me that I was breaking too many rules by having the Joe call Katie ‘his little slut’ or ‘dirty little girl’. I was told that first person was the wrong way to do a debut novel for a NY publisher – and many other things. Some of these things were said to me by my favorite authors - Bestselling authors in the genre. It was a struggle to not change things in my book because of these opinions. But, I just reminded myself that my editor hadn’t mentioned anything about any of those things, and she bought the book. I had a beta reader who loved the story, so I trusted my instincts and wrote the story the way the characters wanted it.

Only when I finally decided to forget them, and do things my own way and trust my own instincts, did I start to feel better about what I wrote, and to find real success. I do have a couple of writer friends who are honest. I don’t call them CP’s because they don’t critique for me. They read, and they talk with me. They brainstorm with me, or listen to me whine and moan about a problem…They accept that half the time I’m not going to change anything, I’m still going to do it my way, but I still value their opinions, and they give them. Sometimes I do change things, sometimes not, but what they say definitely keeps me thinking…and I love them for it.

I also have a couple of Beta Readers. I have two because sometimes one is too busy and so on, but I only share the story with one when writing it, because I don’t want too many opinions in my head. These ladies are not writers, and have no wish to be writers. They are readers, and readers see things differently than writers, so I find this very important.

The best beta readers are not family or friends. Maybe a co-worker who you know reads a lot? Or if you blog hop, and read blogs that are not writer blogs, then try them. (There are plenty or Reader blogs, even ACCESS ROMANCE has one. Just start reading it, them maybe email one of the bloggers and ask if they’d be interested in being a beta reader for you.) A friend of a friend… The reason having a non-writer, non-friend is good is because most people buying your books are not writers and not family and friends. These people will be honest in their opinions. At the same time, remember that they are one person, and it is an OPINION. So what they say is not golden either, it’s just a guideline to help you find your own way.

This is what worked for me. If you enjoy working with a critique group, that’s cool too. Just don’t let yourself be carried away by other opinions. When in doubt, do what YOU want, no matter if it is a NYT Best Selling author telling you to do something else, or you BFF. (If it’s your editor, then you need to talk them about why you want to do things your way..and listen to why they want things the other way.)

The most important thing is for you to find where you are comfortable, where you thrive, and where your voice shines through. Trust that YOU know what you are doing. No one knows your characters better than you, and no one knows your story better than you. It is YOUR story, and it will have YOUR name on it. Make sure it’s something YOU are happy with.

No excercises or questions today. But if you comment on this post you’ll be entered to win a copy of WICKED and a copy of SEXY DEVIL from me.

Added:
Because I respect Julie Leto so much, and her article hit home with me, when my first books for New York were ready to be sent out for review, I sent her a copy of the novella THE CRIB (In the PURE SEX anthology) and she gave me a quote that still makes my chest swell with pride.

“The Crib is so smooth and compelling. Raw when it needs to be, romantic and sensual when it needs to be. I just enjoyed the story so much!” - USA Today Best Selling Author Julie Leto

(and ps: I’m writing the sequel to THE CRIB right now. It’s going to be in MOST WANTED, a single author anthology from Aphrodisia.)

Every writer has their own way of doing things – their own process. Be it pantser or a plotter, we all need to deal with characters. Characters are what we need readers to connect to in order to suck them into the story - and readers do not connect with one-dimensional characters

Some writers like to do character charts, some like to use photos for inspiration, some just start with a name and build from there as they write – but most writers have encountered a character that has “taken over” the story.

This is not a bad thing!

For plotters, it can happen when they are plotting. Somehow, the idea they came up with morphs as they plot, and then they step back and look at the storyboard or synopsis, and see something different than what they’d planned. For others, it can happen in the writing. One scene can shift your whole story if a character does, or says something unexpected.

When I was writing BOUND, like all of my stories, I have a general idea of where I want the story to go. But about 3/4 of the way through, in a scene between the Katie (the heroine) and Joe, (the hero) Joe completely shocked me! I knew what I needed the scene to accomplish, and as I was writing it, it was flowing, and all of a sudden, Joe tells Katie he loves her. And that was not planned!!

I hesitated for about 30 seconds, thinking… Oh my god! Where did that come from? I tried to think…then reminded myself not to think…and just kept going. I did not plan to have Love mentioned in the story at all…well maybe at the end…as a HEA, but I wasn’t near there yet so I didn’t know.

As soon as I was done that scene I emailed Beth, my cp, and said “Joe just shocked the shit out of me!” And he had. But you know what? It was a defining moment in the story, and for him, as a character. Which was really needed since BOUND is first person, in Katie’s POV.

That was not the first time a character surprised me, but it was the time that sticks in my mind where I knew what was happening, and accepted it.

The first time a character took over a story was one of my short stories. MEANDROS. (the free read on my EXTRAS page…go read it, seriously… Go Now…) I was writing it for Black Lace, and it was supposed to be a “Sex on holiday” story. But at the end of the very first scene, the character said something that made my heart stop and changed the WHOLE story. Normally I can write a short story in a weekend. This story took me three months because I fought it every step of the way, I doubted what I was doing, and I cringed, but I couldn’t NOT tell the story the character was imparting to me. I submitted the story that was totally different than I’d planned, and it was rejected for being the wrong tone. Which I sort of knew would happen. But that story was the one that got me into Amber Quill Press, and has been the story that garners me the most reader emails, all positive, and the best reviews.

Was it the story I planned? No. But it was that characters story.

Now, while I say trust your characters – that doesn’t mean let them run all over you.

By that I mean you should start every scene with an IDEA of where the story/scene is going, of what you want to accomplish. If, when writing (or planning), something unexpected happens, try to go with it at least until the end of the scene. Then think about what it means to your story. Don’t ramble on and on aimlessly, thinking “This character is out of control.” That’s lack of direction in a story.

And just because I let the characters hijack the story occasionally, I’m still the one who tells it. All three of those stories still showcase My contemporary voice and My easy to read style, but they are my characters stories.

As an erotic author I often see writers on message boards saying things like “I can’t keep these characters out of bed and I need the story to move forward!” That is not trusting your characters. That is letting them run all over you.

If your characters are having trouble keeping their hands off each other, (or whatever it is they are doing that is keeping you away from moving the story forward) use it to create tension! You don’t have to give in to them, and you should not give in to them if it sacrifices your story – only if it enhances the story!

Trusting your characters is a huge part of your voice because this also means trusting the words they use. Be it curse words, or descriptions when in their POV, trust that they would speak that way, and let the reader see it. I hate it when I read a book, and a male hero describes what a woman he’s looking at is wearing, and he can name the fabric, or the style… Why? Because really, how many men know what an A line skirt is? Or organza fabric?

If your heroine were a singer being protected by a bodyguard, would she really say “He had a 9mm Beretta in the holster on his hip.”? Or would she say, “He had a gun, and it looked deadly.”

This is what trusting your characters is. From little things like the words they use, how they use them, to the surprising stuff they can do to enhance a story. Knowing when to let them loose, and when to rein them in, and how to balance it all is part of your voice, and your style… and part of the magic of storytelling.

Delilah Devlin is a talented author who writes in multiple genres, and she’s an awesome example of style and voice… and confidence in what she’s doing.

“I think my voice does adjust if I’m writing dark paranormal rather than a sexy cowboy story. One story is edgier, the characters a little more raw, the tone more menacing, and with a plot that has wicked twists; the other is slightly more lyrical, the dialogue as true to Texas as I can make it, and the story more of a straight-forward romance. I don’t think about how to make my voice different when I begin a new story in a different genre, it just comes out the way I “see” and “hear” it in my mind.” ~ Delilah Devlin

Check out these excerpts from her upcoming releases.

From DARKNESS BURNING
The Dark Realm Series

The profound silence struck Mikaela Jones first. Other than her own booted heels clapping on the pavement, the sounds she associated with The Crescent City had vanished along with most of its inhabitants.
Instead of the blare of blues and tinny Cajun music from the bars along the street and the voices of people laughing and shouting as they ambled by barhopping in the late night hours, a muffled hush blanketed the city. A watchful, pregnant quiet like the breathless, relieved lull after the powerful storm—the day before water consumed life as she’d known it.
The inky, thick shadows at the edges of the streets also creeped her out. Without power, alleys and deep doorways were impenetrable to the gaze and could hide many creatures of the night—street thugs, looters, gangbangers. She carried a hardened leather blackjack deep in her jacket pocket—her weapon of choice should anything jump out from the pockets of darkness.
She’d worn her weathered, leather jacket despite the muggy heat just for that purpose, needing not only storage for her weapon and tools of her trade, but comfort. The jacket was the first piece of clothing she’d bought with her first paycheck. Not the nicest item in her closet now, but familiar. A little worn, but resilient, just like her.
As the silence and darkness closed around her, she reminded herself why she’d decided this excursion was such a peachy idea. Reports of the crime-ridden streets—the wanton attacks and rampant looting—were known. Every major news organization had descended like locusts on a killing field to cover the tragedy and the painful recovery.
But other whispers had reached her ears. Less newsworthy, but definitely more intriguing, made more believable by the fantastic events of the past days.
Whispers said magic was in the air. Monsters were on the loose. Perhaps the dreams that plagued her had a basis in reality.
Miki turned up her coat collar to ward against the prickling disquiet lifting the fine hairs on the back of her neck, concentrating instead on the details she needed for the next piece she’d write describing life in the aftermath of the great storm.
Like the twinkling stars she’d never seen above New Orleans’ light-polluted streets that speckled the damp, cobbled pavement, resembling muted fireflies. Or the unchanged aroma of sewage emanating from the grates beneath her feet, ripened by the added odor of the contaminants swirling in the black waters covering large portions of the city, and carried on the breeze.
Twin beams flashed as a vehicle turned onto her street.
Miki trotted to an alleyway to avoid the National Guard patrol rolling by in a camouflaged Hummer. Being caught breaking curfew might make an interesting story, but she didn’t want to waste hours cooling her heels, or worse, being evicted from the city.
She turned the corner and pressed her back against the wall of a brick arcade, waiting for the vehicle to pass when muffled sounds came from behind her. For a second, she froze.
Low, heated murmurs. The scrape of a zipper and the rustle of clothing. Soft laughter cut off by a deep moan.
Someone enjoyed the anonymous shadows.
Curious, she crept closer, edging along the wall, her eyes adjusting slowly to the near-pitch darkness until she spotted a couple further along the opposite side of the alley. The man stood with his back against the wall, a woman nuzzling the side of his neck as he groaned. Metal glinted from his opened zipper, and Miki guessed where the woman’s hand roamed.
She nearly groaned. The urgent sounds tightened her already restless body.
Deciding she’d leave them to their tryst, she edged backward, hoping the patrol had passed, when something rushed by her so quickly she saw only a blurred, grayish streak. The man’s next moan was cut short by a shout. The woman cursed.
Miki froze until sounds of a fight erupted, nearly making her leap back into the street. At first, she didn’t see anything. Then a dull explosion where the woman had stood illuminated another blur of movement too fast for her gaze to follow. A second gray figure streaking to the right had her narrowing her eyes to peer into the gloom. Fists connected with flesh, and were followed by another burst of light. Fiery ash settled to the ground.
A battle ensued, but one unlike anything she could have imagined.
Excitement started a slow, heavy thrum pounding in her chest. Had she found what she sought? Then a footstep scraped behind her.
Too late to run, she gasped when a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against a wall of solid muscle. With her arm clamped to her side, she couldn’t reach for her blackjack. Acting on instinct, she lifted her foot and slammed her heel onto her assailant’s foot.
A soft chuckle in her ear turned her fear into panic, and she struggled against his hold, wriggling hard, jabbing elbows at steel-plated ribs. The man behind her didn’t budge. He simply tightened his arm until she slumped against him, panting breathlessly within his embrace.
So she couldn’t beat him in a fight. Thinking fast, she relaxed in his hold. “Not gonna ask me what a nice girl—”
“Nice girls don’t walk alone after dark,” he told her, his voice deep and silky.
The thought occurred that only a truly attractive man could muster a voice like that. A ridiculous thing to note given her circumstance.

From DOWN IN TEXAS
Wearing His Brand

Her daddy had always told her a man’s worth wasn’t measured by the size of his bank account or the square footage of his house. Rather, it could be seen in the proud set of his shoulders or a gaze that didn’t waiver.
Her mama had said a man’s strength was in his hands—strong and soothing when an animal or a child needed comfort—hot and wild when a woman needed shaking up.
Looking at Brand now, Lyssa McDonough knew exactly what they’d both meant.
If she had any sense at all she’d turn tail and run. Everything about the man screamed heartbreaker.
Only she couldn’t. Instead, she settled her shoulder against the fence post, kept her breaths shallow and even, and pretended she wasn’t melting inside.
As long as she could remember, Brand had that effect on her—long before she admitted, even to herself, how much he moved her. Today, dressed in a wash-softened chambray shirt that stretched across his broad chest, blue jeans that hugged lean hips, and leather chaps encasing thick thighs, he was the embodiment of any woman’s favorite cowboy fantasy.
Once again, she wished she affected him the same way–that just looking at her made him breathless. Only the sight she presented him this moment would never inspire lust.
Covered in dust and sweat, with hair straggling from the confines its rubber band, she was grimy, bloody, and anything but attractive.
Too far away to read his expression, she watched how he stood in the stirrups as he topped the hill, head turning to scan the countryside. When his gaze landed on her, his back stiffened, he settled into his saddle, and his boots spurred his horse to bring him fast down the hill.
Things could have turned out worse.
The day might have broken with a cloudless, blue sky and a white-hot sun beating relentlessly on her unprotected face. Early summer in southwest Texas could be ruthless, but thick gray clouds had gathered, shielding her from the worst of the heat. Still, she was thirsty, and her canteen was deep in the satchel of the horse that had to be halfway back to the ranch house by now.
She might not have worn the industrial-padded bra that was the only thing keeping one nasty barb from tearing the tender flesh of her breast like the other that pierced the back of her shoulder. The pointed barb only pricked, a reminder not to take deeper breaths. Vanity had guided her choice. She’d chosen the thick-cupped bra hoping she’d see him today, hoping he’d finally take a closer look and realize she was more than his best friend’s little sister.
More than an obligation he’d accepted.
The promise he’d made was the crux of her problem with Brandon Tynan.
Lyssa dragged away her gaze and readied herself for what she knew was coming. Again, she stretched the toe of her boot toward the wire cutters she’d dropped when she’d first felt the tension in the wire ease and heard it “sing” as it snapped from a post farther down the fence.
The wire had coiled so fast she’d had time only to spit out the bent nails she’d held between her teeth. It snagged her, pulling her off her feet, and wrapped around her. The merciless wire trapped her arms against her sides and her shoulder against the post she’d been securing new strands of barbed wire to replace the cut ones.
When the barb atop her left breast bit deeper, she gritted her teeth and sagged against the post. Brand would have to get her out of her current coil.
Damn. The man loved rubbing her nose in her mistakes.

* * * * *

See what I mean?

So tell me, have any of you experienced a character run amok before? How did you handle it? Did it damage, or enhance, your story?

Comment on todays post and be entered to win a free download of Delilah Devlins newest release from EC. Sin’s Gift.

Oh, and if you haven’t read MEANDROS yet, click here to download the pdf.

Your voice is part of your style, and your style is part of your Voice. The two are separate things, but they work together to create an individual flavor for each author’s storytelling. Today we’ll cover the different aspects of style and how to recognize, and even shift, your own.

This should become especially clear for those of you who write in multiple genres, or who want to. Once your voice is strong, it will be heard, no matter what genre you write in. That’s not to say it can’t change or shift from genre to genre, or even story to story, if this is what you choose. But it’s my opinion that your voice will always flavor your style.

So…let’s ge to the nitty gritty for a moment. What exactly is style?
It’s how a writer puts together the elements of a story.
~Language (word choice)
~Speech (dialogue)
~POV distinction (IS each character’s thought pattern and words distinctive? or do they all sound the same?)
~Do you use short sentences or long sentences. Flowery and Descriptive or tight and sparse? Do you use alliteration a lot? What about metaphors?

These are the things that make up style. While your voice is part of your style, your voice will remain ‘yours’ in whatever you write, and you’re style can change from book to book, if you so choose.

There is no wrong or right, but knowing what your own style is, will help build your confidence, and make your stories stronger because one of the worst things you can do …is change your style in the middle of a story. Don’t think just because you’ve found your voice, or defined your basic style that you are locked into that forever.

Multi-published author Vivi Anna writes for Aphrodisia, as well as Silhouette Nocturne, and she says “I don’t think my voice changes, but I believe my style does depending on which genre I’m writing in. My erotic futuristics are going to be different from my paranormal romances. In word usage, the way I put sentences together, and even the POV’s I use. But my voice, the strength of it, the distinctiveness of it, I believe stays the same no matter what I’m writing.”

Example. My Style is to use sparse description. I’m not strong with flowery words or soft and lush prose. But when I wrote my April release LUSH, I deliberately softened my style. I wanted my stories to match the setting of a lush erotic art gallery. My voice is still strong through the book, but the style has shifted from my others like BOUND or KINK, which have a fairly tight and edgy style. LUSH has longer sentences, less cursing, more romantic, although still explicit and erotic. MEANDROS, one of the Free Reads on my extras page, is yet another style for me. MEANDROS is certainly not my normal style, it’s extremely emotional, and even melancholy in places. Yet, my voice is still strong in it. (This will also tie into the TRUST YOUR CHARACTERS post tomorrow)

On the flipside…Think of something like the hit TV show CSI. It started with the original, and now there is CSI New York, and CSI Miami. Not only do all of them have the same format, but also the elements that actually create style, are the same. The characters change, with dialogue and personalities changing to match each new setting, but each one has the male lead, the second in command female. The team’s interactions are all quite parallel. Each show focuses on scenery shots of the city it’s set in, as well as the science procedures, and interrogation scenes.

Does this make sense?

Voice is the “it” factor. It’s not any one thing, and if I had to list the “elements of it” then yes, the list is the same as the “elements of style”

The thing is… style is easily changed and emulated. Where as Voice is not.

Voice when writing is the same as voice when speaking….sort of..
Think of this. Do you know that song “I will always love you.” Written by Dolly Parton, and sung by her. The same song, is also sung by Whitney Houston. The lyrics are the same, the STYLE is even the same, (both soft love ballad style with the same timing and shifts) , but the FEEL of each song is different. Not just the sound of their voices, but the “it factor” of them is different.

If we were in a classroom, and I handed all of you identical papers with the exact same scene written on them, and asked each of you to read it out loud…do you think you would all read it the same? OR do you think someone would emphasize different words, or pause in a different spot? The scene is the same, the words are the same, but the way it’s read is different.

Yes, the words you use, and the way you put them together contribute to Voice. You can look at the list of elements of Style, and every one of those thing contributes to Voice, but Voice is more than the sum of them…Voice truly is the Magic behind the words. The “it” factor.

EXAMPLES:

TROUBLE: Berkley Heat, August 2007
Author: Sasha White

It was easy for Samair Jones to stride past the crowd lined up outside the nightclub Risqué, and through its front entrance. All it took was a sultry smile for the doorman, and she was in.

Okay, so it was more than just the smile. It was the attitude behind the smile. And the happenings of the last few hours had given her just the kick in the ass she needed for an attitude adjustment.

For the last three years she’d been a good girl. She’d worked a ‘proper’ job, had a proper relationship, and a boring uneventful life. Now it was time to remember how to live.

Samair knew there were times when the image she showed the world shifted and a certain energy emanated from her that made people sit up and take notice. It was something she used to hate.

The energy was from deep within, and one she hadn’t felt it in way too long. It was the same energy that had made teachers single her out as the troublemaker in school, and her parents berate her for being too flamboyant. But tonight, she’d decided to give it free rein.

To give herself free rein.

She looked out over the dimly lit dance floor. Friday night and the place was packed and the music was pumpin’. Bodies of all shapes, sizes, and sexes filled the club in varied levels of dress - or in some cases undress - undulating to the music, and an almost forgotten spark of energy flowed through her. Risqué had a reputation as the classiest dance club in the city, and she could see why. The place was perfect.

THE PETSHANI:
Paranormal Short story, Bonus Read in PRIMAL MALE, coming soon from Aphrodisia
Author Sasha White

I summoned the image from my dreams to my mind’s eye, and braced myself. He was tall, more than six feet, and solid. Dark hair swept back from rough-hewn features, and bared dark eyes and full lips to my view. The lift of his head told me of his pride, his arrogance. But it did little to detract from the magnificence of him. His nakedness hid nothing from my view. My blood heated at the sight of his golden skin stretched taut over firm muscles. The glinting silver hoops that pierced his nipples shimmered in the air. There had to be some significance to them, but I didn’t know exactly what it was, so I filed away the fact for future research.

I’d thought it was just my repressed libido manifesting him in my dreams. The fact that I awoke each morning for the last week from dreams of him, wet between the thighs, but sated and heavy as only a well-fucked woman could be, should’ve warned me that there was more to him than being a simple dream lover. But it had taken him appearing to me, in front of my desk at work earlier this afternoon—while I was wide-awake—to make me accept that fact.

Now, as I studied the image in my mind, preparing to call to Blodwin, Moon Goddess well versed in Lunar Mysteries and Dreams, a warm breeze drifted over me, and a sense of magic filled the room. I slowly opened my eyes, only to have my breath catch in my throat. He was there. All six-feet-whatever of gleaming masculinity. In front of me. In my bedroom.

Sort of.

Trying not to appear as startled as I felt, I stood to face the translucent figure. Dressed in loose-fitting trousers, he was no longer naked, but close enough to make my heart race. A quick visual check showed me my circle remained intact.

“Who are you?”

Example 2:
Excerpt from Hell Kat copyright 2006 – Vivi Anna
LOWER BC PLAINS, THE YEAR 2275

Dust devils whirled viciously around the broken remains of civilization. Buildings that once stood proud and strong were now only jagged cement shards protruding from infertile dirt and rock. The sun was a big glaring ball of light in the sky. Where it had once produced growth and warmth, it now scorched what was left of the Earth with its brutal rays.
Kat looked up into the blistering sun and wondered for the second time today what in the hell she was doing out on the Outer Rim. The fierce, arid wind whipped at her cloak and tried to tear it from her body. Sand peppered her face like a tiny barrage of bullets. Pulling her hood forward, she adjusted her tinted goggles over her eyes and continued to search the rubble for her treasure. No small feat, considering her right eye was covered by a black leather eye-patch.
She kicked at the dirt and crumbled concrete with her steel-toed jackboots. Nothing. They’d been searching for nearly two hours now. She glanced over at her partner.
“Damian! See anything?”
Damian stood from where he squatted, raising his head toward Kat, his blue eyes glinting in the sun. He held up his hand, something encased in his glove.
“Just this cute little dolly.” He waved it at her, grinning mischievously.
The doll, headless and encrusted in filth, rattled in his hand.
“Quit fucking around. And put on your goggles.” Kat shook her head. The kid knew better. An hour under the unprotected sun produced cataracts. Cataracts usually led to blindness. She’d seen it happen more and more. Her sister had succumbed to blindness before she had died from the flu. Damian was lucky he had his hood pulled over his head.
“Yes, momsie.” Damian reached around to his pack and unzipped a compartment. He came away with his tinted goggles.
Kat watched him put them on.
“Better?” He flashed a grin.
She shook her head but smiled. He always managed to make her smile. That was one of the reasons she had bartered for his life two years ago.

EXCERPT Dark Lies copyright 2007 – Vivi Anna

CHAPTER ONE

The moment Jace Jericho stepped into the Boneyard’s staff room, he knew there was trouble.
The entire crime scene unit was assembled. Lyra, their young witch, sat on the sofa, her petite frame rigid with nerves. The chief, Caine, leaned against the corner as if unaffected, his new wife Eve next to him, not quite pulling off the impassive look. Her hand rested on his forearm, in a sure sign of support and affection.
Jace still had a difficult time accepting that his best vampire friend had married a human. But it was obvious that Eve made Caine deliriously happy, so he didn’t protest. At least not out loud.
Kellen, the firearms expert, Gwen, the lab tech, and Dr. Givon Silvanus, the medical examiner, sat at the long wood table. Even the baron himself, Laal Bask, was present. He stood in the center of the room trying to command the attention of the others. As usual, everyone on the team ignored him.
When Jace entered, Caine acknowledged him with a nod. “Thanks for coming in on your night off.”
Jace shrugged. “It didn’t sound like I had a choice.”
“You didn’t.”
Settling in beside Lyra on the sofa, Jace glanced around the room. Everyone looked nervous, especially Eve. She kept her eyes on Caine; Jace could see the tension in her face and in the way she twisted her hands in her lap. Something major was going on, and it had to be human-related.
Jace prayed they hadn’t found another human body in Necropolis.
Caine moved to the center of the room to stand beside Laal. The baron took that as his cue to start talking.
“First of all, I’d like to thank everyone for coming in. I know some did so on their days off.” He tipped his head to acknowledge everyone.
Caine cleared his throat. “Let’s just cut to the chase, Laal. We’re wasting time.” Caine glanced around the room meeting everyone’s gaze. “There has been another murder.”
Lyra shivered beside Jace. He glanced over at her and saw a look of knowing in her big brown eyes. Her hand was on the silver pentagram amulet at her neck and she was rubbing her thumb over it. For comfort or concentration, he couldn’t be sure. Had she had a vision? Was she having one now? Sometimes she knew things before the rest of them did. As powerful as his wolf senses were, Jace’s abilities were no match to Lyra’s.

* * *

What do you think? Both excerpts in each example written by the same Author, yet still different. Right? The author voice is strong, yet the styles change to suit what the story the author is telling.

EXCERCISE FOR YOU:
Choose a piece of something you’ve written, old or new. And not a super long piece, this is just an exercise.

Examine the piece, and make note of your sentence structures. Are they the same - as in always long sentences- or do you mix them up? Do you like to start a scene by setting it with narrative and description, or do you jump in with action and dialogue? Notice any favorite words or phrases that you like to use?

Just look at what you have with fresh eyes, and write yourself a style list in point form.

Now, IF you have another piece of work, either a different story, or even the same story, but a different spot in it, a different character - and do the same thing.

Feel free to ask questions, or post your findings here. (or email them to me)

Comment on todays post and be entered to win a copy of Blood Secrets and Dark Lies by Vivi Anna. The winner will be announced on Friday.

OTHER WORKSHOPS around the net right now.
PBW’s Power Plotting was up yesterday, and I for one, found it very worth while. Today she has one titled Eff the Editing.

And I found this one on Gender Differnces: Male Body Language pretty cool.

PS: Thanks to Alison Kent for the awesome LB& LI graphic.

Well, I announced on the 14th that I was going to do a workshop on VOICE for the LB & LI thing, and here it is!

There is already some great information out there about Voice, but I know sometimes the information can be the same, it’s just the way one person explains it that makes it click. So maybe the way I explain things will click for some of you.

Be Sure to check out Jordan Summers Blog Post from last week for another take on Voice AndAlison Kents first workshop for the LB & LI is on VOICE as well. Both of them are extremely knowledgeable, and have great posts up on VOICE.

Now, you can watch the video introduction to see what’s in store for this week,(it’s 7 minutes long) or you can just continue on and read the post on WHAT IS VOICE?

Click To Play

WHAT IS VOICE?

Voice it what makes an author stand out. It’s what makes a reader go out and search for an author’s backlist after reading one book, and what makes them anticipate the next story.
Yes, readers fall in love with characters, but what makes the character come alive is the author’s voice - the way in which they describe the characters, the setting, the happenings. It’s the way they tell the story.

Voice is the natural storyteller in you, and we all have it. Did you hear that? Your author voice is natural to you. The key to the magic of it is…finding it, trusting it, and using it to make your stories shine.

And it’s a lot harder than it sounds. Why? Because voice is the “it” factor. It’s invisible, and it’s instinctive. If you don’t find your own right away do NOT get discouraged! It is a process, and one that, at times, requires a lot of faith in yourself.

This workshop is going to be interactive, so I hope you’re all ready to work!
Below I’ve asked some questions to get us started. Please take the time to answer them honestly, and post them in the comments section below. If you do not feel comfortable sharing your answers with the others in the workshop, you can email them to me via the CONTACT link on the toolbar above.

In order to find your voice, and build on it, you need to know yourself. And in order to help you, I need to know you better.

What do you read?
What do you want to write?
What do you write?
How do you feel when you write?
What are your strengths as a writer?
What are your weaknesses as a writer?
Are you a fan or workshops and craft books for writers?

Who is your favorite author? Why?

I won’t be online 24/7 but I will be checking in several times a day, so post whenever you are ready!

I love writing for Berkley and Aphrodisia because they allow me to write the way I want to write. To tell the story the way I want to, and I’m not trying to fit into a style or line that isn’t natural to me.

This is one of the huge points I try to emphasize, when I do workshops on writing Hot. You can heat things up if you want, but if it’s not a natural thing for you, if writing sex or pushing the envelope isn’t something that you want to do naturally, you won’t be truly successful. Everyone has strengths, and they need to find them, and capitalize on them. One of my strengths just happens to be Im fascinated by human sexuality.

It seems that Fear is a weakness for many of us. And let me just say, those of you that realize that you have that fear, are already a step ahead. Now, let me tell you that Fear is the worst enemy of Voice. Why? Because it makes you doubt yourself, and your natural ability.

I admit that when I started writing, I knew nothing about the industry. I didn’t know anything about all these online author communities, and I never read any craft books. I just decided one day I wanted to be a writer for a career, and I started to write. To me, that is why I found success right away. I sold my very first story I wrote, and have sold every one since.

But, I was fearless. I wanted it, I went after it and I got it. But, I was fearless because I didn’t know any better.

I know this train of thought is a bit wonky, but stay with me.

Kids are fearless. They want to do something, anything from drawing a picture to attempting a somersault on the trampoline or a 360 on their bike. They are fearless, they try it. They fail; they get back up and do it again. Because they don’t know what fear is until society teaches them that failure is bad.

Have you ever seen a child fall down, and start to cry, then realize no one was rushing up and cooing and making sure he was okay, then stop crying? Society has taught us that we need to always show only the good, only the end result, and that the journey, the learning, the failures, are something to be hidden. And I disagree.

I look back on some of my earlier writing, and I see that it’s not my best, but you know what? It’s a learning process. When I finished WICKED, which was my fourth story for Berkley, in my mind, at that time, it was my best work ever.

When I’m done each story, I hope to feel that way, but it doesn’t always happen. That doesn’t mean I stop trying.

You need to realize that what you are writing now does not have to be perfect to be good, or engaging, or even great! It just has to be best you can do right now. That means you have to try, and that means ignoring any fears you have, and doing what you want …which is to write.

Make sense?

The good news is, you can turn it around by using your fear. Once you acknowledge it, it loses a lot of its power. As long as you don’t feed it. That means, stop giving in to it. It means focus on the goal, eyes on the prize. We all have fears, find what yours is, introduce yourself, acknowledge it, and then slam the door on it.

Denial has always worked well for me.

Be sure to check out PBW’s Power Plotting Workshop too!

LB&LI stands for Left Behind and Loving it. A series of virtual workshops that some of us who won’t be attending the RWA National Conference put on for anyone and everyone who wants to take part.

PBW has done it a couple of times now, and this year I’ll be following in her inspiring footsteps.

The week of July 28- August 3rd I’ll be doing a virtual workshop here on my blog titled VOICE: The Magic Behind the Words.

I readily admit I’m not a huge craft hound when it comes to writing, and there are few topic in the writing area that I feel confident enough about to give a workshop/lecture on. Voice is a topic near and dear to me, because not only is it something I feel makes an author special, it’s something I feel confident talking about. Not only has my writing voice has been called “distinctive and delicious” by The Romance Studio, but it’s something commented on often in reviews and by readers. If you want to learn what *I* think makes voice strong ….Join me here on July 28th and take part in my free Virtual Workshop.

OH, and There will be goodies to be won for those taking part. :)

VOICE: The Magic Behind the Words

What is it that makes a story stand out? We all want to know the secret, but the truth is…there is no secret. What makes one book stand out from the other, what makes one story memorable isn’t always the complicated plot or the unique characters. More times than not, it’s the author’s voice. In this five day online workshop I’ll help you discover and strengthen your personal voice and style, and show you the way to the magic behind the words.

Topics Covered

What Is Voice?
On the first day we’ll talk about what Voice is, and why it’s so important to develop your own. There will be exercises to help you discover your own strengths and discussion on how to capitalize on them.

What Is Style?
Your voice is part of your style, and your style is part of your Voice. The two are separate things, but they have to work together to create an individual flavor for each author’s storytelling. This day we’ll cover the different aspects of style and how to recognize your own.

Trusting Your Characters.
So you know your characters, and you’re ready to tell their story, yet you’re struggling. It might be because you’re not listening to them. Part of voice and style is the characters that you create. However, you’re not doing yourself any favors by creating fantastic characters, then not staying true to them within the story. I’ll share some my tricks with you on how to turn off your own mind so your characters can speak through you.

Trusting Your Instincts
We all have them, we just don’t always listen to them. You are now working for yourself, and you need to learn to trust yourself, in all aspects of your work from the words you put on the pages to the brand you want to build.

Last Chance Q & A
The final day will finish with a no holds barred Q & A period. If you have any questions left for me, this is the time.

I’m not one of those writers who says, “I’ve always wanted to be a writer.” Or, “I wrote my first story in grade school, and knew I would write for the rest of my life.” I’ve always been anavid reader, and I can remember in High school I once thought “Someday I’d like to write a book.” But that was about it.

Then, when I was in my mid twenties, I started to thnk about writing once again. I love to travel, and I thought if I could find a way to get paid to travel, it would be the perfect job. So I took a magazine writing course (One of those night school continuing education ones) and then started on an article about my trip to Nepal.

Of course, then work got busy and the article sat unfinished for six years. Then, six years ago, when I decided I didn’t want to be a bartender forever, and I didn’t want to own my own pub, my mind went back to writing. With a little guidance from a mentor, I started writing erotica…and haven’t stopped since.

If you’ve read a couple of my stories I’m sure you’ll find a blend of heat levels from sensual to hard core erotic. Some have a traditional HEA, some don’t, although all have a romance in them to some degree.

I know some readers get upset when they read a book labeled Erotic Romance and it doesn’t have a traditional HEA, but in my mind, not having a traditional HEA is better than forcing an ending to the story that isn’t natural to the characters.

Maybe I’m rebelling against all those harlequin romances I read when I was growing up, where the secretary and the billion dollar business tycoon end up happily ever after. Maybe I’m just more realistic because of 19 years in the hospitality industry, and seeing so many couples fight, cheat, and divorce. It could be a blend of both. The thing is, I do believe in HEA, and in my mind, my characters all have them, they just might not have them in the space of the story.

Take Devil’s Jewel for instance. It’s a category length story in SEXY DEVIL, and in my mind it’s erotic (even though it isn’t liberally peppered with sex scenes) and it’s romantic, even though the hero and heroine aren’t planning a wedding at the end. But the story takes place over a three-day time span. There’s a lot that goes on, and they know they want to be together more, and all that, but would you, as a reader, really want to see them planning marriage and babies? Yes, a certain amount of unbelievability is allowed - I mean, the hero is a mind reader who hunts things that go bump in the night – but then again, there will be a sequel, and the characters will be back…so is that enough?

In BOUND, it was a first person POV, and truly Katie’s story. It was all about her journey. I still get reader letters about how much they love Joe (the hero) and so far only reviewers have been the ones to mention wanting to have the hero’s POV. But to me, it wasn’t needed, because the story was about Katie. Did that take away from the romance? I don’t think so. I wanted to the reader to go on that ride with Katie, the fall in love, what the hell am I doing sort of ride.

I can go on and on and list examples of different levels and reasons behind why I write the way I write, but I think the truth of it is simple. I write the story as I feel it is meant to be told. Be it, first person POV, or multiple third person. It could be full of hot and sweaty wrestlin’ between the sheets, or full of tension and potential.

Why am I trying to make this point? Because I’ve been reading a lot in the last few months. And I’m sad to say, I’m not enjoying the majority of what I read. Plenty of great ideas, and story premise, but in my opinion, a lot of the books have lacked that magic I want. The story telling magic that draws the reader in a hooks me, and makes me laugh out loud, cry, or even call a lover and invite him over.

I’ve been thinking about it, and I figure too many writers out there are becoming overly-analytical in how they disect what they need to include in a story. I think that so many writers are delving into their craft books and studying and learning and trying so hard to do things right, that they are forgetting the most important thing. It’s all about staying true to the character, and the story – even if that means doing something the craft books, or the reviewers, or the bloggers who tear apart every book out there, tell you not too.

On the other hand, I’ve also been read some books recently where the author is obviously trying to break the rules. Trying to do what is completely unexpected and never been done. I love to see writers push the envelope, and go for it, but at the same time…sometimes doing things just to do them is just as bad as doing them because you’re told you can’t.

There is always an exception to the rule, any rule. But only if you are staying true to the character and the story, and not just doing it to break the rules. To me, the magic of the a good story comes from the heart of the storyteller, not the mechanics of a story.

Do good stories have good mechanics? Yes. Learning the craft of writing is important. Learning about what is selling is important to building a career. I’m not saying don’t do these things, but it’s all a balancing act. It’s important to not to let those mechanics take over the story. It’s a talent for the author to know when to quit mucking with a story, and let the magic shine through. Over thinking and over-editing can kill that magic.

I’m certainly not an authority on writing. Yes, I’m an author, and I feel I have some knowledge, and can form an educated opinion on many aspects of the craft and this business. Therefor, I just wanted to throw out my best advice to others who want to write, or who do write. That advice is: Realize tht all those craft books, and workshops and lectures you read/attend, are only other people opinions. What they say will not always be right for what you do…so follow your heart, and to have faith in the story you want to tell, and what YOU can do.

Kay People, Delilah is behind schedule, so her guest post will go up as soon as I get it, maybe tomorrow? Not sure, but when I get it, I’ll put it up.

So for today, I’m going to talk to you about something else - Fantasies, and the opportunity to live them out.

Have you ever wondered if you’d “go for it” if given the chance to live out a fantasy?

I’ve often wondered it for myself, then usually said “Yes!”. LOL My opportunites have always managed to come as a chance of luck type thing, which is why I generally go with it. Sort of a “it was meant to happen” type of train of thought.

A while ago some readers on WICEKED WRITERS loop started talking about why they enjoy reading BDSM, and if they would truly be interested in experiencing it. The conversation led to different levels of BDSM and Kink, as well as the relationships and more. Then a day or two after that, I received an email from a guy who had visited my website, and invited me to see thiers. It was very intriguing. (and sort of no such thing as coincedence ??)

Into The Attic is an amature BDSM site. Women (And I think men, get to go there, an explore their submissive fantasies. The catch? It’s videotaped.

Now, one thing I did notice in my research into BDSM previously is that the majority of submissives usually also enjoy some exhibitionism. So this might not be a bad thig for some. It was certainly a good thing for my research as I learned a lot by watching , and talking to them. (You can read more about my research at THE DUNGEON )

Into The Attic is a member site, where you watch real live submissive sessions. These are not actors, but real people. I’ve watched less than half a dozen of the film sequences with various Guests of the Attic (Each session seems to have 5 or 6 sequences,) and I’m still not sure how I feel about them.

Were they tasteful? I think they are. You can choose what part of each session you want to watch, and each session is also descrbed above so you know what you are getting into.

Each session also starts and ends with the Guest speaking clearly about what they are there for. (I’m sure that’s sort of a legal thing too) lol

Were the videos arousing to me? More to my imaginaition than my body. I think I’d enjoy it a lot more if I was writing a BDSM themed story right now - As they are nothing if not creative. I also might enjoy it more if there was a chance of myself and a partner emulating some of it…but I’m partnerless right now, so I took a more analytical view of things. LOL

Do I recommend it? Yes! I think if you have an interest in being submissive, or exploring that aspect of yourself, you should definitely check out INTO THE ATTIC. It’s very interesting.

Nothing in life is easy, and if you try to accomplish something without having a passion for it, it’s even harder. The same goes for writing - even after you’ve gotten published by your dream publisher.

I’m not talking about deadline stress, (I personally thrive on that), or how editing and promoting and the business side of things can often overtake the writing. I’m talking about how your creative side can sometimes just fall flat. I believe that it’s crucial for a writer to always remember that to write about life, you have to live life. As thrilling as getting caught up in your stories, blogs, careers and promotions are, it’s imperative that authors take the time to “refill the well”. Be it a nightly, weekly, or monthly thing, be sure to always take some time for yourself, to remind you what’s important in life. And that’s finding the passion in living. Remind yourself what it is about people you love, and hate. What it’s like to hang out with friends, experience romance, and even be a couch potato. You need to experience the things that make you who you are, so that you can go after what you want.

It’s so very hard not to become totally immersed in the worlds we create for our characters, and the online communities that share our love for stories and romance, but it’s even harder to write about passion, if you can’t find it in your own life.

This is a lesson I’ve have to remind myself of often, and yet somehow, the passion still slipped away from me. The hardest part about that was accepting the fact that I did lose it…finding it again has been easier than you’d think. I firmly believe finding the passion in my life – through travel, photography, and just hanging with friends - helps me to share all aspects of passion with the world through my writing.