tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31090096705248636672024-03-14T02:02:29.430-04:00Amalie BerlinWriter: Quirky RomanceAmalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-37618070591258954992014-11-03T12:57:00.000-05:002014-11-04T15:36:42.521-05:00Conquering My Synopsophobia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_SOz-QjTTrw/VFep34v4LVI/AAAAAAAAA30/xKnuZ0UqZZI/s1600/synopsophobia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_SOz-QjTTrw/VFep34v4LVI/AAAAAAAAA30/xKnuZ0UqZZI/s1600/synopsophobia.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm going to share this in the hopes that it can help someone else. I'm by no means a expert, but when I find something that works so well for me, I like to share.<br />
<br />
Also, I need to preface this post with a few disclaimers:<br />
<ul>
<li>I write short category romance which means a tight word count(~50K). Although I expect that every romance needs all three GMCs per character, it's imperative for my process that I know all three GMC before I start writing if I don't want to waste lots of time with revision.</li>
<li>On the Plotter/Pantser scale(At least today), I'm about 70/30, leaning toward plotter. If you're a pantser, I think it can be helpful if you can define these things before you start writing.</li>
<li>This might not be the thing you want to send to your editor if you're still uncontracted. But I personally am using this as part of my new-book-starter-kit... since it helps me envision the book enough that I have a good foundation before I start writing. Makes it easier for me. As with all writing advice, Your Mileage May Vary.</li>
<li>If you're unfamiliar with the concept of GMC(Goal/Motivation/Conflict), Deb Dixon's book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/GMC-Motivation-Conflict-Debra-Dixon-ebook/dp/B00DZ01FRY" target="_blank">now available in e-format</a>. </li>
</ul>
/End-Disclaimer0<br />
<br />
Like almost every writer I've met, I have harbored an intense loathing of writing synopses. Before my current project, when I've started a new book, I've written (at best) a three page synopsis for my editor for proposal. And they were quite rambling things.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Old Synopsis Format</h3>
<ul>
<li><i>First two pages</i>: Heroine and Hero's backgrounds, focusing on formative moments to explain Internal and External GMC. (Note: only 2 types of GMC focused on here)</li>
<li><i>Third page</i>: How the story started. And usually I could give at least three chapters worth of stuff... how I saw the story beginning.</li>
<li>That synopsis format always ended with me flailing and an announcement to the effect of: <i>THERE WILL BE A BLACK MOMENT AND HAPPILY EVER AFTER, BUT THAT'S ALL I KNOW RIGHT NOW. I'M SORRY. (I'm neurotic, I apologize for everything.)</i></li>
</ul>
<h3>
New Synopsis Format</h3>
<ul>
<li><i>First Page</i>: The Quick Backgrounds page. Where each character comes from, what kind of personalities they have, what they're doing at the start of the story. Not really a place for the GMC's. Quick means quick. Short. A couple single spaced paragraphs. If there is anything else of note(like pertaining to the External plot), I give it a quick background too.</li>
<li><i>Second and Third pages</i>: A single chart that lists the GMC for Internal, External and Romantic threads for each character. </li>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VUwjU67k6Y/VFe2rqrpmKI/AAAAAAAAA4E/TiCFJhxx5kU/s1600/GMC%2Bcharts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VUwjU67k6Y/VFe2rqrpmKI/AAAAAAAAA4E/TiCFJhxx5kU/s1600/GMC%2Bcharts.jpg" height="233" title="3 GMC Chart" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 GMC Chart </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li><i>Fourth+ pages </i>will be in tomorrow's post! And it will make pantsers want to scrub their brains, no doubt... but it's part of my own personal new synopsis glee.</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://amalieberlin.blogspot.com/2014/11/synopsophobia-part-ii.html">That's it for today. Tomorrow I'll explain what's in the final section of the synopsis and how I manage to summon it before writing these days. </a><br />
<ul>
</ul>
Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-78083601115280716982014-10-28T19:21:00.000-04:002014-10-28T19:41:32.701-04:00Psychology of a Writer's MindFirst, let me state that I'm not making any claims about writer instability or anything like that. I'm mostly indulging my own curiosity and looking for input into a question that has been eating me up since the Guardian article ran.<br />
<br />
One more disclaimer, I am using the phrase 'negative review' to mean anything critical even though that's not really the way I look at them. It's shorthand, though I think we need a better term.<br />
<br />
When we hear about author-on-reviewer misconduct of any kind, the first thing you think(after OMG, is the reviewer okay!?) is:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow;"><i><b>What in the world was that author THINKING?</b></i></span></div>
<br />
So down that rabbit hole I went. I want to understand... well,everything, but especially things I could never see myself doing. (I also am fascinated by serial killer and true crime documentaries... But that's another post.)<br />
<br />
Everyone tells authors not to read reviews, which I do understand. Baby writers(and probably writers who are all grown up too) have muses that are like turtles: They retreat into their shells when anything startles or scares them. A muse that's in full-on turtle mode makes it harder to write your next book well. Or in a timely manner. Or at all. So as a muse-prophylactic, not reading your reviews makes excellent sense. <br />
<br />
But personally, I do read my reviews. (At least for now, it doesn't take much time to read them, there aren't that many.) And sometimes while eating chocolate.<br />
<br />
I don't do it because I want to hear that I'm awesome <i>(When people say that? I never believe them anyway.).</i><br />
<br />
I don't do this because I can't stand not knowing <i>(Though I do have an epic case of InstantGratification-itis, and basically want to know/do/be everything right NOW.).</i><br />
<br />
<b>I do it because I want to improve my craft.</b><br />
<br />
Not so much the way I write. Not structure, or really anything to do with the mechanics of writing. I do it because I want to know what story elements, plots, and characters resonate the most with people who read my genre(category romance, medical series).<br />
<br />
I fully accept that my books are a product. And without writing another whole post on why I don't think it's selling out to say this: I want to give the customer what they want. Or at least understand so I can make that coincide with my own desires to give others that happy sigh at the end of a book.<br />
<br />
But even though I like to think I have a pretty good understanding of reader expectations, I'm probably more like 80/20 than 100% on the understanding. Reviews, especially negative reviews, offer insight and help me become not just a better writer, but to build the career I want to have.<br />
<br />
So that's my goal when I read my own reviews. And it probably matters that I go into reading them with that mindset(Years of art school taught me how to take a critique too, but that is yet another post).<br />
<br />
But I'm still stuck on: <b><i>What was that(or that, or THAT...) author thinking!? </i></b><br />
<br />
And more specifically: <b><i>What in that particular review started them down the yellow brick road to Crazytown?</i></b><br />
<br />
Obviously, in the case of Kathleen Hale, one review stuck with her(that book has loads of 1star reviews, and only one reviewer was terrorized that we know of). So it must have triggered some kind of emotional response. That's not Miss Harris's fault or responsibility, but something about her words earwigged into Hale's brain, and I want to understand. Not to excuse--I'm still horrified by the situation--but just to comprehend the thought processes on that downward spiral.<br />
<br />
As I only have myself to compare with(and I've never hunted down a reviewer... that I know of o.O) , the questions I asked myself when pursuing that elusive understanding:<br />
<ul>
<li>What negative review stung the most?</li>
<li>What ones didn't bother me? </li>
<li>When I was bothered, how exactly did the review bother? </li>
<li>What made the difference between this 2-star review and that 2-star review... </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The conclusion I've come to? </span><b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Negative reviews that actually stung, were the reviews that </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>said</b> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">something I secretly agreed with/feared... </span></b></i></div>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">So that's my Q to other authors out there. With negative reviews you've gotten, have there been equally written/snarky negative reviews that didn't bother you, but the one that did said something true about your book/writing/whatever that you just really don't want to think about in order to keep your muse turtle-free?</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Other theories are welcome too. This reasoning might just be particular to my own special neuroses.</span></h3>
Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-57872647445505028352014-10-25T18:51:00.001-04:002014-10-28T12:55:55.262-04:00Entitlement -- #BloggerBlackout #HaleNoIn the wake of author-stalker antics over a negative review, along with a staggering number of other author-on-reviewer crimes... I'm posting this before my head asplodes with the loud angry words.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>For Authors </b></i></span><br />
<br />
You’ve written a book and it has now become made available for public consumption through some manner of dissemination. Congratulations!<br />
<br />
<h3>
A Comprehensive List of What You’re Now Entitled to: </h3>
<ul>
<li><b>You May Tell People You’ve Written/Published a Book. </b>Or not, depending on your preference. It's up to you, you can use a pseudonym and conceal your real name, use a pseudonym and freely share your real name, or use your real name. Up. To. You. And whatever your safety requirements are.</li>
<li><b>Claim the Occupation of Writer or Author</b>. Although publication is not a necessary pre-req to claim those titles. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<h3>
What you are <u>NOT ENTITLED</u> to</h3>
<ul>
<li><b>Not Entitled to Reviews</b>. There is no right to have your book reviewed by anyone. If you get reviews—good, bad, or ugly—Be Grateful Anyone Made the Effort.</li>
<li><b><b>Not Entitled t</b>o Have People Buy Your Book</b>. Except family. Feel free to whine over holiday dinners and send passive aggressive birthday &/or Christmas cards to people who may share a surname, genetics, or whatever else makes them family... and who haven't bought your darned book(at least your debut. YMMV on later titles).</li>
<li><b><b>Not Entitled to </b>the Right to Appear on Anyone Else’s Blog </b>for publicity and praise because of your general awesomeness. Further: Bloggers are not your employees, if they have read and reviewed your book, they're doing you a FAVOR. The only acceptable response is: <i>Thank You.</i></li>
<li><b><b>Not Entitled </b>to Know the RL Identity of Your Reviewer.</b> If you have more than one 1-star review, the correct and sane conclusion is that more than one person hated your book. This is not a case of ONE person with multiple accounts leaving 1star reviews designed specifically to ruin you. <i><b> </b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
<i><b>Helpful Sidenote: </b></i><br />
<br />
<i>Hallmarks of an actual Troll Reviewer: Newly created account, generic name, only has one(or maybe a couple if they're high-achieving trolls) review. If there are many or hundreds or reviews? Not a troll. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>And what does it matter who they are, it's a person who has these specific thoughts. Not a robot. Not a maniacal monkey demon sent from the fiery pits to ruin you, or a rogue AI program who hates the name of your heroine. A person disliked your book for whatever reasons they listed, and it does not matter if they've a real-sounding name or go by GrignrTheManly. A PERSON WROTE THOSE WORDS. That's all you need to know. </i><br />
<br />
The only reason someone would leave a negative review(that actually pertains to your book) under a fake ID is for the freedom to safely say what their current emotion is screaming at them to say in the way they need to say it. It isn't so they can lie about how they feel. <i><br /></i><br />
<br />
<h3>
Permissible Reactions to a Bad Review</h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Cry</b>. This is best done alone in your home. But the good news: It's Pants Optional!</li>
<li><b>Vent to your friends in private</b>. Rant. Complain until they're sick of you. But for god's sake, keep it off the internet. No Public Displays of Immature Dickishness</li>
<li><b>Fantasize about your misunderstood genius </b>and take comfort in the fact that one day, probably long after you're dead, you--trail blazer that you are--will be lauded for your mad, avant-garde storytelling skills.</li>
<li><b>Confide in your dog</b>, who may bring you a stick to cheer you up and remind you of the long held doggie wisdom: Sticks and stones may break your bones...but they're also really good for chewing on when life's got you down.</li>
<li><b>Confide in your cat</b>, who will magnanimously allow you to sit in her presence, possibly allow you to pet her, feed her, or run a red laser pointer dot around the room for her amusement.</li>
<li><b>Eat or Drink Your Feelings</b>. Possibly not the healthiest reaction, but have some chocolate and some wine. Just don't use them as a facilitator to Public Displays of Dickiness. Or other dangerous/inappropriate actions. </li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="color: red;">Side-side Note: Book Bloggers are often the best promo available to 21stCen author. Negative reviews won't ruin your career or your book, but your response to negative reviews could. In summary: don't be a dick.</span> </h3>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Tips for Bloggers & Reviewers</b></i> </span><br />
<br />
You all know how to conduct yourselves with regard to your reviews, so instead...<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Be aware that just because someone had the brain power to write and publish a book doesn't mean that they're stable individuals</b>. I don't care who asks you for your address, if you don't feel comfortable giving it or your real name, then don't! Have them send the package to your local post office. In the US, we have an option for General Delivery, and I'm sure that there are comparable setups in other countries. In the US, it works like this:Mail addressed General Delivery is held at the post office and you go there to pick it up. You don't have to have a post office box to protect your home address, mail does not have to be delivered to your home. Addresses look something like this:</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">United States Post Office</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">General Delivery</span></i></span>: </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>NAME OF RECIPIENT</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">City, State Zipcode</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li> <b>If you feel threatened by someone</b>--anyone--author or schmo on the street--Call The Police. Contact a lawyer. Tell your family and friends. Say something online even. Keeping quiet will not help you. Embarrassment is one of the stalker's biggest weapons, it keeps people quiet and conceals abuse. Quiet helps <i>them</i>, not You.</li>
<li><b>You have rights</b>, and the biggest, most important one is that you should feel safe in your home, at work, when you go to your favorite restaurant, etc. </li>
</ul>
<br />
Finally: To the authors who are crying out, '<i>But we're the ones being punished, we're innocent!' </i><br />
<br />
First, that kind of sentiment implies that those being harassed over reviews deserve it. They don't.<br />
<br />
Writers should have some connection to their empathy skills, and now's the time to activate that connection. This isn't about you or your butthurt about not getting your book reviewed for a couple more weeks... It's people using what meager power they have to stand as a community for something important.<br />
<br />
<i>Keeping Quiet helps the A<b>buser, </b>not the abused. </i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-55040646504727472442014-07-08T03:43:00.002-04:002014-07-10T23:21:05.002-04:00Self-Awareness and Writing EmotionIt's kind of funny to me that I'm a writer who actually gets paid to write now. If you'd asked me five years ago if I'd ever be able to do that, I would probably have said no--even though I wanted to. Ten years ago? I would have definitely said no, nothing anyone would read.<br />
<br />
My negative outlook wasn't linked to my dyslexia. It wasn't because I didn't think I could write in an entertaining fashion--even ten years ago I was certain I could tell an entertaining story. At least from an external point of view. It was the internal stuff that threw me.<br />
<br />
I know why this is now. I am an atypical girl.<br />
<ul>
<li>I hate shoes. I've been known to wear sandals in the snow. Once I forgot to wear shoes to work...(which is another story...)</li>
<li>I only carry a handbag so I have somewhere safe to keep my ereader. </li>
<li>I loathe Lifetime/Hallmark Channel Christmas movies(or well, just in general you can't make me watch those channels). </li>
<li>In summer, I will walk in the rain without an umbrella even when I'm not feeling sad(people only walk in the rain in movies when they're sad.)</li>
</ul>
<br />
Also? I don't like examining my feelings about anything. And holy crap, if you make me talk about my feelings? Conversation will go down hill fast--I'm doing good if I can string ten words together. I prefer the most generic words possible to describe my emotional state(I know it's like social camouflage, and I don't care!).<br />
<br />
<i>I'm good.</i><br />
<i>I'm okay. </i><br />
<i>I'm bleh... </i><br />
<br />
If anyone wants to explore these generic words with me, I can probably filter it down another level and give bare details to explain whatever upset me... But if the person I'm speaking with can't work out from this why I'm upset, any further digging will probably make me cry. It doesn't matter what the emotion is, if it's big and personal, I can't talk about it.<br />
<br />
<br />
This is why therapy would be useless for me.(Which is not to say that I don't need it. I'm pretty sure I'm nuts, I just like to think it's a quirky, fun kind of crazy.)<br />
<br />
This was also why I couldn't get deepDEEP inside the emotional state of my characters. I couldn't examine their feelings because I didn't even examine my own feelings. So I didn't have a clear point of comparison for anything. I didn't have better words than the generic ones.<br />
<br />
<br />
I didn't start digging deeper until I wrote the book that actually sold. It isn't autobiographical by any stretch, but I used a lot of things from my life... Enough that everything felt familiar, I didn't have to stretch to understand the characters. But in the first couple drafts, I didn't stretch hard enough to<b> describe/depict </b>those emotions. Not until my editor made me do it. I resisted. Good lord, I resisted. I love reading romance(especially stories with THE ANGSTS!), but my unsold drafts were full of glancing blows at emotion. Riddled with jokes that kept the characters and ME from having to look too closely at what we were feeling.<br />
<br />
Which brings me to the point of this post: I've been judging an unpublished RWA contest, and all my entries have so many good things to say about them: good writing, warm voices, interesting situations... But a couple of them have characters I wanted to love but could not connect with. The writer didn't dig deep enough.<br />
<br />
In the past, I've been advised to think of a similar situation in my life to what the character is facing, and relive those emotions while writing a scene. But that never helped me. Invariably, my reliving the past involved me thinking about how at the time I didn't want to think about the bad thing that was happening!<br />
<br />
Getting emotion on the page is more about your own <i><b>Self-Awareness</b></i> than anything related to writing. You have to understand yourself before you can ever try to understand other people.(<i>Quick Note: Sympathy and Empathy are not interchangeable. They're different. Ask Uncle Google to explain. I know <a href="http://amalieberlin.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-writers-most-important-trait.html" target="_blank">I've banged the Empathy Drum before</a>, but writers need strong Empathy, and that starts with understanding yourself.</i>)<br />
<br />
The only way I know to do that is by examining your memories and all the messy bits attached to them.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>And I don't mean just think about it, I mean <b>wallow</b>. Open that metaphorical vein and let that sucker bleed. Do NOT apply pressure or try to staunch the flow. If it doesn't hurt, you haven't cut deeply enough. </i></span><br />
<br />
The only way you'll ever understand other people(especially imaginary people who spring from your crazybrain) is to understand yourself(and your crazybrain). I know that sounds like New-Agey Woo-Woo talk, but...some professions lend themselves to the Woo-Woo talk.<br />
<br />
Because I love craft books, and there are some truly excellent<i>(</i>and even mind-blowing) writing books about emotion out there, please let me recommend:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rivet-Your-Readers-Deep-Point-ebook/dp/B007PUMQ1O/" target="_blank"><i>Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View</i> </a>by Jill Elizabeth Nelson</li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Writing-emotional-impact-techniques-fascinate-ebook/dp/B004UC6E22/" target="_blank">Writing for Emotional Impact…</a> </i>by Karl Iglesias</li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Emotional-Structure-plain-English-transformational-ebook/dp/B00D0ZI7HU/" target="_blank">Practical Emotional Structure</a> </i>by
Jodi Henley</li>
</ul>
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</xml><![endif]-->Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-31542258880182754922014-06-26T04:03:00.000-04:002014-06-26T04:03:59.964-04:00Goodreads Giveaway & AnnouncementSporatic girl strikes again! Yep, I've been quiet, or at least quiet HERE. Distracted might be a better word -- I've probably never actually been quiet in my life!<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two Quick Things</span> </h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Goodreads Giveaway widget</span> added above! For my August book -- formerly known as <i>Circus Medicus</i>, it has a proper title now: <i>Return of Dr. Irresistible</i>!<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Starting July 21</b></span></span> -- I'll be running a <i>free </i>workshop on the <a href="http://community.harlequin.com/forumdisplay.php/12-The-Writer-s-Circle" target="_blank">Harlequin forums</a>--which is an ever-free and fantastic resource/support group if you want to write romance, especially category romance. Lots of info, and lots of fantastic opportunities there. </li>
<ul>
<li><b>Title: </b><i>Digging for Your Muse: Manufacturing Creativity</i></li>
<li><b>One Line: </b>Using mindmaps to generate unique stories you(and your readers/editor) can get excited about.</li>
<li><b>Blurb: </b>The workshop will also demonstrate techniques for using mindmaps as a problem-solving tool to get you through the obstacle course you run from <i>Page One</i> to <i>The End</i>.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-46064098969619273042014-05-30T02:49:00.000-04:002014-05-30T03:10:42.485-04:00Just Popping In...I really don't have anything to talk about. I went into my usual blog-coma for the writing of book4, and now I'm doing last revisions on it(I hope) and planning my summer project(A 5/6-part serial that is currently half-written) -- and which I plan on dipping a toe into the world of self publishing with! Exciting, more on that later.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gyJVNPLpaUE/U4guu4hPFSI/AAAAAAAAA0g/BIIwIokYJgU/s1600/RAPUNZEL+COVER+--+MOCKUP+--+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gyJVNPLpaUE/U4guu4hPFSI/AAAAAAAAA0g/BIIwIokYJgU/s1600/RAPUNZEL+COVER+--+MOCKUP+--+1.jpg" height="200" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stealing Rapunzel</i> Cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also considering whether to start doing some book cover design on the side... I enjoyed doing the one for my summer project. If anyone is interested, ping me on my <a href="http://www.amalieberlin.com/contact.html" target="_blank">contact form</a> or send me a message on Facebook :)<br />
<br />
Otherwise, just working working working. Oh, and feeling guilty for neglecting my blog. I'm on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amalie.berlin" target="_blank">Facebook</a> a lot(frequently posting stupid stuff!), if anyone goes looking for me.Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-69838440920057290572014-02-01T13:47:00.000-05:002014-02-01T13:47:46.143-05:00New Release<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UhdbEMG0ZI/Uu0_-JxzmXI/AAAAAAAAAwM/QkbEcdWLJEw/s1600/Uncovering+Her+Secrets+US+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UhdbEMG0ZI/Uu0_-JxzmXI/AAAAAAAAAwM/QkbEcdWLJEw/s1600/Uncovering+Her+Secrets+US+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=50780&cid=264">www.Harlequin.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqiAzGl1ThM/Uu0_9EYpW5I/AAAAAAAAAwE/1YAtcChM2AI/s1600/Uncovering+Her+Secrets+UK+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqiAzGl1ThM/Uu0_9EYpW5I/AAAAAAAAAwE/1YAtcChM2AI/s1600/Uncovering+Her+Secrets+UK+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/uncovering-her-secrets">www.millsandboon.co.uk</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I discovered something today! At Harlequin.com, they now have books available a month before their release month for purchase. This is how it's been at millsandboon.com for as long as I've paid attention, but North America was still limited to release month. <br />
<br />
Now, some lines have all their different versions available right now(<a href="http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=50828&cid=226" target="_blank">Michelle Smart's March Presents is flipping awesome</a>), but Medicals have only ebooks available. They will become available at other retailers in March.<br />
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<br />Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-30259532339371952882014-01-23T17:23:00.000-05:002014-01-30T08:03:27.825-05:00Tatted Cross PatternThis pattern is built on this <a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/itemdetails/H205129FY" target="_blank">filigree doodad</a>. Obviously, the one in the photo below isn't the copper one(It's the gunmetal one... but the one in the <a href="http://amalieberlin.blogspot.com/2013/07/revisions-and-unrelated-photo.html" target="_blank">picture floating around Pinterest is the copper one</a>)<br />
<br />
I did this a while back for a lady who'd emailed a request, but never put it on the blog. I also never heard if she successfully made the thing based on this mess of instructions, but ... HERE IT IS!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xz9jgNk2cvg/UuGUzX3dEvI/AAAAAAAAAvE/hOgjN8cHdHY/s1600/cross+with+instructions.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xz9jgNk2cvg/UuGUzX3dEvI/AAAAAAAAAvE/hOgjN8cHdHY/s1600/cross+with+instructions.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-87858453080127519462014-01-18T18:16:00.000-05:002014-01-30T08:03:13.002-05:00Tatted Top Hat Pattern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lugkd2ZdTmk/UupNdnyUmsI/AAAAAAAAAvg/vKbc8W3vSh8/s1600/black+top+hat+with+index+card+PATTERN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lugkd2ZdTmk/UupNdnyUmsI/AAAAAAAAAvg/vKbc8W3vSh8/s1600/black+top+hat+with+index+card+PATTERN.jpg" height="270" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
Reposting here what I posted by request on the<a href="http://www.intatters.com/" target="_blank"> InTatters forums</a>: How to make the little tatted top hats.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Tatted Top Hat Pattern (Size 10 thread)</b></i></span><br />
</h3>
<i>Round 1</i>: This will be a 5-petal flower with 4 regular rings and 1 Split Ring: 2 – 2 – 2 – 2<br />
<br />
<i>Round 2</i>: [SR: 3 – 3 & 3 – 3, CH: 2 – 2 – 2 – 2], * [R: 4 – 4 – 4 –
4, CH: 2 – 2 – 2 – 2, R: 3 – 3 – 3 – 3, CH: 2 – 2 – 2 – 2]* repeat
between *’s around, close and finish round.<br />
<br />
<i>Round 3</i>: In this round, the small rings will attach to middle of the
chains and the large rounds will straddle the V created where a ring and
2 chains join. *[R: 3 – 2 – 4 – 2 – 3, CH: 3 – 4 – 3, R: 3 – 3 – 3 – 3,
CH: 3 – 4 – 3] * Repeat around and close.<br />
<br />
<i>Round 4</i>: With my hat form, this is the last row of the top flat of the
hat. Attach rounds to the V again: *[R: 3 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 3, CH: 3 – 3 –
3]* Repeat, close.<br />
<br />
<i>Rounds 5 – 9</i>: Repeat the same pattern as Round 4. However, work Round 5
at 90 degree angle to the edge of Round 4, and then Rounds 6 thru 9 flat
with Round 5 – creating a cylinder.<br />
<br />
<i>Round 10</i>: *[R: 4 – 3 – 4 – 3 – 4, CH: 3 – 2 – 2 – 3]* Repeat around and close<br />
<br />
<i>Round 11</i>: *[R: 2 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 2, CH: 2 – 2 – 2, R: 2 – 2 – 2 – 2, CH: 2 – 2 – 2]* Repeat around and close<br />
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<i>Round 12(final row)</i>: *[R: 2 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 2, CH: 2 – 2 – 2 – 2]* Repeat and close<br />
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Once lace is finished, fit to form and apply stiffening agent.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hat Band Pattern(Size 20 thread)</b></span></i> </h3>
Clover consisting of: [R: 3 – 3 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 3, R: 3 – 3 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 3 – 3, R: 3 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 3 – 3], CH: 3 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 3, R: 3 – 2 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 2 – 3, CH: 3 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 3<br />
<br />
Repeat around. End picots of sides of clover and sides of ring join. Last ring should join first clover, so it makes a band.<br />
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This is as close as I’ve gotten to a good fit on the outside of the hat. Looks nice when beaded.
Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-44047542003531892192014-01-15T22:38:00.000-05:002014-01-16T00:37:43.276-05:00Second/Sophomore/Every Book Syndrome<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
So this topic has been spoken about at length on some of the
boards I frequent, but came up again tonight in email with another Baby-Writer
friend. Thought I’d just fling it up on the blog, since I tend to neglect my
blog when I’m actively writing a book and it’s all about MASSIVE NUMBERS OF
POSTS between books for me!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So… The second book I wrote after selling to Harlequin was epic
hard for me(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Uncovering-Her-Secrets-Amalie-Berlin-ebook/dp/B00FBZCQXS/" target="_blank"><i>Uncovering Her Secrets</i></a>). This was before my first book came out, so
I didn’t think it actually qualified for Sophomore Book Syndrome—I didn’t have
a public image to live up to yet because the public might have hated book1! But
it was incredibly hard for me to write.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the time, I decided the reason that book was so hard was
because I was writing a hospital-setting and that was so normal... and I’m not.
Then I thought it was because I wrote a sarcastic frequently ass-tastic
hero(think Damon on Vampire Diaries) and that it was hard to make him likeable.
And finally, I thought it was just because I suck as a writer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Book3(Circus book – <i>Return of Dr Irresistible</i>) I thought was
gonna be a breeze. I was so excited about the story, the setting… the Every
Thing. My fabulous editor was letting me run AMOK. It was all gonna be AWESOME.
But? It was so freaking hard to write. I decided the reason was that since they
were letting me outside the box, do anything I want... that meant IT HAD TO BE
PERFECT. Actually, it had to be better than perfect. Because why make the
readers take a risk with a circus story when it's no better than a normal
everyday setting? If they’re already taking a gamble with the book, that gamble
has to pay off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right now? I am working on book4 and I'm at that SUPER
EXCITED phase of limitless possibilities and I’m sure it’s going to be easier
to write than the others (haha) I haven’t had to put my money where my mouth
is—it’s already perfect because it’s all still in my head. I get this way at
the start of every book—aside from book2, that book was freaking hard the whole
way and I hated it until the last revisions when I suddenly loved it. Every
book has been hard to write except book1(<i>Craving Her Rough Diamond Doc</i>) which was insanely hard during that phase where it was rewritten. Twice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The difference between the first draft of every other book and the first book? I didn't really know what I was doing when writing book1. I was just
painting with my toes to see what would happen! No pressure because no one
would want to read it anyway, right? I got to do what I wanted, when I
wanted... But now? Now I put pressure on myself to live up to the first book.
And then I think things like: Maybe I could only write it vividly because it
was set in Appalachia and I know the people and the area so well? Maybe it was
because the heroine was a version of me, and I knew her so well. Maybe it was
because I based the hero on Joe Manganiello and I was just SUPER MOTIVATED...
and really good at picturing Joe Manganiello without his shirt on... Mmmm Joe
without a shirt...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had a point... before Joe distracted me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OH YEAH. That feeling that comes after you’ve gotten to work
on a book and you know it’s all crap, and no one will ever want to publish it,
and they will hate you and kill your kitten because HOW ELSE WILL YOU LEARN NOT
TO WRITE SUCH CRAP?! That? Everyone feels it. And we all try to rationalize it
away because if we can explain why it's happening, then that means we can try
and control it. GI Joe told me: Knowing is half the battle! And I believed that
crap<i>.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But really? GI Joe left off one important detail: <span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>You still
have to fight the freaking battle.</b></span> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Go Joe!)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All those reasons I gave myself about why each book was so
hard to write were true in part, but mostly they were just my way of giving
myself <i><b>something </b></i>that I could identify to fight when I was struggling to get
through it. And every one since the first draft of book1 have been a
struggle... (Book1 was a struggle in the double-rewrite portion of its
existence.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writing fiction is hard. I might be me deluding myself
again, but I think that the first X-number of books are going to keep being really
hard. Because every time I write a new book, at least at this phase, I’m
learning great gobs of lessons--the kind of lessons that are hard to put into a
single <i>HowToWriteAFrigganAwesomeNovel</i> craft book... I’m still behind the curve, but
at some point... I’m going to get ahead of it. And it's going to get LESS hard.
Not easy, it is never going to be easy... but it's going to make me stop wanting to chew through
my own leg to get out of the animal trap(aka: My Contract which I frequently
doubt I can ever fulfill).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No matter where you are in your writing career, if it's really hard, keep running to catch up with the curve. You will catch up
with it. You will get ahead of it. It's only the first five books that are this hard(I'm fixin to start writing book4, which I'm pretty sure is going to be hard, but book5 will be the sweet spot, PLEASE GOD...)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To sum up: If at the end of writing a book you look like
this <a href="http://marlenebaer.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/drowned-rat.jpg" target="_blank">http://marlenebaer.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/drowned-rat.jpg</a> ? You’re
probably doing it right.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (I just linked because I don’t own the copyright and
I’m all sorts of touchy about that, but I couldn’t find a commons picture that
conveyed the same feeling!)</span></div>
Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-80827198875451912782014-01-11T21:07:00.000-05:002014-01-11T21:07:37.898-05:00Before I Was Published...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Uncovering-Her-Secrets-Amalie-Berlin-ebook/dp/B00FBZCQXS/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvVSsOR2IxU/UtH14vXHCuI/AAAAAAAAAuc/pVyR9guA0hU/s1600/Uncovering+Her+Secrets+US+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Uncovering-Her-Secrets-Amalie-Berlin-ebook/dp/B00FBZCQXS/" target="_blank">Release: March 2014</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before I was published, I was a lot better at maintaining some kind of presence on my blog. Not stellar, of course, and most of my posts did tend to go somewhere not related to writing... But there were projects to follow!<br />
<br />
Now, most of my project time is actually time I spend writing. Or watching Buffy marathon on Netflix... which I claim is a writing-related activity because Joss Whedon is a masterful storyteller... but before this post becomes an homage to all things Joss...<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATES: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Circus book revisions turned in yesterday. Hope I don't have any other revisions to do. Title: <i><b>Return of Dr. Irresistible</b></i> and will be out Aug 2014</li>
<li>I know roughly what both Medicals I'm contracted to write in 2014 will be, and I'm excited about them. Special projects! </li>
<li>Decided I want to write for a second line and have been kicking around ideas for that, but other than SOMETHING REVENGY, I don't know what that first project will be. I'll probably let you all know after it's written and I'm in that predictable THIS-STORY-IS-RUBBISH-MY-EDITOR-WILL-HATE-ME stage, where I've sent it and can't edit anymore but I know someone will be reading it... In other words: I'll be late to update my blog(Another predictable stage for me).<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqseaCIL-9Y/UtH30POpzNI/AAAAAAAAAuo/w608xifLKUQ/s1600/snowflake+ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqseaCIL-9Y/UtH30POpzNI/AAAAAAAAAuo/w608xifLKUQ/s1600/snowflake+ornament.jpg" height="200" width="183" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />I did have several small tatted projects for Christmas, and one very
large one... but I can't find the pictures I took of the large one, so a
picture of the small one!</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gnuJLhgsy4/UtH1A1A_EUI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/400eEEF1UVA/s1600/snowflake+ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gnuJLhgsy4/UtH1A1A_EUI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/400eEEF1UVA/s1600/snowflake+ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a>Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-89961595661099502982013-10-15T19:35:00.000-04:002013-10-15T19:35:44.570-04:00Goodreads Giveaway!<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Giveaway alert! </span></span><br />
<br />
See widget above or click <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18164960-craving-her-rough-diamond-doc" target="_blank">HERE</a>Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-2994193858333314462013-10-07T08:10:00.000-04:002013-10-07T08:11:38.429-04:00The Yearly Spiderpocalypse - and FLIP BUGS ATTACKSo last night it got into the 40sand apparently this triggered the yearly SPIDERPOCALYPSE… wherein all the spiders that live in the country came inside because it’s gonna be winter soon, right? <br />
<br />
And I am loathe to say that I could live with this – I mean, I do expect the yearly Spiderpocalypse, it is YEARLY after all – but last night I had something else. After being asleep for 3 hours, those flip/click beetles came inside too, and decided that my bed was the BEST PLACE EVER…<br />
<br />
If you are unfamiliar with this particular critter, they don't bite or sting, they just crawl and click in woog-inducing fashion. See <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH4roWTUMoA" target="_blank">this video </a>for an explanation if you want to be thrilled about beetles.<br />
<br />
I woke up at 1am with two of them<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>on my neck</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><--(I'd make this part flashing in red if I could)</span></span>. One of which I had trapped between my shoulder and my neck and he was flipping his fool head off trying to get free. And I don’t care if I’m a country girl, I don’t like bugs. And having them on me when I’m sleeping? Freaks. My. $#%*. OUT! <br />
<br />
I woke up squealing and grabbing/flinging the bugs across the room. After I calmed down enough that my heartbeat didn’t sound like a techno drum track, I got up, went potty, SAW A SPIDER AND KILLED IT WITH A BROOM RAWR, came back, shook out my blankets and roughed up my bed to make sure there were no bugs there. Climbed in and settled down, feeling all Xena Warrior Princess(or pretending I did because dude, I hate bugs). Got the light off. <br />
<br />
And felt something crawling on my arm. <br />
<br />
Grabbed flashlight, shined on arm, ANOTHER BALLSY FLIP BUG… who got flicked across my apparently buggybuggy bedroom. <br />
<br />
I’m about as harebrained as they come today. There was no sleeping after the flip bugs mounted their midnight assault. I was Totally Awake for hours. Now? Now I'm sleepy ... stoopid bugs. Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-53063399523242625612013-09-25T22:04:00.000-04:002013-10-01T04:07:35.367-04:00Chicken Little and the Big ScaryBaby-author share time again.<br />
<br />
I have a love for <a href="http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/" target="_blank">SmartBitches</a> that is rather like the love an old school doofy-assed TSTL heroine has for her brutal-and-sometimes-rapetastic hero.<br />
<br />
I love SB.<br />
<br />
I'm also <i>terrified </i>of SB.<br />
<br />
I bring this up because with my upcoming debut release, I've been dipping a toe into the review-pool. I have been working with Lisa at <a href="http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tasty Book Tours</a>, and she's awesome and I'm very grateful for her assistance(took the nerve out of asking for reviewers!). But outside that, there are a few review sites I've been reading for years that I'd love to submit to--<b>IN THEORY</b>. Ones where I load up the submissions page, become terrified, and close it. CataRomance and SmartBitches to name a couple...<br />
<br />
The last really can send me into a full-blown, neurotic-bunny flip-out. Panic? Yes. Irrational paranoia? You mean... like where I become convinced that the longer I stare at the submission-focused page, the more likely it is that some brilliant SB-aligned hacker has activated my laptop's webcam and... can see me staring at it with deer/headlights eyes, sheet-wrinkles on my cheek, and staggeringly awful bed head? Yeah, I pretty much do that too. I don't know why I'm always tempted to consider it right after waking up. Maybe I have dreams where I'm totally brave, and then the computer reminds me that insanity is not quite the same thing as bravery... and I quickly close the danged tab.<br />
<br />
So far, my review-getting experience has been very positive, but all review-soliciting comes with the inevitability of unhappy words being written about poor MountainMan. It's a given, someone will hate the book. Actually, they'll probably hate the heroine--she's kind of a handful at times. Someone(possibly many someones) will hate the book. Period. End of story.<br />
<br />
I know this. I have accepted this. I feel I'm more or less prepared for the eventuality. I have an emergency-bad-review-boogie-bag, complete with dark chocolate, deluxe mixed nuts, and tissues to vanquish looming sniffle-snot-bubbles. But for some reason, there are review blogs I just can't bring myself to submit to yet for no real reason other than I'm totally a chicken. SmartBitches is right at the top. No idea what to do about that. I'm hoping that will eventually work itself out of my system. <br />
<br />
Until then let me say: Bock-bock. Bock. Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-59485766666917761222013-09-17T12:43:00.000-04:002013-09-17T12:43:23.794-04:00New Harlequin Contract!Offered three book contract today(Medical Romance line), the fools! MUAHAHAHA...ha..ha.ha *maniacal laughter until hoarseness sets in*<br />
<br />
The first book of those three will be my ridiculously working-titled: <i>Circus Medicus</i>. I thought about calling it <i>Three Ring Love Affair</i>, but that sounded distinctly <i>ménage... </i>and maybe a little kinky for category romance :) <i> </i>I'm currently in the part of the writing process that I hate: the first three chapters. So slow. SOOO SLOW. Can't wait until I get to the middle, when it's all I can do to keep up with the mayhem and don't have to work at throwing out plot threads while keeping the reader interested.<br />
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Luckily, Author Amendments for book2--<i>Uncovering Her Secrets--</i>also came today! Just in time. I needed a break from the current WIP. So I've just finished printing them and have my highlighters and many-colored ink pens for making any corrections needed.<br />
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And I like to put in pictures, but since the only interesting pictures
I've had lately have been frog-related: I re-share one and add a second one of the tiny frog who has
been hunting in my kitchen window. See the hair on his bum? That's
because he tried to get away from me by jumping onto the cat's bed...
and it stuck to him since his skin has the general consistency of a
Wacky Wall Walker. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DEQDIgyWsDU/UjiEeabRFUI/AAAAAAAAArk/wbOpuf8uLWU/s1600/frog+in+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DEQDIgyWsDU/UjiEeabRFUI/AAAAAAAAArk/wbOpuf8uLWU/s200/frog+in+hand.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That spec is not frog poo... just FYI</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qDdfNxXSQ0/UjiEebHQMOI/AAAAAAAAAro/RQuj1CbqycU/s1600/frog+on+thumb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qDdfNxXSQ0/UjiEebHQMOI/AAAAAAAAAro/RQuj1CbqycU/s200/frog+on+thumb2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He looks so smart! I <3 this picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-77519827646613125982013-09-16T03:33:00.001-04:002013-09-16T05:46:08.701-04:00SYTYCW and Me (Really Long Post)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg0txS893II/UjajSyuCx6I/AAAAAAAAArQ/JiMlmnmere8/s1600/SYTYCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="78" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg0txS893II/UjajSyuCx6I/AAAAAAAAArQ/JiMlmnmere8/s320/SYTYCW.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was going to hold off writing about SYTYCW until a little later, when the contest was in full-swing, but I discovered tonight that my last year's SYTYCW entry is actually available for download on Harlequin.com! That's exciting for me. I don't actually know how long it's been there, I have been obsessively checking the print store, figuring that having the print books in stock would be the delay in actually having the book up for purchase, but not so! (Print is still not available, alas.)<br />
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So to mark the occasion, I thought I'd do a little recap of the journey to publication.<br />
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The first time I decided I wanted to write a book was in 2005... or maybe 2006. I don't have much of a grasp of time. I sat down and pounded out a truly horrendous manuscript in about two weeks. I was very proud of myself until I read it and then I promptly stuffed it into a drawer and it has never seen the light of day. (And never will.)<br />
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Fast-forward: In 2010, inspired by the success of friends, I decided that publication was actually something that could happen to regular people, and gave it another shot. I should probably pause here and say that although I had not been writing books/stories during that time, I had been writing every day since about 1998 for fun. I am a former MUSHer, which is online, text-based roleplay(or in everyday vernacular: Interactive Storytelling). My voice was well established by this point, but my storytelling skills needed work.<br />
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My first submission in 2010 resulted in a full manuscript request(and voice probably got that). The book had not been written(which had been okay'd by the editor prior to submission--back when neither of us knew how long it would take me to write the full), and I didn't get a version I was anywhere comfortable sending in until almost a year later. When I sent it in, the editor who'd requested it had retired, and I have no idea where it went. I checked up at six months, and then again at nine, Still Under Consideration was the response. In the meanwhile, I had gotten more comfortable with How To Build a Novel, so I entered another Fast-Track and got a Form-Rejection on it, entered a pitch(with the book that is actually now on sale--MountainMan!) and didn't get selected to pitch, had entered New Voices and SYTYCW for two years running and got nowhere, and then I got a big Fat-Form R on the <i>full manuscript </i>requested in 2010(which turned out later to have been an error), a few other Big Fails that left my confidence very shaky.<br />
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Added to this, I am a quirky writer--my voice tends toward irreverence and I like off-the-wall scenarios. I was not at all certain I could write category. As a matter of fact, by summer 2012, I was pretty-darned certain I <i>couldn't</i>. I'd decided to stop submitting to Harlequin for the time-being--focus on epublishers, learn more, and maybe try it again later when I was no longer convinced my Level of Suck didn't need to be measured on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujita_scale" target="_blank">Fujita scale</a>. <br />
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Then I found out the 2010 full manuscript Form-R was an error. Got revision notes on it. My confidence was still in tatters, but I had one thing going for me and I was just going to focus on that one thing, the 2010 story. By the time SYTYCW2012 rolled around, I had decided not to enter it. Until about the day or two before, when my CP's(<a href="http://www.michelle-smart.com/" target="_blank">Michelle Smart</a> and <a href="http://www.aimeeduffy.co.uk/" target="_blank">Aimée Duffy</a>) talked me into entering. I had no story written, and the only fully formed story I had in mind that had never been submitted to Harlequin was MountainMan. So with a first chapter I'd written in the Spring in hand, I uploaded it to the site and dove in to write the rest of the book. I reached The End at like... 4am the day they were going to post the Top 28(semi-finalists), just in case. But again, I was not in the semi-finalists. Unlike the other contests, I didn't expect or even really let myself hope I'd be there. I was just using the contest deadlines to give myself hard-fast dates to get a book done by. And I'd done it. So yay me! I revised a the first half, then stuck it away and went back to revising the other book. <br />
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Friday -- Nov 9, the day after my birthday, I got an email from Suzanne Clarke, Medical Editor, asking to see the full manuscript. I emailed back saying I only had the first half revised, and could I wait to send it in when I got the second half revised. She emailed back asking for whatever I had polished.<br />
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Monday -- Nov 12, Sent in first half.<br />
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Monday -- Nov 19, Got revision notes on first half (Which were rather epic if enthusiastic)<br />
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Tuesday -- Nov 20, emailed back to thank her and set a Dec 7 deadline for the revised full<br />
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Thursday -- Nov 22 -- THANKSGIVING!<br />
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Friday -- Nov 23 -- Suzy emailed to ask for first three revised chapters earlier, if possible. I naturally, agreed and set another close date to send them by.<br />
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Wednesday -- Nov 28 -- Sent revised chapters 1-3<br />
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Thursday -- Nov 29 -- Sent the revised chapters 1-3 again because after sending on Wednesday, I had been filled with irrational word-hate and felt like it was a big ole mess of stupid. And that feeling disappeared after I chopped a paragraph that served no purpose beyond making me laugh. Whew. (Also, probably the first sign for editor that I'm a bit of a neurotic mess).<br />
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Thursday -- Dec 6 -- One day before deadline(Yay). I sent in the revised full. <br />
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Tuesday -- Dec 18 -- Received another round of revision notes. Again, fairly epic in scope.<br />
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Christmas and New Years derailed progress for rest of December.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hq9chTl43So/UQLFdgsLRSI/AAAAAAAAAfo/3aBbc75jG8g/s1600/mountain+man+track+changes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hq9chTl43So/UQLFdgsLRSI/AAAAAAAAAfo/3aBbc75jG8g/s200/mountain+man+track+changes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Revisions are hard!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Monday -- Jan 7 -- Contacted Suzanne to propose Jan 18 deadline for revisions, and she said sure!<br />
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Thursday -- Jan 24 -- Actual date I managed to send in revisions. They were hard, man.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Then I spent time with the </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Crickets of Scary Silence.</b></span></span></span><br />
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Wednesday -- Feb 20 -- Email asking if she could call in the afternoon. I said sure, but then promptly missed the call. Emailed, rescheduled for next day. I THOUGHT I knew why, and when I told my CP's about the email, they were sure of the reason -- but I was still pretty sure that it could just be that I'd totally crapped up the revisions and she had to talk to me on the phone to make me understand where I went wrong :)<br />
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Thursday -- Feb 21 -- Germs conspired to keep her out of office, rescheduled for Friday.<br />
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Friday -- Feb 22 -- <a href="http://amalieberlin.blogspot.com/2013/02/first-sale.html" target="_blank">THE CALL</a><br />
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And now, the Frootz of All That Labor:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://millsandboon.com/books/medical/craving-her-rough-diamond-doc.htm" target="_blank">Harlequin Ebookstore</a> (Print not available until October)</li>
<li><a href="http://millsandboon.com/books/medical/craving-her-rough-diamond-doc.htm" target="_blank">Mills & Boon</a> -- Where it is also available in print</li>
<li>It's up on Amazon's and elsewhere, but I think it does not actually become available anywhere other than Harlequin sites until October. </li>
</ul>
Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-50025414825213505262013-09-07T13:57:00.001-04:002013-09-07T13:57:28.961-04:00Upcoming Blog Tour for Craving<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662013" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="font-size: large;">Tour Schedule also <a href="http://www.amalieberlin.com/current-book-tour.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but text list below! </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662013" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8FrsX5_xsuA/UiEcu7i3vYI/AAAAAAAAAo4/V470McUcyWI/s1600/single.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8FrsX5_xsuA/UiEcu7i3vYI/AAAAAAAAAo4/V470McUcyWI/s200/single.JPG" width="138" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662013" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"> Sept 30th</span></span>-<b> <a href="http://busymomsbookreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Busy Mom's Book Reviews</span></a></b>- Guest post/Review<br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662014" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Oct 1st</span></span>-<b> <a href="http://www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Deal Sharing Aunt</span></a></b>- Interview<br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662015" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Oct 2nd</span></span>- <b><a href="http://rosebeps.blogspot.it/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Rose & Beps Blog</span></a></b>- Guest Post<br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662016" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Oct 3rd</span></span>- <b><a href="http://saveyourmoneyforbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Save Your Money For Books</span></a></b>- Review<br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662017" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Oct 4th</span></span>- <b><a href="http://www.romancebookworm.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Romance Bookworm</span></a></b>- Guest Post<br />(none on weekend)<br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662018" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Oct 7th</span></span>- <b><a href="http://blueeyedbookblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Blue Eyed Book Reviews</span></a></b>- Review<br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662019" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Oct 8th</span></span>-<b><a href="http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Queen of All She Reads</span></a></b>- Guest Post/Review<br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662020" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Oct 9th</span></span>- <b><a href="http://melindadozier.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Melinda Dozier</a></b>- Interview<br /> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662021" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Oct 10th</span></span>- <b><a href="http://www.authorvsnelson.com/blog" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Guardian's Hangout</span></a></b>- Guest Post</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(Stop 2) <b><a href="http://harlequinjunkie.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Harlequin Junkie</span></a></b>- Guest Post</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1691662022" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Oct 11th</span></span>- <b><a href="http://www.faerietalebooks.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e65c9a;">Faerie Tale Books</span></a></b>- Review/Promo</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Will have a Rafflecopter set up for the<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QDvzdMPdKcg/Ugbu4b7OjwI/AAAAAAAAAnE/LHpRfD32XT4/s1600/black+hoop+set--flash.JPG" target="_blank">tatted jewelry</a> prize pack</span>(with gift card and copy of Craving included!), as well as several copies of the book along the way. </span>Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-78350713915514381352013-09-02T13:55:00.000-04:002013-09-03T00:05:16.559-04:00I Told You I'd Do It a 3rd Time!Discovered Australian cover today! Got to keep hot couple!<br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rV6AYYtp8eA/UiTQS3bTz9I/AAAAAAAAApw/nDFPifBLGnA/s400/AustralianCoverCravingHerRoughDiamondDoc.jpg" width="252" /></div>
Oh Yeah, I like this picture :)Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-40401081779765421652013-08-30T18:35:00.000-04:002013-08-31T03:37:11.518-04:00My Book! In the flesh!(or the paper...)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sjbiFN3Y-c/UiEcv5rIANI/AAAAAAAAApA/klM3uPnxiO0/s1600/trio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sjbiFN3Y-c/UiEcv5rIANI/AAAAAAAAApA/klM3uPnxiO0/s320/trio.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I got a package in the mail from the UK...<br />
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It's my book! All 3 paper versions of it, so I'm sharing. I'm also running around in circles hooting like a maniac, but no one gets to see a picture of THAT.<br />
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The poor DHL man inhaled a gnat when he was trying to tell me to sign for it. But that's a small price to pay! :D (Poor DHL Man...)<br />
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<br />Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-53997401761550104332013-08-29T05:08:00.002-04:002013-08-29T05:08:53.701-04:00Maggie the Emo Basset-BeagleI have doggie drama. This shouldn't surprise me, Maggie's always been so emo I feel I should tart her up in a black corset and blood-red lipstick. But this drama is dinner-specific and I've never had a dog that didn't want to eat before.<br />
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Because she loves the laser pointer so much, for a while when she refused to eat, I could lead her to her dish with the red dot... and turn it off when it got into a deep nook, and she'd eat her food to try and find out where the dot was hiding. Now she refuses to eat at all unless someone shines the dot on her food. Even if she's hungry. <br />
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It's like those army dudes who have to hike behind enemy lines to find secret military thingies and shine a laser on them so the bombers can find them. In order to make Maggie eat, someone must paint the target! And even then it only works a little bit now. Sometimes she goes over to the food, licks where the dot is, finds she does not have the dot in her mouth as she wants, and refuses to eat anything else.<br />
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She'll eat people food, which we don't want to give her because... doggie food is better for her!<br />
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She loves pretzels.<br />
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She can eat her weight in banana chips...<br />
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And when she's outside, if there is cat poo anywhere in the vicinity, she tries to eat that!<br />
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She eats dirt. She eats sticks. She gets sick... which exacerbates the no-dog-food-eating situation. A dog can't live on pretzels, no matter how adorable it is to watch her eat them(she holds them daintily between her paws and bites off the loopy bit, then turns the pretzel and bites off the second loopy bit...), but when she refuses to eat anything for a day(no matter how many different foods we tempt her with), someone is gonna give in and share their dinner.<br />
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If anyone knows a way to trick a finicky dog into eating actual doggie food, please share!Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-3531030340145636462013-08-26T12:17:00.000-04:002013-08-26T15:08:20.055-04:00More Fun With Tatting!Hadn't done a choker in a while. When I'm working through story problems, I like to do stuff with my hands. Thus! New tatting... And I know, two posts in one day, the world may stop turning any second!<br />
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Still playing with the bead design, but quite like the little loop of beads in the center of each motif...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7u1tEoFGtI/UhunlFH2uzI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/QwYvGlWWy3s/s1600/choker-prototype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7u1tEoFGtI/UhunlFH2uzI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/QwYvGlWWy3s/s400/choker-prototype.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lizbeth thread, size 20, Victorian Rose(I think?)</td></tr>
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<br />Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-67738207622809308882013-08-26T08:03:00.004-04:002013-08-27T04:35:19.963-04:00Tropes Tropes an Awesome PostNot mine, but considering how frequently I talk romance and tropes, I couldn't resist sharing.<br />
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<a href="http://jamigold.com/2013/08/story-tropes-should-we-avoid-them/">http://jamigold.com/2013/08/story-tropes-should-we-avoid-them/</a>Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-28061160634293656832013-08-23T07:37:00.002-04:002013-08-23T07:37:20.269-04:00Next Project and Internal Conflict Epiphany<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5250/5304096410_4b7dab67e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5250/5304096410_4b7dab67e2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29008389@N03/" target="_blank">Photo Credit: Cindy Shultz</a></td></tr>
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Book2 is all done, aside from Author Amendments when they get here, I'm considering <i>Uncovering Her Secrets </i>on the shelf. I have a new project, and I'm so excited I'm kind of annoying myself!<br />
<br />That happens, I get new story glee at the beginning when I'm still plotting and itching to write. But I really REALLY have it now because I got the green light to dive into a story I wasn't at all sure would fly! I'll give you a hint: IT'S A CIRCUS. Oh wait, that wasn't a hint. BUT
IT'S STILL A CIRCUS. A Circus Medical Romance *beams*. <i>Circus Medicus </i>is
what I'm calling it, because I know that it will get a new title anyway.
<br />
<br />
So I'm in full-on Excitement Supernova! That glorious place at the beginning where I'm certain I'm a GENIUS, everyone will love my kooky story, and I should have it finished by Tuesday because it's going to be so easy to write. Excitement Supernova, Delusional Supernova... whatever! Call it what you like, I'm going to try and stuff some in a Tupperware and stick it in the freezer to whip out when things get hard again. <br />
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Supernovae aside, I decided to post this morning because last night I had an epiphany. Or maybe I finally just understood something my last editor was actually doing with questions she'd ask in revisions--those questions that made me dig deeper into the internal conflict.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Internal conflict is basically a coping mechanism, a belief a
character has designed to protect them from X happening. X happened in the past, or something like X happened in the past,
and the internal conflict is protection from X repeating.</div>
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</div>
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Example: Patty was left at the altar. That jerkfaced-MIA-bridegroom
broke her heart and now she's afraid of serious relationships--they all lead
to marriage and you just can’t ever count on someone to be there blahblahblah. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Seems kind of shallow, right? People do get left at the
altar without developing a complex. Children survive one parent walking out on
them, and become completely stable adults without daddy issues. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So here is my epiphany: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">One incident in an
otherwise normal existence doesn’t make someone develop really strong
coping/protecting mechanisms.</span> </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not u</span>nless it’s a horrible
incident, like a plane crash making someone never want to fly again. Or a woman deciding
to never have more children because her last baby spontaneous combusted during
a diaper change… Big Horrible Incidents aside, one Average-Baggage incident
does not believable, sustainable Internal Conflict make. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But if that one incident <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">confirms</i></b> a belief suggested by an
earlier incident? What if Patty has always had self-esteem issues, never could
believe that her fiancée wanted to marry her, and THEN was left at the altar?
Yeah, I can see that confirming what she already felt: that she wasn’t good
enough to be loved by the kind of man she wanted, or something along those
lines. Make her set her sights low, make her date the wrong kind of man. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Every craft book I’ve read about developing conflict always
demanded I ask Why… but I guess up until now, when in the initial writing stages(first draft) I’ve never asked
the one final Why that makes the difference. The Why that gets me to that
deepest level(until revisions… when my editor asked me why…)</div>
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So, this is what I going to do from now on: When I
get to this Incident that gave my character a complex(if it’s not horrible like
BabySpontaneousCombustion)I'm going to ask this:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Why did this incident affect him/her enough to make him to live
a guarded life? <span> </span>What earlier belief did this incident
confirm? </i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Until now, I think my initial Internal Conflict Incident
has not been the root. It’s been the base of the tree, but there was always
something in the roots that I didn’t pick up on until someone MADE ME think about it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Anyway, that's my epiphany for the day. I'm sure it's not an epiphany to everyone, but if it is, feel free to steal my Why!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(And I'm still excited about the story after typing this long post. <span style="font-size: large;"><i>Circus Medicus </i>YAY!</span>) </span><br />
Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-83106454401723394392013-08-16T20:33:00.001-04:002014-10-28T20:08:22.021-04:00A Writer's Most Important TraitI know I haven't been doing this very long, at least not with official author credentials, but I have a couple bits of advice to share, so I'm gonna share them!<br />
<br />
You can find a million blogs/websites online that tell you how to be a good writer, and I'm sure they all have nuggets of juicy and valuable wisdom. Some folks will rightly claim that having a great imagination is what you need to be a good writer. I don't disagree. Creativity will take you far. Others may say that you just need determination and to practice your craft, and eventually you'll get there. I slightly disagree with that, but on the whole, I think it's great advice.<br />
<br />
But the thing is, if you want to write <i>romance </i>where emotion is king,<i><b> </b></i><b><i>the most important trait you can have is Empathy</i></b>. If you can't really put yourself into someone else's shoes(which does take imagination, sometimes a lot of it!), then you can't be a selling romance writer. Not until you learn how. And really, all good fiction is character driven, so I believe this applies across the genre divides, but unequivocallyin romance.<br />
<br />
I think the empathy level of romance writers is higher than average and that's why the romance writing community is so supportive, but there have been some instances(in the past couple months mostly) that have made me want to shake a baby author and say... <i>Imagine it was you before you ________.</i><br />
<br />
This even goes past writing and into the professional persona you have to craft. Everyone wants to work with folks who are <i>easy to work with</i>. Authors want to work with editors who are easy to work with. Editors want to work with authors who are easy to work with. Dairy cows want to work with farmers who have soft hands... and therefore are easy to work with!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-igSg0IK9uhY/Ug7B8x_4KyI/AAAAAAAAAnk/x2LKqsmVsGk/s1600/scared+bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-igSg0IK9uhY/Ug7B8x_4KyI/AAAAAAAAAnk/x2LKqsmVsGk/s200/scared+bunny.jpg" height="200" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scared bunny</td></tr>
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I say this with all love: Most writers(me included) at heart are a bunch of neurotic, paranoid, baby rabbits with a crack addiction. Great imaginations mean we're Great Worriers. There may be no snarling beagle cornering us, staring us down with those pointy teeth and floppy ears of DOOM... but we can picture it! So the fear is very real. The fear of submitting. The fear that our submission has been lost/ignored/destroyed-by-internet-gremlins... The fear that the editor hates our story(AND US!) and just can't find a nice way to tell us to stop with all the submitting already! The fear that our new editor is lamenting being saddled with us and our questionable writing skills...(Did you see my windmill arm flailing a couple weeks ago?)<br />
<br />
Stop. Put that bunny back in his hutch and take away his lunch money.<br />
<br />
Empathy. Empathy. Empathy. Empathy. Empathy. Empathy. Empathy. <br />
<br />
That is all :)Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109009670524863667.post-32666285909768697022013-08-14T17:57:00.001-04:002013-08-14T21:09:29.048-04:00No.Am. Cover for 2012's SYTYCW Entry!Love how the white sheets blend into the white format of the North American medical covers. The smokin' hot couple looks even better in big format than I had hoped!<br />
<br />
Tickled pink!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Craving-Her-Rough-Diamond-ebook/dp/B00CFX581G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RE2lZq1fmlw/Ugv7oNu_ErI/AAAAAAAAAnU/c5VwcD_Ujyc/s640/CRAVING+COVER+US.jpg" width="403" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://amalieberlin.blogspot.com/2013/07/mountain-man-gots-cover.html" target="_blank">Compare to UK Cover here</a></td></tr>
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<br />Amalie Berlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.com0