My (final) G.R.I.P.E. (Great Indie Pub Experiment)

Last year, I announced that I was going to take the plunge and, along with my husband, try out the new trend toward independent publishing--and that I'd post our results here for all to see.

As a reminder, here were the goals I'd set in my last post:

PREVIOUS PROJECTED GOALS (for Sep/Oct/Nov 2011)
Total available titles: 12
Total hours spent per week (writing not included): 5
Total sales projected: 500

A bold, but not crazy step up from my first-quarter goal of 6 titles available and a mere 30 copies sold for 40 hours work per week. Since my actual numbers wound up being better than this, happily, I adjusted the above projection accordingly.

So what happened? Did I make the goal?

Here are the results from September through November:

ACTUAL TOTALS
Total available titles: 28
Total hours spent (per week) on promotion/learning curve/production: 20
Total sales: 3,770

Well! Quite a lot more available titles than we'd planned. My husband and I buckled down and did more writing than anticipated the first two months of the quarter (and then took a break in November). However, this also meant a greater time requirement for production--four times as much. However, the return was seven times greater than projected, so overall we were still ahead.

Not too shabby for our little experiment, I'd say. I will mention that December saw our sales drop(ironically when holiday shopping is at its annual high), which we highly suspect was due to our November hiatus (no new content for a month). Still, we were quite pleased with the numbers overall, which have tallied close to 6k since we began.

With 2011 behind us, the official "Experiment" is over, and we have declared it a success. My husband is doing indie work exclusively and has largely stopped other business ventures in order to focus on it. I will still be writing for my publishers, but will keep doing indie stories as well.

I wouldn't have guessed this when I first started our experiment, but with the way our coming year's schedule has evolved, I've conceded that this must be my last post here at Nocturnal Nights. Sadly, some shuffling of time commitments was in order to keep the train rolling. I've truly enjoyed my time here and hope you all found some helpful (or, at least, entertaining!) info within my posts.

Happy 2012, and Happy Writing to all of you!

NaNoWriMo: Holiday Wrap-Up

Welcome to Part 3 of my 3-part series on NaNoWriMo, aka National Novel Writing Month. Now that NaNo is history for another year, let me reflect a bit on how things went.

First, here's my find word count for NaNo 2011:


Yep, I did it! But I must say, this was the toughest year ever--and hitting the goal took longer than any of the five prior times I'd participated. In fact, I crossed the 50k mark with only 6 hours to spare. But hey, success is success!

Had I not made it past that magical number (which, by the way, did not mark the actual end of my book), I still would count my participation a success. The fact that I can and do write through all manner of distractions, life dramas, work schedules, and assorted upheavals means books get finished and royalties eventually find their way into my wallet (for far too short a time, ha!). Hitting an arbitrary word count does not a winning writer make, but it's good for me to have a goal to shoot for at least once a year. It forces me to pull my write-to-deadline skills out of mothballs, and remember that I can't always wait around for my muse's whim and good graces. He's a sly trickster who takes great delight in popping up at inconvenient times, and then dashing off to chase the next pretty skirt just when I need him.

I hope that those of you who participated in NaNo this year were able to further your current project, whether or not you hit "the mark". Getting to that finish line happens in its own time, whether a book is 20k or 100k, but we can't get there without making the journey! So here's celebrating all of us who are making the journey to our next book, whenever we might type THE END.

Next month, I'll be stopping in with another updated on my G.R.I.P.E. (GReat Indie Pub Experiment). Until then, Happy Holidays to all, and a joyous New Year!

NaNoWriMo: Take The High Road

Welcome to Part 2 of my 3-part series on NaNoWriMo, aka National Novel Writing Month. Last month I talked about what NaNo is and how it can help your writing. Now that it's mid-NaNo, let's check in and see how it's going and talk about some pitfalls and how to get things rolling.

First, here's my personal word count as of this writing:


Not shabby, but not phenomenal. The accompanying picture pretty much sums up how my NaNo has been going this year. My word count has been blowing me the big raspberry almost every day this time, when every other year I'd be way ahead of the game by now. Still, aside from a few days where my count dipped below the daily goal, I've stayed on track and look to be finishing right around the end of the month.

The reasons for my personal worst performance this year are many, and some may wonder why die-hard NaNoers such as moi bother plugging along despite the myriad crap life throws our way. More on that in a moment.But first...

Five Good Reasons I Have For Quitting NaNoWriMo This Year:

1. My daughter got sick and had to go to the Emergency Room. Spent all night there with her and had to take care of her at home afterward.

2. I had edits due back to my publisher for my latest book, which naturally turned into the most involved, time-consuming batch of rewrites I'd ever encountered in my writing career.

3. I got an infection and wound up missing some work to visit the Urgent Care.

4. I had committed to write several short stories this month, plus edit and release one per week for my husband.

5. My car decided it didn't want to start this week.

None of this counts the holidays, shopping chores, work schedule, or other things that put dampers on the muse. Really, most any one of the above was probably enough to say, "Meh, forget NaNo this year. Better luck next time." No one would have made me feel bad about it. In fact, I'd have gotten nods of understanding and pats on the back for trying. After all, writing can take place all year. So it's no big deal if it doesn't get done today.

Or is it?

Five Good Reasons I Stuck With NaNo Anyway

1. My next book can't get written until I finish this one

2. I can't get royalty checks on a book I haven't written yet

3. Getting the same "flow" going in my story again will be tougher if I drop it now and pick it up later

4. The sense of accomplishment for sticking it out when the going gets tough puts a major happy in my step

5. (And most important of all): If I let my writing get derailed every time a legitimate, reasonable excuse comes along, I would probably never write another book

NaNo is a great practice ground for Taking Writing Seriously As A Life Choice. It gives us an excuse to lay things aside and put writing first. There are always things that can get in the way of this. We get sick, our cars break down, our kids and spouses need us to help take care of them, and our muses take unscheduled, unapproved vacations. As busy as all these things make us, it can be very difficult to "fit writing in" to our lives.

I like to tell people who want to go next level with their writing output to take the NaNo approach. Don't fit writing into your life; fit your life into your writing. See what happens. You needn't treat every single month as a NaNo month, and of course there are times when other things must and should take priority over the whim of our muse. But adopting the general mind set of NaNo month can set up a winning strategy that will increase your productivity all year round. Really. You'd be amazed.

So, you decided not to do NaNo this year? I have a challenge for you. Start tomorrow with a do-or-die dare to write 1667 words per day until November 30. If you do this, you will be halfway to a full length novel by the time you're through.

Next time, I'll be doing a post-NaNo wrap up post and we'll see whether I succeed in putting my money where my mouth is this year. To those of you who are mid-NaNo, hang on; we're halfway there! To the rest, what is there to lose by starting your next project tomorrow? November will come and go regardless of whether you write a book. But wouldn't it be more awesome if you had?

NaNoWriMo: Should You? Why and How

Welcome to my next 3-part series! The topic this time is NaNoWriMo. I’ll be blogging this month about getting ready beforehand, offering go-getter advice during the event in November, and I’ll wrap up with a post-NaNo blog in December.

**What the Blazin' Heck is NaNoWriMo?**

This mnemonic—and time of year—is familiar to many who have been around the writing community for a while. In short, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, an event that has been going on every November since 1999. The goal: write a novel (or 50k words of one) in 30 days during the month of November. Impossible, you say? Preposterous? Nay, says I. NaNoWriMo reported that close to twenty percent of its participants reached the 50k goal in 2009. (Data for last year was unavailable as of this writing.) This year will mark my sixth consecutive NaNoWriMo, and, I hope, my sixth consecutive “win”.

**What’s the Point? (Or, “I Write All Year.”)**

A lot of writers feel that the hype about NaNo is vastly overblown. After all, fiction writing takes place every day around the globe. Why make a special event out of it? Well, here are a half dozen advantages I have discovered about climbing aboard the NaNo bandwagon.


1. Many of Us Write Well to Goals.
Sure, you can set a word count goal anytime, but an official, national (really, global) challenge to make 1667 words per day for 30 days can really jump start your next project.

2. The Speed Challenge Can Improve Your Productivity
Having the incentive to pump out a daily word count can teach you a great deal about streamlining your first draft process. That skill won't end with NaNo--it will stay with you into future projects. The faster you write, the faster you will hopefully get another title available for the market.

Some “Nay-NoWriMo” critics argue that writing a fast novel results in a crap novel. That might be true for a few who pump out whatever just to drive up their word count, but for the rest of us, that extra push does nothing more than get a first draft out of our brains and onto (virtual?) paper. Who cares if it isn’t perfect—it’s a rough draft! That’s what editing is for. If your first drafts consistently take longer than 1-2 months to write, NaNo can transform your life. Every year that I participate, that push brushes up my drafting skills for the coming year’s projects—and I get an extra book done in the process. What’s not to love?

3. Write-ins and Community Can Offer Friendships and Networking
Not only does the NaNo site feature regional and worldwide forums in order to socialize with others bold enough to undertake this ambitious task, but there are live write-ins, kick-off parties, “we survived” after-parties, and the like that can allow you to meet other like-mindeds in your area. Also, Twitter has a #NaNoWriMo hashtag that goes like gangbusters as people share their questions, ups and downs, and tips throughout the challenge. You might well meet folks who could wind up as crit partners, friends, or networking associates long after November has passed.

4. The “Official” Atmosphere Can Boost Your Writing
It’s hard to explain the feeling of being immersed in an event taking place simultaneously, yet while you’re alone at your desk (when not at the write-ins). It’s a fun time not entirely unlike the atmosphere of a writing convention, where everyone involved is focused on a single purpose for the month. There’s nothing quite like it all the rest of a writer’s year, and that camaraderie can help push you through that challenge and help you get that novel finished by November 30.

5. NaNo Participation Makes for Interesting Marketing Buzz
Granted, tons of writers post the “I’m doing NaNo” stuff on their blogs, sites, and social nets. Generate pre-buzz about your latest book by posting word counters and progress updates. Or get more creative and host write-ins or put our local press releases about the event.

I do something a bit different...I host a “Best NaNoWriMo Line Written” contest each year. People submit their favorite sentences, and I pick winners weekly and at the end. If you’re interested in this, NaNoMail me (see my info below in the how to section) at the NaNo site with Contest News in the message, and I’ll send you the official thread link when it goes up.

6. Even if you lose, you win!
Say you sign up for the challenge, write for a week or two, then something happens. Thanksgiving rolls around, you catch a nasty cold, or Aunt Bessie decides to come for an unexpected two-week visit. You stop writing, and November 30 comes and goes with your novel “only” 10, 20, or 30k complete. That’s word count toward that book that doesn’t end when November does. You’ll be that much more ahead when you do get around to finishing. November is going to pass whether or not you sign up, but why not give NaNo a shot and invest that scheduled time into your writing career?
In a nutshell, I highly recommend NaNoWriMo for anyone who wants to try their hand at writing a novel or improve their drafting productivity.

**Okay, I’m In! How Do I Do It?**

Get thee hence to the official NaNo site: http://nanowrimo.org and read the official rules, then sign up. It’s free! From there, you can establish a profile, add friends, and post in the forums. My NaNo user name is lisalogan (an old pen name I still use occasionally) for anyone who wants to add me or ask about the contest. Then come November 1 (some say midnight on Halloween night), jump in and start writing! Have fun with it and I’ll check back in on November 15th with my next blog to see how it’s going.

Any NaNo success or other stories? I’d love to hear your comments.

My Gr.I.P.E. (Great Indie Pub Experiment)

Last quarter, I announced that while I was quite happy with my current publishers, I'd decided to take the plunge and go "indie"...and that I would post the results right here for all to see.

After starting off by listening to quite a few authors who had already embarked on this journey, I made my goals small. I figured sales would start off quite slowly and build over time as backlist (and experience in target audience) grew. I also speculated that while sales would increase, time spent on promotion and production would decrease.

As a reminder, here were the goals from my last post:

PREVIOUS PROJECTED GOALS
Total available titles: 6
Total hours spent (per week) on promotion, learning curve, production: 40
Total sales projected: 30

Not too impressive, granted. I like to be realistic, and with no prior experience with indie publishing, I figured the first quarter would be high on up-front time investment and low on sales return. A sound concept, but I'm happy to report that there were greater returns for lesser time outlays than anticipated.

Here are the results from June to August:

ACTUAL TOTALS
Total available titles: 9
Total hours spent (per week) on promotion, learning curve, production: 10
Total sales: 375

Not bad! I spent 1/4 of the projected time to earn 10 times the sales. All in all, I was darn impressed by this, especially considering I spent less than one hour per MONTH actually promoting the titles. As expected, sales started quite gradually and have sloped upward. The bulk of sales came from two specific titles my husband wrote to target a high-selling market: cowboy erotica. Those two titles represent almost 75% of the total.

(Right: our best selling title thus far, Cowboy Comes Calling)

Next quarter, I plan to release some things I have sitting in the wings, but my husband and I will experiment more with some of the hotter-selling genres. While my time outlay was small, I need to decrease it further because of upcoming commitments. I am also going to try dropping all promotion of these titles, save a blurb on my blog when they are released. Crazy? Maybe. So here are my projections:


NEW PROJECTED GOALS:
Total available titles: 12
Total hours spent per week (writing not included): 5
Total sales projected: 500

What do you think? Can I hit the goal with no promotion?

Feng Shui Your Writing, Part 3

Feng Shui Your Writing
Part 3

Welcome to the final installment of my 3-part series on using the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui to help give a boost to your writing! Time to wrap up this series by covering the rest of the bagua octagon, as well as offering a couple final pointers.

Last time, I covered the Family, Fame, and Marriage zones. This month, I’ll be covering the final three Feng Shui “zones” in your home, as shown on the image below.



As a reminder, this bagua map is used to identify where each Feng Shui area exists in your own home or room. To use, mentally place the map so that the top “Career” line rests along the same wall as the entry door. You can apply the techniques described in this series to the entire house as a whole, to an individual room (say, your office?), or even to a small space like your writing desk. For an even greater impact, “echo” the effect by applying the guidelines to all three!

Here’s a quick recap of the 1-2-3 method approach I like to use when tackling a Feng Shui zone (I talked more in depth about this last month). First, streamline the area by getting rid of clutter and dust. Second, fix or nix anything that is broken (burnt out light bulbs, for instance). Move or apply Feng Shui “cures” for any element or color that works against the intention of that zone (for instance, curing a fireplace located in a zone where water is the natural element). Third, introduce elements, shapes, and colors into the zone that reflect the intention, as shown on the map.

Okay! Let’s move onto the final three zones.

1. Creativity/Children

As you’re standing in the center of your room/home facing the door, this area is located on the left wall. Optimizing this area is a boon for writers to enhance their creative flow! It’s also helpful for family authors, for maintaining a balance in this area helps boost the balance in our children’s lives as well. You might also notice on the bagua that it mentions the future...an important consideration for writers as well!

You’ll note on the bagua map that the natural element for this zone is Metal, and the color association is white. The shape correspondence to Metal is the circle or dome. White metals in this area are of particular use, especially if round. For instance, how about a round mirror on the wall here? Gold, silver, or bronze tones are good metallic-inspired accent colors for this zone. As Fire melts Metal, avoid reds, triangular shapes, candles or fire-related decor in this zone. A fireplace in the Children’s area can throw a child’s energy out of balance, and can thwart Creativity. Do you get writer’s block often? Scan this zone for fire-related shapes, colors, and elements and move or cure them.


2. Helpful People/Travel

While at first glance this zone in the left front corner might not seem like the most vital from a writer’s standpoint, it is actually quite essential. Boosting the propensity for people in your life to help you can be of great value when it comes to finding publishers, critique partners, beta readers, reviewers or promoters willing to take on your work, and more. Travel comes into play when you’re on the road doing signings or research, too.

As this is a “corner” zone, there is no natural element associated with it. However, whites, blacks, and grays are the attributed colors, which we have learned correspond to metal and water-inspired zones. I keep my Helpful People area largely white and black, with some pops of green to accent. I also have small electric tea candles that I light when I need help, or when someone I love is traveling—to help aid the path. Travel-related art/decor (travel souvenirs) are handy kept here, or to boost the Helpful People aspect, a picture wall containing friends or artwork denoting people helping their fellow man. Avoid clutter, jagged decor or sharp points here, as these can represent barriers to smooth travel or in getting help.


3. Health

Standing in the middle of your home or room, you are in the midst of the Health area. The “heart” of your home is vital for obvious reasons, and keeping this area clear is believed to aid in your overall health.

The Health area’s element is Wood, so wood furnishings and oblong-shaped decor is useful here. Metal cuts Wood, and Fire burns it, so these should be used sparingly. Color associations for your Health area are yellows, greens, and browns. What I find most helpful for this area is to keep it clean, sparse, and free of clutter, which reduces blockages along the path to good health. Also, of particular use in this area is the inclusion of green plants—preferably live plants, which give off oxygen and promote positive chi in this zone. Avoid sharp plants and those with spiky-shaped leaves. A water fountain is also useful here, for stirring fresh chi.

That's it! We've come full circle (or should I say, full octagon) and have covered all nine zones.


Other Tips

Now that you have learned about the nine zones, which one is most important? The answer is: ALL of them combined. In order to stimulate your Wealth area, for example, you could clear a space there and add a money tree. You might even notice a difference. But to truly achieve the maximum benefit, there must be a balance in all areas. Wealth without health or a happy family to share it with can be a difficult thing. Achieve the greatest benefit to your writing career and life by making the up-front effort to implement Feng Shui in all nine zones. It will take a little time, depending on the scale you are tackling (home vs. room or desk), but the efforts are worth it.

Last month, I promised you one secret tip that will truly activate all the benefits of your Feng Shui efforts. KNOW YOUR INTENTION. As you work on your Wealth area, focus on WHY you are clearing clutter. WHY you are using the colors you are choosing. As you clean, imagine clearing a path that brings in money. Applying your mental energy to this process is a key that can help truly activate these techniques.

Finally, once you’ve got everything in place, keep things in order. I “activate” every zone once a week by dusting the area, clearing clutter that likes to creep in, and stirring positive chi by lighting a candle, burning incense, tinkling a windchime, or cleaning the fountain. And as I do, I think about why I am doing it. I picture my family laughing happily together while I straighten the Family area. I envision my reputation improving as I light candles in the Fame area, and so on. Feng Shui is a lifetime pursuit that can net you many rewards, in exchange for as little as a couple of minutes each day. I wish you the best in your efforts!

I hope you’ve found this series helpful. Next month, I’ll be giving my first quarterly update on my G.R.I.P.E. (Great Indie Pub Experiment) and introducing the next 3-month series. Until then, happy Feng Shui-ing!

Feng Shui Your Writing, Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of 3 monthly blog posts where I'm talking about using the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui to help boost your writing career—and life in general. Last time, we covered the basics about Feng Shui, along with discussing the first three of the nine “zones.” I also talked about my 1-2-3 approach to adjusting an area’s decor using Feng Shui Principles. I’ll recap that approach first, and then we’ll move on to the next three zones.

The 1-2-3 approach

When you apply Feng Shui techniques, it is important to understand which “zone” you are making changes to, what specific things that zone affects, and which elements and colors help or hinder in that area. This 3-step process will help you shape up each area of your home/office/space to optimize Feng Shui.

1. Streamline
Go through this space and give it a thorough cleaning—the kind I tell my 7-year-old daughter is “Mama clean.” Nix all clutter, evict dust bunnies, and take a hard look at each item in the space to determine whether it truly needs to be there. A more minimalist approach is preferred in Feng Shui over the simple addition of numerous chotchkes. Keep a few that you love and retire the rest.

2. Eliminate Hindering Elements
Now that the zone is neat and tidy, put on your Feng Shui-colored glasses and take another hard look. Fix or get rid of anything that is broken, replace burnt out light bulbs immediately, and last but hardly least, move or “cure” any element or color that works against the intention of that zone. For instance, if you have candles (Fire element) in the Wealth zone (natural element=Water), move them. If you have a fireplace you obviously can’t “move” it, so cure it by counteracting with the addition of water-inspired features and/or colors.

3. Add Helper Elements
Do include in each zone shapes, colors, and elements that are considered natural “helpers” for each zone. Candles in natural Fire element zones, fountains in Water zones, etc. By the end of this 3-blog series, you’ll know the element and color correspondences for each of the nine zones.

Okay! Now let’s move onto the next three zones. I’m including the bagua map I posted last time to help as we go along. As a reminder, this map is used to identify where each Feng Shui zone exists in your own home or room. Mentally place the map so that the top “Career” line rests along the wall that houses the entry door to the room/house.


1. Wealth
Need I even point out why the left rear corner (when you’re in the middle of the room facing the door) is an area of the home that is important to writers? Thought not, LOL. On the bagua you’ll see that the natural element associated with the Wealth area is Air (wind), and color associations include blue, purple, and red. I’d also like to add green to this list. Jade is a good money association as well. I’ve also found that in general feng shui, moving water elements like a fountain are believed to help stimulate the flow of wealth. So in my Wealth area I use both Air and Water elements, and with water present I eliminate red and purple, which are closer associated to the Fire element. A good and simple “Air” element to add to your Wealth area is a windchime. Yes, they work indoors! Hang it in this corner and give it a brush now and then as you pass by to stimulate some good chi energy. Another cure I like to use weekly to “activate” this area is incense. The smoke wafting through the area is a nice scent cure, as well as a visual representation of air. If you elect to use a Water element, make it a moving one such as a fountain or aquarium. Then make sure that the flow of water is not pointing at your door, which represents money flowing away from the house.

In looking at hindering items here, bathrooms present a particular issue for wealth. Water represents the flow of money in a home, while drains and toilets suck money away. Keep toilet lids down, especially while flushing. Keep drains closed when not in use. If you have any leaky faucets, that represents money leaking away, so repair them. This is especially vital if a bathroom is located in the Wealth area, but important regardless of location.

One other thing that can help encourage the flow of money into the home is to position a fountain outside, with the flow of water strategically pointed toward the door. Not out toward the street!

2. Fame/Reputation
Obviously as writers we want to be well known and have readers seek out our books, so the rear wall of your home or office is important for affecting how others see you. Fire is the element, and that should come as no surprise! You want your career to burn bright. Reds and royal purples are great in this zone, and this is the ideal spot for a fireplace or for candles. This is a nice spot to display book cover art, writing awards, your author headshot (get one if you don’t have it already), etc. I light a candle in this zone once a week to activate the energy.

If a bathroom or water elements exist in this area, it can dampen your personal flame—especially if you are using “watery” color schemes like blues or greens in the decor. Move water features and “cure” Fame area bathrooms by using bright reds, triangular shapes (representing flames), purples, and candles—big jars or pillars and red if possible. Hang cover art in the bathroom! Though I might stop short of suggesting your head shot, smiling at folks while they visit the commode.

3. Marriage/Romantic Relationships
Where would we be without the support of that special someone? And for romance writers in particular, inspiring romantic energy by sprucing up your Romance zone can be a bonus! A master bedroom is the ideal area for this area, located in the back right corner of your house/room. The Marriage area is a natural Earth zone, so clay decor and plants are a plus here. Red, pink, and white are the best colors to use in this area—red for passion, pink for romantic love and fidelity. Too much red can cause chaotic emotions, however, so go easy. My Marriage area contains photos of our wedding day, our first date, and pink quartz stones. I use a small candle in this zone, but because Fire can spark too much tension (i.e., arguments) I only use an tiny electric tea light to subdue the spark. I also place a fresh rose to activate this zone weekly—almost always a pink or red rose. Red or pink sheets in the bedroom are a big must, too, or if you can’t get away with it, place a large, flat piece of red fabric beneath the mattress (smooth it over the box spring).


Next month we’ll cover the final three zones, I’ll tell you which of the nine is THEE most important—and I’ll tell you what one secret tip can make or break your Feng Shui efforts. Happy organizing, and be sure to post any comments or questions!

Feng Shui Your Writing, Part 1

Welcome to my next 3-part series, Feng Shui Your Writing!

When I decided to take the leap into fiction writing, I soon realized I had to organize my writing space, my writing time, and my writing mind. It was around that time that I first stumbled over the art of Feng Shui. I found the principles so useful that I not only credit them with helping me land my first sale (a short story sold to FUTURES magazine), but sparked a long-standing life practice that I use on a daily basis.

Over the next three months, I’ll be talking about some ways this ancient Chinese practice can enrich and streamline your writing career (if not life as a whole). Today I’ll give a brief description of Feng Shui and the nine areas encompassed by it, along with giving details on applying Feng Shui techniques to the first three zones. Parts 2 and 3 will go on to help you organize and optimize the remaining six zones, by which time you could have applied the principles to your office, desk, or even entire home for the ultimate in repetitive reinforcement to enhance your creative flow.

Feng Shui: What is It?

My simplistic, Cliffs Notes answer is this: Feng Shui involves the strategic placement of items within a space to help achieve balance in nine essential areas of life. “Item” placement can mean everything from furnishings and accessories to the use of color, the elements, and light. In short, it is the belief that anything within/on a space (a home, single room, desktop, etc.) can either become an obstacle that blocks “chi,” or the energy that flows around and through us, or an enhancement that helps move positive, healthy energy.

How does it work? There are varying debates on this, some highly metaphysical, others very practical (such as replacing burned out light bulbs to enhance knowledge). For the purposes of this blog series I won’t be discussing the mysticism or lore behind Feng Shui, nor can I offer more than a rudimentary knowledge. But I can tell you that I have seen amazing results in using it. For now, let’s skip the “how” and jump right into the “how-to.”


The nine areas/zones of Feng Shui are:


Career
Knowledge
Family
Wealth
Fame/Reputation
Marriage/Romantic Relationships
Creativity/Children
Helpful People/Travel
Health (in the center)

This octagon, called a Ba-Gua, serves as a sort of map to be used in the space you will be working with. The Career line of the Ba-Gua faces North, and in traditional Feng Shui special compasses are used to find exact placement. In the modern practice that I use, however, positioning is done easily by considering the wall with the entry door as North. (If you want to apply Feng Shui to a smaller area, such as a desk, North is considered the edge of the desk farthest from you when you’re sitting behind it.)

In other words, if you had a printout of the Ba-Gua in the exact size of the space (stretched to fit as needed), you would align the Career edge of the octagon with the door or far edge of your desk. Let’s say you’re standing in the middle of the home office where you do your writing. Face the door and mentally apply the Ba-Gua. The wall in front of you is the Career zone, and the wall behind is the Fame zone. Your Family area is the right hand wall, and the Children/Creativity zone is the left. The corners represent the corner areas on the map, and you are standing in the Health zone, right in the middle. To apply Feng Shui techniques, it is important to understand which “zone” you are making changes to, what that zone affects, and what elements and colors help or hinder in that area. I use a 3-step process to tackle and streamline each zone that involves streamlining, removing “hindering” elements , and adding the “helper” elements.

Now that we’ve got the basic map covered, let’s move onto this month’s zones.

1. Career
The Career area is naturally important to a writer because it affects job prospects, which can include sales to publishers. On the Ba-Gua, you’ll notice that the color associated with this zone is black, and the element listed is Water.

First: Declutter! Take a look at the front wall. What do you see? Is there clutter? Stuff hiding behind the door? Cobwebs? Your first trick is to clear all clutter from this wall and around the door, and give it a good dusting. Clutter blocks chi and stifles creativity. Plus it’s just darn unpleasant.

Second: Fix what’s broken. Burned out light bulbs, any chipped or damaged items on display or in use, etc. Broken junk=broken chi, so fix it right away or get rid of it. Next, keeping in mind that the natural helper element for this zone is Water, you’ll want to move items representing its opposing element, Fire. This means candles, the color red, triangular shapes (triangles represent flame). If you have a fireplace on this wall, you can’t move it, but you can “cure” it by applying enough of the helper element to balance or negate the opposing effect.

Third: Add your enhancements. Black (and dark blue) is representative of the Water element, so include this color in the decor. Add a water feature. A fountain with a rotating ball is very useful here, as it represents a constant movement of positive energy in terms of “turning over” book product—finishing stories, turnaround time on submissions, avoiding holdups on releases, etc. Other “Water” features can include water balls (snowglobes), round shapes, aquariums, and pictures or paintings of water (moving water is better than still water in areas where you are trying to move chi, and calm waters like ponds are good in areas you prefer a calming effect). If you need to “cure” a fireplace here, add a large painting of moving water over the mantle, use black or blue colors to subdue the effect, or do what I did in one house—stick a fountain inside the fireplace.


2. Knowledge
The Knowledge area comes into play when you are seeking information, such as researching your next book, markets, promotional venues, etc. Black, blue, and green are the color associations, and like all the corner areas, does not have a natural element.

To enhance your Knowledge area, use the 1-2-3 approach again, and place special emphasis on lighting in this corner. You’ve heard the terms “Lighting the path to the answer” and “The light bulb came on, and I finally got it.” If there is no lighting in this corner, add some. When bulbs burn out, replace them immediately. Candles can also be used here, but their light tends to be less bright and helpful than a good fixture. Also, this is the optimal location for books and/or television. Consider live (or good quality silk) plants in this corner as your green accent. Plants produce oxygen and help detoxify our environment.



3. Family
The Family area, while important for self-explanatory reasons, may not immediately strike you as a zone that affects your writing career. However, since the support of our family is vital, and disharmony within the family dynamic can negatively impact our ability to focus on writing, this area is definitely not one to overlook. The color associated with this zone is green, and the natural element is Wood.

While using the 1-2-3 method here, watch out for Fire and Metal elements, which are destructive to Wood. (Fire burns, Metal (axe) chops.) Wood furniture is the best choice. Pictures of your family are obvious choices, as are plants. I have a triple stalk of bamboo in a green ceramic vase enhancing my Family zone. If there is disharmony among family members, check for candles, triangular shapes, or other Fire associations in the Family zone of your house and in each individual room.


Now that you’ve got these three zones optimized, you’ll want to keep them “activated” on a regular basis for the greatest ongoing effect. Activating a zone can be as simple as chasing away the dust bunnies, putting out a vase of fresh flowers, lighting candles (in appropriate zones), or using aromatherapy. I have a routine of “activating” each of my zones once per week. So next Monday, dust your Career area and shake up those snowglobes or burn some incense. Tuesday, clean the Knowledge zone and light some candles. Wednesday, dust the Family zone and light some incense or add diffuser reeds for fragrance.

Next month, we’ll focus on Wealth, Fame, and Relationship zones (three things that definitely go together for my romance writing career!) . Meanwhile, I hope you’ve enjoyed this basic introduction to Feng Shui. if you have any Feng Shui stories or questions, please post them in the comments. Here’s to positive writer chi!

My Gr.I.P.E. (Great Indie Pub Experiment)

Yes, good things still come in threes, and I’m starting an all-new series that will appear on this blog in three parts during 2011. They just won’t appear back to back.

After a variety of publishing experiences ranging from awful to awesome, the joy of saying “I told you so” to folks who told me that e-pub would never amount to anything, and years of “don’t go there” conditioning, I’ve decided to take my career in a direction I never dreamed I would.

I’m going indie. And I’m going to post the results right here for all to see.

Am I so dissatisfied with my writing career that I feel forced into self pub? Not in the least! In fact, my earnings have grown exponentially each quarter for the past year. So why take the plunge into the dark, scary world of indie?

I have a lengthy list of reasons for giving it a shot, but to wrap it up in one word, I’m interested in the POTENTIAL. The potential for books I’d back-burnered to see the light of day. The potential to control cover art and sales prices of my work completely—and to change them when I want to drive sales. The potential to pocket a much larger percentage of profits than even my generous publisher offers. The potential to get in on what is being likened to the California Gold Rush while the gettin’s still good.

So, I’ve decided to experiment with this idea and see where it takes me. Am I giving up on other publishing? Nope. In fact, I just started a 7-book series for my current pub, and have another book under consideration elsewhere. I’m merely seeking ways to expand my prospects.

Every quarter, in between each new three-part series, I will post the latest stats and info on how things are working with this experiment. My expectation is that things will start off very slowly, then build over time. My hope is to start seeing a modest, yet steady income from this enterprise within a year or so, and that posting about my journey will help some of you who might be considering this road.

Okay! Here are my starting point stats and goals for the next quarter:

Currently distributing on: Kindle, B&N, Smashwords

Titles currently out: 1. (An erotic short-short story written by my husband, who agreed to be my first guinea pig!)

Days available: 3

Total sales: 1 (A copy sold on Smashwords the first day, which surprised me. I heard that it takes time to get sales, and that they are far more likely to happen on Amazon than other distribs.)

Goals:
Total available by next quarter: 6
Total hours spent (per week) on promotion, learning curve, production: 40
Total sales projected: 30


Whoa! Hold the phone. Why on earth would I want to dive in with paltry projections like these? Patience, grasshopper. Patience. For one thing, at least two of the projected titles will be short stories, which don’t tend to sell as well as novels. However, they DO sell, and can later be bundled into a collection or offered free to entice readers. I’m also projecting low because of the expectation that it takes time to get things rolling, especially since these titles will be released under a number of different pen names (since I write different genres and will also continue putting out my husband’s work). Once I’ve got a substantial catalog of full-length work and bundled shorts, things should get far more interesting. Sales projections will rise each quarter, while hours spent on promotion/learning curve will fall. This is based on what I’ve heard from authors like JA Konrath and Selena Kitt who are making a good run at indie pub.

So wish me luck! And yes of course, you knew this was coming...I just have to give that first experimental indie title a plug here!

PRIVATE PARKING by Michael Jade
An erotic short story

As Annette heads for her car after a late night’s work, the last thing on her mind is the first thing she’s going to get.

When Annette’s longtime friend, Teddy, texts her about an unsatisfying date, mild “sext” flirting quickly gives way to a hot photo session right in the front seat of her parked car. But is she alone in the private parking garage?

Kindle version
Smashwords
B&N/Nook

(Don't!) Start at the Beginning-Part 3

On the 15th of each month I’ll be chatting about writing craft.

Welcome to part 3 of my first 3-part series here on NN, where we have been exploring the beginning of a novel—and why you might not want to start your story there.

In the last two parts of this series, we talked about ways to hook readers by cutting out back story and launching into Chapter One in media res. Today let’s explore why introducing characters can undo all that hard work spent firing up that hook-tacular chapter.

Part 3: Never Introduce a Character

I can practically see your wide-eyed—or possibly narrowed—expression at this notion. How can there be a book without characters? There can’t be, of course. I’m not suggesting that you don’t have characters, just that you don’t “introduce” them. Introductions are where the story stops completely to give a head-to-foot overview of the character that just stepped onstage, complete with a fashion review and a psychological profile. Introductions can last a couple of paragraphs or a couple of pages, but in either case it can pop the reader out of their immersion in the scene unless it’s done properly.

So how do new characters join a scene already-in-progress if they can’t be introduced? The answer depends on the type of scene, the book genre, and the viewpoint character.

Let’s look at an example:

Joy is on the run from a wild tornado. As she zig-zags through a field to avoid rocks, debris, etc., she almost crashes into a man who is also intent on escaping the twister. They take off together in search of shelter.

Do we halt the escape and introduce this guy? Should they stop and shake hands in front of the tornado, hair whipping so wildly that they can’t even see one another while hollering names and cataloging vital statistics? Does the heroine segue into a slow motion mental recap of Mr. Hottie’s attributes?

Hardly! Joy barely has time to notice one or two quick things about the new guy. Later, when they are hunkered down in a rickety old barn, she'll pick up on strong arms and the intoxicating, male scent that is a legal requirement for all romance heroes. His reactions and clipped dialogue reveal something about his personality under fire, too. When it’s all over, they find out each other’s names, but it's not until they’ve gone separate ways that Joy finally has time to process just who was shielding her with that hot, powerful body.

Another example:

Joy and Blythe, the hot ski instructor she just met, are holed up in a tiny shack that is buried in snow after an unexpected avalanche thwarts her first skiing lesson. (Yes, Joy’s a vixen who’s always getting herself in a fix.) They are stranded for many hours while covered head to toe in ski gear. With all that spare time, do we do a full, expository reveal on Blythe?

Yes and no. Sure, romantic heroines have an uncanny knack to think with their libidos even when in dire peril, but just how attractive can two people be when their only exposed features are red, runny noses and chapped lips? How much can she fathom about his gorgeous bod when it’s encased in all that puffy, quilted nylon? And while I expect things might really heat up for the sake of shared body heat, she won’t take advantage of their quality time to query Blythe about his childhood or ab workout routine—their brains aren’t functioning on that level while they’re busy freezing to death.

On the other hand, let’s say Joy and Blythe are sitting around a mesmerizing campfire. It’s been a long, sweaty day of watching him flex and tease her during a cattle roundup on her western ranch holiday. We need a little break from the action and a gradual buildup of sexual tension to the crescendo that finds them shedding clothes and inhibitions in the dirt. Do we stop and “introduce” him? Not quite, because by now readers have picked up quite a few tidbits about Blythe. Still, it’s a good time to add personal details and history to boost the emotional connection that will ignite their established chemistry.

Romance writing practically demands full disclosure of characters--from the angle of their jaw to the length of their toenails. As such, the heroine cataloging attributes while she gawks at the hot guy who just walked into the bar definitely has its place! But just like spooning out back story instead of “introducing” it up front, readers don’t need to know all about a character up front to appreciate the story—in fact, it can take some of the fun out of discovery. Leave some mystery to keep pages turning. Knowing when and where to dole out tidbits is a clever tool you can use to intensify or lighten the tone of a scene. So the next time a character is gazing in a mirror or checking out the newcomer, ask yourself whether you're "introducing" them. Resist the urge to drown folks in the details all at once. Your readers will love you for it.

I hope you found this three-part series helpful. Next month, I’ll be starting a new series—on Feng Shui for writers. Until then, here’s my question for you: what do you prefer? Knowing everything about a character up front, or finding out juicy little tidbits along the way?

(Don't!) Start at the Beginning-Part 2

On the 15th of each month I’ll be chatting about writing craft.

Welcome to part 2 of my first 3-part series here on NN, where we will explore the beginning of a novel—and why you might not want to start your story there.


Part 2: Banish Your Back Story

Ever wish there was a sure-fire way to light your story’s firecracker so that it explodes off the page right from chapter one? In Part 1 last month, I discussed one way—by starting in media res to get things rolling. For Part 2, let’s go back to that all-important opening “hook.” Most of us who have studied craft know of this Holy Grail quest for the line that will magically light the match for literary dynamite. But just as important as catchy words in the opening sentence is the precise moment in time the words are taking place.

In my time working as a submissions editor, I came across a little truth that I’d like to toss out here:

The optimal opening hook often starts 1/4 of the way or more into the author’s “big picture” of the story.

One of the best ways I saw for otherwise engaging writers to land in the rejection pile was to send in stories that began with back story. “Prologues” are a notorious tip-off, as are tales that open with the character’s eyes fluttering open, shutting off the alarm clock, etc.

Why? Prologues usually contain an information dump of back story that readers almost never need/want at that point. Some of that back story the reader will never need. All that info is vital to the author, of course, so they get the mistaken impression that the reader has to have it up front, too. Not so. It’s far more interesting to start off when the character is up to some high jinks that make the reader question, question, question, then dole out the answers gradually while the plot is on the run or requires a temporary break in pacing.

This brings us back to last month’s idea of in media res. If you’re having trouble with this concept, banishing back story (until later, and in small doses) is a good way to find the perfect “middle” moment where the tale actually begins.

All that said, my own writing must be devoid of opening volley back story, right? Um, ::cough:: I’m getting better, but have been infamous for dragging out the back story in Chapter One. I can think of two manuscripts in particular I could not get happy with after several rewrites. I finally realized I’d started off with back story—three chapters’ worth for one and almost a full chapter for the other. Out they went. Talk about “killing your darlings!” Painful stuff, but necessary if we want to tell our readers a story rather than ourselves.

In Part 3 I’ll be talking about why we should never introduce our characters. (Hang on! Don’t get out the pile of rotten tomatoes just yet.) Meanwhile, I hope you’ve found this month’s installment useful, and here’s my question for you: As a reader, at what point do you like to hear the MC’s whole story? And do your novels reflect that as a writer?

(Don't!) Start at the Beginning-Part 1

Hey, everyone! I’m excited to be joining forces with the Nocturnal Nights gang. My (pen) name is J. Rose Allister, and on the 15th of each month I’ll be chatting about writing craft. As good things come in threes, I’ll be doing three-part series segments--hence my three little piggy graphic.

In honor of new beginnings here on NN, my first 3-part series will explore the beginning of a novel—and why you might not want to start your story there.

Part 1: In Media Res

Remember when stories started at the beginning? “Once Upon a Time…” If a tale could be likened to a winding road, the author set the reader’s feet on the edge of the map at the start of chapter one. Characters were introduced gradually, scenery and premise was intricately painted, and the whole “before” scenario was carefully constructed so that the aftermath of exciting events later was that much more of a contrast.

Not so much these days.

Many publishers want fiction that starts off in media res, which in Latin means “in the middle of things.” These markets are looking for work that sets the reader’s feet in the middle of the map. Characters start off on the run, and then things get wilder.

So how exactly does this translate onto page one? Here are a couple cool opening lines that demonstrate this “in the middle” concept:

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.
–from THE GUNSLINGER by Stephen King (and my favorite opening line of all time)

I’d been waiting for the vampire for years when he walked into the bar.
–from DEAD UNTIL DARK by Charlaine Harris

Example 1 starts in the middle of a hot pursuit. The reader is off on a merry chase to catch up, and later learns the gunslinger’s quest has been a lengthy one. Example 2 dives right into a long-awaited moment for the main character—and raises more questions than it answers. Thumbs up.

Sounds simple, but starting in media res is no easy matter. The “middle” approach gets even dodgier when we’re talking romance, where the traditional formula involves meeting the characters, letting them meet, fall in love/lust/preferably both, and then throwing some curve balls at 'em before they get to Happily Ever After. How can that angle work with in media res?

In example 2 above, the vampire mentioned is about to become her love interest—when they meet on page 2. (Not chapter 2!) In my book KATA SUTRA, I open with the male lead getting aroused thinking about the “annoying” female student who winds up as his lover in fairly short order. SINFUL ELLA AND THE WOLF opens with the heroine standing naked in a window, being bathed by a male house servant while her eventual mate watches from outside.

Am I suggesting that all romances/novels MUST cut to the chase with characters already acquainted and banging it out by page 2? Certainly not. But romantic stories that fly fast to the juicy stuff (which can mean sexual chemistry and tension, not just hitting the sheets) is a popular sell with pubs and readers alike these days.

In parts 2 and 3, I’ll be talking about why the way we introduce our stories and characters to ourselves in the first draft is often not the best way to serve them up to the audience. Until then, I hope you’ve found the idea of in media res an interesting one to chew on. My question for you: What do you think of stories that leap in with a bang? Rarin' to go, or too much too soon?