A Wench's GMC--OR Craft Beer Is My Muse

I've recently received a crash course in "GMC."  For those of you who have day jobs and do writing as a fun hobby that's been recognized as "good enough for primetime" (a.k.a. publishing) like myself, when your editor starts throwing jargon at you like this it's more than a wee bit embarrassing to ask, um, yeah, so what does that stand for anyway?

Don't get me wrong--I love myself some good industry-specific jargon.  I mean if the OGs in your FVs don't box to the final ABVs and IBUs and your CO2 lines get screwed up or your bright tanks catch a good dose of brett, then you might as well forget making your wholesale or retail numbers for the quarter because your distribution partners are gonna stop repping your brand and might even horse trade you for a bigger name or at least one that knows their simcoes from their amarilloes.

And don't even get me started on sellers who think they know more about CMAs and LTV ratios than I do--especially when the radon readings come in over 4.2 pcL and they're upside down on their second with a lender who won't agree to subordination.

Yeah, we all have words we can toss around that we know others DON'T know....so I didn't really mind asking My Dearest Editor over at Breathless Press WTF she was on about with this GMC stuff from some Dixon lady.  Apparently this is a fairly new concept in writing--starting with "Goals, Motivations and Conflicts" of MCs (oops there I go again) mapped out with a beginning, middle and end before even putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.  In other words, you should know how the thing is going to end before you even start otherwise you will write yourself into endless black holes and dead ends and be unable to salvage yourself for publication.

All this to me runs the risk of feeling like a sentence diagraming assignment.  If I wanted to graph out a story, I'd have gone to graduate school.  

Myself, I start with a scene.  A hot one, typically, that my MC finds herself in, usually against her better judgement but letting the physical needs take the lead over the logical brain and build an entire story around it.  It's worked so far.  I find my main character's goals, motivations and conflicts as I move through the why's and wherefores of the original scene--how she found herself here, in this place, with this particular man and whether or not it will lead to more, or to less; to love or to hate; to conflict or resolution.  It makes me one of those "seat of the pants" writers (there's a jargon for this but I don't have time to find it) I know.  But I've gotten to where I can spot something that I think is overthought, over planned, in fiction and tend to put it aside in favor of something that feels a bit more free flowing, as it were.  But that's just me.

If you like index cards taped to your wall, or elaborate Excel spreadsheets for each character's back story, or whiteboards filled with names, events and arrows, you go on with your bad self.  Me?  I start with a person, a place and an event (usually one involving minimal clothing and a happy ending) and the story progresses from there--not easily always, mind you, but it always progresses.  And so far, a few of you seem to think they are worth reading.  Even if you didn't, I'd still think they were worth writing!

We are what we are.  Mammals programmed to respond to our most basic needs--for nourishment, companionship and (yes) sexual release (this is a Darwinian reproduction principal thing that is not worth arguing about on a blog such as this, other than to agree that we all need to get OFF, on a semi regular basis, to knock the edge off or to relax or whatever you want to call it).   If you think otherwise, you are leading an unfulfilled life, I am here to tell you now!

The Brewing Passion Series from Breathless Press continues today, Friday, 2/18/11 with Jockey Box--Erin's Story begins, as her marriage to the Alpha male is ending and her obsession with a young employee begins.  Set in the world of craft brewing, Erin occupies a place where not many women tread--in the sometimes cutthroat world of microbreweries, beer distributors and bar ownership.  It's a place that has cost her a marriage, but will open up many doors as she discovers herself as a highly successful business owner and fully realized, sexual female.  Of course, she does seek her new soul mate--but the options are plentiful.

Once you get "Jeff's story" with Jockey Box, be sure and go back for "Trent's Story" (The Rookie) and enjoy the holiday trifle of "XXXMas Ale".  Coming soon....The first interactive "You choose her fate" erotic romance from Breathless Press-"The Tap Room".  

Cheers,
Happy reading,
Drink Craft Beer!
Liz
www.a2beerwench.com
www.aabedwech.blogspot.com
www.wolverinebeer.com
FB:  TheBeer Wench
Twit:  @beerwencha2
whew

Write More--OR At Least Drink More!

"I'm a published author."

"I'm a published author."

"I'm the top selling author for my e-publisher."

"I have great reviews."

"I'm a published author."

What?  Oh, sorry kids, I was just practicing how those words felt rolling around in my mouth, as I count down to the second in a trilogy of published naughtiness in the beer world.

You remember me.  I'm the "Beer Wench" -- the crazy one who owns a craft microbrewery, handles all aspects of sales, marketing and (my personal favorite) distributor relations AND staffs the Tap Room bar 3-4 times a week which includes pouring beer, yacking, making sure the TVs stayed tuned in and the music playing, the toilet paper stocked AND switches to mop-slinger/toilet cleaner extraordinnaire once the doors are locked.

yeah, that's me...the things we do....

I am approaching a birthday, in less great physical shape than usual, sleep deprived at a level that rivals "new mom" (and I did that three times so I know), with teenagers whose growing adult-level crises make me wish for newborn babies or at least horrible toddlers back so I can be a better mom to them and I have just experienced the release of my second book to the e-pub world.  (click here for the hottest damn holiday story you've read in a while!)

Granted, it's with a small publisher but one has to start somewhere.  I wrote about what I loved, made the sex hot and realistic (I tend to stay away from supernatural sex--it scares me a little), kept submitting, and querying.  Most importantly--I kept writing.

I've built up something like 4 Works in Progress Major Projects, and revisit them when I can't sleep at 2 a.m. after closing the Tap Room.  I'm even contemplating a switch to murder mystery, based in the craft beer world that I think will really be great but that will involve further querying, submitting and receiving rejections with good grace, while my ego takes a licking but keeps on ticking.

I read what so many of you say about "I know I'll be published someday" and remember thinking "no I won't" but trust me IF your work is sincere--that is, you really and truly believe in it and your characters and your story, you will get there.  You are likely not to make a good living at it especially in our new and improved world of e-publishing taking over the world (royalties on $1.99 downloads are what we like to call "microcharges" like paying for a McDonalds coffee with your credit card but whatever).  It's about creating that back list, and hence learning the business from inside with contracts, line edits, cover art revision and so forth, so when the Big Project is ready for the light of day, YOU are ready, having had your practice runs, tears and hurt feelings over a manuscript that bleeds virtual red ink, and have emerged on the other side, stronger, smarter and savvy.

Keep up the hard work peeps!  And Drink Craft Beer (anything else, and the terrorists win!)
Liz
The A2 Beer Wench.
www.a2beerwench.com
www.aabedwench.blogspot.com
The Rookie (September 2010--top seller for Breathless Press)
XXXMas Ale (12/17/10 release)
Jockey Box (2/18/11 release)
The Tap Room Novella (4/8/11 release)