 | 7 Oct 08 |
Let’s start with a confession: I don’t like beginnings. I don’t like to start anything – being a goal-oriented woman of action, I far prefer to be in deep, or done. So here I am, on October 7, launching two major inititiaves on the very same day: a new book and a new blog.
Feel me writhe outside of my comfort zone.
First the blog. I’ve guested here and at other blogs numerous times, and love to opine for a few paragraphs, then enjoy the very best day-long distraction: checking the comments. As for blogging on a regular, full-time basis, I’ve always said no, never, not for me. Too much of a time sucker, writing that isn’t *writing* and, honestly, how long do you think it’ll be until I say somethingthat gets me in trouble, alienates a reader, or reveals an insanely personal tidbit….and there it is on the internet forever and a day? Stick around, it shouldn’t take long at all.
But how could I say no? First, this is one of my very favorite blogs, full of good friends and lovers of our genre, all brought together to discuss and dissect two of my favorite things: wine and shoes writing and reading. Plus, Karin Tabke and Allison Brennan, my co-antho authors and two of my dearest pals, did the asking, and I take every chance I can to hang, cyberwise or in person, with those two. Finally, the infusion of even more writers, the launch of a gorgeous new look, and the opportunity to share cyberspace with nine remarkably talented and cool writers…well, it wasn’t a difficult decision to make. In fact, I think Karin’s finger was still on the “send” key and she had my answer. YES!
So, thank you Karin, Allison, and ALL of the MSW ladies for the invitation to join this new era of your adventure! Even thought I don’t like beginnings, I’m pretty psyched about this one, and am honored to be on the MSW roster.
Now my other beginning: the new book. I turned one in last week (HUNT HER DOWN, to be released summer 2009) and am about to start MAKE HER PAY, scheduled for release in fall 2009.
If you ask me the one thing I hate most to write, the answer would be simple: Chapter One. I absolutely loathe the beginning of a book. Frankly, I don’t even like the beginning of any chapter or any scene. But page one, be it a prologue or chapter one, is sheer hell for me. I’ve stopped deluding myself that I “plot” — I do create a brief outline but when all is said and written, that outline bears little or no resemblance to the finished product. I won’t lie and tell you I know my characters before I start. I discover them as the reader does, through their words, actions, and introspection, and far too many times they shock, stun, and amaze (and infuriate) me. I’m lucky if I know the identity of the villain (known to change mid-book) and even luckier if I have a clue to his or her motivation, so please forget the black moment, major turning points, or who might be a red herring. I learn as I go, painful as that may be.
And I’ve done this twenty three publishable times (and one that sleeps with the dustbunnies under the bed). Today, when you are reading this blog, some of you meeting me for the first time, others probably rolling their eyes thinking ‘oh there she goes about hating chapter one again,’ – I will be right there. Page one. Scene one. Line one.
Word one.
Imagine me, then, leaning over the cliff, so far that my pink-tipped toes are curling around the edge, the wind strong enough (or the deadline close enough) to shove me over, nothing but 400 pages of freefall and churning black waters below.
I hate it, I tell you. Hate the blank page, the unwritten book, the undeveloped characters, the untold story. I love, on the other hand, snapping the keys on that lovely last line, the bad guy dead, the romance in bloom, the theme clear, the work….done.
How about you? Do you prefer the thrill of the unknown, the glorious anticipation of the unwritten story…or is that a leap of faith you’d do anything to avoid? What’s your personal philosophy for any new project, whether it’s writing a manuscript, remodeling a house, or molding a man into the one you want? Do you like the excitement of the beginning…or prefer the contentment of the end?
Come on, friends. Give me a distraction. Anything to avoid Chapter One.
xoxo
Rocki
© 2008 – 2009 Roxanne St. Claire. All rights reserved.
Roxanne St. Claire is a bestselling, RITA-Award winning author of twenty-four novels of romance and suspense. For the past several years, she's been writing a popular romantic suspense series called “The Bullet Catchers” for Pocket Star Books, featuring a cadre of bodyguards and security professionals. In 2010, she's launching a new series, "The Guardian Angelinos" focusing on an extended family of renegade crime fighters and investigators based in Boston. The first book in that series, EDGE OF SIGHT, will be released from Grand Central Publishing in November, 2010, with two more scheduled in 2011. In addition to the RITA, her books have won the National Reader’s Choice Award, the Daphne Du Maurier Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best, the Book Buyers Best, The HOLT Medallion, multiple Awards of Excellence, and Borders “Top Pick” for Romance in 2007.
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Roxanne St. Claire! We do talk about shoes and wine here! Two of my favorite things! I’m so glad you joined us. As a cab lover and a huge fan of Silver Oak I stumbled upon a little discovery on my way up to Tahoe a few weeks ago, a great little boutique wine shop in Elk Grove, anyhoo the owner told me if I loved the 2003 Silver Oak cab but not the price tag I should try a bottle of One Acre (same grapes different vintner). So I bought a bottle and slurp, yum-mee. And while 39 bucks is a lot for some folks for me it wasn’t, coz I just really love a great cab and it beats the hell out of 60 bucks for the Silver Oak.
Now about the shoes. I found the most gorgeous pair of snake skin Marc Fisher shoes at Macys last week, they go poifect with the dress I’m wearing to my daughter’s wedding. And the bestest thing was they were on sale! Good cab, hot high heeled sandals and you part of the group now. Yep, yep, yep, life is damn good.
by Karin October 7th, 2008 at 2:23 amLoved the post, Rocki. You are always so candid and refreshing.
I agree, the first chapter is the hardest. My critique partners question why they should even read the dang thing as I rewrite it so many times.
But trust me, having read every one of your books, you have mastered page 1, chapter 1 and book 1-20x.
Keep blogging. i’ll keep reading.
by Jean Mason October 7th, 2008 at 4:49 amJean Mason
Welcome to MSW. You are joining a great group of women.
I love to start a new story, it’s the rest that gives me the headache.
Good luck w/ page one. I’ve read your books, there’s no doubt you’ll nail it, just like all the MSW ladies.
Again, welcome.
by HollyD October 7th, 2008 at 5:01 amGood morning, Rocki! I’m going to use my trite little comment, ‘Welcome Home’. Disney does it, and it always makes me feel like a valued guest.
Yeah, she got her daddy’s height genes, not mine, considering she’s up to my ears, already.
by Margaret A. Golla October 7th, 2008 at 5:18 amSorry, but I love first chapters . . . I have a billion of them, too bad many of them stop right there. And the ones with potential, well, they get rewritten about a gazillion times.
On the topic of wine, my hubby makes mine. For less than $150 and loss of part of my kitchen counter, I end up with over 3 cases of some pretty nice stuff. After 6 months in the bottle, the Lodi Ranch cab is ready and mavalous! He even made a brut champagne–I just wished I had a really good reason to celebrate! I’m taking it to a retreat this weekend and Arkansas Cyndi and I will enjoy the bubbly.
I love my stilettos. They are hot! I just need an excuse to wear them. On the disturbing side, my 7 year old can now wear my shoes! But, luckily, by the time I let her wear high heels, her feet will be too big to wear my nice shoes.
Well, ciao! And welcome to MSW!
Margaret
Personally, I’m a fan of German white wines and cute boots. Although I do have this gorgeous pair of leopard print mules that I bought on impulse and have nowhere to wear. heh.
Welcome to MSW, Roxanne! I think you’ll fit in great here, and I can’t wait to read your posts (and your next series). With writing, I’m a fan of the whole journey. I love the beginning and the end, and the scenes along the way that jump out of my head and surprise me. If I had to pick a part I’m not too thrilled with, it would be the middle. For some reason, I get hung up there. *shrug* Oh, and speaking of new projects, I started something last night. I don’t know if it’ll continue to grow, but as long as it gets me writing again, it’s doing its job. =o)
by B.E. Sanderson October 7th, 2008 at 6:08 amRocki,
While you’re free-falling, make sure you land at my house. Betcha I have more dust bunnies than you.
BTW, loved the article. I understand all to well about the looming first chapter.
by Loretta October 7th, 2008 at 6:27 amWelcome to MSW! I’m looking forward to reading your posts.
by Wendy Roberts October 7th, 2008 at 6:31 amI love writing the beginning. It’s new and fresh and I haven’t gotten anything so complicated that I can’t remember who said what to whom and why they said it.
The beginnings are like a honeymoon for me. By about page 125 or so, the honeymoon is over and I have to work to keep the spark alive. Oh, I still love the book, but I’m really wishing it was over so I could go on a new honeymoon.
by Kristen October 7th, 2008 at 6:36 amHey Rocki! I LOVE starting the story. It’s the middle that drives me crazy.
Wine – one my favs. Shoes – not so much. Now purses—truly a fetish! But back on wine, found a new one the other day. Folonari Pink Pino Grigio. Give it a try.
Now, we just need to get Rocki on Twitter!
by ArkansasCyndi October 7th, 2008 at 6:39 amShe blogs!!!
I hope this doesn’t mean you’ll stop guesting at Plotmonkeys because you know we love to have you!
As for Chapter One…I love chapter one! Just yesterday, I wrote a prologue for a book I might not ever write simply because the story has been niggling at me for a while and I never gave it any serious thought because I didn’t know how to start it. Then it came to me…and I wrote. Now, of course, I have no idea if the story is viable for other reasons, but at least I have “words on screen” which is the first step to a story for me.
I do this a lot…start books just to see if the characters work for me. I’ve done it three times in the last year. Only one, so far, has the legs, I think, to become a book. But even when I’m writing contracted work, I love the beginnings and middles. I hate endings. HATE. LOATHE AND DESPISE! Until they’re done. Then I love them desperately!
by JulieLeto October 7th, 2008 at 6:42 amRocki! We are twins. Well, except for the shoe shopping, I am only just now starting to get the whole fascination with shoes. (I cleaned out a closet last week and discovered I have way more pairs of shoes than I would have admitted to under oath.)
But we are definitely chapter beginning-hating twins. I loathe starting a book. The first page or so usually stays the same for me, but the next few chapters are painful. Somewhere around the act one turning point, though, it starts to feel comfortable and I’ll pick up speed and by the mid-point, I’m generally rolling along pretty quickly. (And most of the time, I have to go back to that first act and edit / smooth.) It’s like digging and forming and pouring the foundation to a big building–that first part has to support everything else that comes after it and it’s not the pretty, glamorous part of building–the finished product–but the part that’s often unnoticed because it’s got to be structural without stealing attention to itself. Very hard work.
by toni mcgee causey October 7th, 2008 at 6:43 amHey Rocki! I’m so glad to see you blogging. The cyberworld is never going to be the same again…
As to word one…I love it. I love the beginning. The unknown. The blank page. I love discovering my characters and my plot as I go and I get a huge thrill when my characters surprise me midbook.
I hate the end. I hate revising. Layering. tweaking. Analyzing. Blech. That is torture to me. Give me chapter one, word one any day over revisions.
by Mel-O-Drama October 7th, 2008 at 6:43 amRocki, one of my favorite people on earth!
I don’t hate starting new projects but I guess I should as I am instantly bitten by OCD and can’t stop until I’m finished. It’s not pretty. By the end I am usually drooling, twitching and snarling at anyone who enters my cave. My family has lost limbs.
by gena showalter October 7th, 2008 at 7:14 amWell… I could send you the link to one of my favorite “Hot Guys” website. That’d be a big distraction.
I hate starting something new too. I’ve just about convinced myself to do NaNoWriMo next month and write the damn book I’ve been talking about for too many years. Back on January 1st I wrote “Finish the damn book!” on a little slip of paper and tucked it into a little carved wooden box that sits on top of my desk. If I’m going to accomplish this in 2008, I’d better get my rear in gear, huh?
I’m a new visitor here but I see some fave authors in the header, including my RWA chaptermate Deb Webb. And of course you my pink-shoe-loving friend. Love the new header (though I did think the typewriter keys were funky).
by Marilyn AKA The Playground Monitor October 7th, 2008 at 7:39 amI started a new book last week and wrote chapter one four times before I started in the right place. I usually love starting a new book . . . but the last two were hard!
by Allison Brennan October 7th, 2008 at 7:44 amWhoops, and I forgot to say I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE!!!!
by Allison Brennan October 7th, 2008 at 7:44 amAnd I am so glad to be here, Allison, thank you! I feel your pain on Chapter one, and chapter one again, and chapter one again, and why don’t we just make that a prologue, hmmm?
Hawt guy distractions are always welcome, Marilyn! In fact, I can’t remember the last time I opened an email and got a HGFR (hot guy for rocki) from you. Ahem. Time’s up. I’m ordering dark hair with steely blue/gray eyes to be my muse for the new book.
Wendy and Holly, thanks for the welcome and the vote of confidence. I’ll take them both!
B.E. – leopard print mules! Be still my heart. Just the thought of them might send me off to Zappos (also known as The Shoe Fairy at our house!). Love leopard. Love mules. Love Zappos.
And Karin, darling, I have the BEST memories of Silver Oak. I believe that was the bottle my husband used to win my…affection…for the first time, and many times since. I’ll have to find that One Acre and see if it has the same effect.
And I haven’t even made it to Word One yet. Still tweaking the outline! Why? I don’t know. Pro-crazzzz-tination.
by Roxanne St. Claire October 7th, 2008 at 8:00 amHi Rocki,
While I write a lot like you do, outline then pants- getting to know the real story as I write, I love the blank page…first word….first paragraph…. all that.
I love starting. I love going through the middle.
I hate ending. I have to say good bye to people I no longer have control over. LOL well, the appearance of controll anyway.
maybe because I also paint, I love the excitement of taking a small core of idea or inspiration and running with it.
You may remember me saying one time that I love to come up titles and write a book for the title. another type of beginning.
so there you have it.
what I would like to know is, how do you know which characters to let into your story if they just suddenly pop up????
hugs
by kathi h October 7th, 2008 at 8:09 amkathi h
BTW
by kathi h October 7th, 2008 at 8:12 amany one who knows me, also knows I am not a good typist. I am a great story teller though!!!
That’s so interesting. I actually love the first chapter–it usually spill out all frothy and fun, just a lark, playing around with characters and situations to see if they work at all. It’s chapter 2 where things get tough! I know what you mean about the blank page, though–I make it a rule never to end a day of writing at the end of a chapter, or even at the end of a scene. Sometimes I stop in the middle of a sentence. Being able to pick back up the next day in the middle of the action is invaluable to me.
I’m glad you’re blogging more frequently! I’ll have to add Murder She Writes to the RSS on my blog. I don’t want to miss a single post!
by Louisa Edwards October 7th, 2008 at 8:13 amWell, as someone who bought THREE pairs of shoes this morning on SmartBargains.com (don’t look unless you plan to be heavily addicted), I’m all for the shoe talk. And as Rocki knows…I loves me my wine.
Great post, Rocki! I think you write tremendous first chapters. Why? Because I always keep reading your books once I start them.
Hugs,
by Marley Gibson October 7th, 2008 at 8:20 amMarley = )
Check your email, Rocki.
by Marilyn AKA The Playground Monitor October 7th, 2008 at 8:45 amHi Rocki! Your books always start off with such a bang I would never have suspected your aversion to page one.
I’m really looking forward to reading your blog posts.
Are the two new books you mentioned part of another trilogy? Can’t wait to read them.
by Phyllis Towzey October 7th, 2008 at 8:50 amI thought you had a taxi fetish and then realized it was wine. LOL!
by Marilyn AKA The Playground Monitor October 7th, 2008 at 8:57 amI love beginnings.
I love the excitement, the anticipation, giving birth to a new idea.
I also love saying hello to old friends.
by Raine October 7th, 2008 at 9:00 amRocki, don’t tweak the outline! Just put it aside and write . . . I know, I know everyone has their own process . . . .
by Allison Brennan October 7th, 2008 at 9:10 amWell, I have to tweak, because by “tweaking” I really mean “writing it from scratch.”
See, I have this funny little line item in my contract that says part of my advance comes upon “approval of a detailed outline” — so if I want that portion, I need to send *something* in for approval. My editor knows its not going to be the actual story, but those accountants. They want words on paper, dang it.
So I’ve written three pages of character sketches (which will change) and some backstory (which will change) and now I want to write: they meet, they clash, they are forced to work together for a mutual goal with different motivation, they get jiggy, they get in trouble, they get out of it, they get jiggier, they get in bigger trouble, they barely get out of it, they realize they are in love, they almost die, the kill the bad guy, they realize there’s an even badder guy, they get him, resolve their differences and live jiggier ever after.
Think they’ll pay me for that?
by Roxanne St. Claire October 7th, 2008 at 9:19 amdamn, Rocki, *I’d* pay you for that.
Love it.
by toni mcgee causey October 7th, 2008 at 9:24 amI didn’t think I was addictable to shoes until I spotted a killer pair of Jimmi Choo wedges on Joshlyn Jackson’s Faster Than Kudzu What terrified me was that the $3000 price tag didn’t faze me. No I didn’t buy them, I want to remain married and in the black. I found a killer Cranberry wine from Old Coyote Winery last spring…to die for, but finding it on sale anywhere outside of the winery is another story.
I love the first word of a book, the first sentence, first paragraph, first page. It’s the last word that kills me.
Welcome to MSW.
by Cele October 7th, 2008 at 9:26 amRocki, welcome! We’re thrilled to have you here. Great debut blog and dead on for me. I hate the beginnings. The first 100 pages are torture, the second 100 is where I usually end up rewriting and then FINALLY the book will start to flow.
I love thinking about a new book, but starting chapter one is whole other matter.
I love cabs (seriously I thought Karin meant taxi’s too, until I had my second cup of coffee then the light went on) and merlots
by Jen October 7th, 2008 at 9:32 amHi Rocki!! I’m so excited about sharing this new venture with you. ((hugs))
It’s pages 2-300 that kill me and take the most time. I think I spend more time writing those 100 pages than I do the other 300.
by S.J. Day October 7th, 2008 at 9:36 amSee, this is why I never blog. Forget that last night (late) I was panic-emailing my co-bloggers for tech support (“It’s in the wrong font, whatever does a blonde do???”) — I’ve been looking at these comments all day (instead of that outline) and wham, this time I show up and they’re all different.
Louisa, Julie, Gena and Mel — oh my! Marley (her perfectly shaped…..) and Kristen, Raine (hi honey!), kathih and Jean – how nice to see all of you here. Don’t worry, Julie, I’ll guest blog at the monkeys (I’m like the friend at the party that just *won’t* go home.)
Speaking of parties, remember how I told you in my very first blog that I’d be revealing things far too personal? It’s right up there in like the second paragraph. Well, here we go. I just read an email from an old friend (can be interpreted many ways) from UCLA who found me through my books (I’m sure he wasn’t just googling ex-girlfriends because he’s having a mid-life crisis or anything) and informed me that in college, his fraternity voted me “Most Likely to be invited to Happy Hour.”
Me?! I just don’t get that.
Anyway, wonderful to see ALL of you here – thanks for the warm MSW welcome. I’m off to smartbargains.com. Oh, and Margaret, you won my book last week, right? TAKE ME TONIGHT is on its way to you! Thank Marley for all the accuracy on the Boston Public Library in that one.
by Roxanne St. Claire October 7th, 2008 at 9:53 amyou said”Think they’ll pay me for that? ”
well, yeah! duh!
by kathi h October 7th, 2008 at 10:27 amIt’s not that I hate chapter one, it’s how many times I write chapter one that drives me crazy. Oh, and the first line, that’s the one that takes days to come up with, only to decide several days later the words are no longer fabulous and must be deleted and started again.
Really glad to see you blogging and I’ll be back. Love the new look!
by Vicki October 7th, 2008 at 10:50 amI like the idea of trying something new, beginning something until I actually have to do it and then I’m not so enthusiastic.
by Maureen October 7th, 2008 at 11:37 amROFLOL, I’d pay you for that paragraph!
by Allison Brennan October 7th, 2008 at 11:54 amI have a love/hate relationship with first chapters – they love to hate me and I love to hate them!
Well…sometimes I enjoy a first chapter…but I’m with you. I do mostly GMC charting and come up with a few major turning points, but I’m with you – half the fun (and frazzle!) of writing a book is taking that journey of discovery with the characters.
Rocki, you may pull out your beautiful hair over a blank page, but your final product is simply stunning
I’m so thrilled for you will all your much deserved success!
by C.L. Wilson October 7th, 2008 at 11:56 amI love writing beginning of a book – its nice to finally see on paper the characters/stories who have been yelling at me inside my head finally take shape. Its in the middle where I usually have an issue – me wanting to go in one direction and the characters/story pulling me in another. once I finally in to them the story seems to move along. The end is always nice too – but usually means other characters start bugging me to get them on paper.
I am so with you on the shoes!! And yeah the wine too! If it weren’t for my day job I would have had a glass or two at lunch – but then again its my day job that makes me want to drink
but it also pays for all those shoes 
Oh and welcome! Just another reason to check MSW! I love reading you books btw!
by Tiffany October 7th, 2008 at 11:58 amHi Rocki! Loved your post. And, OMG, your proposal paragraph absoulutely made my day. LOL
I, too, hate new beginnings. Almost as much as I dislike rewriting. Now the first draft…that’s fun. New, fresh, full of possibilities. Um, then reality hits.
Then I realize it sucks. Ugh!
Back to the new beginning!
by Laurie Cooper October 7th, 2008 at 12:24 pmHi Rocki, great to see you blogging here. Ladies, I love the new look and all your new bloggers.
I can only drink white wine, but my fave is a nice sweet but fresh Pinot Grigio.
I love first chapters. The story is new and I have no idea where it will take me.
by Amanda October 7th, 2008 at 12:56 pmGreat blog, Rocki. Hmm, good shoes and good wine. Unfortunately, my feet don’t cooperate with many shoes any more. Sigh. And wine gives me a headache.
Oh well.
I LIKE the beginning of a book. It’s the middle that usually throws me off, when the whole thing feels like a mess, and I worry I can’t possibly tie up all the threads. When I get to THE END it’s such a relief! I made it.
by Natalie October 7th, 2008 at 6:26 pmTotally late, but will “out of town with no computer” work as an excuse? I’m stealing a few minutes right now, but our hosts have us on the go go go. I did read First You Run on the plane, and am about halfway through Then You Hide.
I’m at the “only 10K words, give or take to THE END” but hit one of those, “and then something VERY BAD will happen” points that I figured I’d deal with when I got there. Well, I’m there, and it’s still a bit on the vague side. My hero has to rescue his partner from someplace, where he’s been captured because of something, and he’s going to have a lot of trouble doing it because of something else. But right now, I’m busy enjoying the Washington scenery
by Terry Odell October 8th, 2008 at 8:47 amI’ve been to happy hour with you, Rocki. I totally “get it.”
You’re FUN!
by JulieLeto October 8th, 2008 at 9:53 amRock, I love new beginnings and like Raine, I love the challenge.
To “the other Marilyn”…….”finish the damn book”!!!
by Marilyn October 8th, 2008 at 2:17 pmHI Rocki!
I love starting a book. It’s fresh, new and exciting and I can’t wait to dig in.
But I also love ending a book, too…for the obvious reasons.
Funny you talk about your outline not resembling the end product. Happens to me all the time. I’m pretty sure the marketing dept at my publishers hate me.
by Jaci Burton October 9th, 2008 at 1:06 pm