Writing

I’m curious about love scenes. Do you like your love scenes detailed or light with some left to the imagination?

I’m asking because I had a conversation with some friends about this and naturally it involved into a debate with a line drawn down the middle. So I thought I’d ask here on my website and see what you all had to say. If you prefer you can e-mail me privately at donna@donnafletcher.com. I’d really like your opinion on this and so would my friends. They want to see who wins!

As for me, I like a variety from hot to sweet and everything in between.

I’ve been busy with the grandkids. They have such energy and enthusiasm. And while you would expect them to wear you down; they didn’t. There was a thrill to all they did from coloring, to doing puzzles (what a charge placing that last piece), to dancing to favorite tunes and of course visits to Applebee’s where hot dogs and french fries are a given.

It made me realize that same energy and enthusiasm I shared with them is a given when it comes to my writing. I get as excited as a child when I begin a new book. These are not only characters to write about, but friends to make, not only a plot to work out, but lives to fulfill. And I can’t wait to get to my computer and spend the day with them.

I worry over what they will wear, what they will eat and most importantly how they feel. How are they going to manage to work through their difficulties? And what caused those difficulties to start with. I know I must be a good listener to discover the answers and help them along. Sometimes one or more will throw me a curve and I must step back, take a moment and see where it is those characters truly wish to go. But I trust them and they trust me and we fast become friends.

And like kids we play together. We color their world, work out their puzzling lives, create a unique rhythm for their words to dance to, and sometimes I even take them to Applebee’s and write there.

I guess I’m just a kid at heart! And my wonderful grandkids and all the characters I meet make sure I stay that way!

If you’re interested in writing to sell, I’ll be presenting the workshop, Selling a Book in the Ever-Changing Publishing World at Running Wild Writers Community at 525 S. 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA,  on Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 9-4 pm.

Here’s a description of the workshop:

New technologies and the present economy have presented a challenge to many businesses and the publishing world is no different. Being an author of twenty-seven books spanning twenty years Donna has been challenged by many of them and continues to be challenged by new ones.

Though it isn’t easy to get published, it isn’t impossible. Armed with a range of knowledge and determination a writer can become a published author. In this day workshop Donna will detail the necessary steps and point out the pitfalls and perils on the path to publication.

The workshop will cover such areas as but not be limited to: publishing challenges, defining your book, defining the markets, beginnings, character & dialogue, plotting, finding an agent, how to submit your work, hardcover vs. trade vs. mass market, what’s hot and what’s not, e-publishing, marketing, critique groups, writing organizations, armed and ready for publication.

Handouts will be available for all attendees.

If interested sign up and then e-mail me and let me know you’ll be attending. I’ll be looking forward to meeting you and sharing what I know to help you on your path to becoming a published author.

The Old Man and the Beach Umbrella

Novelist Inc. an international organization of multi-published authors is holding its Ninc Goes Platinum Conference starting today running through Sunday in St. Louis and I wish I was there with fellow Ninc members. There are tons of interesting workshops being presented that I would have loved to have attended. And there are friends I would have loved to have seen and ones I would have loved to have finally met in person.

The camaraderie in Ninc is fantastic. There’s always someone there to answer a question or lend support. Ninc is definitely a lifeline for writers. I will happily be following author Elaine Issak as she blogs from the conference. And I will eagerly  be reading author Samantha Hunter’s posts on facebook.

I wish all my fellow Nincers a great time and I’ll be at the conference next year!

I’m going to be giving a one-night seminar at an adult community school on Selling A Book In The Ever-Changing Publishing World on Monday, Sept. 28th from 6:30-9:30 pm. If you’re in the Jersey shore area and are interested in attending, e-mail me at donna@donnafletcher.com and I’ll send you all the info.