Romancing the Blog | Romance Authors and Readers Who Blog

Every so often, I don’t have anything specific to blog about, so I write a free flowing commentary about what’s going on in my writing life.

Method Writing

I don’t read a lot of “how to” books on writing. I prefer the more philosophical craft books like Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey or King’s On Writing. I don’t like people telling me not only what to do but how to do it.

When I help my kids with their homework, I can’t explain “how”. I teach by example. Show don’t tell. That’s why I like the philosophical books.

Someone once told me I wrote organically. I scratched my head. What on earth is an organic writer? I don’t even buy organic veggies, and I like red meat.

Then it was explained that organic really mean intuitive, and that made sense.

I like to think of it as Method Writing. I’m sure you’ve heard of “method acting” where the actor essentially becomes a character, good or bad, even when they’re not on stage. Actors say it helps them understand their characters better and they give stronger performances.

I “method write.” I talk out loud when I’m writing, especially dialogue. In fact, by the time I’m done editing, I’ve read every word out loud. I use vocal emphasis, then translate it to text. I use hand movements (which can be difficult when typing ninety words a minute.) For fight scenes I’ll ask someone to help me stage it. In one of my books, I had to get a character out of a physically difficult situation, so I asked a gymnast to demonstrate it for me. I find myself biting my lip when my heroine does, or swearing when my hero finds another dead body.

When I’m in the middle of a book, I’m immersed in it, whether I’m at the computer writing or not.

Try it sometime. When you get stuck, become your character. You’re not really talking to yourself, you’re having a conversation, though you’re a completely different person . (Ignore the strange stares, but run when you see a strait-jacket.)

Transient Bestsellers

I picked up Sol Stein’s Stein on Writing and almost returned it because of what I read on page 6:

“Today, I urge my students once they have begun to master craft, to read a few chapters of John Grisham’s The Firm, or some other transient bestseller, to see what they can learn from the mistakes of writers who don’t heed the precise meaning of the words they use.” [emphasis added]

Okay. I had to check the pub date (1995) because I thought this guy, billed as one of the best editors of the century, was a lunatic.

I’m glad I didn’t put the book down because he teaches by example and has some great advice. I can absorb the information, which compliments my organic writing style.

Seriously, though, I don’t know how he became the world’s greatest editor if he doesn’t understand that sometimes, people just want to be entertained, and Grisham does that well.

My Dollar on RWA’s Graphical Standards

I’ve written a letter to the RWA Board regarding the recent “graphical standards” controversy. I’d planned to write an entire blog on it, but decided against it largely because I feel that most people just don’t care. (I’m reminded that only twenty percent of the population during the 1770s actually cared about the outcome of the American Revolution — and that was on BOTH sides of the war!)

I’ll admit that I was sucked into this controversy from the start. Not for obvious reasons, though.

I don’t necessarily oppose “graphical standards” on the surface. I can see the need for some discretion in the advertisements in the RWR, for example. IF that was the reason for the standards.

But that’s the problem: we don’t know the reasons for the standards. All we have are rumors, so I’m not going to repeat any of them here.

The RWA Board issued the standards to the membership without comment or explanation. Now, many board members are saying no one is giving them a chance to explain, they’re working on it, they are only volunteers, give them a break.

My argument is that an explanation and implementation policy should have been in place at the same time the standards were approved.

Frankly, the Board brought on this controversy themselves and I don’t have a lot of sympathy for them receiving flak. They were wrong in creating the standards in executive session; they were wrong in releasing them without explanation. Admit it, apologize, tell us what the purpose is, why, and how you plan to enforce the standards. More importantly, explain what they mean! Then we can move on.

What Next?

My second problem with the graphical standards is that I feel, even if they are strictly interpreted and rarely enforced, they lead us down the slippery slope of what is considered offensive.

I, personally, don’t read much erotic romance. I don’t read a lot of contemporary romances. I almost exclusively read romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and mysteries.

What if someone finds a dead body on a book cover offensive? Will the “standards” grow to include dead people? I don’t particularly like vampire stories (unless the vampires are the bad guys); should any cover that positively portrays these bloodsuckers be banned because they offend me? I am a Christian and have no problem with a cross or crucifix on the cover of an inspirational romance novel; what if my Jewish writer friend considers it insulting and wants them banned, too?

Graphical standards might be necessary. I might even agree with some of them on the surface. But implementing them means starting down that slippery slope toward banning anything that is considered offensive to anyone.

And if that happens, all books will have blank covers.

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