Writing

Failure or Success in the World of Paranormal Romance

You open your email and you are met with the paranormal romance editor's name.

Your heart races. Your hands are sweaty. You roll your eyes and cross your fingers. Then you click.

We're sorry but...

And you stop reading. You have a decision—slam your computer shut and cuss, or cuss and go to Facebook/Twitter.*

*Warning: Facebooking angry is never a great idea. It's like a drunk dial to your entire friends (paranormal romance writers or not) list that will be constantly accessible.

Failure or Success in the World of Paranormal Romance

Whether you are conscious of it or not, this moment will define you. Are you a paranormal romance writer who will spend the rest of the day licking your wounds and then spring back to your project limping, but stronger? Or are you a person who lets the rejection crush you? Does the fear of another rejection letter keep you from submitting your paranormal romance again? Or, from checking your email for days?

Fear of failure is a constant enemy...Telling someone that you have fallen short of your goal is one of the most humbling experiences a person can have, yet for a paranormal romance writer it is important.

Why?

It keeps you grounded and it makes you stronger.

Every paranormal romance writer in the world is (as author Bob Mayer likes to say) 'on the wrong side of the bell curve.' ‘We are not normal.’  In every author, there is some part of them that tells them they are special and deserving of publication. This drive is called Ego (thank you Freud).

Ego is not bad.  In fact, it is the driving force behind most successful people.

I'm not saying that writers are egomaniacal narcissists...In fact, quite the opposite.

Most paranormal romance writers are rejected and beaten so many times that when they become successful, it's amazing that they can do book signings without shirking from peoples' touch. 

Ego is the drive that keeps us from stopping, from letting other's opinions and judgement keep us from reaching our goal.  Our egos keep us working. 

We take a lot of beatings and we face constant 'failure.' But to comfort our bruised egos we must remember that though we will be rejected this is not tantamount to failure. We have already met some level of success—we have had the courage to follow our dreams.

Paranormal Romance Author Danica Winters Interview, Hosted by Author Sue Lyndon

This week my friend and fellow author, Sue Lyndon, hosted me on her blog.   In addition to my interview being posted on her blog, I thought I needed to post it for my loyal paranormal romance readers.  I hope you enjoy learning a little bit about me!

Sue: Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Danica: There are so many wonderful authors (paranormal romance etc.), past and present, that picking a single name is a challenge.  I have loved to read romance since I was old enough to borrow them from my Mother’s office, but my favorite has to be another author who used to call Montana his home, James Welch, and his book, Fools Crow.

Sue: Do you like to listen to music while you write?  If so, who are your favorite artists?

Danica: I normally write with background noise.  It forces me to concentrate and often it helps to put me into the mood of a paranormal romance scene.  Write now I am writing the second book in a dark series and while I do, I enjoy an amazing pianist, Emile Pandolfi.  My favorite song is, Let Me Fall, from his Believe album.  I’ve played the piano since I was five years old and hearing a master play can bring tears to my eyes.

Sue: Coffee or tea?

Danica:  My friends will tell you that it isn't normal to see me without a cup of coffee in my hands.  I'm a writer and a Mom.  That means staying up until the wee hours of the morning and then having childrens' smiling faces waking me whenever they think I should be getting up.

Sue: What is your ultimate writing goal?

Danica: My ultimate goal as a paranormal romance writer is to create books that capture the hearts of my readers.

I want to have my readers not only learn about my characters, but in some small way, themselves.  In Curse of the Wolf, the first paranormal romance book in The Curse of the Veela Series, I raise the point that we must not be controlled by our hatred or fear.  We as people must learn to forgive and move on from the traumas and pains of our pasts in order to become stronger, to grow.

I think in every great paranormal romance novel, we must walk away with a message.

Sue: How do you go about choosing names for your characters?

Danica: I like to include my readers in naming my characters.  I think it is a fun, rewarding, and interactive experience to let my readers get their hands in on creating a major element of upcoming novels and short stories.  My fans are what keep me going and I like to include them in my creative process as much as possible.

Sue: Tell us about your upcoming writing projects.

Danica: I am working on the next paranormal romance novel in the upcoming Veela Curse Series.  At this point, I have almost completed writing the second book and am beginning to come up with concepts for the third.  Between paranormal romance novels, I like to write my short stories; and as much as I would like to say I plan these ahead, they are usually created as I write.

Sue: Tell us a little bit about your newest release. 

Danica" I have a short story entitled, The Devil’s Angel, being released March 31st, 2012 through Silver Publishing; and this summer I will have my first novel in The Veela Curse Series entitled, Curse of the Wolf, being published by Ravenous Romance. 

As a treat for readers, I have included a little sample from, The Devil’s Angel.  Enjoy!

Paranormal Romance Short, THE DEVIL'S ANGEL

The Devil’s Angel:

Sarah was no angel, but for the first time in her adult life, she found herself holding wire wings covered with what looked like an old pair of white nylons as she fidgeted with her ill-fitting saint mask.

She hated Halloween, and this year was no exception, the day just another excuse for her idiotic co-workers to get drunk and fondle each other.

Maybe what upset her the most was the fact she didn't have anyone to fondle her. Regardless, her solo status was only made worse by being at her boss's house, which was just then filled with a bunch of drunken ass-grabbers wearing the only attire allowed—their company's line of Halloween themed lingerie.

She slammed her car door shut. Her high heels clicked on the walkway as she tugged at the laced edges of the white satin corset that had ridden up her side. She tried to calm her racing heart as she readjusted her tilted halo.

The thumping noise of the party greeted her as she made her way up the concrete steps that led to her boss’s front door.

"Are you alone, little angel?" a man asked.

She looked up at him as he leaned against the bricks of the arched entryway. His face and body were the same shade of red as the front door of the house and he had black, cow-like horns extending above his ears.

"Who's asking?"

"The Devil.” He laughed wickedly. "Or, as I would prefer—your Devil."

She slid her arms into the holes of the lop-sided wings and stepped closer to the mysterious black-haired man.

"How 'bout this, Devil. Let's stick together and make a pass around the idiot circuit, and then we can see where things take us?" She looped her arm around his and reached up to stroke his muscular chest.

She was acting like a tramp, but wearing the mask made her feel protected by the anonymity the thin plastic offered. She could say what she wanted, to whomever she wanted. The effect was exhilarating and unexpectedly empowering. Usually, she was the quiet underling, but tonight she could be the fallen angel. And if he was lucky, she could be his fallen angel….(The Devil’s Angel, Released March 31st, 2012)  

Sue:  I can't wait to read, the paranormal romance The Devil's Angel.  Thank you for your time!

Danica:  Thank you, Sue.  I enjoyed sharing.  I hope everyone enjoys, The Devil's Angel!

Writing a Great Synopsis for a (Paranormal Romance) Novel

I believe the synopsis is one of the most challenging aspects of the submission process. It is a topic that is much discussed amongst my writers groups. How is a person expected to condense a 300 page paranormal romance novel into 2 pages? How can we cover all the threads, explain our amazing characters, tell the full story, and be clever while doing so?

Writing a Great Parnormal Romance Synopsis

We stress about the prospect of losing an opportunity based on the quality of our synopsis. No agent/publisher can possibly understand the greatness of our paranormal romance novel without reading the full manuscript. However, in defense of a synopsis, it does have a place in the game of submission.

A great friend of mine shared a secret she heard from an agent about synopses. 'All you need is a great conflict (internal and external) and make sure that within your synopsis (and your paranormal romance novel) you can arrive at the end having resolved them without straying from course—and don’t worry about being so clever.'  In other words, make sure that you can take you story from point A to point B without straying to Z.

A great tool to help your synopsis and your paranormal romance novel, is writing an outline as you work. At the top of your outline state your intended goal (i.e. your pitch/kernel idea). As you write, update your outline with a SINGLE SENTENCE stating the key characters, setting, and the motivation of each chapter. When you are done, make sure that what you have written is moving you towards your paranormal romance novel’s goal.

If you are past the point of writing you can still use this tool, simply go back and as you read your work, name the characters, setting, and motivation. When you get done you will have an outline for your synopsis. All you will need to do is fill in the holes and your synopsis will be a complete representation of your paranormal romance novel.  

When you are done writing your paranormal romance synopsis, read your synopsis out loud to a mirror or a willing victim, I mean friend. Is your work succinct? Does it make sense? Is it interesting? Does it tell the external and internal conflicts, and the resolution of said conflicts? When you have an acceptable final draft (let's face it--perfect is close to impossible), add it to your paranormal romance submission packet. Then have a glass of shiraz.

Wishing you the best of luck in submitting your paranormal romance novel,

Danica