Using Criticism by paranormal romance author Danica Winters

I spent last weekend with a group of amazing paranormal romance writers from around the world. I learned ideas and tools other paranormal romance writers have used to become successful and I would like to share one of the amazing ideas I heard.

First and foremost, I must quote Bob Mayer on writing: "[Writing] is not magic; it's hard work combined with the ability to constantly accept being critiqued and to critique oneself." (The Novel Writer's Toolkit, 2011)

This idea perfectly conveys what it means, emotionally, to become a writer. It is an endeavor that will bring joy through creation and pride when you reach completion, but as those 'highs' recede and you allow others to see your work; criticism will inevitably take their place. Only seconds before you may have been feeling confident that your work was the best you could make it, and then a well-meaning friend/paranormal romance writer/paranormal romance editor brings you back to reality—you are far from perfect and so is your work.

This idea of criticism is not exclusive to writing—No, far from it. Everyday life is much the same. It has happened to everyone at some time or another. You have poured your heart, blood, sweat and tears into a paranormal romance project only to have another immediately point out only the flaws. Thus, deflating whatever pride you have felt for accomplishing your dream.

This all sounds so negative, but unfortunately it is the reality of dirty, heart-wrenching, back-breaking Life.

Bob Mayer said something else that directly correlates to this idea: "Anything that upsets you, makes you feel bad, makes you angry, touches any emotional button is something you must focus on. We get upset whenever we hear or read something that affects us. Because we are hearing a truth, we react defensively with emotion. Our strongest defenses are built around our greatest weaknesses. As a [paranormal romance] writer, you will only get better by addressing the weakest parts of your writing. We all tend to want to focus on our strengths, but a [paranormal romance] book is only as good as the weakest part."

Ah-ha! Isn't he right?

Taking the pride-deflating lessons from above, we must use them. Yes, our egos are bruised and battered, but if we accept our weaknesses we can Learn.

Our life, and our work, can become better. Instead of being beaten down, we can dress our wounds with the bandages of learned improvement. Our weaknesses can become our strengths.

I would like to leave you with one idea: (Whether you write paranormal romance or anything at all) Don't give up after your pride is injured, or you will only ever be as good as your 'weakest part.'

Paranormal Romance Author Chris Karlsen Presents: Where Does Inspiration Come From

Dear Friends,

This week, I have the honor of presenting you with my friend and fellow paranormal romance author with Books To Go Now Publishing, Chris Karlsen. Chris Karlsen is a retired police detective. She spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. The daughter of a history professor and a voracious reader, she grew up with a love of history and books. Check out her paranormal romance books:   on Amazon check out the following link: HEROES LIVE FOREVER or JOURNEY IN TIME.

Enjoy!

-Danica Winters

Where Does Inspiration Come From

by Paranormal Romance Author Chris Karlsen

As a [paranormal romance] writer, the most frequently asked question I get is: “Where does your inspiration come from?” My answer is always: “It depends on the story.” Inspiration can hit me like a lightning bolt or it can creep up on me like a ladybug on my arm or it can be an idea that was buried deep within me and has clawed its way to the front of my thoughts.

With my first [paranormal romance] book, “Heroes Live Forever,” the inspiration was an idea buried in my psyche for years. I love a good ghost story and always thought what fun it would be to be a ghost. But then, as I really examined the possibility, I realized how sad it might be too. In the case of my two medieval knights, Basil and Guy, they fought and died for king and country during the 14th century, only to see their homes and family destroyed three-hundred years later because of loyalty to a king. They’ve seen wonderful advances in the world over the centuries, but they’ve also seen everyone they cared about die. I was inspired to explore both the good and bad of their ghostly world because they do still have fun with mortals.

While writing the paranormal romance “Heroes Live Forever,” I found myself liking Guy and enjoyed writing him so much, I was inspired to give him his own book. What to do to him and for him came from my fascination with time-travel and medieval English history. What to do to my characters came to me like the lightning bolt I mentioned.

In “Journey in Time,” Guy has been given another chance at life. Guy, as Alex Lancaster leads a happy, modern world life as a music producer. He finds himself deeply attracted to Shakira Constantine, a successful London attorney. Because he’s her client, it takes a lot of charm for him to get her to agree to spending a weekend in the country with him.

The marriage of time-travel and medieval history gave me the opportunity to torture Alex and Shakira with a world of problems, life threatening problems. Sending them back to the year prior to Guy’s death in battle, I was able to put Alex in the position of facing his death again, if he can’t return to the modern world. His death put Shakira in the position of potentially having to face a very frightening time alone.

“Heroes Live Forever,” and “Journey in Time,” are from my “Knights in Time,” paranormal romance series.

With a  book I’ve just finished from a different paranormal romance series, “Golden Chariot,” inspiration crept up on me and over several months.

While walking the ruins of Troy, in Turkey, I thought about the Trojan War. I found myself wondering how it must’ve felt to a citizen of Troy to look out over the Dardanelle Strait and see the masts of hundreds of enemy ships, invaders by the thousands coming to sack and burn your home. From that thought, I wondered what if Homer got it wrong in the Iliad. What if the Trojans didn’t lose the war?

Over the next few months, thoughts of the Iliad’s heroes and villains crept into my head. Another visit to the Troy ruins brought more questions regarding the mythical characters. When it came time to write a paranormal romance story about my curiosity, I gave the heroine my same questions.

I have paranormal romance writer friends who’ve been inspired to write stories around nightmares they’ve had or human interest articles they read in the paper. Some are inspired to write paranormal romance about events they’ve experienced and people they know.

I’d say imagination is a paranormal romance writer’s greatest inspiration. If you can imagine it, you can write about it.

 

The Knock of Life

"It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart."-Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games Trilogy

There are times in everyone's life where the simplest course of action is to fall apart, seek shelter between the sheets of self-pity, and escape from the blows life seeks to deliver.  It is all too easy to allow oneself to avoid conflict, run away from the difficulties that are a part of living.

A great place to start a story is to ask the question: "What if?"

So I ask, what if you give into this urge?  Does life become easier if you wallow in your misfortune?  Do your trials end because you don't face them?  More often than not, the answer is a resounding "no."  In fact, in most cases you have only made the situation worse.  The conflicts likely have grown, escalating and beginning to impact other people's lives.

Either directly or tangently, your inaction will affect others.

When life is knocking at the door, you must answer.  You must react in a way that keeps you healthy and makes you stronger.  If there are unpleasant phone calls or emails that must be made, you must push down your inner-procrastinator and let the fall out begin.  Often, the reaction you receive will not be the one you expected, but again you must react positively.

Make a change in your life.

Look at your life, what is the primary thing that makes you want to retreat into your safety zone?  What makes you fall apart?  Is the cause something you can change?  If there is, how can you change your life for the better?  Imagine "what if..."

We all slip into moments of self-pity, but don't let these moment stop you from making a difference in your own life.  It is ten times harder to pick yourself up from the pits of despair than it is to remain positive and answer the knock of life.