Inspiration and Grand Accomplishments

Welcome back for another installment in the Closet Writer's Journal. Thank you for coming by.



Although abesent for an extended period, I've been anything but inactive. I have been working with Soulful Sex writer Diana Laurence and about 63 others on a colaborative project entitled Bloodchained. By answering survey's and interacting through group email, the story took its shape in the form of a supernatural, romantic, suspense tale that introduces a new breed of vampire. I also participated with a few others as an advanced reader and was able to assist in shaping the story that way as well. The end result is a vamire determined to rule the race and those who want to tame him.



As a novice writer, I learned a great deal while working on this project. Ms. Laurence makes the entire process seem effortless. Not only does she write prolifically, she also holds down a full time 9 to 5!! If anyone can teach a writer about the importance of organization, she can. Luckily, she her husband likes to help so cooks and other things around the house, allowing her time to create. You can read all about Ms. Laurence and her other writings, as well as more information on Bloodchained at www.dianalaurence.com . You can also read an excerpt from Bloodchained at www.bloodchained.com .



While working together, I had the opportunity to speak with Diana in detail about writing and the project, and want to share with you the conversation we had to provide a little insight into a writer's life:



GS: As I understand it, to you writing is like breathing; it's something you do. Has it always been like that for you? How old were you when you began writing and what did you write?

DL: You said it, Gina, writing is like breathing to me. I started writing fiction and poetry when I was nine. What did I write? Well, my first story to win recognition was a narrative by an anthropomorphized sneaker running the 600 yard dash, called “600 Yards Under the Shoe.” Very important stuff to the nine-year-old mind! My first published story was written when I was twelve and appeared in ’Teen magazine, which was quite a thrill I must say. Back in those days I liked to write a kind of “junior-sized” version of speculative fiction: fantasy and sci-fi, really. To me the mark of a great story was if the ending totally took you by surprise. Yes, I was a fan of “The Twilight Zone.” LOL

GS: Did you follow a formal writing education path? How have you dedicated yourself to your craft?

DL: I read voraciously, which is always the key to writing well. And I wrote constantly. I did take as many literature and writing courses as I could in high school, and I got a degree in English from the University of Wisconsin--Madison. After college I also took a correspondence course in freelance writing, which was terrifically valuable especially concerning the business end of freelancing. But since then (and that was like 1981!), all I’ve done is continued to read and write.

Nowadays, it’s interesting the skills that for an author become more and more essential to “dedicating yourself to your craft.” Almost as valuable to a writer as being able to write are things like webmastering, marketing, familiarity with ecommerce, even knowing programs like Photoshop and Acrobat. In a typical day, along with writing, I have to do things like design merchandise, create a web page, write and distribute a press release, set up an online survey, analyze my website visit data, publish an ebook, or track expenses for taxes. Fortunately I find it all tons of fun! Except the taxes.

GS: Tell me about the first time you were accepted for publication and how it felt to achieve that goal.

DL: Okay, picture me at thirteen, opening the letter from ‘Teen. I had worked so hard on that story--my dad made me revise the manuscript what must have been twelve times--that I totally gave up on the possibility of it actually winning the publication contest in which I entered it. I remember opening the envelope on the way back up the driveway from the mailbox, stopping dead in my tracks, and just absolutely freaking out with disbelief.

What really freaked me out afterwards, though, was when I told my friends I had won. They would ask, “So what’s the prize?” and I’d say, “My story is going to be printed in ’Teen!” They would look at me blankly, wondering why there was no color TV or trip to Disneyland. And I was, like, what better prize could there be than publication in a national magazine?

GS: I know you have a day job as well as writing your tingly stories, so what is your writing schedule like? How do you manage to fit it all in?

DL: Well, Gina, there’s one key to that: my husband. He owns and operates a one-man cleaning service, so his schedule is flexible and more open than most people’s. He does all the household maintenance stuff except that we share in the cooking and I do the grocery list and bills. So my evenings and weekends are almost totally free to me! He’s amazing.

It also helps that I’m really fast. I can turn out copy pretty quickly, it’s just a gift. A fortunate one considering the day job! But in 2008 I will be ten years with my current employer and get four weeks vacation, and I can tell you, I’m really looking forward to that extra writing time!

GS: Let's talk specifically about Bloodchained. What inspired the idea of the collaborative project?

New Years Day of 2007 I was pondering what project I would do next, after I released Soulful Sex: The Paranormal, Science Fiction and Fantasy Collections in March. I really wanted to figure out a way to write something that would have special appeal to readers. I thought about media phenomena that had really captured the hearts of fans, and was considering in particular the example of Joss Whedon and his “failed” TV series, “Firefly.” Although it was cancelled after eight episodes, in that brief time it won the love of millions of fans. These people adored the story and characters so much that they fought for the show and eventually were instrumental in its being made into the theatrical film “Serenity.”

I thought there couldn’t possibly be anything more rewarding that having people care that much about characters you invented! I wished there were a way to have readers truly take ownership in a story--really be involved. So it occurred to me, with all the tools of technology today, you could easily gather a bunch of volunteers and have them participate in the creation, development, and even writing of a book. It was an exciting idea, but little did I know how well it would play out!

GS: Even though it's a collaborative project and about 60 people were involved, you personally wrote everything. How did the collaborative effort affect the way you wrote the book? Was it noticeably more easy or difficult? Did you enjoy the interaction?

DL: The biggest impact was at the beginning, since I left it totally in the hands of my partners to choose genre, point of view, sensuality level, and even the particular plot, chosen from three possible scenarios. I ran polls on all these issues, and also got input via email. I can honestly say I never would have written this particular story if the partners hadn’t selected it. Which is crazy in retrospect, since now I can’t imagine my world without these characters in it!

The feedback on my posted excerpts was very helpful, in that I was treading new ground and didn’t want to get waylaid on the way. The partners helped me know that I was on the right track and gave me tips for improvement. During the final portion of the project, when six volunteers read the entire manuscript and provided edits and input, the quality of the book was hugely improved. I thought I was a pretty good writer until these people started helping me! LOL It was amazing how many aspects of the book were transformed because of the input of my partners.

I can’t say it was an easier process, but not because the collaboration hindered me in any way. It was harder because the involvement and support of these 63 people challenged me to write just that much better. I’ve always been a thorough rewriter, but this time I really busted my posterior. There were so many people that cared, I wanted to write a great book with them.

This was easily the most wonderful experience of my writing career. It was absolutely inspiring to have so many talented, caring people involved in what is almost always a solitary activity. I love to write, but writing under these circumstances was that much more fun, exciting, and moving.

GS: Did your editor notice a difference when it arrived on her desk for her turn?

DL: My editor also signed up as one of the partners, although she was not among the advance readers and waited in the wings for the “penultimate” manuscript to arrive in her emailbox. By that time she was really pumped to read it and I think the group effort had a similar effect on her as it did on me, as she seemed to do an even better job than her normal nearly perfect one! This book was definitely a departure for Sarah since it was the first novel of mine she has edited--previously it was all short story collections. She definitely noticed the greatly increased depth and complexity. (And she couldn’t put it down, either!)

GS: I know that you are pleased with the outcome of Bloodchained, Diana, as well you should be. It is a great accomplishment. Even though you may not do another group project immediately, do you think you will consider it in the future?

DL: Thanks so much, Gina! You know you had a lot to do with how good it is. This project went so well, I really feel a need now to find some way of involving others in my writing process on future books. Maybe not as elaborate and complex as it was this time, but frankly, I’m afraid now to write all on my own, the books turned out so much better done by a group! I never thought I would come to this conclusion after writing for forty years, LOL. So stay tuned for what happens next with Bloodchained.

GS: If a writer learns something from every piece s/he writes, what did you learn during the writing of Bloodchained?

DL: I think the most important thing I learned is that you can’t take for granted that you know how to write. You can always work harder and make a book better. And you can always learn more about how to make it better with the input of other creative minds.

I also learned how much I enjoy writing suspense! Like I said at the start, when I was little I thought it was surprises that made a story good. Nowadays I tend to favor things like compelling characters, a strong romance, sensuality, and the like...but you know, there’s nothing like a good page-turner, too! I tried to combine all these elements in Bloodchained.

And for those who’d like to find out more about the book itself, please pay a visit to the website at http://www.bloodchained.com/. You can read the synopsis, meet (and see) the characters, read an excerpt, and find out some interesting things about the Roican race. You just might conclude you want to give this book a try yourself. I and my 63 author partners certainly hope so!

GS: Any advice for writers inside the closet door scratching to get out?

DL: In a word: write. Just write. Compared to the days when I got my little story in ’Teen, there are countless options for you today. You can post your work to your own website, or MySpace page, or blog, or to one of the many websites available for that purpose. There are many small independent publishers looking to give new writers a chance, or you can publish your work yourself (for more on that, consider my book Do-It-YourSelf-Publishing (www.dianalaurence.com/diyp.html). Even if you only write for yourself or for friends, which is how my erotic romance writing got started, the key is to write. Write whatever excites you, write it till it’s complete, then edit and polish the heck out of it, and then consider your many options for what to do with it.

But to my way of thinking, writing is always its own reward, even if you are the only one to read the finished product. I have a feeling that’s how all born writers think.

That said, I have to tell you, since doing the Bloodchained project, I have also grown to love having 63 people taking part as I write. It was a rare privilege and a great honor, and I hope the final book does justice to all their efforts and support. Thanks too to you, Gina, for your part in that and for letting me share about our book!



Thank you, Diana, for allowing me to participate in the project. It was a grand learning experience and a lot of fun. I look forward to future projects!!



Stay tuned...I'll be back alot sooner this next time around. I have started a new writing project and will be coming here to work out some of the details, I'm sure.



Thanks for coming.