THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2006 - On Blogging and Pantsing

Day Two of Blogging- As you can see I have played with the layout - again.... having trouble importing photos but I guess I'll get around that. I think there are too many pixels... or something.

I have been asked how do I go about writing? Mmmm... I sit down and write is not a good answer but basically that is what I do. I attended the RWA NAtional Conference in Atlanta in July and attending a lecture by Susan Elizabeth Phillips discovered I'm what they call a 'pantser'. See I told you I'm learning all about this profession.
Being a Pantser basically means that I know a beginning and an end but only have vague notions of how to get from one to the other. This is opposed to being a 'plotter' who knows what they are doing step by step of the way. I'm told that neither one is better than the other.

Here is an example of being a Pantser - my NaNoWriMo novel, Twisted Vines - started with the first two sentences "Jordan Taylor was a self-confessed, rich bitch. No one disagreed." I thought it would be a satirical adult comedy, I had no idea it would turn into a murder, that would take me from Dubai, to Australia, to Paris, then Africa..... I guess that is what I like about being a pantser, the doors of opportunity are open. I think it would drive a plotter mad to have their novel take off in an unexpected direction. I must ask a novelist friend and see what she says. That doesn't mean I don't follow a guideline. From what I have heard, and my own experience to date, each story has to contain certain elements. If they don't the story fades away or rambles on about nothing. I'll go into what "I" think these are tomorrow.

Jobs to do today - meet with friend for writing session and critique of work. Dentist (ick), do ironing (ick ick) that I didn't do yesterday as I was playing oops- working with blog
site. Stick to diet # 300 for year and exercise...(ick ick ick).

Welcome to my Blog Site

Today is the beginning of a new 'techno' era for me, blogging. I didn't really know what it was until I got 'Blogging for Idiots', then I had to get help. TG for Ed Lucy my nerd from Nerds On Site who held my hand through the whole process and dealt with lurking cookies and other cyber thingamies that seemed to be blocking my way.
I'm learning as I go so bear with me. I'm also hoping that you will learn something too, either about blogging (through my mistakes probably) and the art of writing a novel, from its concept to the shelf at your local bookstore ( she hopes).

I write primarily because I love it. I love a blank page and the wealth of possibilities it can contain. All those words lining up to get on to paper to open a whole new world, full of people, their dreams and aspirations, and the rogues and villains who torment them with their devious conspiracies, and winding among them is threaded the magic of romance.

To date I have completed five novels, six, if I count the one in the bottom drawer that will never see the light of day. It is my first born and I haven't the heart to feed it to the paper shredder. I like to think of each completed novel as a step in the evolutionary development of AW (aspiring writer) Robyn Mills. For only by writing am I exposing my weakness for improvement, and building on my strengths.

Stolen Souls, a romantic suspense was a finalist in the Orange Rose 2005 COntest
Stolen Flame, runner up in Central Ohio's Ignite the Flame 2005 Contest.
Witch Hunter's Moon - my current manuscript, is my first journey into Paranormal, and has been requested by Treskillion and Kensington Publishing Houses. It is currently in revision.
Twisted Vines - is my current WIP (work in progress) as part of NaNoWriMo with a target market of Harlequin Presents.

Enjoy my site... come back and visit me and see what is new. Robyn