Being uncharacteristically brief (for me), writing short stories is hard for me. I do much better with novels or even novellas. Sounds odd, doesn’t it? You’d think it would be so much easier to write 5,000 words than it is to write 50,000. And in terms of sheer, physical labor, it’s true.
But coming up with an idea that can work in a short space and then writing it neatly and tightly is much harder than it sounds.
Maybe it’s that my brain is too undisciplined to focus sharply on one scene and find the inherent drama in it. Or perhaps my mind just finds too much complexity everywhere. Whatever the reason I tend to think in bigger pictures.
That’s one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed the challenge of being part of the Naughty Literati anthologies. The stories in these anthologies are short, but they’re complete, satisfying tales that pack a punch. The group includes some amazingly talented writers who do fabulous stories. I’m honored to be with them, but I’m challenged as well.
To feel like I belong in this company of excellent writers means I have to push myself and whatever writing skills I possess into places they don’t naturally go. I have to work harder to do neat, compact, satisfying stories in a short space. It’s hard, but it’s exhilarating in its own odd way. I relish the challenge and hope that I can produce stories readers will enjoy and maybe even write something that will touch a few hearts.
Kate Kingston invites you to come visit her home on the web at http://www.katherinekingston.com
Monday, April 6, 2015
Friday, April 3, 2015
Writing Inspiration: Delia's Heartthrob by Regina Kammer
Hi Everyone! This is Regina, once again sharing a post from my own blog. In "Delia's Heartthrob," my story in Naughty Hearts, there's a festival celebrating the coming of Spring. Spring is definitely in the air where I live, and it's giving me inspiration for new stories. Read further to see what inspired my Steampunk series!
In Steampunk Inspiration (Part 1), I discussed my family ties to a unique object of inspiration for my very first Steampunk story. I also hinted at the source of inspiration for my second Steampunk story.
For “Delia’s Heartthrob”, my entry in Naughty Hearts the Valentine’s Day release from the Naughty Literati, there was a specific source of inspiration. But before I get into that there’s a bit of very personal backstory.
While I was writing “One Cheek or Two?” I had a traumatic experience in my real life. I won’t discuss it except to say that at the time it was very difficult to write creatively. I’m a writer, it’s my job, so I had to force myself. The ideas were there, but I found it quite crushing to get them down on paper (or in the computer, rather). I wasn’t experiencing writer’s block; it was post-traumatic stress disorder.
Yet something very odd was going on in my freaked-out brain: my characters were waiting for me. Specifically the characters from “One Cheek or Two?”—Delia, Edward, and Sebastian—were waiting for me to write their stories. It was as if they were hanging out in the Green Room of my mind, smoking cigarettes (Sebastian) and drinking tea, conversing amongst themselves at a level of volume I couldn’t hear, lounging about, completely out of character like off-stage actors.
It was comforting knowing they were there, waiting patiently.
And then when I was ready, their stories started pouring out of me, a deluge of ideas, scenarios, characterizations. A whole series developed, actually. It was quite bizarre.
I knew I had to continue writing stories from the Ockham Steam-Works Laboratory, and began contemplating how exactly to do this—Search for anthology calls? Self-publish? Post as an extra feature on my website?
The Naughty Literati Valentine’s Day anthology, Naughty Hearts, was the perfect opportunity to continue the story of Delia, Edward, and Sebastian. But, hmm, Valentine’s Day…how could I make that unique?
As an erotica writer I constantly get people saying to me “Oh, you go to Burning Man! You must get so much inspiration from being there”—implying, most likely, that somehow the candid nudity and sensuality inspire the erotic aspects of my writing. Actually, Burning Man has never inspired me in that way. However, it has inspired elements of plot and setting. The first such inspiration found its way into Hadrian and Sabina in the form of the festival of Osiris:
Pulse and Bloom and Skull of Actaeon were interactive art installations that utilized electronic sensors to synch LED lights to a participant’s pulse, thereby visualizing human heartbeats. It was pretty amazing. Pulse and Bloom had the added component of mingling the heartbeats of two people at the same time for a syncopated effect.
Embrace was a large-scale wooden sculpture of two figures embracing (spectacularly set on fire one morning). Inside each of the figures was a glowing red heart hanging like a chandelier.
That is, in February, kind of near Valentine’s Day.
And, thus, the setting and plot elements of "Delia’s Heartthrob" were born.
Naughty Hearts is now available, but if you want to get an introduction to the characters in "Delia’s Heartthrob", their first story is “One Cheek or Two?” in the anthology Valves & Vixens: Steampunk Erotica. The two stories can be read as standalones, although I’d really like it if readers discovered the whole world of the Ockham Steam-Works Laboratory.
And I think Edward, Delia, and Sebastian would like it if you read about their lives outside the Green Room of my mind.
In Steampunk Inspiration (Part 1), I discussed my family ties to a unique object of inspiration for my very first Steampunk story. I also hinted at the source of inspiration for my second Steampunk story.
For “Delia’s Heartthrob”, my entry in Naughty Hearts the Valentine’s Day release from the Naughty Literati, there was a specific source of inspiration. But before I get into that there’s a bit of very personal backstory.
While I was writing “One Cheek or Two?” I had a traumatic experience in my real life. I won’t discuss it except to say that at the time it was very difficult to write creatively. I’m a writer, it’s my job, so I had to force myself. The ideas were there, but I found it quite crushing to get them down on paper (or in the computer, rather). I wasn’t experiencing writer’s block; it was post-traumatic stress disorder.
Yet something very odd was going on in my freaked-out brain: my characters were waiting for me. Specifically the characters from “One Cheek or Two?”—Delia, Edward, and Sebastian—were waiting for me to write their stories. It was as if they were hanging out in the Green Room of my mind, smoking cigarettes (Sebastian) and drinking tea, conversing amongst themselves at a level of volume I couldn’t hear, lounging about, completely out of character like off-stage actors.
It was comforting knowing they were there, waiting patiently.
And then when I was ready, their stories started pouring out of me, a deluge of ideas, scenarios, characterizations. A whole series developed, actually. It was quite bizarre.
I knew I had to continue writing stories from the Ockham Steam-Works Laboratory, and began contemplating how exactly to do this—Search for anthology calls? Self-publish? Post as an extra feature on my website?
The Naughty Literati Valentine’s Day anthology, Naughty Hearts, was the perfect opportunity to continue the story of Delia, Edward, and Sebastian. But, hmm, Valentine’s Day…how could I make that unique?
Festivals As Inspiration: Burning Man
In August 2014, I went to Burning Man for the fifth time. The arts festival has a reputation for being a week-long, drug-fueled party for naked people. I suppose some people experience the event in that way. But for me, the main attractions are the artworks, the performance art, and seeing friends.As an erotica writer I constantly get people saying to me “Oh, you go to Burning Man! You must get so much inspiration from being there”—implying, most likely, that somehow the candid nudity and sensuality inspire the erotic aspects of my writing. Actually, Burning Man has never inspired me in that way. However, it has inspired elements of plot and setting. The first such inspiration found its way into Hadrian and Sabina in the form of the festival of Osiris:
The theme for Burning Man 2014 was Caravansary and the Man was positioned in the middle of a souk, or bazaar, made up of tents. There were some excellent artworks spread across the Playa and Black Rock City. A few made lasting impressions upon me, and a couple of those gave me ideas for some sexy Steampunk machines in my latest Ockham Steam-Works Laboratory story.The colorful banners and costumes during the day and the flaming, noisy spectacles as night fell…
Pulse and Bloom and Skull of Actaeon were interactive art installations that utilized electronic sensors to synch LED lights to a participant’s pulse, thereby visualizing human heartbeats. It was pretty amazing. Pulse and Bloom had the added component of mingling the heartbeats of two people at the same time for a syncopated effect.
Embrace was a large-scale wooden sculpture of two figures embracing (spectacularly set on fire one morning). Inside each of the figures was a glowing red heart hanging like a chandelier.
Festivals As Inspiration: Imbolc
But how to integrate all of this into a story? How could I bring Burning Man to an imagined Steampunk Newcastle? Elisabeth Waters my colleague at the San Francisco Area chapter of Romance Writers of America gave me an idea. At one of our meetings she told me about the Celtic festivals celebrating the seasons: Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. Imbolc is the festival marking the beginning of spring and occurs about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.That is, in February, kind of near Valentine’s Day.
And, thus, the setting and plot elements of "Delia’s Heartthrob" were born.
Naughty Hearts is now available, but if you want to get an introduction to the characters in "Delia’s Heartthrob", their first story is “One Cheek or Two?” in the anthology Valves & Vixens: Steampunk Erotica. The two stories can be read as standalones, although I’d really like it if readers discovered the whole world of the Ockham Steam-Works Laboratory.
And I think Edward, Delia, and Sebastian would like it if you read about their lives outside the Green Room of my mind.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Celebrating A Decade Of Storytelling
This year I am celebrating a decade of being a published author. Wow, an entire decade. I certainly never imagined myself writing or being published, and now doing so for a decade...Whoo-damn!
I've had my ups and downs on this journey, overcome a long period of writers block when my muse disappeared. Still not totally recovered from that absence but the stories are back, thank God. I am back in the saddle and loving every minute of writing with the Naughty Literati. This amazing group of women truly inspires me!
The experience of writing is as different for each author as their personality. I started on this incredible journey on a dare. That's right--a dare. When watching movies with family and friends, I typically had the plot figured out well before the movie was half over. I was often heard saying things like, "I could have done a better job writing this," or "I could have come up with a much better ending." Sick of hearing this, my mother laid down a challenge. "Then do it."
*screeching brakes*
I responded, "Say what?"
"Sit down and write a story."
I'm sure at the time she could see my brain racing as I tried to figure out how on earth to accomplish such a phenomenal thing. But admit defeat, turn down a challenge, no way.
I started and never completed three stories before I found my footing and over the course of about six months, I wrote and re-wrote PASSIONATE REALITIES, my first published book. Upon submission in 2004, the story was pulled from the slush pile and I received an email asking me to do some revising and resubmit. I did and the book was contracted New Years week 2005.
I can't adequately express the mind-blowing experience of receiving that acceptance email or what followed other than I walked on clouds for the majority of 2005. Nothing I’ve ever been through prepared me for writing a book and having it released to the public. Talk about putting yourself out there…OMG! When PASSIONATE REALITIES released, I felt like I was standing center stage under the spotlights, naked, with all my most private, taboo sexual thoughts exposed to the whole world. Thankfully, book releases have gotten a little easier since then.
For many years I avoided first-person writing as there were few first-person stories I enjoyed. Getting a reader lost in the story and making them forget they're reading first-person takes great skill. Yet as I grew more comfortable with getting the voices of my characters out of my head and into writing, I became more interested in first-person since it provided an opportunity to go much deeper into a character's head. One of my favorite stories I've written and am most proud of, MY GREATEST FANTASY, is written in first-person and I recently had a funny experience with the story.
I had not written first-person in several years and wanted to for my shifter story, MERRY CHRISTMAS, KITTEN, which is part of the NAUGHTY LIST boxed set. So I opened up MY GREATEST FANTASY on my Kindle and started reading. I was captured on the first page and forgot not only that I was reading a first-person story but that I was reading my own writing. Before I finished the first chapter I was blown-away and thought, now this is how I want to write!
*face-palm*
Yeah, not my brightest moment. LOL!
To celebrate my amazing decade, for your reading enjoyment, here is a link to the entire first chapter of MY GREATEST FANTASY. And here's to many more decades of stories to come, because the voices are back and they have a lot to say.
Happy Reading,
Nicole
I've had my ups and downs on this journey, overcome a long period of writers block when my muse disappeared. Still not totally recovered from that absence but the stories are back, thank God. I am back in the saddle and loving every minute of writing with the Naughty Literati. This amazing group of women truly inspires me!
The experience of writing is as different for each author as their personality. I started on this incredible journey on a dare. That's right--a dare. When watching movies with family and friends, I typically had the plot figured out well before the movie was half over. I was often heard saying things like, "I could have done a better job writing this," or "I could have come up with a much better ending." Sick of hearing this, my mother laid down a challenge. "Then do it."
*screeching brakes*
I responded, "Say what?"
"Sit down and write a story."
I'm sure at the time she could see my brain racing as I tried to figure out how on earth to accomplish such a phenomenal thing. But admit defeat, turn down a challenge, no way.
I started and never completed three stories before I found my footing and over the course of about six months, I wrote and re-wrote PASSIONATE REALITIES, my first published book. Upon submission in 2004, the story was pulled from the slush pile and I received an email asking me to do some revising and resubmit. I did and the book was contracted New Years week 2005.
I can't adequately express the mind-blowing experience of receiving that acceptance email or what followed other than I walked on clouds for the majority of 2005. Nothing I’ve ever been through prepared me for writing a book and having it released to the public. Talk about putting yourself out there…OMG! When PASSIONATE REALITIES released, I felt like I was standing center stage under the spotlights, naked, with all my most private, taboo sexual thoughts exposed to the whole world. Thankfully, book releases have gotten a little easier since then.
For many years I avoided first-person writing as there were few first-person stories I enjoyed. Getting a reader lost in the story and making them forget they're reading first-person takes great skill. Yet as I grew more comfortable with getting the voices of my characters out of my head and into writing, I became more interested in first-person since it provided an opportunity to go much deeper into a character's head. One of my favorite stories I've written and am most proud of, MY GREATEST FANTASY, is written in first-person and I recently had a funny experience with the story.
I had not written first-person in several years and wanted to for my shifter story, MERRY CHRISTMAS, KITTEN, which is part of the NAUGHTY LIST boxed set. So I opened up MY GREATEST FANTASY on my Kindle and started reading. I was captured on the first page and forgot not only that I was reading a first-person story but that I was reading my own writing. Before I finished the first chapter I was blown-away and thought, now this is how I want to write!
*face-palm*
Yeah, not my brightest moment. LOL!
To celebrate my amazing decade, for your reading enjoyment, here is a link to the entire first chapter of MY GREATEST FANTASY. And here's to many more decades of stories to come, because the voices are back and they have a lot to say.
Happy Reading,
Nicole
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
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