Comments on: Trying to Get Back Up Again

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:39:14 +0000

Scarlet – hope you got some chocolate!

Marcie – so know what you mean about rewriting and conflict. I have the problem where I know what the conflict is but I don’t know the characters. As to them noticing – is it requested? If so, maybe. But don’t rush it. I did and to my cost.

By: Marcie

Marcie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:13:28 +0000

“If you haven’t got anything under submission…” I know exactly what you mean. I spent two months writing and had plans to send if off this month. Then I realized the conflict just wasn’t there. I tried to rewrite, but then I realized I didn’t know the conflict. So now I’m writing up notes for a new story until I figure out the one I just finished. But that means nothing has been sent to Harl since end of last summer (tho I did do SYTYCW). Will they notice the length of time in between?

By: scarlet wilson

scarlet wilson — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:18:40 +0000

Jackie, chin up.
Stop writing for a week and go and read. Pick something off the shelves that you wouldn't normally choose. Read a totally different genre. Something completely and utterly different. And give yourself a chance to step back and see the bigger picture.
And while you're there, can you cut me a piece of that ginormous easter egg because I seriously need some!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:14:14 +0000

Lacey - I do need my mojo. Sigh. Haven't seen it have you?

Janet - Maybe I am being too hard on myself. But rewriting when conflict is the issue is hard - at least it is for me. My problem is that pretty much the doubts I've had about my mss have been reflected in the comments the eds have told me. And I just don't want to send something in that I KNOW is not the best I can do. But I guess they can be made to work. I'm actually doing one at the moment and it's HARD. I am virtually rewriting it from scratch.

Rach - I think you know whether it's publishable or not. Carina have already given you a hint. :-) Perhaps when I find my mojo, I'll get mine to find yours.
Fun? Writing? No possible. :-)

Caroline - thank you m'dear! I hope it comes back too. Still have to figure out whether I've got anything useful to say.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:03:24 +0000

Happy Easter Jackie – can I come over and share in that egg. Droolishous or what? Hope you r mojo comes back soon. We miss you regular posts. Caroline x

By: Rachael Johns

Rachael Johns — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:41:10 +0000

Happy Easter Right back at ya Jackie!!! When you find your mojo, can you let me know where you found it, so maybe I can find mine? My only advice would be to write what YOU want to read and have FUN. Forget about the publishing for a while. Easier said than done though… it’s what I tried to do with my current mss but the nearer to the end I get the more I start thinking if it’s publishable or not. And hey, what would I know? x

By: Janet

Janet — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:15:23 +0000

"Am I being too hard on myself about them? Possibly. But I don't want to send anything that I'm not happy with"

it's very difficult to get interested in revisiting a story you've written when its been rejected by Harlequin. But so many people go on to sell their Harlequin rejections to other publishers that I wonder if you ARE being too hard on yourself. Are you sure the faults are as glaring as you think?

Do your CPs agree that the stories have a chronic lack of coherent conflict? Can't any of them be made to work?

By: Lacey Devlin

Lacey Devlin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:04:54 +0000

Hang in there Jackie! You just need to get your writing Mojo back. Maybe it's in the UK for the wedding?

I hope you have a great Easter xx

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 01:51:34 +0000

Aimee – It is a serious egg. Going to take me a while to get through it. Maybe by that stage, I’ll know what to do with the writing.

Amanda – hey you! Yeah, re Alex, that’s pretty much why I’m seriously wondering what on earth I’m doing. I have got two linked stories but they’re both completely different. Oh, I don’t know. They say write from the heart but if no one wants the stories you write from the heart, then you have to write for someone else again and not yourself.
Still, I guess there’s always wine eh?

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:55:01 +0000

Hi Jackie, Just popped over to see how you were doing. Sorry that it’s not getting easier for you. My passion is also for writing contemporary, and I know what you mean about trying to break into the single title market with it. Last year at the conference, Alex Logan said about contemporary romance, that the only things really selling were series. I can only say that after finishing my last story, I decided to stay put in my little made-up town and add another layer. And…it’s so much fun! I’m really loving being back in this setting with a new set of characters, but also a few that I loved from last time as well.
So, this is just an idea – but maybe you could take a familiar character or two, and give them another story. It might just get some of those writing juices fired up again. If that doesn’t work – I can only offer wine 🙂 Hang in there – Amanda.