Still Swimming!
Okay, I’d hoped to be done this new book by today’s blog, remember? Well…not quite.
I’m soooooo close, I promise, and I’ve been working my butt off (don’t I wish, considering its size!) I know I’ll be there in a day or two. But there are a lot of threads and strings in this story and I’ve been trying to make sure they all tie together and form something neat by the time all is said and done.
Anyway, I thought that since I’m so deep in this right now, you might like a glimpse at the “process.”
Reaching the final dramatic confrontation in this story has caused a ripple effect through the entire book, as it does with all of my books (the big ones, at least.) I get to the climax, everything has finally come together in my mind, and I realize I now have to go back and layer in all the things I missed when writing the story, simply because I was not sure about what was going to happen. (I’m a by-the-seat-of-the-pants writer, not a plotter. The Plotmonkeys help me create the bones of the story…I flesh them out as I go.)
No problem. Layering’s great (ask Julie!) So I’ve done that–I’ve added tidbits, red herrings, clues, and entire scenes. I’ve rearranged chapters to make those new scenes fit. I’ve deepened characters, I’ve broadened the scope of the story, I’ve fleshed out places where things were skeletal and trimmed up the fleshy bits.
Here’s something else I have to confess: I’ve also changed my margins. I always do this. I start my book with 1.25 margins all around, so it feels like I’m really getting somewhere in the early stages. Then around page 100 I change them to 1” all the way around, kind of a standard measure. Then as I hit the 2/3 point and realize I have a lot of story still left to tell, I push it to .9 on top and .8 on bottom, that way I’ll get 25 lines per page, which is a publishing standard.
Then I hit the last 50 pages or so. And I panic. How in the name of God am I going to be able to finish in 50 pages? So I bump the right margin to .9, then look at the chapter ending page of every chapter, hunting for short ones. When I find them, I go through that particular chapter removing words and sentences, pulling up paragraphs, until I suck that short last page into the preceding ones. I get myself another 10 or so pages that way.
Yes. I play this game with every book. Pathetic, isn’t it? What can I say…it’s my process. :-)
Here’s one more tiny snag I’ve hit with this book…maybe you readers can help me with it. These characters have a great, fun, sexy relationship, but for a number of legitimate reasons, they don’t completely have sex until quite a ways into the story. (Though they do just about everything else…lol!) When I originally wrote it, it was fine, about 250 pages in (out of around 400. Ish.) Now that I’ve layered, however, adding an entire plot thread, I realize the first fully consummated love scene has been pushed to about page 300! That’s ¾ of the way through the book. I’ve never had it come (ahem…) that late. Early, yes. I’ve had sex in chapter one in my category books, but not late. (Not I…I mean, my characters have had sex…oh, you know what I mean!)
Anyway, I’m wondering, what’s your take on it? Does it bother you to read a big, meaty book and have the characters having lots of sexy encounters, but not doing that until the last quarter of the book? Personally, I love it because the sexual tension between them is so thick it’s making me sweat! But are readers going to be cool with it?
Curious minds want to know…
Thanks all! Hope you have a great week.
Yes, yes, yes! I’m not a prude, but I miss the days of heavy, and I do mean heavy, sexual tension between the h & h. Sometimes it’s okay if it happens early in the story, but just about every book I’ve read lately has the deed done by chapter 3, and it so fizzles out after that because once they’ve done it, they’re gonna do it again, there’s nothing really holding them back, and the angst and anticipation are gone. For a reader, the thrill is gone.
So don’t rush to the finish line - put some obstacles in their path. Make it crazy hot and we’ll be thanking you for it.
Comment by Stacy ~ — December 4, 2006 @ 7:23 am
I have to agree with you and Stacy. Waiting for them to finally be together sexually is part of the excitement of the book. Especially when it is placed just right in the book. That first scene can be anywhere in the book, as long as it fits in the story.
I have to say I am still amazed at how intricate this process is. I think a lot of us readers just take for granted how a book comes together because we have never written one. Thank you all for nearly going insane while writting your fabulous books for us to read. We really do appreciate it more than you will ever know. It helps take our minds of the traumatic events going on in our lives and gives us a few hours of happy, peaceful, dream time.
Comment by Kelly — December 4, 2006 @ 8:42 am
I like for the “final act” to wait a bit in the story. It’s not bad for it to happen at the first of the book and continue to happen til the end, but when the characters wait(even doing everything but) you kind of learn more about each person and what makes them tick(and it can be really hot waiting for the “final act”
. Thanks for the insite into writing books. I knew it was hard work, but didn’t realize how hard until the last couple of weeks.
Comment by Liza — December 4, 2006 @ 9:45 am
I’m with every one else. I don’t mind waiting, as long as there are legitimate reasons to wait. If it’s just for the sole purpose of keeping me turning pages I get a little frustrated, but if there is one glitch after another keeping them apart (especially if there’s humor involved) then it’s great.
Comment by Jodie — December 4, 2006 @ 10:06 am
Just like everyone else, I don’t mind waiting either. I mean, it does make it more “real life” doesn’t it? How many of us would, were we still out there playing, just jumo to the “finish line” right away? I love the way the tension builds and the story line continues to head in that direction and the ahhhhh when they finally get there.
When you get all done, treat yourself to a nice present- maybe a long hot bath with a bunch of :cocktail::cocktail::cocktail:!!!
Comment by ev — December 4, 2006 @ 10:35 am
I agree with the others….waiting is fine….just so long as it is purposeful to wait…..so we’re not just waiting to wait. It’s like that show from the 80s, “Moonlighting”. When they finally did the deed, where’d the show go? It was cancelled. Does that make sense?
I have such an appreciation for all of you. You are all so wonderful and doing a FABULOUS job. We appreciate you so much.
Comment by katie — December 4, 2006 @ 10:39 am
Thank you thank you thank you all!!!
I genuinely appreciate the feedback! I usually just don’t second guess myself when I’m writing–I trust my instincts. But this book means a lot to me (my last for HQN…sigh…
and I just want it to be the absolute best it can be.
And I’m so glad to hear you all are interested in this process stuff. I don’t want to bore anybody, but it is nice to be able to talk about the daily things.
And Ev, a bath and :cocktail::cocktail: sounds fabulous! I think when I’m done all I’m going to have time for is shopping, wrapping, and starting the Blaze I have to have done in 6 weeks.
Comment by Leslie — December 4, 2006 @ 10:56 am
Leslie, this doesn’t bother me if there is a payoff at some point — what drives me nuts is the constant tease that ends in a paragraph of general description or a closed door. That put me off of a Tanya Huff book (much as I loved the story, I sat through reading a lot of violence, frankly, that was graphically described, only to be rewarded with a sentence or so about the love scene…for me that was a huge deal breaker). Sorry Tanya, if you’re out there — different strokes and all that. She might have changed that in other books, but I never found out…
In my upcoming Blaze, which is an Extreme, I had similar worries, though — the first full love scene doesn’t come until halfway through the book, which was very atypical for me in a Blaze, but it was due to the demands of the story — I was a little worried about that, but so far readers and reviewers seem to think it was hot enough, so I think as long as the heat exists in the story, even simmering, and then explodes at *some* point, you’re okay.
Sam
Comment by Sam Hunter — December 4, 2006 @ 11:20 am
The placement of the love scenes depends on the story. For me, anyway. As long as they aren’t forced, I’m game for any timetable.
And I have a question.
What font and font size do you use?
Comment by Heather Harper — December 4, 2006 @ 11:25 am
I prefer a lot of sexual tension before the payoff.
Having the consumation too early puts a lot of pressure on the plot and sometimes the characters end up having sex at unbelievable moments just because they are expected to. Does that make any sense at all?
I also like getting a look into your writing process. I’ve never layered before but it sounds like something I would be good at. I may give it a whirl sometime!
Comment by Missy — December 4, 2006 @ 11:39 am
I AM OLD FASHIONED. I LIKE TO BELIEVE THE CHARACTERS LOVE EACH OTHER BEFORE THE SEX COMES. I DON’T LIKE IT AS MUCH IF THE SEX
COMES TOO EARLY..
Comment by Kim W — December 4, 2006 @ 11:54 am
I am in the majority here. I don’t mind waiting for the consumation of the relationship as long as there are some nice hot scenes building up to the climax (yes, pun intended.)
Leslie, you are doing great!!!! Who cares if you play with the margins as long as you eventually write the story and quit messing around. (lol)
Have a great day!!!!!:love2:
Comment by Debbie — December 4, 2006 @ 12:23 pm
I love the sexual tension that builds in books like that! If it works for the characters, it’ll work for the readers!
Comment by Lara — December 4, 2006 @ 12:39 pm
I’m in agreement with everyone who is fine with waiting. I have read other books where ‘the deed’ wasn’t done until near the end and enjoyed them very much any way.
Comment by Susan — December 4, 2006 @ 12:56 pm
sure it is good but it should go with the story, i know what books are good and i read what i like.
Comment by kim H — December 4, 2006 @ 1:00 pm
The longer the wait, the better (for all the reasons mentioned above). Interesting peek at your process too!
Comment by Kristen Painter — December 4, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
Oh geech I debated whether I should even join in today with all the others not caring when the lovers relationship is complete. I like a book to be sexy throughout. I am old and maybe at my age patience isn’t one of my virtues. I love a story to develop but…. Oh well you get my thoughts!
I noticed Leslie you said, ” But there are a lot of threads and strings in this story and I’ve been trying to make sure they all tie together and form something neat by the time all is said and done.”
I just finished a really funny sexy book and without mentioning the title or author I would like to agree with what you said here. The author is good and the primary relationship was wonderful. At the end of the story I couldn’t believe she has left all other characters hanging in limbo. The rest of the characters are maybe destined for another book, maybe. But what a disappointment that the book ended one relationship and never even hinted at the others. So keep tying up those “threads and strings” they are definitely important to readers.:thumbsup2:
Comment by jeannie — December 4, 2006 @ 1:11 pm
I can wait!
If the book is well written & holds my interest that is what matters. Building the sexual tension between a couple adds to the book overall. I love your books, just keep writing! 
Thanks. 
Comment by Donna M — December 4, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
Well, I’ll be the dissenting voice…I love it when the sex happens early! I mean, I know my characters are in love (or will be) but they don’t know it yet!
That said, the quick to have sex scenario simply doesn’t work for every book. More than anything else, the author has to remain true to her characters and her plot and can’t just throw the sex in because they *think* readers want all the hot stuff right up front. I think (and I see here that I’m probably right) that most readers are willing to wait so long as the pay off is worth it.
The Blaze I’m working on now doesn’t have a love scene until the half way point of the book. The heroine and hero are former lovers with a very ugly breakup…so I really had to wait until they’d gotten to a certain emotional point before they could do the deed. Fortunately, they love teasing one another, so the sexual tension (hopefully!) is high. My last Blaze, it totally made sense storywise to get them sexed up right in the second/third chapter. Then, it was only sex…the tension came from when they would have sex again as their emotional connection grew.
There’s no one way!
Comment by Julie Leto — December 4, 2006 @ 1:41 pm
*Exactly” Julie — that’s what happened in Untouched, as well — the heroine is a virgin (in a Blaze, LOL!) and considering the circumstances, it had to kind of build up…
Still, felt weird to me in a Blaze to wait so long for the sex.
I like sexy books, too, or else I wouldn’t write them. My Forbidden Fantasy I’m writing right now has a lot of sex up front, because that’s what’s right for the story.
I have read books without sex and enjoyed them, but not romance — those are usually of the mystery or adventure genre.
On the other hand, I’ve read a few ST romances that bordered on erotica without enough focus on story or characters, and I didn’t like the book when it was just sex all the way through.
I guess it’s a balance…
Sam
Comment by Sam Hunter — December 4, 2006 @ 1:47 pm
Thanks for sharing the process with some of us who are aspiring writer!
As far as the sex scene goes, I don’t think it matters if it is later or early in the book as long as it works with the story and there’s still some good sexual tension in between.
Comment by Yolanda — December 4, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
Heather, in answer to your question, I use Courier New, 12 point.
And yes, as others have said, it’s a balancing act. I had the sex coming pretty late–for a Blaze–in Asking For Trouble. Again, the story dictated it, I did not. Same thing with this book.
Comment by Leslie — December 4, 2006 @ 3:56 pm
I like to have the sexual tension build, and if the actual consumation of the hero and heroine isn’t till late in the book, that works for me. Sometimes the challenge of actually being able to act upon what we all know that they want to do is just making the book more enjoyable. Not that I have anything wrong with it happening within the first few chapters, but I like to see the sexual tension build………. :thumbsup2:
Comment by Cryna — December 4, 2006 @ 3:59 pm
I like books where the sex is later in the book. The tension builds and the book is more interesting.
Comment by Estella — December 4, 2006 @ 5:09 pm
Oh, I certainly don’t mind it that late — I’ve read plenty of books that the story and the tension’s building for most of the book and the first time is more towards the end of the book. Obviously it depends on the story on if that can work or not, or if it’s expected more towards the first half, but I sure like it that way myself!
Lois
Comment by Lois — December 4, 2006 @ 6:41 pm
I’m fine with it. In fact if that’s how it fits the story I prefer it so much more than when some authors tend to stick it in (no pun intended haha) before they should.
Comment by catslady — December 4, 2006 @ 7:20 pm
Hey Leslie,
I love the tension that builds in those thick stories that are meaty in plot and light in romance in the beginning and middle but hot and heavy at the end. It is like the icing on the top of the cake!
Sweet!
Comment by Michele L. — December 5, 2006 @ 1:28 am
Me personally– I read romance to escape– from full time work, part time school, a 3yr old, 14yr old and hubby….a romance novel is an escape for me that takes me back to when I was dating my hubby and all we were interested in was sex
, not what’s for supper, the bills, or the kids.. I like to read a book that gets my interest right off–I like great characters that I can relate to–absolutely a contemporary fan. I like some chemistry and touchy, feely up front–maybe not chapter one, but I would have a hard time waiting until 300 pages in… JMO. That’s why I like Blaze Romance so much–by the time you get to that middle insert in the book, you definately have had some hot sex! 
Comment by Renee — December 5, 2006 @ 2:24 am
I don’t mind waiting either
Comment by Cherylann — December 5, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
One more question…Why is this your last book for HQN? Do tell. Please.
Comment by Heather Harper — December 5, 2006 @ 2:39 pm