Special Guest Blogger: Hope Tarr!
Please welcome fellow Blaze babe, Hope Tarr, to the jungle today! Hope has already made quite a name for herself writing super-sexy historical romances. I remember the first time I saw one of her books–the cover was so gorgeous, I had to pick it up. I’m super excited that she has written the very FIRST historical Blaze, which will be coming out this summer. (Check out the cover below…unbelievably stupendous!) And today, she’s here to talk to us about misbehaving…is there ANY more perfect topic for Plotmonkeys?
Welcome Hope!
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Ain’t no misbehaving…or is there? What to do when your characters just don’t see it your way.
To borrow—okay, steal—the signature line from actor Mike Myers character, hipster secret agent Austin Powers, “Beeee-have!”
Only my fictional characters rarely do and with each book I’m getting more and more okay with that. You might say I’m the writerly equivalent of a permissive parent. Sure, I start out with a detailed synopsis mapping out the paths my main characters will take in the course of the story—my story. But like bratty teens, at some point those very same characters start flexing their muscle and trying to take over the book big time.
Did I mention they usually succeed?
To be fair, I don’t let them take over completely. There is that whole editing thing where yes, my editor and I invoke veto power, the final say. But like a parent doling out privileges and responsibilities to build adolescent character, I’ve also learned to recognize when it’s time to loosen the reins of control if not turn them over completely. Because when my characters don’t want to stay on that preset path, when they spit out the words I’ve put in their mouth and say something completely different, often there’s a really good reason. The book is about to take one of those so-called “plot twists” that we as writers like readers and yes, reviewers to think is part and parcel of our stellar plotting abilities but in reality is often the result of serendipity, an overactive subconscious, or yes, blind luck. Blind luck, my preferred plotting method, usually comes in the form of some odd factoid or occurrence I’ve spotted in a newspaper or magazine, an off-the-wall conversation had with a friend or sometimes a stranger (I do live in Manhattan, after all), or yes, a dream. (Note the importance of taking “artist days,” a topic for a separate blog).
But the cool thing is that when I let my characters take the proverbial ball and run with it, crazy, wonderful things often happen, adding deeper layers to not only my characters but the book as a whole. Sometimes, lots of times, whole new characters are born.
In BOUND TO PLEASE, my historical for Harlequin’s Blaze line, a fairly straightforward abduction plot became a lot more complex—and interesting (I hope) thanks to the emergence of two completely unplanned secondary characters. To bring my laird heroine together with the hero she’s just had kidnapped, I wrote a Medieval court day scene. That scene was supposed to be just set-up, fictional wallpaper, but suddenly other personalities began emerging from that noisy, boisterous, crowded great hall. The next thing I knew, a young former prostitute pushed her way to the forefront of the crowd and clatter, not taking over the story but adding to it. Suddenly my heroine had not only a best friend but also a mentor in shall we say the art of love—very um…handy when it comes time to set about seducing the reluctant hero.
Likewise in UNTAMED, the finale to my “Men of Roxbury House” trilogy with Medallion Press, the hero’s “gentleman’s gentleman” and former partner-in-crime, Ralph, refused to stay in the background. Instead of serving up the day’s post on the requisite silver salver and making sure the daily newspaper was ironed, he started using his scalawag ways to help his employer “tame” his shrewish wife—and taking a fancy to her pretty if prickly younger sister. Now it looks as though Ralph may be getting a book of his own. So much for that “trilogy” concept, hmm?
A writer’s process is as individual as a fingerprint, including how we approach characterization. I’ve tried doing character sketches, creating “bibles” for my connected books, all those writer tools Conventional Wisdom dictates we use. If that approach works for you, and it does for many people, then more power to you. Stick with it. For me, the first draft of a book is my characters’ personal playground. If and when I need to pull in the reins, I do. It’s called editing.
What are your experiences of letting your characters detour off the so-called beaten path? Ever thumb your nose at conventional wisdom—and found yourself thanking the Universe you did?
Hope Tarr is the award-winning author of more than ten historical and contemporary romance novels for multiple publishers. To enter her more-than-monthly contest or check out her semi-blog, visit her online at www.hopetarr.com.
Good morning, Ms. Tarr!
Hello you loveable PLotmonkeys and Jungle Babes!
Ms. Tarr, thank you for agreeing to be a guest here today in the jungle. A certain editor, I think she’s known in the jungle as “Precious” told me a story about you and a harrowing rafting trip. (shuddering) So glad it had a happy ending.
I suspect if I get lucky and sell to her one day, she may want to take me on one of her “adventures.” Although I did have a semi-adventurous trip with her last May when we went horseback riding up in Breckenridge.
As to characters and the “beaten path” I always like to know what’s coming down the pike so just sitting down to write with a basic idea or a line of dialogue or setting scares the bejeezus out of me. Firstly, because I start to feel stupid when I don’t have a clue who my story people are and what the heck is supposed to happen next. And I hate feeling stupid.
Of course, trying to write for “Precious” scares me too because so far I’ver screwed it up. :giggle:
That said, I did try it last November when I participated in NANO–National Novel Writing Month. Whew! What a ride! It isn’t something I would feel comfortable doing on a regular basis because I felt too much like a fish riding a skateboard.
But even the best laid plans are diverted by my characters sometimes and I generally let them because it’s a plot twist or a scene that I didn’t think of and it adds something extra to the story that I didn’t expect.
But still if you’re targeting a particular line–like BLAZE for instance, you still have certain parameters that you have to meet and going off on a tangent gets you yanked up by the short hairs.
So until I really get the hang of writing a BLAZE being on a well kept, landscaped, free of debris and rocks path with “Precious” to guide me is what I need to do. Hopefully she won’t get tired of playing “tour guide” and direct me to a detour.
Have a great day all and thank you again for being here.
Cher
Comment by Cher — April 5, 2008 @ 8:39 am
Hi There Cher,
You participted in NANO–I am impressed! So far I’ve abstained, but I keep promising myself “next year…” I think it must be a great way o turn off your “internal editor” and flush out a complete draft. As I write very s-l-o-w-l-y, this woud be a plus!
Hope
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 9:28 am
Ahem…Cher…she is NOT known as Precious in the jungle…that’s over in the castle of the Soap Box Queens. We just call her Brenda.
Hi, Hope! Thanks again for guest blogging today!
Comment by Julie Leto — April 5, 2008 @ 9:54 am
Ooops! Julie, my bad. Sorry
Hope, it was fun doing NANO. You should give it a try. There is definitely no time for he internal editor.
Cher
Comment by Cher — April 5, 2008 @ 10:35 am
Hi Hope! Thank you so much for being here. I hear you 100% on your method…lol! I love it when I reach that point in a book when the characters just start taking overr. It’s like going along for the ride!
Your historical cover is gorgeous–can’t wait to read it!
Comment by Leslie — April 5, 2008 @ 10:37 am
Hi Hope and welcome to the jungle. I love it when my characters take over. And when it happens, I always end of sitting back and saying, “Really, I didn’t know that about you.” or, “You like to do what???”
Things like that. It makes the book so much more fun and the twist it brings…oh yeah, I love it when they take over.
Comment by vicki — April 5, 2008 @ 10:51 am
Hello jungle friends…
Welcome to the jungle Ms. Tarr. Your book sounds very interesting…I love historicals and combining that genre with the Blaze concept should make it quite explosive. Can’t wait to check it out.
I am not a writer, writer, but I am trying to break into that world. I am having a hard time keeping everything straight, so it is quite fortuitous that I read your blog today. I find that as I am writing the plot doesn’t always follow the path I want it to take and, yes, I get frustrated, so I put a hold on writing. After reading your blog though, I will allow my characters to follow their own path, of course veto power will be there in the end, but I want to see where the story takes me. Hopefully the finished product is a good one. While I am writing, sometimes, I feel like I don’t know what to do or what path to take. When writing and your characters start to run away with the plot, how do you decided when to curb their enthusiasm, let’s say? Do you just keep writing and let them take the lead or do you step in a a certain point to redirect the story? Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. I need all the help I can get…
I will check in again later…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — April 5, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Hi Leslie,
So great to “see” you and thanks for the kind comments on my new Blaze cover. I agree, it is gorgeous. Not so sure if the shout line, “This guy’s a sure thing” really adds but then again watcha gonna do.
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 12:29 pm
Hi There Paula,
That is an excellent question–how do we know when veering off the path is too far off the path? Again, I don’t have a good procedural answer, but I think a reliable reality check is to see whether the added nuance/texture adds to the overall story, or makes it convoluted, confusing, you name it. Whenever I find myself in the position of having to write myself out of a corner, it’s usually a cue that I’ve fallen too much in love with a particular piece of dialogue or a scene to the detriment of the overall work. If, however, what I’ve added ends up in pulling everything together, then I keep going with it and let the characters do that thing they do.
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 12:34 pm
Comment by Colleen — April 5, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
Welcome to the jungle, Hope! It’s a pleasure to have you here and your Historical Blaze sounds like fun. I love when unexpected things happen in a story, especially when it comes to secondary characters.
Comment by Janelle — April 5, 2008 @ 12:53 pm
Hi Ladies,
Thanks Janelle and Colleen for more warm welcomes. I had such a good time writing BOUND TO PLEASE, I hope that comes through when readers open the book. A couple of people have asked me if it was difficult to write a Blaze historical. Actually, I found it easier than I’d expected. I started out writing S-T historicals for Berkley back in the day and two of those books were “line” books with a set of reader expectations and editorial guidelines within which the stories had to fit. In the case of Blaze, the story lines are of course super sexy which fit well with my setting of Medieval Scotland. Think kilts, think what’s (not) under those kilts, and of course if the title is any hint, think chains.
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
Thank you for answering my question Ms. Tarr…I have another…
When you write, do you keep writing until no other thought comes to mind in one sitting or do you stop and take little breaks? I find that when I am writing, I keep going until I am “dry,” then I take a break because nothing else is coming out.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — April 5, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
Welcome Hope. Bound to Please sounds really great and the cover is
!
Comment by Liza — April 5, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
Hi Again Paula,
I think your approach of writing until the well is dry is a good way to go. Yours Truly has had spring fever of late (it started in January–anticipatory spring fever?), so keeping my butt in the chair has been a challenge. That said, I always know when I’m in the Zone because the voices in my head–and btw those would be legitimate fictional character voices, I’m just sayin’–come so fast and furious that my typing fingers can’t keep up. Conversely, if I’m really efforting or downright struggling, I might as well give up, get up and do something else because it’s just not going to happen for whatever reason.
That’s when I really know I *need* an “artist day” versus just want one. That artist day may be something as simple as walking to the park and eating a pretzel on the bench while I people watch (and dog watch). In fact, it usually is that simple. And it’s amazing how a good eveasdropping session–oops, I meant to say artist day–can get my creative juices flowing again.
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
Hi Liza and Vicki there–didn’t mean to not say hi earlier. Liza, we were dishing on the over earlier and tho I’m not so fond of the shout line, I o love the artwork. My people actually look like my people, always a plus. And the colors are such rich jewel tones. It will be interesting to see the cover treatment for future Blaze historicals. Jade Lee and Betina Krahn are signed up to write future books, so I think we have a variety of settings and time periods to look forward to. I’m excited.
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Hi Hope,
Welcome to the Jungle. I just wanted to say that I recently enjoyed reading your Blaze book, Strokes of Midnight. Thanks for a good read.
I don’t often read historicals anymore it will be interesting to read a Blaze Historical. Interesting cover!
Have a great weekend.
Comment by Donna M — April 5, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Hi, Hope! Just a reader, but definitely enjoyed your post today–thanks for taking the time to be here! And definitely looking forward to your historical Blaze!! Woohoo!!
Comment by Fedora — April 5, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
Your historical has a great cover!
Comment by Estella — April 5, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
Hi Donna,
I’m so glad you liked STROKES OF MIDNIGHT. That book is a particular favorite of mine for a number of reasons. My working title, which I still like a lot, was ROMANCING BECKY STONE. Not nearly “Blazey” enough, tho.
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
Hi Fedora & Estella,
Glad you like the cover for BOUND. As much as we try not to, we do to some extent judge a book by its cover, me included. The book will be out in stores as of July 1st but it’s available on EHarlequin.com starting June 1st along with an interview I did for the site.
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
Hope, Carly sent a message from her iPhone asking me to post and tell you how much she enjoyed your blog and to thank you for sharing your perspective with our Plotmonkey readers. She’s in Arizona at a conference and doesn’t have Internet except for her phone. She must be going nuts!
You know, I’ve been thinking about your post all day and I think that I really know a book is working when the characters start talking to me when I’m NOT writing, if you know what I mean. In the shower. In the car. In the kitchen. When they’re in my brain all the time, the writing usually comes much easier. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen all the time!
Comment by Julie Leto — April 5, 2008 @ 6:16 pm
Hi Julie,
That is incredibly kind of her. I’ve really enjoyed my day here. What a nice group you have. This seems as good a time as any to say thank you for having me.
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
You know, Julie, that is an excellent point and my experience, too. You know the story is really cooking when you can’t take a break. Even though I may have your computer turned off, those pesky characters follow me into the shower, on my run, even sometimes block the tv set and fill my head like…well, like chattering monkeys. About two weeks before a ms is due, they usually start infiltrating my dreams as well. That’s when a bunch of the book gets written down on coffee napkins, tiny scraps of paper at the bottom of my purse, stray envelopes, cocktail napkins, you name it–because after 14 plus years of doing this, I’ve apparently yet to figure out that carrying pen & paper would be a really good thing.
Comment by Hope — April 5, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
Hi Hope,
Thanks for visiting today. :X Looks like I forgot to comment this morning. Interesting how you work. I’m not … organized, anymore. I tend to let chaos reign, then go a bit nuts in structure… and then let everything be a mess again. I’ve never been one for making lists/organizers, or writing down meetings/ assignments. I probably should… but thus far I’ve done ok :angel7:
Comment by limecello — April 5, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
Thanks for joining us today. I’m a reader, not a writer, but it is very good for us to be
knowledgeable about the “twists and turns” in the lives of your characters.
Pat Cochran
Comment by Patricia Cochran — April 6, 2008 @ 12:00 am
great to see u here. love your blazes.
Comment by kim h — April 6, 2008 @ 12:37 am
My life’s been basically bland , but shrug. I’ve just been letting everything pass me by recently. I’ve more or less been doing nothing.,
Comment by name — May 6, 2008 @ 7:29 pm