Writing Prompt:  A Board of eight executives sit before a lone applicant. Compel the reader to want to know more about your character via what’s revealed in this scene.

“So Ms Carter, let me tell you a bit about the position and then we’ll give you an opportunity to tell us something about you.”

Sam Waterston, Human Resource director gestured towards the other members of the panel which included representatives from both the Clinical and Administrative parts of the house.

“We are looking to fill the position of Marketing Director.  As you know, we are a behavioral health organization and our goal is to move into new markets across the state.  The person we are looking for should have both basic marketing skills as well as at least some knowledge of the inner workings of mental health facilities.  He or she should present themselves in a manner that instills confidence within the mind of the community of both our professionalism and competence.”

“Yeah,” said Ms Carter from her slouched position in the chair.  “So, how much does it pay?”

“Well,” said Sam, exchanging an uneasy look with his assistant on the right.  “We’ll get to that in a moment.  “Why don’t you tell us about some of your previous experiences and how they might serve you in this company.”

“Aight then,” she said.  “I ain’t really got no education, nothing formal-like or nothing.  I gots my knowledge from the streets.”

“Have you held any marketing positions in the past?”  This came from the Information Technology manager.

“I suppose that depends on what you mean.”  She smiled slyly at the nerdy young man.  Somehow, either by design or by accident, her already low cut blouse was pulled down to reveal the tops of plump breasts straining against the cups of a leopard print bra.

“I’ve been in many positions.”

She paused a beat and observed the infusion of blood that stained his neck, cheeks and the tips of his ears.  She chuckled softly and then leaned back, her back arched inward, further exposing her generous bosom to the room.

“But to answer your question, yes.  My last job was at the Farmer’s Market.”

The clinical director, the only other female in the room, a middle-aged black woman in her mid-forties snorted and then loudly cleared her throat.  “Excuse me, Ms . . .” she glanced down at the papers in front of her.  “…Carter. What is your experience with mental health?”

Ms. Carter sized up the director for a beat before pushing back in her chair.  Once assured that she held the attention of everyone in the room, she splayed her legs wide, just long enough to assure anyone with questions that she wore a matching set.  She never once took her eyes off the now flustered clinical director.  Several of the men strained forward for a closer look and Ms Carter finally broke the eye contact. She swept an inclusive glance around the room, smirked and then leisurely crossed her right leg over the left.

Sam Waterston felt they had completely lost control of the interview and he ‘harummphed’ until each of the members of his team regained their decorum.

“Ms. Carter,” he said slowly.  “I’m a bit confused.  Exactly what position are you applying for?”

“Why Mr. Waterston, I thought we had that understood.  Isn’t this the audition for the boy’s . . .” she winked at the clinical director.  “. . . and girl’s night out?”

Good Luck!

Writing Prompt: Imagine your protagonist looking at childhood pictures of your antagonist.  What details stand out that make your protagonist truly empathize with the other?

In my current WIP, my heroine Ima DeCostas is a woman of mystery and dangerous secrets.  Her mistake?

Falling for the wrong man.

Ima discovers, far too late, that her man has secrets of his own.  In the following scene, Ima searches for clues regarding the whereabouts of the lover she knows as Kyle.

It felt kind of strange going through Kyle’s things, without him being here.  He’d always been such a private person.  I respected that about him, it was just something else we shared in common.  And yet here I was, violating that privacy in the basest of manner.  The ends justifying the means just didn’t settle with me at all.

I reached up into the closet and lifted the aged pine box from the top shelf. I’d always admired it.  It seemed out of place in the possession of a man who valued all things shiny, new and disposable.  There was history there, locked away in the aged deep brown pine; the patina worn to a smooth finish.  The bronze metal hinges were stained and creaked as I slowly lifted the lid.

I’m not quite sure what I expected to find.  A gun?  Money?

Instead, the old box was filled with an assortment of papers and photographs.  Some were wrapped in plastic; others had been left exposed to the air and had yellowed over time.

I grabbed a stack of black and white photographs.  I didn’t recognize anyone in the first three and quickly shuffled them to the back.  The fourth was a formal pose of a family of four, two adults and two children.  The four of them, in the traditional pose and severe dress made the picture look almost like a Norman Rockwell painting, in its stark simplicity.

I recognized the youngest child as Kyle right off.  He looked to be about ten years old at the time. That wild shock of yellow hair and the angry glint in his eyes had not changed or mellowed in the twenty or so years since the photograph had been taken.  I traced a finger over one bruised eye. Not even the grainy black and white could mask the swelling and purpling on that young face.  I had the impression of restlessness and impatience in the glare he directed into the camera.  I figure he would have burst from that chair at any second had it not been for the restraining hand of the woman; presumably his mother.

Curious, I peered at her a bit closer.  Kyle favored her and had inherited herthick blond locks , as well as her prominent cheek bones, full mouth and sharp features.  He didn’t talk about her. I’d asked after her only once and the discussion had led to the one and only argument we’d ever had.  I never asked again.  But one night, he came to my apartment, drunk.  It was so rare to see him out of control of himself that I didn’t know what to think. His mood had been so strange and at times he looked at me as if he hated the ground on which I stood.  Before I could escort him out, –who the fuck did he think he was looking at me that way? – he gathered me up in his arms and wept. Violent tremors coursed through his body and I held him until the storm ceased.  When it was over, he said simply, “I got word today that my mama was dead.”

There was a story there, but I didn’t push.  I figured he’d tell me when he was ready.

I wish I’d asked more questions.

The other child I assumed was Kyle’s older brother.  What was his name?  I flipped the picture over but it was blank.  Justin?  Jamie? James, yeah, that was it.  He’d been killed in some freak accident a few years back.  The siblings bore little resemblance to each other but I knew of Kyle’s admiration for his big brother in the almost reverent way he spoke of him.

Kyle’s daddy was dressed in a dark suit.  His hair was combed away from his forehead and lacquered down with hair gel.  Him, Kyle spoke of often.  One of the son’s kinder descriptions was ‘that fuckin’ bigot’.  His unsmiling gaze met mine across the celluloid and it was as if I could feel his intolerance and disdain like a slap in the face.

A fresh wave of anger rushed over me; I added one more in a long string of complaints I held against Kyle.  I’d just learned more about him than he’d volunteered in the entire duration of our friendship. But I have to be honest, at least with myself.  I hadn’t wanted to know more.

It just made things were simpler that way.

But now, Kyle was gone and the FBI were knocking at my door.

The FBI, for God’s sake.

And while I didn’t know for sure, somehow or other, I knew the answer lie in the old pine box.

For those interested in real-time exposure to editors, keep reading . . .

Sharpen those pitches and bring them to Rockville8’s Entangled Publishing Pitch Event on Sunday, January 22. Next Sunday, Rockville8, at http://rockville8.blogspot.com,  will host a one-day pitch event. Six Entangled editors will take blog pitches for the following lines:

Flirt (10k-15k words)
Ever After (20k-40k words)
Lori Wilde’s…Indulgence (50k-60k words)

About The Publisher: Entangled is a boutique publisher of romance fiction. They pride themselves on quality stories and commercial covers, and their innovative business model offers their authors the best of indie and traditional publishing. To find out more, see their website. And don’t forget to look through their current open submission calls.

Instructions: Pitches will be accepted in the comments section on Rockville8’s blog at http://rockville8.blogspot.com on Sunday, January 22, 2012, when the blog post goes live at 7:00 am EST until midnight PST. Posts after midnight will not be considered.

Editors will fight over the pitches that have been posted and post their submission requests after the weekend.

To participate, have a two-line pitch and the first 100 words of your story ready to post as a comment. Be sure to read the line descriptions linked above. Any level of heat works as long as a romance is central to the story, and the plot is intimately entwined with the building romance. Stories must end HFN or HEA.

Entangled Editors Attending & Their Wish Lists:
Adrien-Luc Sanders, Senior Editor

His current interests run towards sci-fi, contemporary, and urban fantasy—the darker, the better—with a love for gritty dystopian, cyberpunk, steampunk, supernatural, and that rare cross-genre gem. He likes stories falling into that gray area of the battle between good and evil, with strong antiheros and believable villains, or heroes who face temptation and corruption and don’t always get away unscathed, though he can also be won over by quirkiness, sweetness, and humor, with a love of oddball characters and whimsy. He’s also interested in stories that portray people of color and LGBT people as mainstream characters whose cultural, ethnic, sexual, and gender diversity are enhancements to their character rather than the primary focus of the story. Adrien-Luc was interviewed here recently.
Libby Murphy, Associate Editor

Libby would like to see submissions for adults and young adults written with a killer voice, and she especially loves quirky characters and plots. She loves sci-fi with aliens, robots, and high tech; urban fantasy and time travel; contemporary romance; women’s fiction with a strong romantic element; and suspense and mysteries. She craves humor, anti-heroes, and underdogs, and strong, capable heroines are a must. For Indulgences, she’s looking specificaly for the following: Best friends, best friend’s younger sister, millionaire playboy, athletes, relationship because of a bet, arranged marriages, bad boys, revenge plots, reunions, adventure (Indiana Jones meets Bridget Jones!), romantic comedy, forbidden love, geeks (hero or heroine), and military heroes. I’m not likely to request sheiks or royalty, but if the royalty is the heroine, that’s definitely more likely. I’m a huge sucker for snarky heroines, funny heroes, and heroes who are the strong, silent type. Libby was interviewed here recently. Libby is especially interested in Flirts and Ever Afters that fit the following:

• Scientists or inventor-types who walk the line between good and bad (like Batman)
• Paranormals with a villain hero/heroine who is redeemed by the end
• Disaster or apocalyptic events in which people find love, despite everything falling apart around them (can be sci-fi, fantasy, or contemporary featuring a natural disaster, for example)
• Quirky contemporaries or paranormals—humor is a must!
• Sci-fi, especially if it has a Tron, I, Robot, or a Terminator type setting
• Thrillers set in a small town
• Zombie hunters
• Romantic Comedy (would love to see a trilogy about a group of girlfriends finding love)

Kerry Vail, Associate Editor

Kerry loves the whole spectrum of speculative fiction, from hard scifi to space opera to sociological. She loves dystopian futures and alternate histories, especially when combined with a compelling voice and an unusual twist. She also enjoys urban fantasy, high fantasy, and paranormal thrillers, and gravitates toward strong female leads who are intelligent and can save themselves and fall in love. She is open to stories of love in any of its many forms and any heat level.
Kerri-Leigh Grady, Associate Editor

She loves paranormal romance and UF worlds that aren’t complicated by numerous mythical beasties, smart romantic comedy, dark comedy, romantic thrillers/suspense/horror, dystopian romance including steampunk, reunions, BFFs falling in love, marriage of convenience, [strong] woman in jeopardy, man in jeopardy, supernatural elements, clever monster elements, multi-cultural characters, alpha nerds, high stakes adventure, and general hilarity. She’s open to F/M, F/F, and M/M pairings in all heat levels. For Indulgences, she’s looking specifically for the following: reunions, BFFs, marriage of convenience, ugly duckling, [strong] woman in jeopardy, man in jeopardy, road trip, alpha nerds, high stakes adventure and suspense, forbidden love, fish out of water, and smart romantic comedy. I’d love to find a military hero where the romantic conflict rings true and is related to the challenges of being a mil-girlfriend or milspouse.

Josh Vogt, Associate Editor

He has a passion for reading and writing speculative fiction. He’s seen all sides of the publishing industry, and works as a freelance copywriter and editor as well as a writer. He brings to the team his love for books, plus a desire to help aspiring authors in their quest for publication success. Find him on Twitter at @JRVogt. Josh is interested in all types of fantasy and science fiction, from urban fantasy to steampunk to space opera to epic and YA fantasy. He loves stories that suck him in without warning and compel him to keep reading thanks to fascinating characters, great dialogue, twisting plots, and powerful worldbuilding.

Lewis Pollack, Associate Editor

A student of philosophy, psychology, and the sciences, Lewis Pollak has an appreciation for both characters with complex motivations and stories that are thought-provoking. Find him on Twitter at @LewisPollak. Lewis loves books that take readers to new worlds, whether they are alien landscapes, alternate histories, or contemporaries with a twist. He also enjoys books that strike a balance between serious and humorous moments. While partial to all sorts of speculative fiction from high fantasy and urban fantasy (but not Keith Urban fantasies) to science fiction and paranormal, interesting characters with genuine emotions and snappy retorts usually win him over regardless of genre.

So be sure to stop by http://rockville8.blogspot.com next Sunday, January 22, 2012, between 7:00 a. m. EST and 12:00 midnight PST, to pitch your project. It should be a fun event! Come on, you know you want to . . .

Welcome back to Part II of our discussion on Schizophrenia.  In Part I, we defined the illness and how a real life person may present in a mental health clinic or hospital.  Today, the discussion will focus on how the illness is presented in film and other works of fiction.

One of the great things about writing fiction is the freedom to create a world or fit facts in any way, shape or form you choose.  If your world building is done in a credible way, readers will go along with your story without question.

However, there should be a certain level of caution when one factors in factual data.  You want to get it straight.  Particularly in the case of mental illness, why ignore the authenticity of your characters? We want to emotionally hook readers into our stories, so that they follow through to The End.  We don’t want to run the risk of alienating informed readers or adding to the negative stigma of mental illness.

Misconception #1: the use of the label schizophrenia designates all mental illness.  It also implies the crazy of crazies.  Typically when we see this label, the person is presented as dangerous, unpredictable, “mad”, deranged.  The writers, in the hunt for dramatic effect, fail to take into account that schizophrenia is a specific disorder with a special disease process.  Rarely do people who suffer with this condition, in this day and age of psychotropic medications and advanced behavior treatment strategies, do we see people roaming the streets foaming at the mouth.

But the label also gets applied to any behavior that falls outside the norm.  In the movie Benny and Joon (1993), Joon is described as schizophrenic and was reported to have a whole menu of symptoms including hallucinations, explosive outbursts, panic attacks and inability for independent living.  In the movie, we see that she has an interest in other people, she has the capacity to form intimate relationships and seeks them out.  We see evidence of the love between brother and sister throughout the movie.  She is an artist and creates beautiful paintings.  She also displays exceptional insight into the people around her.  In the real world, these factors would probably rule out schizophrenia and would lead a clinician to conclude either Asperger’s Disorder or a type of Anxiety Disorder.

Misconception #2: Hallucinations do not define schizophrenia. As mentioned in the previous article, schizophrenia is a disorder of thought, it is a debilitating brain condition; and hallucinations may or may not be apart of the presenting picture.  There are at least a half dozen other conditions in which a person also hallucinates including drug induced hallucinations, severe depression or anxiety or trauma-induced psychosis, among others.  Oh, and try not sleeping for several days, weeks or months on end and “see” what happens next, Fight Club (1999).

Misconception #3: All schizophrenics look alike.  Schizophrenia is a condition with 5 sub-categories including Paranoid, Catatonic, Residual, Disorganized and Undifferentiated.  Each sub-category includes the thought disorder however, the experience of hallucinations, illusions, delusions, anhedonia, odd or unusual behavior will vary.  The ability to function day to day also varies depending on the sub-category and the prognosis, the prediction of recovery, is also dependent on the sub-category.

These factors make it difficult or challenging to accurately portray schizophrenia in fiction.  Some writers, again for the sake of dramatic effect will toss in all the symptoms and usually end of creating an inaccurate, annoying disaster, Me, Myself and Irene (2000).

Writers have incorporated schizophrenia in their works of fiction in at least two ways.  First, the storyline is taken from the point of view of the person with schizophrenia, giving readers and movie-goers a peak into the experience, A Beautiful Mind (2001), Donnie Darko (2001).  Other writers have presented the illness from the point of view of outsiders, family, co-workers, community members, Through a Glass Darkly (1961).  More often than not, the person is perceived as deranged or dangerous, The Caveman’s Valentine, worst case scenario, or odd and socially isolated.

So, have you written stories or a novel featuring a character with mental illness?  How did this character advance your plot?  What were your challenges?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this discussion of schizophrenia.  Please come back next week when we’ll begin a discussion about Dissociative Disorders, including Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder).

Using dialogue only, write a scene between two people having an argument.  Do not allow either character to mention directly what they’re arguing about.

“Hey, sweetie.”

“Hey.”

“Am I going to see you later?”

“Sure.”

“Well, when?  I was hoping we could check out that new movie.”

“Oh, yeah? What time does it start?”

“Around 7, I think.  Maybe 7:15.”

“I’m not going to be able to make it.”

“Well, that’s fine.  I think there’s another one at 8:30 and then at 10.  Which one works better for you?”

“Um, let’s play it by ear.  I’ll give you call later and let you know where I am.”

“What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, what’s going on?  What do you have to do that so important?”

“I’m taking care of some business.”

“What kind of business?”

“Business.”

“But . . .”

“Listen, I said I’d call you later.”

“I know, I just thought it’d be nice if we spent the evening together.”

“And we will. Stop making such a big deal about it.”

“It is a big deal.  I’ve missed you.”

“I know.”

“I miss us.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Yeah?  Is that all you have to say?  Yeah?”

“Why you gotta make an argument out of everything?”

“That’s not fair.”

“Sure it is.  You want to see a movie.  I’m going to take you to a movie.  Now back up off me.”

“Now who’s making a big deal?”

“I’m out.”

“See?  There you go, run away. I know the back of your head better than I know your smile.”

“Let it go.”

“No, sweetie.  I can’t. I’ve let it go far too long as it is.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ll call you in a few hours.”

“Running away is not going to bring her back.”

“What the fuck is your problem?”

“You’re my fucking problem.  Look, I promised myself we wouldn’t do this tonight.  We can’t keep running around here like nothing happened.”

“Nah, we certainly can’t do that.  Not with you bringing it up every few minutes.”

“Sweetie, we’re not going to make it like this.  Now, more than ever, we need each other.  I need you, baby.  Let me in.  I miss her too.”

“Like you miss Steven?  No, I’m sorry.  That was wrong.  Um, look, I’ll call you and confirm about tonight, okay?”

At Princeton University, John Nash struggles to make a worthwhile contribution to serve as his legacy to the world of mathematics. He finally makes a revolutionary breakthrough that will eventually earn him the Nobel Prize. After graduate school he turns to teaching, becoming romantically involved with his student Alicia. Meanwhile the government asks his help with breaking Soviet codes, which soon gets him involved in a terrifying conspiracy plot.  –A Beautiful Mind, 2001

Donnie Darko doesn’t get along too well with his family, his teachers or his classmates; but he does manage to find a sympathetic friend in Gretchen, who agrees to date him. His only other companion, a large bunny named Frank –which only Donnie can see, may or may not be a true ally.  –Donnie Darko, 2001

A mentally ill young woman falls in love with an eccentric man who models himself after Buster Keaton. –Benny and Joon, 1993

These are but three examples of Hollywood produced films with characters that  claim to represent the mental illness schizophrenia. Hollywood and fiction writers in general, are doing a better job at portraying some aspects of mental illness but there is still a ways to go yet.

Schizophrenia has often been misconceived in popular media as a type of Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde split but Schizophrenia is not Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder).  People with schizophrenia do not have two or three people living inside them, they don’t all talk to themselves, or have invisible friends. 

So what is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder. It is a disorder of thought, which is the defining characteristic that distinguishes it from other psychotic disorders. People with schizophrenia have difficulties thinking in a clear, focused, organized way.

Some people will have only one acute episode of schizophrenia; others may have many episodes during a lifetime, but lead relatively normal lives during the interim periods.  However, most people with chronic schizophrenia have a continuous or recurring pattern of illness. These individuals do not fully recover normal functioning and typically require long-term treatment and rehabilitation, generally including medication, to control symptoms and reduce the impact of the illness on daily functioning.

Since no one can actually look into the brain of another to see their thinking patterns, the thought disorder is inferred through the display of disorganized communication patterns. Thoughts may come and go rapidly; the person’s thinking may go off on tangents with only marginal connection between the ideas (tangential thinking); or the person may talk almost continuously, jumping from one topic to another (flight of ideas). The person may be unable to process information, or connect thoughts into logical sequences, so thoughts (and conversation) become disorganized and fragmented.

Like other psychotic disorders, some people with schizophrenia will display unusual behavior, often in response to hallucinations or delusions.

Hallucinations are disturbances in perception.  Although auditory hallucinations (hearing voices that other people do not hear) are the most common, they can occur in all 5 senses: auditory (sound), visual (sight), tactile (touch), gustatory (taste), and olfactory (smell). Visual hallucinations are rare.

Delusions are strongly held, false beliefs. They may be persecutory, paranoid, or grandiose.

Roughly one-third of people with schizophrenia experience delusions of persecution, or false and irrational beliefs that they are being cheated, harassed, poisoned, conspired against, or persecuted. Grandiose delusions may focus on being a famous person, having a fortune, or possessing special powers.

Sometimes the delusions experienced by people with schizophrenia are quite bizarre; for instance, believing that a neighbor is controlling their behavior with magnetic waves; that people on television are directing special messages to them; or that their thoughts are being broadcast aloud to others.

When a person with this disorder fails to understand that the hallucinations and delusions are symptoms (not reality), they tend to act in response to the symptoms with fear, anxiety, withdrawal, and odd or unusual behavior.

For example, putting foil on windows to block mind controlling magnetic waves, refusing all but prepackaged food to avoid poisoning, and insisting on seeing a lawyer to gain access to their vast fortunes are all examples of unusual behavior.  If placed within the context of the symptoms of the mental illness, they can actually make sense.  This, I think was some of the brilliance behind the producers of “A Beautiful Mind.  we know going into the film that the story was based on a real life person.  The notion that a renowned mathematician could be recruited by the man in black (FBI or CIA) seemed more than reasonable.  So yes, John Nash was portrayed as a bit of a social outcast and somewhat anal in his note taking and research, but seriously, how many scientists do you know who aren’t anal? It wasn’t until the camera lens pulled back a bit, when we could see his physical deterioration, and the danger he presented to his wife and child, that we began to suspect that all was not right.  The behavior made sense when you viewed it, understood it within the patient’s context.

Violence and Schizophrenia: News and entertainment media tend to link mental illness and criminal violence; however, studies indicate that except for those persons with a record of criminal violence before becoming ill, and those with substance abuse or alcohol problems, people with schizophrenia are not especially prone to violence.

Most individuals with schizophrenia are not violent; more typically, they are withdrawn and prefer to be left alone. Most violent crimes are not committed by persons with schizophrenia, and most persons with schizophrenia do not commit violent crimes.

Substance abuse significantly raises the rate of violence and illegal behavior in people with schizophrenia but also in people who do not have any mental illness. People with psychotic symptoms, especially paranoia, which can become worse if medications are discontinued, may also be at higher risk for violent behavior. When violence does occur, it is most frequently targeted at family members and friends, and more often takes place at home.

So, how well did A Beautiful Mind, Donnie Darko and Benny & Joon portray schizophrenia?

We’ll continue the discussion in Part II of Mental Illness for Fiction Writers: Schizophrenia.

I’ve had more than nine months of success in avoiding “our place”.  It hadn’t been easy either.  My drive to work has been extended by ten minutes since I now take Airways to Union instead of the more convenient route on Central.  I’ve given up my caramel macchiatos and café americanos just so that I won’t have to answer any difficult questions about you.  I’ve even extended my daily run by two miles, down Southern, past the railroad tracks; you know I hate even driving down there.

But today, Zoe drove.  It’s been so long and so routine, this avoidance game that I do, that it didn’t even occur to me to mention or suggest an alternative. Before I could protest, she took the common sense route down Central.

And there it was . . . our table.

Empty, abandoned . . . neglected.  Or perhaps, the table, like me, was just waiting.

2012 is right around the corner. . . and boy, I can’t wait!

I feel like I spent the bulk of 2011 stressed to the nth degree of stress-tivity and I’m ready for a break!

Okay, I exaggerate . . . somewhat.  But what’s done is done and I am eagerly anticipating the ups and downs of a new year.

I typically don’t set New Year’s Resolutions , mostly because my efforts to keep my resolutions never seem to make it past January.

However, the perfectionist in me thrives on lists and goals.  The hard part is articulating the goals, but once they’re identified, I get a kick out of ticking, one by one,  off my list.

So, in the spirit of long term productivity, here are my writing goals for 2012:

1. Publish the first of what I hope to be a series of novellas featuring my two favorite characters Louisa “Mama Lou” Metcalf and Ethel Mae Watkins.  Three of the short stories featuring these two amateur sleuths have been written and I’m in the process of revisions.  The character sketches for the cover are complete and we’re working on the cover now.  I hope to have the stories available through Amazon and Kindle by Spring 2012 at the latest.

2. Finish “KAOS“.  This novel is my baby and I’ve been nurturing this story for the past year and a half.  I’m experiencing more anxiety about this WIP than any of the others — not sure why.  But I refuse to allow my anxieties to derail this story any further.

3.  I have 2 ideas for what I think may be short stories.   I will develop them in the fall.

4.  Blog at least weekly; preferably twice a week.  For the month of January and perhaps through February, there will be a series of posts about mental health issues in fiction.  Hollywood and fiction writers are doing a better job at portraying some aspects of mental illness but a Dissociative Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder) is an entirely separate and different entity from Schizophrenia.

5.  And finally — this last goal is the foundation upon which the  success of the previous four rests:  Write Daily.   I won’t set a word count; I’ll let inspiration flow as it will.  But every day in the year 2012, I will find time to face the blank screen of my computer and write SOMETHING.

So, that’s it.  Short and sweet, but oh so satisfying if I am able to tell you on December 30 2012 that I met and exceeded each goal.

What about you?  Have you set any goals or made new resolutions for the coming year?

For the first time in two years, I did not finish NaNo or accomplish my 50K word count goal.  I can’t say that I’m entirely upset about that because what I did manage to accomplish was more relevant to my current writing goals.  I managed to draft out two additional short stories in my MAMA LOU series and then finished a major re-write on a novella I started earlier this year.

My experiment with the contemporary romance never made it past Chapter 2.  It was a cool idea too.  Most of the romance novels you pick up these days feature alpha males, you know the type, dominant take-charge super-dudes.  Mind you, I love alpha males personally . . . since I tend to eat betas for breakfast.  But my story idea, FRIENDS LOVE BENEFITS, featured a beta male in the lead romantic role.  The female lead repeatedly wrapped herself up in alpha males who time and time again broke her heart; she never could see the love behind the eyes and heart of her best friend. At least, not until he started dating someone else.

Unfortunately for my beta, I’ve got murder and mayhem  on the brain right now and I never could get this story off the ground.  Perhaps once I get my current WIPs completed, I may be able to come back and develop this idea.

I love NaNoWriMo, I think I’ve said that before and I will no doubt sign up to participate in 2012.  Being a part of a community of like-minded people is so inspiring.  I met two new friendlies this year; one from way down under, the other on the West coast.  This month also helped me to identify ways of meeting my long term writing goals:

1. write daily

2.  set small, achievable writing goals

3. learn to finish

I really like that last one.  There are not many sweeter feelings than the satisfaction of writing “The End”

Happy Writing!