Comments on: Writer’s Studio Interview: Megan Kelly and the Boy Next Door http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/ Hard to Intimidate, Too Damned Drunk to Care Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:32:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: terrio http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7934 terrio Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:31:50 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7934 Megan - I'm late with the thanks here. This was a great blog and a great day, thanks to you. And about that trip to Ireland, I have it on good authority the Captain is plotting a course in that direction. Since you're both right there, you could go together! LOL! Thanks again and I can't wait to meet you at Nationals! Megan - I’m late with the thanks here. This was a great blog and a great day, thanks to you. And about that trip to Ireland, I have it on good authority the Captain is plotting a course in that direction. Since you’re both right there, you could go together! LOL!

Thanks again and I can’t wait to meet you at Nationals!

]]> By: Megan Kelly http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7885 Megan Kelly Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:01:41 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7885 And it looks like time for me to dock. Thanks to everyone who posted today. I had a great time! Looks like time to pull a name from the hat. *drum roll* Santa! Please contact me at megankellybooks [at] aol.com with your book preference and mailing address. And it looks like time for me to dock. Thanks to everyone who posted today. I had a great time! Looks like time to pull a name from the hat. *drum roll* Santa! Please contact me at megankellybooks [at] aol.com with your book preference and mailing address.

]]> By: Megan Kelly http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7884 Megan Kelly Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:17:40 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7884 Were I to set sail, I'd go to Ireland. My brother in law (Rick Mangun)took some amazing pix that made my feet itch to travel. Visit his website! They're wonderful. I've always wanted to go for the castles, green fields, and pubs, and especially to meet the people. While I was there, I'd have to pop over to Scotland too! Were I to set sail, I’d go to Ireland. My brother in law (Rick Mangun)took some amazing pix that made my feet itch to travel. Visit his website! They’re wonderful. I’ve always wanted to go for the castles, green fields, and pubs, and especially to meet the people. While I was there, I’d have to pop over to Scotland too!

]]> By: Megan Kelly http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7883 Megan Kelly Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:12:17 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7883 Kathy, I thought of an example of the sagging middle. The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy runs away from home, gets swept up in a cyclone, kills one witch and antagonizes another, starts out for the Emerald City and meets three bizarre characters who become friends. *contemplates her day here* Anyway, about the middle of the book, she gets to the EC. Yea! But the Wizard first won't see her, then says bring me the Witch's broom. YIKES See how the complication ratchets up the tension? Instead of sagging, the middle zaps viewers like a stun gun. Does that help? Kathy, I thought of an example of the sagging middle. The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy runs away from home, gets swept up in a cyclone, kills one witch and antagonizes another, starts out for the Emerald City and meets three bizarre characters who become friends. *contemplates her day here* Anyway, about the middle of the book, she gets to the EC. Yea! But the Wizard first won’t see her, then says bring me the Witch’s broom. YIKES See how the complication ratchets up the tension? Instead of sagging, the middle zaps viewers like a stun gun. Does that help?

]]> By: Megan Kelly http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7882 Megan Kelly Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:06:53 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7882 My ideas? Well, THE FAKE FIANCEE started with an article I read about a man who killed himself in the parking lot of a casino, leaving a note to his wife (who didn't know he gambled) saying he was sorry, and btw, he'd run up the credit cards and mortgaged the house. It wasn't quite that flippant; it was a real tragedy. I couldn't get my mind off that poor woman (who the papers didn't interview). I wrote a prologue where the policeman comes to the door to tell the wife. It was powerful. But my first chapter turned light and romantic because that's my voice. Since the prologue didn't fit, I changed the husband to one who cheated and walked out with the money instead. The main focus is the same: the heroine has to overcome major debt, raise the kids, and regain her trust in men. My current wip features a character from TFF who demanded his own story when I had no intention of ever writing his. So that's totally character-driven. I had to discover who he is, what he wants, and why he can't have it. (goal, motivation, conflict) Then I paired him up with the perfect foil. It's great fun to write. I'm just along for the ride, letting my characters do the work. My ideas? Well, THE FAKE FIANCEE started with an article I read about a man who killed himself in the parking lot of a casino, leaving a note to his wife (who didn’t know he gambled) saying he was sorry, and btw, he’d run up the credit cards and mortgaged the house. It wasn’t quite that flippant; it was a real tragedy. I couldn’t get my mind off that poor woman (who the papers didn’t interview). I wrote a prologue where the policeman comes to the door to tell the wife. It was powerful. But my first chapter turned light and romantic because that’s my voice. Since the prologue didn’t fit, I changed the husband to one who cheated and walked out with the money instead. The main focus is the same: the heroine has to overcome major debt, raise the kids, and regain her trust in men. My current wip features a character from TFF who demanded his own story when I had no intention of ever writing his. So that’s totally character-driven. I had to discover who he is, what he wants, and why he can’t have it. (goal, motivation, conflict) Then I paired him up with the perfect foil. It’s great fun to write. I’m just along for the ride, letting my characters do the work.

]]> By: Megan Kelly http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7881 Megan Kelly Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:56:21 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7881 Kathy, Please be careful with that gun! At this time of night, I'm afraid I might resemble the undead monkey! Okay, sagging middle. This is a troublesome bit of navigating for many a writer. Whether you're a plotter or not, you need to keep in mind this area and plan something there. The middle is usually a good place for the couple to have sex or admit to themselves they're falling in love. Something major should happen, a pivotal plot point. Sex and realization of love qualify. You can do something with your external conflict also that changes things. If you have a couple on the run, the stakes somehow get ratcheted up--maybe one suspects the other of betrayal because the pursuers close in. They're forced to stay together, rely on one another to escape, but the trust is compromised. Now, I don't write RS, so this won't work for me. Since I don't plot, it's harder for me to look back at my work and pinpoint what I did. If your middle sags, add a complication. Does that help? Kathy, Please be careful with that gun! At this time of night, I’m afraid I might resemble the undead monkey! Okay, sagging middle. This is a troublesome bit of navigating for many a writer. Whether you’re a plotter or not, you need to keep in mind this area and plan something there. The middle is usually a good place for the couple to have sex or admit to themselves they’re falling in love. Something major should happen, a pivotal plot point. Sex and realization of love qualify. You can do something with your external conflict also that changes things. If you have a couple on the run, the stakes somehow get ratcheted up–maybe one suspects the other of betrayal because the pursuers close in. They’re forced to stay together, rely on one another to escape, but the trust is compromised. Now, I don’t write RS, so this won’t work for me. Since I don’t plot, it’s harder for me to look back at my work and pinpoint what I did. If your middle sags, add a complication. Does that help?

]]> By: Megan Kelly http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7880 Megan Kelly Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:47:48 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7880 Bo'sun, I've already received our chapter's volunteer award. You'd think I would have learned! I'm already signed up for the two moderator spots and our in-house contest coordinator next year. Oh, well. The Gateway is a great contest with awesome prizes and I'm happy to help our chapter. Bo’sun, I’ve already received our chapter’s volunteer award. You’d think I would have learned! I’m already signed up for the two moderator spots and our in-house contest coordinator next year. Oh, well. The Gateway is a great contest with awesome prizes and I’m happy to help our chapter.

]]> By: Megan Kelly http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7879 Megan Kelly Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:45:25 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7879 Janga, Thanks! I'm dealing with a few ideas at the moment. The trick is to compartmentalize, which I can do to some extent. First, though, I had to write out what I knew so I wouldn't lose the idea while not working on it. Then Prioritize (write the one my editor and I discussed) so I can promise myself I'll get to those other works after they simmer a while. That way I can concentrate on the front burner stuff. If I have an idea on the others, I just note it down however best to remember it. Once again, it's about discipline. :( Janga, Thanks! I’m dealing with a few ideas at the moment. The trick is to compartmentalize, which I can do to some extent. First, though, I had to write out what I knew so I wouldn’t lose the idea while not working on it. Then Prioritize (write the one my editor and I discussed) so I can promise myself I’ll get to those other works after they simmer a while. That way I can concentrate on the front burner stuff. If I have an idea on the others, I just note it down however best to remember it. Once again, it’s about discipline. :(

]]> By: Kathy http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7878 Kathy Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:41:27 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7878 Yo Ho, Megan!! Tis an undead monkey we be seeing on yer shoulder. Ready... aim... fire! Tar! Man-next-door. All my heroes come from opposite sides of the country and face change, struggle to change, while bantying about with a fiesty heroine to boot. A few have carried the heroine off to play. :-) (I like that best!) I guess that stems from my Army upbringing. I'm obsessed with uprooting my characters and placing them in unknown circumstances. Huahuahuahua!! I've mightily enjoyed your writing tips to the crew. The Capt. himself (wily Jack) would be quite proud. I'll have to stop by and give you a Yo Ho at the Literacy Signing! What advice can ye give a dogey ol' wench like meself about writing past the sagging middle? Where do ye get yer ideas? And, if ye were to sail across the sea, where would ye go. UNDEAD MONKEY! Ready.. aim.. fire! :-) Yo Ho, Megan!! Tis an undead monkey we be seeing on yer shoulder. Ready… aim… fire! Tar!

Man-next-door. All my heroes come from opposite sides of the country and face change, struggle to change, while bantying about with a fiesty heroine to boot. A few have carried the heroine off to play. :-) (I like that best!) I guess that stems from my Army upbringing. I’m obsessed with uprooting my characters and placing them in unknown circumstances. Huahuahuahua!!

I’ve mightily enjoyed your writing tips to the crew. The Capt. himself (wily Jack) would be quite proud.

I’ll have to stop by and give you a Yo Ho at the Literacy Signing! What advice can ye give a dogey ol’ wench like meself about writing past the sagging middle? Where do ye get yer ideas? And, if ye were to sail across the sea, where would ye go.

UNDEAD MONKEY! Ready.. aim.. fire! :-)

]]> By: Janga http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2008/07/15/writers-studio-interview-megan-kelly-and-the-boy-next-door/#comment-7877 Janga Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:23:58 +0000 http://romancewritersrevenge.com/?p=285#comment-7877 Another great interview, Hellion. And I'm another who is encouraged by your man-next-door hero, Megan. The hero of my only complete mss is rich and famous, but he is still essentially the man-next-door--defintely not an alpha warrior or a tortured hero. Do you ever have ideas for different projects coming so fast that you have problems focusing on one? That's the problem I'h having now. I'm much better at starting than finishing. :( Another great interview, Hellion. And I’m another who is encouraged by your man-next-door hero, Megan. The hero of my only complete mss is rich and famous, but he is still essentially the man-next-door–defintely not an alpha warrior or a tortured hero.

Do you ever have ideas for different projects coming so fast that you have problems focusing on one? That’s the problem I’h having now. I’m much better at starting than finishing. :(

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