Kensington

Live Tweet from May 7, 2011, Meeting - Mia Marlow on Story Structure

When Ozarks Romance Authors meets on the first Saturday of each month, sometimes we have the opportunity for one of our members to "live tweet" during our guest speaker's presentation. If you follow us on Twitter (@OzarksRomance) you will see our live tweet take place at approximately 1:05 p.m. Central Standard Time.

At our May 7, 2011, meeting, one of our members traveled back home to the Ozarks from the Boston, Massachusetts, area to visit with family and speak to our writers' group. That member was Diana Groe, who wrote as Emily Bryan in the past and currently writes for Kensington as Mia Marlowe.

To learn more about this fabulous author, visit her web site, www.MiaMarlowe.com or her author's page on the official Kensington web site, http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/catalog.cfm?dest=dir&linkid=2836&linkon=subsection

The live tweet is on our Twitter page, but it's probably buried by now. We've had several requests to share the information, so we are posting the entire live tweet below.

It really helps if you stand on the shoulders of others. Don't have to go it alone.

Enter every contest that you can afford. If you have something worth taking a look at, enter.

Contests = excellent feedback from target readers and work in front of eyes of agents.

If you're in RWA and you win, place or show in RWA contests, your name is in RWA mag for industry insiders to see.

Publishing is such a subjective business. It's important to give them a reason to say no to you.

Win, place or show in contest = someone likes you, so industry insiders more likely to take a chance.

Diana wrote 2 complete manuscripts before 3rd one sold.

If you're working on 1st manuscript, this is your "training wheels" manuscript.

However, there ARE some people who DO sell their first book.

First novel pub in 2006 under her own name, Diana Groe.

Distracting the Duchess was so different than 1st book that she needed pen name, Emily Bryan.

Kensington liked her but wanted a NEW pen name, Mia Marlowe.

Must be flexible in this businsess, even if changing pen names.

We continue to learn, even once we are published. Continue to learn and grow.

Some writers are plotters. Some are pantsters. Some use Snowflake Method. Many methods. Use what works for YOU.

Christopher Vogler's Hero's Journey

Archetypes are characters that tend to reappear (not stereotypes).

Hero or Heroine = most important character of all. Comes from Greek "to protect and to serve."

Why is hero/heroine memorable? They live large. They are the person we'd like to be.

We want to at least try their life on for a while.

Primary psychological function of hero/heroine is letting reader slip into their shoes.

Character Arc = They must be different for having made the journey through the story.

Hero is the one who acts, not who is acted upon. They need to be the prime mover.

If hero or heroine practices self-sacrifices, it REALLY pulls in the reader. Motivated by someone else's danger.

Hero/heroine is how reader learns how this person deals with death (metaphorical or real). Death of dream, business, marriage, etc.

We read to know that we are not alone. We want to find out how others have dealt with loss because everyone goes through this.

Diana was so in love with her first heroine, but readers hated her. She was too perfect. Heroine needs to be flawed in some way.

"Monk" is a good example of flawed hero, and we are pulling for him all the way.

Another mask for hero/heroine or another character = mentor

Mentor represents call to our higher selves.

Mentors = editor in Romancing the Stone, Obiwan, Gandolph, Fairy Godmother

Fallen Mentor = used to be a hero, but has tumbled from pedestal

A League of Their Own = Tom Hanks is fallen mentor (former star player)

Sometimes mentor is inner mentor for hero/heroine = code of ethics, faith, Star Trek's Prime Directive

Mentor may morph into Threshold Guardian

Anything that keeps their forward progress down. Could be positive, negative, or neutral.

In some cases, value of having Threshold Guardian is showing potential danger in story.

Hero/heroine must be smart. Won't plunge into danger without any thought. Threshold Guardian can help with this.

Threshold Guardian might test to see if hero/heroine is worthy.

Threshold Guardian = neurosis

We want hero/heroine to earn everything they get. Threshold Guardian might help H/H be ready to face vill

Herald = another character. Signifies change is coming. Starts things in motion.

Herald could be force of nature, like tornado in Wizard of Oz.

Herald in Romancing the Stone = phone call to Joan Wilder that set story into motion.

Shape Shifter character = Might project what characters WANTS to see. Someone who changes abruptly.

Shape Shifter = Loyalty always in doubt. H/h wonders if this person will betray him/her.

Very last knot you want to untie in your story is relationship. Work it through to very end.

Hero might possibly be Shape Shifter. Example = Thomas Crown in The Thomas Crown Affair.

It has been said that your story is only as strong as your villain.

Shadow Character = psychosis

Sometimes it's the issues that keep the H/h apart. This is where shadow character is internalized.

Provide Hero with worthy opponent, whether internal or external.

Vigo Mortensen in GI Jane = Threshold Guardian / Shadow Character.

Make sure your villain isn't a cardboard character.

Every villain is the hero in his own story. Villain also needs something good, whether they love their children, nice to mother, something.

If but for a few bad choices, this person (villain) could have been so different.

You might want to redeem your villain.

Trickster = Character spreads mayhem. Good for sidekicks and also heroes. Bugs Bunny and other rabbit heroes across the globe.

Trickster can be catalyst for change.

Any character, at any time, can wear one of these masks.

The most satisfying stories have elements of Hero's Journey. Once you know them, will recognize in books and movies.

Orinary world

The title you choose sets the stage for your book. Give people an idea of what kind of a story they'll get.

Title is your first hook for the reader. Make it a good one.

Once you sell, your editor may or may not change title. But a dynamite title can help you sell.

Red Pencil Thursdays on http://www.miamarlowe.com blog. Looking for volunteers again. Email her through site.

Need 500 words of ms for Red Pencil Thursdays. She'll critique, send back to you, and then post on blog.

1st sentence of novel must surprise and delight. Grab them and don't let go.

Do not start first page of your novel with the weather (unless character is a meteorologist).

1st sentence is a promise to your reader that the story will move forward.

Avoid a backstory-dump! Don't spill your guts about the character. Tease the reader with info.

Foreshadowing is vital in the beginning of your story. Seeds of everything that's going to happen.

Hint at both the inner and outer conflicts in the beginning. Story must have both inner and outer conflicts.

Introduce H/h in unique way that draws in the reader. Something that will stick with reader.

Excellent example of introducing character is Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts -- "She woke in the body of a dead friend."

In the beginning, show what your character lacks. Something must change.

Sleepless in Seattle = Tom Hanks is burying wife and says it doesn't happen twice. All we need to know. Unhappy and we're pulling for him already.

For a good story, must also have call to adventure. Invite H/h to face the unknown.

Inciting incident = loss of loved one, temptation, something that stires restlessness, disorientation, discomfort.

Donald Maase says something must happen within first 5 pages to turn H/h's life on end.

Another vital part of story = refusal of the call

Why refuse the call to adventure? Why say no? Creates tension. Shows intelligence. Adventures are messy things.

The stronger the refusal, the more satisfying it will be when H/h jumps into it, finds out they are made for each other, etc.

Put a secret door into your story. Whatever you do, don't do ____. You know, at some point, they will face this.

Good idea to give H/h a wingman or wingwoman so they have someone to talk to.

Even with mentor, at some point, H/h must stand on his/her own. This is why mentors die. Obiwan, Dumbledore...

Threshold for adventure = usually toward end of chapter 3.

At this point, there is no returning to life as they know it.

Next portion of story = Tests, Allies, and Enemies. H/h will probably fail at first. Otherwise, the story would be over.

Approach to the Inmost Cave = Greatest challenge on journey. H/h must face his/her most daunting fear.

If your Approach to Inmost Cave is strong, your story won't have the dreaded "sagging middle."

Reward = After faced fear and moved foward, H/h get the reward. Could be true love, realization of goal, finding treasure.

Transformation & Revelation = Ritual death as hero overcomes greatest foe. Black moment.

Best if characters get into trouble because of something they've done. Because of their own choices.

Each action bridges on what comes before. Everything builds. Stakes are raised with each scene.

Black moment: Donald Maase says no matter how bad it is, make it WORSE!

The Return = Ready to go back to everyday life stronger, filled with purpose and deeper understanding.

Not all stories use all stages of the journey, but the most satisfying tales have several of these hot buttons.

Thanks for joining us for live-tweet of novelist http://www.miamarlowe.com speaking to Ozarks Romance Authors! #sgf

12 for critique group and 18 for meeting, which is great for a holiday weekend (Mother's Day)!

May 7, 2011 - Mia Marlow

Novelist Mia Marlowe is scheduled to present "What a Novel Idea!" at our May 7, 2011, meeting. This topic will teach us about something vital -- story structure.

How can a writer be sure her story isn’t full of holes or missed opportunities? Listen to the voices of the ancient bards. For centuries, story-tellers have been perfecting the craft of weaving tales. We can stand on their shoulders.

Based on Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey, Mia explains the mythic structures that form plot points your readers are already pre-programmed to respond to. WHAT A NOVEL IDEA will help writers be certain their plots will hit all the readers’ (and editors’) hot-buttons.

Following her presentation at our meeting, she will be signing books at Half Price Books of the Ozarks, a fabulous book store in the Plaza Shopping Center, 1950 S. Glenstone, Suite O. We will be there from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., so stop by and say hello.

We're so excited for the talented Diana Groe (who writes as Emily Bryan and Mia Marlowe) to return to the Ozarks! She is a native of West Plains, but is now based near Boston, Massachusetts.

Mia learned much of what she knows about storytelling from singing. A classically trained soprano, she won the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions and has shared a stage with Placido Domingo. As she prepared for operatic roles, she devised back stories for her characters. Since she’s worn a real corset, and had to sing high C’s in one, she empathizes with the trials of her fictional heroines. But in Mia’s stories, they don’t die in a Parisian garret. They get to live and keep the hero!

Now an award-winning author, she writes historical romance for multiple publishing houses. Her debut title received advance ovations from romance luminaries. #1 New York Times bestseller Victoria Alexander says Mia’s Touch of a Thief has "adventure and heat and everything I want in a great story!" UK’s BooksMonthly has crowned Mia Marlowe “the queen of saucy historical romance.”

You can visit her at any of the following places: Facebook, Twitter, or her website.

Ozarks Romance Authors, a non-profit group for writers of all genres founded in 1987, holds its meetings the first Saturday of each month at The Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, in Springfield, Missouri.

Join us for critique group at 10:00 a.m., lunch at noon, and our meeting/guest speaker at 1:00 p.m.

Visitors are welcome. Your first three visits are free.

Our annual conference will be held July 23, 2011, at The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center. To learn more about the amazing lineup of speakers and workshops, visit our conference page.

If you have questions about the group, please email us at OzarksRomanceAuthors@gmail.com.

NOTE: When the first Saturday of the month falls on a holiday weekend, we often reschedule. If you’re thinking of visiting and it’s a holiday weekend, please email us to find out if we have rescheduled.

Video highlights from our 2010 conference!

This 30-second video features highlights from Ozarks Romance Authors' 2010 conference, "Romancing The Ozarks: Dancing With Words."

The conference was held July 10, 2010, at The Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave., in Springfield, Missouri.

Conference speakers were:

Kensington author Kimberly Killion (www.kimberlykillion.com) and Harlequin author Megan Kelly (www.megankellybooks.com) presented "The Road so Far: The First Year After the Call."

Ginger Kolbaba, editor of Marriage Partnership magazine (www.christianitytoday.com/mp), a publication of Christianity Today International, presented "Writing for the 21st Century Woman."

Mary-Lane Kamberg (http://kansascitywriters.com) presented "What's So Funny?" She has more than twenty years of writing experience and is the author of seven books. Her articles have appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Marriage and Family Living, Christian Science Monitor, Healthy Kids and many others.

“Each year, our conferences are so inspiring for new and seasoned writers alike, but this year’s lineup of speakers will bring some really talented authors to town,” said Kathy Mullens, 2009-2010 president of Ozarks Romance Authors, said in the press release that was issued prior to the conference. “We look forward to sharing their expertise with the local writing community, and we’re excited to present this scholarship to Ozarks Literacy Council.”

A portion of the proceeds from the writers' conference was donated to Ozarks Literacy Council, based in Springfield, Missouri.

Ozarks Literacy Council conducts programs including one-on-one tutoring, and outreach events and partnerships with other nonprofits, such as sending free books home with children who are part of Ozarks Food Harvest's backpack programs. According to Nicole Thom-Arens, Ozarks Literacy Council's program director, Ozarks Literacy Council served 97 adults and 8,600 children in 2009. For more information, visit www.OzarksLiteracy.org.

The afternoon of July 9, 2010, a booksigning event was held for the conference speakers at Border Books & Music, 3300 S. Glenstone Ave., in Springfield's Primrose Marketplace shopping center.

Borders also provided staff members and a mini-bookstore during the conference to allow attendees to purchase books written by the authors who spoke.

Published members of Ozarks Romance Authors also sold and signed books throughout the day, including Jennifer Jakes, Beth Carter, Cindy Sigler Dagnan, Lisa Wells, Brenda Brinkley, and Shirley McCann.

ORA's 2009-2010 President Kathy Mullens was interviewed by the local CBS affiliate, KOLR-10, and appeared on the news that evening. That news story (including the video) is available online here: http://ozarksfirst.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=293565

Ozarks Romance Authors is a non-profit organization for writers of all genres in the southwest Missouri region. Monthly speakers help writers of all genres hone their skills and explore writing opportunities.

Meetings are held the first Saturday of each month at The Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, in Springfield (Greene County), Missouri. Visitors are welcome! The first three visits are free. More information is available by calling (417) 597-4716 or by visiting www.Ozarks-Romance-Authors.com.

Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/OzarksRomanceAuthors or follow the group on Twitter @OzarksRomance.