Eliciting emotions

Elicit: to draw forth into existence.

What a word. What a feeling.

It's my job, of course. It's what writers strive to do, or at least good writers, in my opinion. I write for myself and the satisfaction of it, but I want to grab as many people as I can to bring them along into the story. That's my purpose. 

Come with me. Feel with me. Be with me.

I want you to feel pleasure, relief, and angst. Love. Betrayal. The dark and the light. 

Readers live a million lives through the eyes of others. 

Making it happen is a massive responsibility.

"Meh writing" is a travesty. We've all had books that we've cracked open the cover with anticipation and then chunked it at the nearest wall.

It's heartbreaking and all-around disappointment. Leaves a bad taste in our mouth, and we're not soon over it.

Makes us a bit book-shy.

But when we crack open a book and our hearts and minds are filled with a story which takes us on an adventure we don't want to end?

It fills us up in ways even we aren't aware.

I strive to make readers laugh aloud. Cry. Curse. Reread the sexy parts. I want full immersion. Sink into it. Full saturation.

I'm either writing a massacre today or a long-awaited sex scene. Both will be deeply emotional and satisfying. 

Loss? Love?

Whichever I choose, I'll put my heart and soul into it.

It's no less than any writer should do.

Always writing*

...I think I'm killing people today...  

 

 

Ambiance

I'm that woman. The full moon makes me want to howl and walk through the mist and fog in a flowy gown with bare feet. Toes pressed to cool dirt. Hair blowing in the breeze.  

Dreary overcast days are best for writing. The outside affects the inside. It's a wonder I don't have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Hell, maybe I do. Supposed to storm here today. Looking forward to it. Maybe I should move to Seattle or London. Where was that spot the Cullens lived? 🤔

When I'm irritated/annoyed/pissed, I can write fight scenes like no one's business. I can work my steam out through the characters. We're both better for it. I think it adds the realism to it. If I'm in a mellow mood, it's hard for me to work up a good mad. And when I'm het up, I'm not feeling the calmer scenes. My blood pressure tends to have a bearing. 😂 I'll often wait until I'm in a certain mood to write a scene.

Sex scenes are the same. If I've stubbed my toe, spilled my drink, and have a headache, no one is getting any. Sorry, guys. Writing sensual scenes is a mood. You can't force it. Sure, you can put A in B and lick C, but if the writer is not feeling it writing it...the reader won't feel it reading it. There are times it's the first thing out the gate and others where I squeeze them in later. But also? Chemistry.

I don't write Erotica because I need the emotional connection between my characters, and I need that connection with me. We're a team. I need them to create a bond, and I build on that. Erotic Romance will have that happily-ever-after, and that one simple thing will always draw me to write in the genre.

Mixing it up. 

I've gone to the dark side. I've learned to kill some of my darlings, and it's not a decision I take lightly. These characters are part of me. They live and breathe in me. They are my creations. But when I start writing a new book, I caution myself about the characters. Take that in. Sometimes, I don't even know who's not going to make it. 

And when I have to do the deed, I completely lose my shit. I sob. I grieve. I ache. It's a fresh little scar. I mourn for the characters. It's never a simple speed bump. That's all I need you to know. It gets dark here, my friend. 

Let's slide back into the sunshine.

Books mirror lives. The ups and downs. The joy and pain. The beauty and the ugliness. 

But romance gives you happily-ever-after. 

Good vibes.

A moment to step away from what you have going on for a break.

Feels good from this side, too. 😌

Always writing*

 

 

Saturday before 52.

Yesterday was incredibly busy. It was, for all intents and purposes, my day off. 

Stylist touched up my hair, yay for rose gold!, lunch with baby child, and participated at an event at the local book store.

I'm a wee bit tired this morning. Um...afternoon.

I'm trying to be more active on my FB page, Insta, and TikTok. I'm preparing bookmarks with codes for a free download of the first book in a series to take with me next month to the Home Run Author Event in Arlington, Texas.

I'm doing my plotting/pantster writing on my next work of Fantasy Romance. I have twenty separate pages in my OneNote Notebook of characters/scenes/villains. I am immersed, but I am thriving. It's such a fine line between exhilaration and exhaustion. 

But the love for the words is always there. I never grow tired of them. Weave and wind. Stitch and sew. 

Off to write a bit. Make notes. Hope everyone is having a good day! 

May take tomorrow of and play around on Amazon Prime and watch some murder/detective mysteries.

The heart wants what it wants.

Always writing*

...except when I turn 52