Darlene's Digest

Image by Christopher Chan via Flickr I was stuck today in a chapter. Simply could not figure out what I wanted to write next. So I stopped in the middle of a sentence, and started the next chapter. I don't do that very often, but sometimes that's exactly what my work needs. Kind of a kick-start into the next scene, and then I can figure out more fully what preceded it. I know there are writers who start with an outline and don't deviate, because the outline is the core of their story. Alas, I am not one of those writers. I prefer to compose chunks of prose and string them together when they're done. Ideally the finished product will appear seamless to the reader. In the meantime, the new chapter is rockin' along, so I don't feel like I made a mistake. Sometimes that kick-start is just what you need to get going.

When is it the right time to have sex? Yes, I thought that would catch your attention. I've been spending all morning crafting the first full sexual encounter between my hero and heroine, and only a few moments ago realized it's too soon for them. Oh sure, I could make it work, but I feel with this story, with these people, I'm better off holding off, and later on the time will be right. Some people think that romance novels are truly formulaic, that beyond the guaranteed "happy ever after" ending that we have some kind of template that tells us "They touch on page 3, they kiss on page 26, they make love by page 53." It doesn't work like that. While I am capable of writing erotic literature that starts with the couple or threesome or orgy in full swing, my work tends to build up to these events. And each story needs to be treated as unique. What my characters do in Castaway Dreams is not what my characters might do in Smuggler's Bride or P...

Image by Alexandre Lemieux via Flickr Revised and Final (I think) Worldcon Schedule Here's my updated schedule. In addition, I have some commitments on Sunday prior to and during the Hugo ceremonies, but otherwise I hope to see many of you in Montreal! Friday, 3:30 p.m. Anatomy for Writers, Heroes and Tavern Brawlers. Darlene Marshall, Jetse de Vries, Sean McMullen, Kristen Britain Moderator: Sean McMullen Description: Author, karate instructor, fencer and first aid officer Sean McMullen provides a tour of how the human body can and cannot be damaged. Want to know where a hero can be punched without any effect? Worried about his vascular dilation? Curious about the real-life version of Mr Spock's nerve pinch? Not sure whether a really long sword fight is three hours or seven seconds? Wondering why readers are laughing because your hero has microsecond reactions? Come along and find out in complete safety Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Ebooks from draft to final product Anne Harris, D...

One of the things I miss most in Gainesville is quick access to the beach. I grew up in Ft. Myers and Naples, and I'm used to the Gulf being a short bike ride or bus trip away. And I do like the Gulf. The Atlantic is too forceful. Swimming in the Gulf is like being in a lovely large bathtub--warm, gentle, relaxing. Perfect for someone (like me) who's not a strong swimmer. I'm at the Gulf now, with my husband while he's at a conference. He's working, I'm relaxing (and writing). Our resort is downtown and it's four miles to the beach. There's a shuttle that runs every hour from the hotel, but I wanted to walk it since I needed the exercise. However, when I got out of the hotel property and realized I'd have to cross the causeway over the bay, I almost turned around and walked back. See, I have a bridge phobia. Not the card game, although the one time I played it I did feel scarred for life--my husband was my partner, and that's a different...

Image by selkie30 via Flickr Anticipation Update I've been added to a Friday afternoon panel called "Anatomy for Writers, Heroes and Tavern Brawlers". Since my WIP is about a 19th c. naval surgeon, this one should be a lot of fun. I know I've been learning a lot about maiming and killing people since I started researching Castaway Dreams and my preceding manuscript with a surgeon, Sea Change. See you there!

Image by selkie30 via Flickr My Worldcon 2009 Schedule I now have my preliminary schedule for Anticipation , the World SF Convention in Montreal, Canada: Researching Your World Description: A discussion of research techniques and pitfalls for writers; what are your best sources and how do you know whether information on the internet is accurate? Sat 5:00 PM All Participants: Aliette de Bodard, Darlene Marshall, Erick R. Buchanan, Hal Duncan, Mindy Klasky Ebooks from draft to final product Description: The process of writing an ebook from the idea to selling it to publication and marketing to collecting those royalty checks. Sat 10:00 AM All Participants: Anne Harris, Darlene Marshall, Kathryn Sullivan, Traci N. Castleberry I hope to see many of you at Worldcon!

Image via Wikipedia "Thinking Outside the Book" That quote is the slogan of the Alachua County Library District, and yesterday I got to see that kind of thinking in action. We now have a Library Partnership, not quite a branch, but something new. The Library Partnership is a storefront facility in an underserved and socioeconomically at-risk part of town. In addition to all the library services--books, Internet access, other media, the partnership works with over 20 social service agencies to help people. This is a very exciting concept, and part of what I love about 21st C. public libraries. People who need library services the most will get them, but they'll also be able to work with agencies that provide job training, educational opportunities, wellness programs, all at the same one-stop site. This could be a whole new trend for public libraries, and I'm watching it with a great deal of interest.