"Becoming Josephine" for Heather Webb was That and Much More!

I have been drawn to reading historical fiction of late and when I saw that Heather Webb, a member of the WRITER UNBOXED group I belong to, mentioned her debut novel was coming out December 31 about Josephine Bonaparte, I wanted to interview Heather and find out more about the process of "Becoming Published." In addition, I visited the Palace of Versailles in 2010 and curious about the the woman I saw in the huge mural. 

Would you agree it takes a lot of courage to write a novel?  How so for you with your first novel?  Absolutely! It takes courage to face that blank page every day, to have enough faith in yourself to keep going despite rejections, to keep learning and growing. I found it difficult to take the head nods and tight smiles that would come when I told friends and relatives I'm writing a book. "Good for you, Heather. Why not? You're not teaching right now. May as well have some fun." Yet I was BURNING inside. I'm the kind of girl who is all in or NOTHING. So yes, courage to face the doubts. Let's not forget all the gumption it takes to face an industry packed with incredibly brilliant, talented people. Once again, courage, and lots of it.

What was the publishing process like for you? I can't complain! I suffered through rejections like anyone else, but ultimately, I only went on THE GREAT AGENT SEARCH twice. I met Michelle at a conference, she loved my pages, and we had an instant connection. After I signed with her, I spent about six weeks revising and then we went out on submission. The book sold in 5-6 weeks. It was quite a whirlwind. 

What was it like making a historical figure come alive again in your novel?  Josephine's voice was REALLY LOUD in my head. She would wake me up at night to tell me things. On days I wasn't feeling it, I would read Napoleon's letters to her, play my favorite classical station on Pandora, or look through my gallery of photos of Josephine's favorite haunts. 
  I think part of the reason I could hear Josephine so loudly was that I could identify with her on some level. I moved a lot as a military brat, so I understood Josephine's need to adapt and how she must reinvent herself to belong. My family was very close, as we had to start over and over again, and we were all we had. Also, I could relate to Josephine's sense of caring for her people, something I do utterly for my tribe. I'm fiercely protective of and loyal to my circle of loved ones and friends. At the end of the day, they are what matter and I believe Josephine felt the same way. 
  

In terms of writing about a prominent historical figure, I had history books with me constantly. There are a few I reread at least five times. Though after allowing the factual information soak into my brain, I went with my own interpretation of Josephine. I stressed the different facets of her personality--her faults and her strengths--not just her goodness, not just her spendthrift behavior or highly sexualized nature, but those traits that made her unique in a time packed with famous personalities.

What are your hopes for readers of Becoming Josephine to come away with? Above all, I hope my novel inspires readers to want to know more about Josephine, the times in which she lived, and the people in her life. And I'd love for them to just enjoy her story! It was a real doozy.  

Heather Webb is the author of BECOMING JOSEPHINE, her debut historical (Plume/Penguin 2014). A freelance editor and blogger, she spends oodles of time helping writers hone their skills—something she adores. You may find her Twittering @msheatherwebb, hosting contests, or hanging around RomanceUniversity.org as a contributor to the Editor's Posts. She is also the Twitter mistress for the popular Writer Unboxed. She loves making new reader and writer friends. Stop on by her website, Between the Sheets!

website: www.HeatherWebb.net

Twitter: @msheatherwebb

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-Webb-Author/124095350992513?ref=hl 

Get Into Character!

WOW, I hadn't realized how long it's been since I last posted here. I haven't been neglecting my writing projects, only my blog it seems. As you well know, especially if your novel is character-driven (which mine is), your characters need to be real to the reader and to the story.  

Actors are told to "Get into Character" in order to successfully portray one on stage, in a movie, or on TV.  Even a re-enactor must get into character to make history come alive for those  wanting a sense of what it was like during that period of history.

Same for writers, characters need to be believable, fleshed out, and have a distinct voice.  So as writers, we too have to "Get into Character" in order to successfully bring our characters and our stories to life! A flat character will have readers lose interest fast.

It's about understanding your characters and tapping into who they are and what they want. When I get stuck or sense my story isn't going in the right direction, I consult my main character and ask what is it that she really wants or what she is looking for.

Many writers do character sketches to help render their characters fully like a painter sketching out his portrait first then adding layer upon layer of color until it takes shape.    

So take a deep breath before you write and get into your character and see what happens ... 

Waiting for Approval

It didn’t dawn on me until a few months ago how much waiting I used to do for permission to write.  I wanted to hear the words, “Yes, Susan Girolami Kramer, you really can write and should write.” Then I just stopped waiting to hear these words and wrote, listening more closely to the writer within.  So these days I don’t have a problem saying I am a writer. 

This isn’t to say I won’t look for approval/permission now and again, always some of that left.  Sound familiar?  I’m sharing my experience not because it is anything new, but to hopefully help someone break their “Waiting to write” habit.

Yes, it is a form of stalling.  I used to be part of several writing groups, biting my nails, waiting for someone to crown me WRITER. I remember telling one of my writing groups that I wouldn’t attempt long prose like a novel.  After all, I hadn’t gotten the green light to write longer pieces, so I attempted poetry instead.  Found out poetry is way more difficult to write!! (I still had some of my poetry published.)

This very topic was in an email newsletter—diyMFA Writer Fuel—I received from Gabriela Pereira (go to http://diymfa.com/ to visit Gabriela’s brain-child to “take your writing education into your own hands”), Creative Director of diyMFA.  The headline read, “How do you know if you’re a writer?” 

Gabriela says, “Stop waiting for agents/editors/publishers/etc. to vet you as a writer.”  This is such a great quote I may have to place it somewhere to see it all the time.  She said it “boils down to a simple equation:  BEING A WRITER = GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION = DOING THE WORK.”  

So no more waiting, give yourself your own STAMP OF APPROVAL. No more looking around your critique group and hanging onto crumbs of approval that may fall to the floor.  It’s like with anything else, it is in your hands.  You write, you write.  You don’t, you don’t. I sure hope you do though …     

Resolve to Keep Going

I apologize I haven't posted here since November.  And I won't waste time with excuses. Just know I have been writing and revamping my novel!

January 2013 will be on its way out shortly. For most, the New Year is a time for assessing their lives and looking at what they wish to change from the previous year. The diet and gym membership ads are plentiful and remind us of our abandoned resolutions; that we still need to lose that 20 pounds or maybe it's 30 by now.  

"Once in Blue Moon," you say in regards to actually keeping one of your 20 resolutions. Writing resolutions are no different.  

I witnessed the blue moon we had this past December and marveled at it. So too can we as writers and artists believe and keep striving at our work, even when we failed to keep certain writing goals or resolutions. Blue moons do occur after all.

Of course we keep our focus on our writing ever in view, no matter how distant it seems from accomplishing. I really didn't make any writing resolutions at the start of this year.  I only continue where I left off and trust that I will make some real headway this 2013.

Most resolutions made are way too many to do in one year; set so high you'd have to grow longer arms to reach; or sold at yard sales [exercise bikes or treadmills]. Just grab that pen or computer and start writing what has been swirling around in your head.  Yes, I know about the ideas that just won't take NO for an answer.  Resolve to let go of resolutions and see what happens!

  

Newly Published Jordan Advises Not to Get Caught in What Others Say!

Cathy Jordan and I have been a part of numerous writing workshops together and exchanging drafts on our 'novels-in-progress' during the last several years.  This summer her first book "Seeking Samiel" was published by Sunbury Press. Since I had been privy to one of the novel's earlier drafts, I became a fan and very elated (but not surprised) it had been published.  Cathy has always been an inspiration to me, as I've been amazed at how she makes her writing happen with children still in school, a lawyer husband, and a household to run. I know you  all will be inspired also!  

1) Tell us a little bit about your book that was just published—“Seeking Samiel."   Seeking Samiel is about desire—wanting the wrong things for the wrong reason. Who hasn’t ever been bitten by that little demon? I wanted the story to be a horror/thriller because that’s what I like to read, but I’d found a lot of those stories were either over the top or just not relatable. So my response was to make the story relatable with “desire” and to make it as realistic as possible with a cool twist. Demons, in my belief, are real. My twist was making Eva, the main bad girl, the anti-Christ. 

2) Did you always want to write thrillers? Why?   Yes! Thrillers keep me engaged in any story whether I’m reading it or watching it. So, I decided I’d try to write a thrilling novel. 

3) You have a full life with 5 children, a household to run, a husband, outside activities, when do you find the time to write and what keeps you motivated? (Given that most writer wannabes struggle with finding the time and stamina.) Writing is my creative outlet. If I wound up on a deserted island, all I’d need are pencils and paper. I could die scribbling. I find the time when the kids are home and pre-occupied with friends and homework, and late at night when they’re in bed. I stay up pretty late, sometimes until 3:00 a.m. and am ALWAYS surprised that time has moved as if only minutes had passed—and that’s what motivates me.

4) You are well into the sequel to “Seeking Samiel,” when will that be published? I hope by June of 2013 so it can hit the market in time for Halloween(not that it is only for Halloween reading.

5) Have you ever participated in National Novel Writing Month in November? No, but it’s on my “to do” list. What is your advice for getting the bare bones down to a novel in a certain amount of time? My advice is always the same: write! Write, write and then write some more. Don’t get hung up on typos, POV, or writing rules. Just pound out what comes into your head. Let the words flow. Allow each sentence to lead to the next. Clean-up is for after the party, not during. Do you think it is a good idea to do this? If a writer finds it motivating, then I think it’s a great idea. You never know when inspiration will hit, but it often does when under a time constraint.

6) What were some things you’ve done, like hypnosis, writing classes, writers’ groups, writer conferences, to build your skills and keep going with your novel? Writer’s groups really help me. I love the critiques, the advice, and the motivation I get from others. Conferences are a great way to gain contacts and to recharge.

7) Anything else you wish to add? If you really, really love to write, then write. Forget the rules. Don’t get caught up in what others say can or can’t be done. If you love what you do, success will follow. And everyone has their own definition of success. I succeeded when I wrote “The end” on my manuscript. Publication was a grateful bonus. Anything after that is fun, fun, fun!

Cathy Jordan's book SEEKING SAMIEL can be purchased from Sunbury Press by going to www.sunburypress.com or amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Samiel-Catherine-Jordan/dp/1620060868/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352919420&sr=8-1&keywords=Seeking+Samiel.

Writers' Block--Writers Need to Step Out of Their Own Way, PART II

Finally PART II of my interview with Sue Nordemo, RN,www.monarchhealthcoaching.com, on how hypnosis can help writers' block.  The summer here in PA has been long and hot.  Long because I've been working on fixing up an apartment with my husband.  Something that took me out of my comfort zone.  I was happy I did it because it gave me more confidence and who knows, now I can always tap into the experience if need be for writing purposes.

"It’s learning how to be in a highly 'open' state [of mind], and not letting that conscious mind be in the way." --Sue Nordemo, RN

Q: I know you’ve been saying this throughout, but anything to add on the benefits of hypnosis for the writer?  It’s going to get [them] very relaxed, and it’s going to increase self-confidence, boost self-esteem, and when they go to a publisher, it’s going to give them the confidence, especially if they have to talk to someone on the phone.  If you’re going to a big-time publisher, being confident when you walk in there, the hypnosis can certainly help you with that there’s no question about it. addressed also.  It’s very individual, very individualistic.

Q: How exactly do you get to a ‘state of hypnosis’?  I do a relaxation [technique] and use guided imagery as part of what is called the ‘Induction’ where you’re getting the person into a nice relaxed state.  So I find out “Do you have a specific place where you like to go on vacation and relax, or maybe your backyard, or your bedroom?” I have people describe that to me.  And maybe get some names, and I will jot some notes down.  The more [specific], the more real it becomes. You’re literally painting a picture for them.  

Q: How do you know when they’re in that state?  I can tell they are, I just know that they are.  Because for a long time I was doing hypnosis with very little vision (about 12 years I was legally blind), and I can remember having to rely on my hearing and sense of feeling, which became much more pronounced.  And it was interesting because I talked to my former teacher, and I told her about it.  She said, “Oh, you shouldn’t be doing hypnosis.”  I said, “Excuse me, you’re telling me blind people can’t do this?  I’m going to tell you right now I totally disagree with you.” And I gave her my reasons why and she called me a week later she said, “You’re not going to believe this, but I had this blind psychologist call me wanting to learn hypnosis.”  So she said, “I took her into my class and she was one of my best students!”  
  

I just trust they are in it, sometimes the eyelids will flutter, their breathing may increase a little bit, before they start to become relaxed, I just know by looking at them.  I’ve only been doing it for about 17 years.  That’s how I stopped smoking. It’s good for all kinds of issues, all kinds.  

You know the main cause of writers’ block I think is what I’ve been saying … somebody may say something to them, in the past or in the present moment, that triggers a memory.  Or it does something to their self-confidence, puts them right down instantly. That’s stuff I’d have in the script-work. Some hypnotists will write out an entire script with their client,and I don't do that.  I pretty much do it off the top of my head.  I may have a script in front of me that addresses specific issues, but then I'll interject what I've gotten from my client into that script. 

Q: What’s the benefit of having the hypnosis session placed on CD?  You listen to it as many times as you want, like getting a private session every time you listen to it!  The key here would be is to teach people how to do the self-hypnosis because that's what it is.  You're not going to have [a hypnotist] sitting there every single time while you're trying to write your book!  You need to do it yourself, so I think certainly wording has to do with self-hypnosis yourself, it's very important, that's part of the 'piece' as we call it the hypnotic writing.  

Q: Can you elaborate on Hypnotic Writing?  When I was painting, you get into that hypnotic state where you're so focused on what you're doing, you're totally unaware of everything else that's going on around you.  You get into the ZONE; you've heard sports people get into the zone, runners, and tennis players.  Basically you're getting into the hypnotic zone to do your writing, to do your painting.  

You can spend two or three hours, all of a sudden you have no concept of the time going by; it's like “WOE, where did the time go?”  You were in a hypnotic state, that's all it is—It’s learning how to be in a highly "open" state [of mind], and not letting that conscious mind be in the way.  The more you practice, the better you get at it. 

I just thought of another writer, I saw her interviewed, the one who wrote TWILIGHT [Stephenie Meyer].  That first book, she had an incredibly vivid dream, every detail of one of the woodland scenes.  Fascinating to hear her talk, when she woke up she based the whole book [on the dream].  I remember her saying that, "Safe to say, all creativity comes from the subconscious mind."

When I look back, Edison, I can remember going to see his summer home in Florida, then we went into his laboratory and there was a cot where he used to take ten naps he never slept for 6 or 7 or 8 hours, he'd sleep for an hour or so, and when he woke up that's how he got all his inventions.  I'm sure of it, he was in a hypnotic state, he wasn't really asleep.  So he was tapping into his subconscious mind.  

I now encourage my clients to do the three steps that I teach for self-hypnosis, which is very easy. I just send them the three steps and review it with them. This is very important as it helps them with any issues that may come up during the writing process.



Whether it's weight loss, smoking cessation, overcoming fears, or achieving success in your personal or professional life, Certified Hypnotist , MTT practitioner, and Reiki Master Teacher Susan Nordemo will help you unlock your potential for success.  Contact Sue at www.monarchhealthcoaching.com or (603) 882-4944.

Mowing Your Writer's Lawn

There's something relaxing about the sound of lawnmowers and washing machines.  It's the consistency of the sound, kind of like a lullaby and knowing dirty clothes will be clean and the lawn that has grown way too high will become neat and tidy. 

This can be the same type of satisfied feeling you get when you mow down some of those weedy words that grew in the middle of your novel or short story.  The minor character that doesn't move the story forward or the lengthy description of someone's china cabinet with its crystal goblets. Sound familiar?

It is sometimes hard to see those things that really don't belong in your writing piece.  Your writing just got so overgrown you missed them.  But as the revision process takes it course, your critique partner or group can help pinpoint them.

Don't be hesitant to cut your writing and tighten up your text, so readers are able to view and take in the lovely landscape you set out to write.  It's all part of being a writer, having passion for every part of the process, the pruning as well.

PS: Part II of my interview with Sue Nordema is up next, promise.  It's just been a summer of renovating some apartments for me and my family.  Hopefully the fall will bring a more settled time for me and more blog posts.  Happy writing!