Hi everyone. I am thrilled to be invited to visit LeeAnn’s blog. My name is Brenda Gayle and I write contemporary romance that generally has a hint of suspense.

From the time I was a young child I enjoyed writing. I was one of the geeky kids in school that was thrilled when we reached the creative writing section of the curriculum. It’s not surprising, therefore, that I pursued a degree in Journalism and then went on to spend over 20 years in corporate communications.

I have always been impressed (and somewhat intimidated) by the sheer volume of work some writers are able to generate. How is it possible that they can produce two, three, or more manuscripts a year? This is particularly remarkable considering most do so while holding down jobs, raising families, and being productive members of their communities.

My first manuscript, SOLDIER FOR LOVE, took over two years to write and my second, more than a year. I knew that if I was going to be successful in this business, that wasn’t going to cut it. I needed to find a way to be more productive and still fulfill my other obligations.

At the Romance Writers of America conference last summer, the common message from many speakers was that the only way to succeed was to “just do it.” Make it a priority, put your bum in the chair, and write. Fine advice but not particularly helpful, especially when you’re staring at a blank screen and are paralyzed by the realization you have to produce 400 or so pages.

What was helpful, however, was a workshop given by prolific author Stephanie Bond on the business of writing. Stephanie is very matter-of-fact about the profession; she doesn’t glamorize it. Writing is a job and needs to be approached in a business-like manner. I got a lot out of her workshop but the most important—life changing—take-away for me was HOW to do it; how to go from the blank screen to producing multiple books in a year.

There is no big mystery to it and, in fact, it’s so ridiculously simple I’m almost embarrassed to share it. Stephanie broke down her writing by the number of pages she could (and would) produce each and every day. For example, five pages a day for 365 days is 1,825 pages—over four books a year. I realized I could easily do five pages a day, although not every day. Even so, removing weekends and holidays, I could commit to 1,100 pages a year—that’s more than two books!

Armed with this knowledge and a promise of accountability to my critique group, I set out to see if I could do it.

I began my current work-in-progress in September. Thirteen weeks and 379 pages later I had finished the first draft. For those checking the math, that’s an average of 29 pages per week. I wanted to take Christmas and New Year’s off before starting edits and revisions so I pushed it a little at the end.

I don’t limit myself to the five pages and, in fact, on the days I do write I generally produce more than five pages. Given all my other responsibilities, five pages per day is really a minimum of 25 pages a week that I have to produce. It also makes it more palatable when I’m staring down the blank screen to think “I only need to write five pages today.” Five pages? No sweat. Four hundred pages? No way!

I’ve never been very successful at keeping New Year’s resolutions—particularly those relating to diet and exercise, which tend to become weekly resolutions—but almost a month into the new year I am on track and confident I’ll be able to meet my resolution to complete two full manuscripts in 2010.

Do you have any “secrets” for balancing priorities and meeting goals? Please share them with us.

Brenda’s first book, SOLDIER FOR LOVE, is a Joyfully Reviewed Recommended Read. Although fictional, the setting was inspired by the geography, history and culture of Haiti. She is donating 25% of book and eBook royalties to Haitian relief and reconstruction as a way to give back to the men and woman who allowed her to share their world during the researching and writing of the book. For more about Brenda, visit her website at www.BrendaGayle.com or follow her on Facebook (Brenda Gayle) and Twitter (Brenda_Gayle).

We are 24 hours away from the announcement of who will carry the Canadian flag during the opening ceremony during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. I can’t wait (for the announcement and for the games to begin).

The national media have put forward a few names like Haley Wickenheiser, she plays for the women’s hockey team. Great athlete. Skaters Jeremy Wotherspoon and Clara Hughes would be good athletes to consider. Also there is visually impaired cross-country skier Brian McKeever, he’ll be the first athlete to compete in the both Olympics. What an amazing accomplishment! Good for him. 

That said I do have a favorite. I would love to see Clara Hughes carry the flag. Yes she refused it last time, but that was only because she was to perform within days of the ceremonies. She has not only won tons of winter Olympic medals for Canada in the past, she also won a Bronze medal in the summer Olympics as a cyclist, also this will be her last Olympics. Ms Hughes also does a lot of volunteer work as well. To me she would be the perfect representative for the job.

Until 5:30 pm tomorrow night it’s all speculation.

So many things have happened in the last week that I haven’t been able to blog for a while. Sorry about that. It has also impacted my writing as well. At this time I’ve had to dedicate my writing time to work. I know that soon things will balance themselves out and I’ll get my writing time back. It’s just going to take some time that’s all.

I have to say the weather here in Ottawa the past few days have been very weird. One day its warm and raining (you’d think we were in late March early April instead of late January), then it’s snowing like crazing then it warms up again. What is up with this crap?

I’ve had a chance to read a few good books. The best one by far has been IF HE’S SINFUL by Hannah Howell. If I get enough time soon I’ll post a review.

I don’t know about anyone else but I am sure missing my weekly fix of BEING ERICA. I can’t wait to watch it again. I’m hoping they renew it for another season. As of right now I haven’t heard either way. I’m keeping my figers crossed that they do.

Well I have to run before life runs me over first.

First, a little about me, as Brynna Curry I write light paranormal romance and suspense.  On the other side of the coin is my dark side, Brianna Roarke writing steamy dark paranormal romance.  I feed my love of books as a book reviewer for You Gotta Read Reviews.  I also judge several RWA writing contests a year, including the ‘Molly’, ’Gotcha’, Fab5 and Reveal Your Inner Vixen contests and I’m the forth member of the Frightening Journeys blog writers. I’m married to my high school sweetheart with three teenagers and by day I’m a secretary for a construction company.  

Earth Enchanted is the first in a series of five books featuring the Corrigans from Ireland, a family with a ancestry of mages.  Liv Corrigan, telepath and writer,visits her brother in the states only to find he’s neck deep in a diamond smuggling ring.  While there she meets ex-cop Jackson Roarke, a man with secrets still reeling from his wife’s death.  Here is a short blurb.

EARTH ENCHANTEDTAG: When telepath meets ex-cop, will it be death or diamondsBLURB: Writer Liv Corrigan has the worst luck with men — her telepathy tends to make them run for the hills. When she meets widower and ex-cop Jack Roarke, she decides to keep her talent hidden. Things are looking up until their third date crashes and burns as the man who murdered Jack’s wife turns out to be after him too.Injured, Jack retreats with Liv to his house under armed guard. But with Liv’s mysteries rapidly coming unraveled, a diamond-thief killer to stop and passion in the air, the safe house is anything but safe for their hearts!

After EE, To Take Up The Sword flash forwards to the end of the trial for Ashton Smythe, Gueraldi’s (the villian from EE) right hand man.  When Smythe is set free, Agent Spiller (EE), convinced Serena Roarke hid more diamonds there, goes back to Alabama in search of missing evidence that would have convicted her killer.  Leannan O’Neal, Serena’s sister, goes into the wind after the destruction of her home and threats on her life.  She meets up with Spiller and together they try to get the diamonds to safety before both are killed. There are a total of five books in this series. You can find out more about each book in the series by visiting my website and clicking the Elemental Magic tab.

My writing process is somewhat chaotic. Between work, three teenagers (one of whom is a cheerleader.  We are in the world of endless basketball season now.) a husband and the house I’m remodeling (Yes, I’m a DIY’er), I never know how long, when, or where I’ll find the time to write, but I always do.  If its something you love, you make time for it. As for the process itself, I just sit down at the computer, open up and listen to the characters and try to keep them going where I want them too.  Sometimes, I’ll go back and read the previous scenes or write the ending first.  That way I won’t rush the story.

Lastly, I’d like to lend some advice to new writers. Read. If you like to read a variety of genres, get into e-book reviewing. You’ll learn alot about house style and what works.  Write about what you know.  Write the best story you possibly can and then edit it. Then visit the Absolute Write Water Cooler and all the helpful folks there.  Join a critique group and find one whose not afraid to be brutal. Some good online yahoo groups are RWC, PNWriters and if you are a parent, ParentsInk or Momwriters.  Always do your research.

You can learn more about the Elemental Magic Series and Brynna’s other projects on her site or stop by one of her blogs and say hello.

Brynna- My site:  http://brynnacurrybriannaroarkebooks.webs.com

My blog and co-blog:  http://brynnacurrybriannaroarkebooks.blogspot.com

http://paranormalwriters.blogspot.com  “Frightening Journeys”

On Twitter as BrynnaCurry/On Facebook as Bethany Cagle

Yahoo Group- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brynnacurrybriannaroarkebooks/?yguid=350630923

I hope you’ll drop by and visit with me!

Brynna 

The concert last night was a total blast. Jann Arden simply rocks! I’m glad my friend Tammy told me she was funny. All I can say is I’m glad I went to the bathroom first. Ms Arden has us in stitches.

She sang all my favourite songs. I have to confess that I can’t remember any of her titles, but once she gets singing I can easily sing along with her since I have all her CDs. I may be put in the category of worst Jann Arden fan as a result. As long as I get to listen to her fabulous music I’m cool with it.

It was truly a great way to end my vacation from my day job. Now I’m back at work and to my routine. So life resumes as normal.

With the exception of getting food poisoning and extending my drive back by 4 hours (2 hours into my drive I realized I left my computer at Hannah’s. I had to go back and get it. Better at 2 hours into it than at the end 7.5 hours) I had a blast at the writing retreat.

Hannah and I were asked by a few to keep them in mind when we did it again next year. Well we already started plotting next years retreat. We’d have one that is more structured with morning workshops to get everyone going and keep the evenings open for eating and gambling.

I’m already knee deep in washing my clothes and getting ready for work on Monday because tomorrow night I’m heading out with a friend to see the talented Jann Arden. I can’t wait.

Day 3 and the last day of our retreat hasn’t been as fun as I had hoped. I got up and completed the character chart for my killer. Boy I found out more about him than I ever thought I would. Will I use it in the book? Nope, most of it is back story that I need to know to write who is now.

Then I went to lunch and thought it was a wonderful meal until an hour later and I didn’t feel so good. Now hours later and a partial soup later I’m feeling just about the same. I’m just hoping I’ll feel better before we leave to go back to Hannah’s tomorrow.

The only positive thing about today is that I wrote 2 full pages. So far I have written 5 pages and discovered who my characters truly were. So all in all it was well worth it. Now I’ll just have to keep up the momentum between my two full time jobs once I get home.

On day 2 of our retreat we woke up late after spending a late night talking about politics (American ones for the most part) and history. Now the history part I thought was fabulous since I hadn’t learned what we talked about.

Today we did a workshop this afternoon (because none of us had any brain function until then) on Characterization. I still have an hour before we meet up with Judy’s friends for dinner where we’ll talk about writing and have a blast. Then I hope to get a little writing in before I call it a night.

So far we have had 3 people ask us to do it again next year and include them in the planning. This retreat looks like it might be an annual thing. Do I mind? Not one bit.

Today is day one of our retreat. Since we don’t have any set hours I woke up late. Well late for me and it felt wonderful. I’m on the end part of a cold, shhh don’t tell my roommates.

So here I am sitting down to start to write for a while before we hit the gym. I am starting on page 27. I’m hoping to hit pages 32 before Jessica Andersen shows up for dinner and a fun night of talking.

So I’m going to keep this short so I can get some writing done.

I spent a fabulous weekend at my friend Hannah’s. Her party was a blast and I was quite glad to be here to help her and husband get the last details organized. Yesterday I went shopping and bought tons of clothes on sale. Today Hannah and I are heading out to pick up our friend Judy for a writers retreat in Connecticut. I’m not going to say where we are staying because I don’t want to get spammed by other locations on this blog.

Last week I met my weekly writing goal. This week my writing goal is slightly different. I’m hoping to write 5 Lachesis manuscript pages per day. This will help me get closer to my deadline. I’ll keep you posted on my goals as the week goes by.

If you intend to go out keep warm!