The Trouble With Being Clever

 

 

 

It Ain't Easy (Not) Bein' Cheesy

 

 

I've had a hard time lately with a short story I've been working on for a free fantasy romance anthology. The theme of the story is pretty straightforward, and there aren't many rules. But, I started, and failed, two early attempts to write a good story inside the 17,000 word limit.

 

Why? I asked myself. Why could I not get a beginning, middle and end in 17,000 words? What is so danged hard about writing short? After seven or eight attempts to re-write the story I had to give up the premise and move on to something else entirely. I was stumped. What the heck was wrong with me? Surely I could create a love story with an interesting plot in 17,000 words. But...I couldn't!

 

Finally, the answer came to me as I discussed the issue with a beta reader and another writer. What I had in the early attempts was simply the beginning of a much longer story. No matter how hard I tried, I could not pare down the details to make it fit inside the word limit. Geez! Writing is hard.

 

I have learned that I have a particular disorder. Well, at the very least it's an obsession. See, I like to be clever. I like to sneak details and twists into my stories. I like to get my readers hyped up and then swoop in and break them down before I let them have their happy endings. (Yeah, I'm mean that way). Being clever, or attempting to, was holding me back in this case. What I needed was a straight forward story with a beginning, a middle and an end. I needed a clear-cut problem that could be solved in 17,000 words, and that left ZERO room for cleverness.

 

Now, there are writers who can include that clever 1-2 punch in a short story and they are very, very good. Better than me. I need time to build up, create innuendo and add a dash of clever here and there. I just don't have the chops (yet) to do clever in 17,000 words. Not with emotionally convincing characters and a plot that makes sense. SO-- my only option was to put the crunch on my need for cleverness, and just tell a story.

 

Why does that bother me, you ask? Because I LIKE CLEVER. I like to know I have the ability to build a plot in layers, along with a world and characters within that world. If I just write a story from Chapter 1 to Chapter 7 and on to The End, I'm just like every other author, right? There's nothing special about open book, read words, close book, right? That's where I figured out I was wrong. There IS magic in simple, straight forward storytelling. I get so caught up in my need to be clever that I forget that half the 1-2 punch I was looking for comes from the story itself. Not my egomaniacal need to be complicated. Sometimes life isn't complicated. Sometimes it's very, very simple. Man meets woman (or man) and falls in love. There are bumps and bruises along the way, but love endures. The end.

 

Finally, after much soul-searching (and calling myself names) I decided that I CAN do simple storytelling. Sometimes that is the most powerful way of touching a reader's heart and mind. My desire to create complicated plots and character motivations was holding me back from doing the one thing every author really wants to do: tell a good story.

 

So now I've moved on. The first attempt for the short story has been put aside for a possible future novel. (Novels can be more complex and as clever as they want.) I've curbed my ego and my enthusiasm for making a statement in my writing, and I've poured my heart into creating a story that does what it's supposed to do. Capture a reader. Pull them in and make them fall in love right along with the characters. They don't need clever. They don't need complicated. All it takes is a story worth telling.

 

 

Stay tuned for more introspective butt-kicking as I travel down this path as an author. I am still learning who I am and what I want in my writing, but I DO know that I want readers to find happiness and LOVE in my stories!

 

 

 



 

Don't forget, I have this great pre-order deal available now!

3 novels + 1 novella only 99 cents!

www.amazon.com/author/ardeclerck

 



ACOA Scavenger Hunt

Hi I’m AR DeClerck author of Alchemist's Kiss, and I’m your host for this stop in the tour.

This is your post for the ACOA Scavenger Hunt and I am pleased to be hosting MARGARET R BLAKE, in her post you will find a number, not in written text, but as a numerical number. Write it down and collect them all as you visit every post along the way. Good Luck!

Hello there, I’m Margaret R Blake, author of The Ring of Curses (#One in the Merlin’s School series), Sword of Stone (#Two in the Merlin’s School series – to be released very soon), RIVERBEND; A Collection of Fairy Tales and Other Stories, and BITS AND PIECES – An Anthology of Bits of Stories and Pieces of Poetry. I usually write children’s fantasy but have since branched out to try my hand at some other stuff as well (which is where BITS AND PIECES comes into play). All my books can be found on Amazon, Barns and Noble and Booktopia.

I have been writing for about twenty years or more now, but it is not my only hobby. I also like to indulge in some needlework on occasion and I love to read. I’m a bit of a movie buff as well when I get a moment to spare. All these things can be very inspiring and it doesn’t take much for the imagination to get cranked up. As horrifying as it might sound I am working on about a dozen books/novellas all up at this moment, with some in different genres, would you believe. I love the scope that I have to play with and the characters I can invent. It keeps my mind busy and my work varied. Currently I‘m concentrating on a YA novella and an adult fantasy novella, as well as # three in my Merlin’s School series.

You can follow me at www.facebook.com/margaretroseblake 

Or … you can keep up with my publishing progress and other stuff on my site here at www.merlins-school.com 

I’m to be your host for this stop in the tour and I invite you to take a wander around my site. I also include for your enjoyment a sample of my wares … from BITS AND PIECES … On the Cards 

‘I’ve had enough of this nonsense,’ Jenna spoke her former mental theories out loud, tossing a twenty dollar note onto the shabby table. She stood up so suddenly that the chair she had been sitting on fell backwards. It was only the soft surface of the grass that stopped the wooden seat from landing with a clatter.

For a long moment both women held their ground, eyes locked. The silence stiffened around them again; that was until the gypsy spoke once more.

‘I mean you no harm missy … but the cards say what they do. I’m only the messenger.’

‘I don’t care,’ Jenna objected angrily. ‘It’s all rubbish … utter rubbish! I don’t even know why I came in. I don’t even believe in this superstitious claptrap.’ 

‘The universe works in mysterious ways, my dear,’ the woman stated softly. ‘And everything is for a reason.’

‘Well I can see no reasoning behind what you have to say … universe or not. You … you, people … just ramble on about what you think we want to hear, though I must admit nobody wants to know about their own death.’

‘Hmmm … you are free to believe … or not!’ The gypsy shrugged, scooping up the two cards and shuffling them back into the deck. She then set them aside and folded her hands together on the table.

The atmosphere in the tent had now thickened to the consistency of glue and Jenna could stand it no longer. She turned without another word and pushed through the flap of the tent. Stopping outside she wiped her hand down the side of her fitted grey skirt as if the fabric of the small marquee had dirtied it, but she did not set off straight away. A wave of dizziness washed over her and for a split second she felt nauseous.

All in all she was sure that the amount of time she had spent with the obnoxious woman had only been minutes, but it had felt like so much longer. Taking a deep breath she decided to head back to the offices where she was employed.

Looking at her watch Jenna was surprised to see that it was only 2 thirty pm. She still had thirty minutes to kill before she was due back at her desk. A cold shiver ran down her spine. Not a good choice of words, she thought as she walked to the intersection of the street.

The city’s clock chimed once, verifying the half hour of one that Jenna had registered on her timepiece. Both Smythes and Brown were in court for the rest of the day and with most of her paperwork up to scratch Jenna had very little to do in her tiny work space. She wondered if she should go and have coffee instead - maybe window shop - or do something else of mind-numbing qualities to direct her consciousness away from the gypsy’s dire words. They seemed reluctant to leave her alone, even away from the restrictions of the Tarot reader’s domain.

Jenna sighed deeply. Who would have thought that a plain working day could have morphed into the beginnings of a major headache?

To win an e-book copy of this edition (sample above) please leave a message on my web site or Facebook page with the comment BITS AND PIECES. You will be then entered in the draw. The winner will be announced both here and on my Facebook page after the end of the blog hop. 

Now to the HOP! If you have read the easy steps on how to participate in ACABH - A Celebration of Author's Blog Hop hunt you will know by now that you have to find a number. So I urge you to read on with pen and paper in hand so that you can collect your clue from my site.

Scavenger Hunt Hint:

The number for your clue will not be written in text, but it will be numeral. Tally all the numbers you find during the hunt and tally them together. This final number will be an entry in the Rafflecopter on the ENTER HERE page on the official website - http://acoascavengerhunt.weebly.com/enter-here.html

If you get stuck along the way because you of a broken link, please visit the

AUTHORS LINK page http://acoascavengerhunt.weebly.com/authors-links.html

Did you find the number? If you did, then click this author's link Margaret R. Blake www.merlins-school.com and continue with the Scavenger Hunt! 

GOOD LUCK!

** Special Extra for You! Sign up for my newsletter now and find a link for a FREE BOOK here!

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COVER REVEAL: Exploits & Escapades: Romance for the Adventure Lover

 

 

 

TIME TO SHARE!

 

 

It has been a hectic few weeks here in the DeClerck household. I have started teaching a class related to my day job, while working on my day job AND trying to write 3 projects I'd like to have done before June. WHEW!  But, I do have a special surprise for readers who might be new to the AR DeClerck bandwagon! Without further adieu let me introduce

 

 

EXPLOITS & ESCAPADES: Romance for the Adventure Lover

 

This book bundle will showcase three of my favorite full-length novels PLUS a bonus steampunk novella! I have chosen to include books from all my favorite genres as well. Below I have listed the books included and a bit about them.

 

 

Exploits & Escapades

Adventure for the Romance Enthusiast

Bound to You: On a lonely planet, far to the edge of the December Quadrant, Jacks Baine and Lia Bernardi will face an evil unlike anything they've ever encountered. The only thing that might save them is the strange bond that seems to grow stronger day by day.

Desolation: Lavinia is the goddess of Love. Afflicted with the terrible illness called Desolation, her only hope lies with a man who would like nothing better than to forget her. Together Gage and Vinnie travel the Mythical Kingdoms in search of a cure, and the answers to mysteries better left unsolved.

The Alchemist's Kiss: 1869, London. Wizard and Alchemist Icarus Kane is tired of the blood and death of war. Recently returned from the American Civil War with his best friend and his protégé he wants only to live the rest of his life in relative peace. But his sudden understanding of his love for Cora Mae Jenkins and the arrival of a dark wizard in London means that peace and quiet will be put on hold. Again.

The Clockwork Countenance: Ember Addams has searched for the mysterious box that can save the man she loves. Now that she has it in her grasp she will have to fight against those who want it as much as she does. The Countenance can do incredible things, but can it save Reginald and bring them together at last?

 

THE COVER:

 

This cover was created by the uber-talented Rachel A. Olson from No Sweat Graphics!

 

 

 

This title is currently available for pre-order at the SALE price of only 99 cents! Preorder NOW.

www.amazon.com/author/ardeclerck







Sunday Share PG13 Valentine's Sexy Scenes

 

 

 

The Romance of Valentine's Day

In which I share a few of my favorite sexy scenes

 

PG-13

 

 

 

Excerpt #1: From Bound to You

 

 

He kissed her. Softly at first, his lips exploring hers, his hands tangled into her hair to hold her to him. She squeezed his jaw, her tongue swirling over his lips. He opened his mouth, and the minute her tongue touched his she felt a jolt of lust so strong her muscles stiffened and she moaned softly. His kiss deepened, and she lost her mind, just a little. She leaned into him, holding his mouth to hers so that she could have him. She crawled over him, pushing him back in the chair and straddling his hips, lowering herself until she sat cradled over him. His hand left her shoulders, cupping her butt and pushing her down against him. She rocked, and he groaned then, making her grin. Everywhere they touched it was like they had no clothes between them. No skin. They were so close they weren't separate anymore. She had a moment to wonder if it might hurt to pull apart. She felt the wild part of her growing, threatening to take her under. If she let it, she'd have him here and now in the chair. She had never wanted to strip and let a man inside her so much before. She rolled her hips over him again, her toes barely touching the floor to give her leverage. He squeezed her, and his lips left hers to drift over her neck and collarbone. He pulled back on her shirt to kiss and nip her skin, the sting of the bite so delicious against the soft of the kiss after. She took hold of his hair, curling her fingers into its mass and tugging a little. He stopped, and she kissed his neck, moving down over him until she bit down on his neck. He bucked his hips, and she laughed against his neck. His hands roved over back and butt, his mouth back on hers. She kissed him until she couldn't breathe, forgot how. She wanted him. Wanted more.

It was Jacks who stopped first. He kissed her again and held her face in his hands.

"Lia."

She blinked. The bond between them was blossoming with every touch. She ran her finger over his lips. He shook her a little.

"Lia."

"What?"

"Stop."

She rolled her hips, and he closed his eyes, his jaw taunt. "God. Stop."

"I'm not afraid, Jacks."

"I am."



Excerpt #2: From Forged in Fire

 

He ran his hands over her back, relearning her delicate curves. She was steel under satin. Strong and soft. He nibbled her neck, grinning to hear the little moans of enjoyment she always made. He felt her hands on his neck, tangling in his hair and he moved his mouth, tracing her jaw and finally her lips. He'd forgotten how much he missed her lips. He kissed her, needing her to let him inside. She did and his tongue swept in, tasting as much of her as he could. He held her tight against him and she shook with desire. He touched her cheek, tracing the line where the bug had sliced her. It was faint now, and would be gone in a few days, but he kissed it anyway. She snuggled closer, her hands going to his cheeks to bring his mouth back to hers. She kissed him with fire, and he smiled against her mouth. She could pretend, but she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He slid his hands into her hair, and she froze. 

Gin pulled back, staring down at her wide, frightened eyes. He cursed himself and let go of her hair, pulling her close again. 

"I'm sorry." he whispered into her ear. Her hands wandered his arms, over his shoulders and down his back.

He shivered with the erotic caress across his neck. 

"Me too." 

He looked down at her as she cupped his cheeks in her hands, tracing his lips with her thumbs. He kissed her again, his eyes on hers. She caressed the ruined side of his face, and he tried to turn away, but she pulled him back. 

"I still love you, Gin." She said it with her eyes on his, tears in her eyes. He breathed deep, his nose full of Targalian spice and sweet Valeryan wine. His Raven. 

"I never stopped loving you, Raven." 

She kissed him, pushing him back on the bed and following him with her body. She was careful as she pulled off his shirt, her mouth following her hands across his chest to each scar. It was sweet torture. He pulled her shirt over her head, tracing her scars with his fingers as she grimaced.

"Beautiful." he said. She shrugged, her kisses more urgent.

"Gin, please." 

He grinned. She'd always been an impatient lover. He slid out of his pants, helping her out of hers. He couldn't catch his breath at the mishmash of scars that crisscrossed her inner thighs. She pulled him down over her, shaking her head.

"What's past is past, Gin. Promise me, we start fresh from here. A family." 

He framed her face with his hands, kissing her until they were breathless. He was dying to be inside her, but he wanted to make it last as long as he could. He'd dreamed of her for five years, wishing there was some miracle that could bring her back. His miracle had happened, and though he wasn't a praying man, he wasn't going to squander this gift. 

 





 

Excerpt #3: From The Alchemist's Kiss

 

“Cora.” This time strong arms wrapped round my shoulders. I leaned into his chest and turned my face to his shirt.

“I'm horrible, Icarus.” I shook with my rage.

“You're wonderful.” he assured me.

I pulled back, looking up at his face. God had carved it himself, I was sure. Every line, every angle and every plane, was perfect. I shook my head. “I'm not. I'm a bad person, Icarus. I am!”

“Stop this, Cora.” Even the lines between his brows was perfect. “What's got you going?”

“All I could think, when I saw Archie in that refuse heap ...” I trailed off and looked away, afraid that if I finished the thought it would make him see me as awful too.

“What did you think, Cora?” He tipped my chin, lifting my eyes to his.

“I was glad it wasn't you.”

I buried my head in his neck, the tears coming faster and harder now. I clutched him to me and prayed I'd never have to let go. He held me close and stayed quiet until I was done. I hiccuped once and wiped my eyes.

“So you see, I'm a terrible person.”

“You're not.” He leaned forward, kissing my forehead. “You, Cora Mae Jenkins, are that which every woman should strive to be.”

“A glocky nemmo?”

He laughed out loud, the sound shaking through my bones where he still held me against him. “Where do you learn these words, Cora?”

“Jimmy, the chimney sweep's son, told me what it means.”

“You are not a half-witted woman. I promise.” He stared down at me with intense blue eyes and I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted it so much that I even told the aether swirling around us. He didn't move, so I pulled him to me, pressing my lips against his.

I've talked with Jimmy more than a few times. He was always a fresh font of information, including what it felt like to kiss a woman you wanted to lie with. Just as Jimmy had promised, Icarus increased the pressure on my lips, his hands holding me as close as we could get. I closed my eyes, lost in the sensation of his skin on mine. It was as close as we'd ever been in all the six years we'd traveled together. I felt his tongue sweep across my lips and it was natural to open to him, as I'd always done.

The taste of him was cinnamon and musk. I kissed him until I was lost in the feeling, my head spinning with the magic between us. It was a shock to feel him pull away. The air between us was colder without him;  a slap to my face. It brought back some semblance of my sanity.

We were both breathing hard, and I covered my mouth with my hands, hoping to hold the feel of his lips on mine there forever.

He had a lost look on his face. It was some parts longing and some parts excitement like I'd only ever seen when he was working with magic.

“Cora---”

I covered his lips with one hand, still covering my own with the other. I shook my head and moved away from him, even though it physically hurt to do it.

“Good night, Icarus.”

 

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www.amazon.com/author/ardeclerck