One in Every Minyan

...but between moving house in late December and some recent medical issues (all is well, just been exhausting from the multiple appointments and all), I have been spending all my spare time trying to figure out this story I've been banging my head against.

But finally I've shaken free from the writing-related miasma. What did I do? Gave into the inevitable and put the story into first person. I'd been struggling to write in third person, but my natural writing style seems to be first, and once I let myself write in first person, the words began to flow again.

So I guess the rule is, give up on third person, at least for now. Go with what feels most natural, most comfortable, and just let the character drive.

The Glowing Lights of Chanukah will soon be here and there are Gifts waiting for you!
Beginning Wednesday, December 17th join Ten authors who have gathered romance stories with Jewish heroes and heroines from all walks of life: >From the days of the Maccabees to Regency England to modern day America to parallel worlds; from sweet to spicy hot. Tell us the names of their heroes and heroines and send them to borntowrite@writeme.com to be entered in a drawing of Gifts for the Season. The winner will be drawn December 22nd, the first day of Chanukah!

My story contribution to this contest is Voices of Joy and Gladness, of the Groom and the... Groom. An excerpt can be found here.

Check out my story for the names of my heroes, and then head to Samantha Kane's blog tomorrow for the next clue!

Start the celebration with authors:

I have a new story in the works (see early mumbling about characters), but I didn't have any clue of a title. I think I've now come up with the title of the story:

Standing On One Foot

It may change (my titles are almost never set in stone until the final draft), but I think this one has sticking power.

I have some new characters (in Dani and Avi's universe) whom I need to develop, and so I need to do what I always do -- "interview" them. A number of years ago, a friend pointed me to a compendium of questions that one can ask one's characters, and that's how I tend to do new character development. It sounds odd, sure, but it works for me. :-)

But that made me wonder how other people do character development. Do you just write and see where the character takes you? Free writing with a focus on the character (if that can be called true free writing)? Something else entirely?

louisaclark very kindly reviewed all of the Wedding Sips. And her review of "Voices of Joy and Gladness, of the Groom and the...Groom" is lovely:

Avi is a bundle of nerves as his anxiety tried to get the best of him. Dani is such a loving and supportive partner, his quiet assurance an anchor for Avi, Dani knowing exactly what to say and do to calm the stressed Avi. Dani’s characterization was my favorite part of the story, as it said so much concerning his love for Avi. Which in turn reflected Avi’s love for Dani. Two pieces of a whole.

Read the whole review here.

The radio station I listen to runs a lot of PSAs for various government programs. One they started running last week contains the following (approximately):

"*Ding*! That's the sound of your ex-boyfriend sending that picture of you in your underwear to all of your friends. *Ding!* And now to your coach. *Ding!* And, worst of all, to your father."

It is an ad trying to teach (I presume) teenagers to think before posting things online, with the message that it'll be seen by people they didn't even think would ever see it.

But I heard another message -- either it's pro-women's-sports (the photo is being sent to "your coach"), or it's in favor of gay guys dating (it's being sent by "your ex-boyfriend").

Either way, it works for me. But I doubt the US government intended that message.

Hi to the new people who have started reading here since the publication of my Torquere Press Wedding Sip, Voices of Joy and Gladness, of the Groom and the... Groom.

Avi and Dani were my first pair of original characters, and they're still the muses closest to my heart. I've got a bunch of stuff written about them, some of which will likely be posted here over the next little while.

Thank you for reading me, and I hope you'll enjoy what you read here.

I volunteered to participate in the snippet day that Kiernan so kindly offered to the writers of Wedding Sips, but now I have to figure out what to use as a snippet. It's a longish story (about 8K words), but I have no idea what to snip -- a beginning bit? The middle-ish, where the wedding planning is in full swing? Near the end, where they're actually having the wedding?

I'd snip a sex scene, as that always brings the readers ;-), but this is told from Avi's POV, so there's no actual sex in this story.

I have until some time tomorrow to figure this out, I guess.

Or, as the official blurb says...

Check out Torquere Press' Wedding Sip Blitz! Twenty of Torquere's great authors have written wedding themed stories to show their support in the fight for equal recognition of gay and lesbian marriage! Sexy and sweet, funny and dramatic, these Sips will satisfy everyone's urge for something old and something new, something borrowed and something blue! The best part about the Sip Blitz is that all of the authors have agreed to donate the profits from their wedding Sips to charity, with Torquere Press matching their donation 100%! All profits collected from the sale of the wedding Sips will be donated the Lambda Legal Defense Fund. Sips cost just $1.29, and you can't beat that for entertainment and a good cause! Buy them all, and get the entire twenty Sip package for 15% off! Who doesn't love a happy ending? The Sip Blitz begins Saturday, September 13, 2008!

Massachusetts has same-sex marriage thanks to the efforts of groups like MassEquality, but we're definitely in the minority. Help Torquere celebrate its birthday and raise money to help others achieve the same equality, and get some great stories in the process!