On April 26, I attended a forum discussing the rights of creators over their work, organized by Adam David. I was part of a panel that discussed copyright and contracts for writers, and I shared my thoughts on what has become a recent discovery and now a bit of a cause: that many young writers are signing contracts turning over copyright and all rights of their original, unsolicited, not-work-for-hire stories, without understanding what that means.
Before I go on further, let me just say: I don't think that selling copyright is necessarily wrong. I've been hired to write things before, and been asked to turn over copyright, and I've agreed to that. What I think is wrong is when a writer does it not knowing what it means, and not having it explained fully to them even when they ask.
Other people who spoke at the forum: Honeylein de Peralta (from Flipside, a publisher), Beverly Siy (author and formerly of the Philippine Copyright and Licensing Society), and Marnie Tonson, Esq (a lawyer, and haha).
Some things I learned, which apply to me as an author:
- I need to determine who my heir is, in terms of my copyright. My heir will be receiving my royalties for up to 50 years after I've passed away. (My husband.)
- I also need to identify a second heir, younger than the first one. (Because 50 years is a long time and my royalties could outlast even the heir I select.) (My daughter.)
- I should also identify who should manage my copyright while I am alive, but unable to decide on important things. (My daughter.)
- I have foreign rights to most of my books. Meaning they can be made available in translations for other countries, just like foreign books are being brought and translated here. I think I should maximize this right that I hold.
- Piracy or unauthorized distribution of copies of my books -- that's an act against me, the copyright holder, because this kind of distribution affects my right to earn from the stories. (I am not opposed to free distribution: my goal has always been to be read by as many people as possible. But earning from my books through an unauthorized sales channel? Ugh!)
- Even if I was paid to write something, I still by default have copyright over it, unless I agree to turn it over. Being paid for the time I spend writing is different from paying for the rights to what I wrote.
- In cases of contract dispute, the law may actually side with the person who did not write the contract.
- Be wary of publishing contracts...even if the publisher is your friend. Or your relative. (advice of Bebang Siy)
- Don't sign anything you don't understand.
- I should also ask an independent and objective third party my questions about the details of the contract, and not just the ones who wrote it.
At the end of my talk, I said, we need to come up with a better solution. We can't just tell writers "don't sign this, it's not fair to you as an author" when we can't provide an alternative that's better, when the consequence of standing up for their rights means they don't get published at all. Yes, there are publishers that offer relatively "nicer" contracts, but they can't possibly publish everybody. And I don't think we should go about telling businesses to change how they do things either.
So what do we do? Ah, that's the question. Some people are coming up with ways to educate young people (and older people even) on copyright and other rights better. There's a government unit (Bureau of Copyright and Other Rights) that can help. I have the Wattpad advice column up, and continue to answer questions there. But as I told the community of authors there, they have to take the lead. They have to want better treatment. They have to decide to care about this, and each other, and make sure that fellow authors (their FRIENDS!) are not being unfairly treated. I'm willing to speak and help, as well as other people in the industry.
(I also must say that I am a self-publisher, and through my company Bronze Age Media I help people self-publish and keep copyright while seeing their book in print. But I also know that not everyone wants to go with this option.)
I wonder if someone can recap Bebang's portion of the talk? Because she said so many quoteworthy things. One of them that stuck to me and I hope I got this right -- "Yung pagnakaw mo sa copyright ko, yung anak ko yung ninakawan mo ng 50 years." My flimsy translation: Any violation of my copyright, or taking it from me without me knowing what that means, isn't just an act against me, but against what my child is entitled to for fifty years.
Maybe some writers will think that's overly dramatic. But I'm a mom now, and anything I do is for my daughter. If I benefit from this writing thing at all, I want it to go to making sure she's provided for. Do you have to be a mom to understand? I don't think so... you just need to think ahead and be confident that your work is worth it.
More advice for authors here, in Filipino and English:
Monday, April 28, 2014
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Guest post by #buqosteamyreads author Kate Sebastian: Sex is easy, love is hard
Taking over the blog today is author Kate Sebastian!
My #buqosteamyreads experience can be summed up in two words: "frustration" and "procrastination."
I'm a pretty notorious crammer—indeed, it seems like my best work is written at the 11th hour. I wrote and discarded two and a half fully formed plots (half because I had the description but hadn't even bothered to do a full outline) before settling on the barebones of the one I eventually chose the day before the first draft was due. And even though I had weeks to do my revisions after that, I started them the day they were actually due and ended up just about doubling the length of my story so it became a short novella.
It's a problem that has plagued me my entire writing career—if I don't have a deadline, most things just don't get written. If you could see my notebooks and the writing folders on my computer, you'd find about six or seven novels started and never finished (that includes around three or four that passed the 50,000-word mark and one that passed the 100,000-word mark) and perhaps a dozen fully outlined plots. None of them finished.
Having joined and failed Mina's first #romanceclass session, I jumped at the chance to join #buqosteamyreads because of its required output (5,000 words in a day didn't sound too hard [Mina's comment: In five weeks! 5,000 words in 5 weeks!]) and its reportedly strict deadlines (not militant, but there was a launch date to follow, after all!). Most of the stories I write aren't romantic, and if they are, they aren't in the contemporary romance genre (what can I say? I like my paranormals), but I was at the point where I didn't care what I wrote as long as I wrote it. And, I reasoned to myself, I'd written steamy scenes before and had even been paid for them. At worst, I could come up with a 5,000-word story with a 2,500-word sex scene and a rudimentary plot. That's what I told myself.
And for my first draft, I may have done a little better than that, but honestly, it wasn't by much. In fact, elements of three other stories or novels I had recently read had somehow stained my plot. I recruited four beta readers to help me out, three of whom said I needed to develop my plot and characters better. The fourth hit the nail on the head. She looked me in the eye and said, "You just hate Christy (the main character), don't you?"
And while hate might have been a strong word, I had to admit that I didn't like her very much. She nodded sagely and waited for the light bulb to go off in my head (or I imagine that's what she was doing when she stared at me). It did, eventually. And I realized that for my character to be believable as the star of her own romantic story, she had to be someone I—not to mention my readers—could imagine men (and one man in particular) falling for.
Which brings me to my other word. Frustration. And by that I mean romantic frustration, not the sexual kind. I had no idea how to bring my story (and characters) to life. I do read romance, but, with a few exceptions, I categorically hate rom-coms, which so many people told me would be a great source for inspiration. My husband is the great romantic in our marriage. Failed attempts at coming up with a battle plan for my final drafts almost invariably involved substituting plot and characterization with mindless sex scenes.
Because let's face it. In writing, as in life, sex is easy—love is hard.
I whined about it. A lot. I took a break from my whining to watch the Oscars, and that's where I found some inspiration, my key to Kyle, my main character's love interest (I wonder if anyone will make the connection. I'll just plant an easter egg and say it has to do with the movie Frozen). Christy was a lot tougher. So I procrastinated. But with the deadline drawing closer, I grew increasingly desperate. I took a piece of myself that I liked, a piece of this friend, a piece of this cousin, and so on, and I added it to the character I (slightly) detested. And the mosaic turned out to be something I could work with.
The night before the draft was due (or maybe it was the morning), I had a plan. But I also had tons of work. Fortunately, it was a Friday. So I begged for and was granted an extension. I ended up almost completely rewriting my novel (I kept a few paragraphs unchanged here and there, but all that you'd see in my novel, were you to compare it to my first draft, would be a total of perhaps three or four pages worth of writing). That entire weekend was a blur of sleeplessness, keyboard pounding, caffeine, and desperate Tweeting (and by the way, I want to thank my classmates and other writer friends for their encouragements). Very early on Monday morning, I submitted my draft. I'd finished it—it was the first longish work of fiction I'd ever completed.
And, for the most part, that was that for this story. But more importantly, I had proved to myself that I could actually finish something. And the fact that it's since been released on Buqo and even topped a list or two? That's a very sweet bit of icing on the cake.
Meet Christy and Kyle (and search for that Oscars connection if you can!) in Old Enemies Make the Best Lovers from Buqo.ph. I'd love to learn if you think I was successful in making Christy less detestable!
Kate Sebastian has been a writer most of her life. She's enjoying being blissfully attached by way of marriage to a guy who likes love stories even more than she does. Follow her on Twitter @ImKateSebastian (http://www.twitter.com/ImKateSebastian) and like her page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/katesebastianauthor) for updates on her story and on new projects. Feel free to drop her a note at katesebastianauthor[at]gmail.com.
My #buqosteamyreads experience can be summed up in two words: "frustration" and "procrastination."
I'm a pretty notorious crammer—indeed, it seems like my best work is written at the 11th hour. I wrote and discarded two and a half fully formed plots (half because I had the description but hadn't even bothered to do a full outline) before settling on the barebones of the one I eventually chose the day before the first draft was due. And even though I had weeks to do my revisions after that, I started them the day they were actually due and ended up just about doubling the length of my story so it became a short novella.
It's a problem that has plagued me my entire writing career—if I don't have a deadline, most things just don't get written. If you could see my notebooks and the writing folders on my computer, you'd find about six or seven novels started and never finished (that includes around three or four that passed the 50,000-word mark and one that passed the 100,000-word mark) and perhaps a dozen fully outlined plots. None of them finished.
Having joined and failed Mina's first #romanceclass session, I jumped at the chance to join #buqosteamyreads because of its required output (5,000 words in a day didn't sound too hard [Mina's comment: In five weeks! 5,000 words in 5 weeks!]) and its reportedly strict deadlines (not militant, but there was a launch date to follow, after all!). Most of the stories I write aren't romantic, and if they are, they aren't in the contemporary romance genre (what can I say? I like my paranormals), but I was at the point where I didn't care what I wrote as long as I wrote it. And, I reasoned to myself, I'd written steamy scenes before and had even been paid for them. At worst, I could come up with a 5,000-word story with a 2,500-word sex scene and a rudimentary plot. That's what I told myself.
And for my first draft, I may have done a little better than that, but honestly, it wasn't by much. In fact, elements of three other stories or novels I had recently read had somehow stained my plot. I recruited four beta readers to help me out, three of whom said I needed to develop my plot and characters better. The fourth hit the nail on the head. She looked me in the eye and said, "You just hate Christy (the main character), don't you?"
And while hate might have been a strong word, I had to admit that I didn't like her very much. She nodded sagely and waited for the light bulb to go off in my head (or I imagine that's what she was doing when she stared at me). It did, eventually. And I realized that for my character to be believable as the star of her own romantic story, she had to be someone I—not to mention my readers—could imagine men (and one man in particular) falling for.
Which brings me to my other word. Frustration. And by that I mean romantic frustration, not the sexual kind. I had no idea how to bring my story (and characters) to life. I do read romance, but, with a few exceptions, I categorically hate rom-coms, which so many people told me would be a great source for inspiration. My husband is the great romantic in our marriage. Failed attempts at coming up with a battle plan for my final drafts almost invariably involved substituting plot and characterization with mindless sex scenes.
Because let's face it. In writing, as in life, sex is easy—love is hard.
I whined about it. A lot. I took a break from my whining to watch the Oscars, and that's where I found some inspiration, my key to Kyle, my main character's love interest (I wonder if anyone will make the connection. I'll just plant an easter egg and say it has to do with the movie Frozen). Christy was a lot tougher. So I procrastinated. But with the deadline drawing closer, I grew increasingly desperate. I took a piece of myself that I liked, a piece of this friend, a piece of this cousin, and so on, and I added it to the character I (slightly) detested. And the mosaic turned out to be something I could work with.
The night before the draft was due (or maybe it was the morning), I had a plan. But I also had tons of work. Fortunately, it was a Friday. So I begged for and was granted an extension. I ended up almost completely rewriting my novel (I kept a few paragraphs unchanged here and there, but all that you'd see in my novel, were you to compare it to my first draft, would be a total of perhaps three or four pages worth of writing). That entire weekend was a blur of sleeplessness, keyboard pounding, caffeine, and desperate Tweeting (and by the way, I want to thank my classmates and other writer friends for their encouragements). Very early on Monday morning, I submitted my draft. I'd finished it—it was the first longish work of fiction I'd ever completed.
And, for the most part, that was that for this story. But more importantly, I had proved to myself that I could actually finish something. And the fact that it's since been released on Buqo and even topped a list or two? That's a very sweet bit of icing on the cake.
Meet Christy and Kyle (and search for that Oscars connection if you can!) in Old Enemies Make the Best Lovers from Buqo.ph. I'd love to learn if you think I was successful in making Christy less detestable!
Kate Sebastian has been a writer most of her life. She's enjoying being blissfully attached by way of marriage to a guy who likes love stories even more than she does. Follow her on Twitter @ImKateSebastian (http://www.twitter.com/ImKateSebastian) and like her page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/katesebastianauthor) for updates on her story and on new projects. Feel free to drop her a note at katesebastianauthor[at]gmail.com.
Old Enemies Make The Best Lovers is part of the Sizzling #buqosteamyreads bundle. Get it on buqo for iOS and Android, or at buqo.ph.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Guest post by #buqosteamyreads author Scarlett Fox: My Adventure into the Steamies
Taking over the blog today is Scarlett Fox!
The Age of Experience
Considering my age and experience, it was not really hard
for me to imagine what mature individuals do in their spare time. I had my
share of unmentionables in my time. But I had qualms because I have an image,
wholesome I suppose, that I wanted to maintain not for me but for my kids who
are actually adults. Sheesh.Writing the steamy story had opened the whatever phase in me. I can write
anything now. Once I had done “Sizzle”, it was like opening Pandora’s box. All
inhibitions flew away.
Meeting the Dreaded Deadline
It helped a lot to have a deadline. I am getting used to
writing longer pieces. Practice really is the key. My characters already had a
mold, all I needed was to pour the words in. So right off my lead female character
was set. Bitchy and arrogant. I had not encountered those characters in say,
Mills and Boon romances. Back then the characters were mild and pliant, with
just a hint of defiance.
Boracay: A Place of Endless
Possibilities
My setting was Boracay . I took some liberties on the
setting. Most of the places were fictitious. Maybe some of the readers would be
lost. My characters were not inexperienced, they had gone through pain and were
truly just like other people who loved.
I really fought hard against my tendency to use words that
were outdated and to make my style more contemporary.
How to write the steamy sex scene
- Prep your sexy cover as it will be one of your inspirations.
- Put some jazzy music or whatever turns you on.
- Spritz some heady perfume, not too much and think romantic.
- Write the scene in slow motion, taking care to note the details. Don’t be in a hurry to jump to the next position if you don’t have to.
- Make sure there’s nobody there to see the effects of what you are writing on your face. Because if you’re any good at it, it will surely show.
I have enjoyed it immensely. The process was exhilarating,
emancipating and empowering.
Just like what writer Delilah Dawson said, if you can write a sex scene, you can turn
people on with nothing but words.
Long live the steamies!
Sizzle is part of the Sizzling #buqosteamyreads bundle. Get it on buqo for iOS and Android, or at buqo.ph.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Giveaway: $10 Amazon GC and BLAST FROM TWO PASTS by Kristel S. Villar
What's up with the #romanceclass books lately? I'm going to start featuring them more on my blog and mailing list! The latest book to be released by a #romanceclass author is Blast From Two Pasts by Kristel S. Villar.
Fate's been playing tricks on Cara Nicolas lately. She agrees to go on a blind date with her best friend’s fiancé’s cousin, only to discover that the guy is her first love from high school, Lucas Lobregat. Now that would have been a charming story, except that the date turns out to be one of the worst ever. And they can’t even pretend it never happened, because they’re both suddenly part of the wedding preparations.
Just as she is starting to get to know more about the boy she used to love, Oliver Sta. Maria, an old flame who owes her some closure, surprisingly shows up. With two pasts resurfacing, which will Cara choose to rekindle? Or can she have the chance to choose at all?
Amazon
Smashwords
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Fate's been playing tricks on Cara Nicolas lately. She agrees to go on a blind date with her best friend’s fiancé’s cousin, only to discover that the guy is her first love from high school, Lucas Lobregat. Now that would have been a charming story, except that the date turns out to be one of the worst ever. And they can’t even pretend it never happened, because they’re both suddenly part of the wedding preparations.
Just as she is starting to get to know more about the boy she used to love, Oliver Sta. Maria, an old flame who owes her some closure, surprisingly shows up. With two pasts resurfacing, which will Cara choose to rekindle? Or can she have the chance to choose at all?
Amazon
Smashwords
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The Writer Tag: Survey for Writers
Answering Bea's The Writer Tag survey! Check out her answers on The Dalaga Project.
1. What type of writing do you do?
Fiction. Novellas mostly. Short stories sometimes.
2. What genres and/or topics do you write about?
Romance for YA, NA, and adults. The comfort zone is New Adult and Contemporary, although I did try my hand at fantasy for a two-year period.
3. How long have you been writing?
Since I was eleven, when I started attempting to write stories featuring teens. I don't really remember being interested in it before that time.
4. Are you published?
Yes, my romance/chick lit novellas are published/distributed in the Philippines by Summit Media. I also publish them myself.
5. What was the first story you ever wrote?
It's a lot like Sweet Valley Twins. Later I learned that what I was doing was actually "fanfic."
6. Why do you write?
I like doing it, and various elements are coming together so that it can keep happening.
7. How do you find time to write?
I have a daughter (and no yaya) so I have to BOOK the time to write. Daughter's naptimes have become a solid 2-hour window to do it. I also ask relatives and the husband to babysit.
8. When and where are the best times to write?
It might not be the best time, but it's my only time - 4 PM to 7 PM. Coincides with daughter's nap, any other work is often done, and I can usually get someone to watch her. Over time I've trained myself to be ready to write during this period.
9. Favorite food/drinks while writing?
Tea, coffee, and recently tried a margarita (while writing a steamy scene) and THAT was effective.
10. Your writing playlist?
I have some go-to writing music, but I also try to keep a project-specific playlist. Here's one for my latest, Georgia Lost and Found on Spotify.
11. What do family/friends/loved ones think of you writing?
My husband is my biggest fan. He will shamelessly brag about stuff I do to anyone. Family and friends are supportive, but not all of them are really into this. They're glad they know someone who is though.
12. Parts of writing you enjoy the most?
Knowing that I'm writing the last scene. Also, writing the scene that inspired the story in the first place.
13. Parts of writing you find challenging?
There's a stretch somewhere in the middle when I inevitably HATE everything, HATE every decision I've made, and wish I could start over. Getting past that is the most difficult.
14. What do you use to write with and on?
What I use evolves depending on where I write and how much time I have. There are books (Queen of the Clueless and Icon of the Indecisive, for example) that I wrote on an iPad. The earlier ones were on a desktop. Now I have notebooks and start everything longhand, old school, and then I straighten it out on a Google Doc on my next writing session.
15. How do you overcome writers block?
If it's a block in the middle of a story, I just write a crap scene to go through the motions. Usually just the exercise of it unlocks something awesome.
16. How do you motivate yourself to write?
You know what? I actually don't have to anymore. It would be different maybe if it wasn't such a big part of my days and weeks.
17. Authors who inspire you as a writer?
Sheri Cobb South, who wrote the best Sweet Dreams novels, in my opinion. (No, it's FACT.) Neil Gaiman. I've added Rainbow Rowell to that list now.
18. Books that inspire you as a writer?
There are a few, but the one that personally lit up my imagination again: SMOKE AND MIRRORS, the short story collection by Neil Gaiman. There's a story there called "Snow, Glass, Apples" which is a retelling of Snow White and after it I was just YES, LET'S DO THIS WRITING THING AGAIN AND TRY TO DO IT RIGHT, BITCHES.
19. Best advice you’ve gotten as a writer?
No one actually said this, but comments over time have led me to learn: IT'S OKAY TO LINGER. It's not a race (even if you have a deadline). Take a deep breath, enjoy it, and let the characters enjoy it too.
20. Writing goals this year?
Finish a music-themed chick lit short that'll be part of an awesome collection. Write a novel mostly set in New Orleans and Texas. Finish and release Scambitious 2, because I put that on hold and there are just two scenes left for me to write! Sorry, Scambitious 2.
1. What type of writing do you do?
Fiction. Novellas mostly. Short stories sometimes.
2. What genres and/or topics do you write about?
Romance for YA, NA, and adults. The comfort zone is New Adult and Contemporary, although I did try my hand at fantasy for a two-year period.
3. How long have you been writing?
Since I was eleven, when I started attempting to write stories featuring teens. I don't really remember being interested in it before that time.
4. Are you published?
Yes, my romance/chick lit novellas are published/distributed in the Philippines by Summit Media. I also publish them myself.
5. What was the first story you ever wrote?
It's a lot like Sweet Valley Twins. Later I learned that what I was doing was actually "fanfic."
6. Why do you write?
I like doing it, and various elements are coming together so that it can keep happening.
7. How do you find time to write?
I have a daughter (and no yaya) so I have to BOOK the time to write. Daughter's naptimes have become a solid 2-hour window to do it. I also ask relatives and the husband to babysit.
8. When and where are the best times to write?
It might not be the best time, but it's my only time - 4 PM to 7 PM. Coincides with daughter's nap, any other work is often done, and I can usually get someone to watch her. Over time I've trained myself to be ready to write during this period.
9. Favorite food/drinks while writing?
Tea, coffee, and recently tried a margarita (while writing a steamy scene) and THAT was effective.
10. Your writing playlist?
I have some go-to writing music, but I also try to keep a project-specific playlist. Here's one for my latest, Georgia Lost and Found on Spotify.
11. What do family/friends/loved ones think of you writing?
My husband is my biggest fan. He will shamelessly brag about stuff I do to anyone. Family and friends are supportive, but not all of them are really into this. They're glad they know someone who is though.
12. Parts of writing you enjoy the most?
Knowing that I'm writing the last scene. Also, writing the scene that inspired the story in the first place.
13. Parts of writing you find challenging?
There's a stretch somewhere in the middle when I inevitably HATE everything, HATE every decision I've made, and wish I could start over. Getting past that is the most difficult.
14. What do you use to write with and on?
15. How do you overcome writers block?
If it's a block in the middle of a story, I just write a crap scene to go through the motions. Usually just the exercise of it unlocks something awesome.
16. How do you motivate yourself to write?
You know what? I actually don't have to anymore. It would be different maybe if it wasn't such a big part of my days and weeks.
17. Authors who inspire you as a writer?
Sheri Cobb South, who wrote the best Sweet Dreams novels, in my opinion. (No, it's FACT.) Neil Gaiman. I've added Rainbow Rowell to that list now.
18. Books that inspire you as a writer?
There are a few, but the one that personally lit up my imagination again: SMOKE AND MIRRORS, the short story collection by Neil Gaiman. There's a story there called "Snow, Glass, Apples" which is a retelling of Snow White and after it I was just YES, LET'S DO THIS WRITING THING AGAIN AND TRY TO DO IT RIGHT, BITCHES.
19. Best advice you’ve gotten as a writer?
No one actually said this, but comments over time have led me to learn: IT'S OKAY TO LINGER. It's not a race (even if you have a deadline). Take a deep breath, enjoy it, and let the characters enjoy it too.
20. Writing goals this year?
Finish a music-themed chick lit short that'll be part of an awesome collection. Write a novel mostly set in New Orleans and Texas. Finish and release Scambitious 2, because I put that on hold and there are just two scenes left for me to write! Sorry, Scambitious 2.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Guest post by #buqosteamyreads author Kali Ragilles: A story, an island, and serendipity
Author Kali Ragilles is taking over the blog today!
Having
been brought up by forward-thinking parents, I've never been skittish about
writing anything sexy --- or even anything that pushes the boundaries of
normal. Except werewolves. I draw the line when it involves someone, or
something, remotely resembles my pet dog. Anyway, my parents have always
encouraged me to write, and simply avoided reading the steamy stuff, more for
their own sake than mine.
The thing
is, I never really considered publishing anything. I was contented showing my
husband (and occasionally, my mom) the stuff I wrote. Even with all these
platforms making self-publishing easy, I couldn't find any reason to show
everyone my work. Then Mina made this announcement for #BuqoSteamyReads.
I just had to give it a shot.
I did, and
I ended up with a steamy romance novella. Unfortunately, I only found out about
the deadline for the final draft two weeks before it was due. I didn't think it
was enough time to clean up the mess I called a manuscript. People would be
paying to read my story, and I wanted to make sure it was worth their money.
My
solution? Write another story. But this time, shorter. I targeted a word count
that the workshop originally called for --- 5,000 words of steamy romance. I
pushed myself to finish it, and thankfully, I completed a 10,000-word short
story. My editor, Chris Mariano, helped pull off what could have been an
otherwise impossible writing feat for me.
From my
manuscript's storyline, I came up with a prelude, “Passion Within The Stone Walls.” It told the story of Paige de Guia, the childhood friend of the
novella's heroine. I needed a PR agent in the series, and Paige was perfect for
the part. But the hardest was the setting. Where could I put Paige and Sean's
group together without finding out they both knew my novella's heroine?
I didn't
have to ponder long. My husband had been bugging me to organize the photo
archive in my hard drive, and it just so happened the first photo album I
opened gave me the answer to my setting problem.
Batanes.
In my past
life, I was a travel blogger (and no, I will not tell you what my blog name
was). Batanes, particularly its island of Sabtang, was one of the places I
swore I would return to. But, life happened. I figured I could at least revisit
the island through my fictional characters, and somehow relive the experience
when a place actually made me want to retire at the tender age of twenty-five.
Since the
story is fiction, I took the liberty
of “ignoring” a few updates on real-life details (last I heard, electricity in
Sabtang now goes out earlier instead of at midnight). But the island remains
the same – peaceful and enchanting. I tried
my best to capture in words the awe I felt during my own visit to the island,
but I don't think I could ever do justice to the beautiful province that is
Batanes. You need to go there to see for yourself.
Still need
convincing? Perhaps Paige can persuade you. Get Passion Within The Stone Walls
from Buqo.ph :)
Kali
Ragilles is a twenty-something writer living in Manila, Philippines with her
husband and their pet dog. She loves watching romantic comedies and eating
french fries. Follow her on Twitter @AuthorKali
(http://www.twitter.com/AuthorKali), like her page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kali-Ragilles/676478679071528),
or visit kaliragilles.com to contact Kali and sign up for her mailing list.
Passion Within the Stone Walls is part of the Passion #buqosteamyreads bundle. Get it on buqo for iOS and Android, or at buqo.ph.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Guest post by #buqosteamyreads author Suzette de Borja: Steamy Romance 101
Today author Suzette de Borja takes over the blog!
I have devoured hundreds of contemporary, adult romances since I got my first taste of them courtesy of Mills and Boon way back in high school. They were and still are my guilty pleasure. Nothing compares to curling up with a romance novel and falling in love with gorgeous, sexy, alpha male heroes to keep you company on a rainy day, heck, even on a sunny day! I absolutely loved how they would all be tough and confident at the beginning and then become undone by the clueless, quirky, unaffected, virginal (most often) heroine in the story. And the groveling, by the hero, towards the end when he realizes there is no other woman in the world for him? That gets me everytime.
I have devoured hundreds of contemporary, adult romances since I got my first taste of them courtesy of Mills and Boon way back in high school. They were and still are my guilty pleasure. Nothing compares to curling up with a romance novel and falling in love with gorgeous, sexy, alpha male heroes to keep you company on a rainy day, heck, even on a sunny day! I absolutely loved how they would all be tough and confident at the beginning and then become undone by the clueless, quirky, unaffected, virginal (most often) heroine in the story. And the groveling, by the hero, towards the end when he realizes there is no other woman in the world for him? That gets me everytime.
Writing a romance was another thing altogether. My fledgling attempts started in adolescence when my best friend and I would together in longhand write a story about our biggest crush in the planet at that time (he was a member of an all male pop group−I refuse to name said pop group for fear of revealing my age) and just realized recently that what we were doing years ago was writing fan fiction!
Fast forward to the present and the demands of a career and family have put creative pursuits on hold. But the thing is, like a romance story heroine, I have never forgotten my first love−writing. It is the happiest of reunions, indeed.
How To Write A Steamy Romance 101
1. Take the plunge and sign up for a writing workshop helmed by the inspirational and ever supportive Mina V. Esguerra
2. Tap some words on the keyboard, stare blankly into space and decide you need some inspiration by perusing all those gorgeous, drool inducing abs posted on co-authors’ Twitter accounts
3. Munch some chips and drink soda in between writing (you do need those extra calories as writing fuel)
4. Ponder on deep topics brought up in the workshop like the anatomical feasibility, desirability and likelihood of having sex with a T. Rex (yes, as in dinosaur)
5. Panic as deadline looms and word count has stalled
6. Spend days coming up with a pen name for assuming your secret identity
7. Obsess over fictional characters who are taking over your waking state and refusing to follow directions from you (who have complete control of the delete key, by the way)
8. Flex atrophied writing muscles and write, write, write
9. Buckle up for labor pains of birthing a story
10. Overcome shame
Suzette de Borja has not recovered from the childhood trauma of not qualifying for a spelling bee contest during her elementary days. When not engaged in an internal debate over the merits of a vegan vs. Paleolithic diet, she is often found in front of a hand held gadget or laptop trying not to be socially (media) awkward on the internet. She lives in an urban jungle with her husband and child who is convinced she is half−girl, half−unicorn.
Please visit her online at:
Facebook.com/SuzettedeBorja
Twitter.com/SuzettedeBorja
suzettedeborja@gmail.com
The Best Friend Hookup is part of the Sizzling #buqosteamyreads bundle. Get it on buqo for iOS and Android, or at buqo.ph.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Copyright is an author's right (right?)
I keep talking about copyright lately. On Twitter and Wattpad and Facebook. I just feel that I should, because I've been lucky about the publishing deals I made early on. Those deals by default let me keep copyright of my work.
Keeping copyright of my own story means I still have control over the story, and the characters. Maybe there are other companies who are now able to print books or release digital versions or make movies and such, but those are things that can be done based on contracts signed by me, because I am still the owner of the story and the characters. If something happens to me, my family will continue to receive what it earns, if it continues to earn money, and they can also decide what happens to my stories, how to make my work live on and help them for longer.
Apparently, many other young authors don't have it like that. Many of them sign over not just the print or digital rights but all rights to their story entirely, in exchange for a few thousand pesos, a few print copies, a chance at earning a small percentage for each book sold.
Let me just say: A publishing offer is a good thing. It's good news. But not all offers are the same. What happens when a publisher decides not to print your books anymore? Or if your work becomes so popular that you can't write fast enough for the fans, and they hire new writers to write the stories instead? What if the company that now owns copyright wants to change your story, because they don't agree with how you want it to end?
"But I'll still be credited as the author," some people have told me. Yes, you will still be "credited" but you will have no say in what happens. When a business decides what happens to your story, that is what will happen. Because they own it now.
This situation is still OK too. There are authors who write stories and just want them out there, and don't want to have to worry about what happens to it. THAT'S OK, if YOU'RE OK with it.
But if you're like me, and you wrote those stories from inspiration, from passion, and you wrote them not because someone paid you to but because you WANTED to tell these stories, then maybe you should consider keeping your basic right to determine the present and future of these stories. If they will continue to be sold. If there will be sequels or spin-offs. Who ends up with whom. Who dies.
But this is me. Maybe you're not like this. That's OK. But if you are, and you care about these things, please know that YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE to a contract that you're not comfortable with. There are publishers who negotiate. If they want your story enough, they will do that. If they don't want to negotiate, then maybe it's time to ask yourself if it's worth it, to give your "baby" to someone who won't even try to give you terms that make you feel safe.
If you've thought about this but decided to sell your copyright anyway, that's OK too. Sometimes you can decide to do that. Just know that keeping copyright is always an option, and maybe one day you'll write a story that you'll treasure enough that you'll WANT to fight for the right to keep it. And I hope you remember this post.
Keeping copyright of my own story means I still have control over the story, and the characters. Maybe there are other companies who are now able to print books or release digital versions or make movies and such, but those are things that can be done based on contracts signed by me, because I am still the owner of the story and the characters. If something happens to me, my family will continue to receive what it earns, if it continues to earn money, and they can also decide what happens to my stories, how to make my work live on and help them for longer.
Apparently, many other young authors don't have it like that. Many of them sign over not just the print or digital rights but all rights to their story entirely, in exchange for a few thousand pesos, a few print copies, a chance at earning a small percentage for each book sold.
Let me just say: A publishing offer is a good thing. It's good news. But not all offers are the same. What happens when a publisher decides not to print your books anymore? Or if your work becomes so popular that you can't write fast enough for the fans, and they hire new writers to write the stories instead? What if the company that now owns copyright wants to change your story, because they don't agree with how you want it to end?
"But I'll still be credited as the author," some people have told me. Yes, you will still be "credited" but you will have no say in what happens. When a business decides what happens to your story, that is what will happen. Because they own it now.
This situation is still OK too. There are authors who write stories and just want them out there, and don't want to have to worry about what happens to it. THAT'S OK, if YOU'RE OK with it.
But if you're like me, and you wrote those stories from inspiration, from passion, and you wrote them not because someone paid you to but because you WANTED to tell these stories, then maybe you should consider keeping your basic right to determine the present and future of these stories. If they will continue to be sold. If there will be sequels or spin-offs. Who ends up with whom. Who dies.
But this is me. Maybe you're not like this. That's OK. But if you are, and you care about these things, please know that YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE to a contract that you're not comfortable with. There are publishers who negotiate. If they want your story enough, they will do that. If they don't want to negotiate, then maybe it's time to ask yourself if it's worth it, to give your "baby" to someone who won't even try to give you terms that make you feel safe.
If you've thought about this but decided to sell your copyright anyway, that's OK too. Sometimes you can decide to do that. Just know that keeping copyright is always an option, and maybe one day you'll write a story that you'll treasure enough that you'll WANT to fight for the right to keep it. And I hope you remember this post.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Q&A with #buqosteamyreads author Adelaide Penne
Taking over the blog today is Adelaide Penne, author of Finding Mr. Write. Here's a Q&A!
1) How did you come up with the story?
I did a
bit of an informal 'interview' with a friend who got back with an ex
after a year (and who are still together after four years!) and in
talking to her, I finally realized that there are some instances when
getting back together with an ex was okay.
But Finding Mr. Write is not based on their story. It's purely fictional. :)
2) Who was your inspiration/peg for Clark and Marcia?
I
actually based Clark's physique off Henry Cavill. I have always seen
Superman as manly and that chest is just amazing. As for their
personalities and his, ehem, job, that was just something I thought of
and made me laugh. Hopefully it will make you laugh, too.
As for Marcia, I have always enjoyed strong,
independent characters, but I don't have one specific person on whom I
based her on.
3) How was it like writing something this steamy?
This was my first time to write something this steamy, so there was
a lot of squirming and blushing involved. Thankfully, our
#buqosteamyreads on Twitter was very active, and the other authors were
very helpful in providing inspiration!
4) What was the hardest part in writing Finding Mr. Write?
I
met with several challenges! First, I had to figure out a good reason
any former couple could overcome to get back together again. Second, I
had to get out of my comfort zone to amp up the steam. Third, I wanted
to set my story apart and make sure Finding Mr. Write actually had a
tangible story, and that their love scene had a reason for happening.
Fourth, I had to find beta readers and revise my story. I had to be
critical during revisions to make sure I could spot the weak points that
others might not have noticed.
5) As an indie and new author, what challenges did you have or foresee, publishing-wise?
Since
'steamy' reads by Filipino authors is a new category for Filipino
readers, that's already one challenge our class had. Thankfully, Mina V.
Esguerra, along with Buqo, paved the way for several smut-minded, I
mean eager [ ;) ] aspiring/current authors to be motivated to finish and
publish a book.
Aside from that, publishing-wise, I don't have the
support of experts in the publishing industry and I don't know how
well-received my story, or this category, will be. Furthermore,
marketing is something that's out of my purview, and as a new author,
that is always a bit hard. However, this whole experience is a welcome
challenge, and so far it has been an enjoyable ride.
6) Do you have any other upcoming steamy works?
In
creating a story, I don't force the plot. Instead, I collect ideas, and
when I have something concrete, I write it down. I have a planned
sequel - I'm not yet sure how long it will be - but I haven't started it
yet. And yes, it will be about Ensyang :)
7) Would you ever date an ex?
That is debatable, and it would probably need - oh look there's a rainbow!
8) Say something about yourself.
I'm a 20-something aspiring author who loves to read, sing, and
work (gasp, yes). I love earning my own money to fund my travels,
retirement (haha), and chocolate and book addiction. On an ordinary day,
I can be found in my personal library/office, working, blogging, or
watching movies. On weekends, I am either learning something new,
eating, drinking mocha frappucino, out with friends, shopping, or
traipsing around in an entirely different city.
Like Marcia, I love technology and I have awesome
friends. Unlike Marcia, I don't turn heads, I don't have a Clark in my
life, and I can only dream to be that rich.
------------------------------
Social media links:
Twitter: @adelaidepenne
Finding Mr. Write is part of the Sizzling #buqosteamyreads bundle. Get it on buqo for iOS and Android, or at buqo.ph.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Guest post by #buqosteamyreads author Mia del Socorro: What It Was Like to Write Steamy Scenes
Taking over the blog for today: Mia del Socorro, author of Love Under Cover, a #buqosteamyreads story
Sumali ako sa steamyreads seminar quite
by accident (o destiny ba?) because I was quite eager to join other writers who
I hoped would get me back on stream after I found myself experiencing dryness
as I approached what I thought were the closing chapters of a novel I began to
write more than a year ago.
When I started writing the novel, I was
pleasantly surprised to find myself writing again after a long, long period of
absolute aridity insofar as fiction writing is concerned. And I felt so happy and fulfilled. Until I found myself stalled again. Was I going to stop short of completion? Was I going to bail out somehow? So I signed up to join the group, despite the
intimidating name it had given to itself, “steamyreads seminar.”
Why should I be afraid, I told
myself. I’m a mature, married woman,
quite advanced in years, with four grown children to boot.
The seminar was quite an eye opener for
me. Quite obviously, I was the
oldest. Many of the participants were
younger than my youngest son. And I saw
a glimpse of the world my children live in today.
To start with, I am not a romance novel
reader. In fact, the last complete novel
I read was probably “The Joy Luck Club”, several decades ago, and I don’t think
you’d classify that as a romance novel.
When I was a teenager myself, I wrote
romantic short stories, quite advanced and intensely disturbing for that time. Now, in the steamyreads seminar, I found
myself almost infantile and ignorant, out
of my depth it seemed, in terms not only of knowledgeability and inner poise
not only about sexual matters but also of an even more basic view of life and
of the world. This world. The world of the
here and now. The world of the so-called millenials.
Thankfully, I did not have a problem
thinking of a storyline for the trope I was assigned to do. In less than two weeks, I was able to come up
with my first draft, which included what I thought was a satisfying sex scene
which I gave a heat level rating of 3.
I wanted to get editorial assistance but
found myself having to deal with several pressing domestic emergencies so I
didn’t have time to explore options. So
I showed my story to a seventy-nine year old aunt, a published writer herself,
but not of fiction works. I also
enclosed Mina’s description of the heat levels we were supposed to incorporate
in our stories.
My aunt shocked me when she said I had
an interesting story line but that my heat level was definitely ZERO. I was in a quandary. Do I raise the ante, and by that I meant the
heat level of my story, or do I just bail out?
Ultimately, I decided to take on the
challenge. I am a professional, I told
myself, and I should regard this as a commissioned work. I have to meet my “client’s” expectations. I have to fulfil my TOR. BUT – I will never
do it again. Hindi na ako uulit.
With that resolve, I was able to come up
with an expanded sex scene that I think anybody would say should pass for a
heat level 3. And I do like it. I am proud of what I came up with. In fact, I’m beginning to rethink my novel
and wondering if I shouldn’t add more spice to my almost finished novel.
I’m still thinking.
Love Under Cover is part of the Passion #buqosteamyreads bundle. Get it on buqo for iOS and Android, or at buqo.ph.
#buqosteamyreads! Get them for your Apple or Android device
They're here! Steamy adult romances, in English, by Filipino authors. Each story will be available exclusively on the buqo ebook store for one year, at $0.99 or P45 each. Get the buqo app on iOS or the Google Play Store, and then buy from the app, or through the buqo.ph site.
For a limited time though, you'll be able to get all of the stories (including a bonus one from me) for just P225 (less than $5) if you get the bundles. Stock up on your steamy reads for the summer!
I just tested this out by buying all the bundles, and while the Android and buqo.ph credit card payment gateway seems to be down right now, the bank deposit options seem available. And iTunes in-app purchases definitely work.
If you've purchased and read a #buqosteamyreads story, let me know! Let's make some authors happy!
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