First Chapter Writing Tips

Mills and Boon is hosting medical fast track in which you get rapid feedback in just two weeks! All you have to do is submit the first chapter of your medical romance story. It ends 30th June '13. Here's the link for details :

http://community.millsandboon.co.uk/content/medical-romance-fast-track-open-now

For those who are thinking of submitting, I'm sharing some writing advice here.

They say, well begun is half done. Or in other words, well prepared is target secured.
Any contest is both difficult and rewarding. Difficult as it takes nerves to enter and rewarding because one always learns from experience. Writing contests are no different except that an aspiring writer contestant is especially sensitive to rejection. It's important when you enter a contest to first keep in mind that ANY outcome is possible. Second, to repeat to yourself, 'I'll give it my best shot.' Over and over. If you do, you'll have no reproach for yourself at least, however it ends...and who knows you may be next one shortlisted!

From my experience of entering writing contests, and winning two of them, I've compiled some tips. Also I've included the input from all I learnt during the writing of the first chapter of my first book, Bollywood Fiancé fora Day.

I've listed them in order of what seems important to me:

Opening scene: The opening scene should draw the reader in. Right into the world you have created. What is your character doing as the story opens? What is she/he feeling? Is your character worried while driving? Does she accidentally miss the turn signal of car in front? What happened then? Create a situation where the readers (or your judges) can't help but read on to find out what happens next. 

Build a problem: Is your heroine (or hero) in trouble? Why? Who could help her? Why wouldn't she take help from him? Always go deep into a character's reasons. Why. That simple word leads to so many possibilities. The late Penny Jordan, romance author extraordinaire once said, the most important of the tips her editor gave her was: always ask why.

Interaction of characters: In romance you have two main characters. Have them in the scene together as soon as possible. That sounds like a tall order for a first chapter. You would say, what about explaining the setting, the situation, the background? But just think, if you don't show them together here, you may not get another chance! First chapter is all you have for putting up in this contest. So have them interacting. Show what the heroine feels for the hero and he for her. How do they happen to be there? Is it planned? Or coincidence? Does she want to avoid him? Will she succeed? Build up the curiosity factor.

Tension: Show the tension between the characters. Awareness. Attraction. Conflict. Does she drop something in her confusion when near him? Most heroes aren't bumbling but a little tug at his necktie would be endearing, don't you think? Tension between Hero/heroine is a must in a Mills and Boon! :)

Sympathy for characters: Have the reader sympathize with your character. If the hero turns heroine's troubled aunt out of her house, it's a very strong conflict between the characters but would the reader sympathize with someone like that? Would you? You'd most likely kick such an insensitive brute. Always keep your character lovable.

For more on characters, go here.

Make it read-worthy: Last but not least the grammar. Spell check. Read. Revise. Watch your tenses. Double check your verbs. Make your presentation the best it can be.
Also always follow the specifications given under the contest rules. For genre submission, it's important to follow the guidelines. For more guidelines to know how much 'medical' your story needs to be, click here.  

So do remember, begin with a strong opening scene, build a problem, have your characters interact and show tension between them. Make your characters lovable, always spell check and make your work presentable.

Hope I have been able to help. :)

Sharing your work can be scary. If you've submitted or made a decision to submit your entry, you're already to be congratulated.

If you're reading this to improve it, double congratulations, because you have decided to go after this writing thing and you're already interested in making it better. 

So are you trying your luck? 

Good luck to all the entrants and remember, if you're pursuing your dream, you're a winner!

Write with love,

Ruchi. 

The Sunshine Award

The Sunshine Award is a lovely sunny flower that bloggers give to other “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere”.

I was tagged for this lovely award by Jennifer Faye, a dear friend and a fabulous author published by HMB. Check out her post here.  

Now, for those tagged onward in this post, the rules of the ‘The Sunshine Award’ are as follows. They are really simple:

(1)     Thank the person who gave you the award in your blog post.

(2)     Do the Q&A below.

(3)     Pass on the award to 10 – 12 deserving and inspiring bloggers, inform them and link to their blogs.

Rule 1. Many thanks, Jennifer. I'm guilty of being tardy, I must say extremely tardy in putting up this post. Let me just say I have an excuse that I was working to meet the deadline on my second book for HMB and the days just flew past! I'm delighted you thought of me.

Rule 2. Q&A

Favourite Colour: 
Peach. It isn't a coincidence that when I first met my husband I was wearing a peach Punjabi suit. I always have one or two outfits in this lovely colour. And just look at this gorgeous peach rose.

Also pink and green lavender are also favourites closely following peach :)

Favourite Animal: 
I'm not a pet keeper, though I like goldfishes flitting in their bowls. For just looking, I like the majestic leos. ah, what an inspiration for a shifter :)

Favourite Number:

 4 and 6. Six because I'm somewhat of a believer in numerology and 4 is a quirk. Rose has four letters and 4 was the sumtotal of my roll number when I topped in Physiology in first year medical, which are reasons of sorts.

Favourite Non-alcoholic Drink:
I'm a tea person. Can't get any task started before stoking up on it :) 

Facebook or Twitter:
I'm maybe slightly inclined towards twitter. It's rather easier for a reserved person like me lol. That said, I do love chatting and meeting new people on both. FB messages are wonderfully convenient in keeping in touch with regard to the time difference across the world.

Your Passion: 

My family and my writing. Which is why I'm constantly at war which to devote my time to! *grin* but yes both are very fulfilling.

Giving or Getting Presents:
Who doesn't love to get presents? Do I sound greedy? Let me redeem myself by adding I don't go for expensive presents. Just thoughtful ones, even if it is my favourite sweet ras malai brought by hubby.

Giving is wonderful as well especially when I get to see the surprise on kids' faces.

Favourite Day:

Wednesday. Surprised? Well, midweek you get into the flow and I think more productive.

Favourite Flower: 

Roses. Especially peach roses. Chrysanthemums are a close second.

So this is about me and now longing to hear from the people I am passing this award to, who are:

Adite Banerjie

Aimee Duffy

Carmen Falcone

Hema Dhawan

Jennifer Drogell

Julia Broadbooks

Maria Perry Mohan

Mary Middleton

Michelle Smart

Samantha Darling

Before You Sign That Book Contract...

No legal advice here! But just to get you on the track of dealing with getting your (grubby? greedy?) hands on the contract . Every writer covets a contract. But when one gets it (take it from me) one is often floored at the hefty sheaf of print outs. So how do you seat belt yourself up and take the ride? Here are some tips from yours truly ;) Here goes :

My first tip : Before even glancing at the pages, buy - and strap on - a safety helmet. Why, you ask? But mon ami, it's paramount! The first thing every writer fixes their beady eyes on is the advance (what else?). And that maybe either too high for your expectations or too low. So either case, when you hit the roof, you'll still save your head! So it's C.S. In the rare case you expect the amount you can always go back and get a refund on the said helmet :)

My second tip : Eat almonds. You'll get a headache trying to decipher where did the beginning of sentence go, which gets lost as you plough your way through the innumerable phrases. For the unbroken, it goes something like "during the term of agreement, abcd will have the right to cdef, and ghij, according to zyxw and tuvw unless abcd have already ijkl in which case pqrs will have the mnop to cdef and abcd will then pqrs or qrst failng which pqrs can....and thus on and on. So must advise the traditional Indian remedy for this is : Grow more brain. Eat almonds. Preferably after overnight soaking.

My third should-do : Meditate. After the effects of struggling through understanding all that, in case you are extremely brave and forego hiring a lawyer,chances are you'll be snapping at everyone and everything in sight. Even the dog is going to hide under the bed at sight of you. So keep calm and count prayer beads. 

What else can you do : Keep two copies handy. Useful for those "as mentioned before in page x section y" clauses. By the time you go back and find the page you want, you lose the one you were reading originally. So another copy handy will keep you on your page and yourself oriented.

Aping a rubber bath duck won't hurt. No matter what gets you down, whether you're affronted, jumping up high, grinning with relief, aghast or head-achy, bounce back and get normal - or whatever passes as normal for you. Are writers anywhere near other people 'normal'? Umm debatable.

A word about queries being like Hydra: By the time you get clarification back on some point that puzzled you, you have another question. Then another. Like a mythical hydra one question cut off has another two sprouting in its place. Keep calm and be the hydra killer. Have a figurative Taser of brainpower to stun them.

Finally, the momentous occasion when you scribble your unsightly (at least mine are unsightly, yours maybe like Cleo's. Wait, did she have beautiful signature?) Anyway, nothing more satisfactory for an aspiring/debut author that the sight of that crawling-ant-like scrawl inked at the dotted line. Go burst into a song. Dance. Celebrate. Go mad. You earned it!

So, peeps, what are you tips/preventive measures while contract perusal to not freak out?

Do share :)

Ciao!  

The Leibster Blog Award Challenge

 I've been nominated for the Leibster Blog Award Challenge by Mary Middleton. The purpose of the challenge is to help bloggers be more popular. I have to tell you eleven little known things about  myself, answer eleven set questions and nominate eleven other bloggers to take the challenge after me.

If you are nominated below, post on your own blog linking back here, with 11 random facts about yourself, answer my 11 questions and nominate 11 new bloggers (and think of 11 questions to ask them - can be anything!)

Here are eleven supposedly interesting facts about me! Some of them are my laments about myself, so do bear with me here.

1. Being a diehard procrastinator, if something can be put off in my day, it will be. I find it terribly difficult to set a given task into motion.

2. I love to store cards. Birthday cards. Anniversary cards, Christmas and Diwali greetings. All are packed up securely. I still have most of my Congrats on Getting Married cards. And of course my kids' birthday cards.

3. Singing relaxes me. I find it soothing, especially singing sad songs. Unfortunately people around me don't find it so…lol!

4. When I'm in the thick of a story, characters start talking in my head. Sometimes the dialogue is so crystal clear and snappy I have to stop whatever I'm doing to note it down.

5. I love pics of flowers. This is a particular hobby of hubby (pun unintended) and I love it.

6. One habit I’d like to get rid of is that of stressing over nearly everything, probably one reason I'm often forgetful. However, sometimes my mind is champion at remembering important things to be done! Wish it would happen more often.

7. I often signal to mothers while travelling on the road to keep their kids' body parts inside the vehicle. You can't believe how often this happens.

8. My favourite colours are pink and green. At one time I had about six sea green outfits including nightwear. I also love peach and red.

9. Have a confession. I'm terrible at remembering faces, though am trying to improve. I’m better than I used to be…I think! :/

10. This one is out of my control. I buy books like they're going out of style. I always have unread piles and now bytes in Kindle but put me in a bookshop and I can't come out empty handed.

11. If kids are sulking I would do zombie dance or something as silly to cheer them up.

The Questions set for me by Mary Middleton

1. What sort of books do you like to read?

    I read anything and everything. But my favourite reads are contemporary romance and murder mysteries.

2. If you were stuck on a desert island who would you like as your Man Friday?

    The cola man? Or the ice-cream man would do too :)

3. When the coffee runs out, what do you like to drink?

    That's easy. Tea!

4. Are you a cat or a dog person?

    A dog person. Though I don’t keep one as I feel it constitutes a big responsibility. 

5. How different is your present partner to your first love?

    My mom told me I used to be a big fan of actor Rishi Kapoor when I was about ten. So I guess not too different if you compared them at the same age. :)

6. Do you prefer sad or happy endings?

    Happy ever after all the way for me!

7. What did you do all day before the internet was invented?

    Reading! Also watched movies. Wrote.

8. Have you ever read a book or seen a film that has heavily influenced your life?

    Penny Jordan’s books. They made me want to write.

9. What is your ideal holiday destination?

    Somewhere cool and green and peaceful. A hill station in summer like Dalhousie or Mussuorie where you can take long walks.

10. Do you like wild, over grown gardens or gardens where the flowers are planted in regimented rows?

     Wild ones. Colourful ones. Though an ordered garden sounds cool too.

11. Do you prefer blogs that offer factual articles, personal information or details of new book releases or giveaways?

     All of the above.

Here are my Eleven Qs for my nominees:

1. What's your favourite movie of all time and in that which was your absolutely favourite scene?

2. Have you ever said I love you and how did you say it?

3. For a sufficient distance would you walk or take the car?

4. Who is your favourite singer?

5. What's your favourite dish to eat or make? Share its recipe if you want to. 

6. What motivates you to write? In other words, what stimulates your muse?

7. Are you a summer person or a winter person?

8. Which sport do you like to play/watch? You can name indoor games as well.

9. While shopping do you buy the first thing you like or keep looking till you've seen everything available and then decide?

10. Thing you wouldn't step out of the house without, excepting phone, credit card and driving license.

11. What makes you cry?

For the Leibster Blog Award Challenge I nominate:

Adite Banerjie, Carmen Clavout, Rohinee Rajagopalan. Nominees, please link back to me in your post and also leave your blogpost link in the comments below.

I still require more bloggers. If you would like to join in please let me know in the comments below. 

Thanks for tuning in J

My Call Story

The Call. That great moment in an author's life. Yes, it's happened for me!
I'm a bit late but still want to share the exciting, EXcitng time when my manuscript got an offer. Tuesday, Feb.,19th.
It had been under review of my editor after I got the revisions done. I got her email that she wanted to chat on Skype. At that time, all I prayed for was 'please not more revisions!'. Some nasty inner voice needed to be quietened which kept saying she's looked it over and she doesn't like it after all. Well, time went by in haggling with inner uncertainties and there she was on my laptop screen and there was me getting the jitters. Then she told me my ms has been accepted for publication. The words coming from none other than an HMB editor, it suddenly took me to that magical moment when all I could get out was Oh my God! Not very smart for a writer but definitely expressive :) Then the next bombshell! I was told that they wanted to offer me a two book contract! Wowee! I nearly said I want to hug you for this, forget being professional. Well anyway, after finally reducing me to a blubbering idiot and asking me how did I feel (for which I don't know what incoherent reply I managed), she was nice enough to say she'd leave me to celebrate with my family. But damn, did it feel unreal. While I must have staged the moment a number of times in my mind, at that time, it didn't quite sink in. Finally I realized that the stream of words I'd poured out via qwerty keys had the makings of a book. At least they must have, for the offer to have come from a publisher like that. "Ground to Ruchita, please come back!" Had to give myself this reminder to get functional in daily routine :D

On the serious side, the time spent in swotting over the ms feels worthwhile now. I set out for this and on the scale of personal achievements this is certainly a step up - to have got where I aimed to be.

Thanks to everyone who helped me along and the blog readers who've followed my writing journey. Stay tuned for what comes next, I will be sharing my experiences.

Ciao

Here, a little belatedly, are two posts I did for Mills and Boon India blog. I'm talking about what I learnt during the writing of my first ever completed manuscript in them.


Building a Character

Inspirations



Hope they'll be helpful to you also, and work to decrease some writing hassles. Do let me know if you find anything useful. Cheerio! :-)

Claim code : YQF73D96G95M

Right or Wrong? – my entry to the GetPublished contest’’

My story Right or Wrong is the story of Raina Kapoor, a woman who finds herself displaced from her husband's exclusive attention and is unable to handle being second place in his life.

Six years ago, at her graduation day, two men proposed to her, Siddharth and Arnav. She accepted Arnav because she loved him and to all appearances he loved her. Attractive and charming as he was, she had eyes only for him. As time wore on, Arnav became the typical workaholic medico. Now absorbed in his patients, he has no time for her. He even passes onto her the presents he gets as gratitude tokens from his patients, making her feel less like a loved wife and more like forgotten washing left hanging on the clothesline. Raina, an only child of wealthy parents, was used to being doted upon. All her life she took affection and adulation as a matter of natural reaction from people. Now she begins to feel she's been cheated by the veneer Arnav wore of an attractive and debonair man. At this point Siddharth comes to stay with them and shows her what a man's attention feels like. Being a dutiful wife she doesn't encourage him. But a message on Facebook pierces her armour. 

Would she succumb? Is it a second chance at love that she threw away? Or a senseless temptation that could destroy her marriage?

I was inspired to write this story by observing real people like professional couples who find it difficult to give time to their marriage and their spouse. A fact which creates distance and detachment between them. Being a doctor myself, I know all about being busy in work. Nowadays, couples are finding it harder and harder to find time for each other in marriage. Furthermore, for doctors, it's the patients welfare and their own livelihood tied together. Even other professionals have to face demands of their job in this competitive world. However, I strongly believe, that work, any kind of work, does not provide an excuse for ignoring your family. 

Extract : The boat wobbled as it drew to the bank. Siddharth got off and extended a supportive hand. She placed her own in it and it closed over hers. His clasp felt dry, firm. Not as warm and big as Arnav's but what it lacked in sensuality it made up in strength. Closing it tight, he pulled her with a jerk that brought her right up to him till she found herself looking into his intent dark gaze.

Last but not least, there's another angle to the story. Society can impose restrictions but when it comes to following her heart, what is right for a woman? That which is right for the mind or that which maybe wrong? When heart is involved what is right, what is wrong? How hard is it to make the distinction? 

"This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs from Yashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India."



To vote for my contest entry, please go here:http://www.indiblogger.in/getpublished/idea/519