Why Writers Write Under Pen Names
Every so often, someone writing under a pen name does something horrific. They betray a reader’s trust or they try to scam the system or they do something else not-very-nice.
Following this type of revelation, there is often a call for banning pen names. The people leading this call are usually either uninformed about the writing business or they are people readers should think twice about trusting.
Why do I say this?
Because many professional writers use pen names.
Stephen King has used multiple pen names (Richard Bachman, John Swithen and Beryl Evans are known pen names of his). Jayne Ann Krentz officially uses THREE pen names at the present ( Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle). Nora Robert is also J.D. Robb, Jill March and Sarah Hardesty.
Cynthia Sax is a pen name. That is unlikely to shock anyone. I’ve been open about that, likely TOO open about it. (grins) I’m certain some of my buddies are tired of hearing that information.
It is easier to list the few professional writers who HAVEN’T used pen names rather than list the writers who do use pen names.
Why Do Writers Use Pen Names?
There are a gazillion reasons why writers use pen names.
They might want to signal that they write in a certain niche or they are writing in a different niche than the one they normally write in. Jayne Ann Krentz writes Romantic Suspense. Amanda Quick writes historicals, for example.
They might write so many books; a publisher can’t handle their output. That’s one of the (many) reasons Nora Roberts publishes her romantic suspense novels under J.D. Robb.
They might not want one of their readerships to find certain books. A great example would be a writer who writes both steamy romances and children’s books. She wouldn’t want her kiddie readers to find those very adult books.
In my case, I don’t want the friends and family of my very religious and extremely Awesome Mom-In-Law to find my steamy romances. She has been wonderful, supports me so much, and I would never want my writing to hurt her in any way. (We have to protect the ones we love, don’t we?)
I know some writers who are hiding from exes and other bad people. They feel safer writing under pen names.
Maybe the writer’s books under one pen name didn’t sell well and publishers are nervous to take a chance on her next absolutely awesome novel. A new pen name gives this wonderful book and this gifted writer a fresh start.
The writer’s real name could be long or complex or she might not like it very much. Or she might want to honor a loved one by using a part of that loved one’s name.
Maybe it is easier for her to write truthfully, with full emotion, if she feels no one knows those are her emotions on the page or if she pretends she’s a separate person.
Maybe it is easier for her to tackle criticism of her work if it is published under a pen name. The editor or reviewer isn’t criticizing HER. It is her author persona that is being criticized.
Maybe the writer uses a pen name because it is safer for her. Writers, especially female writers, receive some ‘interesting’ messages. Some of these can be quite scary. We’re talking go-to-the-police-right-away levels of terrifying. A pen name makes a writer a little bit more difficult to track down.
Some writers use pen names because…hey, they’re fun to use. We feel like superheroes with our secret identities. (grins)
There are many, many more reasons, too many to list here.
Would Eliminating Pen Names Eliminate Bad Behavior?
Short answer – No.
Bad people are bad people. They don’t play by the rules so creating a new rule around pen names is unlikely to stop them. And it WILL inconvenience a lot of good people, honest people, people who would never betray their readers’ trust.
Also, unless the writer shares the information or the pen name is clearly a pen name (a name like Man Titty, as an example – grins), we don’t know who is writing under a pen name. It would be an administrative nightmare to track this and there are other areas we should be focusing on.
Pen names are a part of the writing world. They’ve been around since the beginning of publishing and I suspect they will be utilized forever.
I am extremely grateful for this option.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Why Writers Write Under Pen Names
Writing Prompts
The next story on my schedule to write is Holding Hoarse, this year’s free short story (releasing in December). The challenge is…
I haven’t yet figured out a great premise for this story. I have premises. I always have premises. (grins) But they aren’t right for Hoarse, the C Model cyborg hero.
One of the things I do to break out of my small idea box is look around me, find an object or a news story or a line of a song or something else random, and then write as many premises or story ideas as possible involving it.
I go wild with these ideas. I flip tropes or expectations. I think of the most bizarre things. There’s no judgment. I am unlikely to share these ideas with anyone else unless I use them or I think they’re fun and might inspire other writers.
When writers freely share premises with other writers, we call them writing prompts.
***
Writing Prompt:
An asteroid speeds toward Earth.
As it draws closer to the planet, scientists realize it isn’t an asteroid.
It is an egg.
And it’s hatching.
***
This writing prompt or premise was inspired by a carton of eggs and was influenced by my love of disaster movies.
I am unlikely to ever write it. My alien romance stories aren’t set on modern Earth. So I’m sending it out into the universe, freely giving it to other writers, hoping they are inspired by it or write it as it is.
Has this premise already been written? That’s likely. There are thousands of books published every day. I’m certain someone else has thought of it.
But no one will think of it quite the same way as I do or as you do. Premises are common. Stories are unique to each writer because our voices are unique. No one has the same way of thinking, the same experiences, the same perspectives as you do.
If you are inspired by a story prompt, you are free to write it.
As for me… (big sigh) I’m still looking for a great premise for Holding Hoarse. It will come to me. I know that. But it might take a few more story idea brainstorming sessions.
(If you want to see some of the story prompts coming out of these brainstorming sessions, I usually share them on my Instagram account – https://www.instagram.com/cynthiasax/ )
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Writing Tips | 4 Comments »
Short Stories – How I Stay Focused On One Series
I started this wonderful career as a Romance Writer by writing short stories, stories that were approximately 11,000 words or 44 pages long.
There were a number of reasons why I started with shorter works.
I LOVE short stories. I think they are an underappreciated art form. My favorite Stephen King stories, for example, are his short stories. Some of my most treasured books when I was a pre-teen and teenager were compilations of short stories. I admire songwriters, folks who can tell a story in 3 or 4 minutes.
There’s something extremely satisfying about relaying a story with the minimal amount of words. It is a skill not everyone has.
My first professional (i.e. paid) writing also was as a newspaper reporter. I had a small column in a daily paper and articles in a weekly paper. My allowable word count for those articles was small. I had to make every word count and I learned how to write lean.
That habit was difficult to break. I still write lean today with my first drafts. It takes me two more drafts to fill the story out.
Another key factor was I had an extremely high-pressure full-time job (as a business babe) at the time and that required many hours of overtime. I didn’t have the mental bandwidth or the time to write 400 page novels but I DID have the time and the brain power to write a short story every month.
Short stories can be a burst of muse food. I can try different things, experiment with different styles and techniques, explore different subgenres of romance. I can work through an idea or premise fairly quickly.
Which is why I currently use short stories to keep myself focused while writing series.
One of the common things I hear from newer writers is they can’t be restrained to one niche, one style, one tone. Their muse has to be FREE.
That feeling doesn’t go away merely because a story/series does well and a writer finds a readership. My cyborg romance reading buddies look to me to write cyborg romances. I love cyborg romance and am happy to give these reading buddies what they want.
But, once in a while, I have the urge to write tentacle romance. Or an idea for an extremely bloody horror romance crowds into my brain. Or a gargoyle romance premise grabs me and won’t let me go. I MUST write it.
I have a set schedule for my cyborg romances. I can’t spend too much time on these other projects, projects only I want written. I CAN, however, spend a week on one of them and write a 60 page short story. As I’m writing this story for my eyes only, I don’t have to allocate 3 more weeks to polishing it, revising it, having it edited. I can write it and set it aside and focus on the cyborg romance.
My muse is happy. I’ve stretched myself writing-wise. I’m fulfilled as a writer, excited about this awesome career, and I can bring that joy to my longer projects.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Short Stories, Writing Tips | Comments Off on Short Stories – How I Stay Focused On One Series
The Ebbs And Flows Of Being A Writer
I’ve heard the speculations about whether or not a writer can be successful without access to Facebook, a place I find myself residing in now.
Facebook is a key part of many writers’ promotional strategies, interactions with reading and writing buddies, online business and social life. It is challenging for many writers to imagine enjoying this wonderful career without Facebook.
I’ll admit that I miss Facebook. I miss interacting with my buddies there. I miss hearing about writing news. I HAVE seen a dip in sales and in pre-orders because I haven’t yet figured out how to spread the news about releases without Facebook. I relied on that platform THAT much.
But Facebook isn’t why I write. It isn’t why I publish my stories.
Readers aren’t the reason I write either. I love my reading buddies (big hugs) but I wrote stories long before I met them.
If disaster strikes and all my reading buddies abandon me, leaving me with zero readers, I will continue to write and likely continue to publish my stories.
I know this because I HAVE gone to zero in the past.
I had found a solid readership for my contemporary romances many years ago. Then I participated in a year-long experiment, the 12 novella serial. Most of my reading buddies weren’t interested in that project.
I had about 100 readers who read that serial. Those 100 or so readers are and will always be cherished. They were the bright spots in an otherwise dark time in my writing career and I love them for that, for their support, their caring. (even bigger hugs)
The $30 or so I earned on each installment of that serial, however, didn’t come close to paying for my expenses associated with the project. And I had disappointed readers who had counted on me to write the stories THEY wanted. That was really hard to accept.
At the end of it, I had a daunting amount of rebuilding to do.
Another writer might have quit or she might have reinvented herself under a different pen name. Those are two very valid options and I would completely understand if other writers grasped them. Everyone is different and has different paths.
I continued writing, continued publishing…as I will continue to write, continue to publish now and likely forever. Something minor like being kicked off a social media platform won’t stop me.
I doubt anything could stop me at this point. (grins) And that’s a powerful thing—that certainty that the only route is forward, to continue. I don’t have any doubts about what I’m doing, what I am meant to do with the gifts I’ve been given.
Writers often have a vision of an ever-increasing readership for their stories, that our careers will become more successful (whatever our definitions of success are) with each published story. That might be true for a rare few but most of us will see ebbs and flows with our careers.
The world changes. Readers change. We, as writers, change. We can’t count on straight line growth for…well…anything. There will be dips. Heck, there will be cliffs, straight downward plunges. If you are a writer, you might want to prepare for them, might want to think about how you’ll handle them.
Know that these ‘retreats’ are natural. They happen to almost every writer. And you CAN survive them.
You can also survive without Facebook. (grins)
As an aside, I’ve been enjoying the best writing of my lifetime since I’ve been kicked off Facebook. The words are flowing. I’m in the groove. The views of my stories have been excitingly clear and detailed. I don’t know if this is because I’m not on Facebook or that is merely a coincidence.
Whatever the reason is, I’m savoring it.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on The Ebbs And Flows Of Being A Writer
Tolkien And Supporting Writers
I resisted watching the movie Tolkien until yesterday.
Why?
1. I didn’t know it was an absolutely wonderful romance and the romance (with a happy ever after) is the heart of the movie.
and
2. Many movies about writers get this wonderful career so very wrong. They give us what non-writers think writers do and that can be frustrating to watch.
I was a dumb a$$. Tolkien is a wonderful film. I smiled. I cried. I highly recommend it, especially to other writers and people who love writers.
One of the things I absolutely LOVED about the movie was it shows how one person emotionally supported her writer.
Edith, Tolkien’s love interest, gives him a safe place to talk about his stories. She supplies him with story prompts, often starting the story for him. She is super okay when he takes the story in his own direction. She pushes back when she thinks he isn’t reaching deep enough (the discussion about language being important because it has meaning). She points out when he’s being Mr. Grumpy Pants and not writing the stories inside him (Oh boy, did I feel that one! The Dear Wonderful Hubby often has to push me into the writing cave as I become very grumpy when I’m not writing.).
This relationship isn’t without errors and mistakes ARE made. But Tolkien is articulate about his feelings and he points out when he doesn’t like the way she supports him. For example, Edith tells him to tell her a story and he gets huffy, replying he can’t perform on demand. She then switches to another tactic. She starts the story for him and he takes over that story, makes it his own. THAT works for them.
The movie shows that a supporter can be an important, often essential part of a writer’s team. Would Tolkien have become a great writer without Edith? I don’t know. I DO know his stories would have been extremely different.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I have a very similar Supporter-Writer relationship. He is the person I tell ALL my story ideas too. When I have story issues, he’ll suggest different solutions and that usually allows me to find my own solution. And he’s okay with that. He knows simply by listening, he’s being a valuable part of the writing team.
But our relationship was and still is a work-in-progress. He tries different tactics to support me. I tell him what works for me and what doesn’t and he adjusts his ‘tool box’ accordingly. Well over two decades of trial and error later, he is skilled at supporting me. I don’t know what I’d do without him. The Dear Wonderful Hubby is now a key part of my writing process.
Do you need a supporter like the Dear Wonderful Hubby or Edith to become a great writer? Of course not. You can write awesome stories on your own. But if you have someone who is willing to take on that role, it might be worth the training and the mistakes to nurture them.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Movie Reviews, Writing Tips | Comments Off on Tolkien And Supporting Writers
Spreading The Love Or How To Promote Without Facebook
I’m still locked out of Facebook.
I won’t minimize it. I was devastated yesterday when this happened. Facebook is my primary contact for reading and writing buddies. It is where I chat about my books, talk craft and make connections with other writers, interact with readers on a more personal basis.
There have been plenty of debates about whether or not a writer can have a viable writing career without access to Facebook. I might be the test case for that (grins).
I DO know I’m super happy I have this blog and Twitter and Instagram and my newsletter (writing buddies, if you haven’t downloaded your newsletter subscriber list and saved it in a safe place, do that NOW).
On the marketing side, I’m happy for AMS and BookBub ads, permafree first in series and reading buddies following me at the booksellers. I’m grateful for writer services that might be able to promote my stories on Facebook without me having a profile there.
And I’m feeling more comfortable with my decision to have my stories available everywhere, not merely in KU. Because I don’t like the idea of one company controlling my fate and the fate of my reading buddies.
I found out yesterday how bad that can be.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Other Chameles view him as the enemy.
She sees the warrior hero he never believed he could be.
* * *
Tolui is a Warlord in search of a planet to rule. He has been leading his fellow clones in a stealth battle, fighting for both control of the Chamele sector and the right to exist. The brave warriors he commands warrant respect, and they deserve the best.
That best isn’t the barren, dangerous terrain on Chamele 4. When Tolui crashes on that planet’s surface, he’s determined to leave it as soon as possible. The tiny human female rescuing him might be as beautiful and as wild as the land she inhabits, but her flowing words, trusting gaze, and enthralling submission won’t stop him from rejoining the war.
After many solar cycles of living alone, Lea is overjoyed when a tall, scarred, muscular warrior falls from the sky. Her savage stranger is strong and severe, and he makes her feel safe, an emotion she hasn’t experienced in a long, long time.
He also insists they must part. Before they do, she’ll show him the splendor of her home, and she’ll enjoy his big form, collecting passionate moments she can revisit when she’s solitary once more.
Every additional moment Lea and Tolui spend together increases the chance they’ll both die. Lea is being chased by female-hating fiends. Tolui is being hunted by the best bounty hunters in the universe. War will soon arrive on their threshold, and the blood spilled might be their own.
* * *
Warlord’s Mercy is based on a much shorter story sharing the same title.
It is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a villain turned hero and a brave, chatty heroine set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Warlord’s Mercy is the fifth of six core stories in the Chamele Barbarian Warlord series.
Book 1: Warlord Sky
Book 2: Warlord’s Bounty
Book 3: Warlord Unarmed
Book 4: Warlord Reunited
Book 5: Warlord’s Mercy
Book 6: Warlord’s Return
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0886K65F9
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0886K65F9
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-mercy/id1511995733
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-mercy-cynthia-sax/1116524052
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-mercy-1
SmashWords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020349
Topics: Writing Tips | 1 Comment »
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom And Character Growth
Spoiler Alert: This post will talk about scenes from Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. If you haven’t seen these two movies, you might wish to avoid this post.
I love reading or hearing about genetic engineering. I also love dinosaurs. So I greatly enjoyed both Jurassic World movies.
I didn’t expect to see character growth yet I did…in ONE of the characters. Owen’s character arc was a mess. I didn’t find it at all logical. The relationship arc was also a mess. The break up between the two movies didn’t fit with either of their characters and it felt like lazy writing.
But Claire’s character arc? WOW. It was impressive.
At the beginning of Jurassic World, the first movie, Claire is completely corporate. She likes to be in total control, prefers things neat and tidy and organized, views the dinosaurs as assets, rather than living beings. Facts and logic are valued by her. She wears suits and high heels, has a short neat hairstyle, perfect makeup, perfect nails.
Her relationships with her subordinates are cool and emotionless. When her nephews come to visit, she puts the job first. Her main goal is to advance in her career. She is living for herself.
Then the Indominus rex, a newly genetically designed dinosaur, breaks loose. This disaster forces her to realize she never truly had control. It was an illusion. The more she tries to regain the control she thought she had, the more danger they are all placed into. She finally relents, accepting the chaos.
As Claire works with Owen to help save the people in the park, the situation gets messier and messier. Her clothing and physical state gets messier also. This outward change reflects her inward growth. She sees the dinosaurs as living beings. She puts people first. She is willing to sacrifice everything, including her life, for others.
In Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, we see how much the experience in the first movie changed her. Claire has founded a charity to help protect the dinosaurs. She owns practical shoes/boots, dresses neatly but more casually, has grown her hair long. Her relationship with her subordinates is much warmer. She brings them coffee, thinks of them. One of her first acts is to appeal to a politician’s emotions, something she would have never done before the disaster.
Claire shows yet again she’s willing to sacrifice everything for others. She is more in charge in the second movie, more confident, more protective, and more ready to take on the permanent care of other people (like Maisie).
Over these two movies, Claire’s character has progressed from someone not many people would cheer for or like to a character who is very much a heroine we can rally behind. That’s great character building.
This is SO notable that she went from not even appearing on the first movie’s poster to appearing as though she’s saving Owen in the poster for the second movie.
***
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Doc’s Orders
She wants both sides of her cyborg—the medic AND the beast.
A fully functional cyborg is balanced. His machine half and his organic half work together to produce the perfect warrior.
Doc isn’t fully functional.
The G Model operates at the two extremes. When his machine is in complete control, he’s the logic-driven medic, saving lifespans. Once his organics take charge, he becomes the savage beast…and beings die.
Both sides of Doc want to be the first to claim his female.
Allinen is one of the few beings in her small settlement who wasn’t born with a fated mate. Determined to belong somewhere, she has crafted a plan to leave the planet.
That plan doesn’t involve a huge stormy-eyed male who alternates between cool seduction and out-of-control ravishment. Doc isn’t her fated mate. Allinen knows that. But his dual nature and forbidden embraces tempt her to forget forever and indulge in more immediate delights.
Neither side of Doc views their relationship as being temporary. Her conflicted cyborg is prepared to battle her family, her planet and death itself to keep her.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Docs-Orders-Cyborg-Space-Exploration-ebook/dp/B07RML2WG1
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Docs-Orders-Cyborg-Space-Exploration-ebook/dp/B07RML2WG1
Apple/iTunes:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/docs-orders/id1463105812
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/docs-orders-cynthia-sax/1131529760
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/doc-s-orders
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/938342
Topics: Movie Reviews, Writing Tips | Comments Off on Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom And Character Growth
Fact Vs Fiction
Coffee Time Romance asked writers
“How much of your real life bleeds over into your books? And do you worry that someone will be able to tell the fact from the fiction?”
Here’s a snippet from my reply…
“…when they ARE my emotions, the causes of those emotions are often different. I’ve never been chased by hostile aliens, for example. But I HAVE been chased by hostile humans. I’ve never lost a best friend during a military battle, as another example. But I HAVE lost a best friend to her battle with cancer. I’ve never fallen in love with a cyborg. I HAVE fallen in love with a human male (the Dear Wonderful Hubby).”
Read the full post here: https://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/adjan2019-cynthia-sax
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Warlord Sky
No one grounds a barbarian warrior.
Qulpa, a Chamele warrior, lost everyone he loved in the brutal Succession Wars. Flying is the only thing that brings him joy. Serving as his team’s pilot is the sole duty he has left. Then a horrific crash leaves him injured and unable to fly.
The one being who can help him is also his gerel, the female destined to be his. She insists she doesn’t feel their connection. Qulpa is certain his beautiful mate is lying and nothing will stop him from finding out why.
Nayan knows the injured barbarian is her warrior, her one chance at a forever bond. His dominance makes her feel safe. His gentle touch inflames her passion. His kisses scorch her very soul. The tall muscular male tempts her as no one else has.
But she has a deadly secret. If it’s exposed, her injured male will lose more than his ability to fly. Both of them will die. She can’t take that risk, not for him, not for them, not for a lifespan filled with love.
* * *
Warlord Sky is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes violent universe.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L2FQV4R/
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07L2FQV4R/
Apple/iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/warlord-sky/id1445375487
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlord-sky-cynthia-sax/1129963980
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-sky
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/910481
Topics: Writing Tips | 2 Comments »
Writing Romance And #MeToo
Note: For ease of discussion, I’ll refer to romances as being between one female and one male. My points apply to almost all other relationship constructs also. (Almost because this is writing and there are no absolutes with writing.)
Some people have been questioning if women who write and/or read Romance can be supporters of the #MeToo movement. Our fictional men sometimes don’t ask permission before they touch their heroines. How can we request more from the men in our real lives? Doesn’t supporting #MeToo while reading/writing these types of stories make us hypocrites?
There are two HUGE reasons I see no conflicts between writing/reading Romance and supporting #MeToo.
1) We’re Writing/Reading FICTION.
I write about blowing up inhabited planets. That doesn’t mean I would blow up the Earth if I got the opportunity. I write about decapitating bad guys. In reality, I am undecided about whether or not I support the death penalty (a more humane death) for severe crimes.
Mystery writers and readers usually aren’t pro-murder. Horror writers and readers usually aren’t pro-spooky-clowns-in-sewers. SciFi writers and readers usually aren’t in support of robots taking over the world.
Why are Romance writers and readers held to a different standard?
We shouldn’t be, yet, for some bizarre reason, we are.
2) We Often Experience The Heroine’s Inner Thoughts And Emotions In Romance Novels
This is a HUGE difference between Romance Novels and reality.
Many Romance Novels are written partially or entirely from the female character’s point of view. We experience the female character’s inner thoughts and emotions. We know she wants and is enjoying whatever the hero is doing to her.
The men we meet face-to-face in our daily lives don’t experience our inner thoughts and our emotions. Until humans develop mind reading abilities, men have to use words and other means of communication to determine what women want. They should ask permission before touching us.
Story Reasons For Consent In Romance Novels
Romance Novels are, as I mentioned, fiction. Do what you need to do to tell the story you want to tell in the best way you can.
But there ARE story reasons for having consent in Romance novels.
Two of my faves are…
1) It Increases The Likelihood There’s A Believable Happy Ever After.
If the hero doesn’t listen to the heroine about a simple thing like whether or not she wants to be touched, he likely won’t listen to her about anything else. That’s a HUGE problem in a relationship, a core issue that would take many pages and a great deal of skill to tackle.
I prefer to write about a variety of issues (like fear of loss or trust issues or other things). Most of my heroes gain consent first.
and
2) Listening IS A Big Part Of The Fantasy For Many Readers
Often part of a romance hero’s appeal is he is focused on the heroine. He listens to her. He somehow knows what she wants, what she needs. He asks what she likes and, again, he LISTENS.
Many times, the difference between a Romance hero and a Romance villain is the villain is focused on himself and the hero is focused on others (including the heroine). If the hero doesn’t listen to others, he often resembles the villain. That’s a HUGE hurdle to overcome.
Again, I’d rather write about a variety of issues, not just that one.
Confirming Consent In Romance Novels
I try my best to ensure there’s consent in my stories. I haven’t always done this well and I’m certain I will make mistakes in the future with consent (again, my stories are fiction and reading buddies know the heroine’s inner thoughts and emotion). There are many writers in Romanceland doing a better job of this than I am.
Here are some tactics I use and I’ve seen other writers use…
1) The First Sex Scene Starts In The Heroine’s Point-Of-View
When possible, I write the first sex scene from the heroine’s point-of-view. This ensures readers know what the heroine is feeling and thinking. It reassures us she wants sex with the hero. Nothing is happening that she doesn’t desire.
2) The Heroine Touches First
In Dark Cure, my November release, my heroine zaps anyone who physically touches her or any of her medics without permission. My hero pursues my heroine but he doesn’t touch her. SHE touches HIM first. (She also gives him permission to touch her.)
Does this make him less dominant? No. He’s much larger, stronger. She knows he’s waiting because he has chosen to wait, not because he can’t overpower her. I find this control to be super sexy and a sign of respect, which is also super sexy (grins).
3) The Heroine Says Yes
In Dark Cure, the hero outright asks the heroine if he can touch her. That exchange isn’t necessary in Romance Novels (again because we experience the heroine’s inner thoughts). It can be implied with her saying, “Yes. Yes. Yes.” or “More” or “Harder”, all of the sexy words.
It can also be implied with her physical responses. She grips his shoulders, holding him to her. She wraps her legs around him. She moves toward him, not away from him.
The hero should ALWAYS stop sexual advances if the heroine says “No.” ALWAYS. The heroine might send mixed signals, pushing him away while saying “More” (again, this is FICTION and we experience her true emotions) but if she says “No”, sexy times are over.
Don’t be afraid to have the heroine say “No” and have the sexy times stop. Sex-interrupted is a powerful tool. Yes, it can frustrate readers so use it sparingly and skillfully. But it can also increase tension and advance character/plot.
Note: If your heroine has a history of abuse, she will likely say “No” at some point in the story. That’s often a necessary scene because her biggest fear is likely saying “No” and her love interest not respecting that “No”. She needs to know her hero will listen to her.
4) There Is A Pause Where She Could Say “No.”
I often have these pauses in stories when the hero is super dominant and super aggressive. The couple is well on their way to full out sexy times and he’ll pause. He might ask her what she wants. Or he’ll merely pull back and she knows he has doubts (as we are in her point-of-view).
She’ll then coax him to continue. Or maybe she’ll cuss at him to continue. (grins) Or maybe they WILL stop. It depends on my heroine’s character.
The point is she can stop the encounter at that time. She is in control of the sexy times and her body.
5) The Hero Tells The Heroine What He Plans To Do With Her
Oh my word. Is there anything sexier than a hero who tells his heroine every naughty thing he plans to do with her BEFORE he does it? (fans heated face) Of course, this gives the heroine an opportunity to say “No” or to tell him she’d prefer he do XX rather than YY. But it also builds anticipation. And it communicates he’s been thinking about her. That’s HOT.
6) She Communicates Her Secret Desires In Advance
This is a common plot device in Dubious Consent Romances. The CEO’s Assistant gets drunk and sends a sexy message to her normally uptight, rigorously proper CEO, telling him every deliciously indecent thing she wants to do to him. A Mafia hitman drives a waitress home one evening and she leaves her notebook in his car. In it, she has written about her abduction fantasies. The hunky neighbor overhears the heroine talking to her best friend about how she wants to have sex with a stranger but she doesn’t know how to arrange that.
Again, this is FICTION and we experience her inner thoughts.
Want to increase the tension a little more? Have a bit of time pass between the communication and the sexy times. The CEO acts as though he didn’t receive the message, treating our assistant heroine as brusquely as he usually does. The waitress doesn’t see the Mafia hitman for a day or two. The sexy neighbor invites the sex with a stranger fantasizing heroine on a normal date.
The point is to make consent fun and interesting, adding power to the plot and to the relationship. Our hero can still take what he wants. He merely ensures she wants it too.
Can Romance writers/readers be advocates for #MeToo? Of course, we can. I see no conflict between writing/reading Romance and supporting #MeToo.
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The Cyborg’s Secret Baby
A fierce cyborg warrior and his curvy human female share a no-longer-so-little secret.
Stealth, a K Model cyborg, knows his passion for Zebrina, the commander’s human daughter, is forbidden, yet he can’t resist the curvy female. He craves her touch, cherishes her sounds of pleasure, would do anything to keep her safe.
When he’s faced with the choice of protecting his fragile human or living to see the next sunrise, he chooses her, always her, sending Zebrina halfway across the universe to safety. He doesn’t realize their stolen moments had consequences neither of them believed possible.
After hearing her warrior died in battle, Zebrina focuses on the last gift he gave her. Doing what is right for their child is her sole priority. She will put their son’s happiness first, even if that means choosing another male over the love of her life.
The Cyborg’s Secret Baby is a STAND-ALONE story loosely connected to the Cyborg Sizzle series.
It is also a Second Chance Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, often-violent universe.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Cyborgs-Secret-Baby-Stars-ebook/dp/B07F2NK6D4
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyborgs-Secret-Baby-Stars-ebook/dp/B07F2NK6D4
Apple/iTunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-cyborgs-secret-baby/id1404800721
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cyborgs-secret-baby-cynthia-sax/1128976169
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-cyborg-s-secret-baby
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/870968
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Writing Romance And #MeToo
Talking Writing And The Cyborg’s Secret Baby With Jessica Coulter Smith
I’ve been interviewed by the fabulous Jessica Coulter Smith!
Here’s a snippet…
“What is the scariest thing you face as a writer? How do you handle it?
Cynthia Sax: The thing I fear most as a writer is disappointing readers. I fear this so much I often have trouble writing the next story.
How I work around this is ensuring I have the next story already written before the current story releases. There’s always one story between the most recent story, the one I’m currently receiving reader feedback on, and the story I’m currently writing. That distance allows the words to flow.”
Read The Full Interview Here: https://jessicacoultersmith.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/interview-with-cynthia-sax-and-a-peek-at-the-cyborgs-secret-baby-cyborgs-scifi-authorinterview-romancebooks/
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
The Cyborg’s Secret Baby
A fierce cyborg warrior and his curvy human female share a no-longer-so-little secret.
Stealth, a K Model cyborg, knows his passion for Zebrina, the commander’s human daughter, is forbidden, yet he can’t resist the curvy female. He craves her touch, cherishes her sounds of pleasure, would do anything to keep her safe.
When he’s faced with the choice of protecting his fragile human or living to see the next sunrise, he chooses her, always her, sending Zebrina halfway across the universe to safety. He doesn’t realize their stolen moments had consequences neither of them believed possible.
After hearing her warrior died in battle, Zebrina focuses on the last gift he gave her. Doing what is right for their child is her sole priority. She will put their son’s happiness first, even if that means choosing another male over the love of her life.
The Cyborg’s Secret Baby is a STAND-ALONE story loosely connected to the Cyborg Sizzle series.
It is also a Second Chance Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, often-violent universe.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Cyborgs-Secret-Baby-Stars-ebook/dp/B07F2NK6D4
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyborgs-Secret-Baby-Stars-ebook/dp/B07F2NK6D4
Apple/iTunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-cyborgs-secret-baby/id1404800721
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cyborgs-secret-baby-cynthia-sax/1128976169
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-cyborg-s-secret-baby
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/870968
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Talking Writing And The Cyborg’s Secret Baby With Jessica Coulter Smith
