Keep Your Claws Sharp and Your Fangs Sharper! Life is unpredictable. You have to be ready for every bite!

My warmest blood curdling thanks for your comments and feedback. Readers and writers of every blend of the Paranormal, Futuristic, Supernatural, and Romance fiction are my kind of critters.

I appreciate your vivits to my Supernatural Erotic Romance web site www.annepatriciaroberrts.com
You have been faithful in reading my Blogs on writing and thoughtful about my free advice and the life lessons I have shared at www.vampirewriter@annepatriciaroberts.com .  

I have eaten up every one of your emails to  and even posted a few of your comments at www.vampireromance@annepatriciaroberts.com  (where you can contact me directly or through my site's subscripted email at the blog sites). As a result of your generous attention and your undying loyalty, you have made this platform a great success.

Remember: Keeping good company is the highest gauge of self-worth! We must be priceless!

This is the week Virginians look forward to each year. Nay, I’m not talking about the week of October 8, 9, & 10 when Comic Con is coming to NYC, NY. By the by, I will be a fellow spectator and hope to see you all there (and no. I'm not dressing up.) As it is, I'm close to six feet tall. I have fluffy, auburn hair and a galactic sized personality. For sure, the only additional attention I want to attract is through my fiction writing and by providing an aspiring writer’s take on writing though my blogs and the web site, thank you!

What I am talking about  is this wonderful time of year when the dog days of Indian summer tuck their tails in between their legs and head for the hills. We sweat in the sweltering blaze of summer heat for three months. We dream about these glorious days when all the screaming demon-children are summoned the back to the second circle of ... well, when they go back to school. We adore when that nights here in Virginia have cooled off to a puckering 55 F- 65 F.

We open our hearts as the ethereal autumn drifts upon us. We revere the recreation of beautiful weather, florid foliage, and the mystical morning mist that rolls in by cover of the night. The change of seasons stimulates both our fantastical imaginations and the herds of deer that dart out in front of our cars during our morning commutes to work.  

It's almost perfect.

Nothing is too good to exist without demanding its eight silver pieces in payment. As the temperate weather replaces the blazing, we find ourselves tossed into a stormy time of the year on the east coast of the U.S. This past weekend we half expected to get pummeled by the latest Hurricane.  

Writing note: natural forces and disasters make for exciting backgrounds and setting environments for stories.

As far as this storm went, we were very lucky. This potential mega disaster was diverted by a cold front from our West that billowed over the Blue Ridge Mountains. As it is usual for us, the cool air pushed the warm-air-fueled tropical system away, and north, where it became someone else's problem; this time. However, this is not a weather report.

Fascinating, I know (I can see you rolling your eyes). The point is that it is just this type of unpredictable event that requires us humans with our remote-control-touch-of-a-button-instant-gratification, two-minute-meal-in-a-flash get-somebody-else-to-do-it-for-us society to be alerted. It gives us a nice flush in the same thrilling way a fresh shock of electricity sends a sudden rush to the tips of our paws.  

Again, it is the conflict in life which forces us to keep our Claws Sharp and our Fangs Sharper. Just when you think you are a one man/woman show. That it is you against the world, and you are winning, you get a good smack to remind you about the, what if’s. "It’s clobber time," Stan Lee's Superhero so elegantly expressed, and again, you get taken to school.

We really need reality checks like hurricanes. These tension filled situations are especially perfect for every one of us less-than-dimples on the surface of this planet that start to think our pooh-pooh doesn't stink because we have established a set of comfortable routines.

It fascinates me to no end when my fellow humans are actually surprised to receive the following news; I don't mean to degrade, but the concept that there is always going to be someone out there who is smarter, faster, bigger, stronger, prettier, taller, richer, et cetera, is true. It is NOT the human condition to think we can outsmart each other, the IRS, the weather, or the world by pretending everything in our path will all miraculously go away before any harm is inflicted and that everything is perfect the way it is. This brand of thinking leads to Zombie Brain. It's delusional and lazy.

Only you can choose if Zombie Brain is what you want for yourself to ascribe to. I want more for you. Problems, conflict, hurricanes all need to be faced head on and dealt with in the best way we can. Let me ask that we all attempt to digest the concept that life is an endless struggle for betterment. I advise the sooner and the faster you get off your butt and get something accomplished, like writing conflict rather than avoiding it, the happier and more fulfilled you will feel. Trust this philosophy, please.

When you get off line, take a minute just for yourself. Realize there is always someone who is more evolved than you and who possesses some unique facet which you lack.

Do you know what happened to me when I realized this (again) for the first time? In reference to my writing, I thought, why try if I'm never going to be the best natural or instinctual writer in the world? Arrogant, I know.

I moped for one day. The next morning I rallied, went online, bought 4 (more) instructional books on how to write; a novel, a romance, fiction, and popular fiction. Keep in mind, a few years ago I had read several other books on writing. At the time, the most important moment of my writing development had continued to elude me. Until one day, it clobbered from me out of the depths of my stubborn mind, and I got it. I knew I could become a good writer during the instant I became READY TO LEARN a new job again. Why not give it everything I’ve got?

I have had to apply myself to become a professional in my previous occupations. Writing is no different. Now, for me, writing has simply been demystified. When I reread those “how to” books on writing I can process what I read. This little miracle occurred because I studied the generally accepts terms of writing craft. I’m ready and I want to succeed this time around. It feels great. Catching on to a new occupation is tantamount to a Werewolf squeezing out the doggie door and finding a big dry tree in the back yard rather than diddle his own carpet. It is a relief.

When I discovered that with creativity writing requires the studying of age old grammar standards, I found out, I was just like every other aspiring writer. Since writing could be taught, I could learn it. Check out my first blog if you want a demo of how much my writing has improved ... and remember my blogs are not professionally edited. None of my cyber stuff is. Yes, this takes guts.

The entire time I was growing up and going to school, I could have given a rat's behind about learning. My parents didn't push me to earn good grades. I think they were just glad I wasn't on heroin or pregnant. I was a slightly above average student, only got into trouble once, and all I wanted to do was play sports after school each season. Like most of us, I went on to have several careers, bought a house, found a mate, got a car, blah, blah.

Then, suddenly it wasn't enough. I started wanting to get better at my job, and did, at least to the best of my abilities. Until one day when I got sick. This is true, but I'm not going into the details here. My focus became all wrapped up in living with two, as it turns out, very serious illnesses while trying to be the best I could to keep life on an even keel.

I couldn't work for very long after diagnosed as it became impossible with the one condition. So, the winds had kicked up to Tropical Storm level. I tried to live up to my responsibilities, my career, my home, my mate and soon everything was upgraded to a Force 5 Hurricane.

What can you do when the Hurricane is coming? You do everything you know how to do instinctually: you seek out advice, scan the weather channel, call your buddy who lives in the tropics to get advice, flip on your phone, laptop, notebook, desk top and search for more information. Other people have survived natural disasters, perhaps you and your home, that you have put your last dime into, can make it through the storm, too.

What did I do in this situation? I moped for a day, as a consequence of being confirmed ill. Then, I rallied, battened down and got ready for my own personal physical and psychological storm. In the end, I was lucky. Those tempests were diverted, too. I recovered from both illnesses in full.      
    
Take writing or your desire to improve your golf game or wishing you could organize your time better or hoping to recover from terrible news or whatever it is that you want. Nurture your instincts and when that isn’t enough anymore, apply your set of KSA's (knowledge, skills and abilities) to your desired goal. See where you get with your own natural acumen and skill set.

If you still want it after that or have to do it or accomplish it, then get to work and try the path more often trodden. Study the craft or the roots, the basics of getting “it”, and getting you there. Study what others have done to accomplish the same goals. You have to keep moving forward. THAT is the human condition, not believing ridiculous notions - like I'm pretty, or wealthy, or well written enough for now.

It is easy thinking you have achieved something compared to other people who try and risk nothing. Challenge yourself. I assure you it is the most difficult thing you will ever do. Then, do it all over again when you want accomplish hurdling a new apex.

I started writing - seriously - three years ago. In the beginning, I was married to my laptop. I wrote and wrote and wrote with the fervor of a Vampire that had just dined on a Meth-addict and needed another fix. I was all speed and violence for getting this novel out of my head. I had the time because I was recuperating from illness and was using writing to help me rally as well as trying to excise my sanity of this Paranormal Erotic  Vampire Romance that had been beating itself against the inside of my skull for years. I was all desire, no finesse. Cocky!

I completed that novel, half of the sequel to it, lots of really bad poetry, and a few decent short stories. A few weird stories surfaced along with several novella's all with the natural ability that my friends and family said they enjoyed.

Writing note: Don't use your friends and family as a realistic gauge of your story’s actual marketability or your true writing ability; it's like your Mommy telling you, you are pretty.

 So, anyhow, big deal, I wrote all that material, right? What happened next? I got stuck, stifled and didn't know what to do. I moped for a day. Then, I rallied: I joined a writer's group, started my web site and it feels great trying to help other people through my own mistakes and successes. I continued to read 'how to' writing books, entered a contest, got my first rejection letter and framed it.

My web site plight garnered the notice of really cool editor. I started getting wonderful and accurate advice from her, improved more, entered a second contest, submitted something but screwed up, and got a great compliment from a professional in publishing.  I paid for professional editing -- a great way to improve, read those four books I bought recently, reread one oldie, and tomorrow I attend my first online writing workshop. The more I study writing, the more I realize I don't know splat. COOL! What can I say? Some of us dig learning by getting our butts kicked. We love every step in the climb.
 
I walked into several other careers knowing little more than, if those other Managers, Specialists, and Inspectors around me could do it, then so could I. I'm blessed and cursed, in that confidence has never been a problem. Every one of my peers at the time was better at one thing or another than I ever became. That is okay with me. I quickly learned that how good I became at my job depended solely on me and how hard I was willing to work to get there. Yeah, there have been Hurricanes, life-threatening illnesses, the periodic chipped nail along my adventures as a writer so far, but my desire to keep trying and to achieve remains the consistent.  

Easy is only a good thing when it relates to washing dishes or changing a flat tire. The gracious editor I am working with seemed surprised when I chose not to revise the novella she edited for me. I emailed her and let her know I was taking a break and was not sending it back to her for another edit, yet. I plan to. She has taken me further in my writing than anyone else has been able to. I loved her edit of my story and made all the corrections she advised. But instead of getting another edit and then trying to submit. I chose to STOP. 

If I can see where my story lacks the necessary tension and plot that it would take to entertain even me, a very discerning and experienced reader of Paranormal Romance, I can do better. I had to put on the brakes and must try to become more proficient in technique and the structural elements of writing. It's not easy, but I am forcing myself to have the confidence to learn. Later, I'll take what I have learned and use those writing basics to frame my creative abilities. I want to show my readers a clear picture of the story and its motivations. I want my readers to find escape and entertainment in my stories.

I certainly do not want to risk having my first effort turn out to be a flat story with nothing but salacious sex scenes. I have read enough of those. The editor I mentioned would never let me submit something that wasn't worthy anyway. I guess now was just a good time to swallow my pride and enthusiasm. I realized, until I learn more or at least expose myself to much more of the options that the writing craft has to offer in every area: character, plot, tone, tempo, style, etc., then I'm still shooting in the dark and using my own natural ability. It isn't good enough. 

Believe me, I'm just like you. All I want to do is write stories while sipping my sugar-free, gluten-free, lactose-free, decaf Latte and flouncing about in a diaphanous gown proclaiming to my dogs, "I am a Wri-i-i-ter!" I can't do it. It isn't fair to my dogs, for one thing. The other is I want to be entertaining not famous or infamous, thank very much. And I don’t own any garments which can be described as diaphanous.

I've had more challenging careers than this one. Every day at work during my previous professional   life there were actual legal, public health, and safety repercussions threatening if I didn't perform to the best of my professional ability. Writing is fun, but I believe it is important to approach it from a cogent and pragmatic point of view. That is how success has happened for me in the past.

It stinks to know I'm still in the training stages of becoming good enough to produce a work that will be out there for you to read. However, it is great that my priorities have shifted away from getting published right now. Just because I have an entertaining story to tell doesn't mean I'm ready. Working harder at it, seeking out, and learning everything I can has to be my muse for now. Studying until I really get this craft and then applying that knowledge by trying again to submit something that will be entertaining, original, and of which I'm proud, will pay off. If I get rejected, which will happen, I will be better able to analyze my strengths and weaknesses and adapt with the intention of improving. It is cyclical. I enjoy this process.

Here in Western Hemisphere, the Hurricane season will last until the end of November. The behemoths will come again next year, and every following year, thereafter. I may mope for a day when the next storm threatens. However, as is my way, I will rally all over again by creating new options for myself. What I refuse to do is be defeated. I hope you may find the strength to be fierce with your goals. Be strategic and work hard for what you want in life. 

Warmest Blood Curdling Thanks (WBCT), Anne Patricia Roberts