tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post4298311729227482372..comments2023-09-01T01:40:57.359-07:00Comments on Author Jesse Hayworth/Jessica Andersen: What do you mean I can’t blow stuff up??Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-38672369215070535202013-04-10T07:39:35.168-07:002013-04-10T07:39:35.168-07:00Thanks for this, Rhonda! Your "it's diffi...Thanks for this, Rhonda! Your "it's difficult to do life-and-death in a bright, sunny world" really resonates with me (hey, you should totally be a writer!). I mean, we all know that life-and-death stuff absolutely does intrude on our (hopefully happy) lives, but there's that fantasy-escape element to a romance that makes the balance challenging sometimes. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-81145851425656826492013-04-09T04:47:01.529-07:002013-04-09T04:47:01.529-07:00I vote for the danger-to-critters, danger-to-busin...I vote for the danger-to-critters, danger-to-business. But it's difficult to do life-and-death in a bright, sunny world. Here's another possibility - let's say one of the original ranch horses somehow got sold back in the day and has fallen on hard times. It happens. They slip through the cracks when the economy tanks. Let's say she's a mare - got sold from the ranch to make babies somewhere else, but that buyer fell on hard times and sold her. So Black Beauty gets passed from owner to owner. But now she's home. She's in rugged shape, but she's home. And she's lost her trust. (I know. It can't get "too" sad.) H/H come together for her. Even hard-nosed hardboots get sentimental about some of their horses. Sort of Black Beauty meets The Horse Whisperer. Rhonda Lanehttp://www.thehorseyset.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-23065868463691450132013-04-08T16:26:57.840-07:002013-04-08T16:26:57.840-07:00It's a deal (on the acknowledgements) and than...It's a deal (on the acknowledgements) and thanks for the good vibes! Things are starting to unravel. Or knit together. Whatever it's doing, it's a good thing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-23968614624181804982013-04-08T16:11:00.627-07:002013-04-08T16:11:00.627-07:00You know, Jesse, you could go ahead and blow somet...You know, Jesse, you could go ahead and blow something up anyway.<br />In this case, maybe the barn catches fire and they have to save the horses together. <br /><br />If you use that, I want credit in the acknowledgements, LOL.<br />Good luck finding your way, my friend! PJ Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02761755589950460065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-90936630405225703972013-04-08T13:50:42.930-07:002013-04-08T13:50:42.930-07:00Ah! So true about danger to critters (even two-leg...Ah! So true about danger to critters (even two-legged ones, or at least the nice ones) being a good way to bring people together. I've met some pretty neat people that way. Thanks for the thought-food! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-73414186086982670902013-04-08T13:18:40.299-07:002013-04-08T13:18:40.299-07:00Well, electrical storms are known to wreak havoc w...Well, electrical storms are known to wreak havoc with cell phones...<br />and sometimes critters in danger bring out the best in otherwise bad people...<br />equipment breakdowns, fires, and all kinds of calamities that pop up...in nature and in our human world, like defective equipment, etc... <br /><br />(LT Camlann)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-88561535981123041672013-04-08T09:08:12.186-07:002013-04-08T09:08:12.186-07:00Hey! I resemble that remark.Hey! I resemble that remark.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-72181980176130142632013-04-08T09:07:50.854-07:002013-04-08T09:07:50.854-07:00*breathes deeply* I love the smell of apocalypse i...*breathes deeply* I love the smell of apocalypse in the morning ... LOL! Some great ideas here, thanks :)<br /><br />Updated list of disasters that could add urgency to a contemporary romance:<br />zombies<br />alien abduction<br />snow storm<br />earthquake<br />escaped convict <br />mine shaft collapse<br /><br />Wonder if the hero's special skillz work against zombies?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-37312359493479025282013-04-08T09:04:27.567-07:002013-04-08T09:04:27.567-07:00Hm. Liking the idea of a side bet. That's alwa...Hm. Liking the idea of a side bet. That's always a good way to get oneself in trouble! Interesting insight into your comics experience. Very cool!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-8481545012962875322013-04-08T09:02:27.537-07:002013-04-08T09:02:27.537-07:00I think I was drawn to writing dystopian for this ...I think I was drawn to writing dystopian for this very reason. Nothing like an apocalypse to force people to "work together or die alone." How about something like this:<br />1) A sick mutual friend, aquaintence, or horse forces them into a caretaking role together--I like Gail's special skills idea.<br />2) Some well-meaning matchmaker keeps throwing them together covertly<br />3) one or both are trapped in a mine collapse and must depend on each other for survival...oooh...I like that one!<br />Okay, that's all I've got. In the end; it's usually the characters who figure it out for us anyway. PJ Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02761755589950460065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-35123602250279867032013-04-08T08:58:57.858-07:002013-04-08T08:58:57.858-07:00You know Laura, you have set your story in the lan...You know Laura, you have set your story in the land of earthquakes... just saying, it's not above the realm of possibilities.Gail Chianesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12828219122487207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-88937631803941291772013-04-08T08:58:08.647-07:002013-04-08T08:58:08.647-07:00Katy, wait till you get to know some of these peop...Katy, wait till you get to know some of these people. Then you too will know that it takes nothing, nothing I tell you for their minds to veer off into the dark side. ;0)Gail Chianesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12828219122487207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-6497657327772688802013-04-08T08:46:46.182-07:002013-04-08T08:46:46.182-07:00LOLing my head off at Gail's "sheesh...cl...LOLing my head off at Gail's "sheesh...clean it up..." sidebar!<br />KatyRegnerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-12955701884887356992013-04-08T08:27:20.649-07:002013-04-08T08:27:20.649-07:00Well, heck. I guess it really doesn't get easi...Well, heck. I guess it really doesn't get easier, does it? Sigh. LOL on the escaped convicts and earthquakes. <br /><br />Okay, new list for adding urgency to contemporary romances:<br />zombies<br />alien abduction<br />snow storm<br />earthquake<br />escaped convict (which I just wrote as 'escaped conflict'--more truth than poetry there!)<br /><br />Help, help, my conflict has fallen and it can't get up! <br /><br />(Getting. Punchy. Time. To. Eat. Something...)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-52246328874417939602013-04-08T08:24:07.694-07:002013-04-08T08:24:07.694-07:00Maybe they hate the same thing/person? Of course, ...Maybe they hate the same thing/person? Of course, there's always having them bet something. (Crusie's Bet Me.) <br /><br />All I have. When I doubt, I shoot someone or blow stuff up. Oddly, writing comics is making me more subtle because it's forcing me to set the scene better. Corrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10054416605597476130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-2427842226877472982013-04-08T08:23:46.761-07:002013-04-08T08:23:46.761-07:00Thanks for this! (And now I'm totally trying t...Thanks for this! (And now I'm totally trying to figure out what *other* special skills he could have- lolol.) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-25283598622485599412013-04-08T08:11:43.918-07:002013-04-08T08:11:43.918-07:00It is really hard, isn't it? I'm always wi...It is really hard, isn't it? I'm always wishing an escaped convict or an earthquake will magically appear on the page to create that zing of urgency. I'm doing a riff on the Taming of the Shrew right now. Lord knows what I'll come up with for the next book in my series. Laura Moorehttp://www.lauramoorebooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-83452798263694124822013-04-08T07:21:58.686-07:002013-04-08T07:21:58.686-07:00Could it be the hero has special skills (related t...Could it be the hero has special skills (related to the horse...sheesh...clean it up) that Krista needs in order to train this particular horse? Or whatever it is that's going on. My understanding...small town, so maybe he's acquired some special skills while he was away that she needs and there is no one else in town with them. She'd have to give and work with him then, and of course, he'll help, cause how could he not. Gail Chianesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12828219122487207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-39590042274036244492013-04-08T07:05:00.421-07:002013-04-08T07:05:00.421-07:00Ah, yes. I heartily approve of the Suck It Up fact...Ah, yes. I heartily approve of the Suck It Up factor (which may be the common good in Shakespeare's world?). And LOL on the knowing how to get on each other's nerves. Soooo true!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-41101793098739863882013-04-08T05:59:52.631-07:002013-04-08T05:59:52.631-07:00I'm working on a story where the hero buys a c...I'm working on a story where the hero buys a company that happens to be a client of the heroine's. As much as she wants to resign the account immediately, she has employees and payroll to meet. So she has to just Suck It Up and work with him.<br /><br />I love reunion romances because there's just so much baggage to overcome! And they know exactly how to get on each other's nerves.Julia Thomashttp://www.authorjuliagabriel.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-796842341421209022013-04-08T05:43:14.354-07:002013-04-08T05:43:14.354-07:00There are far worse roads to be on!There are far worse roads to be on!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-87882520892644995142013-04-08T05:43:00.633-07:002013-04-08T05:43:00.633-07:00Ooh, nice analysis, thank you!
These two could d...Ooh, nice analysis, thank you! <br /><br />These two could definitely work together for the common good, though introducing a greater-good conflict might make things feel too busy, given the other plot threads I have planned. And I can see some 3rd party input from Krista's twin sister, Jenny ...<br /><br />*pondering*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-31282679325672271872013-04-08T05:40:33.524-07:002013-04-08T05:40:33.524-07:00ZOMBIES! Knew there had to be an easy answer. Or i...ZOMBIES! Knew there had to be an easy answer. Or if you're using zombies, I could go with an alien abduction, easy on the probing. <br /><br />Nice to know that a) I'm not alone, and b) this isn't just because I'm coming from suspense/urban fantasy. (Anyone out there who hasn't read Higgins's fabulous contemporary romances really ought to!)<br /><br />Then again, maybe that's daunting, because it means this isn't going to get easier. Ack!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794865453544968184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-36517391232507517842013-04-08T05:34:36.635-07:002013-04-08T05:34:36.635-07:00All roads lead to Shakespeare this morning, appare...All roads lead to Shakespeare this morning, apparently...KatyRegneryhttps://twitter.com/KatyRegnerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251420377749078024.post-39797781111843159232013-04-08T05:33:47.282-07:002013-04-08T05:33:47.282-07:00If you're looking for a sweeping conflict, I l...If you're looking for a sweeping conflict, I like "common good" (a we'll-bury-the-hatchet-and-work-together for the greater good conflict...this works especially well if they have dovetailed special skills)...the old "3rd party interference" trope a la "Much Ado About Nothing" can lead to consternation for your H/h, but fun for your reader who is in league with the plotter...the "3rd party bet/dare" trope a la Taming of the Shrew is fun too - the fact that the H/h is unaware that they are a "project" leads to a good dark moment...KatyRegneryhttps://twitter.com/KatyRegnerynoreply@blogger.com