Blogging with Kristine Cayne

Online Critique at Emily Bryan's Red Pencil Thursday

2010-07-15T20:45:00Z

Although I'm a member of a critique group and I also have a critique partner, I thought it would be a good idea to get some comments from people I don't know. Through a friend, I discovered Emily Bryan's Red Pencil Thursday. Each week she critiques the first 500 words of someone's work in progress.

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It's not an easy thing to put your work and yourself out there for everyone to see, for everyone to judge. You worry what if people hate it? But the reality is that most people are not mean-spirited and make comments in good faith. I figure that if someone takes the time to read my work and comment on it, they are doing it in the spirit of giving back, of wanting to help.

I consider each comment I get and try to understand what is the real meaning behind the comment. Sometimes, it's just a misplaced word, other times it's a character trait that is not coming across right. In general, I act on a comment if a) after some reflection, I agree with it, or b) I get comments from various people about the same line or paragraph because clearly, if multiple people are getting hung up in the same place, then something is wrong.

Several months ago, I attended a workshop on critique groups and critique partners and got the best advice: wait at least 24 hours before reacting to any critique. I took this advice to heart and it has saved me considerable embarrassment

Please visit Emily's blog and take a look. I'd love to hear your comments. The more feedback I get, the better my book will be.

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Happy Writing,
Kristine

A Magical Brew: Pairing up Hero and Heroine Archetypes

2010-05-18T16:48:00Z

Every writer strives to create the perfect hero and heroine that will elevate their story from good to magical. This blog will explore how it isn't the hero and heroine seen individually that brings the magic but rather the combination of the hero and heroine. The right combinations of archetypes can not only drive your character and plot arcs but will also add the much needed three dimensionality to your hero and heroine.

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Archetypes
For anyone looking to create better more defined characters, I highly recommendThe Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Cara LaFever and Sue Viders.

According to the authors, there are eight hero and eight heroine archetypes. For a more detailed review and examples of the archetypes that will be discussed in this blog, see my previous blogs on Hero Archetypes and Heroine Archetypes.

Hero Archetypes
The following definitions are borrowed from The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tim D. Cowden, pg 2, 2000 edition).

The Chief - a dynamic leader, he has time for nothing but work
The Bad Boy - dangerous, he walks on the wild side
The Best Friend - sweet and safe, he never lets anyone down
The Lost Soul - a tormented being, he lives in solitude
The Charmer - a smooth talker, he creates fantasies
The Professor - coolly analytical, he knows every answer
The Swashbuckler - Mr. Excitement, he's an adventurer
The Warrior - a noble champion, acts with honor

Heroine Archetypes
The following definitions are borrowed from The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever, Sue Viders, pg 50, 2000 edition.

The Boss - a real go-getter, she climbs the ladder of success
The Seductress - an enchantress, she charms to get her way
The Spunky Kid - gutsy and true, she is loyal to the end
The Free Spirit - an eternal optimist, she dances to unheard tunes
The Librarian - controlled and clever, she holds back
The Waif - a distressed damsel, she bends, but does not break
The Crusader - a dedicated fighter, she meets commitments
The Nurturer - serene and capable, she nourishes the spirit

Archetype Pairs
Now that we have covered the basic eight hero and eight heroine archetypes, we can move on to the fun part - pairing up our heros and heroines! To do this, we need to consider the type of story and what sort of character personalities will be needed to drive it. Regardless of the type of story, your characters will need to have specific traits, qualities, virtues, flaws, quirks that make them unique. Their occupation will need to be aligned with this if they like their occupation or very contrary to their character if they dislike their work.

With respect to character pairs, the combination of a specific hero and a specific heroine should result in each character "learning" and "growing" from the relationship in a way that is unique to the pairing. This is the character arc. If both your hero and heroine have the essentially the same archetype, you need to ask yourself, how can they help each other grow? What does each bring to the relationship? If your characters are too much alike, it will be difficult to show and motivate the conflict between your characters (i.e. what is keeping them from their happily ever after). However, if they have very different and unique inherent flaws that need to be overcome, then you might have a good conflict and thus a good story to tell.

The Warrior and the Librarian
Let's look at an example from The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever, Sue Viders, pg 177-178, 2000 edition. The pairing up of the warrior and the librarian is very common in action movies and romantic suspense novels. Why? Because the inherent conflicts between these two archetypes and their very different reactions to external conflicts can lead to very interesting scenarios and there are, of course, ample character growth opportunities. In the analysis below, think of the movie True Lies. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the warrior, Harry Tasker and Jamie Lee Curtis plays the Librarian, Helen Tasker.

The Conflict
- the warrior is a man of action, he makes decisions quickly and acts on them immediately. The librarian, on the other hand, is very controlled and methodical. She suffers from paralysis through analysis and will analyze every situation, every problem from all angles before making a decision. Interestingly, both these archetypes share the trait of being headstrong or willful although it may be externalized in very differently. She may be very conservative and set in her ways. He maybe very stubborn or obstinate.

Initially, the warrior may perceive the librarian as being indecisive whereas she will see him as being impulsive.

The Similarities
- as already mentioned, both archetypes are headstrong or willful. They are also both loners, leading mostly solitary lives. Neither wants to be in the spotlight. They are serious, focused, and perfectionists. They demand it of themselves and of others which pushes people away but, may be one of the things that attracts each of them to the other.

The Growth
- the warrior will realize that he may be too quick to judge and make decisions in some cases. There will be a situation in which she, with her focus on the detail, will catch something that he misses. He will start to think more before he leaps and will try to gather more information before making judgements.
- the librarian will delight in being the focus this man who's personality is strong and dominant. She will experiment with taking chances and acting outside of her conservative comfort zone. The pair will be placed in situations where the warriors quick decision making and action will show her that not all details are needed or even relevant and that quick decisions can be made on partial information. He cures her of her paralysis through analysis.

As you can see, such a combination of archetypes can lead to some very interesting conflicts in the first part of your story. Each can learn from the other and grow as a character. And very importantly, especially in romantic suspense, the "flaw" of each character can be transformed into a "quality" that will solve or resolve the main external conflict in the story.

Other Archetype Pair-ups
Let's take a look at some popular movies, television shows or novels and see if we can determine the archetypes of the hero and heroine.

The Charmer and the Boss
Castle - Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is a Charmer whereas Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) is a Boss. If you recall, the Charmer is a player, he thinks life is a game. He's all about the fantasy. The Boss is a go-getter who lives for the job. They are very similar in that they are both very dynamic and both want to win. However, their methods for winning are very different.

The Lost Soul and the Waif
Twilight - Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) is a Lost Soul whereas Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is a Waif. The Lost Soul broods and is highly critical of others. The Waif is very passive and accepting of the world around her. They both are very isolated. He hides himself away and she withdraws into herself. He is forced out of hiding by her need for protection also forcing him to fight back and become stronger. On the other hand, sometimes she finds that he needs to be rescued by her. To do this, she too must become more brave and less gullible.

The Bad Boy and the Spunky Kid
Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich - Ranger is a Bad Boy and Stephanie Plum is a Spunky Kid. The Bad Boy doesn't take anything at face value and he hates rules except for his own. He's in charge and has his own code of honor. The Spunky Kid, for the most part, believes people are inherently honest. She is a team player and is willing to help wherever help is needed. Both are very loyal once a bond of trust is established. Eventually, he recognizes how special her loyalty is and begins to work with her as a team. He learns from her optimism and her ability to never let bad luck get her down.

Your Turn!
Now it's your turn. Do you have a favorite movie or book that was made magical by a fabulous pairing of hero and heroine? Post a comment and tell us all about it.

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Happy Writing,
Kristine

Feng Shui Fun

2010-01-26T19:08:00Z

Let's have a little fun today. I received a Chinese Feng Shui Horoscope in an email and thought it was cute enough to share with all of you. I promise, I'll get back to more serious writing focused blogs in a few days.

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This is a Chinese Feng Shui horoscope.

If you are honest this tells the truth.
Write your answers on paper.
To find your Feng Shui horoscope scroll down.

1. Which is your favorite color: Red, Black, Blue, Green or Yellow?
2. Your first initial?
3. Your month of birth?
4. Which color do you like more, Black or White?
5. The name of a person that is the same sex as you?
6. Your favorite number?
7. Do you like California or Florida more?
8. Do you like a Lake or the Ocean more?
9. Write down a Wish (a realistic one)

Hope you had fun!

When you are done, scroll down. Don't cheat!

Answers:

1. If you choose:
Red:     You are alert and your life is full of love.
Black:   You are conservative and aggressive.
Green: Your soul is relaxed and you are laid back.
Blue:    You are spontaneous and love affection.
Yellow: You are a very happy person and give good advice to those who are down.

2. If your initial is between:
A-K: You have a lot of love and friendships in your life.
L-R: You try to live your life to the max and your love life is soon to bloom.
S-Z: You like to help others and your future looks very bright.

3. If you were born in:
Jan-Mar: The year will go very well for you and you will discover that you fall in love with someone totally unexpected.
Apr-Jun:   You will have a strong love relationship that will last forever.
Jul-Sep:    You will have a great year and will experience a major life changing experience for the good.
Oct-Dec:   Your life will be great; you will find your soul mate.

4. If you choose:
Black: Your life is about to get better. You are more than ready for the change.
White: You have a friend who completely confides in you and would do anything for you, but you may not realize it.

5. This person should be your Best Friend.

6. This is how many close friends you will have in your life time..

7. If you choose:
California : You like adventure.
Florida : You are a laid back person.

8.. If you choose:
Lake : You are loyal to your friends and your lover.. You are very reserved.
Ocean: You are spontaneous and like to please people.

9... This wish will come true if you send this to 1 person in one hour. Send
this to ten people and it will come true before your next birthday.

So, does the result sound like you? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Happy Writing,
Kristine

Funny Commercials

2010-01-19T20:20:00Z

BANNED

Today's blog isn't about writing. It's about commercials, banned, foreign or just plain funny commercials. Whenever possible, I watch shows like Funniest Foreign Commercials because I get such a kick out of seeing what's acceptable and what's not in other countries. I'll warm everyone up for the big Super Bowl commercials of 2010 by showcasing some commercials that are just plain funny, some foreign and some banned. Let's have a look and a laugh!

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Banned Commercials
The following commercials are advertised as banned by the Youtube poster and I have no trouble believing the claim is true. However, where they were banned? That's another mystery.

Microsoft XBox - this one was probably banned for being a little too risqué

Levis - very funny, has a great punchline

Toyota Yaris - a little raunchy

Virgin Mobile - very, very strange

Axe Fragrances - apparently this was banned in 2007. Not sure why other than perhaps some might see it as not "politically correct.'

Foreign
These commercials apparently did air in other countries which often have different standards of acceptability than the US.

Axe Shower Gel - apparently this one actually aired in Australia. No way would it air in the US.

Virgin Atlantic Airlines - again, no way would this air in the US.

Motorola Pager - from Australia, very funny

Funny
GoDaddy.com - this one was rejected for the Super Bowl in 2007

Bud Lite - another Super Bowl 2007 reject.

Molson Canadian Beer - this commercial is really funny, especially if you are Canadian

What's my favorite commercial?
This Motorola Pager commercial probably never aired but was apparently created for France. Check it out, it's great.

Know of a funny commercial whether foreign, banned or just plain hilarious? Send me a comment with a link and I'll post it on a follow up blog next week.

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Happy Writing,
Kristine

Heroine Archetypes: Which One Are You?

2010-01-16T23:27:00Z

Seductress or Librarian? Nurturer or Crusader? Which classic heroine archetype best fits your personality?  Which archetype do you prefer your heroines to be? In this blog, we'll take a look at the eight classic heroine archetypes and then I'll let you know which one I am!

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Heroine Archetypes
The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Cara LaFever and Sue Viders is a fascinating book that breaks down the vast array of human personalities into sixteen classic archetypes - eight for heres and eight for heroines. (The following definitions are borrowed from The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever, Sue Viders, pg 50, 2000 edition).

The Boss - a real go-getter, she climbs the ladder of success
The Seductress - an enchantress, she charms to get her way
The Spunky Kid - gutsy and true, she is loyal to the end
The Free Spirit - an eternal optimist, she dances to unheard tunes
The Librarian - controlled and clever, she holds back
The Waif - a distressed damsel, she bends, but does not break
The Crusader - a dedicated fighter, she meets commitments
The Nurturer - serene and capable, she nourishes the spirit

For each archetype, the authors discuss various traits affecting personality such as qualities, virtues, flaws, background, styles and as well as potential occupations.

As I mentioned in my last blog on Hero Archetypes, the authors also show how each of the hero archetypes interact, affect or are affected by each of the heroine archetypes. For example, the Professor and the Seductress. They clash - each is baffled by the other. She doesn't understand why he is more focused on her mind than her physical attributes. On the other hand, they have many points in common - each likes to be in their own head and consider the impacts of their options before acting. Each changes becoming somewhat more like the other. He learns that the body can be as enjoyable as the mind and she learns that she is more than just a body.

In my next blog, I will discuss some of the more interesting match-ups and see if we can find possible examples of them in contemporary novels, movies or television shows.

What Archetype Am I?

Here goes, my personality matches the LIBRARIAN archetype. Is this surprising? Not really. I think the librarian personality archetype is probably very common among authors as writing is a very solitary, detailed oriented occupation. And hey, you know what they say about librarians when they let their hair down!

Now it's your turn to spill the beans. What archetype best matches your personality?

Heroines: Contemporary Examples
What's your favorite heroine archetype and can you think of an example in a book, movie or TV show?

While I was quite clear on my favorite hero archetype, I'm not so certain of my favorite female archetype. Do you have a favorite? If so, what is it?

Lets look at the heroines in some popular modern fiction and try to identify the archetype.

Spunky Kid
Rachel Morgan in Kim Harrison's Hallows Series
Stephanie Plum in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series
Betsy Taylor in MaryJanice Davidson's Queen Betsy Series

I think all three of these heroines represent various facets of the SPUNKY KID archetype.
- Stephanie is probably a Spunky Kid archetype. She's your average girl with average talents but she doesn't let that hold her back. She jumps head first into any situation and makes the best of it.
- Rachel is a witch but she was a normal witch until she discovered her affinity for demons.
- Betsy was your usual working girl until she was bitten by a vampire and became the Vampire Queen.

Boss
Dr. Kerry Weaver in ER
Adele DeWitt in Dollhouse
- both of these characters are confident and dynamic. Both are blunt and live for their job.

Boss or Librarian?
Dr. Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs
- Dr. Brennan is an interesting character. In many aspects, she is the boss - she is confident, the best in her field and she got there by being a perfectionist and a workaholic. In Reichs books, Brennan is shown to be introverted and although she has been married and has a child, relationships prove to be a challenge to her.
My vote is that she is a Librarian.

On television, there are many examples of crusader (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), free spirit (Dharma in Dharma and Greg), Nurturer (mom's in any of the old sitcoms - think June Cleaver). Can you think of examples of these archetypes in novels? If so, please let me know.

It's your turn now! Post a comment and let us know what archetype fits you best and why.

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Happy Writing,
Kristine

Hero Archetypes: What's Your Favorite?

2010-01-11T23:17:00Z

Every now and then we read a book, see a movie or even watch a TV show that has a main character that all women love and all men want to be. What makes these hero's so special that we remember them long after we've finished reading or watching their story?

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Hero Types
I recently discovered a fascinating book called The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Cara LaFever and Sue Viders. According to the authors, there are eight hero archetypes (the following definitions are borrowed from The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, pg 2, 2000 edition).

The Chief - a dynamic leader, he has time for nothing but work
The Bad Boy - dangerous, he walks on the wild side
The Best Friend - sweet and safe, he never lets anyone down
The Lost Soul - a tormented being, he lives in solitude
The Charmer - a smooth talker, he creates fantasies
The Professor - coolly analytical, he knows every answer
The Swashbuckler - Mr. Excitement, he's an adventurer
The Warrior - a noble champion, acts with honor

For each archetype, the authors discuss various traits affecting personality such as qualities, virtues, flaws, background, styles and even occupations. The authors also define eight archetypes for heroines (which I'll cover in my next blog) as well as how all of these different archetypes for heroes and heroines interact. For example, the Professor and the Seductress. They clash - each is baffled by the other. She doesn't understand why he is more focused on her mind than her physical attributes. On the other hand, they have many points in common - each likes to be in their own head and consider the impacts of their options before acting. Each changes becoming somewhat more like the other. He learns that the body can be as enjoyable as the mind and she learns that she is more than just a body.

The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden was recommended to me by many published and pre-published writers as a guide to creating compelling, three dimensional characters with believable character arcs and interactions with their counterparts.

Last December, Angela Guillaume of The Pop Culture Divas wrote an interesting blog on the Anti-hero, an extreme version of the bad boy or lost soul archetype.

Heroes: Contemporary Examples
What's your favorite archetype and can you think of an example in a book, movie or TV show?

My favorites are Lost Souls and Bad Boys and Warriors. (Hey, I write Romantic Suspense - what did you expect?)

Lost Soul - Gerard Butler's Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.
                Zsadist in J.R. Ward's Lover Awakened

Bad Boy - Damon in The Vampire Diaries
                Nick Ziegler in Jennifer Crusie's Crazy For You

Warrior - Senior Chief Stanley Wolchonok in Suzanne Brockmann's Over The Edge
              Jake Dolan in Cherry Adair's Kiss and Tell

So of all the above, who's my current all time favorite? The Phantom of course. (But Z is a really close second!)

It's your turn now! What's your favorite hero type?

I love to hear from you, so please continue to post your comments. If you have a Twitter account, you can follow me by clicking on the image below.

Happy Writing,
Kristine

To Tweet or To Not Tweet

2010-01-09T00:02:00Z

Like many of you, I’m only just making my first forays into the wild and wacky world of social networking. Last November, I got started on Facebook . It was a relatively painless process and so far I’m liking it. But more and more, I’m seeing posts that people are forwarding from Twitter which, of course, peaked my interest. So, I asked myself, "What exactly is all this Tweeting stuff?"

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Today, I decided to take the plunge and set up a Twitter account and later on, hook it up to my blog. The first thing I did was to search the internet on Twitter tips. I was pleasantly pleased to stumble upon several very useful Twitter related posts on TipJunkie. If you are thinking of using Twitter as a promotional tool, I recommend you checkout TipJunkie.

After reading all these tips, I typed twitter.com in my web browser and what did I get? “Twitter is over capacity. Please try again later.”

What the heck? Five or so minutes later, the site was back up but, still, should I have taken this as some kind of ominous sign? No, no. Literally millions of people happily use Twitter every day. Surely, I can too? Right? <gulp>

So, with bolstered hope, I went back to the sign up page and began the process of creating my Twitter account. I entered my name, userID, password, email address, and completed the anti-spam check. I clicked SUBMIT and then got … “Service Temporarily Unavailable”

What happened? Do the stars need to be aligned to create a Twitter account? Do I need to strip, offer up sacrificial virgins and dance in the forest?

Okay, Kristine. Get a grip. It’s not an ominous sign from the powers that be. It’s just a network glitch. Keep trying.

I refreshed my web browser and few times and miracles of miracles, Twitter was back up and I was returned to my place in the start-up wizard. At least it had managed to retain my account details.

Next step – add picture and design profile page. Sounds simple right? Well, it should be but my picture is actually a bitmap snapshot of my website and it was too large for Twitter. After some fiddling, I managed to convert it to a .png file. Unfortunately, Twitter cropped it so now all you see is Cayne and part of the face from the top of my website. Note to self: need to get new picture.

Designing the profile page was fun. I used an application called COLOURlovers to do it. They offer a wide range of templates and colors that you can customize.

I added a small blurb about myself and then I was ready to add start following people. And here is where I encountered another problem. Although many people use their real names on Facebook, on Twitter, people tend to create a UserID and use that making it really hard to locate people you know. Another thing is that while you may be following someone, they are not following you like in Facebook. This is both good and bad. Good because it prevents SPAM connections but bad because you have to do twice the work. There’s even a tool available for cleaning up your followers list to remove people from your list that you follow but who don’t follow you!

It took me less than two months to make over 230 “friends” on Facebook. It will be really exciting to see how long it takes to get 230 followers on Twitter.

My Twitter profile is now up and running and I am currently following 55 people and have 2 followers (one whom I don’t know). I’ll keep you posted of my progress. <hehe>

I've heard lots of good things about Twitter and many writer friends of mine are using it daily. I'm sure that once I get used to it, I'll love it like everyone else!

In the meantime, do you have a twitter account? Do you like Twitter? How does it compare to Facebook? Do you use them differently?

I love to hear from you, so please continue to post your comments and let me know your Twitter experiences.

If you have a Twitter account, please follow me.

Happy Writing,
Kristine

The Revision Process: How to turn your disjointed rough draft into a work of fine prose

2010-01-06T17:51:00Z

Now that the first draft is finished, what's next? According to the standard writing process, the next step is revision. But what exactly is that and more importantly, where do I start? I've been mulling over these questions for the last couple of weeks and recently, I stumbled on some answers that I'll share with you here.

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In my quest for knowledge on how to revise my draft Obsession, to make it the best it can be, I came across a craft book called Revising Fiction:Making Sense of the Madness by Kirt Hickman.

Kirt is also the author of a science fiction novel called Worlds Asunder and the information in Revising Fiction is based on the lessons he learned while turning his draft into a published novel.

I've skimmed through and even read many craft books but each and every time, I am overwhelmed by all the information the authors are trying to impart. And, all too often, the best nuggets are buried in pages of the author's own philosophies regarding what is good writing.

Revising Fiction is different. The information presented is clear and concise. Each point is illustrated with an example. And perhaps, even more importantly for the new author, the steps are presented in order. Kirt has also posted practical and effective articles on additional topics on his website.

How do I know the information is sound? Besides the fact that the many before and after examples Kirk presents prove that his techniques work, I decided to test out some of his advice on the first scene in my own manuscript, Obsession.

The first thing I did was pull up a few of the articles on his website. The ones I found particularly applicable to my writing were:

Filter Words and the Damage They Do
"To be" or not "to be"
13 Ways to Show Character Emotions (Parts 1, II and III)

In Filter Words and the Damage They Do, Kirt explains how filter words act as a screen between the reader and the POV character, distancing the reader from the action in the story. The before and after examples help the writer understand how to recognize filter words in their own work and how to rewrite passages to eliminate these words making their writing more gripping, pulling the reader into the story.

In "To be" or not "to be", Kirt points out common uses of the verb "to be" and through before and after examples, shows how passages can be rewritten to eliminate passive voice, past progressive tense and statements of being. His examples show very clearly how such constructs can hurt your writing since they convey neither emotion nor action to the reader. The images they produce are static and purely descriptive where we want compelling emotional writing that the reader will not be able to put down. I have to admit that I was very surprised to see how often I used variations of "to be", passive voice and past progressive tense in my writing.

In 13 Ways to Show Character Emotions, Kirt provides 13 very clear ways to show the reader the character's emotions without telling them. How often have you read stories in which the author tells you how a character feels instead of showing you through their actions or thoughts? Readers are smart and will draw their own conclusions. Just in the first scene of Obsession, I was able to replace the telling of emotion and show it with at least three of the methods Kirt offers in this article.

Am I done revising this scene now that I've used the techniques described in Kirt's three articles to improve my writing? No. But I've taken a significant step forward and the scene is much tighter and stronger now.

What about overall issues regarding plot, character development, etc.? In Revising Fiction, Kirt covers all of these topics and more. His advice targets your writing at the scene level, the character level and the plot level. Regardless of the level or topic, he always provides clear explanations and examples that make it easy to understand both the problem and the solution(s).

As I continue to read through Revising Fiction (I'm on chapter 6 now), I'll apply Kirt's techniques to my writing, characters and plot. It will take some time but, in the end, I know that my writing will be stronger, my characters and their motivations more compelling, and my plot will be more exciting and suspenseful.

Oh God! It's time to sharpen my pencil and get to work. I have about 60-70 scenes to revise in the next 8 weeks!

How much do you revise your work? Are your drafts almost final versions or do you throw away and rewrite most of your manuscripts? Do you follow some method or use a particular craft book to help you?

I love to hear from you so please send me your comments on this blog or anything you'd like to talk about in a future blog.

Happy writing,
Kristine

2010: Goals and Resolutions

2010-01-02T01:00:00Z

January, particularly January 1st, is traditionally a time of new beginnings. A time for making resolutions and establishing goals. Up to now, while I have made New Year's Resolutions, I have not been particularly good a keeping them. I seem to be somewhat better at setting goals and creating action plans to reach them.

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Why would it be easier to reach a goal than to sustain a resolution? Let's first consider what exactly a resolution is, particularly a New Year's Resolution. One definition of resolution is: a firm resolve or determination to do something. We often hear people say things like - This year I will quit smoking or This year I will lose weight, or again, This year I will do more exercise. While these are all good ideas, they are really little more than concepts. If the speaker does not add more clarity and definition to their resolution, it will never be achieved.

So, what should we do? A goal should be as SMART as possible. What does this mean? Let's break it down.

S: A goal should be specific. If your goal is to do more exercise, how much exercise to you want to do? How many times a week? For how long? What kinds of exercise?

M: A goal should be measurable. A goal should be concrete enough that you know whether or not you have met your goal. If you goal is to increase your self promotion, then to make this goal measurable, you might say something like I will create a presence on Facebook, I will start a website, I will create a blog, etc.

A: A goal should be achievable. If you have a full-time job and a houseful of small children, writing five full length novels in 2010 is probably not an achievable goal. It may be more realistic to commit to writing one novel and then have a stretch goal of writing two novels.

R: A goal should be realistic. It is important when setting a goal to consider your own circumstances and abilities so that you are not setting yourself up for failure. For most of us first time writers, it is not a realistic goal to say, I will hit the NYT Bestseller's list lin 2010.

T: A goal should have a time frame. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, you need to say if your goal is to lose 20 pounds in 3 months (unrealistic) or 20 pounds by September 1, 2010. The second is realistically time bound.

For more complex goals, it is also a good idea to have an action plan that will help you reach your goal.

With all of this in mind, I have reviewed some of my previously expressed goals and revised them to meet the SMART criteria.

2010 New Year's Resolutions (non-writing)

This year, I have a few of my traditional non-writing related New Year's resolutions. Now,that I've attempted to make them more SMART, I hope I'll be able to realize them.

I will lose 10 pounds by September 30, 2010. (Action plan: take a walk at least 2-3 times a week)
I will floss at least 4-5 times a week.
I will play at least one board/card/dice game with my family each week.

2010 New Year's Writing Goals

I'm hoping that 2010 will be as good a year for me writing-wise as the end of 2009 has been. And, I've set my 2010 goals with that in mind.

Finish final draft of Obsession by 3/01/2010 (Action plan: edit/revise 2.5 chapters/week)
Send Obsession to Beta Reviewers by 3/07/2010
Finish updates to Obsession based on Beta Reviewer comments by 4/11/2010
Send Obsession to Agents by 4/30/2010 (Action plan: Starting 3/07/2010, begin working on Query Letters and Synopsis. Research agents and determine appropriate guidelines for each.)
Start working on draft of 2nd Novel by 5/1/2010 (Action plan: Starting 3/07/2010, begin research for 2nd Novel)
Finish first draft of 2nd Novel by 7/30/2010
Finish final draft of 2nd Novel by 9/30/2010 (Action plan: edit/revise 2.5 chapters/week)
Send 2nd Novel to Beta Reviewers by 10/7/2010
Participate in NaNoWriMo 2010 to start draft of 3rd Novel (50K words) on 11/01/2010. (Action plan: Starting 9/30/2010, begin research for 3rd novel.)
Finish updates to 2nd Novel based on Beta Reviewer comments by 12/30/2010
Send 2nd Novel out to Agents by 1/7/2011 ((Action plan: Starting 10/07/2010, begin working on Query Letters and Synopsis. Research agents and determine appropriate guidelines for each.)

Phew! I'm already tired, LOL! Just kidding. There is a saying, "Plan your work and work you plan." That is exactly what I intend to do. Without a plan, without goals, I won't get anywhere. While these goals are a bit of a stretch, I believe that we all need to be challenged a little in our lives. The challenge forces us to reach beyond and accomplish things we never thought we could.

My husband is very supportive of my writing goals and without him, clearly, these goals would already not be achievable. He ensures that I have writing time every day and often comes home from work to find me deep in a scene. With a "you keep working" in my direction and only minimal muttering as he makes his way to the kitchen, he graciously prepares supper. What more could a girl want

BTW, as promised, here's the photo of the reward I gave myself for meeting my goal to complete the draft of Obsession by 12/31/2009.

Please continue to send me your comments. I love hearing from all of you!

Happy New Year Everyone and Happy Writing,
Kristine

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2009: A Year of Writing in Review

2009-12-31T23:51:00Z

Hello Everyone,

It's almost time to ring in the New Year! And, what better time to take a look back at the year that is closing and take stock of our accomplishments, areas where we've improved and areas where we didn't quite succeed in doing what we'd planned. Tomorrow, I'll have a post on my 2010 Goals - both writing and otherwise, but for now, let's take a look at my 2009 goals and see how I did overall.

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In January 2009, I started the year off very optimistically. I had just been elected treasurer of the Eastside RWA Chapter and I was going to get involved and kick off my writing career. In October 2008 while attending the ECWC in Bellevue, WA, I signed up for the Cherry Adair Finish The Damn Book Challenge. I planned to rise to the challenge and write a book before October 2009. At the same conference, I was fortunate enough to win a 3 Chapter Critique from Marianne Stillings. So, needless to say, I was all set for 2009 to be the year.

In May 2009, I found myself a part of the CherryPlotters. A group of wonderful women inspired by Cherry Adair, who got together to plot our books together. By the end of May, I had learned how to use a plotting board and a multitude of colored post-it notes. I had all the major plot points of my book plotted out. All, I needed to do was write the Damn Book and then have Marianne critique the first three chapters to see how I was doing.

Unfortunately, due to a thorough lack of determination and self-discipline as well as a (un)healthy dose of Fear of Failure, October 2009 rolled around and I had not written my book. ECWC 2009 was a truly wonderful and inspirational conference. Seeing all the people who were being recognized for completing their first books, making their first sales, meeting the Cherry Adair Challenge and knowing that I was not one of them was a very upsetting experience. But as they say, it's okay to fail as long as you learn from it. Then and there, I made the commitment to myself that one more year would not pass me by. I would meet my goals and I would have a book completed by October 2010.

After that, things started to fall in place. I signed up for the Cherry Adair Finish The Damn Book Challenge again. The CherryPlotters group solidified its charter and we now meet every 1-2 months. And other important thing happened, Marianne Stillings and her Critique Group had an opening and they invited me to join them. Meeting with these women every two weeks, reading and discussing our works in progress has been very motivational for me.

In November, thanks to the urgings of some Eastside RWA friends, I signed up for the NaNoWriMo Challenge to write 50K words in 30 days. When I began the challenge, I never dreamed of actually writing 50K words in 30 days. It was more than I had ever written before. But with the support and encouragement of the Nano Insanity Support Group, I did it.

In December, I decided to finish the draft I'd started in November. And again, with the support and encouragement of my critique group as well as the Nano Insanity Support Group, I met my December goal.

Below is the full list of my 2009 goals and status. The overall goal was to write a book by October 2010. But once I got started, I fine tuned the goal to be write a draft of a book by December 31, 2009.

1. May: Learn how to plot a romance novel.
Status: I plotted Obsession with ladies from the CherryPlotters.

2. October: Attended the 2009 ECWC (Emerald City Writer's Conference) and signed up for the Cherry Adair Finish the Damn Book Challenge. Need to write and polish a book by 10/1/2010.
Status: The book I chose to write for the Cherry Adair Challenge is Obsession . I committed to finishing this book by 10/1/2010 with around 100K words. I'm well on my way to meeting this goal. In fact, I plan to have the book agent ready by April 2010.

3. October: Find a critique group.
Status: in October, I joined TBCG (The Best Critique Group)

4. November: Participated in the NaNoWriMo Challenge to 50K words in 30 days.
Status: As published on my blog, this goal was met on 11/25/2009.

5. November: I had a vague goal of starting some self promotion.
Status: On November 12, 2009, I launched my website (http://kristinecayne.com/) and my blog (http://blog.kristinecayne.com).

6. December: Created a personal goal of writing 35K words by 12/31/2009.
Status: As published on my blog, this goal was met on 12/29/2009.

7. December: Occasionally, people have asked me for my business card.
Status: I created my very first Kristine Cayne business cards in December. They turned out pretty nice. When I get a chance, I'll scan one and post it.

8. Overall 2009: I created a personal goal to finish the draft of Obsession with around 110K words.
Status: As published on my blog, this goal was met on 12/29/2009 with a total of 110,287 words.

By the way, to get (almost) daily updates, check out my website www.kristinecayne.com. On the home page, there is a Facebook badge containing my status updates. I try to my progress daily so it's easier for all of you to follow along in this wonderful journey of mine.

For those of you who missed the First Annual Kristine Cayne Cookie [Recipe] Exchange, here are the links to the recipes from previous blog posts.

Previous Recipes
Sugar Cookies
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Caden's Candy Cookies
Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints
Double Layer Jelly Cookies
Cranberry and Chocolate Cookies

Celebrate!!!

Now that all the hard work is over (for this year!), have a very Happy New Year's Eve. Celebrate your successes and accomplishments for 2009 no matter how small. (If you don't, who will?!)

Tomorrow we'll be talking about New Year's Resolutions for 2010.

Happy Writing,
Kristine

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Kristine Cayne's Cookie [Recipe] Exhange: Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies

2009-12-27T19:34:00Z

Hello Dear Readers. This is the sixth and final recipe in the Kristine Cayne Cookie Recipe Exchange. Today's recipe is one of my mother's recipes for a festive Chocolate and Cranberry cookie. Fresh cranberries are in season right now and this recipe is a perfect way to use up any remaining ones you may have.

(To make sure you don’t miss any entries or recipes, you might consider subscribing by RSS feed or email. The links are right here on the side ===> )

Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies

1/2 cup margarine (or butter)
1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup oats
1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries (fresh is preferred but dried can also be used)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (mini chips are preferred)

In a bowl, combine margarine (or butter) until soft. Add flour, sugar, eggs, vanilla and baking powder.
Mix well. Then add in oats, cranberries, nuts and chocolate chips.
Spoon onto a cookie sheet (greased or non-stick).
Cook in middle of oven at 375F for 15-20 minutes.
Makes about 42 cookies.

Previous Recipes
Sugar Cookies
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Caden's Candy Cookies
Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints
Double Layer Jelly Cookies

Holiday Decorations

The family and I did finally manage to put up (most) of our Christmas Tree in time for Santa's visit to our house on Christmas Eve. The ornaments are a mishmash of store bought, handmade and gifts received, resulting in a tree of memories rather than a decorating masterpiece, but we like it this way

Here are some more photos of Christmas Trees. These ones are from the Eastside RWA Holiday Party hosted by Dana Schmeller, the Eastside RWA president. Thank you Dana for a great party (and for the photos)!

Dana has some very interesting ornaments. Look closely at the next two photos

Goal Status for 2009

The last quarter of 2009 has been really good for me.

October: Attended the 2009 ECWC (Emerald City Writer's Conference) and signed up for the Cherry Adair Finish the Damn Book Challenge. Need to write and polish a book by 10/1/2010.
November: Participated in the NaNoWriMo Challenge to 50K words in 30 days.
December: Created a personal goal of writing 35K words by 12/31/2009.
Overall 2009: Created a personal goal to finish the draft of Obsession with around 110K words.

October - The book I chose to write for the Cherry Adair Challenge is Obsession . I committed to finishing this book by 10/1/2010 with around 100K words. I'm well on my way to meeting this goal. In fact, I plan to have the book agent ready by April 2010.

November - As published on my blog, this goal was met on 11/25/2009.

December - I'm currently at 29474/35000 which means I have 5526 words left to write in the next 4 days. I'm pretty sure I can do it.

Overall 2009 - The draft of Obsession is pretty much already finished. I will strive to complete the remaining 5526 words because I'm that type of person. Once I set a goal, I make it happen The only remaining parts of the story are some scenes in the villain's point of view which I needed to write after the main story was written. I call this threading. You write one thread of the story and then weave in a second (or third) thread.

I'm trying my darnedest to finish the 5526 so I can break out my Goal Reward bottle of Cook's Champagne. Don't worry, it's only a small bottle - about 2 glasses!

By the way, to get (almost) daily updates, check out my website www.kristinecayne.com. On the home page, there is a Facebook badge containing my status updates. I try to post word count daily so it's easier for all of you to follow along in this wonderful journey of mine.

Goals for 2010

I'm hoping that 2010 will be as good a year for me as the end of 2009 has been. And, I'm writing my 2010 goals with that in mind.

Finish final draft of Obsession by 3/01/2010
Send Obsession to Beta Reviewers by 3/07/2010
Finish updates to Obsession based on Beta Reviewer comments by 4/11/2010
Send Obsession to Agents by 4/30/2010
Start working on draft of 2nd Novel by 5/1/2010
Finish first draft of 2nd Novel by 7/30/2010
Finish final draft of 2nd Novel by 9/30/2010
Send 2nd Novel to Beta Reviewers by 10/7/2010
Participate in NaNoWriMo 2010 to start draft of 3rd Novel (50K words)
Finish updated to 2nd Novel based on Beta Reviewer comments by 12/30/2010
Send 2nd Novel out to Agents by 1/7/2011.

So there you have it everyone. If everything goes according to my plans, by the end of 2010 I will have finished 2 novels had have started a third. Yes, it's ambitious but I've always felt that in order to make anything happen, you have to reach high. With everyone's support, I can do this! Now I just need to come up with some appropriate rewards. Champagne is great but I don't want to become a lush. That might be counterproductive

I'd love to attach a reward to 2010 each goal in my list. Do you have any suggestions? What are your 2010 goals and how to do plan to reward yourself?

Thank you all so much for your support! And please, keep sending me your comments. I love to hear from you.

Happy Writing,
Kristine

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Kristine Cayne's Cookie [Recipe] Exhange: Double Layer Jelly Cookies

2009-12-15T18:06:00Z

It's time for the fifth recipe in the Kristine Cayne Cookie Recipe Exhange. Today's recipe is a classic jelly cookie that I'm sure will be a treat for everyone who comes to your house this holiday season and is treat worthy

(To make sure you don’t miss any entries or recipes, you might consider subscribing by RSS feed or email. The links are right here on the side ===> )

Double Layer Jelly Cookies
3 1/2 cups of flour, sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup of vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
2 tablespoons cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing sugar

Mix shortening and sugar until creamy.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add flour mixture to shortening mixture.
Beat until fluffy.
Add eggs, cream, and vanilla. Mix well. Then add remaining dry ingredients. Mix well.

Form dough into a ball, wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for about 3 hours.

Sprinkle counter or cutting board with icing sugar. Cut dough into two and roll out each half until 1/4" thick.
Using cookie cutter (or top of a glass), cut out one half of dough and place on cookie sheet (use non-stick or use parchment paper).
Cook 8 minutes at 375F until lightly browned. Do the same with other half of dough.

Let cool a little before assembling into two layers with some of your favorite jelly in between. Wait 1/2 hour before serving.

Previous Recipes
Sugar Cookies
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Caden's Candy Cookies
Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints

Holiday Decorations

So, have you put up your Christmas Tree or outdoor decorations yet? I have not. Well, the tree is standing in the corner of the living room but it's naked! As soon as we get it done (hopefully before December 24!) I'll post pictures.

In the meantime, here a Christmas Slideshow you might enjoy. It's one of those wonderful arrangements that gets sound out on mailing lists each year - author is unknown.

Writing Progress

Some readers have been asking about my progress. Things are going really well. I'm more than 50% done on my December goal of 35K words. But more importantly, the draft of my Obsession manuscript is now at 93500 words (309 pages using Times New Roman 12pt font). This is a first draft so there will definitely be a lot of editing and revising to be done before I can start sending it out to my beta readers but I'm still planning to do that by early March.

By the way, to get (almost) daily updates, check out my website www.kristinecayne.com. On the home page, there is a Facebook badge containing my status updates. I try to post word count daily so it's easier for all of you to follow along in this wonderful journey of mine.

Writing Inspiration

What inspires you? Last year I attended a workshop where the speaker talked about how she would buy herself a bottle of champagne and write her goal on it. The bottle would only be opened when the goal was reached. That day, I was lucky enough to win one of the bottles of champagne that she was giving out - a small bottle of Cook's. Immediately upon arriving home, I wrote my goal on it - Finish the draft of my novel. That bottle has been sitting on the shelf of my dining room buffet where I see each each time I sit to have a meal. I'm not much of a drinker but I love champagne. And you know what? I'm expecting to be able to enjoy that bottle on December 31, 2009!!!

And my next inspiration - a large bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne. My husband purchased this for me last weekend. The goal - finish my Obsession manuscript. What does finish mean? It means that I've finished editing, revising and have sent it out to Beta readers. It needs to be at the point where I feel it is ready to be sent out to potential agents. I'm hoping to be able to enjoy this bottle of fine champagne in the wonderful flutes that came with it by spring. I'm setting April 30, 2010 as my goal.

Thank you all so much for your support! And please, keep sending me your comments, recipes and photos. I love to hear from you.

Happy Writing,
Kristine

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Kristine Cayne's Cookie [Recipe] Exchange: Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints

2009-12-10T18:20:00Z

Today I have the fourth cookie recipe for the Kristine Cayne Cookie (Recipe) Exhange. If you love sweet chocolate, then this is the one for you.

(To make sure you don’t miss any entries or recipes, you might consider subscribing by RSS feed or email. The links are right here on the side ===> )

This is another simple recipe that the whole family can make and enjoy together and it makes 28 cookies to share

Okay here's the recipe brought to you by Cooking Light (December 2009 Issue, page 258)

Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints
4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon instant espresso (optional)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup finely chopped hazelnuts, toasted
1/3 cup hazelnut-chocolate spread (such as Nutella)

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, and salt; stir with a whisk. Place butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Stir egg yolks with a whisk, adding espresso, if desired. Add yolk mixture and vanilla to butter; beat well. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat at low speed just until combined.
3. Turn dough out onto a sheet of wax paper. knead 6 times or until smooth and shiny. Shape dough into 28 (1-inch) balls. Roll sides of balls in nuts, pressing gently. Arrange balls 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Press thumb into center of each cookie, leaving an indentation. Bake, 1 batch at a time, at 350F for 10 minutes. Remove cookies from pans; cool completely on wire racks. Spoon a scant 1/2 teaspoons hazelnut-chocolate spread into center of each cookie.

Yield: 28 cookies

In case you missed them, here are links to the previous recipes posted as part of the cookie recipe exhange.

Previous Recipes
Sugar Cookies
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Caden's Candy Cookies

Holiday Decorations

I received some pictures of holiday decorations! If you are like me and haven't started decorating yet, maybe these pics will provide some inspiration.

Eileen Cook's Christmas Tree

Thank you Eileen (Visit fellow author Eileen's website: http://www.eileencook.com/).
I'm glad to see your getting settled into your new home.

Outdoor Decorations

This photo of neighborhood outdoor decorations was sent in by fellow author Kelli Estes (Visit Kelli's blog: http://www.kelliestes.com/blog)

What about those big city outdoor decorations? Take a look at what the City of Concord California has decided to do. Seems some people are a little put out by their government's choice.
See the video: Good Grief! California Charlie Brown Tree

So, have all these recipes and photos put you in the holiday mood? I hope so Please continue to share your favorite cookie recipes and holiday decoration photos by sending them to me at kristine@kristinecayne.com.

If you make any of the recipes, why not take a picture and let us know how they turned out? I'd love to hear your stories.

Happy writing,
Kristine

Kristine Cayne's Cookie [Recipe] Exchange: Caden's Candy Cookies

2009-12-07T21:17:00Z

Today I have the third cookie recipe for the Kristine Cayne Cookie (Recipe) Exhange. If you love sweet cookies made with candy bars, then this is the one for you.

(To make sure you don’t miss any entries or recipes, you might consider subscribing by RSS feed or email. The links are right here on the side ===> )

This is another simple recipe that the whole family can make and enjoy together and it makes 3 1/2 dozen so you'll have enough to share

Okay here's the recipe brought to you by fellow author Shayla Black (http://www.shaylablack.com/blog/). Thank you Shayla!

CADEN’S CANDY COOKIES
1/3 c. melted butter
1/4 c. sour cream
1 lg. egg
1 Devil’s Food cake mix
1 c. chopped Heath candy bars and/or Hershey’s bars (optional: Crunch, Choc. w/nuts, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350; set aside 2 ungreased baking sheets.

In a large bowl mix butter, sour cream and egg. Add cake mix and beat on low for 1 min., then on medium for 2 mins. Stir in candy.

Shape tablespoonsful into a ball and place on sheet.

Bake 12-14 minutes. Let cool on sheets 2 minutes then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.

Yield: 3 1/2 doz.

Cookies may be frozen

Previous Recipes
Sugar Cookies
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!
Did you know that the US has a National Christmas Tree? Read all about it here: http://dc.about.com/od/hoildaysseasonalevents/a/ChristmasTree.htm

Do you have neighbors that over do their outdoor decorations, just a little? If so, take a look at these and if your neighbors are even more outrageous, sneak a pic and send it to us. We can all use a laugh.

Writing Progress
This weekend was not nearly as productive as I had hoped but I'm anticipating a productive week. I'm committed to my goal and with the encouragement of my family and friends, I will succeed, yah!

Please keep sending me your recipes and holiday decoration pictures. A bit of fun relaxes the mind and helps get the creative juices flowing. Of course, tasty treats don't hurt either!

Happy writing,
Kristine

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Kristine Cayne's Cookie [Recipe] Exchange: Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

2009-12-05T01:25:00Z

Today is the second day of the Kristine Cayne Cookie (Recipe) Exhange and I have a great recipe to share with all of you. It's especially interesting because it has no flour so those of you who have an allergy to flour will be able to enjoy this one along with everyone else.

(To make sure you don’t miss any entries or recipes, you might consider subscribing by RSS feed or email. The links are right here on the side ===> )

This recipe looks so tasty and simple that your young children could make them with you. As my family can attest, I cook like a young child so this recipe is perfect for me!

Okay here's the recipe brought to you by fellow author Danielle Peck (http://www.daniellemariepeck.com/). Thank you Danielle!

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

Mix together egg, sugar and peanut butter. Roll into balls whatever size you want.

Place on an ungreased, parchment lined cookie sheet. Flatten with a fork.

Bake for 15 minutes at 350°F.

Cookies are done when they are light brown and a little shiny in the middle.

Let cool.

If you missed the recipe for Sugar Cookies, don't worry, just click on here to get it.

Don't forget to send me your recipes and pictures of your decorated house (exterior) and Christmas trees. Since I don't have any actual pictures of Christmas trees today, please enjoy the one below of a small child putting up big ornaments (sheesh)!

And to put you all in the Christmas tree decorating mood, here for your enjoyment is Andrea Bocelli singing O Tannenbaum

Happy writing,
Kristine

Holiday Planning: Kristine Cayne’s Holiday Cookie (Recipe) Exchange

2009-12-03T23:43:00Z

It’s December already! The neighbors have already put up their Christmas lights and many of my Facebook friends have revealed that they’ve put up their Christmas trees. Can you believe it?! Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving was so late this year but I haven’t managed to get into the old Christmas spirit yet. Every year, it seems that I start later and later in the season. Hopefully, I’ll manage to do some decorating before December 25^th!

(To make sure you don’t miss any entries or recipes, you might consider subscribing by RSS feed or email. The links are right here on the side ===> )

What about you? Have you decorated your house yet? Is your tree up?

If so, send me some pictures and I’ll post them on my next blogs. (You can email them to me at Kristine@kristinecayne.com)

Another shocker is that Christmas parties and get-togethers are in full swing. Saturday will be my first Holiday Gathering with my critique group. While reading our lasted chapters, we’ll be sharing cards, gifts and treats. Then come the RWA chapter parties, then office parties, friend parties and the list goes on.

What's on your holiday season agenda?

I’ve heard of cookie exchanges which I think sound really yummy but unfortunately, I’ve never had the opportunity to participate in one. For all of us who have always wanted to participate in a cookie exchange but have not had the honor, I’m instituting the first Kristine Cayne’s Holiday Cookie (Recipe) Exchange.

Every blog, this month, I will post a Holiday cookie/treat recipe or a link to one. If you have one you’d like to share, send it along and I’ll post it on my blog. (You can email them to me at Kristine@kristinecayne.com)

Okay, here is the first cookie recipe, an old holiday cookie standard. Get out your mixing bowls, rolling pins and cookie cutters and let's get baking!

Sugar Cookies (borrowed from Good Housekeeping, December 2009 Issue, page 2A

Makes about 16 cookies. Working time 35 min. Total Time 2hr. 45min

2 sticks softened unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

½ teaspoon salt

3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, using a mixer set on medium-high, beat together butter and sugar until fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, followed by vanilla extract and salt.

Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add flour, beating until ingredients are combined. (Dough will be slightly sticky.)

Divide dough into 4 equal portions and cover each in plastic wrap, patting into ½-inch-thick squares. Chill until firm, about 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400F.

On a floured surface, roll out dough, one square at a time, to 1/3 inch thick.

Cut out cookies using ornament- or tag-shaped cutters.

Transfer cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill for 10 minutes. Bake until lightly golden, about 12 minutes.

Cool completely on pan or wire rack before decorating.

Easy Icing (in under 1 minute!)

2/3 cup confectioners sugar

2 teaspoons meringue powder

2 tablespoons water

With an electric mixer on low, beat sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth and mixture flows easily.

To achieve vibrant designs, tint icing with gel food coloring and transfer to piping bags fitted with small round tips.

Add colored sugars if desired.

One recommendation that I plan to hold true for myself as well, don’t lose sight of your goal while your baking and decorating away the month of December. I’m going to make sure to reserve several hours of my day, each day for the sole purpose of writing. My goal is 35K words by December 31 and no matter what, I’m going to make it! With this additional 35K words, I’ll have a completed rough draft of Obsession (see my work in progress) and be ready to begin 2010 with revising and editing my draft, yah!

I’d love to hear from you so enter your comments below and send me your Christmas tree/decoration pictures as well as your recipes for the cookie exchange.

Happy Writing,

Kristine