Being a "Pantser".......

Okay, there are two kinds of writers – “pantsers” and “outliners.”  I’m a “pantser,” which means I fly by the seat of my pants.  I don’t outline a story…I can’t…I just sit and write.  My characters tell me where the story should go.  It’s a freeing experience; however, when it comes to editing after you’re ‘done,’ it’s a bear.

This is why it’s taken me MONTHS to re-write and edit…removing parts that don’t need to be there…changing scenes around…adding scenes where they need to be, etc.

I like the feeling of just being able to write, but I DON’T like the re-writes.  So, those of you still eagerly awaiting my book, please don’t give up on me.  I’m still plugging away at it!  It’s difficult when you still have a full-time job, because it seriously hampers the writing time and entire process. 

Thank you for your kindest wishes and encouragement along my journey.

"In Death....."

I'm a huge fan of the JD Robb "In Death" series.  Most of you may already know that it's Nora Roberts' alter ego.  Funny, I'm not very fond of her books under that name, as they tend to be romance novels, which aren't my cup of tea.

I'm usually not fond of the futuristic genre either, but the "In Death" series is absolutely engaging!  It's set in a not-so-distant future, where cars can float about in the air, and regular coffee is a rarity.  However, the core of each book is the same - following a tough, no-nonsense cop in New York City.  She's married to a billionaire, but the money doesn't impress her.  She doesn't wear fancy clothes or even fancies socializing.  She's amusingly awkward in social situations, but one heck of a cop!

Because each story mostly centers around her and her quirky friends and co-workers, along with a good, old-fashioned murder mystery, I was sold after the first book.  I've followed it ever since, all through the 35 books that have followed, and continue to do so.  They're full of rich characters that quickly become comfortable.

I suggest starting with the first one, "Naked in Death."  You'll thank me, because you'll be hooked as happily as I am.

You can find the entire series at the link below.  I use this site religiously, as you can search for any author and see their books in order.  Enjoy!  :)

JD ROBB SERIES

PUBLISHER AVAILABLE TO WRITERS WHO ARE READY!

To my writer friends out there...if you feel your manuscript is 'ready for primetime,' please check out 9 Muses Publishing.  They're a boutique publisher interested in many genres.  I wouldn't steer you wrong, these are people that know the business and have been in the author, writing, and publishing world for several years.  They are trustworthy and open to great writing.

Currently, they're even running a query contest until Friday!!  Let me know what you think and if you have any questions...good luck!

The Ego...

Egocentric & Grandiose...Psychopaths have a narcissistic & grossly inflated sense of themselves.

Their sense of entitlement is boundless, and they see themselves as better than the rest of us.  As a result, they feel justified in living according to their own twisted rules.  Naturally, they'll come off as arrogant and opinionated.  They enjoy having control over others and will disregard your opinion if it doesn't square with theirs.  Most times, it probably won't, since they live in their own special world.

Drew Peterson, for instance, seems to fit in this category.  He married four times, probably killed his third wife, and no doubt the fourth, who's been missing for years.  He has the ego, the sense of control over his wives, and the arrogant self-importance.

Adolf Hitler is another example.  His ego was off the charts, and we all know he thought he was better than most.  He was SO awful that he felt the need, not to mention, entitlement, to exterminate fellow human beings.  He also managed to sway others to that opinion with the infamous charm these people can possess.

Lack of remorse or guilt will be next.which stands to reason.  Everyone realizes that psychopaths/sociopaths don't have ANY remorse over their deeds...stay tuned.

'PSYCH 101' .....

Since I write about psychopathic killers, I’ve decided to read several books on the subject.  My current one is “Without Conscience” by Robert D. Hare.  The first thing I learned is that ‘sociopaths’ and ‘psychopaths’ are really the same thing.  There’s no distinction.  Researchers and clinicians use the term interchangeably.  Sometimes sociopathy is used because it’s less likely than ‘psychopathy’ to be confused with psychoticism or insanity.  For believe me, sociopaths/psychopaths are NOT insane.  They know exactly what they’re doing and just don’t care.  They're not all killers, though.  They are serious con artists.

Let’s start with one of the traits and continue the subject in another post.   The first one is Glibness and Superficiality.  They can be witty and quite articulate.  They can be funny and great conversationalists.  They can weave stories that cast themselves in a good light.  They’re very often likeable (i.e. Ted Bundy and Jeffrey MacDonald).  You may already know they prey on the weak...those that may not see through their guise.  Others may view them as too slick or smooth and won’t fall for what they’re ‘selling.’  They can hone in on those that won’t question them, bilking them out of money, house, and home, and not even flinch.

Jeffrey MacDonald, the military doctor who killed his entire family, still proclaims his innocence.  Yet, the biggest twist in his tale was the fact that his own biographer, who came to write about HIS side of things, had his eyes opened by the callousness and disregard he gave to his dead wife and three daughters.  All he did was talk about himself.  When he spoke of the murders, he was glib and utterly detached – devoid of emotion or  empathy.  That author wound up writing a book that portrayed MacDonald as he truly is – a cold-blooded killer.  (Joe McGinniss, “Fatal Vision”).

Next time, we’ll talk about another sociopathic trait – Egocentricity & Grandiosity.