Do you judge a book by its cover?

I don't know about you, but I'm a bit tired of seeing thousands of book covers (not just romance) filled with women in gowns either sprawled across the cover or running off toward the distance, their heads partially cut off.

I suppose it a kind of "branding" thing that publishers know works like a charm when choosing a book by its cover (pardon the pun).  So I decided to play around a bit (yes, I know I should be writing) to see if there are any unique types for cover designs -- not necessarily for regency or romance, but mainly for romance.  Here are some variations that I think show potential --

This image I pulled from Amy Rose Bennett's site (New Zealand) and, although it's another woman in a beautiful gown running away from the viewer, I liked the atmospheric aspect of this image.  Is she in fear?  Is she playing the tease?  The brooding landscape hints at maybe a Highland setting or maybe the French countryside.  Don't know, but I like it.  If I was a reader, I'd put my hands on this book because of the suggestion of intrigue!

Now, if I was writing something more contemporary, I don't want rippling six-packs plastered across the book cover (this must be my catholic school upbringing rearing its head).  If I want romance, I'd go with something more like these, mostly taken from Pinterest boards about dance, especially the Tango --

Now this would be a totally cool book cover!

Another great book cover, seductive, suggestive.  Phew, I'd grab this one of the shelf in a heart beat. Maybe a suspense romance set between the Wars, a la 1930s Paris? 

And what about the younger generation, the New Adult market (18-30)?  Here's something a bit grungier, edgier:

"Dancing is the vertical expression
of a horizontal desire." (George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950)   

I believe Mr. Shaw got that one right!  

Enjoy!

Sources of Inspiration

I've been working on my first Regency romance novel and, although I've read most of Jane Austen and seen so many of the excellent BBC movie variations, one still needs a bit of inspiration when working through the writing.

It's usually those small details, descriptive of the landscape or the manor house, that gives a work that added level of veracity, of impact for the reader.  Why else would readers want historical romance?  I have to think that it's the time period that intrigues, a bit like a time tunnel.  Go ahead, pick your period -- there's probably a romance set in each one.

That's why I love Pinterest.  If you can control the time spent on the great "P" -- and that's a big "if" -- there's so much out there to help spark those imaginative ideas or get a writer over the hurdle of writer's block.  Here's a few that I chose to help keep me churning out those words:

Image captured from Pinterest

Wouldn't this be the best image for the heroine as she enter's his lordship's grounds? Her first glimpse of his world . . . Stay or go, stay or go? Did I remember to pack those diamonds?  

Another shot of a classic Georgian-style manor house on a lovely English summer day --

And of course no English manor house would be complete without the venerable Rose Garden (this one was designed by Capability Brown).

Another source of inspiration and information are the British magazines that are now popping up at Barnes & Nobel and other larger bookstores.  This is one of my favorites, not only for the gorgeous images but also for the information on places, names, etc.

Of course, there is a word of warning:  between Pinterest and these magazines, you could spend your entire writing time immersed in viewing/reading!  What was that word count last time I looked?

Putting off the inevitable

 

Today I was home from work with a bit of the flu. It's a fairly warm and sunny day here for the end of January.  The birds are twittering away and for a few moments I sat on the deck just wrapped in a fleece jacket.  The sun felt good on my face, and for the time being I enjoyed my mug of hot coffee, watching the birds on the feeders.

But I knew I had to get back to the keyboard.  Isn't writing a tough task master?  

Can you count the ways that we procrastinate, putting off the inevitable?  I certainly can.

Dishes, laundry, paying bills, re-organizing the linen closet (ugh), naming the dust bunnies that continue to elude the vacuum, browsing on Pinterest (hours fly by!) . . . and the list goes on.

Why do we do this as writers?  It reminds me of artists who quake at the bare white canvas before slapping on a blob of paint.  Anything to kill off the taunting white paper / canvas.

Yes, we've all read the articles about how we should just roll up our sleeves and get down to it.  That the more we write, the easier it comes, so they say.

Writers like Julia Cameron have published a multitude of books for creative folk that speaks of daily rituals to help the writer / artist / poet slip into a realm of right-brained creativity.  And I do love to read her works even though there's a part of me somewhere deep in the back of my mind that doubts.

Easy to read, difficult to execute.  

So what did I end up doing today?  Rather than go back to my writings, I spent most of the afternoon creating this blog, adding links and other doodads.  Which I love to do, don't get me wrong. 

But no writing . . . nada . . . zip.  Although when I was on the deck earlier, I did run through some scenes in my head for my very first Regency romance.  

There, I said it.  My very first.  I am a beginner when it comes to romance.  For years I've pretty much dwelt in the world of mysteries; even wrote a few.  

The problem is, though, that writing is a very isolated craft, and I couldn't find an active, supportive mystery group in the area.  But romance writers are rabid about support.  You just need to check out those links on the right to see how much so!

This is my third year with RWA and CT RWA, and I'm hoping that "3" is the magic number.  That this year, I'll stick to it and see it through to the "happy ever after" ending -- a published novel or novella. 

That's the goal, so why not join me on this journey?  I'll stumble and detour, I'm sure.  But I'm sure I am not alone on that front. 

Thanks and WRITE ON!   
Claire