a.c.Mason

Wow. Mason, are you going to write on your own blog?

Oh my, I think, I might just do that. Lol. All jokes aside I enjoy showcasing some fellow writers I know and the work they are doing.

As the title suggests I’m going to strip down my writing process to the bare flesh.

Idea: a realization of a possible way of doing something or of something to be done

Example: NIGHT REINS. Ancient immortals fighting to keep us safe from Vampires. The immortal race lives one image out in the open and a secret society.

Issue: a source of conflict, misgiving, or emotional distress

Example: DEAD AND ADORED. I don’t like Zombies. I’m stunned at my own prejudice against beings that have done nothing to me. It’s not their fault they want to eat people. What kind of world could I create where Zobies are “ok”. What kind of zombie would be a hero of sorts.

Once I have something in my head it ferments or masticates in my brain.

Ferment: to cause, develop, or evolve something, or be developed or evolved 

Masticate: pulverize food inside the mouth, using the teeth and jaws

I prefer to say masticate, which is a Masonism, my brain chews over the idea/issue until scenes and dialogue start to take place. My characters take form in my mind and I have them rehearse the scenes playing them out a number of ways before I write. I think my camera operator background and floor directing experience help. Is this a wide-angle scene or a close up? I play out way more material in my mind then I’ll ever need for the book. Often I add in scenes after feedback from a first read from a critique partner as what they point tells me they need more of the contents in my head. I know information the reader will never know but I draw on the content and context to add the layers to the story.

Oh, I should note that usually I have multiple plots going on at once because I was blessed with three muses, affectionately known as Dark, Darker and So-Not-Funny. Darker has a really disturbed sense of humor. Warning my next comment may disturb some people. Read at own risk.

Example: DEAD AND ADORED. Vaihan doesn’t like eating human brains because they taste like cheap pâté. Plus he doesn’t much enjoy the texture.

I do a lot of planning in my head before I put one word to paper. I write synopsis or scene outlines. Those are my road map. I’m still working on the planning part of writing not happening so much in my head.

That’s the velvet rope tour of how my writing process works. I hope you enjoyed.

Mason

Have you notice my post lately are all about Susan Hanniford Crowley?

She has had some really wonderful things happening with her writing over the last few months.

She recently blogged for SFWA about Paranormal romance please take a moment to read here: http://www.sfwa.org/2009/12/how-i-fell-in-love-with-paranormal-romance/.

Keep an eye out, as I will be interviewing Susan again soon.

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

Susan Hanniford Crowley’s latest A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS is now available.

Blurb.

Georgia doesn’t know she’s a Harmony. Jobless and about to be homeless, her heart sinks when a hand snatches the coat of her dreams from the storefront window. Then she sees him staring at her reflection . . . the stalker.  

Trevor Stenwood, a vampire and Arnhem Knight, is handsome, sophisticated, and tongue-tied every time he sees her. Sworn to protect the supernaturals of the city, he’s fallen for a woman marked for death by demons. How can he save her when she’s afraid of him?

At Christmas time in New York City, will love bloom in the snow? 

It just went up on All Romance Ebooks.  So do you want to melt your snow and keep warm then go to 

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-avampireforchristmas-387184-139.html

Excerpt:

             When the waiter arrived with menus, Georgia was dizzy with expectation.  She looked at her menu.  There were no prices and it was hard to choose from so many delicious sounding meals.

            “What are you having?”  She leaned toward Trevor.

            “I was going to start with the lobster bisque and move on to the shrimp scampi.”

            “That sounds good.  I’ll have the same.” 

            When the waiter returned, Trevor gave him the orders.  He waited until the man was out of hearing range.

            “Georgia, you know you could have ordered anything.”

            “I know.”  She gazed out the window.  Snow danced over the waves.  Then snowflake and wave would touch as in a kiss and the snow would be gone forever, absorbed into the water. 

            “May I move my seat so I can sit next to you?”

            She thought about saying no, but the truth was she was ready for him to be closer.  “Okay.”

            He moved the chair so he was exactly next to her and they could see the same thing out the window.  “It’s sad, isn’t it?”

            “What?”

            “The snowflake is so exquisite, but its life is so short.  The ocean is eternal.  It loves the snowflake and when they meet.  .  .”

            “The snowflake dies.”  Georgia sighed.

            “No, not at all.  The snowflake changes into water and becomes immortal.”

            Georgia turned to face him.  They were so very close, his mouth above her lips, his eyes gazing deeply into hers.  She could feel him searching for some answer.  Then his lips possessed her mouth so gently, sweetly, as if to caress.  Georgia felt herself melting like the snowflake touching the ocean wave.  She kissed him back.  Every kiss led to another.  She felt his arm steady her.  Her eyes were closed, as his finger brushed her cheek.