DAY 26, MARCH 26, 2024, WRITING
Good Morning, Everyone,
I am a writer, and becoming aware of what is happening in my plots while writing is a significant and fundamental need for me. I must develop an inner connection to my surroundings and the characters I write about. If I don’t do that, my book is just like meaningless words scrambled on paper. The story may be good, but it is missing something important, and that is life. Whatever I write, I want it to breathe.
I write mainly romance stories. I know many people say oh, romance and they block out that category of genre writing because when they hear romantic, they immediately think erotic. Romance stories have an element of love, but intimacy is a fact of life. I don’t think any of us got here on our own, and there was only one person who was born of a virgin.
However, because we want to avoid facing that part of life, authors have developed categories in the romance field. Now we have sweet romance, which avoids the bedroom, and romance, which doesn’t.
I don’t write sweet romances. I write realistic romance stories encouraging people to live responsible lives and take ownership of their responsibilities.
There are all kinds of people in my books. My characters are wounded, or disabled, or healthy. The heroines are usually plus-sized women with short natural hair or full-sized afro, older and successful. I’m not going to apologize about the heroines in my books being women from different races. Since we all belong to the human race and live in a world that is full of color, I refuse to write a book that is not diverse, multicultural, and with a philosophy that is based on my faith in God.
I’m not going to apologize for the topics that I write either. In my book, LET HIS BANNER OVER ME BE LOVE, I discovered that the Scriptures I wrote the story around were unknown to many of my readers. One lady whose name I will not mention here admitted having to return and read the Song of Songs herself. She didn’t know how candid the Song of Songs was in the Bible. I had to applaud her. I liked her honesty.
Other than that, I do my best to write flawlessly. I desire to present a book that a reader can sit back and read without flinching at each grammar mistake or trying to guess what word I wanted to write when they find a word left out. To achieve this, I have an independent editing team that reads through my work. I treasure them greatly. Yes, they cost, but I would rather pay for excellent editing than have to take a book off the market because it is poorly edited. I have made that mistake once and don’t intend to repeat it.
Have a lovely Day and take care.
Shalom shalom
Pat Garcia
Pat, keep doing what you are doing…!
Oh,Pat! how I identify with what you’re saying. I too need to have good editors around me. You are right they do cost, but boy is it worth the effort. Your writing always comes across to me as perfect,without errors.
A writer should stay true to themselves in order to be believable to readers. You can’t fool the reader. I’m still trying to figure out your cover. 😨😨
Pat, the market for books is so diverse that we are all going to encounter those who do not like our stories. They were not our intended audience anyway. If fiction is too hard for them, I’d recommend nonfiction to those naysayers. My books have been out for some time. I am certain my new book about Hell will also raise some eyebrows. But that’s a good thing. Sometimes you have to grab your readers and give them a good shake. In the words of author Lucia Berlin: “The story is the thing.”
A book without a soul is just empty words and I quickly lose interest. You’ve described this well, Pat, and your books are full of this essential element. ❤️
I remember the riveting story of Turn the Light On, merging the lives of two unlikely characters, Della and Alessio, strangers in an intimate setting.
Once again, I am experiencing the truth of Let His Banner Over Me be Love because our church is reading the Bible Cover to Cover in 100 Days. When we got to Song of Solomon recently, the speaker seemed unwilling to admit that this book was a picture of intimacy and just glossed over the details. You would have found his response either comical or unnerving–maybe a little of both.
Hello My Dear Marian,
I probably would have respectfully called him out on it. My mother and father always warned me not to open my mouth when grown folks are talking. I was notorious for wanting to go deeper into thing.
I am glad that you were able to experience that. It is no difference here in my church.They fly all over certain books in the Bible. They don’t see them even though they are right before their eyes. I believe our Lord is sitting above laughing.
Thank you so much for sharing that. It has made my day.
Shalom shalom
I love your heroines, Pat! And as I’m sure you’ve heard before, “Turn the Light On” has one of the best storylines I’ve ever read. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Hello, Karen,
Thank you very much for your encouragement.
Have a lovely afternoon, and take care.
Shalom shalom
Hi, Pat!
I find your honesty in your stories refreshing, and you have absolutely nothing to apologize for! In my stories, I include races other than human, although they are humanoid for the most part in my first series, at least part of the time. It takes all of us together to make up earth’s population, and we are all designed by and loved by God our Creator. We each have a purpose, and the characters we create must, too. If, as the Word says, we are created in the image of the Creator, then the ability to create is innate in us.
I love this post. You’ve shared a bit of you with us — your values, your creative process, your attention to detail, your faith, your common sense, and your honesty. Thank you. God loves you, and so do I.
Blessings!
Patty
Hello, Patty,
Thank you for your encouraging words. Yes, I did share a little tiny personal part of myself. I should have figured that you would pick up on it.
Be blessed my dear and take care.
Shalom shalom