Yay, it’s Wednesday! This is the middle of busy season, but I still like taking time out to bring you bits of my work in progress.
Last week, I got a manuscript returned with a sort-of rejection. The publisher wanted some significant changes, and I had to decide if I was interested in making them. I felt the feedback was fair. I typically don’t write erotic romance, but that’s what the call was for, so I tried my hand at it. Honestly, I’m surprised the publisher didn’t just go, “Hahahaha! No.” She actually wants the story, just with changes.
So, I’m going for it. I consulted with a set of anonymous beta readers (I had the draft beta’d by multiple people, but I needed fresh eyes and people who don’t know me). I’ll have the finished draft for another round of beta reading in a few days, and I’m going to resubmit.
Meanwhile, I’m still having Anthem beta’d and doing edits on that, so you get to see a bit more of what’s happening with Andre and Trevor. This picks up immediately after last week’s entry.
WIPmath: 5 + 20 = 25 sentences.
There was no way the man was eying Andre or any other guy there. Andre scoffed. “He’s probably just hoping I’ll leave him be.”
Julian shoved him. “Don’t be like that.” A smirk formed slowly on his face. “Five bucks says he’s looking ‘cause you wear that ‘hot nerd’ thing so well.”
“No.”
“Yes. Go talk to him.”
Julian yanked on his arm, and Andre nearly lost his balance. The other man glanced over, and Andre got a full view of his face. When their eyes met, the guy shrank back a little and developed a charming blush. He hastily looked away, causing Julian to laugh.
“Baby, get your ass over there and ask him to dance or something.”
“Or something,” Andre muttered, but he got up. “What are you gonna do?”
Julian waved a hand dismissively. “Sit here till I get hit on, then let the poor soul down gently.” He offered a wicked grin. “Or maybe I’ll go dance. You know I don’t care.”
Andre narrowed his eyes at Julian before turning around and sidestepping over to the blond guy. He hated to admit it, but the guy was his type, and Julian was right—he needed to just let go for a bit. Loud music, cold beer, and a hot body pressed against his could be just what he needed.
Like what you see? Check out the other awesome entries, too. Feel free to participate by sharing your own work-in-progress, connected with FancyMath to the date. Thanks to K. L. Schwengel for the kick in the rear to keep me going by keeping up with posting my WIPpets. Happy reading and writing!
Andre is very handsome. And I thinks it’s really cute that Trevor blushes.
I don’t usually use photos of people to base my characters on. Some of them are so inhuman it wouldn’t work anyway. It’s nifty, though, to see who other writers use to represent their characters. It gives the character a very solid feel.
It took me forever to find a photo, which I only wanted for my Pinterest board for the story. I finally found that one and I was so excited! LOL. Yes, he’s very nice-looking. The blond guy is cute too, and I’ve noticed he features a lot on the covers of various novels. Hahaha!
I have no idea what I would do if I wrote non-human characters. Maybe I would have to have my kids make drawings. 🙂
My kids do occasionally help with concept art. 😉 I wish I could draw what I want something to look like, but I’m not even as good at drawing as I used to be, and I was never good enough to make the results look like the concept, so… *shrugs* I make the picture in my head and then hope the readers get something similar.
for me Andre made me think of this dude in a show…i think it was Bones. Anyway. I still love this scene lol. Andre is so cute in his humbleness about how hot he is lol
Yep, Andre has no idea. He just doesn’t see himself that way. He’s such fun to write, too. Originally, this was supposed to just be in Trevor’s POV. But I liked Andre so much I decided to write in his POV as well.
It takes me so much time finding images for my characters! Sounds like they are having fun. Congrats on the sort-of acceptance!
Yeah, it did take a long time to find Andre’s likeness. The other one was a happy accident. I needed a photo of a microphone for another project, and that’s the image that came up. I hadn’t even started writing—all I had was a concept for the story. I modeled Trevor on the guy in the picture because he looked so soulful. LOL!
I would LOVE to have a happy accident like that! Even finding the cover images is so time-consuming!
For a long time I didn’t have a “picture” in my head of much about my characters’ appearances either… I would see a picture and think “oh that looks like so-and-so” and then find another completely different picture and say the same thing… because the physical appearance wasn’t as important as the mental one.
For so long…. I still don’t have a perfect image, and I probably never will. But that’s why… I saw those pictures and I could totally relate to your comments about them. They’re sweet, both of them, but…. I can also see how you’d have trouble fitting them to your characters, Amy.
Yes, exactly. When I wrote my last novel, I had a very specific picture in my head of one of the characters. There is absolutely no one anywhere who fully captures who he is. I rarely have such a strong mental image—usually, it’s much more about the characters’ internal sense of self. But in that one, his appearance was vital to the plot. This time around, it was harder in part because it’s darn near impossible to find a picture of a black nerd who isn’t Steve Urkel! LOL.
I like to use images to get a clearer image in my head as to what my characters look like — especially since a lot of the time I don’t really care, and I need help. *g* Unless it’s important for the plot, the imagery or the setting, what’s in their head matters to me more than their looks.
Yes, I agree with that. I typically have a vague idea of what they look like in my head. Only three characters have ever popped into my mind with a specific image. Cat (from the last novel I posted for WIPpets); Alex (from my first novel); and Trevor (because I saw the picture and it just seemed right). Most of the time, I have to think about it before I know what they look like.
Yseult was one of those characters for me. I knew she had to have pale blond hair and those arresting light blue eyes that are so rare.
Both of these guys are yummy. Your “Trevor” makes me just a little sad- my son’s got golden curls (even curlier, actually)…
Or he did. Until last week…when he shaved them ALL off for his spring buzz cut….
Now there’s no golden curls here, and his face is all grown up looking….he’s handsome, but Mom loves those tousled curls!
Andre’s eyes make me want to fall in. I sure hope Trevor does! =D
My son told me the other day he plans to cut his hair for the summer. He’s been growing it out for almost a year, and it’s down past his chin now. I admit I was a bit sad! He has fine, straight hair, and it’s nowhere near golden—it’s light brown with reddish highlights. But I know he’s right and he’ll be too hot if he keeps it long.
Yes, “Andre” has gorgeous eyes. I love dark eyes. Eh, who am I kidding? I just like eyes. They’re usually the first thing I notice about a person, and I love all different hues.
Oh! Eye-candy bonus! Thank you! Heh. I pretty much always have some actor or face in mind when I’m writing my fiction, though not always right away. Sometimes I need to learn who they are. Other times they pop into my head fully formed, and my brain is apparently a fantastic casting agency. *ahem* It remembers faces I didn’t know I knew… Oh, and several of my stories started out as dreams, so my brain had those characters cast, too. I completely approve of your casting choices, btw. Yum, and also true to what I’ve read thus far.
Love this bit! I love how there’s bro-buddy interaction, but at the same time, it’s fun to see a spin like this on the whole “wingman” thing. Heh. And Andre is adorable. Points for blushing Trevor, too. SWEET.
LOL! Yes, I thought people might enjoy a look at these two lovely men. 🙂 I’d be hard-pressed to pick which one I think is more handsome. Occasionally, I have a character arrive fully formed, but it’s pretty rare. I usually have to know them pretty well before I get a good picture. The one and only time I’ve had a character come to mind physically before I knew him emotionally was my last completed novel. I’d based it on the story of Puss in Boots, and the character was a human embodiment of a ginger tabby. What’s interesting is how from there, he developed into one of my favorite characters I’ve ever written.
I’m glad you liked it! 🙂
Mmmm… Trevor. Yum. Andre’s very handsome as well, of course. I didn’t really have an image of him yet, so that helped in my case because I think I was going too nerdy on him.
Yep, Trevor is definitely nice-looking. That particular model is really prolific, but that was my favorite picture. Andre was a really good find—until I saw that picture, no one quite fit what I had in my head. He’s pretty much perfect.