Sonja Foust, Romance Author

I asked for help from other writers on Twitter the other night, when I was facing a bit of writer’s block. I’m reposting their wisdom here, because they are made of awesome.

merindab@SonjaFoust Write the crap until the good stuff comes out

merindab@SonjaFoust I’m playing with this right now http://www.geocities.com/po…

ducttapeavenger@SonjaFoust I tend to write with no plan whatsoever and see what happens. Usually end up with stories of penguin assassins & the like.

BCB_RT @SonjaFoust: In a writing dry spell. Give me yr best writing tip…<give yrself permission to write pure crap. U can’t edit a blank pg

BCB_@SonjaFoust The point is that when you look at it later, it won’t be crap. Let it not matter for now. Just. Write.

nancy777ca@SonjaFoust Read a book on the writing process or read a writer’s blog. That never fails to get my in the mood to write again!

melissablue13@SonjaFoust No you will hate me. Just start writing. About anything. Think of the wildest idea for a scene and write it.

cholby@SonjaFoust go for a walk. Always clears my mind and gives me the next scene

cholby@SonjaFoust I usually have the dogs around. They kind of jerk the ideas out of my head. Ohhh shiny!

KarenPinco@SonjaFoust Hmm. I could use some of that advice myself. But perhaps there’s someone in your life that needs to be tortured in a book?

jamieklee77@SonjaFoust not focus on writing the first paragraph, but start with the second. wierd, I know but it always worked for me.

Buckeye_BethM@SonjaFoust when I feel like that, I get a new notebook & write everything about the new story in it. By the end, I’m usually revitalized…

Buckeye_BethM@SonjaFoust …to work on one or the other. Actually, bouncing between 2 dift. stories keeps my energy going. Good luck…been there…:)

Thanks everyone! That was all fantastic advice, and I’m well on my way to beating this block!

What’s your advice? Leave it in the comments!

I’ve been traveling around a bit, to Portland for my friend’s wedding and to Seattle just since we were close enough to go see it. I love seeing new things, and I’m slowing checking places to visit off my list. But here are 13 places I’d love to visit that I haven’t been to yet:

1. Walt Disney World– I’ve been to Disneyland in California, which rules, but I’d love to see Disney World, too.

2. Alaska– I think Robbie’s on board with this one. Seeing the Pacific Northwest last week gave him a little taste and he wants more.

3. Tahiti– On my list since my parents went a few years ago and had the time of their lives.

4. London

5. Ireland

6. Prince Edward Island– Because I am an Anne of Green Gables nerd.

7. Graceland– Because I am a general, all-around nerd.

8. Norway

9. Dollywood– Yes, again, I am a nerd.

10. Hawaii

11. Italy

12. Paris

13. Hershey, PA– Who doesn’t love chocolate?

What places make your list? Do you keep track of them like I do?

There are pockets in my bridesmaid dress. At first, this was bemusing to me. Pockets? In a dress? And, like, not a light, airy, kindergarden teacher dress. A nice, formal dress.

But after thinking about it, I kind of get it.

I’ve never been in a wedding (except one, my sister’s, where I was the only attendant) where some bridesmaid didn’t start weeping during the ceremony. Invariably, the ones that weep never have kleenex with them. I, being somewhat Type A, usually have a whole kit of massive overplanning with me, like safety pins, aspirin, bandaids, and, yes, kleenex. I hide the kleenex in my hand next to the bouquet. And then I hand it over because I never weep… well, much.

Maybe I get a little misty when they talk about how one of my best friends is going to live Happily Ever After, or maybe it makes me well up a tiny bit when the groom looks at her with all the love I know she deserves. And there may possibly be the tiniest bit of moisture around the corners of my eyes if the bride or groom happens to cry, too.

But I don’t weep. It would mess up my makeup, and then where would we be?

Congratulations to my bestest buddy Skye and her groom-to-be Craig, who are getting married tomorrow! I love them both!… but I probably still won’t cry.

We talked about how to get pitch appointments last week, but what do you do when you actually have a pitch appointment and now you have to pitch? Eek! Yeah, that’s the scary part!

My favorite article on pitching is Virginia Kantra’s Guide to Perfect Pitch. She gives a great jumping off point for how to formulate the structure of your pitch. You can also use some of the stuff you did for your synopsis or blurb for your pitch.

I personally think that the most important part of pitching is practicing, which is a little hard to do by yourself. Sure, you can practice to your dog, but dogs don’t generally talk back. Editors and agents do! I had one pitch once where I had my whole schpeil memorized, but the agent kept interrupting to ask questions, and it threw me for a loop!

One opportunity to practice your pitching will be this Saturday at the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers meeting. Marcia Colette and Jenna Black are giving a presentation, and you’ll have a chance to practice, too. If you’re heading for Nationals, or you have a pitch appointment coming up, I highly suggest going! (You can go even if you’re not a member of HCRW. The first two meetings you attend are freebies.)

What are your best pitching tips and resources?

Tuesday and Thursday, June 2 and 4

Jamie and I did our regular 2-mile route both days. We’re CRUSHING IT. So, I think we’re going to increase our distance to an actual 5k sometime soon. Yay for us!

Saturday, June 6

1.2 miles on the Tobacco trail. I kicked Robbie’s butt. But he probably won’t admit it.