Encounters with psychotic checkout computers

You know that the quick trip to Tescos is going to take a lot longer when you encounter a psychotic computer at the self serve kiosk. You have not put the item in baggage area. Yes I did I can see it. Try again with cheese. Unexpected item in baggage area. And on it goes until it is obvious that it would have been much quicker to use one of the checkout counters manned by a human.

Tess & Hardy discovered that by stretching they could reach the top of the cabinet where I had ill advisedly left my keys and sunglasses. The sunglasses will have to be repaired. Unfortunately puppies do not understand the words -- where are the keys. They simply look at you with bemused expressions as the house is turned upside down. And then follow you about as if enjoying the game and ex claim in polite delight as you unearth all manner of things -- old socks, half eaten biscuit, the note your youngest swore he gave the teacher three weeks ago...

The keys were found...eventually-- between the dog bed and the counter.

Janet in the comments asked about scenes and sequels -- should romance novels have them? Everything needs to justify its place and needs to advance the story,particularly in series where every image has to justify its existence. Sometimes it is necessary for a short scene/sequel which allows other tensions and layers to be brought in.

I keep thinking about the central premise of Fire in Fiction-- that Passion or Desire and Determination can be taught. That is slightly wrong. Passion must come from within. You work hard at perfecting a story because of the desire to tell the best story possible. All the tricks etc will not work if you do not have that drive. Drive cannot be taught. Ways to harness the drive can be. There is a difference.

Fire in the Belly

There is an excellent article in the Christmas edition of the Spectator by Tony Parsons on why writing a bestseller requires something more than writing simply for the money. It requires heart and passion. Bestsellers become bestsellers because they are written from the heart. He argued even Harold Robbins with his books that became the runaway bestsellers wrote from the heart. I found myself agreeing with him wholeheartedly.
As a professional writer, it goes without saying -- I write for the money. It is how I earn my living. But I care passionately about each and every book I write. If I didn't care, the reader wouldn't care.
Why do I write the books I write?
Because I am PASSIONATE. Passionate about the need to have good historical romance where the setting is vivid. Passionate about the time periods involved. Passionate about the characters. And most importantly Passionate about the stories I want to tell.
Parson points out about idiotic boyfriends who tell the girlfriend -- go ahead write a chick lit, it's easy and you can make money. So you get idiotic people who think that writing Harlequin Mills and Boon is easy. I would say the reason why the current stable of writers write for HM&B is because they are passionate about the stories they write. They care intensely. These books would not be as successful as they are IF the writers were not dedicated to the medium.
Here I should point out that every HM&B is a world wide best seller. These books speak volumes to women around the globe. You do not get that sort of following without heart and fire in your belly.
Writing commercial books does not mean that the writers are any less dedicated to their stories.
Success in storytelling comes from being passionate about your stories. Full Stop.
Sometimes, yes, writers who would rather be writing other things get taken on, but they do not tend to last. And they are very much the exception rather than the rule. Also sometimes, writer's own individual interests takes them on a separate path from HM&B, but it does not mean they do not care passionately about the stories they told, rather that the Muse has led them elsewhere.
Without passion, without heart, stories can feel contrived and flat.
Ultimately because writing is such a long and lonely process, no one writes for the money. It has to come from the heart. One has to care passionately. In order to succeed in this business, you must have fire in your belly. You must have the desire to write the story. It shows in the writing. Always.

Update:
The very lovely Ray Anne went and found the url of the article. You can read it here. I read from the print copy as the Christmas Special of the Speccie always provides food for thought. Among other things, it has a Molesworth article and an article about the orgins of the crib.