Writing craft

February 7, 2007 | Uncategorized

Over at eharlequin Anne McAllister and several other lovely presents authors are discussing the nuts and bolts of world building and keeping the time line straight through continuities in one of those instructive Q&A sessions.

A few minutes of reading and my head is too full to take in more information. An excellent illustration of “easy reading is damn hard writing.” These women are all so very clever,scholarly, and have admirable work habits.

My mood regarding the Presents submission has swung away from giddy optimism to what-was-I-thinking-to send off that story, with just a sliver of hope that the lovely editor will say something kind.

In the meantime I’m frantically trying to fix the previous manuscript which I’ve promised to have ready for line by line edit on the twenty fourth. At this point I’m not even sure what the story is about. Have I mentioned I have cold and really need to lie down for nice long nap? Not being one of my heroines, a good self-pity session seems long overdue.

Reading Report

Uncategorized

Let’s see, I told you about Bird By Bird. To recap: buy it – great book full of wisdom and laughs. I read a book I didn’t like. Is it cowardly to not give a negative review? Possibly, but after all fiction is subjective. Someone (several someones actually, who know more about books than I do – agent, editor, publisher, critics)loved it. There’s nothing constructive about criticizing a published book, so I’m giving it a miss.

That sums up the weeks reading. Perhaps I’ll do better next week.:)

Writing Life

February 6, 2007 | Uncategorized

Sheesh no wonder I have such a hard time writing. When my muse is swamp monster and my internal editor is Nurse Ratched I consider that I’m doing well just to get through the day. The swamp monster is no fool, she waits until Nurse Ratched has started a light steady snore before rearing her ugly head and demanding attention.

Hissing and spitting, the swamp monster dictates her latest version of the story unfettered by the obstreperous nurse. Of course the seriously cranky nurse gets up pre-dawn and screeches over the swamp mess dribbled on her tidy story. And so it goes.

Writing Craft

February 3, 2007 | Uncategorized

I’ve been reading a book I don’t like. No I’m not going to discuss which book or include a link. It would not be helpful or kind. Besides what I like is entirely subjective. I do read books I don’t enjoy for a number of reasons. The most important is that I hope to learn something from them.

What turns me off a book? First and foremost, characters I don’t care about. Second, story choices. The writer can be technically brilliant and still have trouble engaging me if he’s telling me a story about fishing. I’m not anti-fishing mind you. But getting me to read a whole book about it is definitely rowing up stream. Just the kind of pointless activity fishing enthusiasts engage in – but I digress.

Characters can be both attractive and sympathetic, but if they do not ring true to my ear the story fails to engage me. Walking the line between characters I believe in and characters who are sufficiently heroic to succeed as romantic protagonists is a big struggle for me.

When I read an engaging story written by someone else it flows effortlessly. Examining the underpinnings, trying to master those same feats leaves me flat on my back staring at the ceiling and wondering how they make it look so easy.

Writing Life

February 2, 2007 | Uncategorized

Characterization is IMHO what is most lacking in my stories.

So naturally, I read everything I can get my hands on about characterization. Brilliant fictional people seem to be products of communing with one’s muse. Anne Lamott talks about the child in the cellar who slips notes under the door, which she gloms onto as being the truth about her characters. Jennifer Crusie talks about waiting for the the girls in the basement to send something up. I strongly suspect my muse is some sort of swamp monster. I keep a safe distance. I do like the idea of positioning myself on a nearby grassy knoll with field glasses, but I suppose if I want communication I should venture a little closer.

The other consistent internal voice in the internal editor. I don’t have a nice one of those either.

However, the swamp creature keeps her in check.

Writing Craft

February 1, 2007 | Uncategorized

Really it’s another reading report. But I like variety. :) And since it is a craft book, sort of. The label is fair.

Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott is one of those books I’ve seen recommendations for several times but it never seemed the most urgent thing for me to study. It’s still not, but I decided to skim and see why it’s perpetually recommended.

Last night I opened the cover fully intending to browse the first few pages and set it aside in favor of The Thirteenth Tale. The first chapter was so entertaining it led to another and another. Why did no one ever tell me how funny and poignant and true this book is?