Writing – real life

April 12, 2007 Uncategorized

I’ve managed to develop a sinus infection, a nasty, evil thing that makes my head throb if I do anything foolish like bend over. Housework and gardening are on hiatus. I’m between writing projects so I’m indulging in reading (more on Tuesday’s reading report) and thinking about what to work on next.

All three of the most recent writing projects have been submitted to publishers. From a practical viewpoint it would make excellent sense to work on more of which ever of those garnered the most positive feedback. Or, God forbid, actually sold. ;)

Last year I was fortunate enough to get some editorial feedback. It was genuinely helpful and insightful advice. Did I (sensibly) sit down and apply that advice to a new story for the lovely editor? No. I considered that, but found my optimistic writer’s heart was already engaged elsewhere.

However, the rejected story still held a claim on me, so I did indeed revise it. The new version no longer fits the originally intended line. Stories have their own identity, at least in my reality they do. I figure it will be much easier to look for a market that suits the story than writing to suit a particular market.

So until some nice editor says, wistfully, do you have more of these? I shall write the stories that speak to me the loudest.

Writing Craft

April 11, 2007 Uncategorized

The moment a story is complete, the best I can make it for now. My mind begins to mull over new story possibilities. One of the first choices is setting, which includes time period, location, and thousands of details until the story world is complete.

The story world is a sacred contract between the reader and writer. As a reader, when I open a fiction book I want to be entertained. I want to be surprised, or enchanted, or worried, or frightened, or amused, or perhaps even educated. I need at least one character I can identify with and cheer for. This character should be the protagonist because if the only character who engages me is a secondary I will quickly lose interest in the story.

The quickest way to shatter the story world is tell me a lie. Have something happen that couldn’t happen given the story rules, or disrespect the history, or fail to research the facts. This applies even when the story is set in some distant galaxy. If you don’t know what you’re writing about, then you have two sensible options. Get busy and learn about the setting, the subject, the time period or pick a different story. One you know well enough to write about convincingly.

If you choose to write fantasy, paranormal, science fiction, or history you automatically sign up for lots of research and world building.

The writer’s ordinary world seldom seems exciting enough to be a story setting. Yet the best loved stories are those where the fictional world was created without seams. Your everyday reality may be someone’s exotic and exciting setting.

Reading Report

April 10, 2007 Uncategorized

I’m still reading Ms. Bronte’s classic, Jane Eyre. Writing cuts my reading time. A classic story that I’ve read before is perfect for dipping into when I’ve achieved the day’s word quota.

Now that the short story is complete, Jane’s trials will move more swiftly. For those bored with Jane Eyre, tune in next week. I’m not at all tired of Jane. Miss Eyre lives, barely at the moment, and breathes as if she were a dear friend.

Since I am a critical reader, every time I close the cover and trundle off to bed I ask myself how does she draw me in so thoroughly?

The obvious mechanics of grammar, punctuation,and sequence of action, reaction, and introspection are handled seamlessly. This is the first level of writing.

The actions and events of the story make sense, i.e. they are well motivated. Even the most fantastic situations and behavior become not just believable, but authentic. This is the second level of writing.

The fully-fashioned characters, quirky and interesting, are alive and talking in my mind as the pages turn. This miracle of animating the imagination via the printed word happens by tiny increments of telling details. The setting is slivered into the unfolding tale with surgical precision. As a horse rears, a dog barks, lighting strikes a tree, not one word is wasted or careless placed. Each packs its full share of weight. Mundane items: a creased handkerchief, cold porridge, a mossy rock each steer the actions and emotions sweeping the reader along. This is the third level of writing.

Writing Life

April 9, 2007 Uncategorized

One of the things that drives me crazy about the business of writing is the time line. Three months to hear back on a simple query letter,and synopsis. Three months! This does not compute. Is it that the poor editors are simply that inundated with story proposals? I know they have lots of other duties and that their established authors have priority, as they should. But come on – three months?

BTW three months may not be three months. Five months might be closer to the mark.
Obviously, I lack patience. The other day it dawned on me that this may not be my year even though I’m working hard to get three submissions in the works. Each one takes time to work its way through the publishing system.

Even assuming a positive response, i.e. a request for a full from one or better yet both of my current proposals, there would be another five or more month wait following that submission. It’s April already, if I get a request this month or next add six months and it’s almost 2008!

There’s today’s rant. Thanks for listening.

Publication Quest

April 7, 2007 Uncategorized

Current year’s goals

1) Study characterization to add depth to the story’s cast

2) Three submissions

3) In roads in the TBR shelves

Progress report:

Done reading the stack of books related to characterization – Creating Unforgettable Characters deserves a second read, too impatient and cranky to actually read it at the moment. :(

Two submissions sent

Status: still waiting to hear from the publishers

Timeline:

Number One: three months four weeks (estimated response time from publisher 3 months)
Number Two: three weeks weeks (estimated response time from publisher 1 month)

TBR inroad halted due to extreme crankiness and obsessive need to finish current short story.

I warned you this is a sloooow and boring journey.

Faves and Raves

April 5, 2007 Uncategorized

Anyone But You is my all time favorite Jennifer Crusie book. It is misnamed, should be called Fred’s Story or Fred Plays Matchmaker or Fred Takes Charge, something along those lines.

Fred, the Basset Hound on the front cover, is the star of the story. I’m sure the author intended for him to be a secondary character, but, as in movies, animals steal the show.

There are no surprises, no dark deeds, the heroine is a little depressed but downright pleasant compared to some Crusie women. The hero is sexy, fun, and an animal lover what more could you want in a romantic comedy? How about truth, emotional conflict, and sexual tension that sizzles?

Thanks to the miracle of backlists and smart editors this book is available now and revised by an older and smarter Jennifer Crusie.

Writing craft

April 4, 2007 Uncategorized

A few years ago I read LaVeryle Spencer on the subject of backloading, unfortunately the advice came too early for me to absorb it or apply it to my writing. I was still struggling with punctuation. :)

Last year I signed up for every class Margie Lawson offers. Backloading was mentioned again. This time I got it. The concept is simple, but like lots of writing devices, it is all in the execution.

Backloading effectively is one of the details that seperates great writers from those who are not. The term refers to putting the strongest word last in a sentence, in a paragraph, in a scene, in a chapter.

Here’s an example sentence:

Without backloading.

“Yes, he is a murderer,” she said casually, not even looking back at me.

With backloading.

“Yes,” she said causually, not even looking back at me.”He is a murderer.”

Book Report

April 3, 2007 Uncategorized

Since I’m obsessive about everything, I made a reading plan to pare down the TBR shelves before buying more books. A sensible move considering the weight of the TBR titles were in danger of damaging the two bookcases, which have been dedicated to unread titles. And no, sadly there is no room for adding more bookcases.

My plan has been only marginally successful. Yesterday I ordered still more books. I still lack sales resistance. There was a book I needed that I did not own – truly. But once the cart is opened, surely I should buy enough to get free shipping. It is the only sensible option. Shopping for books is nearly as much fun as reading.

Last week’s genre (dictated by the PLAN) was classic.Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre hopped to number one on the current TBR pile. This is the first reading of my well-loved old friend since taking up writing. I worried that I might be disappointed. Nope. I find Jane’s adventures to be as compelling as the first time I met her. Perhaps even better, because knowing what is coming I have no need to race through the pages. Rather I am content to savor each sentence and marvel at how deftly the author leads me into her story world, setting the scene with unfailing credibility.

Do you reread old friend books with trepidation or anticipation?

Writing Life

April 2, 2007 Uncategorized

Recently it dawned on me that lots of women who write romance or dream of writing romance have other priorities. The dream of writing is appealing and real, but for reasons as individual as the women themselves, they make only small efforts toward realizing the dream.

In short they don’t take their writing seriously, and neither does anyone else. In real life I’m a shy writer. I don’t tell everyone I know about my writing ambitions. But I’m plenty serious about them. This my character. This setting of goals and working toward them, and revising, and adjusting as reality forces new constraints on my dreams.

Strangely enough, I don’t believe in a world of perfect justice where the most talented or the hardest working reap the greatest rewards. Luck is a capricious bitch. If I’m ever offered a choice between luck and any other attribute, I’ll go for luck. Despite this cynicism, I do believe chance favors the prepared, the diligent, and the persistent.

So how do you feel about ambition? Are nice women ambitious? Do the good finish last? Or is it okay to be driven? Is success scary? Go ahead and share – I won’t tell anyone. :)

Publication Quest

April 1, 2007 Uncategorized

Current year’s goals

1) Study characterization to add depth to the story’s cast

2) Three submissions

3) In roads in the TBR shelves

Progress report:

Done reading the stack of books related to characterization – Creating Unforgettable Characters deserves a second read.

Two submission

Status: still waiting to hear from the publishers

Timeline:

• Number One: three months three weeks
• Number Two: two weeks

I warned you this is a sloooow and boring journey.