This is my 96th -- and last -- blog entry of 2008. Not a bad output but less than I should have done. Overall, however, it has been a good year for my fiction writing. I still don't have an agent but finding an agent was only one objective this year.
The first and foremost objective was to become a better writer. And I think I aced that. As I look back at my fiction before this year and compare it to what I have done this year, there is little comparison. I like "Fighting Chaos" and it will always be special to me but this year's writing is much better.
In my first blog entry in 2008, which was on Wednesday, Jan. 2, a was still planning a murder mystery novel. I said I probably wouldn't start for several weeks and had not yet decided on how the victim would killed. I was thinking it would be poison. (Most of the blog, however, dealt finding names for characters, which is a problem I still wrestle with.)
Well, I started the novel about a week later, finished the first draft in May and the victim, George Wilson, is hit in the head and killed. (I thank Mariska Bogle for that idea. She suggested both the victim and the method.) And while I thought I had finished the final and seventh draft more than a month ago, I am pouring through it once more, preparing it for a writing competition at the beginning of February.
But that's not all.
I joined the Speed City chapter of Sisters in Crime and joined a critique group. Along with study and practice, the critique group is one of the reasons I have improved so much this year.
In addition to the finishing the novel (which is currently named "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal"), I wrote a 7,000 word short story for the racing anthology our chapter is putting together. I am also writing some of the factoids that will go between stories.
And I went to Philadelphia to begin research for my next novel, which is called, "The Death of Art," and have written two chapters. And while constantly re-writing Jungle-bunny has kept me from having completed more of DOA, I still plan on completing it over the winter.
And then the search for an agent will be renewed.
In 2009, I plan to increase my blog output, attend at least two writers conferences other than NABJ, find an agent, finish DOA, and plan and start whatever I will write after DOA.
So, it will be a busy year. I look forward to it.
Thanks again for reading, have a happy New Year and keep writing.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Gobbledy-gook
Long ago, I can't remember exactly when, my editor at United Press International, upon reading one of my news stories, pronounced it as being gobbledly-gook. At the time, I had been at UPI for a couple of years and had written numerous stories but none had gotten such a harsh response from my editor. For years after that, my fellow UNIPressers in the Philadelphia office ribbed me, in a good naturally way, about writing gobbledly-gook.
I left UPI 15 years ago and while I am occasionally in contact with one or two of my former colleagues, I doubt that any remember the comment. And I doubt that former editor does.
The editor, whose name is Bob, just published a book. I haven't spoken to him, I'm sure, in probably 15 years. But when I learned -- from a former UNIPresser, no less -- that Bob had written and published a book, I immediately e-mailed him a congrats and got back a nice reply.
The non-fiction book, which was regionally published in the Philadelphia area by a small press, is about two legal cases. The former colleague who informed me of Bob's book said it wasn't very good. In other words, gobbledly-gook. And I could understand that. I always thought Bob was a much better editor than writer.
But I looked up the book and was able to read the first two chapters online and they really were quite good. The writing was clear and compelling, and drew the reader further into the book, which is as it should be. I plan to order the book through Amazon and have Bob autograph it the next time I am in Philly.
And as I said to the UNIPresser who told me about book, Bob is to be congratulated. Writing a book is very difficult; getting published is even more so. That is something to be celebrated.
Hopefully, Bob one day will get to read one of my published books. I have confidence in my writing, just as I did back then. And I'm sure he won't call it gobbledly-gook.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
I left UPI 15 years ago and while I am occasionally in contact with one or two of my former colleagues, I doubt that any remember the comment. And I doubt that former editor does.
The editor, whose name is Bob, just published a book. I haven't spoken to him, I'm sure, in probably 15 years. But when I learned -- from a former UNIPresser, no less -- that Bob had written and published a book, I immediately e-mailed him a congrats and got back a nice reply.
The non-fiction book, which was regionally published in the Philadelphia area by a small press, is about two legal cases. The former colleague who informed me of Bob's book said it wasn't very good. In other words, gobbledly-gook. And I could understand that. I always thought Bob was a much better editor than writer.
But I looked up the book and was able to read the first two chapters online and they really were quite good. The writing was clear and compelling, and drew the reader further into the book, which is as it should be. I plan to order the book through Amazon and have Bob autograph it the next time I am in Philly.
And as I said to the UNIPresser who told me about book, Bob is to be congratulated. Writing a book is very difficult; getting published is even more so. That is something to be celebrated.
Hopefully, Bob one day will get to read one of my published books. I have confidence in my writing, just as I did back then. And I'm sure he won't call it gobbledly-gook.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Marketing II
I was working today on a freelance article I do regularly for a client and was speaking a marketing expert who focuses on law firm marketing. And she said something that I think applies to marketing in general and can certainly be applied to marketing and promotions for a book.
She said you must 'analyze, plan, execute, measure results, modify (actions, if necessary) and repeat -- on a never-ending basis.'
I am writing this down because I don't want to forget it. (Well, I am going to use it in the article but I wanted to have it here first.) It will come in handy for marketing the racing anthology and when i sign with a publisher.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
She said you must 'analyze, plan, execute, measure results, modify (actions, if necessary) and repeat -- on a never-ending basis.'
I am writing this down because I don't want to forget it. (Well, I am going to use it in the article but I wanted to have it here first.) It will come in handy for marketing the racing anthology and when i sign with a publisher.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Marketing
I have been thinking about marketing for the last couple of days. Not just for my novel but also for the mystery anthology the Speed City chapter of Sisters in Crime is working on.
The chapter published a book of short stories themed around the Indianapolis 500 back in the fall of 2007. The next anthology, which is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2010, will be themed around the Brickyard 400. The first book has done reasonably well for our chapter but sales could have been better.
And that's where better marketing comes in.
The chapter must be more aggressive this time, targeting all the major NASCAR markets for both print, broadcast and online possibilities, national outlets (both in publishing and in motorsports), and really do more online marketing. That includes using the chapter's website for text and online interviews and excrepts, protrays of the authors and links to the chapter's Facebook page.
Since we are already online, there is a lot we can do to market and promote ourselves inexpensively using the media we already have. We don't have to generate a slew of press releases on paper but once, if then. Once we have all the e-mail addresses of the contacts we want, we can send them updates through cyberspace.
I think this marketing effort needs to be in full swing by the summer, with some aspects operational in time for the Indy 500 in May. In that way, we can stir up some advance interest in 2009 and and build on it leading up to the publication in 2010.
I have already sent my story, although I will send a more updated version by the end of the year. I read it from time to time -- I read it just today -- and there isn't much more for me to do except wait for any recommendations from the editor, which I don't expect until some time in the spring.
That's all for now.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
The chapter published a book of short stories themed around the Indianapolis 500 back in the fall of 2007. The next anthology, which is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2010, will be themed around the Brickyard 400. The first book has done reasonably well for our chapter but sales could have been better.
And that's where better marketing comes in.
The chapter must be more aggressive this time, targeting all the major NASCAR markets for both print, broadcast and online possibilities, national outlets (both in publishing and in motorsports), and really do more online marketing. That includes using the chapter's website for text and online interviews and excrepts, protrays of the authors and links to the chapter's Facebook page.
Since we are already online, there is a lot we can do to market and promote ourselves inexpensively using the media we already have. We don't have to generate a slew of press releases on paper but once, if then. Once we have all the e-mail addresses of the contacts we want, we can send them updates through cyberspace.
I think this marketing effort needs to be in full swing by the summer, with some aspects operational in time for the Indy 500 in May. In that way, we can stir up some advance interest in 2009 and and build on it leading up to the publication in 2010.
I have already sent my story, although I will send a more updated version by the end of the year. I read it from time to time -- I read it just today -- and there isn't much more for me to do except wait for any recommendations from the editor, which I don't expect until some time in the spring.
That's all for now.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Skipping Christmas
As I have said before, reading is essential for good writing. Reading helps a writer develop their skills and helps in developing an individual style. Other writers can also inspire new ideas or approaches to old ideas.
It's a win-win situation. Plus, even if you are not a writer, reading is just fun and enjoyable.
There are a number of writers I particularly like. One I discovered just this year is Janet Evanovich. My daughters have been reading her Stephanie Plum series for years but I only discovered them this past spring when we listened to one of the audio tapes while in the car driving to Pennsylvania. Since then, I have read or listened to five or six of Evanovich's novels and also read a non-fiction book she wrote on writing.
But probably my favorite author is John Grisham. I generally listen to a book on tape and it I like it, I buy the hardback and read it. Two I really like -- and read often -- are "The Testament" and "The Broker." Both have good stories and are told well.
Yet there is another one I read once a year. It is "Skipping Christmas." The book is not a crime or legal thriller. It's about a man who plans to completely skip celebrating Christmas one year and take a cruise. Given how chaotic the season often is, who wouldn't want to do that.
Well, the book is delightful. I love reading it at Christmastime each year, not the least because I also remember the friend who gave me the book. But it is such a wonderful book to read, fun and easy. The descriptions are perfect. The setting and characters are perfect. The dialogue is perfect. Just about everything about the book is perfect.
I just read it this week and enjoyed it as much today as when I read it for the first time in 2001. And I suggest it to you at Christmastime.
Thanks for reading. Don't forget to keep reading and don't give up on writing.
It's a win-win situation. Plus, even if you are not a writer, reading is just fun and enjoyable.
There are a number of writers I particularly like. One I discovered just this year is Janet Evanovich. My daughters have been reading her Stephanie Plum series for years but I only discovered them this past spring when we listened to one of the audio tapes while in the car driving to Pennsylvania. Since then, I have read or listened to five or six of Evanovich's novels and also read a non-fiction book she wrote on writing.
But probably my favorite author is John Grisham. I generally listen to a book on tape and it I like it, I buy the hardback and read it. Two I really like -- and read often -- are "The Testament" and "The Broker." Both have good stories and are told well.
Yet there is another one I read once a year. It is "Skipping Christmas." The book is not a crime or legal thriller. It's about a man who plans to completely skip celebrating Christmas one year and take a cruise. Given how chaotic the season often is, who wouldn't want to do that.
Well, the book is delightful. I love reading it at Christmastime each year, not the least because I also remember the friend who gave me the book. But it is such a wonderful book to read, fun and easy. The descriptions are perfect. The setting and characters are perfect. The dialogue is perfect. Just about everything about the book is perfect.
I just read it this week and enjoyed it as much today as when I read it for the first time in 2001. And I suggest it to you at Christmastime.
Thanks for reading. Don't forget to keep reading and don't give up on writing.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Something bold
I started something bold yesterday. The decision to do it wasn't easy months ago but when it re-surfaced two days ago, it was easy because it seemed so right.
I am rewriting "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" in first-person.
I resisted this idea for months because, as a journalist, I'm far more comfortable writing in third-person. In fact, other than writing editorials for the Philadelphia Tribune, which were first-person plural, I have only written a handful of articles in first-person throughout my entire professional career. To tell the truth, I can only remember four instances.
But this venture, for me, is bold, radical, revolutionary. I was struggling with how to improve the novel and this came to mind.
I started yesterday, eliminating any and all chapters in which Jason Crown does not appear. That means I cut the novel down from 78,000 words to about 45,000, 5,000 short of what I need for the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest in two months. But some of the information in the eliminated chapters will still be needed. I will just have to include it in another way.
I lost a lot of writing that I loved, particularly a scene between two teens in which the girl tells the boy she is pregnant. That was a particularly well-written chapter but it is no more.
After I go through everything I currently have, I will have to consider what is missing and how I need to add it. There will be a number of scenes I will have to add. In the end, I imagine the novel will top out at about 70,000 words.
So, that's it. A lot of hard work ahead but it is new and exciting. And I'm just waiting to see where it goes. If nothing else, I still have numerous earlier versions in third-person.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
I am rewriting "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" in first-person.
I resisted this idea for months because, as a journalist, I'm far more comfortable writing in third-person. In fact, other than writing editorials for the Philadelphia Tribune, which were first-person plural, I have only written a handful of articles in first-person throughout my entire professional career. To tell the truth, I can only remember four instances.
But this venture, for me, is bold, radical, revolutionary. I was struggling with how to improve the novel and this came to mind.
I started yesterday, eliminating any and all chapters in which Jason Crown does not appear. That means I cut the novel down from 78,000 words to about 45,000, 5,000 short of what I need for the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest in two months. But some of the information in the eliminated chapters will still be needed. I will just have to include it in another way.
I lost a lot of writing that I loved, particularly a scene between two teens in which the girl tells the boy she is pregnant. That was a particularly well-written chapter but it is no more.
After I go through everything I currently have, I will have to consider what is missing and how I need to add it. There will be a number of scenes I will have to add. In the end, I imagine the novel will top out at about 70,000 words.
So, that's it. A lot of hard work ahead but it is new and exciting. And I'm just waiting to see where it goes. If nothing else, I still have numerous earlier versions in third-person.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Confidence
This is a balance between having confidence in your idea and your work and in being open suggestions and to criticism. But finding that balance can be a challenge.
I like "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." I think it is funny and compelling and an interesting read. But is that enough to get an agent? A publisher? Is it good enough to withstand the rigors of a writing competition?
I'm not sure. And so I am pouring over Jungle-bunny, chapter by chapter, looking for those elements that can make it unsaleable. But I find myself greatly second-guessing myself. I spend several hours yesterday rewriting the opening of the novel only to find it uninteresting and unfocused. So, I am throwing all that work out.
As I learn more and read more closely, I find my final draft is generally good but could use some tighter editing. That is my goal. But in the end I second-guess myself. Am I doing the best thing? The correct thing? I don't know.
I feel lost again. I need it to be the best it can be before Feb. 2, the opening day for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest, but time is short and I'm uncertain as to what to do. Advice is often conflicting and can undermine confidence. But without it, you are shooting in the dark.
Once again I don't know what to do. Only that something needs to be done. I just can't find the balance between confidence and openness.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
I like "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." I think it is funny and compelling and an interesting read. But is that enough to get an agent? A publisher? Is it good enough to withstand the rigors of a writing competition?
I'm not sure. And so I am pouring over Jungle-bunny, chapter by chapter, looking for those elements that can make it unsaleable. But I find myself greatly second-guessing myself. I spend several hours yesterday rewriting the opening of the novel only to find it uninteresting and unfocused. So, I am throwing all that work out.
As I learn more and read more closely, I find my final draft is generally good but could use some tighter editing. That is my goal. But in the end I second-guess myself. Am I doing the best thing? The correct thing? I don't know.
I feel lost again. I need it to be the best it can be before Feb. 2, the opening day for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest, but time is short and I'm uncertain as to what to do. Advice is often conflicting and can undermine confidence. But without it, you are shooting in the dark.
Once again I don't know what to do. Only that something needs to be done. I just can't find the balance between confidence and openness.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Contests
I have decided to enter a contest with "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" early in the new year. And I may change the title.
This is a big decision for me and, while I will continue looking for an agent, it could complicate things in that area. The contest is called the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
The last contest I entered was last year. It was the Writer's Digest annual contest and I entered my screenplay, "Loss of Consortium." And while I didn't win, I got an honorable mention in the screenplay category, which was quite something since it was my first screenplay. But at the time I was concentrating on finishing my first novel, "Fighting Chaos," and decided against pursuing anything with screenplays.
I didn't enter the Amazon contest last year with Chaos and I'm glad I didn't. It really wasn't good enough and still isn't. The story will need to be overhauled and I'm not willing to do that at the moment.
But I have grown since writing Chaos and Jungle-bunny is in much better shape to begin with. So I am going with it.
I will write more about the contest later but it runs for one week, Feb. 2-9. The entry form and related materials can only be submitted then. It must be fiction, 50,000 to 100,000 words in length, in English, by an individual author, unpublished. While free, the contest requires a 'pitch' letter (the requirements of which I am still trying to determine), biographical information and a 3,000 to 5,000 word exempt of the first part of the novel.
The grand prize, which will be announced by late may or early June, is a $25,000 contract with Penguin books for the publication of the novel, plus marketing of the work. Last year, a number of the 10 finalists who didn't win the overall prize got noticed in the industry and ultimately got publishing contracts.
I am not putting all my eggs into a single basket but this is a basket I can not ignore. the organizers -- Penguin and Amazon -- expect as many as 10,000 entries and the contest is judged in stages, starting with the pitch letter. But If I could make it to the quarter- or semi-finals I will have gone a long way.
This is going to require a lot of preparation and hard work pouring over the novel again and again and writing it yet one more time. Plus there is the pitch letter. I'm not sure what to expect with that. But I am going to get it done in time to submit all my material early in the morning on Feb. 2. I'm not going to wait.
This means, of course, that additional work on "The Death of Art" will be put on hold, or at least work will be dramatically slowed. The focus has to be on Jungle-bunny.
What to do with the title? I don't know. The content guidelines forbid 'offensive' or 'disparaging' material but that is still vague. It error on the side of caution I will probably rename the book.
Anyway, that is it for now. More later as additional information is available. Wish me luck.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
This is a big decision for me and, while I will continue looking for an agent, it could complicate things in that area. The contest is called the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
The last contest I entered was last year. It was the Writer's Digest annual contest and I entered my screenplay, "Loss of Consortium." And while I didn't win, I got an honorable mention in the screenplay category, which was quite something since it was my first screenplay. But at the time I was concentrating on finishing my first novel, "Fighting Chaos," and decided against pursuing anything with screenplays.
I didn't enter the Amazon contest last year with Chaos and I'm glad I didn't. It really wasn't good enough and still isn't. The story will need to be overhauled and I'm not willing to do that at the moment.
But I have grown since writing Chaos and Jungle-bunny is in much better shape to begin with. So I am going with it.
I will write more about the contest later but it runs for one week, Feb. 2-9. The entry form and related materials can only be submitted then. It must be fiction, 50,000 to 100,000 words in length, in English, by an individual author, unpublished. While free, the contest requires a 'pitch' letter (the requirements of which I am still trying to determine), biographical information and a 3,000 to 5,000 word exempt of the first part of the novel.
The grand prize, which will be announced by late may or early June, is a $25,000 contract with Penguin books for the publication of the novel, plus marketing of the work. Last year, a number of the 10 finalists who didn't win the overall prize got noticed in the industry and ultimately got publishing contracts.
I am not putting all my eggs into a single basket but this is a basket I can not ignore. the organizers -- Penguin and Amazon -- expect as many as 10,000 entries and the contest is judged in stages, starting with the pitch letter. But If I could make it to the quarter- or semi-finals I will have gone a long way.
This is going to require a lot of preparation and hard work pouring over the novel again and again and writing it yet one more time. Plus there is the pitch letter. I'm not sure what to expect with that. But I am going to get it done in time to submit all my material early in the morning on Feb. 2. I'm not going to wait.
This means, of course, that additional work on "The Death of Art" will be put on hold, or at least work will be dramatically slowed. The focus has to be on Jungle-bunny.
What to do with the title? I don't know. The content guidelines forbid 'offensive' or 'disparaging' material but that is still vague. It error on the side of caution I will probably rename the book.
Anyway, that is it for now. More later as additional information is available. Wish me luck.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Friday, November 28, 2008
100th blog posting
I know I am speaking to the choir -- I have had fewer than 300 views to my blog in the last year and a lot of them are me -- but this posting is a milestone. This is my 100th blog posting.
Yes, I know I should have reached this point months ago, probably back in August. When I started, I had planned to blog three times a week and roughly 12 times a month. For the first four months, I kept that pace. Since March, only once have I had as many as eight posts in a single month, and that was in July.
But reaching 100, all I can say is better late than never.
Since I started this blog, the intent was to talk about my journey as an aspiring novelist and fiction writer. I wanted it to help other writers but I first wanted it to help me. I think I have done that.
Since I started last December, I have finished the final draft of my first novel, "Fighting Chaos," completed my second novel, "The Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal," started a third novel, "The Death of Art," written a short story, "The Missing CD," for an anthology, written more than 35 newspaper, magazine or online articles, and have sent out dozens of query letters to potential agents. I joined two fiction-writing groups, and joined a writer's critique group.
Now that I look at it, I have been busy. It's odd for a person as lazy as me.
In my blog, I have touched on numerous subjects, including writing query letters, how to handle rejections, marketing and promotions, writing, reading other writers, agents, disappointments, encouragements, research, my books, and many, many more.
The past year has been a real growth year. Looking back at Fighting Chaos, I can more clearly see why it wasn't picked up. The writing is good but boring. The book needs a complete re-write -- the seventh -- but I'm not ready to do that now. Perhaps some day. I still like the story. It is very personal to me. But I may never get back to it. We will see.
Anyway, I am looking forward to moving forward with my postings. I still have lots to say, even when I'm not saying it.
So I will end with what I generally end with. It is perhaps the most important thing I can say.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Yes, I know I should have reached this point months ago, probably back in August. When I started, I had planned to blog three times a week and roughly 12 times a month. For the first four months, I kept that pace. Since March, only once have I had as many as eight posts in a single month, and that was in July.
But reaching 100, all I can say is better late than never.
Since I started this blog, the intent was to talk about my journey as an aspiring novelist and fiction writer. I wanted it to help other writers but I first wanted it to help me. I think I have done that.
Since I started last December, I have finished the final draft of my first novel, "Fighting Chaos," completed my second novel, "The Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal," started a third novel, "The Death of Art," written a short story, "The Missing CD," for an anthology, written more than 35 newspaper, magazine or online articles, and have sent out dozens of query letters to potential agents. I joined two fiction-writing groups, and joined a writer's critique group.
Now that I look at it, I have been busy. It's odd for a person as lazy as me.
In my blog, I have touched on numerous subjects, including writing query letters, how to handle rejections, marketing and promotions, writing, reading other writers, agents, disappointments, encouragements, research, my books, and many, many more.
The past year has been a real growth year. Looking back at Fighting Chaos, I can more clearly see why it wasn't picked up. The writing is good but boring. The book needs a complete re-write -- the seventh -- but I'm not ready to do that now. Perhaps some day. I still like the story. It is very personal to me. But I may never get back to it. We will see.
Anyway, I am looking forward to moving forward with my postings. I still have lots to say, even when I'm not saying it.
So I will end with what I generally end with. It is perhaps the most important thing I can say.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Research II
My critique group met last weekend and I had the works of two authors to read. Both writers submitted short stories they intend to use in the next racing anthology that the local chapter of Sisters in Crime plans to publish in 2010.
In both cases, the writing was generally good and the stories were compelling. But I was struck with several lapses -- serious lapses -- that could fatally compromise the credibility of the book. In both cases, it was due to the lack of research.
I admire both of these writers but I think they already had murder stories in mind that they adapted for the book, which will focus on the Brickyard 400, which is a NASCAR event. But tere was a problem. They are not race fans, as far as I know, and they merely added racing-related material without doing much in the way of research into racing or NASCAR.
First in both cases, for example, the writers had NASCAR teams based in Indianapolis. If this were Indy car that wouldn't be a problem but not in NASCAR. There are no NASCAR teams based in Indy and certainly no prominent ones. No prominent team would.
It would be like a major fashion designer basing their operation in Peru, Indiana, instead of New York City.
I mentioned that example and others to the editor of the book so she would be aware and would be looking for problems in other stories. But the main problem still goes back to research.
You should always write what you know. I would never write a paranormal story or a western or a Gothic romance because I don't know anything about them. Even with a lot of research, I doubt I could create a plausible fictional setting for any of those genre. That is why I stick to what I know.
Again, that doesn't mean I pooh-pooh research. Not at all. I do research. I did research for the short story I wrote, I did it for both "Fighting Chaos" and "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal", and I am still doing research for "The Death of Art." But in each of those cases, I was looking for specifics, such as street names in far away places, or, for example, where a church is on the map in relationship to, say, a river.
I hope the other writers pay closer attention to some of those racing details because I think the Sisters in Crime chapter should market the upcoming book more aggressively than it did with "Racing can be Murder" (2007). If we can get it in front of NASCAR fans in the South, we can have a truly big fundraiser.
But the details have to be right. And fans will be critical. We have to be on top of things.
That's all I have for now. Thanks for reading and keep writing.
In both cases, the writing was generally good and the stories were compelling. But I was struck with several lapses -- serious lapses -- that could fatally compromise the credibility of the book. In both cases, it was due to the lack of research.
I admire both of these writers but I think they already had murder stories in mind that they adapted for the book, which will focus on the Brickyard 400, which is a NASCAR event. But tere was a problem. They are not race fans, as far as I know, and they merely added racing-related material without doing much in the way of research into racing or NASCAR.
First in both cases, for example, the writers had NASCAR teams based in Indianapolis. If this were Indy car that wouldn't be a problem but not in NASCAR. There are no NASCAR teams based in Indy and certainly no prominent ones. No prominent team would.
It would be like a major fashion designer basing their operation in Peru, Indiana, instead of New York City.
I mentioned that example and others to the editor of the book so she would be aware and would be looking for problems in other stories. But the main problem still goes back to research.
You should always write what you know. I would never write a paranormal story or a western or a Gothic romance because I don't know anything about them. Even with a lot of research, I doubt I could create a plausible fictional setting for any of those genre. That is why I stick to what I know.
Again, that doesn't mean I pooh-pooh research. Not at all. I do research. I did research for the short story I wrote, I did it for both "Fighting Chaos" and "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal", and I am still doing research for "The Death of Art." But in each of those cases, I was looking for specifics, such as street names in far away places, or, for example, where a church is on the map in relationship to, say, a river.
I hope the other writers pay closer attention to some of those racing details because I think the Sisters in Crime chapter should market the upcoming book more aggressively than it did with "Racing can be Murder" (2007). If we can get it in front of NASCAR fans in the South, we can have a truly big fundraiser.
But the details have to be right. And fans will be critical. We have to be on top of things.
That's all I have for now. Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Motivation II
Back in May I first wrote about motivation. At the time, I was talking about my motivation or, at that moment, the lack thereof. It was a temporary thing that happens to me near the end of a novel. I work through it and move on.
But today I am pondering the lack of motivation from a different angle.
I have a friend __ an older man __ who is a writer and has been for most of his adult life. He has a master's degree in writing (I think that's what the degree is in) from Iowa State. He is a wonderful man, a joy to talk to, listen to and to read.
When I was his editor at The Philadelphia Tribune, we had the worst fights. He would fight me over every word he wrote. But we respected each other, respected each other's talents and our individual desires to have the article at its very best when it appeared in print.
But he was also an author, a writer of plays and novels. Because his political views are far to the left of mine, I often disagreed with his perspective but I loved his writing, his passion and his expression.
When I was talking to him last week regarding the recent death of another reporter we both knew, my friend said to me that he was having a harder time getting out of bed in the morning and he wasn't writing. He lacked motivation.
I know he was concerned about it but it terrified me, and not just for him. What if I one day woke up and lost the motivation? What would I do? Who would I be?
Writing is hard, hard work. And frankly, I don't like to do it because I am lazy. But what I truly love is having written. I get some pleasure out of writing this blog, for instance, but, once I am finished, will derive tremendous pleasure out of having written it.
I finished a short story last week and am still living off of the high of having written those 7,000 words. And it's how I feel about my two finished novels, and on the parts of my currently unfinished novel.
I don't know what to say to my friend except pull yourself together. But in my life, I hope to keep writing until it is no longer physically or mentally possible. And that, I hope, won't occur until the end of my life.
Just a thought . . .
Thanks for reading and definitely keep writing.
But today I am pondering the lack of motivation from a different angle.
I have a friend __ an older man __ who is a writer and has been for most of his adult life. He has a master's degree in writing (I think that's what the degree is in) from Iowa State. He is a wonderful man, a joy to talk to, listen to and to read.
When I was his editor at The Philadelphia Tribune, we had the worst fights. He would fight me over every word he wrote. But we respected each other, respected each other's talents and our individual desires to have the article at its very best when it appeared in print.
But he was also an author, a writer of plays and novels. Because his political views are far to the left of mine, I often disagreed with his perspective but I loved his writing, his passion and his expression.
When I was talking to him last week regarding the recent death of another reporter we both knew, my friend said to me that he was having a harder time getting out of bed in the morning and he wasn't writing. He lacked motivation.
I know he was concerned about it but it terrified me, and not just for him. What if I one day woke up and lost the motivation? What would I do? Who would I be?
Writing is hard, hard work. And frankly, I don't like to do it because I am lazy. But what I truly love is having written. I get some pleasure out of writing this blog, for instance, but, once I am finished, will derive tremendous pleasure out of having written it.
I finished a short story last week and am still living off of the high of having written those 7,000 words. And it's how I feel about my two finished novels, and on the parts of my currently unfinished novel.
I don't know what to say to my friend except pull yourself together. But in my life, I hope to keep writing until it is no longer physically or mentally possible. And that, I hope, won't occur until the end of my life.
Just a thought . . .
Thanks for reading and definitely keep writing.
Friday, November 21, 2008
The passing of a wirter
There is a character (Marshall Watkins) in "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" who is directly patterned after a real person. And unfortunately this week, the real Marshall Watkins, whose name was Kendall Wilson, died. Kendall was a staple at The Philadelphia Tribune where he had spent much of the last four decades -- on and off.
As was said in his obit published in the Tribune, Kendall knew everyone in the city and everyone knew him. His list of contacts and sources was amazing. He lived hard, he drank hard and he worked hard. With his jacket and hat, he looked like a throw-back to reporters in the 30s and 40s. And regardless of the cold, he never wore an overcoat. Not trusting banks, he always cashed his check and carried cash. I can't imagine the amount of money he must have paid for money orders.
I remember working with him in 1997 on a series of articles for which he won a national award. It was on the attempt by large corporations to buy up locally owned minority funeral homes. Kendall's reporting was excellent and his work was well-written, which made the content editing much easier.
Since moving back to the Midwest, I have missed seeing Kendall, even on my trips back to the Trib. Kendall stopped working there on a regular basis several years ago. So I rarely saw him. But even when he wasn't there, Kendall was a presence at the paper. And it was better for his having worked there.
I had hoped to make it to his funeral tomorrow but that just didn't work out.
May he rest in peace.
Thanks for reading, keep the hope and keep writing.
As was said in his obit published in the Tribune, Kendall knew everyone in the city and everyone knew him. His list of contacts and sources was amazing. He lived hard, he drank hard and he worked hard. With his jacket and hat, he looked like a throw-back to reporters in the 30s and 40s. And regardless of the cold, he never wore an overcoat. Not trusting banks, he always cashed his check and carried cash. I can't imagine the amount of money he must have paid for money orders.
I remember working with him in 1997 on a series of articles for which he won a national award. It was on the attempt by large corporations to buy up locally owned minority funeral homes. Kendall's reporting was excellent and his work was well-written, which made the content editing much easier.
Since moving back to the Midwest, I have missed seeing Kendall, even on my trips back to the Trib. Kendall stopped working there on a regular basis several years ago. So I rarely saw him. But even when he wasn't there, Kendall was a presence at the paper. And it was better for his having worked there.
I had hoped to make it to his funeral tomorrow but that just didn't work out.
May he rest in peace.
Thanks for reading, keep the hope and keep writing.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Formatting
I know I have touched on this subject to some degree earlier but today I want to talk about formatting a manuscript for submission.
It is very, very important to follow all the stated rules and adhere to all the requirements of whomever you are submitting to. To do otherwise is to give the reader their first reason to reject you, and probably the only reason they will need. So I take formatting seriously.
But I had an issue earlier this week when I was submitting my short story, "The Missing CD" (a title I am not happy with but I needed a title and that is the first thing that came to mind), to the editor of a currently untitled racing anthology set for spring 2010 publication.
The type size (12-point), font (Times New Roman) and spacing (double) were no problem. Even the margins, one-inch all around, wasn't too hard to do. The title page created some early problems but it, too, worked out in the end. Most importantly, I put the title in the right place and indicated the word count. Editors want that.
The problem was with the headers.
I use Mircosoft Office Word 2007, although I can save material and send things in a 2003 version.
On my computer, I can use the headers to put the title/author's name in the upper left corner of a page. And I can put the page number on the upper right. Both appear to be basic requirements.
But my laptop doesn't allow a page number header AND a title/author's name header at the same time. It is intensely frustrating. I know there must be a way to do that but I just haven't been able to discover it. And I know a lot could be hanging in the balance.
On virtually any computer there are tons of options but knowing what all those opions are is an enormous task. And I don't have all the time to find it out.
That is why, if you are like me, it is good to know a techie or two. Sound advice.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
It is very, very important to follow all the stated rules and adhere to all the requirements of whomever you are submitting to. To do otherwise is to give the reader their first reason to reject you, and probably the only reason they will need. So I take formatting seriously.
But I had an issue earlier this week when I was submitting my short story, "The Missing CD" (a title I am not happy with but I needed a title and that is the first thing that came to mind), to the editor of a currently untitled racing anthology set for spring 2010 publication.
The type size (12-point), font (Times New Roman) and spacing (double) were no problem. Even the margins, one-inch all around, wasn't too hard to do. The title page created some early problems but it, too, worked out in the end. Most importantly, I put the title in the right place and indicated the word count. Editors want that.
The problem was with the headers.
I use Mircosoft Office Word 2007, although I can save material and send things in a 2003 version.
On my computer, I can use the headers to put the title/author's name in the upper left corner of a page. And I can put the page number on the upper right. Both appear to be basic requirements.
But my laptop doesn't allow a page number header AND a title/author's name header at the same time. It is intensely frustrating. I know there must be a way to do that but I just haven't been able to discover it. And I know a lot could be hanging in the balance.
On virtually any computer there are tons of options but knowing what all those opions are is an enormous task. And I don't have all the time to find it out.
That is why, if you are like me, it is good to know a techie or two. Sound advice.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
My Muse
I was at a reception and book unveiling last week for "Who's Who in Black Indianapolis" and saw my muse for "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." Well, in truth, Nichole is less a muse for the story than an inspiration for it.
I had decided on writing a murder mystery set in a black newspaper years before I met Nichole, who, as a physical therapist, worked on my left shoulder a number of years ago. But in talking to Nichole __ I talked a lot in therapy. It took my mind off the heavy work she had me doing during therapy __ the idea formed that was the basis for the story in Jungle-bunny.
I haven't seen Nichole in months. Periodically, we'd have lunch together. I did send her several chapters of an early version of the book, although she has never commented on them. Frankly, I'm not sure she read them. But no matter. I did my part.
For her part, Nichole reminds me of the hard work I put into the novel and of the hard work it is taking to get it published. In fact, I just noticed there is always a single person who has inspired each of my three novels.
My wife Angela inspired "Fighting Chaos" and there is a character in the book patterned after her. Nichole inspired Jungle-bunny and nominally there is a character patterned after her and in my newest offering, "The Death of Art" __ which I am still working on __ the niece of some close friends inspired the character of an early victim.
I wonder who will inpsire my next novel.
But before I get to that, I need to find an agent, take to get Jungle-bunny published and finish writing "The Death of Art." Quite a lot to do and so I am going to get on with it.
Thanks for reading and don't give up.
I had decided on writing a murder mystery set in a black newspaper years before I met Nichole, who, as a physical therapist, worked on my left shoulder a number of years ago. But in talking to Nichole __ I talked a lot in therapy. It took my mind off the heavy work she had me doing during therapy __ the idea formed that was the basis for the story in Jungle-bunny.
I haven't seen Nichole in months. Periodically, we'd have lunch together. I did send her several chapters of an early version of the book, although she has never commented on them. Frankly, I'm not sure she read them. But no matter. I did my part.
For her part, Nichole reminds me of the hard work I put into the novel and of the hard work it is taking to get it published. In fact, I just noticed there is always a single person who has inspired each of my three novels.
My wife Angela inspired "Fighting Chaos" and there is a character in the book patterned after her. Nichole inspired Jungle-bunny and nominally there is a character patterned after her and in my newest offering, "The Death of Art" __ which I am still working on __ the niece of some close friends inspired the character of an early victim.
I wonder who will inpsire my next novel.
But before I get to that, I need to find an agent, take to get Jungle-bunny published and finish writing "The Death of Art." Quite a lot to do and so I am going to get on with it.
Thanks for reading and don't give up.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
E-mail vs. snail mail
Agents are funny people. Well, to be truthful, people are funny people. But I just want to address agents at the moment.
Agents have all sorts of likes and dislikes and many of them are listed on their websites or on agent listings, both online and printed. And while it is rare that all of an agent's preferences will be so obvious __ and not knowing is a potential minefield __ it is always important to follow their suggestions based on their preferences.
I think it is civil to write "thank you for your time and consideration" at the bottom of a query because I really am taking up some of their time, if only marginally. But I know of an agent who expressly doesn't like that. She says she should be thanking the writer for taking the time to consider her. So, in my query letter, I didn't thank her for her time. (She rejected me anyway, but was quite nice about it.)
But the preferences that always confuse me is when an agent only wants snail mail queries or only e-mail queries. Why one and not the other? Why not accept either? Why be some funny about it?
Snail mail, of course, is more traditional, more time-consuming, costly, and less immediate. But it does give the agent something to put their hands on and allows the writer to show they can conform to the standard publishing format, i.e. margins, headings and such.
The writer doesn't know how his or her letter is going to appear on the other end if it is in an e-mail but that is balanced by its immediacy and the fact that if the writer is sending the query online then they probably have checked out the agent's preferences on their website. It will appear less of a form letter sent to the next agent on the list.
And rejections tend to come quicker, allowing the writer to emotionally move on quicker.
While I do send out snail mail queries, I prefer e-mail. Even when targeting for a specific agent, which is an absolute, e-mails are quicker to write or adapt and mistakes are easier to quickly correct.
But I always follow their preferences where they are stated. That's just basic business sense.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Agents have all sorts of likes and dislikes and many of them are listed on their websites or on agent listings, both online and printed. And while it is rare that all of an agent's preferences will be so obvious __ and not knowing is a potential minefield __ it is always important to follow their suggestions based on their preferences.
I think it is civil to write "thank you for your time and consideration" at the bottom of a query because I really am taking up some of their time, if only marginally. But I know of an agent who expressly doesn't like that. She says she should be thanking the writer for taking the time to consider her. So, in my query letter, I didn't thank her for her time. (She rejected me anyway, but was quite nice about it.)
But the preferences that always confuse me is when an agent only wants snail mail queries or only e-mail queries. Why one and not the other? Why not accept either? Why be some funny about it?
Snail mail, of course, is more traditional, more time-consuming, costly, and less immediate. But it does give the agent something to put their hands on and allows the writer to show they can conform to the standard publishing format, i.e. margins, headings and such.
The writer doesn't know how his or her letter is going to appear on the other end if it is in an e-mail but that is balanced by its immediacy and the fact that if the writer is sending the query online then they probably have checked out the agent's preferences on their website. It will appear less of a form letter sent to the next agent on the list.
And rejections tend to come quicker, allowing the writer to emotionally move on quicker.
While I do send out snail mail queries, I prefer e-mail. Even when targeting for a specific agent, which is an absolute, e-mails are quicker to write or adapt and mistakes are easier to quickly correct.
But I always follow their preferences where they are stated. That's just basic business sense.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Query letters
After several months of working and reworking "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" in preparation of another assault of the publishing world, I have started to query agents again. I sent one last night and plan to step up efforts in the coming weeks at getting an agent. And while I was networking last week, I met the author of three non-fiction books who said she would help me with publishing contacts.
I hate the prospect of having to find an agent if only because the process seems so random. I have no idea what it is about my writing or query letter that isn't hitting on all cylinders. I have followed the formats and advice of numerous people on how to attract an agent and nothing seems to work. It is a frustrating exercise but, apparently, a necessary one. So I am at it again.
My query letter is short and sweet. It gets to the point quickly and asks, in only four paragraphs, that the agent consider me for representation. I don't waste their time.
I wish I was a famous writer if only because I'd have to do fewer __ of any __ query letters. I know the process of getting first and agent and then a publisher is asking someone I don't know to risk thousands of dollars in an investment on a total stranger. But it is the way the game is played.
So, I'm off to the races. The only real joy I find in it is that by the time I find an agent, my next book, "The Death of Art," should be nearing completion and I'd have one more piece of writing to use to interest both an agent and a publisher.
Thanks for reading and I promise to post more blog entries. Now get back to writing.
I hate the prospect of having to find an agent if only because the process seems so random. I have no idea what it is about my writing or query letter that isn't hitting on all cylinders. I have followed the formats and advice of numerous people on how to attract an agent and nothing seems to work. It is a frustrating exercise but, apparently, a necessary one. So I am at it again.
My query letter is short and sweet. It gets to the point quickly and asks, in only four paragraphs, that the agent consider me for representation. I don't waste their time.
I wish I was a famous writer if only because I'd have to do fewer __ of any __ query letters. I know the process of getting first and agent and then a publisher is asking someone I don't know to risk thousands of dollars in an investment on a total stranger. But it is the way the game is played.
So, I'm off to the races. The only real joy I find in it is that by the time I find an agent, my next book, "The Death of Art," should be nearing completion and I'd have one more piece of writing to use to interest both an agent and a publisher.
Thanks for reading and I promise to post more blog entries. Now get back to writing.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Marketing
One of the hardest things for me is marketing myself, although good marketing and promotions will determine whether I am a successful novelist. I am not comfortable at it and not good at it. And when it comes to promoting a book, I'm sure it will be expensive, exhausting, difficult and time-consuming.
But it will still need to be done.
To help in my comfort level, I am going to a session with fellow mystery writers tomorrow on using the Internet for promotion. Websites, Podcast, blogs and all manner of technical things I don't comprehend will come up.
Hopefully, I will make a final decision on a website and more forwars with that. At the very least, I will have more information for making an informed judgment.
I will have to tell you later how that goes. But for now, thanks for reading and keep writing.
To help in my comfort level, I am going to a session with fellow mystery writers tomorrow on using the Internet for promotion. Websites, Podcast, blogs and all manner of technical things I don't comprehend will come up.
Hopefully, I will make a final decision on a website and more forwars with that. At the very least, I will have more information for making an informed judgment.
I will have to tell you later how that goes. But for now, thanks for reading and keep writing.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Contractions
Some time ago, a fellow writer said I should use more contractions, particularly inside of quotes. She said it reads better.
Being that I greatly respect her opinions (although I don't always agree with them or always follow them) I decided to give the issue some thought. And I think she is right. Use of contractions, particularly in quotes, moves my story along.
But do I use them with nouns, either regular or proper? I decided that I do. There is nothing wrong with saying Mike's a great guy. It reads better than Mike is a great guy. (I am, by the way.) And I don't think there is a rule against it.
In the end, it is best to know a rule before you break it. In this case, there isn't a rule that applies. So, go with what feels best.
Sorry this is sort a short entry but that is all I have at the moment, other than my usual "Thanks for reading and keep writing."
Being that I greatly respect her opinions (although I don't always agree with them or always follow them) I decided to give the issue some thought. And I think she is right. Use of contractions, particularly in quotes, moves my story along.
But do I use them with nouns, either regular or proper? I decided that I do. There is nothing wrong with saying Mike's a great guy. It reads better than Mike is a great guy. (I am, by the way.) And I don't think there is a rule against it.
In the end, it is best to know a rule before you break it. In this case, there isn't a rule that applies. So, go with what feels best.
Sorry this is sort a short entry but that is all I have at the moment, other than my usual "Thanks for reading and keep writing."
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Death of Art
Last week wasn't a good week for me from a personal perspective. There were some things going on that tremendously clouded my focus and undermined my attention. One would think that work -- in this case, writing -- would help but I was too unfocused.
And then my new material was due on Friday to the members of my critique group and I had to decide what type of writer am I. Can I work when I'm totally unmotivated or not?
I wrote.
I wrote the next chapter in "The Death of Art," which, in this case, is Chpter 3. I wrote 3,300 words over about 10 hours, including the time I took to attend my youngest daughter's high school football game. (She is a cheerleader.)
The due date for the material was Friday and, unfortunately, I didn't finish before midnight. I didn't finish until about 1 in the morning. But I sent it so they would have it first thing Satuday morning.
I feel a sense of accomplishment for getting it done. It wasn't brilliant, of course. It was a first draft. But the work got done and, while not perfect, it is still pretty good.
I guess this coming Saturday I will learn how good (or bad) it is. But the most important thing is that I got it done. And that is one of the first characteristic that define a writer or a wannabe. A writer gets it done.
So that's it for the moment. Those are my thoughts. Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
And then my new material was due on Friday to the members of my critique group and I had to decide what type of writer am I. Can I work when I'm totally unmotivated or not?
I wrote.
I wrote the next chapter in "The Death of Art," which, in this case, is Chpter 3. I wrote 3,300 words over about 10 hours, including the time I took to attend my youngest daughter's high school football game. (She is a cheerleader.)
The due date for the material was Friday and, unfortunately, I didn't finish before midnight. I didn't finish until about 1 in the morning. But I sent it so they would have it first thing Satuday morning.
I feel a sense of accomplishment for getting it done. It wasn't brilliant, of course. It was a first draft. But the work got done and, while not perfect, it is still pretty good.
I guess this coming Saturday I will learn how good (or bad) it is. But the most important thing is that I got it done. And that is one of the first characteristic that define a writer or a wannabe. A writer gets it done.
So that's it for the moment. Those are my thoughts. Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
When it's time to give up on something you've written
I was reading a blog I recently discovered and one of the topics it covered in the last couple of days was when is it time to give up on something you have written. That particularly comes to mind for me because my first book, "Fighting Chaos," is just sitting on the proverbial shelf.
In the end, the blogger said it's a difficult question and it's hard to know. However, he offered some insight.
Since I finished Chaos last December, I have grown a lot as a writer and my craft has significantly developed. Now as I look back at the novel, I have a better understanding of why it will never sell in its current form. The story is still good, I think, but the pacing is all off, there is too much backstory in too great of detail, some of the characters are wooden and stiff, and the plot doesn't propel the reader forward.
In the end, it reads like it was written by a novice, which, as it turns out, was the case.
But I am still very attached to the story. It is quite personal to me. Should I give up the ghost and drop it forever? I don't think so. I have chalked up the experience and moved on but there is still something interesting to tell in the story.
So, what do I do? Well, for now, I leave it where it is. In time, and when I have the time, I hope to get back to it. When I am stronger in my creaft, have a better understanding of the market and insight into upcoming trends, I hope to get back to the story. That, unfortunately, could -- and probably will -- take years. But the novel is on the shelf and isn't going anywhere, so why worry.
The blogger quoted (although didn't name) a famous writer, who said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
That's not the case with Chaos. It no longer is just inside me. I would like for it to be read but, for the moment, that isn't going to be the case. But it is not an 'untold story.'
Now, on to the next . . .
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
In the end, the blogger said it's a difficult question and it's hard to know. However, he offered some insight.
Since I finished Chaos last December, I have grown a lot as a writer and my craft has significantly developed. Now as I look back at the novel, I have a better understanding of why it will never sell in its current form. The story is still good, I think, but the pacing is all off, there is too much backstory in too great of detail, some of the characters are wooden and stiff, and the plot doesn't propel the reader forward.
In the end, it reads like it was written by a novice, which, as it turns out, was the case.
But I am still very attached to the story. It is quite personal to me. Should I give up the ghost and drop it forever? I don't think so. I have chalked up the experience and moved on but there is still something interesting to tell in the story.
So, what do I do? Well, for now, I leave it where it is. In time, and when I have the time, I hope to get back to it. When I am stronger in my creaft, have a better understanding of the market and insight into upcoming trends, I hope to get back to the story. That, unfortunately, could -- and probably will -- take years. But the novel is on the shelf and isn't going anywhere, so why worry.
The blogger quoted (although didn't name) a famous writer, who said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
That's not the case with Chaos. It no longer is just inside me. I would like for it to be read but, for the moment, that isn't going to be the case. But it is not an 'untold story.'
Now, on to the next . . .
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
A perfect day
It is gloomy outside today. There's a total cloud cover and it's cooler than it has been for some time. It's fall, of course, and soon the leaves should really start turning and falling. I don't have an assignment deadline until later in the week and I had to postpone a luncheon appointment I had for today with two editors. I don't to take a child to a doctor's appointment or cheerleading practice. I don't have to take someone to school. In fact, everyone is out of the house and should be gone until about 6.
In other words, it's a perfect day to write. I can sit and concentrate in peace. I don't have to worry about any interruptions. I can't remember when I had such a perfect alignment of events at home.
I am not one of those writers who feels you must physically isolate yourself in order to write. Find a place and a time in which you are totally alone. If you have a normal life with family obligations, work, social obligations and the like, it is hard to achieve that sort of isolation.
I think the isolation need only be mental and intellectual. I can -- and do -- write amidst the chaos that is the normal state of affairs in my household. People talking, television on, dog barking, chores being done, music playing.
But it is a delight to have a day when there is that physical isolation. It's just me and the dog. It's perfect.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
In other words, it's a perfect day to write. I can sit and concentrate in peace. I don't have to worry about any interruptions. I can't remember when I had such a perfect alignment of events at home.
I am not one of those writers who feels you must physically isolate yourself in order to write. Find a place and a time in which you are totally alone. If you have a normal life with family obligations, work, social obligations and the like, it is hard to achieve that sort of isolation.
I think the isolation need only be mental and intellectual. I can -- and do -- write amidst the chaos that is the normal state of affairs in my household. People talking, television on, dog barking, chores being done, music playing.
But it is a delight to have a day when there is that physical isolation. It's just me and the dog. It's perfect.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The opening
I am past the beginning of the (hopefully) final rewrite of my current novel, "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." But I still find myself conflicted over the beginning.
I watched the beginning of the 1941 version of "The Maltese Falcon." I have seen the film at least once in the last year and re-read the book earlier this year. And I was amazed again at how effortlessly Dashiel introduced the hero, the villain and the conflict of the story at the beginning. It was compelling, which, I suppose, is why it is a classic.
In my critique group yesterday another one of the writers was happy to be getting a prologue for the work she was reviewing. But it struck me again how much a prologue can slow down the story. They can be done successfully and often are done successfully. But as a novice, I'm not sure I can pull that off.
Which brings me back to Jungle-bunny. Early on, several people who read the beginning thought my second chapter, which has a backstory, should be the first chapter. And in the fourth (or fifth version, I forget which one) it was. But I was also though I needed to introduce my hero sooner and develop him more fully so that people care about him and his problems, and root for him throughout the story.
But that would mean keeping my first chapter as the first chapter, which is the way it currently is.
In the end, I think I am past the objective reality stage and totally into the subjective. There is little telling what a particular agent will want. For some agents, a prologue, which in this case includes a backstory, is a red flag. For others, it is not.
I guess I must remain confident in my story and my writing because I'm not sure there is one right direction to follow.
And so I am starting Jungle-bunny with the chapters as I originally placed them.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
I watched the beginning of the 1941 version of "The Maltese Falcon." I have seen the film at least once in the last year and re-read the book earlier this year. And I was amazed again at how effortlessly Dashiel introduced the hero, the villain and the conflict of the story at the beginning. It was compelling, which, I suppose, is why it is a classic.
In my critique group yesterday another one of the writers was happy to be getting a prologue for the work she was reviewing. But it struck me again how much a prologue can slow down the story. They can be done successfully and often are done successfully. But as a novice, I'm not sure I can pull that off.
Which brings me back to Jungle-bunny. Early on, several people who read the beginning thought my second chapter, which has a backstory, should be the first chapter. And in the fourth (or fifth version, I forget which one) it was. But I was also though I needed to introduce my hero sooner and develop him more fully so that people care about him and his problems, and root for him throughout the story.
But that would mean keeping my first chapter as the first chapter, which is the way it currently is.
In the end, I think I am past the objective reality stage and totally into the subjective. There is little telling what a particular agent will want. For some agents, a prologue, which in this case includes a backstory, is a red flag. For others, it is not.
I guess I must remain confident in my story and my writing because I'm not sure there is one right direction to follow.
And so I am starting Jungle-bunny with the chapters as I originally placed them.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Professional organizations
I am already a member of the Indianapolis Association of Black Journalists -- I'm a past president, in fact -- the National Association of Black Journalists, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the national and local chapter of Sisters in Crime. And I am considering joining Thriller Writers International and/or the Mystery Writers of America.
I have the MWA's application on my desk right now and I see a lot of positives for joining. One of which is finding another writers critique group. I like the group I am in but I want a broader range of writers to chose from.
I have been very busy on work in the last couple of weeks and have been failing off more and more with blogging. Joining another critique group may inspire me with blogging as well.
My critique group meets tomorrow and I need to finish critiquing the material this evening. But, it's Friday night and the kids are off to there separate ways so the wife and I are going out. I can finish doing the critique before bed.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
I have the MWA's application on my desk right now and I see a lot of positives for joining. One of which is finding another writers critique group. I like the group I am in but I want a broader range of writers to chose from.
I have been very busy on work in the last couple of weeks and have been failing off more and more with blogging. Joining another critique group may inspire me with blogging as well.
My critique group meets tomorrow and I need to finish critiquing the material this evening. But, it's Friday night and the kids are off to there separate ways so the wife and I are going out. I can finish doing the critique before bed.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Information dump
One of the things fellow authors and prospective agents have warned me about is an information dump, that is when I include a lot of background information in one place. A fellow author says I should have no more than three paragraphs of such information at a time.
As I have been working on the final draft of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal," information dumps have been a particular focus of mine. In the current issue of Writers Digest magazine, Rachelle Garnder writes, "One of the biggest problems is the 'information dump' in the first few pages, where the author is trying to tell us everything we supposedly need to know to understand the story. Gettiing to know characters in a story is like getting to know people in real life. You find out their personality and details of their life over time."
This is the sort of information I need to know as a writer. In my first novel,"Fighting Chaos," there is a three-page section in what originally was the second chapter that was all information dump. It was interesting detail and well-written. But it was more than a reader would want to see all at once.
In Jungle-bunny, there was less of that. However, it is a good point to be aware of.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
As I have been working on the final draft of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal," information dumps have been a particular focus of mine. In the current issue of Writers Digest magazine, Rachelle Garnder writes, "One of the biggest problems is the 'information dump' in the first few pages, where the author is trying to tell us everything we supposedly need to know to understand the story. Gettiing to know characters in a story is like getting to know people in real life. You find out their personality and details of their life over time."
This is the sort of information I need to know as a writer. In my first novel,"Fighting Chaos," there is a three-page section in what originally was the second chapter that was all information dump. It was interesting detail and well-written. But it was more than a reader would want to see all at once.
In Jungle-bunny, there was less of that. However, it is a good point to be aware of.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Fonts
I have just spent an hour viewing a writers discussion on a forum on the subject of fonts. The concensus was that it is best to use Courier New (doubled spaced, with 12-point type and 1-inch margins) instead of Times New Roman. The thought is that it is easier on the eyes to read and gives you a better page count, which is important to publishers. (Editors look for word counts but publishers pay the most attention to page count because paper cost more that ink.)
I have always perferred Times but I converted an earlier version of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" into Courier and saw a huge difference. For one, I must not have my margins set correctly. The 74,300 words of that version should fit in slightly more than 297 pages (doubled-spaced, 12-point, 1-inch margins) because there should be 250 words per page. But I have 326 pages, or about 227 words per page.
The other difference is readability. Courier is easier on the eye sight, although I still prefer the look of Times.
I am still working on the final draft of Jungle-bunny, most specifically reworking the opening to make it more compelling. It is in Times, of course, but tomorrow I plan to convert it and fix the margins. In that way, I will be more prepared to taking the next step in the publishing process.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
I have always perferred Times but I converted an earlier version of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" into Courier and saw a huge difference. For one, I must not have my margins set correctly. The 74,300 words of that version should fit in slightly more than 297 pages (doubled-spaced, 12-point, 1-inch margins) because there should be 250 words per page. But I have 326 pages, or about 227 words per page.
The other difference is readability. Courier is easier on the eye sight, although I still prefer the look of Times.
I am still working on the final draft of Jungle-bunny, most specifically reworking the opening to make it more compelling. It is in Times, of course, but tomorrow I plan to convert it and fix the margins. In that way, I will be more prepared to taking the next step in the publishing process.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Other authors
Sorry I have been away for a while but I have been very busy with work. But now I am getting back to doing my regular job, which is as an author.
I met a television writer over the weekend. His name is Paul Guyot and he is quite funny. He worked as a stand-in for a number of movie stars, including Tommy Lee Jones (Men in Black) and Chow Yun-Fat. Then he worked his way into staff writing positions on several television shows, including lastly for "Judging Amy," where he was a producer-writer.
He gave up Hollywood up to raise a family away from "the Hollywood life."
Although he didn't intend it, he convinced me that, 1), I will virtually never get make screenplay, "Loss of Consortium," before a money person who might want to make it. And 2), I might not want to be involved with Hollywood in the first place.
He says the money if wonderful __ he still writes pilots for television dramas and makes a living at it even if the show never makes it on TV __ but I wonder about the creative freedom. While you can have a chance to write alone, because of the money involved, there will always be lots of input from others that must be taken into account. It's that muddying of the creative process that makes some movies so incredibly dreadful. (Read "The Devil's Candy," a book on the making of "Bonfire of the Vanities." What a mess that was.)
Anyway, it is always good to listen to and talk with another writer, particularly if they are successful. As is often the case when it comes to writing, I already knew a lot of what he said. And the most important things he said to being a successful writer is to both read and write, and to be persistent.
As always, I will keep that in mind.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
I met a television writer over the weekend. His name is Paul Guyot and he is quite funny. He worked as a stand-in for a number of movie stars, including Tommy Lee Jones (Men in Black) and Chow Yun-Fat. Then he worked his way into staff writing positions on several television shows, including lastly for "Judging Amy," where he was a producer-writer.
He gave up Hollywood up to raise a family away from "the Hollywood life."
Although he didn't intend it, he convinced me that, 1), I will virtually never get make screenplay, "Loss of Consortium," before a money person who might want to make it. And 2), I might not want to be involved with Hollywood in the first place.
He says the money if wonderful __ he still writes pilots for television dramas and makes a living at it even if the show never makes it on TV __ but I wonder about the creative freedom. While you can have a chance to write alone, because of the money involved, there will always be lots of input from others that must be taken into account. It's that muddying of the creative process that makes some movies so incredibly dreadful. (Read "The Devil's Candy," a book on the making of "Bonfire of the Vanities." What a mess that was.)
Anyway, it is always good to listen to and talk with another writer, particularly if they are successful. As is often the case when it comes to writing, I already knew a lot of what he said. And the most important things he said to being a successful writer is to both read and write, and to be persistent.
As always, I will keep that in mind.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Looking an a reason to reject
Ten months ago, while I was working on a re-write for "Fighting Chaos" and researching agents to query, I sent off an e-mail query to an agent. The agent promised a response in two to four weeks. I agonized over sending the query but I sent it anyway.
As I have been reading, agents and their readers get so many query letters and so much material to consider, they don't have the time to dig deep into someone's material or letter before deciding what to do and moving on. Thus, they are looking for reason to reject.
This is sad but, of course, it makes perfect sense. Just this morning I got a stack of letter to read. I know I'm not interested in it all and don't have the time -- or just don't want to spend the time -- going through it all. So I go through it with the thought of what I intend to throw away.
It's been a few weeks since I sent out a query letter as I have concentrated on the final re-erite of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." But I know it's going to be viewed in much the same way as I used to when I would get press releases in the mail. If didn't see something highlighted with the who, what, where and whens, I was less likely to read it. And it needed to be near the top. On average, a press release had seven seconds to get my attention before I would throw it away.
It's not an easy world out there but I am determined to break through.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
As I have been reading, agents and their readers get so many query letters and so much material to consider, they don't have the time to dig deep into someone's material or letter before deciding what to do and moving on. Thus, they are looking for reason to reject.
This is sad but, of course, it makes perfect sense. Just this morning I got a stack of letter to read. I know I'm not interested in it all and don't have the time -- or just don't want to spend the time -- going through it all. So I go through it with the thought of what I intend to throw away.
It's been a few weeks since I sent out a query letter as I have concentrated on the final re-erite of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." But I know it's going to be viewed in much the same way as I used to when I would get press releases in the mail. If didn't see something highlighted with the who, what, where and whens, I was less likely to read it. And it needed to be near the top. On average, a press release had seven seconds to get my attention before I would throw it away.
It's not an easy world out there but I am determined to break through.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Being insecure
One of the things I like about the writing book I am reading __ "Don't Murder Your Mystery" __ is that it knows and acknowledges one of the most fundamental traits of all aspiring writers. We are insecure.
Now as a writer, I am not totally insecure. I have been a writer for years and long away stopped trying to guess-timate how many words I have writtern for print. It's in the millions.
But writing fiction is new to me. I have dabbled in it for years but have only started taking it seriously for the last couple of years.
This evening I was reading a portion of the book on revising, which the author says you must be willin got do over and over again. But the techniques of revision, such as with most writing, can vary. As a writer, you have options.
The author hates it when someone puts forward his way as 'The Way." I am uncomfortable with that too.
The writer says:
"When aspiring writers, already insecure, realize they aren't doing things the way they think a real author is suppose to, they have one more reason to feel inadequate.
The truth is, one one way is the right way. Revising, like writing, is a creative process, too complex to reduce to a formula."
Those are true words, and good thoughts to keep in mind.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Now as a writer, I am not totally insecure. I have been a writer for years and long away stopped trying to guess-timate how many words I have writtern for print. It's in the millions.
But writing fiction is new to me. I have dabbled in it for years but have only started taking it seriously for the last couple of years.
This evening I was reading a portion of the book on revising, which the author says you must be willin got do over and over again. But the techniques of revision, such as with most writing, can vary. As a writer, you have options.
The author hates it when someone puts forward his way as 'The Way." I am uncomfortable with that too.
The writer says:
"When aspiring writers, already insecure, realize they aren't doing things the way they think a real author is suppose to, they have one more reason to feel inadequate.
The truth is, one one way is the right way. Revising, like writing, is a creative process, too complex to reduce to a formula."
Those are true words, and good thoughts to keep in mind.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Authors
I was at Costoc this evening and walking through the area with books, looking to see if anything interested me. And I spotted a book by Sandra Brown. Now I have never been a fan, but I picked up the book and started reading, at first at random. I'm glad I did.
She is an interesting author. After I flipped to the front, I found the story interesting and engaging. It pulled me right in. I only stopped reading because my wife called me on my cell phone to ask where I was. She was in the checkout counter waiting for me.
There are times when I read other authors and think, why can't I do that? The writing seemed effortless and smooth. Is it good writing or good editing or both?
Chris Roerden's book on writing techniques says that agents and publishers aren't looking for someone they can help develop. They want a writer __ even a new writer __ to already be developed, just not published. The task of progressing from being an average writer to a polished writer is up to the writer virtually alone.
That is a sad commentary. But worse is that it leads directly into the classic paradox __ How can I develop into a better writer without some professional helping me when I professional won't help me if I haven't already developed into a better writer?
I will have to sleep on that one.
But for now, thanks for reading and don't give up.
She is an interesting author. After I flipped to the front, I found the story interesting and engaging. It pulled me right in. I only stopped reading because my wife called me on my cell phone to ask where I was. She was in the checkout counter waiting for me.
There are times when I read other authors and think, why can't I do that? The writing seemed effortless and smooth. Is it good writing or good editing or both?
Chris Roerden's book on writing techniques says that agents and publishers aren't looking for someone they can help develop. They want a writer __ even a new writer __ to already be developed, just not published. The task of progressing from being an average writer to a polished writer is up to the writer virtually alone.
That is a sad commentary. But worse is that it leads directly into the classic paradox __ How can I develop into a better writer without some professional helping me when I professional won't help me if I haven't already developed into a better writer?
I will have to sleep on that one.
But for now, thanks for reading and don't give up.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
On writing
So, I'm reading "Don't Murder Your Mystery" and it is proving to be very headful. One of the passages which I highlighted in the first chapter mentions that the goal of manuscript readers is to get through the pile and ". . . literary agent Noah Lukeman says that agents and publishers read 'solely with an eye to dismiss a manscript."
Further, it says, "The industry cannot afford to gamble on writers who are still developing their potential, who show little evidence of having studied the craft of the profession they aspire to, or who fail to reflect the preferences that publishers and agents state in their submission guidelines."
The book suggests that as a writer, one needs to perfect their writing and one of the best ways of doing that is to read many writers, but particularly writers you like. By reading a novel or short story that you like a second, third or fourth time, you move from wondering what is coming next to concentrating on that writers craft, their technique.
One of the things do is reread novels I love. So in many ways I copy some of their authors' techniques. What I apparently don't do well is mixing backstory into the story as it is developing. I tend to "dump" large portions of it in one place.
As I rewrite "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" and plan for "The Death of Art," I am working on moving the background more into the story as it develops.
That is one of the most insistent criticisms I get from my critique group. And curing it will help me in the development of the craft.
"Effective techniques . . . prepare you to give publishers what they are really looking for: good writing," the book says.
Nuf said.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Further, it says, "The industry cannot afford to gamble on writers who are still developing their potential, who show little evidence of having studied the craft of the profession they aspire to, or who fail to reflect the preferences that publishers and agents state in their submission guidelines."
The book suggests that as a writer, one needs to perfect their writing and one of the best ways of doing that is to read many writers, but particularly writers you like. By reading a novel or short story that you like a second, third or fourth time, you move from wondering what is coming next to concentrating on that writers craft, their technique.
One of the things do is reread novels I love. So in many ways I copy some of their authors' techniques. What I apparently don't do well is mixing backstory into the story as it is developing. I tend to "dump" large portions of it in one place.
As I rewrite "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" and plan for "The Death of Art," I am working on moving the background more into the story as it develops.
That is one of the most insistent criticisms I get from my critique group. And curing it will help me in the development of the craft.
"Effective techniques . . . prepare you to give publishers what they are really looking for: good writing," the book says.
Nuf said.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Don't murder your mystery
Some time ago I came to the conclusion that studying how to write is not as important as actually writing, in much the same way as researching how to approach agents is not as important as actually approaching them. Gathering knowledge is both useful and necessary, But it is not as important as using the knowledge you have. Otherwise, you can endlessly prepare to take some action but never actually take the action.
I certainly felt that way in terms of reading more books on writing.
But then last week, a fellow author suggested a get "Don't Murder Your Mystery" by Chris Roerden, who offers "24 fiction-writing techniques to save your manuscript from turning up DOA". I drove to The Mystery Company, which is probably my favorite bookstore, and purchased a copy.
It was a good decision. Immediately there were useful tips on improving my fiction writing, not just my mystery writing. Early on Roerden uses a quote from Rayanna Simons about her four years as a first readeer from Macmillan. "Despite the statistics that we are a country suffering from functional illiteracy, we seem to be producing an extraordinary number of imaginative, interesting writers. The problem is that they can't get anyone to read what they write."
I certainly think that is the case with me. While as I look at it now, "Fighting Chaos" is a bit of a mess, I never got anyone to even look at it to tell me it is a mess. (I still plan on using it, however, after I completely reread it.) The same is true with "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal."
But my new book is proving numerous clues for improving both my writing and ways to avoid being cast aside before being read. It talks about timing, pace, setting and character development. it talks about the mechanics of writing and use of words, particularly adverbs and adjectives.
I don't have a lot of time to read but this is a book that demands and will deserve the time I am using to go through it. I am not going to start going out to buy every book I can find on writing and marketing, but I will be selectively open about reading more on my craft.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
I certainly felt that way in terms of reading more books on writing.
But then last week, a fellow author suggested a get "Don't Murder Your Mystery" by Chris Roerden, who offers "24 fiction-writing techniques to save your manuscript from turning up DOA". I drove to The Mystery Company, which is probably my favorite bookstore, and purchased a copy.
It was a good decision. Immediately there were useful tips on improving my fiction writing, not just my mystery writing. Early on Roerden uses a quote from Rayanna Simons about her four years as a first readeer from Macmillan. "Despite the statistics that we are a country suffering from functional illiteracy, we seem to be producing an extraordinary number of imaginative, interesting writers. The problem is that they can't get anyone to read what they write."
I certainly think that is the case with me. While as I look at it now, "Fighting Chaos" is a bit of a mess, I never got anyone to even look at it to tell me it is a mess. (I still plan on using it, however, after I completely reread it.) The same is true with "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal."
But my new book is proving numerous clues for improving both my writing and ways to avoid being cast aside before being read. It talks about timing, pace, setting and character development. it talks about the mechanics of writing and use of words, particularly adverbs and adjectives.
I don't have a lot of time to read but this is a book that demands and will deserve the time I am using to go through it. I am not going to start going out to buy every book I can find on writing and marketing, but I will be selectively open about reading more on my craft.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Some feelback
I had a lunch meeting with a fellow writer today who is the only wirter who has seen the entire "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" manuscript. The others who have it currently are none writers.
And, thankfully, Debi liked it. There are some style things that we disagree on but she likes the story, she likes the plot and the plot twists, and she likes the pacing __ AFTER about page 100. She says the first 100 pages are slow.
And she thinks the alternating chapters style I have in the first half is okay and isn't the problem with the pacing.
She suggested I beef up one of the minor characters to allow for him to be more of a red herring in the murder mystery and that I should introduce the real killer more. I'm not sure how to do that without ruining the surprise when the killer is revealed.
Also I need to develop Jason a little more because the reader doesn't care enough about him and they don't care enough easily enough.
However, she says it just needs tweaking, not a total overhaul. It turned out to be something that was very encouraging on a day when I needed to be encouraged.
So keep writing.
And, thankfully, Debi liked it. There are some style things that we disagree on but she likes the story, she likes the plot and the plot twists, and she likes the pacing __ AFTER about page 100. She says the first 100 pages are slow.
And she thinks the alternating chapters style I have in the first half is okay and isn't the problem with the pacing.
She suggested I beef up one of the minor characters to allow for him to be more of a red herring in the murder mystery and that I should introduce the real killer more. I'm not sure how to do that without ruining the surprise when the killer is revealed.
Also I need to develop Jason a little more because the reader doesn't care enough about him and they don't care enough easily enough.
However, she says it just needs tweaking, not a total overhaul. It turned out to be something that was very encouraging on a day when I needed to be encouraged.
So keep writing.
Monday, August 11, 2008
A start
I am still working on the final draft of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal," mostly just tweaking things here and there. And while I should have kept my focus on Jungle-bunny, I wrote the first two chapters of my next novel, "The Death of Art." I may change that title __ I have thought of something else __ but I'm keeping it for now.
Death of Art will have a Prologue, a short first chapter and a longer but regular length second chapter. It is the second in a series with Jason Crown.
It is about 3,400 words, nearly 5 percent of what I project as its future total length. I did about 750 words last Thursday and everything else on Sunday afternoon after church and into the evening.
I wrote them because I hadn't decided on what to give to my critique group for this month but didn't want to provide another chapter of Jungle-bunny Journal. They have seen chapters 1-4 and I didn't see much value in getting comments on work I have already dealt with. There is only one person in my group who has seen the entire manuscript and I have already weighed her comments and used everything that I thought was useful.
In Death of Art, I used the niece of some friends as inspiration. She was nearly the correct age but had the overall look I wanted in the murder victim. Too bad. I guess I should mention that to her one day. "Hey, I have some good news and some bad news. You inspired me and I used you for a character in my novel. That's the good news. The bad news is I killed you off near the beginning of the book."
I missed a couple of book signings over the weekend. I always like them and I like supporting authors but they can also be a bit of a downer for me. I wonder if and when I will be able to do a singing. Oh well . . .
Back to work. I am looking forward to completing the final touches of Jungle-bunny and to moving on to Death of Art. The story isn't as complicated but I think it will be just as much fun.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Death of Art will have a Prologue, a short first chapter and a longer but regular length second chapter. It is the second in a series with Jason Crown.
It is about 3,400 words, nearly 5 percent of what I project as its future total length. I did about 750 words last Thursday and everything else on Sunday afternoon after church and into the evening.
I wrote them because I hadn't decided on what to give to my critique group for this month but didn't want to provide another chapter of Jungle-bunny Journal. They have seen chapters 1-4 and I didn't see much value in getting comments on work I have already dealt with. There is only one person in my group who has seen the entire manuscript and I have already weighed her comments and used everything that I thought was useful.
In Death of Art, I used the niece of some friends as inspiration. She was nearly the correct age but had the overall look I wanted in the murder victim. Too bad. I guess I should mention that to her one day. "Hey, I have some good news and some bad news. You inspired me and I used you for a character in my novel. That's the good news. The bad news is I killed you off near the beginning of the book."
I missed a couple of book signings over the weekend. I always like them and I like supporting authors but they can also be a bit of a downer for me. I wonder if and when I will be able to do a singing. Oh well . . .
Back to work. I am looking forward to completing the final touches of Jungle-bunny and to moving on to Death of Art. The story isn't as complicated but I think it will be just as much fun.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Being organized
One of the most important things to do in any endeavor is to be organized. It keeps you from going down blind alleys or repeating something you have already done.
One of the things I learned from one of the writers in my critique group was how to better organize elements of my stories in a binder. Mostly I kept things here and there, which make it particularly difficult when I had to come up with the name for a new character.
Often I would have a hard time remembering what names I had used and for whom. Keeping all that imformation together means I don't have to remember all the names since they will all be collected in one place, and I can see if I am using two names that are similar or two names that start with the same initial, something my writer-friend suggested I avoid.
When I moved my office from the first floor to the second floor a couple of months ago, one of the things I should have finished was reorganizing my space. I had to strip down everthing downstairs and bring it upstairs. I didn't do that, however.
So I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon cleaning up downstairs and throwing away things I should never have kept. But I also found useful bits of information for my current novel and a future.
Because I wasn't as organized as I should have been, I didn't realize until this afternoon that a freelance assignment I assumed was due at the end of the first week of August was actually due yesterday, July 30. So I have spent this afternoon catching up.
It's a very good thing I am a good writer.
So I plan to complete the reorganization of my space by next week, keep one binder with all the revelant information on my novels, and keep a better calendar for deadlines. That should help keep me in better shape for completing things on dead, which I generally do anyway.
Just a little tip.
Thanks for reading and Write on.
One of the things I learned from one of the writers in my critique group was how to better organize elements of my stories in a binder. Mostly I kept things here and there, which make it particularly difficult when I had to come up with the name for a new character.
Often I would have a hard time remembering what names I had used and for whom. Keeping all that imformation together means I don't have to remember all the names since they will all be collected in one place, and I can see if I am using two names that are similar or two names that start with the same initial, something my writer-friend suggested I avoid.
When I moved my office from the first floor to the second floor a couple of months ago, one of the things I should have finished was reorganizing my space. I had to strip down everthing downstairs and bring it upstairs. I didn't do that, however.
So I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon cleaning up downstairs and throwing away things I should never have kept. But I also found useful bits of information for my current novel and a future.
Because I wasn't as organized as I should have been, I didn't realize until this afternoon that a freelance assignment I assumed was due at the end of the first week of August was actually due yesterday, July 30. So I have spent this afternoon catching up.
It's a very good thing I am a good writer.
So I plan to complete the reorganization of my space by next week, keep one binder with all the revelant information on my novels, and keep a better calendar for deadlines. That should help keep me in better shape for completing things on dead, which I generally do anyway.
Just a little tip.
Thanks for reading and Write on.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Rethinking "Fighting Chaos"
I have been rethinking "Fighting Chaos." No, I am not abandoning "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" nor am I thinking of postponing my next novel, which tentatively will be titled "The Death of Art." I will probably start "Death" some time in September.
But I have been giving some thought to "Chaos", its plotting and character development and setting. Brewster is a strong character and one the writer can root for. But he could be stronger. I show his strengths but, other than his being single, I don't draw the reader in enough with his weaknesses.
I can strengthen it without making the novel longer because I think I need to trim the narrative background material on Mark and Harriett. It is interesting. I certainly like it. But even when the couple were the main characters in the novel the background was too much. Some of it will stay but much will have to go. The good thing, however, is I can probably use it for other characters at another time.
But back to Brewster. The conflict is clear __ find the Red Lady before she strikes again. But I can use his earlier failure to capture her to a greater advantage, particularly if I can make it a touch more personal. Perhaps I can even involve Marsha Norwood more.
This novel, as you might understand, is much more personal to me than "Jungle-bunny" because it comes out of something that happened in my life. So I am reluctant to further reduce the roles of Mark and Harriett. But it is needed.
I'm not sure when I will get to it. Probably after I get an agent. Perhaps after I get a published book or two under my belt, I will be able to interest my agent in giving "Chaos" a look. It is an interesting story and I certainly hope I can find a home for it one day. Just not today.
I will take some notes, perhaps an outline, and put them in a file until some time in the future.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
But I have been giving some thought to "Chaos", its plotting and character development and setting. Brewster is a strong character and one the writer can root for. But he could be stronger. I show his strengths but, other than his being single, I don't draw the reader in enough with his weaknesses.
I can strengthen it without making the novel longer because I think I need to trim the narrative background material on Mark and Harriett. It is interesting. I certainly like it. But even when the couple were the main characters in the novel the background was too much. Some of it will stay but much will have to go. The good thing, however, is I can probably use it for other characters at another time.
But back to Brewster. The conflict is clear __ find the Red Lady before she strikes again. But I can use his earlier failure to capture her to a greater advantage, particularly if I can make it a touch more personal. Perhaps I can even involve Marsha Norwood more.
This novel, as you might understand, is much more personal to me than "Jungle-bunny" because it comes out of something that happened in my life. So I am reluctant to further reduce the roles of Mark and Harriett. But it is needed.
I'm not sure when I will get to it. Probably after I get an agent. Perhaps after I get a published book or two under my belt, I will be able to interest my agent in giving "Chaos" a look. It is an interesting story and I certainly hope I can find a home for it one day. Just not today.
I will take some notes, perhaps an outline, and put them in a file until some time in the future.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Authors
I like to go to book signings, although I must admit to feelings of jealousy. But I like to hear published authors discuss their craft, their books and how they got published. It doesn't matter whether they are national bestselling authors or local authors with just a few books in print. It doesn't matter. Their stories fascinating __ and helpful.
There is a positive and a negative to all this. The negative side is that I am generally jealous of their success and wonder why it hasn't happened to me. Why can't I get published? I am a good writer and am learning more about the craft and the book publishing industry all the time. It hits me over and over again that talent, while very important, isn't what determines writing success.
I can't remember how many times I have read in the last year that if Ernest Hemingway were alive and working today, he'd be an unpublished author running with bulls through the streets of some Spanish town. He'd still be brilliant but probably unpublished. And certainly he wouldn't have the stature he has today.
On the positive side is my love of authors, their books and their stories. They are an inspiration. It doesn't matter whether I think the author is particularly good or not. They have broken through, which means so could I. And so I buy their books and I read them, for the joy of reading, for clues to their success and to support a fellow writer.
So what can I do, what should I do to move my writing and publishing career along? I still don't know and am still looking for answers. All the while I keep writing and hoping.
And so should you.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
There is a positive and a negative to all this. The negative side is that I am generally jealous of their success and wonder why it hasn't happened to me. Why can't I get published? I am a good writer and am learning more about the craft and the book publishing industry all the time. It hits me over and over again that talent, while very important, isn't what determines writing success.
I can't remember how many times I have read in the last year that if Ernest Hemingway were alive and working today, he'd be an unpublished author running with bulls through the streets of some Spanish town. He'd still be brilliant but probably unpublished. And certainly he wouldn't have the stature he has today.
On the positive side is my love of authors, their books and their stories. They are an inspiration. It doesn't matter whether I think the author is particularly good or not. They have broken through, which means so could I. And so I buy their books and I read them, for the joy of reading, for clues to their success and to support a fellow writer.
So what can I do, what should I do to move my writing and publishing career along? I still don't know and am still looking for answers. All the while I keep writing and hoping.
And so should you.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I should be working
I have a freelance article due this afternoon and I should be working on that but I have time to finish it and, in addition to listening to someone cutting down a tree in my front yard, I have been reading agent blogs today.
I amazes me how an agent, who must be extremely busy reading hundreds of queries, reading published and unpublished books, keeping up with the industry and putting together pitches for clients, ever has the time to write anything, let alone a daily blog.
I have read the blogs of three agents today and one of a magazine editor. And it wasn't just today's entries. I went back days for each, writing responses twice.
My blog frequency dropped off several months ago and I haven't been able to increase it. But will use the agent blogs as inspiration.
More to say about writing later. For now, I have to go pay the lumbermen in my front yard and finish my freelance work. After that, there will be more queries to send.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
I amazes me how an agent, who must be extremely busy reading hundreds of queries, reading published and unpublished books, keeping up with the industry and putting together pitches for clients, ever has the time to write anything, let alone a daily blog.
I have read the blogs of three agents today and one of a magazine editor. And it wasn't just today's entries. I went back days for each, writing responses twice.
My blog frequency dropped off several months ago and I haven't been able to increase it. But will use the agent blogs as inspiration.
More to say about writing later. For now, I have to go pay the lumbermen in my front yard and finish my freelance work. After that, there will be more queries to send.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
An update
Lots of small things to say at the moment.
I visited the Barnes Foundation several days ago and went to the public library to do more research on Albert Barnes and his art. Also discovered a couple of new sources to tap into in the Philadelphia art scene. It's been a very productive, and yet restlful, time in Philadelphia for the last three days.
AND I helped stack 165 bales of hay in my friend's barn in 90-degree heat. I was sweating in places I didn't even know about.
Yesterday I got the first critique of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" from a friend who is a non-writer. She liked it a lot, found humor in parts that I wasn't sure were there and, importantly, found a major style inconsistency. I haven't done anything about that yet but plan to as soon as I get home.
I sent several more query letters but no responses yet. Never sure what that means. Perhaps I am being carefully considered and perhaps I'm just in the slush pile. Only time will tell.
My writing critique group meets this Saturday and I am looking forward to that. It's not a month in which they are looking at my writing but it is always fun and interesting to critique others. One of the short stories I read this month was truly surprising and that is always a good start. And it's from someone who has my complete novel. I trust her and her opinion, although I don't always agree with her, and she writes well.
Lastly, and on a personal note, I learned last week a friend has cancer. It is treatable and they are scheduled to go in for surgery next week. She is a dear friend and has always encouraged my writing.
I pray for her full and complete recovery.
Well, that's it. It is 9 in the morning and I am about to stuff my things back into my bag and hit the road back to Indiana. It looks nice outside and I'm driving a convertible. Should be fun.
Thanks for reading and Write On.
I visited the Barnes Foundation several days ago and went to the public library to do more research on Albert Barnes and his art. Also discovered a couple of new sources to tap into in the Philadelphia art scene. It's been a very productive, and yet restlful, time in Philadelphia for the last three days.
AND I helped stack 165 bales of hay in my friend's barn in 90-degree heat. I was sweating in places I didn't even know about.
Yesterday I got the first critique of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" from a friend who is a non-writer. She liked it a lot, found humor in parts that I wasn't sure were there and, importantly, found a major style inconsistency. I haven't done anything about that yet but plan to as soon as I get home.
I sent several more query letters but no responses yet. Never sure what that means. Perhaps I am being carefully considered and perhaps I'm just in the slush pile. Only time will tell.
My writing critique group meets this Saturday and I am looking forward to that. It's not a month in which they are looking at my writing but it is always fun and interesting to critique others. One of the short stories I read this month was truly surprising and that is always a good start. And it's from someone who has my complete novel. I trust her and her opinion, although I don't always agree with her, and she writes well.
Lastly, and on a personal note, I learned last week a friend has cancer. It is treatable and they are scheduled to go in for surgery next week. She is a dear friend and has always encouraged my writing.
I pray for her full and complete recovery.
Well, that's it. It is 9 in the morning and I am about to stuff my things back into my bag and hit the road back to Indiana. It looks nice outside and I'm driving a convertible. Should be fun.
Thanks for reading and Write On.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Art vs. business
There is a difference between the art of writing a book and the business of publishing and selling a book. And because I am stuck in the place in between, I am very aware of the difference.
Writing is about art. It's the creative part. Publishing is about business, about promotion, advertising and public relations. Getting an agent is the first major step on the business side.
For the life of me, I don't know how the business side works. Yes, intellectually I have some understanding of the publishing business. But a deep understanding escapes me. And it is probably why I am not more successful as a freelance writer. I can do the work __ the writing, that is __ but promoting myself is difficult and unpleasant. And so getting more, well-paying work is difficult.
And I am afraid that publishing is going to be the same way. I can write a novel, from start to finish, in about six months. But promoting myself and my work is a difficult and unpleasant prospect. It has to be done but I'm not sure how to effectively do it.
But, with friends and colleagues, I am working on improving on the business side. I am going to a writers conference in two weeks, I am in a critique group and I am slowly growing a network of fiction writers. All of that is important in order to have a successful career as a fiction writer.
I just have to keep at it.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Writing is about art. It's the creative part. Publishing is about business, about promotion, advertising and public relations. Getting an agent is the first major step on the business side.
For the life of me, I don't know how the business side works. Yes, intellectually I have some understanding of the publishing business. But a deep understanding escapes me. And it is probably why I am not more successful as a freelance writer. I can do the work __ the writing, that is __ but promoting myself is difficult and unpleasant. And so getting more, well-paying work is difficult.
And I am afraid that publishing is going to be the same way. I can write a novel, from start to finish, in about six months. But promoting myself and my work is a difficult and unpleasant prospect. It has to be done but I'm not sure how to effectively do it.
But, with friends and colleagues, I am working on improving on the business side. I am going to a writers conference in two weeks, I am in a critique group and I am slowly growing a network of fiction writers. All of that is important in order to have a successful career as a fiction writer.
I just have to keep at it.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Research
My next novel will require much more research than the other two novels I have written. And while I have always said you should write what you know, this is something for which I am familiar but for which I don't have extensive knowledge.
So I am going to Philadelphia over the weekend to begin some on-site research. I have already started researching material online but being on-the-ground should be quite helpful.
As I think I mentioned before, the novel involves the Philadelphia art scene. So I plan visits to the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute and perhaps the Acadmey of Nature Science. On Sunday or Monday, I plan to spend the better part of the day at the central office of the Philadelphia Free Library looking up material on Albert Barnes.
Also I have started compiling a list of people I will try to talk to, although some of those conversations will happen over the phone.
I have already decided on who will be murdered first in the novel and thus whose death will get things rolling. I even have a vague idea as to why she is killed and on whose orders the murder was committed. But I haven't nailed down the complete story or the plot. There is still coming together.
This is my Fall 2008 project and perhaps I will finish the first draft by New Year's. If not, it will get done over the winter.
I am excited about this. It will be the second in the series of books about Jason Crown.
I wish I had done this novel several years ago __ when the conversation of how to save the Barnes and about moving the Barnes gallery into Center City __ but such is life.
Thanks for reading and Write On.
So I am going to Philadelphia over the weekend to begin some on-site research. I have already started researching material online but being on-the-ground should be quite helpful.
As I think I mentioned before, the novel involves the Philadelphia art scene. So I plan visits to the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute and perhaps the Acadmey of Nature Science. On Sunday or Monday, I plan to spend the better part of the day at the central office of the Philadelphia Free Library looking up material on Albert Barnes.
Also I have started compiling a list of people I will try to talk to, although some of those conversations will happen over the phone.
I have already decided on who will be murdered first in the novel and thus whose death will get things rolling. I even have a vague idea as to why she is killed and on whose orders the murder was committed. But I haven't nailed down the complete story or the plot. There is still coming together.
This is my Fall 2008 project and perhaps I will finish the first draft by New Year's. If not, it will get done over the winter.
I am excited about this. It will be the second in the series of books about Jason Crown.
I wish I had done this novel several years ago __ when the conversation of how to save the Barnes and about moving the Barnes gallery into Center City __ but such is life.
Thanks for reading and Write On.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Rejections
I got the first of my rejections for "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" yesterday, and she was quite nice, actually. It was almost encouraging.
Here are the first two grafs of my query, followed by her response:
Courier-Times owner/Publisher George Wilson was a tyrant. He was nearly as indiscreet as he was sexually promiscuous. This dismissive father and neglectful husband was more feared than liked. And now Wilson is dead and investigative reporter Jason Crown must piece together his murder.
Jason discovers the victim's long-held family secret -- a secret in which money, power and revenge collide. And it doesn't help when Jason begins to fall for one of the sexy suspects. As Jason comes to terms with his personal feelings, he must find the killer or risk becoming the next victim in “Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal.”
---
Thank you so much for giving XXXXXXXX a chance to consider your work. While I found your query intriguing, I’m afraid I wasn’t sufficiently enthusiastic to ask for more at this time. As I’m sure you know, publishing is a subjective business and it’s very likely you’ll find another agent who feels differently.
I wish you the best of luck and the greatest success.
____
The agent found the query "intriguing." That's what I'm looking for. I think I must be on the right track with the query. And I got a reply. She took the time to shoot me a short response. Not a lot of time but some time.
It's these sorts of rejections that can give a writer hope in the face of overwhelming odds. It gives a writer the strength to carry on. She is kind and considerate. It's why I like her as an agent. Too bad she's not my agent but . . . oh, well.
Keep the faith and keep writing. One day, it will pay off.
Thanks for reading.
Here are the first two grafs of my query, followed by her response:
Courier-Times owner/Publisher George Wilson was a tyrant. He was nearly as indiscreet as he was sexually promiscuous. This dismissive father and neglectful husband was more feared than liked. And now Wilson is dead and investigative reporter Jason Crown must piece together his murder.
Jason discovers the victim's long-held family secret -- a secret in which money, power and revenge collide. And it doesn't help when Jason begins to fall for one of the sexy suspects. As Jason comes to terms with his personal feelings, he must find the killer or risk becoming the next victim in “Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal.”
---
Thank you so much for giving XXXXXXXX a chance to consider your work. While I found your query intriguing, I’m afraid I wasn’t sufficiently enthusiastic to ask for more at this time. As I’m sure you know, publishing is a subjective business and it’s very likely you’ll find another agent who feels differently.
I wish you the best of luck and the greatest success.
____
The agent found the query "intriguing." That's what I'm looking for. I think I must be on the right track with the query. And I got a reply. She took the time to shoot me a short response. Not a lot of time but some time.
It's these sorts of rejections that can give a writer hope in the face of overwhelming odds. It gives a writer the strength to carry on. She is kind and considerate. It's why I like her as an agent. Too bad she's not my agent but . . . oh, well.
Keep the faith and keep writing. One day, it will pay off.
Thanks for reading.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Reading
When I was a child, I wasn't a good reader. And as I grew older and my reading ability and comprehension improved, I became very self-conscious about reading aloud. I always feared I would come across a word I didn't know and would be embarrassed. While I was in college, I refused to read aloud in English class.
Some time later I attended a church in which during Bible study we would take turns reading verses aloud. When I knew my turn was coming, I would silently read ahead and search for all the names I knew I'd have a hard time with. It is for that reason that I prefer the New Testament __ fewer difficult names.
I am still self-conscious about reading aloud, although I am willing to do it. When I read, it generally is with little infliction because mouth is several seconds behind my eyes and my mind, which are looking ahead for any difficult passages. With several seconds of lead time, I can work around some word with which I am unfamiliar.
I mention all this because I am self-conscious even if I am reading my own writing. If I ever get a book published, I can imagine having some reading and being so nervous about it ahead of time that I can barely go on. It would be better to just memorize vast portions of text and pretend to read them.
Reading your work aloud is good, however. I just spent the better part of an hour reading two chapters to my wife. Hearing your work read aloud helps you with pacing and in developing a true sense for how people will preceive it. There can be troublesome words or phases that you just don't pick up on without hearing your work aloud.
So find a good friend or loved one and read your work to them. Self-conscious or not, it will help.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Some time later I attended a church in which during Bible study we would take turns reading verses aloud. When I knew my turn was coming, I would silently read ahead and search for all the names I knew I'd have a hard time with. It is for that reason that I prefer the New Testament __ fewer difficult names.
I am still self-conscious about reading aloud, although I am willing to do it. When I read, it generally is with little infliction because mouth is several seconds behind my eyes and my mind, which are looking ahead for any difficult passages. With several seconds of lead time, I can work around some word with which I am unfamiliar.
I mention all this because I am self-conscious even if I am reading my own writing. If I ever get a book published, I can imagine having some reading and being so nervous about it ahead of time that I can barely go on. It would be better to just memorize vast portions of text and pretend to read them.
Reading your work aloud is good, however. I just spent the better part of an hour reading two chapters to my wife. Hearing your work read aloud helps you with pacing and in developing a true sense for how people will preceive it. There can be troublesome words or phases that you just don't pick up on without hearing your work aloud.
So find a good friend or loved one and read your work to them. Self-conscious or not, it will help.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
It's time again
I am in particularly good spirits today, which is good because my last posting was a bit of a downer. I am playing the main theme from "The Legend of Bagger Vance" and thinking about what I did just an hour ago.
I sent out a query letter via e-mail. And now I am in that period before any rejection letters where I have all the hope for the future and all the possibilities it brings. It's a wonderful feeling.
I think the novel looks good at just a hair under 80,000 words and the top is complete and ready for an agent to see. I continue working on rewriting the rest to sharpen its focus.
But for now, the world is in front of me and I'm looking forward to what comes next. Regardless of what responses I get when I jump full swing into querying, I am not giving up on my writing. I will probably start my next novel in August and certainly by September, even if I am still querying for Jungle-bunny.
So that's it for now. I have to run.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
I sent out a query letter via e-mail. And now I am in that period before any rejection letters where I have all the hope for the future and all the possibilities it brings. It's a wonderful feeling.
I think the novel looks good at just a hair under 80,000 words and the top is complete and ready for an agent to see. I continue working on rewriting the rest to sharpen its focus.
But for now, the world is in front of me and I'm looking forward to what comes next. Regardless of what responses I get when I jump full swing into querying, I am not giving up on my writing. I will probably start my next novel in August and certainly by September, even if I am still querying for Jungle-bunny.
So that's it for now. I have to run.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The prospect of facing rejections
I am a bit depressed today and worried. And yet in a short time I must gird up my loins for the assault on my ego. Rejections.
I hate rejections and I don't take them well. I know you are not suppose to take them personally but I often do. I got a rejection for some freelance work today. I was surprised. I hadn't expected it. I will sure I would get some work. But sorry, Charlie.
And I took it like a man -- or more appropriately, like a professional. Like the professional that I am. I e-mailed a thank you back to them for considering me although I wanted to tell them to just go fuck off.
So now I am playing "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" over and over, depressed and sad, and contemplating my fiction and what's coming next.
I e-mailed an author friend today who is in my critique group and asked for some help with my query letter. She said just submit it with my other material when my turn comes up again in the group. But that won't be for another TWO FREAKIN' MONTHS. I have worked on this query for about two months and I have no intention of waiting another two months before I send out some queries.
I feel like I have labored so long and hard, and that I'm still lost somewhere in a forest with no one to turn to. It's depressing. I don't know what to do.
I love to escape into my stories, reading and rereading over and over again the parts that I love, such as the scene in "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" where it is revealed who Charlotte is. Or in "Fighting Chaos" when Brewster meets with his old buddy in the FBI.
But I can't just live in the past in those stories. I must move forward. I just don't know how best to do that. And all the while I keep playing "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" because it is sad and it's how I feel.
I think fiction is my future. I certainly hope so. I hope I am ready for it when it comes.
In the meantime, thanks for reading. And don't give up on writing.
I hate rejections and I don't take them well. I know you are not suppose to take them personally but I often do. I got a rejection for some freelance work today. I was surprised. I hadn't expected it. I will sure I would get some work. But sorry, Charlie.
And I took it like a man -- or more appropriately, like a professional. Like the professional that I am. I e-mailed a thank you back to them for considering me although I wanted to tell them to just go fuck off.
So now I am playing "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" over and over, depressed and sad, and contemplating my fiction and what's coming next.
I e-mailed an author friend today who is in my critique group and asked for some help with my query letter. She said just submit it with my other material when my turn comes up again in the group. But that won't be for another TWO FREAKIN' MONTHS. I have worked on this query for about two months and I have no intention of waiting another two months before I send out some queries.
I feel like I have labored so long and hard, and that I'm still lost somewhere in a forest with no one to turn to. It's depressing. I don't know what to do.
I love to escape into my stories, reading and rereading over and over again the parts that I love, such as the scene in "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" where it is revealed who Charlotte is. Or in "Fighting Chaos" when Brewster meets with his old buddy in the FBI.
But I can't just live in the past in those stories. I must move forward. I just don't know how best to do that. And all the while I keep playing "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" because it is sad and it's how I feel.
I think fiction is my future. I certainly hope so. I hope I am ready for it when it comes.
In the meantime, thanks for reading. And don't give up on writing.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Querying agents
As I face the prospect once again of querying agents, I will also face the issue of whether to approach agents in medium-sized agencies, which will more likely handle my aspiring career with care, or shoot for an agent with a big agency, who could probably get me a larger advance.
First off, at the moment any good agent would do. I don't know whetherit was me, my writing, the circumstances, my genre or what that resulted in the miserable response I got over the winter for "Fighting Chaos." Perhaps in time, I will try again with that novel. It is a good and entertaining story and I am particularly close to it.
But "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" is a totally different book. It is a mystery where "Chaos" is a suspence/thriller. I think the mystery market is much larger.
But that gets me back to smaller agency vs. larger agency.
On the one hand, I really need a strong professional to help guide my career, and not just with this one book. Having someone who will help guide and mentor me will be a vast help. I am new to publishing, which is a rough industry, I can see. Having someone who can ground me and help me improve my writing and position in the industry will be crucial for the future.
But then there is the appeal of a large agency. There were several agencies I remember from my research over the fall and winter that nearly bragged about getting six-figure advances. I don't know if a large advance is a possibility with "Jungle-bunny" but the prospect a some financial security is appealing. Assuming I can find and hook and agent and that the agent can sale the book, more income would provide me greater flexibilty to work on future projects.
By this weekend, I will start compiling a list of agents to query. I don't know which way I will tilt. I doubt my chances of getting an agent will be any better one way or the other. That would be too easy. It would make my decision for me. In the end, it will depend on how far I want to go and how soon I want to get there.
I will have to keep you posted.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
First off, at the moment any good agent would do. I don't know whetherit was me, my writing, the circumstances, my genre or what that resulted in the miserable response I got over the winter for "Fighting Chaos." Perhaps in time, I will try again with that novel. It is a good and entertaining story and I am particularly close to it.
But "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" is a totally different book. It is a mystery where "Chaos" is a suspence/thriller. I think the mystery market is much larger.
But that gets me back to smaller agency vs. larger agency.
On the one hand, I really need a strong professional to help guide my career, and not just with this one book. Having someone who will help guide and mentor me will be a vast help. I am new to publishing, which is a rough industry, I can see. Having someone who can ground me and help me improve my writing and position in the industry will be crucial for the future.
But then there is the appeal of a large agency. There were several agencies I remember from my research over the fall and winter that nearly bragged about getting six-figure advances. I don't know if a large advance is a possibility with "Jungle-bunny" but the prospect a some financial security is appealing. Assuming I can find and hook and agent and that the agent can sale the book, more income would provide me greater flexibilty to work on future projects.
By this weekend, I will start compiling a list of agents to query. I don't know which way I will tilt. I doubt my chances of getting an agent will be any better one way or the other. That would be too easy. It would make my decision for me. In the end, it will depend on how far I want to go and how soon I want to get there.
I will have to keep you posted.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Re-write
I have completely gone through the novel and have started the re-write. I reads well but there are still a couple of problems, mostly dealing with research. I am having a particularly hard time with asthma __ the symtoms and what causes an asthma attack.
I have several friends, including one author, who are going to read the book. And I plan to send it to them in the next week. Two are from out of town __ including one in England __ so they will get it via e-mail. The last person, the author, is local and we will probably get together in a local coffee shop or bookstore.
I am still very nervous about the book. Is it any good? Is it interesting? How well is the story told?
I know I must sound like a Nervous Nellie but I can't shake it. I haven't developed a good sense of perspective and I wonder if I ever will.
I have started writing down little notes regarding the next novel. It will use the same main character as is in "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal," Jason Crown, but it will be set in Philadelphia where he will be attending an NABJ convention. And, like I think I mentioned before, the story will evolve around art at the Barnes Foundation in suburban Philly.
I haven't decided who the villian is yet so I have much work to do. And there is a lot of research I will need to finish on the Barnes Foundation, although I have some background in that area having previously written about and having visited the Barnes.
Keep writing and thanks for reading.
I have several friends, including one author, who are going to read the book. And I plan to send it to them in the next week. Two are from out of town __ including one in England __ so they will get it via e-mail. The last person, the author, is local and we will probably get together in a local coffee shop or bookstore.
I am still very nervous about the book. Is it any good? Is it interesting? How well is the story told?
I know I must sound like a Nervous Nellie but I can't shake it. I haven't developed a good sense of perspective and I wonder if I ever will.
I have started writing down little notes regarding the next novel. It will use the same main character as is in "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal," Jason Crown, but it will be set in Philadelphia where he will be attending an NABJ convention. And, like I think I mentioned before, the story will evolve around art at the Barnes Foundation in suburban Philly.
I haven't decided who the villian is yet so I have much work to do. And there is a lot of research I will need to finish on the Barnes Foundation, although I have some background in that area having previously written about and having visited the Barnes.
Keep writing and thanks for reading.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
On being worried
I finished the first draft of my murder mystery yesterday, and I am excited and ready to get back to work on it. I am truly ready to start looking for an agent and I can't do that until the first couple of chapters have been worked over more.
I saw a fellow writer today during a booksigning and she reminded me I should let the novel rest for a while, one or two weeks, and come back to it with fresh eyes. But I generally lack that level of perspective. I doubt I will have that sort of perspective for months if not years. And I can't wait that long.
Is it any good? I have not earthly idea. How is the writing? I don't know. There are some sentences I particularly like __ (It said less than she intended and more than he expected.) Or (Life was no easier for the modern-day inhabitants of the houses than it had been for those generations earlier, except now they could watch their betters on stolen large screen televisions hooked up to illegal cable.) Or (She was followed by five other women whose varying body types made it impossible for any of them to look good in their dresses.) __ but is it possible to like every sentence? I don't know.
Is the story any good and do I give it justice? I don't know.
Those are all worries but there isn't much I can do about them. I just want to get back to having my hands in the middle of the novel. So I just might print it out tomorrow morning and start. Will that help? Will reading it straight through now and charging back into it then improve it? Who knows. I just know I am ready to get on with it.
At least I will be re-writing instead of writing. Oh well . . .
There are just a few random thoughts. Don't let it stop you from writing.
Good luck and thanks for reading.
I saw a fellow writer today during a booksigning and she reminded me I should let the novel rest for a while, one or two weeks, and come back to it with fresh eyes. But I generally lack that level of perspective. I doubt I will have that sort of perspective for months if not years. And I can't wait that long.
Is it any good? I have not earthly idea. How is the writing? I don't know. There are some sentences I particularly like __ (It said less than she intended and more than he expected.) Or (Life was no easier for the modern-day inhabitants of the houses than it had been for those generations earlier, except now they could watch their betters on stolen large screen televisions hooked up to illegal cable.) Or (She was followed by five other women whose varying body types made it impossible for any of them to look good in their dresses.) __ but is it possible to like every sentence? I don't know.
Is the story any good and do I give it justice? I don't know.
Those are all worries but there isn't much I can do about them. I just want to get back to having my hands in the middle of the novel. So I just might print it out tomorrow morning and start. Will that help? Will reading it straight through now and charging back into it then improve it? Who knows. I just know I am ready to get on with it.
At least I will be re-writing instead of writing. Oh well . . .
There are just a few random thoughts. Don't let it stop you from writing.
Good luck and thanks for reading.
It is finished
I finished the first draft of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" yesterday evening at 6:35. It is 73,000 words, which is 7,000 less than I originally thought it would be. I know I should let it sit for about a week or so before I touch it again but I am excited and will probably print it out on Monday and start my first complete read through.
It has several problems and several places where I need to complete some research. And the was rushing at the end and I fear the final parts that I wrote are pretty rough if not downright dreadful. But it is completed.
After I clean it up a little in the next couple of weeks, I will have a couple of people read through it. But first I need to research how many times I used the word "that" in the novel and probably eliminate at least half of them straightaway. I am also sure I have too many commas.
But all in all, I am proud of myself. I got it done.
I will probably cut about 7,000 to 8,000 words in the first run through but as I fix the problems another 5,000 to 7,000 words will probably be added. We will have to see about that later.
For now, Jungle-bunny is done. Next the real work begins.
Thanks for reading. And don't give up.
It has several problems and several places where I need to complete some research. And the was rushing at the end and I fear the final parts that I wrote are pretty rough if not downright dreadful. But it is completed.
After I clean it up a little in the next couple of weeks, I will have a couple of people read through it. But first I need to research how many times I used the word "that" in the novel and probably eliminate at least half of them straightaway. I am also sure I have too many commas.
But all in all, I am proud of myself. I got it done.
I will probably cut about 7,000 to 8,000 words in the first run through but as I fix the problems another 5,000 to 7,000 words will probably be added. We will have to see about that later.
For now, Jungle-bunny is done. Next the real work begins.
Thanks for reading. And don't give up.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Meeting an author
A wonderful thing happened on Sunday. We had friends over for dinner and they brought a couple with them who are new in town. It's always wonderful to meet new people and it is particularly wonderful to meet a writer __ and a published writer, at that.
Her name is Alexus Rhone and she writes YA books. I visited her website and read parts of two books. They are wonderfully written, extremely readable and quite interesting, even if I am not her target audience. Both she and her husband are terrific people and I'm glad to have met them.
But what I liked best was talking to someone at my dining room table who has gone through what I am going through and then some. She is a networking and marketing dynamo. She gets her material out there and doesn't seem to let anything get in the way. She has contacts and has attended events from one coast to the other. And in that, she is a real inspiration for me.
One of the hardest things for me to do is market myself. I become self-conscious and, at times, timid. But in order to sell my books, I have to be able to sell myself, first to an agent and then to a publisher.
In marketing __ and in writing __ I am hoping Lex will be able to help me.
And on another issue . . .
I started my query letter for "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." I have re-worked it several times and it's a little long at the top. But I am probably at least a month away from sending it to any agents so I have time to fix things. I have to finish with the first draft of the entire novel and rewrite the first three to five chapters several times. By the time anyone requests the entire novel, the final version will be done.
But here is a look at the first two paragraphs of the query:
Courier-Times owner and publisher George Wilson was a tyrant. He was nearly as indiscreet as he was sexually promiscuous. He was a dismissive father. He was more feared than liked. But when Wilson is found dead in his office, the black newspaper’s top investigative reporter decides to find out if any of those were the reason.
Piecing the case together, reporter Jason Crown discovers the victim’s long-held family secret, a secret that threatens to destroy family relationships. But the murder goes beyond mere family business. And when Jason begins to fall for one of the sexy suspects, he must put aside his feelings for her and find the killer or risk becoming the next victim in “Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal.”
That's it for the moment. Enjoy your day but keep writing.
Her name is Alexus Rhone and she writes YA books. I visited her website and read parts of two books. They are wonderfully written, extremely readable and quite interesting, even if I am not her target audience. Both she and her husband are terrific people and I'm glad to have met them.
But what I liked best was talking to someone at my dining room table who has gone through what I am going through and then some. She is a networking and marketing dynamo. She gets her material out there and doesn't seem to let anything get in the way. She has contacts and has attended events from one coast to the other. And in that, she is a real inspiration for me.
One of the hardest things for me to do is market myself. I become self-conscious and, at times, timid. But in order to sell my books, I have to be able to sell myself, first to an agent and then to a publisher.
In marketing __ and in writing __ I am hoping Lex will be able to help me.
And on another issue . . .
I started my query letter for "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." I have re-worked it several times and it's a little long at the top. But I am probably at least a month away from sending it to any agents so I have time to fix things. I have to finish with the first draft of the entire novel and rewrite the first three to five chapters several times. By the time anyone requests the entire novel, the final version will be done.
But here is a look at the first two paragraphs of the query:
Courier-Times owner and publisher George Wilson was a tyrant. He was nearly as indiscreet as he was sexually promiscuous. He was a dismissive father. He was more feared than liked. But when Wilson is found dead in his office, the black newspaper’s top investigative reporter decides to find out if any of those were the reason.
Piecing the case together, reporter Jason Crown discovers the victim’s long-held family secret, a secret that threatens to destroy family relationships. But the murder goes beyond mere family business. And when Jason begins to fall for one of the sexy suspects, he must put aside his feelings for her and find the killer or risk becoming the next victim in “Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal.”
That's it for the moment. Enjoy your day but keep writing.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Death of a title
I was talking to a colleague last night whose opinion I respect and afterwards I decided I will ultimately have to pick another title for my murder mystery novel, which currently is titled, "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal."
It's not that it isn't catchy. It is catchy. It would draw people's attention, which is necessary for the book to sell. But she pointed out something I knew but had never completed considered.
The book is a fairly standard murder mystery __ a person is killed and we follow the ups and downs of our hero as they try to figure out who did it and why __ and isn't political in any way. But the title is political. Very political.
A book with that title will likely create a public debate as to the title's appropriateness and, in a larger sense, race relations in this country. I would spend more time discussing the title than promoting the literary merits of the book itself. It would shift the focus away from what I want it to be.
All that makes me sad. I can't see why people can't just see the title, have a little chuckle, buy the book (if only out of curiosity in the title) and move on. The book is just a book __ a novel whose purpose is to entertain. It's not a book about race relations.
I have had the title for years __ about 10 years, actually __ before I started the book. I had the title before I even considered writing a book set in a Black newspaper. But now I will have to come up with another title. Nothing immediately comes to mind, although the first draft of the book is nearly complete. But a title will come in time.
I have considered keeping the title until after I start looking for an agent again, just to see what their reaction would be. But in the end, I don't want the focus of the novel to be on the title. I want it on the storytelling.
Oh well . . .
Have a good day and don't give up on writing.
It's not that it isn't catchy. It is catchy. It would draw people's attention, which is necessary for the book to sell. But she pointed out something I knew but had never completed considered.
The book is a fairly standard murder mystery __ a person is killed and we follow the ups and downs of our hero as they try to figure out who did it and why __ and isn't political in any way. But the title is political. Very political.
A book with that title will likely create a public debate as to the title's appropriateness and, in a larger sense, race relations in this country. I would spend more time discussing the title than promoting the literary merits of the book itself. It would shift the focus away from what I want it to be.
All that makes me sad. I can't see why people can't just see the title, have a little chuckle, buy the book (if only out of curiosity in the title) and move on. The book is just a book __ a novel whose purpose is to entertain. It's not a book about race relations.
I have had the title for years __ about 10 years, actually __ before I started the book. I had the title before I even considered writing a book set in a Black newspaper. But now I will have to come up with another title. Nothing immediately comes to mind, although the first draft of the book is nearly complete. But a title will come in time.
I have considered keeping the title until after I start looking for an agent again, just to see what their reaction would be. But in the end, I don't want the focus of the novel to be on the title. I want it on the storytelling.
Oh well . . .
Have a good day and don't give up on writing.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
It's almost time
Some six months ago I learned that writing a novel was not the hardest part of getting it published. It was just the beginning. Finding the right agent and convincing them to represent you was a much harder task.
I stopped looking for an agent for "Fighting Chaos" back in March as I focused more and more time and energy writing my new book, "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." Now, as I approach the completion of the first draft, I am beginning to consider a new search for an agent.
I am not particularly looking forward to it.
Granted, it doesn't have to be so hard. The mystery genre is bigger than the suspense/thriller genre. There are more agents looking for the next new author of a mystery, although there undoubtedly are more authors of the genre out there.
I wrote more of the query letter for the new novel just today. Then I re-wrote it. It has all the sexy marketing elements that were missing in "Chaos." It is a more compelling story than "Chaos" and my wife says it is written better, too.
I'm not ready to jump into the pool yet. I haven't even finished the book. But I am close. Very close. And once I have finished the first draft, I will re-write the beginning and then start sending out queries, safe in the knowledge that I can finish all the revisions before the first agent requests a complete manuscript.
So, there is the plan as of now. It's coming together. And once I have finished this novel, I will start on the next one, which I currently title as "Fall 2008 project."
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
I stopped looking for an agent for "Fighting Chaos" back in March as I focused more and more time and energy writing my new book, "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." Now, as I approach the completion of the first draft, I am beginning to consider a new search for an agent.
I am not particularly looking forward to it.
Granted, it doesn't have to be so hard. The mystery genre is bigger than the suspense/thriller genre. There are more agents looking for the next new author of a mystery, although there undoubtedly are more authors of the genre out there.
I wrote more of the query letter for the new novel just today. Then I re-wrote it. It has all the sexy marketing elements that were missing in "Chaos." It is a more compelling story than "Chaos" and my wife says it is written better, too.
I'm not ready to jump into the pool yet. I haven't even finished the book. But I am close. Very close. And once I have finished the first draft, I will re-write the beginning and then start sending out queries, safe in the knowledge that I can finish all the revisions before the first agent requests a complete manuscript.
So, there is the plan as of now. It's coming together. And once I have finished this novel, I will start on the next one, which I currently title as "Fall 2008 project."
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Motivation
When I was nearing completion of "Fighting Chaos," I got to a point where I had the end in sight but wasn't motivated to get there. I had a hard time writing. I found it confusing because I would have thought my motivation and writing output would have increased instead of decreased. I wanted to finish and I was near finishing but I had a hard time getting there, over that last hump.
I seem to be at that point now with "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." I am more than a week away from finishing __ probably three weeks __ but clearly the end is in sight. And yet, I have a hard time writing. I know of what action comes next in the book but I am having a hard time getting there. I still write or edit everyday (or do something related to being a novelist)but I am not writing enough.
Yes, I have excuses. I have been busy this week with a new writing client. And I am working to get more clients and increasubg my paycheack. But that doesn't occupy all my time 24/7. I have the time to work on the novel, if only in the late evenings before bed or the early morning hours before the day starts.
Yesterday, for example, I touched up some of the early parts of Jungle-bunny but I didn't add any new material. And the day before that I only wrote about 500 words. What is wrong with me?
Anyway, I need to untangle a few strings and then make sure that everything I originally intended to say in the novel has been said. And then I will be done.
I asked an author colleague of mine to read the novel after it is done. Then I have to consider whether to dramatically change anything. She once suggested I switch to a first person narrative, which I am not comfortable with doing, regardless of the time it would take to convert, and she suggested I open the novel with what is currently my second chapter.
I am not sure but I will certainly consider all such suggestions.
But before that, I have to finish. Finding the motivation to finish isn't easy. But until I find the motivation to finish, I am just a guy with a dream, not a completed work. So I will just have to dig deep, find the motivation and get back to work.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
I seem to be at that point now with "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." I am more than a week away from finishing __ probably three weeks __ but clearly the end is in sight. And yet, I have a hard time writing. I know of what action comes next in the book but I am having a hard time getting there. I still write or edit everyday (or do something related to being a novelist)but I am not writing enough.
Yes, I have excuses. I have been busy this week with a new writing client. And I am working to get more clients and increasubg my paycheack. But that doesn't occupy all my time 24/7. I have the time to work on the novel, if only in the late evenings before bed or the early morning hours before the day starts.
Yesterday, for example, I touched up some of the early parts of Jungle-bunny but I didn't add any new material. And the day before that I only wrote about 500 words. What is wrong with me?
Anyway, I need to untangle a few strings and then make sure that everything I originally intended to say in the novel has been said. And then I will be done.
I asked an author colleague of mine to read the novel after it is done. Then I have to consider whether to dramatically change anything. She once suggested I switch to a first person narrative, which I am not comfortable with doing, regardless of the time it would take to convert, and she suggested I open the novel with what is currently my second chapter.
I am not sure but I will certainly consider all such suggestions.
But before that, I have to finish. Finding the motivation to finish isn't easy. But until I find the motivation to finish, I am just a guy with a dream, not a completed work. So I will just have to dig deep, find the motivation and get back to work.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
What's Next? Part II
It struck me today. I know what to do next. As it now stands, it is going to be another murder mystery and will likely include some of the major characters from "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" if only as background.
It will be set in Philadelphia and, in a general way, I know what it is about. (However, I don't have a story or a plot at the moment. Some work will be to be done on that score.) And I am a firm believer in writing what you know, thus reducing the need for extensive research. But I will need to do some heavy duty research for this one. It will involve an academic area in which I have some knowledge but it is extremely limited.
I have written about this before as a reporter. Thus, I know where I will start. Next month, while I am working on the second or third draft of the Jungle-bunny Journal, I think I will drive to Philadelphia for several days. In that way, I can wander around Philadelphia, Lower Merion and perhaps even venture down to Lincoln. And through the research, perhaps the exact story and plot will come to me. (I even have a tentative title. But more on that at a much later date.)
This third book will be a great __ and timely __ project for the second half of 2008. And maybe I will finish it by Christmas. That would be good, even if I manage find an agent and sell Jungle-bunny Journal by then.
So, Jason Mitchell will live to solve another murder. But in the process, he will face a greater challenge than he has ever faced before.
I will tell you more when I start on my next book.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
It will be set in Philadelphia and, in a general way, I know what it is about. (However, I don't have a story or a plot at the moment. Some work will be to be done on that score.) And I am a firm believer in writing what you know, thus reducing the need for extensive research. But I will need to do some heavy duty research for this one. It will involve an academic area in which I have some knowledge but it is extremely limited.
I have written about this before as a reporter. Thus, I know where I will start. Next month, while I am working on the second or third draft of the Jungle-bunny Journal, I think I will drive to Philadelphia for several days. In that way, I can wander around Philadelphia, Lower Merion and perhaps even venture down to Lincoln. And through the research, perhaps the exact story and plot will come to me. (I even have a tentative title. But more on that at a much later date.)
This third book will be a great __ and timely __ project for the second half of 2008. And maybe I will finish it by Christmas. That would be good, even if I manage find an agent and sell Jungle-bunny Journal by then.
So, Jason Mitchell will live to solve another murder. But in the process, he will face a greater challenge than he has ever faced before.
I will tell you more when I start on my next book.
Thanks for reading and don't give up on writing.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
What's next?
That is an interesting question. What's next?
Given that I am 75 percent through my current novel, I have to start thinking about the next step. First I will go through it and try to clean in up, add anything that I need to research, fix any continuity problems and specifically consider who to have read it. I am pretty certain I will ask at least one of two writers in my writers group. Perhaps both.
And the rewriting will begin.
But the search for an agent for this book will also begin. Assuming that the first draft of the book is done by then, I should have my query letter for the book written by mid-June. And after I vet it with a couple of writers, I should start sending it out by late June.
I will take a different approach to this letter than I did for the letter for "Fighting Chaos." I plan to write it like it the blurb for a movie. Then I will add some background on me. I hope to catch an agent's eye immediately.
In addition, I hope to attend a conference in late July and perhaps connect with an agent there. But that is still months ago. What is important is that I am thinking about such things and planning.
It doesn't, however, answer my first question. What next? I am thinking about tackling a non-fiction book teen drug addiction. It will be a shorter book than the fiction I have written and will require far more research, reporting and interviewing. But that is what is currently in my mind.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Given that I am 75 percent through my current novel, I have to start thinking about the next step. First I will go through it and try to clean in up, add anything that I need to research, fix any continuity problems and specifically consider who to have read it. I am pretty certain I will ask at least one of two writers in my writers group. Perhaps both.
And the rewriting will begin.
But the search for an agent for this book will also begin. Assuming that the first draft of the book is done by then, I should have my query letter for the book written by mid-June. And after I vet it with a couple of writers, I should start sending it out by late June.
I will take a different approach to this letter than I did for the letter for "Fighting Chaos." I plan to write it like it the blurb for a movie. Then I will add some background on me. I hope to catch an agent's eye immediately.
In addition, I hope to attend a conference in late July and perhaps connect with an agent there. But that is still months ago. What is important is that I am thinking about such things and planning.
It doesn't, however, answer my first question. What next? I am thinking about tackling a non-fiction book teen drug addiction. It will be a shorter book than the fiction I have written and will require far more research, reporting and interviewing. But that is what is currently in my mind.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
That word
There was a great news satire television program in the 1960s called "That Was The Week That Was." To people who remember it, it is just called TW3.
It is a great title for the program although it uses the word 'that,' one of the most overused words in the English language. The problem is it doesn't have much meaning yet is so often used. While I was in college, I remember the editor of our college paper lecturing us on eliminating the word from our writing. And it is something I have tried to do.
So imagine my surprise last Saturday when one of the other writers in my writing group who was conducting a critique on the first two chapters of my book cautioned me about using 'that' too often. I didn't realize it was a problem.
Well, apparently it is __ I checked.
In the nearly 57,000 words I have written for "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" I used the word 'that' 647 times, which is nearly twice as many times as I use the name 'Jason,' which appears 396 times. And Jason is the main character in the book.
I highlighted every time I use 'that' and plan to go through and examine each case. But because it will be so time-consuming, I won't do it until before I start the second draft.
So be careful with 'that.' It may fit perfectly in TW3, but in other places it is overused and unnecessary.
Thanks for reading and have a great evening. And most of all, don't give up on writing.
It is a great title for the program although it uses the word 'that,' one of the most overused words in the English language. The problem is it doesn't have much meaning yet is so often used. While I was in college, I remember the editor of our college paper lecturing us on eliminating the word from our writing. And it is something I have tried to do.
So imagine my surprise last Saturday when one of the other writers in my writing group who was conducting a critique on the first two chapters of my book cautioned me about using 'that' too often. I didn't realize it was a problem.
Well, apparently it is __ I checked.
In the nearly 57,000 words I have written for "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal" I used the word 'that' 647 times, which is nearly twice as many times as I use the name 'Jason,' which appears 396 times. And Jason is the main character in the book.
I highlighted every time I use 'that' and plan to go through and examine each case. But because it will be so time-consuming, I won't do it until before I start the second draft.
So be careful with 'that.' It may fit perfectly in TW3, but in other places it is overused and unnecessary.
Thanks for reading and have a great evening. And most of all, don't give up on writing.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Critiques
I joined a writers group last month and have read a couple of chapters of three other authors in the last month. It has been very helpful in seeing how other writers work and how they produce. All of the others are in my local chapter of Sisters in Crime and they are published.
What is good about being in the group is that I see that I'm not suffering alone with plot, character development and dialogue. And that is a huge help.
And today, for the first time, I got feedback on the first two chapters of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." The comments were generally positive and provided a perspective that I just can't get alone at my laptop.
Some of the more minor suggestions I will implement immediately by doing a search and replace throughout the text. But others will require some hard thinking on my part. For the latter, I will let the comment in my brain until I start my second draft and consider them in my detail then.
One such suggestion is that I switch the order of the first two chapters. That may work but then it may also relay the real narrative of the story.
Like I said __ it will require some hard thinking.
However, that is always good. It is difficult, if not impossible, to get out of one's skin and look objectively at one's work.
Well, that's all for the moment. Sorry I haven't written more this week. I promise to get back on the stick next week.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
What is good about being in the group is that I see that I'm not suffering alone with plot, character development and dialogue. And that is a huge help.
And today, for the first time, I got feedback on the first two chapters of "Death at the Jungle-bunny Journal." The comments were generally positive and provided a perspective that I just can't get alone at my laptop.
Some of the more minor suggestions I will implement immediately by doing a search and replace throughout the text. But others will require some hard thinking on my part. For the latter, I will let the comment in my brain until I start my second draft and consider them in my detail then.
One such suggestion is that I switch the order of the first two chapters. That may work but then it may also relay the real narrative of the story.
Like I said __ it will require some hard thinking.
However, that is always good. It is difficult, if not impossible, to get out of one's skin and look objectively at one's work.
Well, that's all for the moment. Sorry I haven't written more this week. I promise to get back on the stick next week.
Thanks for reading and keep writing.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
POV
I am a journalist by both training and occupation. And for virtually my entire career as an editor and as a reporter, I have approached writing from one point of view __ third person. As far as I can remember, I have written fewer than a hand full of news or feature stories in first person. The only real exceptions were when I was on a newspaper's editorial staff and wrote editorials but those, while in first person, were plural, not singular.
(I did write three first person stories for United Press International __ two on racing and one at the Franklin Institute when I took part in an egg experiment. And I really got into each story and enjoyed them tremendously.)
Thus when I started writing fiction I never gave any real thought to writing a story in first person. Frankly, the prospect of writing in first person terrified me.
Some say the first-person narrative is easier to write and as well as easier to read. I don't know about the former but the latter isn't true for me. When reading, I find first-person narrative distracting. I immediately note that it is from only one person's POV and often wonder what is going on that the protagonist (and the author) don't see.
But I am also amazed that writers can pull it off successfully. It can often provide the character a stronger voice. Two of the three critiques I have done for the writers group to which I belong were in first person. And though I found some fault with their writing (that's the editor in me), it wasn't because of the POV.
I think the third-person narrative fits me because of my ego. As the author, I am the god of the universe in which my characters live. If they prayed, in effect, it would be to me. In my narratives, I know everything that any character does or thinks. I generally know it before they do, although they do sometimes surprise me.
But most importantly, it is how I have always written.
One day, when I decide to be brave, I may write some fiction in first person, just to give it a try. I think I will try a short story first, however. But for the most part, you will generally see me in third-person narrative.
Thanks for reading, enjoy your day and don't forget to keep writing.
(I did write three first person stories for United Press International __ two on racing and one at the Franklin Institute when I took part in an egg experiment. And I really got into each story and enjoyed them tremendously.)
Thus when I started writing fiction I never gave any real thought to writing a story in first person. Frankly, the prospect of writing in first person terrified me.
Some say the first-person narrative is easier to write and as well as easier to read. I don't know about the former but the latter isn't true for me. When reading, I find first-person narrative distracting. I immediately note that it is from only one person's POV and often wonder what is going on that the protagonist (and the author) don't see.
But I am also amazed that writers can pull it off successfully. It can often provide the character a stronger voice. Two of the three critiques I have done for the writers group to which I belong were in first person. And though I found some fault with their writing (that's the editor in me), it wasn't because of the POV.
I think the third-person narrative fits me because of my ego. As the author, I am the god of the universe in which my characters live. If they prayed, in effect, it would be to me. In my narratives, I know everything that any character does or thinks. I generally know it before they do, although they do sometimes surprise me.
But most importantly, it is how I have always written.
One day, when I decide to be brave, I may write some fiction in first person, just to give it a try. I think I will try a short story first, however. But for the most part, you will generally see me in third-person narrative.
Thanks for reading, enjoy your day and don't forget to keep writing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)