I was perusing Facebook the other day and one of my fave authors was pimping an author friend of hers. She had a blurb about the author's upcoming book and instructions to pre-order the Kindle version for . . . $9.99.
WTF??
Almost ten bucks for a DOWNLOADED BOOK?? Are the NY publishers effin' crazy?? Talk about greedy pusses. *shakes head* I still can't get over that.
I'll pay $7.99 for a paperback that I can hold in my hand and eventually donate it to the local women's shelter, but what can you do with a downloaded book?
--reread it, but that's only if it's a keeper and would be good as a reread. And I rarely reread any books.
--I can't donate it.
IMO: downloadable books should be cheaper than regular books--by a LOT. True, it will still need editing, cover art, and to be formated properly.
But there's no monies out of pocket for ink, paper (and various printing costs), distribution (warehouse space,trucks, gas, etc), and I think many writers are getting screwed.
1) An author's royalty on each book sold is far lower than it should be. Publishers are taking a bigger chunk for less out of pocket expense.
2) Technically, these books never, ever 'go out of print'. Which means the rights will never revert back to the author.
If you don't believe me, read JAKonrath's amusing take on the topic.
Still Editing FAERIE. I managed 50 pages this week, and I did something I didn't think I could--
I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE STORY ALL OVER AGAIN. And I know why I love writing Middle Grade.
Write on!
10/1/10
9/29/10
Toughen Your Writing Hide.
I was talking to a writerly friend of mine the other day.
--Uh, I HATE talking on the phone, so I try not to do it, BUT when I do it's best to plan for a marathon. I can talk for HOURS . . . probably because I don't talk to myself when I write and when my kidlet and hubby are home, I can never get a word in edgewise!
Anyhoo, we bounced around various topics for over a couple of hours . . . yes, I said a couple of hours. We were talking about how different people handle criticism, whether it's a contest entry, a critique, or a reviewer dissing a book. Everyone deals with it in different ways, but she said something that struck with me, especially when someone comments negatively to your input.
WARNING: Tangent ahead:
Years ago, I owned a horse. I wasn't well off and it was all I could do to afford board, farrier, vet and one lesson a week. If I wanted to compete in Hunter schooling shows, I saved my money. Paying a trainer to work my horse was rare. I think I could count the times on one hand when I paid a trainer to work Buster (my last horse. I bought him green-broke--he knew how to stop . . . sort of). I had to figure it out for myself. If Buster didn't do what I asked, I had to figure out WHAT I was doing wrong. I obviously wasn't giving him the right signal. So I had to figure out how to communicate with Buster. It was a partnership. I LEARNED from the experience.
So, in other words, having someone else hop on your horse to fix it, what do you learn? Do you learn how to communicate better with your partner? Do you learn how to ask correctly? Do you learn ANYTHING?
--No.
Here are a few things to think about:
1) Before you publish:
--if you don't really 'want' input, don't ask for it.
--If you want your ego stroked talk to your mom, dad, sis, bro, or even your CP's, don't ask for a critique or submit as a contest entry. Different people pick up on different things.
--get over yourself.
--if a reader/judge/CP is confused about something, don't get defensive--get real. You're too close to the story. You KNOW what's going to happen, but you didn't do your job as a writer to give the reader enough information to understand.
--if you take everything a CP/judge tells you to 'fix' your story, you are writing yourself out of the story. Don't use their words to fix something, use your own.
2) After publishing:
--reviewers can be nasty, why give them power over you? It's not like you can do anything about your book. It's a done deal. It's in print. So what if they don't like it. Don't read reviews.
--true, it's easy for me to say because I'm unpublished. But you can't fix a published book, then why waste your emotions over something someone wrote about it?
I'm busy editing FAERIE, so . . .
Write on!
--Uh, I HATE talking on the phone, so I try not to do it, BUT when I do it's best to plan for a marathon. I can talk for HOURS . . . probably because I don't talk to myself when I write and when my kidlet and hubby are home, I can never get a word in edgewise!
Anyhoo, we bounced around various topics for over a couple of hours . . . yes, I said a couple of hours. We were talking about how different people handle criticism, whether it's a contest entry, a critique, or a reviewer dissing a book. Everyone deals with it in different ways, but she said something that struck with me, especially when someone comments negatively to your input.
WARNING: Tangent ahead:
Years ago, I owned a horse. I wasn't well off and it was all I could do to afford board, farrier, vet and one lesson a week. If I wanted to compete in Hunter schooling shows, I saved my money. Paying a trainer to work my horse was rare. I think I could count the times on one hand when I paid a trainer to work Buster (my last horse. I bought him green-broke--he knew how to stop . . . sort of). I had to figure it out for myself. If Buster didn't do what I asked, I had to figure out WHAT I was doing wrong. I obviously wasn't giving him the right signal. So I had to figure out how to communicate with Buster. It was a partnership. I LEARNED from the experience.
So, in other words, having someone else hop on your horse to fix it, what do you learn? Do you learn how to communicate better with your partner? Do you learn how to ask correctly? Do you learn ANYTHING?
--No.
Here are a few things to think about:
1) Before you publish:
--if you don't really 'want' input, don't ask for it.
--If you want your ego stroked talk to your mom, dad, sis, bro, or even your CP's, don't ask for a critique or submit as a contest entry. Different people pick up on different things.
--get over yourself.
--if a reader/judge/CP is confused about something, don't get defensive--get real. You're too close to the story. You KNOW what's going to happen, but you didn't do your job as a writer to give the reader enough information to understand.
--if you take everything a CP/judge tells you to 'fix' your story, you are writing yourself out of the story. Don't use their words to fix something, use your own.
2) After publishing:
--reviewers can be nasty, why give them power over you? It's not like you can do anything about your book. It's a done deal. It's in print. So what if they don't like it. Don't read reviews.
--true, it's easy for me to say because I'm unpublished. But you can't fix a published book, then why waste your emotions over something someone wrote about it?
I'm busy editing FAERIE, so . . .
Write on!
9/27/10
Changing Weather
This morning I woke up to 48 degrees--outside the house, not in. We went from 93 degrees two days ago to highs only in the low 60's yesterday. Today will be sunny and cool. I don't know what happened to fall. We went from summer to winter in two days. Where are my 70 and 80 degree days?? Gone. Poof!
The one thing I like about cooler days is that it inspires me to snuggle down and write, crochet or simply read.
The yard and plants are still green and pretty. The pool is still open, though I wouldn't swim in it unless we heat it up a little. And the puppy is just like Katie was--she wants to go outside just to let the wind blow the hair out of her face.
I enjoy working in the yard during fall, but my poor sinuses don't. The allergy sniffles and headache aren't high on my list of things to get, but if I want bulbs and pansies planted then I must persevere!
. . . but not today. Today I HAVE TO EDIT MY SUGAR PLUM DISASTER SHORT STORY. Ya see, I saw a link on a loop for Jeffrey Archer's short story contest and decided to enter this story. I need to cut a couple hundred words and tweak it to read better than its original blog serial formant. So I'll be puttering around with it today. It probably won't go anywhere, but it allows it to be seen by editors, and I'm good with that.
Write on!
The one thing I like about cooler days is that it inspires me to snuggle down and write, crochet or simply read.
The yard and plants are still green and pretty. The pool is still open, though I wouldn't swim in it unless we heat it up a little. And the puppy is just like Katie was--she wants to go outside just to let the wind blow the hair out of her face.
I enjoy working in the yard during fall, but my poor sinuses don't. The allergy sniffles and headache aren't high on my list of things to get, but if I want bulbs and pansies planted then I must persevere!
. . . but not today. Today I HAVE TO EDIT MY SUGAR PLUM DISASTER SHORT STORY. Ya see, I saw a link on a loop for Jeffrey Archer's short story contest and decided to enter this story. I need to cut a couple hundred words and tweak it to read better than its original blog serial formant. So I'll be puttering around with it today. It probably won't go anywhere, but it allows it to be seen by editors, and I'm good with that.
Write on!
9/24/10
The Margaret Method of Critique
FAERIE editing update: I printed it out and am actually doing a hard copy edit. I didn't want to kill too many trees so I printed in single-spaced Arial. It seems to be working. . . for now, but I don't know how it will be to input changes. I'll let you know!
It's been awhile since I've written about critiquing. I touched upon it on Monday, so I thought I would give a little insight into my methods of 1) reading, 2) judging, 3) critiquing.
And yes, I actually approach them in the same manner--I'm expecting the best read of my life. That's it. Simple, huh? I want to read the Great American Novel. I want to keep reading when my pages are finished.
1) Books: When I pick up a book, whether it's by an author new to me or a beloved author, I want to settle down and become immersed into another world. I'm a happy-for-now kind of gal and want the story to end on a high note. I do have a bad habit of skimming the endings to make sure this happens. Right now, I have CHANGELESS by Gail Carriger sitting on my desk, partially read. I seriously doubt if I'll finish it. I love her writing style and I loved SOULLESS (book #1), but CHANGELESS doesn't end on a high note. Yeah, I cheated, and no, it wasn't categorized as a romance. I don't like stories that end with dissension, death, or other bad stuff. Bad stuff happens in real life, I just don't want to read about it. I try to finish books, because I spent good money for them.
2) Contests: I've judged six contests so far this year. Most contest entries are around 25-35 pages, sometimes a synopsis is included. As a judge, we are given a score sheet that usually hits the main questions for an entry. The categories vary depending on the contest, but for the most part they consist of: opening hook, characterization, plot, conflict narrative/dialogue, technique/style, subgenre (unless you enter the wrong category--you should ALWAYS score full points in the subgenre, or maybe I'm just generous in this regard. And no, having a creepy feeling walking into a house doesn't merit a PARANORMAL story, but having a conversation with a ghost does). I'll look over the questions on the score sheet to get a general idea of the contest requirements before I start reading. If the synopsis is included, I won't look at it until I finish the manuscript material. I don't start judging contest entry until I'm pulled out of the story. It could be an awkward sentence or narrative about clothes that goes on and on for pages (just judged one like that. And it wasn't a woman in a historical novel--IT WAS A MALE, and NOT Beau Brummel!). I'll put my comments within the manuscript and on the score sheet. I will only judge electronic contests, so I can tweak, reword, or erase my comments if I deem them too harsh. If the scoring system is 1-5, I will almost NEVER score below a 3. Why? 3's get the point across that the entry isn't ready for the big times, but it doesn't devastate like a 1 or 2. Trust me, they still hurt, but not as much.
3) Critiquing: I tend to critique like I judge. I'll read until something feels wrong, whether it's a sentence or out of character dialogue/narrative. I'm NOT a grammarian, so don't expect me to line edit. It won't happen, but I'll highlight a sentence or word that is awkward or weak. If I'm confused, I'll say it confused me. When I critique, I will usually comment on the big picture items. I don't rewrite sentences. I don't make suggestions (usually) HOW to improve something--it's not my job as a critter. It's the job of the writer to fix her manuscript problems, her choice as to how to deal with it. My job is to point out a stumbling block. The exception is if a crittee needs to cut words out of a submission, then I'll slice and dice (Right, Cyndi?) to help tighten the story. It's hard to see the extraneous words when you are so close to your own work. Another way to catch extraneous verbiage is time. Let a draft sit for a few months if you can--I know contracted authors don't have this luxury, but unpubs do. Then go in and slice and dice your own work.
--Another suggestion for people needing a crit (and I'm horrible at this!) don't submit your first draft for critique. Make it a second or third draft. When I sub a first draft, I usually just ask if I'm on the right track. That's all I want and need at this point of my story.
--if you need a crit, please be clear about your needs. Not everyone crits the same way. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for someone else.
Until later . . .
Write on!
It's been awhile since I've written about critiquing. I touched upon it on Monday, so I thought I would give a little insight into my methods of 1) reading, 2) judging, 3) critiquing.
And yes, I actually approach them in the same manner--I'm expecting the best read of my life. That's it. Simple, huh? I want to read the Great American Novel. I want to keep reading when my pages are finished.
1) Books: When I pick up a book, whether it's by an author new to me or a beloved author, I want to settle down and become immersed into another world. I'm a happy-for-now kind of gal and want the story to end on a high note. I do have a bad habit of skimming the endings to make sure this happens. Right now, I have CHANGELESS by Gail Carriger sitting on my desk, partially read. I seriously doubt if I'll finish it. I love her writing style and I loved SOULLESS (book #1), but CHANGELESS doesn't end on a high note. Yeah, I cheated, and no, it wasn't categorized as a romance. I don't like stories that end with dissension, death, or other bad stuff. Bad stuff happens in real life, I just don't want to read about it. I try to finish books, because I spent good money for them.
2) Contests: I've judged six contests so far this year. Most contest entries are around 25-35 pages, sometimes a synopsis is included. As a judge, we are given a score sheet that usually hits the main questions for an entry. The categories vary depending on the contest, but for the most part they consist of: opening hook, characterization, plot, conflict narrative/dialogue, technique/style, subgenre (unless you enter the wrong category--you should ALWAYS score full points in the subgenre, or maybe I'm just generous in this regard. And no, having a creepy feeling walking into a house doesn't merit a PARANORMAL story, but having a conversation with a ghost does). I'll look over the questions on the score sheet to get a general idea of the contest requirements before I start reading. If the synopsis is included, I won't look at it until I finish the manuscript material. I don't start judging contest entry until I'm pulled out of the story. It could be an awkward sentence or narrative about clothes that goes on and on for pages (just judged one like that. And it wasn't a woman in a historical novel--IT WAS A MALE, and NOT Beau Brummel!). I'll put my comments within the manuscript and on the score sheet. I will only judge electronic contests, so I can tweak, reword, or erase my comments if I deem them too harsh. If the scoring system is 1-5, I will almost NEVER score below a 3. Why? 3's get the point across that the entry isn't ready for the big times, but it doesn't devastate like a 1 or 2. Trust me, they still hurt, but not as much.
3) Critiquing: I tend to critique like I judge. I'll read until something feels wrong, whether it's a sentence or out of character dialogue/narrative. I'm NOT a grammarian, so don't expect me to line edit. It won't happen, but I'll highlight a sentence or word that is awkward or weak. If I'm confused, I'll say it confused me. When I critique, I will usually comment on the big picture items. I don't rewrite sentences. I don't make suggestions (usually) HOW to improve something--it's not my job as a critter. It's the job of the writer to fix her manuscript problems, her choice as to how to deal with it. My job is to point out a stumbling block. The exception is if a crittee needs to cut words out of a submission, then I'll slice and dice (Right, Cyndi?) to help tighten the story. It's hard to see the extraneous words when you are so close to your own work. Another way to catch extraneous verbiage is time. Let a draft sit for a few months if you can--I know contracted authors don't have this luxury, but unpubs do. Then go in and slice and dice your own work.
--Another suggestion for people needing a crit (and I'm horrible at this!) don't submit your first draft for critique. Make it a second or third draft. When I sub a first draft, I usually just ask if I'm on the right track. That's all I want and need at this point of my story.
--if you need a crit, please be clear about your needs. Not everyone crits the same way. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for someone else.
Until later . . .
Write on!
9/22/10
Addressing Tough Issues
On Sunday, I read this post by Janet Reid. I totally agree that these tough subjects need to be addressed . . . but not by me. Sometimes the only way teenagers get the information they need is by reading about it. Yes, I'd like my child to come to me with her problems--but let's be real here, how often does that REALLY happen? If she won't come to me then, I'd rather have my child read a 'fictional' account of date rape, drug abuse, drinking, homosexuality, etc. Hopefully, she would realize HOW she needs to deal with it, who to talk to, etc. instead of keeping it to herself and allowing the wound to fester. This rocky road can lead to severe depression, behavioral changes and sometimes suicide.
I will always remember my sister (12 years older than me) giving me a book when I was twelve. I had just hit puberty along with all the complications associated with it. The book was, ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET by Judy Blume. Was I totally embarrassed? Hell, yeah, but it helped me in more ways than I care to count.
There is a need for these types of books in schools, in libraries, and even in your own home. Why are parents trying to ban this stuff from school libraries? What happened to Freedom of Speech? And the ability for us to make choices for ourselves? Wouldn't you rather have your child read about something from a reasonably legit source over hearsay from their 'buddies'?
What I find interesting is agents/editors don't want writers to write PB's (picture books) that TEACH the reader a lesson. They don't want kids to be preached at. BUT if you read many, many PB's or early readers, there are morals and lessons in each story. The key is to hide the moral in the subtext.
In a sense, don't all books teach the reader? It just depends on how subtle the author is when she addresses various issues. We learn so many things while reading, whether it is through the subtext or actual words.
What are your thoughts on the subject?
Write on!
I will always remember my sister (12 years older than me) giving me a book when I was twelve. I had just hit puberty along with all the complications associated with it. The book was, ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET by Judy Blume. Was I totally embarrassed? Hell, yeah, but it helped me in more ways than I care to count.
There is a need for these types of books in schools, in libraries, and even in your own home. Why are parents trying to ban this stuff from school libraries? What happened to Freedom of Speech? And the ability for us to make choices for ourselves? Wouldn't you rather have your child read about something from a reasonably legit source over hearsay from their 'buddies'?
What I find interesting is agents/editors don't want writers to write PB's (picture books) that TEACH the reader a lesson. They don't want kids to be preached at. BUT if you read many, many PB's or early readers, there are morals and lessons in each story. The key is to hide the moral in the subtext.
In a sense, don't all books teach the reader? It just depends on how subtle the author is when she addresses various issues. We learn so many things while reading, whether it is through the subtext or actual words.
What are your thoughts on the subject?
Write on!
9/20/10
Learning to Revise/Edit
At the end of April, I finished FAERIE. My intentions were to edit the story over the summer when my kidlet was out of school.
--it didn't happen. Instead, I diddled around with the beginning of an old partial that I had put away, rewriting the first few chapters/synopsis from scratch.
I've gotten about all the rejections I can handle with GNOME, so I'm 'officially' retiring it from active querying. It's time to move on. And yes, I've been pimping GNOME for over a year. Got some nibbles (partials and fulls), but no takers. *sigh*
So, I pull out my FAERIE query, make a few tweaks and send it to a few people. I got some comments back, but I'm shelving the query for now. Why? Because I did a name change of my main character in FAERIE's first draft. I skimmed the story when I was 'finding and replacing' and realized that I have a HUGE amount of work ahead of me--more than I thought or expected. I need to buckle down and get the manuscript into shape BEFORE I consider querying it.
Therefore, I'm changing into my EDIT hat and will dive into the story today. The problem that I have, and will ALWAYS have, is that I tend to dink with the sentences and paragraphs each and every time I read them. During the second draft is NOT the time to do this.
On an aside: THIS is why I don't want someone to crit to this depth and request only general comments--slow pacing, unbelievable dialogue, or confusing sentence--you get the picture. But it doesn't stop the majority of critters from trying to change the story into the way they would write it.
If you are a critter, please, please, please, try to respect the writer's wishes and do the type of crit they request. Writers, just like critters, have different strengths and weaknesses, along with different needs. If you are unable to do that type of crit requested, then decline the request.
Here's my plan:
1) read the story all the way through without making changes--jot notes/comments throughout
2) make big picture corrections--this tends to involve little corrections, too
3) read the story again for pacing, characterization, dialogue, blah, blah, blah--adjusting spices as needed
4) find willing victim . . . oops, volunteers to sample finished story
5) scream/rant/rave about their comments as they 'ruin' the story
6) put on big girl panties to use the suggestions to improve my story
7) read the #$@#$ thing again.
8) lather, rinse, repeat as needed.
So--if you have another method, PLEASE tell me your method as I might be able to improve mine!
TTFN!
Write on!
--it didn't happen. Instead, I diddled around with the beginning of an old partial that I had put away, rewriting the first few chapters/synopsis from scratch.
I've gotten about all the rejections I can handle with GNOME, so I'm 'officially' retiring it from active querying. It's time to move on. And yes, I've been pimping GNOME for over a year. Got some nibbles (partials and fulls), but no takers. *sigh*
So, I pull out my FAERIE query, make a few tweaks and send it to a few people. I got some comments back, but I'm shelving the query for now. Why? Because I did a name change of my main character in FAERIE's first draft. I skimmed the story when I was 'finding and replacing' and realized that I have a HUGE amount of work ahead of me--more than I thought or expected. I need to buckle down and get the manuscript into shape BEFORE I consider querying it.
Therefore, I'm changing into my EDIT hat and will dive into the story today. The problem that I have, and will ALWAYS have, is that I tend to dink with the sentences and paragraphs each and every time I read them. During the second draft is NOT the time to do this.
On an aside: THIS is why I don't want someone to crit to this depth and request only general comments--slow pacing, unbelievable dialogue, or confusing sentence--you get the picture. But it doesn't stop the majority of critters from trying to change the story into the way they would write it.
If you are a critter, please, please, please, try to respect the writer's wishes and do the type of crit they request. Writers, just like critters, have different strengths and weaknesses, along with different needs. If you are unable to do that type of crit requested, then decline the request.
Here's my plan:
1) read the story all the way through without making changes--jot notes/comments throughout
2) make big picture corrections--this tends to involve little corrections, too
3) read the story again for pacing, characterization, dialogue, blah, blah, blah--adjusting spices as needed
4) find willing victim . . . oops, volunteers to sample finished story
5) scream/rant/rave about their comments as they 'ruin' the story
6) put on big girl panties to use the suggestions to improve my story
7) read the #$@#$ thing again.
8) lather, rinse, repeat as needed.
So--if you have another method, PLEASE tell me your method as I might be able to improve mine!
TTFN!
Write on!
9/17/10
Hanging with the Mouse . . . Mickey, that is.
I'm not going to write a wrap-up like I did for Universal, because we've been touring Mouseland yearly for seven years. This was only our second year going to Universal. We waited to go to the Universal parks because my kidlet is a rollercoaster fiend and she wasn't tall enough for Universal's coasters until last year. Plus some of those rides are seriously dark and scary (The Mummy--wicked cool, but a dark ride. Spiderman--dark 3-D ride.)
We tend to go to Disney World in September for numerous reasons:
1) It used to be less crowded, but the crowds have increased due to international marketing by Disney. Tons of people arrive in large groups from numerous South American locations and the United Kingdom. How do I know this? When you go on the Epcot silver ball ride (forgot the name) you input your location, and at the end there is a world map and it pinpoints locations. It's still less crowded than summer. I think the longest wait we had was ten minutes long. Now, this was EXCLUDING the majority of the Fantasyland rides, which could have a wait of 45-60 minutes or Toy Story at Disney Studios. THAT's the time to get a Fast Pass and move on to another ride. In fact, we did this with the Peter Pan ride.
2) Disney had a deal that you can get the Disney food plan for 'free'. In the past, the food plan was a better deal, but it's still beneficial considering the prices they charge at most amusement parks. The food plan offers one counter service (meal, drink & dessert), one snack, and one dinner (entree, drink & dessert) per night of Disney hotel occupation. They used to offer an appetizer and include tip, but that disappeared last year. It was a HUGE amount of food. We stayed in a hotel for five nights, but played in the parks for six days. We would split a monster breakfast between the three of us (bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes AND a biscuit, plus two drinks)--Yeah, it was enough food to fill three of us up! We'd split the two other counter services over lunch (we ate a lot of pizzas--some of the meals came with a side salad). For dinner, I had made reservations at various 'countries' in Epcot, which is why we went to Epcot four out of the five nights: Japan, Italy, Morocco, and Mexico. One one of the other nights we ate at the Yak and Yeti in Animal Kingdom.
3) Early September is pre-lovebug season. The last few weeks of September are 'lovebug' season--trust me, we went there numerous times during lovebug season. Now, these creatures don't bite or hurt you, but seem to seriously swarm. Slightly smaller than lightning bugs, they are butt-butt breeding and are EVERYWHERE. They are a serious nuisance to drivers, plugging up a car's air intake, cementing themselves to your windows, and I think they can even ruin a car's paint job if they aren't removed promptly.
4) Since we've gone to WDW so much, we know where everything is and the most efficient way to get there. Sometimes it pays off not to have to stand around with a map in your hand trying to figure out where to go next. We also hit the rides we like the most numerous times, skipping the other rides (Snow White, Toon Town) or only riding them once (Peter Pan and Pooh).
This time around we didn't spend much time in Fantasyland. There is some serious renovation going on. From what I hear, they are building a Nemo ride, similar to the one at Disneyland. Plus revamping many entrances and building a new counter service restaurant.
Here's a list of Margaret's breakdown of 'must-see' at each park. Disclaimer, what you enjoy might differ from my opinion, also varies depending on age of child(ren) going with you:
MAGIC KINGDOM: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain (will get seriously wet if they have the water cannons locked and loaded), Stitch, Monster's, Inc, Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribean, Mickey's Philharmagic, Peter Pan, Pooh.
DISNEY STUDIOS: Rockin' Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Toy Story, The Muppets, Star Tours (closed for revamp), Little Mermaid show
ANIMAL KINGDOM: Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari, (Kali River Rapids--wet ride, we don't usually ride, but it's a good ride), It's Tough to be a Bug, Dinosaur, .
EPCOT: Test Track, Soarin', Nemo (goes into The Seas and aquarium), Mission Space, And ALLthe countries. For little kids, they have a mask they take to each country to get a doo-dad attached. Trust me, this makes it easier for the parent to get the kids to walk to the 'boring' countries. For older kids (6 + to adults) they have a Kim Possible Secret Agent mission for many of the countries. It's pretty fun, too!
TYPHOON LAGOON: Fun water rides, but must ride the Crush 'n' Gusher watercoaster! Wicked fun!
BLIZZARD BEACH: not my fave water park, but there are some good rides. This park kills my ankles while climbing the stairs to the water flumes.
These rides are simply a smattering of the fun available at WDW. If you think you might want to go, then check out THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD. And if you have little kids, well, I still have my spreadsheet about all the rides (dark, wet, height requirements, scary, etc.) and I'll be happy to send it to you.
That's it for now. Hopefully, I'll be in a writing mood next week
Write on!
We tend to go to Disney World in September for numerous reasons:
1) It used to be less crowded, but the crowds have increased due to international marketing by Disney. Tons of people arrive in large groups from numerous South American locations and the United Kingdom. How do I know this? When you go on the Epcot silver ball ride (forgot the name) you input your location, and at the end there is a world map and it pinpoints locations. It's still less crowded than summer. I think the longest wait we had was ten minutes long. Now, this was EXCLUDING the majority of the Fantasyland rides, which could have a wait of 45-60 minutes or Toy Story at Disney Studios. THAT's the time to get a Fast Pass and move on to another ride. In fact, we did this with the Peter Pan ride.
2) Disney had a deal that you can get the Disney food plan for 'free'. In the past, the food plan was a better deal, but it's still beneficial considering the prices they charge at most amusement parks. The food plan offers one counter service (meal, drink & dessert), one snack, and one dinner (entree, drink & dessert) per night of Disney hotel occupation. They used to offer an appetizer and include tip, but that disappeared last year. It was a HUGE amount of food. We stayed in a hotel for five nights, but played in the parks for six days. We would split a monster breakfast between the three of us (bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes AND a biscuit, plus two drinks)--Yeah, it was enough food to fill three of us up! We'd split the two other counter services over lunch (we ate a lot of pizzas--some of the meals came with a side salad). For dinner, I had made reservations at various 'countries' in Epcot, which is why we went to Epcot four out of the five nights: Japan, Italy, Morocco, and Mexico. One one of the other nights we ate at the Yak and Yeti in Animal Kingdom.
3) Early September is pre-lovebug season. The last few weeks of September are 'lovebug' season--trust me, we went there numerous times during lovebug season. Now, these creatures don't bite or hurt you, but seem to seriously swarm. Slightly smaller than lightning bugs, they are butt-butt breeding and are EVERYWHERE. They are a serious nuisance to drivers, plugging up a car's air intake, cementing themselves to your windows, and I think they can even ruin a car's paint job if they aren't removed promptly.
4) Since we've gone to WDW so much, we know where everything is and the most efficient way to get there. Sometimes it pays off not to have to stand around with a map in your hand trying to figure out where to go next. We also hit the rides we like the most numerous times, skipping the other rides (Snow White, Toon Town) or only riding them once (Peter Pan and Pooh).
This time around we didn't spend much time in Fantasyland. There is some serious renovation going on. From what I hear, they are building a Nemo ride, similar to the one at Disneyland. Plus revamping many entrances and building a new counter service restaurant.
Here's a list of Margaret's breakdown of 'must-see' at each park. Disclaimer, what you enjoy might differ from my opinion, also varies depending on age of child(ren) going with you:
MAGIC KINGDOM: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain (will get seriously wet if they have the water cannons locked and loaded), Stitch, Monster's, Inc, Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribean, Mickey's Philharmagic, Peter Pan, Pooh.
DISNEY STUDIOS: Rockin' Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Toy Story, The Muppets, Star Tours (closed for revamp), Little Mermaid show
ANIMAL KINGDOM: Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari, (Kali River Rapids--wet ride, we don't usually ride, but it's a good ride), It's Tough to be a Bug, Dinosaur, .
EPCOT: Test Track, Soarin', Nemo (goes into The Seas and aquarium), Mission Space, And ALLthe countries. For little kids, they have a mask they take to each country to get a doo-dad attached. Trust me, this makes it easier for the parent to get the kids to walk to the 'boring' countries. For older kids (6 + to adults) they have a Kim Possible Secret Agent mission for many of the countries. It's pretty fun, too!
TYPHOON LAGOON: Fun water rides, but must ride the Crush 'n' Gusher watercoaster! Wicked fun!
BLIZZARD BEACH: not my fave water park, but there are some good rides. This park kills my ankles while climbing the stairs to the water flumes.
These rides are simply a smattering of the fun available at WDW. If you think you might want to go, then check out THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD. And if you have little kids, well, I still have my spreadsheet about all the rides (dark, wet, height requirements, scary, etc.) and I'll be happy to send it to you.
That's it for now. Hopefully, I'll be in a writing mood next week
Write on!
9/16/10
Master Chef winner--Whitney! YAY!!
I don't normally blog on Thursdays, but I watched the finale of Master Chef last night and had to comment.
I didn't get to watch the whole thing because Survivor started, which rings in the New Year of reality-based shows. When I flipped it over to MC, I was excited to see Whitney up against Dave. I think the judges did a fantastic job of narrowing the field down to these two (and yes, I had a bizarro dream about Gordon Ramsey!). Both of them were questioned by the judges in the beginning of the process. Whitney--because she was so young (read: no experience) and only cooked for her family, and Dave--a software engineer with an ego the size of Texas, too cocky and arrogant. Heck, Dave almost didn't make the first cut!
But they both brought the goods during the entire process, improving each and every challenge. They both had excellent palates and an instinct for cooking. But they also had very distinct points-of-view.
Dave was high-end restaurant quality cooking.
Whitney was down-home cooking with an upscale twist.
As much as I appreciated Dave and his dishes, I wondered if I would buy the Master Chef cookbook if he won. I decided that I wouldn't. Why? Numerous reasons: 1) who really eats that way? 2) Who has the time to cook that way? when you are chauffeuring kids around, or it's a school night and you're helping with homework while trying to cook, 3) High end food costs high end money. IMO Most cooks are trying to make enough quality food for as inexpensively as possible. I have no interest in making a Beef Wellington at home. That's a special occasion dish and I go out to eat on those occasions.
Whitney is more salable. She takes inexpensive items and twists them enough to make them seem gourmet. Now, that's what I'm talking about! She has the ability to appeal to the masses, whereas Dave is limited. And yes, I plan to buy this cookbook when it comes out.
So, to bring this back to writing. How does this pertain to writing, you say? Well, think about it.
Dave is the Oprah pick, the literary novel that snooty people talk about in their book clubs. I don't belong to a book club--I get cranky when someone tells me that I 'have to read this'.
While Whitney appeals to the masses. She's the sleeper novel that hits big, the Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games type of books. Not necessarily big right off the presses, but in the long run she has more staying power.
That's my insight for the day.
Write on!
I didn't get to watch the whole thing because Survivor started, which rings in the New Year of reality-based shows. When I flipped it over to MC, I was excited to see Whitney up against Dave. I think the judges did a fantastic job of narrowing the field down to these two (and yes, I had a bizarro dream about Gordon Ramsey!). Both of them were questioned by the judges in the beginning of the process. Whitney--because she was so young (read: no experience) and only cooked for her family, and Dave--a software engineer with an ego the size of Texas, too cocky and arrogant. Heck, Dave almost didn't make the first cut!
But they both brought the goods during the entire process, improving each and every challenge. They both had excellent palates and an instinct for cooking. But they also had very distinct points-of-view.
Dave was high-end restaurant quality cooking.
Whitney was down-home cooking with an upscale twist.
As much as I appreciated Dave and his dishes, I wondered if I would buy the Master Chef cookbook if he won. I decided that I wouldn't. Why? Numerous reasons: 1) who really eats that way? 2) Who has the time to cook that way? when you are chauffeuring kids around, or it's a school night and you're helping with homework while trying to cook, 3) High end food costs high end money. IMO Most cooks are trying to make enough quality food for as inexpensively as possible. I have no interest in making a Beef Wellington at home. That's a special occasion dish and I go out to eat on those occasions.
Whitney is more salable. She takes inexpensive items and twists them enough to make them seem gourmet. Now, that's what I'm talking about! She has the ability to appeal to the masses, whereas Dave is limited. And yes, I plan to buy this cookbook when it comes out.
So, to bring this back to writing. How does this pertain to writing, you say? Well, think about it.
Dave is the Oprah pick, the literary novel that snooty people talk about in their book clubs. I don't belong to a book club--I get cranky when someone tells me that I 'have to read this'.
While Whitney appeals to the masses. She's the sleeper novel that hits big, the Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games type of books. Not necessarily big right off the presses, but in the long run she has more staying power.
That's my insight for the day.
Write on!
9/15/10
Universal and Harry Potter
I'm home. I have blisters upon blisters and blisters under calluses. The heat and humidity were seriously high which resulted in HOT! We'd walk outside at eight or nine in the morning and within fifteen minutes sweat would bead on my shins. I have aching feet and a new respect for 'happy all the time' theme park cast members. And all I can say is thank God lovebug season hadn't started, though I had a pair land on me during our last day at Disney!
Overall, my family and I had a really fun vacation. But into each cramped hotel space some crankiness must evolve:
--I had a list of cranky triggers (airplane etiquette, line jumping, can't follow directions, etc), but opted out of posting it, since that isn't what this post is all about.
We arrived at our hotel on Saturday and as soon as we unpacked we promptly took the boat to Islands of Adventure. Though our main goal was the Harry Potter area, we planned our path to take us on some of our favorite rides. Up first was The Hulk--a fast, roaring, corkscrewing, upside-down looping rollercoaster. One of the best perks of staying at a Universal hotel (we were at the Portofino) are the complementary Express Line passes. Trust me, these are even better than Disney's Fast Pass system. And I planned it that way since we were at Universal over Labor Day weekend and it was crowded! It took longer to navigate the path to the ride than it did standing in those Express lines. We rode the coaster three times and I blacked out all three times! Yes, I did vaguely wonder how many capillaries I busted in my brain during this ride, but did it stop me?? Nope! That is a seriously fast ride!
We rode Storm Force Accelatron, Spiderman and Jurassic Park before tackling Harry Potter. We opted out of Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Fallswater ride along with Popeye's Bilge water raft ride.
Too bad no one bothered to tell me how soaking wet I was going to get doing the Jurassic Park ride.
We knew the Wizarding World of Harry Potter would be crowded, but WOW! I hate to imagine how packed the place was this summer when overall attendance was high! We decided to wait in line for the main HP adventure. It wasn't too bad--only an hour. The line wound through Hogwarts (and Prof. Sprout's greenhouse). There were tons of things to see and listen to that if you would miss if you went to the front of the line. For those of you who haven't seen or heard of Harry Potter, I'd like the address of the rock you're living under. Even if you haven't read the books, you would still 'get' the ride if you saw the first three movies. Don't forget to ride the Hippogriff--yes, it's a kiddie rollercoaster, but it takes you through Hagrid's forest and you see his house, plus Buckbeak. The Dragon Challenge is the new name for Dueling Dragons, a double coaster that passes by each other during the ride--awesome! Ride both sides--Fire and Ice--as they are slightly different rides.
We toured the shops, drank butterbeer (wickedly good stuff), bought a chocolate frog and a pygmy puff. All of this was accomplished between two and six on our first day. Unlike many of the Disney parks, Universal usually closes at seven. We ate dinner at Bubba Gumps and turned in relatively early.
The next day we hit the Universal Studios park. First up on the list of rides as we entered the park was Rock it!, a rollercoaster that takes you straight up (and yes, you feel like you will slide out of the seat). It looks scary, but it was tame by the Hulk's standard, though cool in the sense that you get to pick the music you want to listen to while riding. We rode virtually every ride in the park twice (I could list them, but I got tired of clicking the links etc.) Let's just say that they are all wicked cool!! We left for an early dinner at a restaurant in our hotel.
Day three we mixed up both parks, but got an early pass--hotel perk--to Harry Potter. What had taken us an hour to navigate to the ride took us ten minutes--and that was simply walking through the line maze. We redid many of our faves and by the end of the day I had my first batch of blisters. We ate dinner at UNO's Pizzeria. There used to be one in Tulsa, but it closed quite a few years ago.
That's it for now--I'll continue the vacation saga on Friday's blog when we switched over to the Disney parks!
TTFN ('ta-ta for now!' --Tigger quote)
Overall, my family and I had a really fun vacation. But into each cramped hotel space some crankiness must evolve:
--I had a list of cranky triggers (airplane etiquette, line jumping, can't follow directions, etc), but opted out of posting it, since that isn't what this post is all about.
We arrived at our hotel on Saturday and as soon as we unpacked we promptly took the boat to Islands of Adventure. Though our main goal was the Harry Potter area, we planned our path to take us on some of our favorite rides. Up first was The Hulk--a fast, roaring, corkscrewing, upside-down looping rollercoaster. One of the best perks of staying at a Universal hotel (we were at the Portofino) are the complementary Express Line passes. Trust me, these are even better than Disney's Fast Pass system. And I planned it that way since we were at Universal over Labor Day weekend and it was crowded! It took longer to navigate the path to the ride than it did standing in those Express lines. We rode the coaster three times and I blacked out all three times! Yes, I did vaguely wonder how many capillaries I busted in my brain during this ride, but did it stop me?? Nope! That is a seriously fast ride!
We rode Storm Force Accelatron, Spiderman and Jurassic Park before tackling Harry Potter. We opted out of Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Fallswater ride along with Popeye's Bilge water raft ride.
Too bad no one bothered to tell me how soaking wet I was going to get doing the Jurassic Park ride.
We knew the Wizarding World of Harry Potter would be crowded, but WOW! I hate to imagine how packed the place was this summer when overall attendance was high! We decided to wait in line for the main HP adventure. It wasn't too bad--only an hour. The line wound through Hogwarts (and Prof. Sprout's greenhouse). There were tons of things to see and listen to that if you would miss if you went to the front of the line. For those of you who haven't seen or heard of Harry Potter, I'd like the address of the rock you're living under. Even if you haven't read the books, you would still 'get' the ride if you saw the first three movies. Don't forget to ride the Hippogriff--yes, it's a kiddie rollercoaster, but it takes you through Hagrid's forest and you see his house, plus Buckbeak. The Dragon Challenge is the new name for Dueling Dragons, a double coaster that passes by each other during the ride--awesome! Ride both sides--Fire and Ice--as they are slightly different rides.
We toured the shops, drank butterbeer (wickedly good stuff), bought a chocolate frog and a pygmy puff. All of this was accomplished between two and six on our first day. Unlike many of the Disney parks, Universal usually closes at seven. We ate dinner at Bubba Gumps and turned in relatively early.
The next day we hit the Universal Studios park. First up on the list of rides as we entered the park was Rock it!, a rollercoaster that takes you straight up (and yes, you feel like you will slide out of the seat). It looks scary, but it was tame by the Hulk's standard, though cool in the sense that you get to pick the music you want to listen to while riding. We rode virtually every ride in the park twice (I could list them, but I got tired of clicking the links etc.) Let's just say that they are all wicked cool!! We left for an early dinner at a restaurant in our hotel.
Day three we mixed up both parks, but got an early pass--hotel perk--to Harry Potter. What had taken us an hour to navigate to the ride took us ten minutes--and that was simply walking through the line maze. We redid many of our faves and by the end of the day I had my first batch of blisters. We ate dinner at UNO's Pizzeria. There used to be one in Tulsa, but it closed quite a few years ago.
That's it for now--I'll continue the vacation saga on Friday's blog when we switched over to the Disney parks!
TTFN ('ta-ta for now!' --Tigger quote)
9/13/10
Home again
Hey, all!
My family and I have been gone since September 4--Universal Florida and Disney World. Our flight was supposed to get in pretty late Sunday Sept. 12, so this pre-posted blog is all you get today. Sorry, but you know how it is when you get back from vacation: Mounds of laundry!
Hopefully, I'll have my act together to put up a post on Wednesday, maybe I'll even include pictures.
I hope y'all had a great week and I'm sure I did, 'cause HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE A GREAT WEEK RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE MOUSE AND HARRY POTTER??
Write on!
My family and I have been gone since September 4--Universal Florida and Disney World. Our flight was supposed to get in pretty late Sunday Sept. 12, so this pre-posted blog is all you get today. Sorry, but you know how it is when you get back from vacation: Mounds of laundry!
Hopefully, I'll have my act together to put up a post on Wednesday, maybe I'll even include pictures.
I hope y'all had a great week and I'm sure I did, 'cause HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE A GREAT WEEK RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE MOUSE AND HARRY POTTER??
Write on!
9/10/10
Violence in YA
Last week, I read an interesting post by agent Suzie Townsend, as she talked about violence in children's publishing. It isn't anything new, yanno. Think back to every Grimm's Fairy Tale that you've read. Nearly all of them are violent.
Disney cleaned them up for the movies.
One that comes to mind is Cinderella--and mind you, I haven't read this story in over 35 years and I still remember it. In the original story after the glass slipper was found, the Prince's steward (or whatever) was making the rounds. He arrived at the wicked stepmother's house. First, evil stepsister #1 tries to make it fit, but her toes was too big--stepmother chopped it off. When stepsister #2 tried it on her heel wouldn't fit. Yep, chopped it off, too. We know there is a happy ending because the Cinderella got the prince, but it wasn't so great for the stepsisters.
Hansel and Gretel. The witch wanted to fatten them up to eat, but they managed to shove her in the oven. Rumpelstiltskin was just a nasty piece of work.
Violence in literature has been around for a long time.
Anyhoo, Suzie's point about the violence, sex, and drugs in YA being prevalent made me understand it a little better. Kids today are exposed to a whole lot more than we were only a few years ago. They see stuff in movies, on TV, video games, music videos, etc. at younger and younger ages. It's everywhere. But kids tend to think it is only happening to them, not anyone else. So current big YA sellers are big, not simply for the violence, but as a way for kids to relate to them. It makes them realize that they aren't alone.
Will I start writing that deep angsty stuff?
No. I personally don't think I could write that depth of feeling. As I said last week in my dark/dystopian blog, I like happy. I don't do dark. But there is a place in the world for many types of stories, mine simply are a little lighter than the current trend.
Something to think about, huh? Write on!
Disney cleaned them up for the movies.
One that comes to mind is Cinderella--and mind you, I haven't read this story in over 35 years and I still remember it. In the original story after the glass slipper was found, the Prince's steward (or whatever) was making the rounds. He arrived at the wicked stepmother's house. First, evil stepsister #1 tries to make it fit, but her toes was too big--stepmother chopped it off. When stepsister #2 tried it on her heel wouldn't fit. Yep, chopped it off, too. We know there is a happy ending because the Cinderella got the prince, but it wasn't so great for the stepsisters.
Hansel and Gretel. The witch wanted to fatten them up to eat, but they managed to shove her in the oven. Rumpelstiltskin was just a nasty piece of work.
Violence in literature has been around for a long time.
Anyhoo, Suzie's point about the violence, sex, and drugs in YA being prevalent made me understand it a little better. Kids today are exposed to a whole lot more than we were only a few years ago. They see stuff in movies, on TV, video games, music videos, etc. at younger and younger ages. It's everywhere. But kids tend to think it is only happening to them, not anyone else. So current big YA sellers are big, not simply for the violence, but as a way for kids to relate to them. It makes them realize that they aren't alone.
Will I start writing that deep angsty stuff?
No. I personally don't think I could write that depth of feeling. As I said last week in my dark/dystopian blog, I like happy. I don't do dark. But there is a place in the world for many types of stories, mine simply are a little lighter than the current trend.
Something to think about, huh? Write on!
9/8/10
Project Runway Cat Fight
I'll be the first to admit it--I'm a closet Project Runway fan! I love Heidi. And I especially love Tim Gunn, though I think he would be horrified at my closet and clothing style.
"What style?" you inquire.
"Precisely," I respond. "I have none."
Anyhoo, the point of this blog is how a small group of designers have it out for Michael C. They gritch (and yes, a substituted another word for the one I wanted to use) and groan about him, his lack of talent, his lack of imagination, lack of skills, blah, blah, blah. BUT Michael C has WON the last two challenges. And yes, I liked both products he produced.
So why are the others gritching?
It could be many things, but I suspect it's simple jealousy. And instead of delving deeper in their own design aesthetics and improving themselves, they rely on breaking down the other person. It makes them very ugly people. I wouldn't want to hang with all that negativity, but I could see how easy it would be to get sucked into this mindset.
What does it do for them? Nothing. I might admire some of their designs, but I doubt if I would ever hire them. Who wants to work with a bunch of nasty, backstabbing know-it-alls? I wouldn't.
Instead of being nasty, they should be trying to figure out what makes the judges like Michael C's work.
Does any of this sound familiar yet?
It should.
I've lost track of the number of writers who gritch and moan about how so-and-so managed to write a best seller. How many books they've sold. How awful their writing is. How they head-hop. How they blah, blah, blah.
As writers, we need to analyze (yep, gotta use the OTHER side of your brain, the non-creative side) what makes a book a best seller. What makes that particular book appeal to a monstrous group of people. The book may have flaws only a writer would nit-pick, but what really worked? What did the author do to connect the reader to the story.
Don't try to emulate the best selling writer, instead figure out what worked for them and, as Tim Gunn would say, MAKE IT WORK.
Only you have the vision for your story, but what can you do to tweak it to make it marketable?
Until later,
Write on!
(I'm currently at Disney World, so I won't be able to comment. See y'all next week!)
"What style?" you inquire.
"Precisely," I respond. "I have none."
Anyhoo, the point of this blog is how a small group of designers have it out for Michael C. They gritch (and yes, a substituted another word for the one I wanted to use) and groan about him, his lack of talent, his lack of imagination, lack of skills, blah, blah, blah. BUT Michael C has WON the last two challenges. And yes, I liked both products he produced.
So why are the others gritching?
It could be many things, but I suspect it's simple jealousy. And instead of delving deeper in their own design aesthetics and improving themselves, they rely on breaking down the other person. It makes them very ugly people. I wouldn't want to hang with all that negativity, but I could see how easy it would be to get sucked into this mindset.
What does it do for them? Nothing. I might admire some of their designs, but I doubt if I would ever hire them. Who wants to work with a bunch of nasty, backstabbing know-it-alls? I wouldn't.
Instead of being nasty, they should be trying to figure out what makes the judges like Michael C's work.
Does any of this sound familiar yet?
It should.
I've lost track of the number of writers who gritch and moan about how so-and-so managed to write a best seller. How many books they've sold. How awful their writing is. How they head-hop. How they blah, blah, blah.
As writers, we need to analyze (yep, gotta use the OTHER side of your brain, the non-creative side) what makes a book a best seller. What makes that particular book appeal to a monstrous group of people. The book may have flaws only a writer would nit-pick, but what really worked? What did the author do to connect the reader to the story.
Don't try to emulate the best selling writer, instead figure out what worked for them and, as Tim Gunn would say, MAKE IT WORK.
Only you have the vision for your story, but what can you do to tweak it to make it marketable?
Until later,
Write on!
(I'm currently at Disney World, so I won't be able to comment. See y'all next week!)
9/6/10
Chuck Sambuchino's new release!
Earlier this summer, I wrote to the editor of the Guide to Literary Agent's blog. I was upset by an author, an English teacher, mind you, who 'drug' her students through numerous drafts, instead of dragged. This term had become a pet peeve of mine when I critted a newbie author and she constantly drug things around. AND my degree is in Medical Technology, not English. But I digress, Chuck Sambuchino responded and we had a nice email conversation until he claimed his dog Graham was cuter than my sheepdog.
Them's fightin' words, Chuck!
Anyhoo, Chuck has a couple of books out and I offered to host him on my blog. This is his first book. It's the BIG book of lit agents and it hit the shelves last month.
And his second book is near and dear to my heart . . . sort of. As y'all know, I'm a gnome fan. Heck, when I wrote my first middle grade story it was about a gnome, titled TO GNOME ME IS TO LOVE ME. Well, Chuck looks at gnomes a little differently.
And yes, I am buying this book. I have to put it next to GNOMES and SECRETS OF GNOMES.
So, I sent him a few questions and here are his responses.
1.What inspired you to write about gnomes, killer gnomes at that?
I have always feared garden gnomes for their creepiness and skills at murder, and it occurred to me that no one had written a definitive survival guide. It was a no-brainer. This book will show you everything from safeguarding your property to what happens when you encounter a hoard of gnomes in full-on combat.
2. How did you get the snazzy gig of writing the big book guides? Namely, The Guide to Literary Agents?
I was working as a staffer on some magazines here at F+W Media (a publishing house in Cincinnati) when a position opened up editing Guide to Literary Agents. I interviewed for the job and said “I love writing. I love the WD market books. Please let me have this job.” I got the position. Recently, I was told I was named the new editor of Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, which is an even bigger book that GLA. So it’s a very exciting time for me.
3. What do you like the most about your job?
I love to write, so I would take an editing position for a magazine about plumbing or a book imprint that focuses on roller skating. But it’s such a privilege to write/edit every day concerning a subject—writing—that I care about. My job also puts me in touch with a lot of great writers and editors, and I am well aware that networking is important in any job.
4.How pampered is Graham? And does he truly run your house?
I do not pamper that flabby pooch, but my wife does endlessly. That’s why his body composition is that of a Jell-O Jiggler. He does nothing all day and somehow does less each day than the day before. It’s a vicious cycle, because the lazier he gets, the cuter he actually becomes, which results in my wife giving him more love, and he in turn gets flabbier. I wouldn’t say he runs the house, but I would say he exerts more way power than he should.
Until later . . . Write on!
.jpg)
BIO:
Chuck Sambuchino is the author of HOW TO SURVIVE A GARDEN GNOME ATTACK, a humor book coming out Sept. 7, 2010. He is also the editor of GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS (2011 edition in stores August 2010) and runs a large blog on publishing: www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog. Besides that, he is a magazine freelancer, playwright, husband, owner of a flabby dog, cover band guitarist, and all around chocolate chip cookie fiend.
Them's fightin' words, Chuck!
Anyhoo, Chuck has a couple of books out and I offered to host him on my blog. This is his first book. It's the BIG book of lit agents and it hit the shelves last month.
And yes, I am buying this book. I have to put it next to GNOMES and SECRETS OF GNOMES.
1.What inspired you to write about gnomes, killer gnomes at that?
I have always feared garden gnomes for their creepiness and skills at murder, and it occurred to me that no one had written a definitive survival guide. It was a no-brainer. This book will show you everything from safeguarding your property to what happens when you encounter a hoard of gnomes in full-on combat.
2. How did you get the snazzy gig of writing the big book guides? Namely, The Guide to Literary Agents?
I was working as a staffer on some magazines here at F+W Media (a publishing house in Cincinnati) when a position opened up editing Guide to Literary Agents. I interviewed for the job and said “I love writing. I love the WD market books. Please let me have this job.” I got the position. Recently, I was told I was named the new editor of Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, which is an even bigger book that GLA. So it’s a very exciting time for me.
3. What do you like the most about your job?
I love to write, so I would take an editing position for a magazine about plumbing or a book imprint that focuses on roller skating. But it’s such a privilege to write/edit every day concerning a subject—writing—that I care about. My job also puts me in touch with a lot of great writers and editors, and I am well aware that networking is important in any job.
4.How pampered is Graham? And does he truly run your house?
I do not pamper that flabby pooch, but my wife does endlessly. That’s why his body composition is that of a Jell-O Jiggler. He does nothing all day and somehow does less each day than the day before. It’s a vicious cycle, because the lazier he gets, the cuter he actually becomes, which results in my wife giving him more love, and he in turn gets flabbier. I wouldn’t say he runs the house, but I would say he exerts more way power than he should.
Until later . . . Write on!
.jpg)
Chuck Sambuchino is the author of HOW TO SURVIVE A GARDEN GNOME ATTACK, a humor book coming out Sept. 7, 2010. He is also the editor of GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS (2011 edition in stores August 2010) and runs a large blog on publishing: www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog. Besides that, he is a magazine freelancer, playwright, husband, owner of a flabby dog, cover band guitarist, and all around chocolate chip cookie fiend.
9/3/10
Dark and Dystopian
Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll have noticed the dark/dystopian trend in books--dystopian in YA and dark in everything else.
I don't read dark or dystopian.
I don't like crying while reading, though the occasional death will turn on the waterworks (Dumbledore, Hedwig in HP). I don't want to imagine someone else's ideal of the post-Apocalyptic world. I don't like the language to be too dark or too graphic. I don't like it when everyone dies at the end of the book.
I read to escape. I like running away into fantasy land and experiencing the trials and tribulations of a character while knowing there will be a happy ending when the story is over.
I don't think I'm a Pollyanna, but I do seem to be in the minority here. I guess people read these dark stories to 'feel' again. All I know is virtually every agent and editor out there is requesting dark/dystopian. So if you've written something along those lines, then QUERY NOW!
For the rest of us who are like me, well, keep writing what you love. Trends are cyclic. They always have been. Remember the movies that were produced in the 1990's? (yes, I know I'm dating myself, but stick to the topic, okay?) The movies produced were dark, dreary and a large percentage of them, involved rain.
Then romantic comedy became big.
Cyclic.
So . . . Write on!
I don't read dark or dystopian.
I don't like crying while reading, though the occasional death will turn on the waterworks (Dumbledore, Hedwig in HP). I don't want to imagine someone else's ideal of the post-Apocalyptic world. I don't like the language to be too dark or too graphic. I don't like it when everyone dies at the end of the book.
I read to escape. I like running away into fantasy land and experiencing the trials and tribulations of a character while knowing there will be a happy ending when the story is over.
I don't think I'm a Pollyanna, but I do seem to be in the minority here. I guess people read these dark stories to 'feel' again. All I know is virtually every agent and editor out there is requesting dark/dystopian. So if you've written something along those lines, then QUERY NOW!
For the rest of us who are like me, well, keep writing what you love. Trends are cyclic. They always have been. Remember the movies that were produced in the 1990's? (yes, I know I'm dating myself, but stick to the topic, okay?) The movies produced were dark, dreary and a large percentage of them, involved rain.
Then romantic comedy became big.
Cyclic.
So . . . Write on!
9/1/10
These Times, They Are A'changing
Yesterday was new release day for many books. And yes, I had my list ready to shop! Traditional publishers tend to group a bunch of releases for the same day. It makes sense. If you are shopping for the latest Jayne Castle you might also be interested in the new Teresa Medieros. I was. But I have to admit I only spent $48.
Yes, only $48 bucks. Normally, I would spend upwards of $75 or more for new books. Just ask my hubby. The books I bought were authors I love and I expect to get swept away in their stories. Heck, what isn't there to love about killer dust bunnies?? (Jayne Castle's, aka Jayne Ann Krentz, futuristics)
But what about an unknown author? Would you be willing to spend upwards of seven or eight bucks to find out you don't really enjoy their writing style? I have two partially read books sitting on my desk of authors I loved, but I didn't love these books. I was disappointed for different reasons and stopped reading. I honestly don't know if I'll finish these books. But what about electronic books? Spending three or four bucks on a book would be the way to go. J. A. Konrath said in a recent article that it's a cup of coffee. And it is. Three bucks for coffee or three bucks for a book and eight hours of enjoyment.
My friend Edie Ramer took that route with Cattitude. And I started wondering, what about younger kids? Yanno, those middle graders that I write for would they read a downloaded book? I read another article that Nintendo DSi is going to have larger screens for readability. How cool is that? The Nook, the Kindle, the Sony e-reader are all dropping their prices. The iPad is available. Phones are smarter than ever. Heck, my kid knows how to work my hubby's phone better than I do! Okay, I admit that isn't too much of a surprise, but still!
So I'm taking a little leap. I'm planning to get my middle grade short stories up on Smashwords. I said it here, which means I better get my butt in gear and do it! They are short, around 5000 words, divided into chapter type breaks, and are seasonal. I think it just might work. I'll let you know when the first one is up . . . but I have to write it first. How about, MONSTER MIX-UP (Halloween)for the title? The other two are SUGAR PLUM DISASTER (Christmas) and LOST LEPRECHAUN LOOT (St. Paddy's day)
Later, peeps!
Write on!
Yes, only $48 bucks. Normally, I would spend upwards of $75 or more for new books. Just ask my hubby. The books I bought were authors I love and I expect to get swept away in their stories. Heck, what isn't there to love about killer dust bunnies?? (Jayne Castle's, aka Jayne Ann Krentz, futuristics)
But what about an unknown author? Would you be willing to spend upwards of seven or eight bucks to find out you don't really enjoy their writing style? I have two partially read books sitting on my desk of authors I loved, but I didn't love these books. I was disappointed for different reasons and stopped reading. I honestly don't know if I'll finish these books. But what about electronic books? Spending three or four bucks on a book would be the way to go. J. A. Konrath said in a recent article that it's a cup of coffee. And it is. Three bucks for coffee or three bucks for a book and eight hours of enjoyment.
My friend Edie Ramer took that route with Cattitude. And I started wondering, what about younger kids? Yanno, those middle graders that I write for would they read a downloaded book? I read another article that Nintendo DSi is going to have larger screens for readability. How cool is that? The Nook, the Kindle, the Sony e-reader are all dropping their prices. The iPad is available. Phones are smarter than ever. Heck, my kid knows how to work my hubby's phone better than I do! Okay, I admit that isn't too much of a surprise, but still!
So I'm taking a little leap. I'm planning to get my middle grade short stories up on Smashwords. I said it here, which means I better get my butt in gear and do it! They are short, around 5000 words, divided into chapter type breaks, and are seasonal. I think it just might work. I'll let you know when the first one is up . . . but I have to write it first. How about, MONSTER MIX-UP (Halloween)for the title? The other two are SUGAR PLUM DISASTER (Christmas) and LOST LEPRECHAUN LOOT (St. Paddy's day)
Later, peeps!
Write on!
8/30/10
Replete from Birthday Celebrations
Yesterday was my birthday. I'm not quite ready for AARP, but I will be in . . . oh, about 364 days. :-) I'm not one of those people who claim they are 29 AGAIN. I'm proud of my age. I've lived a full life and I have no problem telling people how old I am when they ask. Maybe it's because my hubby constantly reminds me that I will ALWAYS be older than him. "No matter, honey, women live longer than men". I zing right back at him.
I did nothing of importance this weekend, except chilled out.
Friday night, Grandma Golla took the kidlet for a sleepover with her cousin, so hubby and I had a date night. Reservations at Flemings. YUM. Tried a new California wine, Treasure Hunter, and ate Porcini rubbed Filet Mignon--medium-rare--two inches thick--on a Gorgonzola cream sauce with grilled asparagus. One word of advice, NEVER overcook your steaks. It makes them tough. And if you take some leftovers home then it becomes shoe leather when you try to reheat it. And since it was my B-Day, I got a complimentary molten lava chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream in a cookie cup, sprinkled with pistachios. We waddled home and collapsed on the couch. I think we watched a movie, but don't quote me on that.
On Saturday, hubby picked up our kidlet and shopped for birthday cards and my cake, Merritt's turtle cake. We went to the Tulsa zoo and then ate a light dinner at the Outback Steakhouse. By light dinner, I mean we ate an appetizer for dinner--Onion Blossom. Yeah, I heard my arteries clogging, but did that stop me??
Then we came home and cut into the cake. It was a day early, but with the way I was eating I didn't know if it would be my LAST day!
My birthday rolls around on Sunday. I did laundry, ironing and hanging by the pool. My normal routine. The hubby and kidlet cleaned the house. I didn't mind, 'cause by this time I felt like a total sloth and was ready to get into my normal routine.
This week, I have two contests to enter and then I'm taking a writing break, sort of. I think I'm going to post my short stories on Smashwords and I need to figure that out, plus I've come up with a Halloween inspired short story.
Until later,
Write on!
I did nothing of importance this weekend, except chilled out.
Friday night, Grandma Golla took the kidlet for a sleepover with her cousin, so hubby and I had a date night. Reservations at Flemings. YUM. Tried a new California wine, Treasure Hunter, and ate Porcini rubbed Filet Mignon--medium-rare--two inches thick--on a Gorgonzola cream sauce with grilled asparagus. One word of advice, NEVER overcook your steaks. It makes them tough. And if you take some leftovers home then it becomes shoe leather when you try to reheat it. And since it was my B-Day, I got a complimentary molten lava chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream in a cookie cup, sprinkled with pistachios. We waddled home and collapsed on the couch. I think we watched a movie, but don't quote me on that.
On Saturday, hubby picked up our kidlet and shopped for birthday cards and my cake, Merritt's turtle cake. We went to the Tulsa zoo and then ate a light dinner at the Outback Steakhouse. By light dinner, I mean we ate an appetizer for dinner--Onion Blossom. Yeah, I heard my arteries clogging, but did that stop me??
Then we came home and cut into the cake. It was a day early, but with the way I was eating I didn't know if it would be my LAST day!
My birthday rolls around on Sunday. I did laundry, ironing and hanging by the pool. My normal routine. The hubby and kidlet cleaned the house. I didn't mind, 'cause by this time I felt like a total sloth and was ready to get into my normal routine.
This week, I have two contests to enter and then I'm taking a writing break, sort of. I think I'm going to post my short stories on Smashwords and I need to figure that out, plus I've come up with a Halloween inspired short story.
Until later,
Write on!
8/27/10
Wraslin' a Synopsis
I don't know about y'all, but I'm so sick and tired of this DEMON synopsis. I've reworked it and reworked it until I want to put a bullet in it to put ME out of my pain.
Here's the thing:
-- Synopses TELL the story, while the manuscript SHOWS the story. It takes a different mindset to do a synopsis. No descriptions. Simply this happens, and then that happens, etc.
-- Synopses are in PRESENT tense, while most manuscripts are in PAST tense. Talk about UGH. I've had to have three people look at the synopsis to see if I screwed it up. It's very easy to slip back and forth.
-- Synopses need to give enough detail to cover the plot points of the story (romance, internal conflict, external conflict) for the main character(s). Problem point: I'm a pantser. I make stuff up as I go, but I usually have a 'path' to follow. And pinpointing the path is hard for this pantser.
-- Synopses writing takes the fun out of the story. At least it does for me up to a point. Guess I like the thrill of not knowing where the story is heading.
-- Synopses give the writer, agent, and editor a road path to see if all the components are covered. True. And I do like the idea of a road map, but getting it on paper wasn't a pleasant process. I think I brainstormed with my bud Cyndi and wrastled it for three weeks before I wrote it.
-- Synopses must be readable and make sense. THEY MUST BE READ BY BETA READERS WHO DON'T KNOW THE STORY I can't say this one enough. You have to have a supply of friends/writers/ or even your mom to read the synopsis. Why? Fresh eyes will take the synopsis at face value. If they are confused reading it, then so will an agent or editor. The writer KNOWS the story so we tend to 'supply' the particulars with our mind. And yes, this is tough. I think DEMON went through 10 different sets of eyes to 'fix' the problems--and I still have two small things to fix.
That's it for today. It's my birthday weekend and I'm not messing with this story until Monday. Tonight is date night and we're having dinner at Flemings. I can feel the filet mignon melting on my tongue as I type this.
Write on!
Here's the thing:
-- Synopses TELL the story, while the manuscript SHOWS the story. It takes a different mindset to do a synopsis. No descriptions. Simply this happens, and then that happens, etc.
-- Synopses are in PRESENT tense, while most manuscripts are in PAST tense. Talk about UGH. I've had to have three people look at the synopsis to see if I screwed it up. It's very easy to slip back and forth.
-- Synopses need to give enough detail to cover the plot points of the story (romance, internal conflict, external conflict) for the main character(s). Problem point: I'm a pantser. I make stuff up as I go, but I usually have a 'path' to follow. And pinpointing the path is hard for this pantser.
-- Synopses writing takes the fun out of the story. At least it does for me up to a point. Guess I like the thrill of not knowing where the story is heading.
-- Synopses give the writer, agent, and editor a road path to see if all the components are covered. True. And I do like the idea of a road map, but getting it on paper wasn't a pleasant process. I think I brainstormed with my bud Cyndi and wrastled it for three weeks before I wrote it.
-- Synopses must be readable and make sense. THEY MUST BE READ BY BETA READERS WHO DON'T KNOW THE STORY I can't say this one enough. You have to have a supply of friends/writers/ or even your mom to read the synopsis. Why? Fresh eyes will take the synopsis at face value. If they are confused reading it, then so will an agent or editor. The writer KNOWS the story so we tend to 'supply' the particulars with our mind. And yes, this is tough. I think DEMON went through 10 different sets of eyes to 'fix' the problems--and I still have two small things to fix.
That's it for today. It's my birthday weekend and I'm not messing with this story until Monday. Tonight is date night and we're having dinner at Flemings. I can feel the filet mignon melting on my tongue as I type this.
Write on!
8/25/10
The Quirk Flag
It is my greatest pleasure to have a guest blogger for today! I 'met' Edie online at the original GIAM goals group. She's a good friend who offers a shoulder to whine on or her foot to kick someone's sorry butt into gear. I'm in awe of her trail-blazing ability by self-publishing this wonderful story called Cattitude through Smashwords.
Without further ado, Edie and Cattitude:
That’s not to say there aren’t quirky books published in print. I’m reading one right now—“Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs by Molly Harper (which is really good). And you can’t tell me that Jennifer Crusie doesn’t have some quirk in her books. But Molly’s book fits into the vampire books. And Jennifer Crusie’s early single titles fit solidly into contemporary romance. But mine … well, my heroine is a house cat (although she thinks she’s the house queen) that changes into a woman. Belle’s not a shifter, though there’s a chance that she could change back if she can only find the woman in her cat body. So Cattitude doesn’t even fit into the shape-shifting genre.
For most of the book, my heroine is a woman with the attitude of a cat. Not many subgenres for that book. But when I had the plot summaries on my old website, Cattitude was the one that people would email me about, saying they wanted to read when it was published. So I knew there was a market for it.
My favorite TV characters are filled with quirks. All the characters in NCIS. Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson in The Closer. House. Mad Men. And look at the classic comedies. I Love Lucy, Mary Tyler Moore Show, I Dream of Genie, Bewitched. Isn’t it the quirkiest characters that you enjoy the most? Don Knotts won five Emmys for his role as Barney Fife in The Andy Griffith Show.
I’m not alone. All those shows are wildly popular, which shows that a lot of people love quirk. So why not my quirky characters?
Going it Indie might take longer than if I had a publisher behind me, but I believe in myself, I believe in my books, and I will do it.
And it helps when you have friends like Margaret, who isn’t shy about unfurling her own quirk flag.
Who’s your favorite quirky character in fiction or TV?
Edie Ramerhttp://edieramer.com/
http://magicalmusings.com/
THE QUIRK FLAG
When I needed a beta reader for Cattitude, Margaret was the first person I asked. I had read the short stories she’d posted on her blog, and I connected with her writing. The stories were full of quirks, and I loved every single one. I also love her imagination and her plotting and characterization, but her quirky writing voice sealed the deal. I had the feeling she’d get my writing, too.
My stories are different from hers, but the quirks are the one thing we have in common. On Saturday I was at my chapter meeting and I was talking about becoming an indie writer. I said I had quirks and I wrote characters who had quirks. (People either had the “Duh” half-smiling look or they laughed, ‘cause they know me.) But there’s no Quirk subgenre, and though I had some really close brushes with New York print pubs, what I wrote just wasn’t fitting in.
That’s not to say there aren’t quirky books published in print. I’m reading one right now—“Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs by Molly Harper (which is really good). And you can’t tell me that Jennifer Crusie doesn’t have some quirk in her books. But Molly’s book fits into the vampire books. And Jennifer Crusie’s early single titles fit solidly into contemporary romance. But mine … well, my heroine is a house cat (although she thinks she’s the house queen) that changes into a woman. Belle’s not a shifter, though there’s a chance that she could change back if she can only find the woman in her cat body. So Cattitude doesn’t even fit into the shape-shifting genre.
For most of the book, my heroine is a woman with the attitude of a cat. Not many subgenres for that book. But when I had the plot summaries on my old website, Cattitude was the one that people would email me about, saying they wanted to read when it was published. So I knew there was a market for it.
My favorite TV characters are filled with quirks. All the characters in NCIS. Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson in The Closer. House. Mad Men. And look at the classic comedies. I Love Lucy, Mary Tyler Moore Show, I Dream of Genie, Bewitched. Isn’t it the quirkiest characters that you enjoy the most? Don Knotts won five Emmys for his role as Barney Fife in The Andy Griffith Show.
I’m not alone. All those shows are wildly popular, which shows that a lot of people love quirk. So why not my quirky characters?
Going it Indie might take longer than if I had a publisher behind me, but I believe in myself, I believe in my books, and I will do it.
And it helps when you have friends like Margaret, who isn’t shy about unfurling her own quirk flag.
Who’s your favorite quirky character in fiction or TV?
Edie Ramerhttp://magicalmusings.com/
8/23/10
Open Casting Call
Saturday, after the Family Golla did the basic running around errands and buying a crepe myrtle, I abandoned my family for three hours to stand in line of an 'open' casting call only to be told that by Chris, the casting director, that it would be another seven hour wait from where I was currently standing and he shut the line down.
Now, you might be wondering WHY I wanted to attend the casting call. Well, it was either that or FarmVille. No, not really, but I thought it would be interesting and fun. And it was. No, I didn't come close to even signing up or having my mug shot taken, but I visited with people in line, something a stay-at-home mom and writer doesn't do very often. Yes, I conversed with strangers AND I LIKED IT!
Oh, true, one of the topics discussed was Disney World. The lady in front of me had just come back with her crew (two of whom were standing in line (4 and 14) along with their friends, roughly the same age. And then there was the lady behind me with her daughter (8) who are planning to go to WDW over Christmas break. She'd been to Disneyland, but never WDW. I had to give her the 'biz'. I love the place, so I know my excitement shined through!
And then there was the young dude behind her who had acted in a few things (commercial and indy flic). I did learn that acting and finding a job were very similar to publishing. You can't get a job unless you have an agent, but you can't get an agent unless you have acted. Sound familiar. Yeah, that's what I thought, too.
Anyhoo, I went home after three hours having moved maybe 50 feet and needing to travel another 500 more to the Holy Grail of filling out the form. But would I do it again? Yeah, probably. I still think it would be fun. And working on a movie set would be eye opening to say the least. I'd love to gain another perspective and learn something new.
Until then, I'll be working on my DEMON synopsis and my tweaking my first 50 pgs for a contest. If anyone wants to volunteer to give it a once over, then I'll take you up on it. I need to know if it makes sense to someone not familiar with the story.
Write on!
Now, you might be wondering WHY I wanted to attend the casting call. Well, it was either that or FarmVille. No, not really, but I thought it would be interesting and fun. And it was. No, I didn't come close to even signing up or having my mug shot taken, but I visited with people in line, something a stay-at-home mom and writer doesn't do very often. Yes, I conversed with strangers AND I LIKED IT!
Oh, true, one of the topics discussed was Disney World. The lady in front of me had just come back with her crew (two of whom were standing in line (4 and 14) along with their friends, roughly the same age. And then there was the lady behind me with her daughter (8) who are planning to go to WDW over Christmas break. She'd been to Disneyland, but never WDW. I had to give her the 'biz'. I love the place, so I know my excitement shined through!
And then there was the young dude behind her who had acted in a few things (commercial and indy flic). I did learn that acting and finding a job were very similar to publishing. You can't get a job unless you have an agent, but you can't get an agent unless you have acted. Sound familiar. Yeah, that's what I thought, too.
Anyhoo, I went home after three hours having moved maybe 50 feet and needing to travel another 500 more to the Holy Grail of filling out the form. But would I do it again? Yeah, probably. I still think it would be fun. And working on a movie set would be eye opening to say the least. I'd love to gain another perspective and learn something new.
Until then, I'll be working on my DEMON synopsis and my tweaking my first 50 pgs for a contest. If anyone wants to volunteer to give it a once over, then I'll take you up on it. I need to know if it makes sense to someone not familiar with the story.
Write on!
8/20/10
Tweeners
tween \'twen\ (n) (14c) : between
Yep, it's in the dictionary. Tween is a real word, tweener is not. Also, betwixt and between. 'tween a rock and a hard place. Usually associated with children who aren't teenagers, but aren't really children any longer.
I could be talking about my kidlet today . . . but I'm not.
I'm talking about writing. Specifically novels that are such a mixture of genres that they can't be pigeonholed by publishing. I suspect many of us fall in this category. I know I do. My current manuscript, DEMON is urban fantasy, mystery, romance, dark, and comedic, it doesn't fall into one particular genre.
--too light to be a 'dark' paranormal
--too much external plot to be a 'true' romance
--not enough mystery to make it a mystery
--but it doesn't fit under Fiction, because most of those novels are literary, women's fiction, memoirs, autobiographies, etc.
In my case, I'm going to keep on writing, trying to get interest via the traditional route. Is it frustrating? Yup, Rejections hurt. And if you don't know what to do to make the story salable (reading similar books helps, but it isn't the answer), then you simply float along in the ether.
Friend A has decided to be proactive about her writing career (when I'm ready, I may follow her example). She's self-publishing via Smashwords. She retains most of her rights and something like 80-90% of her earnings. She is taking this one step further by seriously editing her story, I think she is on round 5 after receiving feedback from CP's and beta readers. As one of the aforementioned beta readers, I knew exactly why she couldn't generate any interest in the story. It wasn't because it wasn't a good story--it is. Trust me. I would probably call it a light romance, not heavy on the emotional angst, but it had mystery, murder, and paranormal. None of it was written with a heavy hand. The paranormal aspect was too light. The murder wasn't the focus. And the mystery element? Well, you knew who done it, but didn't know if the characters would be able to 'fix' things.
--it was a tweener of a novel
Friend B has opted to go a different route . . . for the moment. This friend has finaled in RWA's Golden Heart twice with two different MS's, but she can't seem to generate the editor interest the story deserves. She's gone on a writing sabbatical to read. A published author friend recommended about ten books she needs to take a look at.
Friend C knows she wants to sell to one of the Harlequin category lines. They have very narrow guidelines and are very voice oriented, in the sense they want the same 'word feel' from all their authors. I'm not saying this is an 'easy' route to publishing--it isn't--but if you can write to their style then more power to you. But it takes a lot of work to fit within their guidelines.
Friend D has finished a story that is the book of her heart, BUT she knows it will be a hard sell. It isn't stopping her from attempting the traditional route.
So there it is. Many writers are tweeners. The question becomes, will editors take a risk? In this current publishing picture, well, your guess is as good as mine. After all, this is a business that wants to make money. No one knows what will be the next sleeper novel.
Until later . . .
Write on!
Yep, it's in the dictionary. Tween is a real word, tweener is not. Also, betwixt and between. 'tween a rock and a hard place. Usually associated with children who aren't teenagers, but aren't really children any longer.
I could be talking about my kidlet today . . . but I'm not.
I'm talking about writing. Specifically novels that are such a mixture of genres that they can't be pigeonholed by publishing. I suspect many of us fall in this category. I know I do. My current manuscript, DEMON is urban fantasy, mystery, romance, dark, and comedic, it doesn't fall into one particular genre.
--too light to be a 'dark' paranormal
--too much external plot to be a 'true' romance
--not enough mystery to make it a mystery
--but it doesn't fit under Fiction, because most of those novels are literary, women's fiction, memoirs, autobiographies, etc.
In my case, I'm going to keep on writing, trying to get interest via the traditional route. Is it frustrating? Yup, Rejections hurt. And if you don't know what to do to make the story salable (reading similar books helps, but it isn't the answer), then you simply float along in the ether.
Friend A has decided to be proactive about her writing career (when I'm ready, I may follow her example). She's self-publishing via Smashwords. She retains most of her rights and something like 80-90% of her earnings. She is taking this one step further by seriously editing her story, I think she is on round 5 after receiving feedback from CP's and beta readers. As one of the aforementioned beta readers, I knew exactly why she couldn't generate any interest in the story. It wasn't because it wasn't a good story--it is. Trust me. I would probably call it a light romance, not heavy on the emotional angst, but it had mystery, murder, and paranormal. None of it was written with a heavy hand. The paranormal aspect was too light. The murder wasn't the focus. And the mystery element? Well, you knew who done it, but didn't know if the characters would be able to 'fix' things.
--it was a tweener of a novel
Friend B has opted to go a different route . . . for the moment. This friend has finaled in RWA's Golden Heart twice with two different MS's, but she can't seem to generate the editor interest the story deserves. She's gone on a writing sabbatical to read. A published author friend recommended about ten books she needs to take a look at.
Friend C knows she wants to sell to one of the Harlequin category lines. They have very narrow guidelines and are very voice oriented, in the sense they want the same 'word feel' from all their authors. I'm not saying this is an 'easy' route to publishing--it isn't--but if you can write to their style then more power to you. But it takes a lot of work to fit within their guidelines.
Friend D has finished a story that is the book of her heart, BUT she knows it will be a hard sell. It isn't stopping her from attempting the traditional route.
So there it is. Many writers are tweeners. The question becomes, will editors take a risk? In this current publishing picture, well, your guess is as good as mine. After all, this is a business that wants to make money. No one knows what will be the next sleeper novel.
Until later . . .
Write on!
8/19/10
Puppies or Dragons
I took my mom (88 years old) and my kidlet (9 years old) (yes, my age is somewhere in the middle) to Cracker Barrel on Wednesday. Mom likes the home cooking aspect of the place and she doesn't have to decipher the menu, like you do Asian or Mexican cuisine. She's old school in that way. Mom and I got the lunch special, Chicken Pot Pie--she took half of hers home and I ate most of mine--and the kidlet got the baked mac and cheese.
If you've never been to a Cracker Barrel, well, you're missing out. They have a 'general' store in the front of the restaurant, Mom got a bag of Switzer's licorice, I found a shirt, and my kidlet had some change that was burning a hole in her pocket for two days, so I told her I'd make the difference up on whatever she chose. She picked up a Webkinz . . . and suckered me into a second one.
But that's beside the point. She picked two puppies. Guess what I had my eyes on . . . the dragon.
Ever since I was little I would choose the fantastical over the ordinary every single time. I had a small stuff Pegasus (Peggy), a Unicorn (Uni) and a dragon (Draco). Okay, okay, I suck at names. I still do. I can't come up with a good name if my life depended on it. But I chose fantasy and my kidlet chooses reality.
I found it curious.
One more day!!!!!
If you've never been to a Cracker Barrel, well, you're missing out. They have a 'general' store in the front of the restaurant, Mom got a bag of Switzer's licorice, I found a shirt, and my kidlet had some change that was burning a hole in her pocket for two days, so I told her I'd make the difference up on whatever she chose. She picked up a Webkinz . . . and suckered me into a second one.
But that's beside the point. She picked two puppies. Guess what I had my eyes on . . . the dragon.
Ever since I was little I would choose the fantastical over the ordinary every single time. I had a small stuff Pegasus (Peggy), a Unicorn (Uni) and a dragon (Draco). Okay, okay, I suck at names. I still do. I can't come up with a good name if my life depended on it. But I chose fantasy and my kidlet chooses reality.
I found it curious.
One more day!!!!!
8/18/10
Excitement Abounds!
*ONLY TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS!*
Sorry, had to get that out of my system. I said I'd be working on my synopsis, but I lied. The few days before school are weird. Lots of stuff to do to get ready for school, plus the poor little peanut needs to watch as much TV as possible since it will have to tide the li'l darlin' over until the weekend. Yeah, one day of school. For some bizarre reason, they're starting school on Friday. I guess it's because they know nothing will get done, except for settling into the new schedule and school will 'really' start on Monday.
Yesterday afternoon, the class postings were up on the school doors. My kidlet wants Mrs. E 'the hard teacher'. LOVE IT! When she was in the 1st & 2nd grade, the school did 'looping', where they kept the same teacher and classmates for two years. Anyhoo, she had a very nice teacher, Mrs. S. Problem was Mrs. S. was a pushover, plus shared a little too much personal info with the kids (son in car wreck, mom with Alzheimer's). Last year, she had Mrs. H. I *heart* Mrs. H. She didn't put up with any guff. My daughter LOVED her, partly because she kept the class under control and my kidlet could hear what was being taught. Plus her daughter is one of my kidlet's friends, and Mrs. H coached basketball.
So instead of writing my synopses (DEMON & FAERIE), I'm judging a romance contest--I have 5 packets. The entries are long (@ 50 pgs + 5pg synopsis). Last year, judging was hideous because the judge had to comment on every aspect (characterization, opening, dialogue, hero, heroine, blah, blah, blah) of the entry with a traditional scoresheet. This year only ratings are given, 1-9 and scored to 0.1 of a point like RWA's Golden Heart Contest. The only difference is the judge can comment on the submission unlike the GH. What stopped us from reading? What is weak? Good points? Everything that you can't say on the GH, which gives the entrant some idea as to her scores (hopefully).
I'm so looking forward to Friday! The quiet will be wonderful! Plus I need to get my syopsis together for my beta readers to read to see if it makes sense.
Write on!
Sorry, had to get that out of my system. I said I'd be working on my synopsis, but I lied. The few days before school are weird. Lots of stuff to do to get ready for school, plus the poor little peanut needs to watch as much TV as possible since it will have to tide the li'l darlin' over until the weekend. Yeah, one day of school. For some bizarre reason, they're starting school on Friday. I guess it's because they know nothing will get done, except for settling into the new schedule and school will 'really' start on Monday.
Yesterday afternoon, the class postings were up on the school doors. My kidlet wants Mrs. E 'the hard teacher'. LOVE IT! When she was in the 1st & 2nd grade, the school did 'looping', where they kept the same teacher and classmates for two years. Anyhoo, she had a very nice teacher, Mrs. S. Problem was Mrs. S. was a pushover, plus shared a little too much personal info with the kids (son in car wreck, mom with Alzheimer's). Last year, she had Mrs. H. I *heart* Mrs. H. She didn't put up with any guff. My daughter LOVED her, partly because she kept the class under control and my kidlet could hear what was being taught. Plus her daughter is one of my kidlet's friends, and Mrs. H coached basketball.
So instead of writing my synopses (DEMON & FAERIE), I'm judging a romance contest--I have 5 packets. The entries are long (@ 50 pgs + 5pg synopsis). Last year, judging was hideous because the judge had to comment on every aspect (characterization, opening, dialogue, hero, heroine, blah, blah, blah) of the entry with a traditional scoresheet. This year only ratings are given, 1-9 and scored to 0.1 of a point like RWA's Golden Heart Contest. The only difference is the judge can comment on the submission unlike the GH. What stopped us from reading? What is weak? Good points? Everything that you can't say on the GH, which gives the entrant some idea as to her scores (hopefully).
I'm so looking forward to Friday! The quiet will be wonderful! Plus I need to get my syopsis together for my beta readers to read to see if it makes sense.
Write on!
8/16/10
Synopsis Bound
This week I need to sort out my rough, really rough, synopsis of DEMON.
Why?
Many reasons:
1) editors/agents tend to request such beasts to verify the writer can hold a plot together until the end of the manuscript
2) after you sell, publishing houses buy on proposal which consists of synopsis and three chapters
3) two contests that I want to enter require one--THE REAL REASON
I'm aiming for five pages which seems to be a nice round number for all parties concerned. Now and then, contests/agents/editors will request a two pager, but five pages allows you to flesh out the main plot line whether it is a romance, mystery, or whatever.
I just wish I could find the magic elixir to make this work. I've come close and as I work on this darn thing, I'll post what works for me.
Here are a few of the key components to remember when writing your synopsis:
1) keep to main plot of the story--subplots confuse and muddle the mix, and cute little idiosyncrasies don't add to the 'telling' of the story. I have a secondary character, Quinn, a Celestian sniffer that provides comic relief/another layer to the story, but I'm not mentioning him in the synopsis
2) I don't care what type of story you write, but from every editor's blog that I've lurked, they want conflict--INTERNAL CONFLICT within your main character. The purpose of this is to show the MC growing from the experiences they go through within the story
3) In my first paragraph, I write a sentence or two that hint of the MC's conflict that starts the whole story rolling.
4) Try to write the synopsis in the style and voice of your manuscript--it's all about word choices, baby! And yes, this is the tough part for me. It's easy to write a cut-and-dry 'this happens, then this', but to do it in the same tone as the story is hard, BUT it also shows the editor/agent the flavor (light, dark, gripping, comedic) of your story.
5) This is the one time that you TELL the story instead of SHOWING it to the reader.
6) try to follow the three act scenario screenwriter's use. X happens to start the story. Then the character is faced with Y, his choice will help him grow, or not, depending on whether he chooses A or 1. Each choice your character makes reveals his internal conflict.
That's it for now--
Write on!
Why?
Many reasons:
1) editors/agents tend to request such beasts to verify the writer can hold a plot together until the end of the manuscript
2) after you sell, publishing houses buy on proposal which consists of synopsis and three chapters
3) two contests that I want to enter require one--THE REAL REASON
I'm aiming for five pages which seems to be a nice round number for all parties concerned. Now and then, contests/agents/editors will request a two pager, but five pages allows you to flesh out the main plot line whether it is a romance, mystery, or whatever.
I just wish I could find the magic elixir to make this work. I've come close and as I work on this darn thing, I'll post what works for me.
Here are a few of the key components to remember when writing your synopsis:
1) keep to main plot of the story--subplots confuse and muddle the mix, and cute little idiosyncrasies don't add to the 'telling' of the story. I have a secondary character, Quinn, a Celestian sniffer that provides comic relief/another layer to the story, but I'm not mentioning him in the synopsis
2) I don't care what type of story you write, but from every editor's blog that I've lurked, they want conflict--INTERNAL CONFLICT within your main character. The purpose of this is to show the MC growing from the experiences they go through within the story
3) In my first paragraph, I write a sentence or two that hint of the MC's conflict that starts the whole story rolling.
4) Try to write the synopsis in the style and voice of your manuscript--it's all about word choices, baby! And yes, this is the tough part for me. It's easy to write a cut-and-dry 'this happens, then this', but to do it in the same tone as the story is hard, BUT it also shows the editor/agent the flavor (light, dark, gripping, comedic) of your story.
5) This is the one time that you TELL the story instead of SHOWING it to the reader.
6) try to follow the three act scenario screenwriter's use. X happens to start the story. Then the character is faced with Y, his choice will help him grow, or not, depending on whether he chooses A or 1. Each choice your character makes reveals his internal conflict.
That's it for now--
Write on!
8/13/10
Ten Awesome Things about this week
TGIF!
Wow, what a week! I hope everyone had a great week, I know I did. There are so many things to list.
1) school starts in exactly one week
2) I attended a three day online conference for MG/YA called WRITEONCON
3) I edited my first 25 pgs of DEMON
4) I got crits back from two CP's for DEMON after I asked them to RED LINE it (hack and burn, baby!).
5) completed the NEW edits on DEMON--it is currently 'resting' until later today when I'll read it over again to enter into a contest
6) got some great material from the lectures/blogs/vlogs/etc from WRITEONCON
7) inspired to work on my PB's again, now that I understand meter a little better
8) queried an agent and Penguin (they're open to queries until October) for GNOME. Yes, I said it's under the bed, but . . .
9) We're going on vacation in 22 days
10) oh, did I mention school starts next Friday?? :-)
Write on!
Wow, what a week! I hope everyone had a great week, I know I did. There are so many things to list.
1) school starts in exactly one week
2) I attended a three day online conference for MG/YA called WRITEONCON
3) I edited my first 25 pgs of DEMON
4) I got crits back from two CP's for DEMON after I asked them to RED LINE it (hack and burn, baby!).
5) completed the NEW edits on DEMON--it is currently 'resting' until later today when I'll read it over again to enter into a contest
6) got some great material from the lectures/blogs/vlogs/etc from WRITEONCON
7) inspired to work on my PB's again, now that I understand meter a little better
8) queried an agent and Penguin (they're open to queries until October) for GNOME. Yes, I said it's under the bed, but . . .
9) We're going on vacation in 22 days
10) oh, did I mention school starts next Friday?? :-)
Write on!
8/11/10
WriteOnCon
I've been busy attending an online conference, WriteOnCon. Oh, did I mention FREE conference? There are two more days left and if you have a main character who is younger than 18 you are welcome to participate. There are agents, authors and editors.
Tons of prizes! Many are query critiques, first five pages, or loglines. This is an exciting new format to have a chance to 'talk' to so many industry professionals. Get your name out there and come join the fun!
Write on!
8/9/10
What is in a Name?
Names are very important to choose wisely when you are writing a story.
Why?
Because without the reader knowing anything about a character, they will draw conclusions simply by reading a name.
I changed the name of my elf mage in DEMON. 1) the hero/heroine's names began with the same letter, 'D'. 2) the hero's name was kinda wussy, Darien. Yeah, it worked when he was a secondary character in another story, but the name wasn't hero material.
I searched for a new name for my hero. He's an elemental earth mage and studly, of course, since it is a romance. I needed a name that commanded. I think I came up with one: Ryker. Last names work well as first names for heroes and I thought Lt. Riker was hot in the Voyager series, second only to Jean-Luc Pickard.
My heroine's name is Danica. I might have to change it. She's supposed to be kick-ass, but Danica doesn't offer that image. What other names are out there that inspire kick-ass heroines? Mercy, Merit, Gin, Jax, Marlowe, etc. I'm sure there are more, but the brain stopped functioning.
Here's the sitch: I want a kewl heroine name and googling 'kick-ass heroine names' took me to the heroin hot line. I don't think so.
Got any names for me? Websites I can wander around? Anything??
Until then, I'll stick with Danica and Ryker. But I'm open to suggestions.
Write on!
Why?
Because without the reader knowing anything about a character, they will draw conclusions simply by reading a name.
I changed the name of my elf mage in DEMON. 1) the hero/heroine's names began with the same letter, 'D'. 2) the hero's name was kinda wussy, Darien. Yeah, it worked when he was a secondary character in another story, but the name wasn't hero material.
I searched for a new name for my hero. He's an elemental earth mage and studly, of course, since it is a romance. I needed a name that commanded. I think I came up with one: Ryker. Last names work well as first names for heroes and I thought Lt. Riker was hot in the Voyager series, second only to Jean-Luc Pickard.
My heroine's name is Danica. I might have to change it. She's supposed to be kick-ass, but Danica doesn't offer that image. What other names are out there that inspire kick-ass heroines? Mercy, Merit, Gin, Jax, Marlowe, etc. I'm sure there are more, but the brain stopped functioning.
Here's the sitch: I want a kewl heroine name and googling 'kick-ass heroine names' took me to the heroin hot line. I don't think so.
Got any names for me? Websites I can wander around? Anything??
Until then, I'll stick with Danica and Ryker. But I'm open to suggestions.
Write on!
8/6/10
Do you Dabble? Or Jump in?
I'm a dabbler. I dabble my toes in the water before I take a big leap. Gotta test it, right?
The technique seems to be the same with my DEMON synopsis. One of my two trusted peeps got back to me with her comments on DEMON. Well, they weren't comments so much, more like, 'we need to talk'. You know, she wants to 'converse' about my commitment issues.
A couple of things bothered her--heck, they bothered me, too, which is why I KNEW I had issues with the ending! Anyhoo, we chatted. She kept telling me EMOTION, EMOTION, EMOTION! about how I needed to dig into my heroine's emotion, but instead, I dabbled. The interesting part of our convo was I had given numerous clues about the emotional aspect of the demon suckage, but I never really SAID it, which is why she picked up on it. My trusted writing bud said it for me . . .
And I got it. Demons eat fear like peanut butter. It's good and creamy and comfort food. But hate, vengeance, revenge are like molten chocolate cake--Decedent, heady, and to die for.
It's on a whole different level than peanut butter.
Today, I'll rework the entire synopsis and make the heroine work for her starring credits. She ain't Angelina Jolie yet, more like Reece Whitherspoon--too perky and not a dark tortured soul.
*sigh* But I really liked the idea of my heroine stuffing her shirt with Holy water water balloons. . .
:-) Write on!
The technique seems to be the same with my DEMON synopsis. One of my two trusted peeps got back to me with her comments on DEMON. Well, they weren't comments so much, more like, 'we need to talk'. You know, she wants to 'converse' about my commitment issues.
A couple of things bothered her--heck, they bothered me, too, which is why I KNEW I had issues with the ending! Anyhoo, we chatted. She kept telling me EMOTION, EMOTION, EMOTION! about how I needed to dig into my heroine's emotion, but instead, I dabbled. The interesting part of our convo was I had given numerous clues about the emotional aspect of the demon suckage, but I never really SAID it, which is why she picked up on it. My trusted writing bud said it for me . . .
And I got it. Demons eat fear like peanut butter. It's good and creamy and comfort food. But hate, vengeance, revenge are like molten chocolate cake--Decedent, heady, and to die for.
It's on a whole different level than peanut butter.
Today, I'll rework the entire synopsis and make the heroine work for her starring credits. She ain't Angelina Jolie yet, more like Reece Whitherspoon--too perky and not a dark tortured soul.
*sigh* But I really liked the idea of my heroine stuffing her shirt with Holy water water balloons. . .
:-) Write on!
8/4/10
Writing Synopses
Over the last ten days, I've been pulling my hair out about this DEMON synopsis. I didn't really start writing it until two days ago, but I powered through it on Monday and Tuesday.
I have to admit that my method is a little off-beat. On Monday, I'd jot down something and then play Cafe World for awhile, so forth and so on. And on Tuesday, my kidlet and I went to Big Splash with friends and then I came home and powered through the rest of it.
Is it dreck?
Probably. But the dreck is written down and I can work with something written down. So, I'll give it one more read-thru to see if I hit the key points and I'll send it off to two of my trusted peeps. One is a multi-pubbed author who mentored me from the beginning, and the other is a good writer friend, my go-to gal who lets talk out my writing problems (okay--she's like a good shrink. She makes me WORK for my answers). I trust them implicitly.
I have until August 15 to tweak my first 45 pages of manuscript and perfect this synopsis to enter a contest. Is this contest the end all be all of my life? No, but it's my goal, my personal deadline that I intend to keep . . . with a little help from my friends.
Write on!
I have to admit that my method is a little off-beat. On Monday, I'd jot down something and then play Cafe World for awhile, so forth and so on. And on Tuesday, my kidlet and I went to Big Splash with friends and then I came home and powered through the rest of it.
Is it dreck?
Probably. But the dreck is written down and I can work with something written down. So, I'll give it one more read-thru to see if I hit the key points and I'll send it off to two of my trusted peeps. One is a multi-pubbed author who mentored me from the beginning, and the other is a good writer friend, my go-to gal who lets talk out my writing problems (okay--she's like a good shrink. She makes me WORK for my answers). I trust them implicitly.
I have until August 15 to tweak my first 45 pages of manuscript and perfect this synopsis to enter a contest. Is this contest the end all be all of my life? No, but it's my goal, my personal deadline that I intend to keep . . . with a little help from my friends.
Write on!
8/2/10
Discovering the Hero Elf's Conflict
All last week I struggled with the motivation for my hero elf. I thought I had it, but not quite yet. I'm closer now, but this story is very convoluted and I have to position my characters in a way that it will all make sense.
So what did I do to figure this out?
Well, I went to church. Yes, church. We've been busy with stuff around the house and have basically slacked off from going to church regularly. We're very good during the school year, but the rest of the time-meh, not so much. Anyhoo, I've found that going to church is a wonderful place to soothe your thoughts. Peace and quiet abound, and if you have a monotone priest, well, then that's a perk.
--uh, you might not want to sit too close to your monitor . . . there's an off chance that the lightening strike will shoot through the electical outlet.
I had been trying to make my hero's core conflict inherent with my heroine, but it isn't. Oh, there is conflict between them, but not what I needed to make this story work. So while in church I thought about the one thing that would be difficult for my hero to do.
--he had to save the one person who'd destroyed the hero's family.
Yes, simple, isn't it. But sometimes finding the simple answers take the longest time. Now, my heroine's conflict is too weak . . . sigh, I can't win for losing!
Until later.
Write on.
So what did I do to figure this out?
Well, I went to church. Yes, church. We've been busy with stuff around the house and have basically slacked off from going to church regularly. We're very good during the school year, but the rest of the time-meh, not so much. Anyhoo, I've found that going to church is a wonderful place to soothe your thoughts. Peace and quiet abound, and if you have a monotone priest, well, then that's a perk.
--uh, you might not want to sit too close to your monitor . . . there's an off chance that the lightening strike will shoot through the electical outlet.
I had been trying to make my hero's core conflict inherent with my heroine, but it isn't. Oh, there is conflict between them, but not what I needed to make this story work. So while in church I thought about the one thing that would be difficult for my hero to do.
--he had to save the one person who'd destroyed the hero's family.
Yes, simple, isn't it. But sometimes finding the simple answers take the longest time. Now, my heroine's conflict is too weak . . . sigh, I can't win for losing!
Until later.
Write on.
7/30/10
Crisis of Writing Faith (slight whine, or is that wine?, involved)
Yep, I'm in the deep dark pit of despair. Oh, quit, I know that's cliche, but it's how I feel right now.
I've heard that writers go through this stage throughout their careers. I don't even have a career and I'm facing it! Writing is hard, but the mind games are heinous!
I'm sure it's because I wanted to actually accomplish something even though I told myself I wasn't going to accomplish anything. Confused yet? I know I am.
Even though I told myself that I was happy writing even if I didn't publish my story, I lied. I want others to enjoy my stories, but I don't know why I'm not getting any interest from agents. That is the hardest part of this biz--it's subjective and those in the industry don't have time to provide feedback, which makes the insecure writer wonder if she is totally off in left field (yes, I know, another cliche). I want children to read my middle grade stories. I want to write a twisted and conflicted paranormal romance, but do I REALLY have what it takes.
Right now, I don't think so.
There are 22 more days until school starts. I might be able to get something done with the kidlet around, but I'm not holding my breath. So I'm giving myself permission to not do anything writing related . . . well, except get DEMON CONNECTION ready for a couple of contests--I might be able to fake the conflict issue, but an astute judge will wonder.
I'll wallow for a day or two, but then I'll get it together along with another surge of inspiration and start writing again.
Until later. . .
Write on!
I've heard that writers go through this stage throughout their careers. I don't even have a career and I'm facing it! Writing is hard, but the mind games are heinous!
I'm sure it's because I wanted to actually accomplish something even though I told myself I wasn't going to accomplish anything. Confused yet? I know I am.
Even though I told myself that I was happy writing even if I didn't publish my story, I lied. I want others to enjoy my stories, but I don't know why I'm not getting any interest from agents. That is the hardest part of this biz--it's subjective and those in the industry don't have time to provide feedback, which makes the insecure writer wonder if she is totally off in left field (yes, I know, another cliche). I want children to read my middle grade stories. I want to write a twisted and conflicted paranormal romance, but do I REALLY have what it takes.
Right now, I don't think so.
There are 22 more days until school starts. I might be able to get something done with the kidlet around, but I'm not holding my breath. So I'm giving myself permission to not do anything writing related . . . well, except get DEMON CONNECTION ready for a couple of contests--I might be able to fake the conflict issue, but an astute judge will wonder.
I'll wallow for a day or two, but then I'll get it together along with another surge of inspiration and start writing again.
Until later. . .
Write on!
7/29/10
Thursday--What can I say?
I still have motivation issues: myself and my character.
In my opinion, there are two ways to handle this. 1) write through it, but realize you will have to probably throw pages away when you work on your second draft. Or, 2) think about your story . . . a lot.
I'm in the second group. I think about it and try to work out my problem. I already know I need to delete the last five pages as I jumped ahead of the game, plus I need to rework to hero's POV section to add a thin veneer of conflict.
Oh, I could wait and do it on the second draft, but this is something that is so pivotal in my mind that I can't write one until I get it right.
Write on!
In my opinion, there are two ways to handle this. 1) write through it, but realize you will have to probably throw pages away when you work on your second draft. Or, 2) think about your story . . . a lot.
I'm in the second group. I think about it and try to work out my problem. I already know I need to delete the last five pages as I jumped ahead of the game, plus I need to rework to hero's POV section to add a thin veneer of conflict.
Oh, I could wait and do it on the second draft, but this is something that is so pivotal in my mind that I can't write one until I get it right.
Write on!
7/28/10
Motivation Resolved!
As you know from yesterday's post, I've been struggling with my hero's motivation for getting involved with the heroine. What I had was weak, a placeholder for something better. Well, I woke up this morning with that something better. I had a valid reason for him to 'volunteer' his help.
And no, I'm not telling because this is a seriously major plot point.
--on an aside--a romance isn't simply written for romance's sake. There has to be something more to draw these two people together (usually originates with External factors that evolve into Internal factors) and then push them apart (Internal factors).
I love it when one's mind takes all the jumbled and confusing thoughts, does a little math calculation, and voila! the result is computed. And the answer is so simple! One of those, "Why didn't I think of that before?"
I'm excited. I need to do a little tweak to DC before I continue to write as I want to make certain I have all the hints in place . . . plus I need to write myself a note so I don't forget my epiphany.
Unless my kidlet hurts herself at zoo camp again (fell off the rock wall yesterday, resulting in doc visit, x-rays and when she got home, she wanted to go on a play date--I don't think so!) I'll be writing, whether it's the manuscript or the synopsis I just don't know.
Check ya later!
Write on!
And no, I'm not telling because this is a seriously major plot point.
--on an aside--a romance isn't simply written for romance's sake. There has to be something more to draw these two people together (usually originates with External factors that evolve into Internal factors) and then push them apart (Internal factors).
I love it when one's mind takes all the jumbled and confusing thoughts, does a little math calculation, and voila! the result is computed. And the answer is so simple! One of those, "Why didn't I think of that before?"
I'm excited. I need to do a little tweak to DC before I continue to write as I want to make certain I have all the hints in place . . . plus I need to write myself a note so I don't forget my epiphany.
Unless my kidlet hurts herself at zoo camp again (fell off the rock wall yesterday, resulting in doc visit, x-rays and when she got home, she wanted to go on a play date--I don't think so!) I'll be writing, whether it's the manuscript or the synopsis I just don't know.
Check ya later!
Write on!
7/27/10
Tuesday's non-word count
Demon Connection: no new words
Started to flesh out GMC charts for hero, heroine, and two villains: 255 words
Today started off pretty well, with the exception of my hero's lack of motivation. I have a goal for him (one that will change as the story goes along). And I have varying forms of conflict. Shoot, I even have the 'black moment' or the 'all is lost' part of the story, but I knew his motivation for involving the heroine was weak, super-duper weak. I need something to up the ante in his corner of the poker table.
And I didn't want it to be too easy. Easy = boring. The easy way is the lazy way for the writer, thus all that sitting and staring into space is actually accomplishing something!
So instead of writing new words, I worked on the GMC of my main characters.
G--goal
M--motivation
C--conflict
To have a nice, well-rounded story, a writer must give your characters a reason for being on the page, for making the choices they are forced to make. My GMC chart still needs some work, but I'm reviewing Deb Dixon's GMC book and I'm getting closer to resolving this issue.
Started to flesh out GMC charts for hero, heroine, and two villains: 255 words
Today started off pretty well, with the exception of my hero's lack of motivation. I have a goal for him (one that will change as the story goes along). And I have varying forms of conflict. Shoot, I even have the 'black moment' or the 'all is lost' part of the story, but I knew his motivation for involving the heroine was weak, super-duper weak. I need something to up the ante in his corner of the poker table.
And I didn't want it to be too easy. Easy = boring. The easy way is the lazy way for the writer, thus all that sitting and staring into space is actually accomplishing something!
So instead of writing new words, I worked on the GMC of my main characters.
G--goal
M--motivation
C--conflict
To have a nice, well-rounded story, a writer must give your characters a reason for being on the page, for making the choices they are forced to make. My GMC chart still needs some work, but I'm reviewing Deb Dixon's GMC book and I'm getting closer to resolving this issue.
7/26/10
RWA National Conference
Demon Connection: 589 new words. Total word count: 14774
I'm not happy. the insidious disease, lifus interuptus hit hard today.
It's going to be quiet on my loops this week--as it's RWA National conference week!
--and I'm not going. :-(
I love going to conference: the workshops, the mingling/networking/bar, the frantic pace, the freaking out when it's my time to pitch, the awards ceremony. Yeah, all of it. There's something in the air at conference that regenerates a writer while at the same time exhausts you for days.
I would have roomed with my writing bud, Cyndi--even without the conference, she's a whirlwind on her own! Everyone knows Cyndi. Heck, I met her at our local conference when she headed up the 'naughty table'. She's a lot of fun to be around.
In addition to this, my kidlet is going to zoo camp this week, its theme, Expedition Zoo. Once I make the hour-long round trip, I'll have four solid hours to write. I have a book that is currently only 14,000-words and I want to finish it before we go on vacation. Will it be doable? Yup, provided I barrel through the story. I know more about it than I did a week ago and that's a good thing.
So this week, it's my intention to be accountable on this loop for my word count. I'll be posting daily at the top of my blog AFTER I'm done for the day. So I'll post today's count this afternoon on the top of this loop.
--and if I don't, then feel free to cyber-smack me around!
Write on!
I'm not happy. the insidious disease, lifus interuptus hit hard today.
It's going to be quiet on my loops this week--as it's RWA National conference week!
--and I'm not going. :-(
I love going to conference: the workshops, the mingling/networking/bar, the frantic pace, the freaking out when it's my time to pitch, the awards ceremony. Yeah, all of it. There's something in the air at conference that regenerates a writer while at the same time exhausts you for days.
I would have roomed with my writing bud, Cyndi--even without the conference, she's a whirlwind on her own! Everyone knows Cyndi. Heck, I met her at our local conference when she headed up the 'naughty table'. She's a lot of fun to be around.
In addition to this, my kidlet is going to zoo camp this week, its theme, Expedition Zoo. Once I make the hour-long round trip, I'll have four solid hours to write. I have a book that is currently only 14,000-words and I want to finish it before we go on vacation. Will it be doable? Yup, provided I barrel through the story. I know more about it than I did a week ago and that's a good thing.
So this week, it's my intention to be accountable on this loop for my word count. I'll be posting daily at the top of my blog AFTER I'm done for the day. So I'll post today's count this afternoon on the top of this loop.
--and if I don't, then feel free to cyber-smack me around!
Write on!
7/23/10
Query peeves
I've been sending out a few query letters lately. Mostly fresh blood . . . er, agents who haven't rejected GNOME yet, or those silly, silly agents who say no response is no, but then state to re-query them if you haven't gotten a response.
Huh?
Note to agents: If no response means no, then send out an auto response that you received the query so the freaked-out, query-happy author doesn't keep querying you.
Right. So, if I'm confused, oh-she-who-has-been-querying-and-getting-rejections-for-YEARS, can you imagine the poor newbies? Queries are stressful enough without forcing authors to jump through various hoops, but then again, this might be the way agents seperate the chaff from the grain. *shrugs*
From my agent blog stalking, I've discovered that many agents are going NO QUERIES during August. I can't say that I blame them. They need a break just as much as the rest of us. Time for vacation and catching up on their requested material, their client's material, and the "other" stuff they do to earn their dime. So if you want to get in before the deadline send your queries now. Better yet, would be to tweak your query/synopsis/manuscript in August and press send the day after Labor Day.
Another phenomena that I noticed are androgenous--I was going to say hermaphroditic--names. Now, I've run across Kevan vs. Kevin and Carol vs. Carroll, but what about Logan or Uwe? Yep, I sent out a query to a Mr. Logan XXX only to find out Logan was a girl. Well, crap. Do I send a note or just write off the agent? I wrote off the agent, she doesn't need another email crowding her inbox. Sucks, but there it is--DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST!
Oh, btw, Uwe is a dude and a Dr., discovered my error on his rejection letter. . .
--but realize that sometimes you can't find out everything about your mark so make your query as professional as possible.
Here is another interesting tidbit from Agent Kristen Nelson's blog, Pub Rants, titled Another Reason to Nail Your Query Pitch.
Well, that's all I got for today.
Write on!
Huh?
Note to agents: If no response means no, then send out an auto response that you received the query so the freaked-out, query-happy author doesn't keep querying you.
Right. So, if I'm confused, oh-she-who-has-been-querying-and-getting-rejections-for-YEARS, can you imagine the poor newbies? Queries are stressful enough without forcing authors to jump through various hoops, but then again, this might be the way agents seperate the chaff from the grain. *shrugs*
From my agent blog stalking, I've discovered that many agents are going NO QUERIES during August. I can't say that I blame them. They need a break just as much as the rest of us. Time for vacation and catching up on their requested material, their client's material, and the "other" stuff they do to earn their dime. So if you want to get in before the deadline send your queries now. Better yet, would be to tweak your query/synopsis/manuscript in August and press send the day after Labor Day.
Another phenomena that I noticed are androgenous--I was going to say hermaphroditic--names. Now, I've run across Kevan vs. Kevin and Carol vs. Carroll, but what about Logan or Uwe? Yep, I sent out a query to a Mr. Logan XXX only to find out Logan was a girl. Well, crap. Do I send a note or just write off the agent? I wrote off the agent, she doesn't need another email crowding her inbox. Sucks, but there it is--DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST!
Oh, btw, Uwe is a dude and a Dr., discovered my error on his rejection letter. . .
--but realize that sometimes you can't find out everything about your mark so make your query as professional as possible.
Here is another interesting tidbit from Agent Kristen Nelson's blog, Pub Rants, titled Another Reason to Nail Your Query Pitch.
Well, that's all I got for today.
Write on!
7/21/10
How it all began. . .
Today's blog post brought to you by another question from Iggy:
Did you study writing or is this all stuff that you have gleaned from experience (or, both)?
OR
"How I Began my Career as a Writer and then Diverged into Dabbling among Unrelated Professional Fields as well as Marriage, Motherhood, and Pet Care until I could See My Way Clear to place my Passion for Writing ahead of All Else except for The Hubster, The Kidlet, a Shaggy Dog, and The Zen of Swimming Pool Maintenance"
I was not born with a pen or keyboard in my hands, though I did write an article about Redbud Valley for the Girl Scouts when I was eight. That was all the writing I did for years, except required school work, until twenty years ago when I took a writing class at the local Junior College to get an international student ID--I went to Europe for my bro's French wedding and backpacked alone for a few weeks--and with that writing ‘experience’, I stopped writing for 12 years.
Fast forward, I was thirty-nine and just had my first, and only, kidlet and I wondered if I could write a book. Yes, I was like all those women with too much time on her hands. Of course, this was after I had taken 20 years of Bon Appétit magazine recipes and organized them into 13 binders.
I wrote the NEXT GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL! Yay!! Too bad I was the only one who thought it was good. I joined RWA (Romance Writers of America) and my local romance chapter RWI (Romance Writers Ink) and started the looong trudge up the learning curve.
DAMN! It was tough. I went to conferences, read numerous craft books (I’ll name favorites if pressed), and suffered through the red pens of some wonderful women who wanted to help me become a better writer. Though I must confess that it didn’t feel like they were helping at the time!
I didn’t ‘work my way up' to writing novels—I started out writing novels, most of which are under the bed. Each novel that I wrote taught me about writing—along with the numerous rejections that I’ve garnered over the years. I used get upset with ‘form’ rejections, but now, I just shrug off the personalized ones. If it isn’t for them, so be it, it isn’t for them.
I started judging writing contests, first, because as a member of RWI you had to judge their contests, and two, because I started enjoying it. Each contest that I judged taught me about myself as a writer, in that the problems I saw in other writer’s manuscripts I started to see in my own work.
I think I wrote my first short story (a murder mystery) in 2005—rejections ensued. My next story was my blog serial, Sugar Plum Disaster. Short stories are hard. You have very few words to engage the reader and tell a story. Recently, Janet Reid (an agent who I’d LOVE to have in my corner. They don’t call her a shark for nothing!) started a blog challenge by listing five words that must be used in a 100-word story. A hundred words, people! Now, that’s a challenge! Another blog, Evil Editor periodically does something similar, usually when he’s bored and issues a weekend challenge. I’m totally impressed with the talent out there. And no, I can’t do it on they fly like so many others can.
It doesn’t matter what you write when you start on the path. Short stories won’t make you a better novel writer, or vice versa. Writing will make you a better writer.
My one and only suggestion: Write what you are passionate about. That passion will infuse your story, AND THAT, will shine through.
To steal a phrase from Nike, “JUST DO IT”.
Write on!
Did you study writing or is this all stuff that you have gleaned from experience (or, both)?
OR
"How I Began my Career as a Writer and then Diverged into Dabbling among Unrelated Professional Fields as well as Marriage, Motherhood, and Pet Care until I could See My Way Clear to place my Passion for Writing ahead of All Else except for The Hubster, The Kidlet, a Shaggy Dog, and The Zen of Swimming Pool Maintenance"
I was not born with a pen or keyboard in my hands, though I did write an article about Redbud Valley for the Girl Scouts when I was eight. That was all the writing I did for years, except required school work, until twenty years ago when I took a writing class at the local Junior College to get an international student ID--I went to Europe for my bro's French wedding and backpacked alone for a few weeks--and with that writing ‘experience’, I stopped writing for 12 years.
Fast forward, I was thirty-nine and just had my first, and only, kidlet and I wondered if I could write a book. Yes, I was like all those women with too much time on her hands. Of course, this was after I had taken 20 years of Bon Appétit magazine recipes and organized them into 13 binders.
I wrote the NEXT GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL! Yay!! Too bad I was the only one who thought it was good. I joined RWA (Romance Writers of America) and my local romance chapter RWI (Romance Writers Ink) and started the looong trudge up the learning curve.
DAMN! It was tough. I went to conferences, read numerous craft books (I’ll name favorites if pressed), and suffered through the red pens of some wonderful women who wanted to help me become a better writer. Though I must confess that it didn’t feel like they were helping at the time!
I didn’t ‘work my way up' to writing novels—I started out writing novels, most of which are under the bed. Each novel that I wrote taught me about writing—along with the numerous rejections that I’ve garnered over the years. I used get upset with ‘form’ rejections, but now, I just shrug off the personalized ones. If it isn’t for them, so be it, it isn’t for them.
I started judging writing contests, first, because as a member of RWI you had to judge their contests, and two, because I started enjoying it. Each contest that I judged taught me about myself as a writer, in that the problems I saw in other writer’s manuscripts I started to see in my own work.
I think I wrote my first short story (a murder mystery) in 2005—rejections ensued. My next story was my blog serial, Sugar Plum Disaster. Short stories are hard. You have very few words to engage the reader and tell a story. Recently, Janet Reid (an agent who I’d LOVE to have in my corner. They don’t call her a shark for nothing!) started a blog challenge by listing five words that must be used in a 100-word story. A hundred words, people! Now, that’s a challenge! Another blog, Evil Editor periodically does something similar, usually when he’s bored and issues a weekend challenge. I’m totally impressed with the talent out there. And no, I can’t do it on they fly like so many others can.
It doesn’t matter what you write when you start on the path. Short stories won’t make you a better novel writer, or vice versa. Writing will make you a better writer.
My one and only suggestion: Write what you are passionate about. That passion will infuse your story, AND THAT, will shine through.
To steal a phrase from Nike, “JUST DO IT”.
Write on!
7/19/10
Word counts? I'm so confused . . .
Today's blog is brought to you by a question from Ignats Pfufnik.
Hi, Margaret,
You always speak in terms of the number of words that you wrote in a particular time span, and you also speak of the intended length of this or that story in terms of a targeted total number of words. Is the number of words in a time span simply a measure of focus and productivity? Also, how is the targeted total number of words determined in advance? Do you first write an outline and then decide how many words you think it should take? Is the idea to come in on target or "under budget" in terms of the word expenditure. It is an on going curiosity of mine as I read your blog.
First things first, Iggy. I prefer to measure my productivity by word count. Some writers write for X number of minutes or X amount of pages. Every writer is different and it depends on what works for each author. I recommend trying different methods and figuring out what works for you.
Since I like to measure the number of words, it doesn't matter what font I use and I can gauge my level of productivity if I use TNR 12, Arial 12, or Courier 12 (blech! I HATE COURIER!).
For example: A randomly chosen page from Gnome is 393 words TNR 12. Changing it to Arial takes the same section of words and puts three lines on the next page, while Courier 12 takes the same amount of words over 1 1/2 pages. It all depends on if the font is non-proportional or not, in which that W doesn't take as much space as I. Most editors just want a font that's readable. Do not use cursive or Comic Sans.
In general, if I write 400-600 words ( 1-2 pages) in 20 minutes, then I'm writing at a very good clip and I can finish 3000 words in about 3 hours (I take 10 minute breaks in-between my writing sprints). Of course, if I hit a plot point or motivation issue, I might spend days trying to figure out my next move. This last week is a perfect example of this problem. I have my plot answer, but I have to figure out how to manipulate the characters into not revealing too much too soon.
I know the final answer to the problem but I can't let the reader in on it quite yet.
Your next question has to do with the targeted word count for a particular novel and if that number is determined in advance. The answer is SORT OF.
Most of the fiction genres have an accepted word count range. And yes, I know there are books published that are outside the particular norm established by the publisher. In the current publishing model for paperbacks (with the event of e-readers and the ease of e-publishing without the risk, the model is evolving), a publisher has to plunk down money upfront to cover the cost of production (cover, editors, paper, print, etc.) without the guarantee of profit. Books can also be returned for a FULL REFUND by bookstores, which is the monies taken out of the author's royalties prior to the author getting any money from royalties, which is where the term 'advance against returns' comes from. Many publishing houses have been known to hold onto this money for years.
But I digress. In general, this is the accepted word counts for fiction genres. And don't take these numbers as an end all be all thing. Even agents and editors (from reading various blogs) differ on what is acceptable, though I wouldn't recommend trying to sell a 100K MG novel right off the bat.
Magazines are out of realm of knowledge, but I'd stick pretty close to their required guidelines.
Picture books: 100-500 words. Can go up to 1000 words, but it's rare.
Children's books (easy readers, beginning chapter books): 500-3000 words
Middle grade (young 7-10): 10,000-20,000 words
Middle grade (older): 30,000-50,000 words GNOME is 43 K, FAERIE (1st draft, unedited) 49 K
Tween and Young Adult: 40,000-60,000 words (Yes, I KNOW Harry Potter's are longer, BUT not the first three books in the series)
Novellas: 25,000-40,000
Romance:
series (Harlequins on and off the shelves in one month) 55,000-65,000 words, depending on the line.
single title: 70,000-100,000 words
Science Fiction/Fantasy can be longer 90-100 K, 120 K has been known to happen
Mystery: 60-85K
By studying the titles and the publishers guidelines, a writer can figure out how many words he needs to write a well-rounded three act story.
Outline or no outline? Again, writers differ, depending on what works for them. After a writer gets published, they will be bought 'on spec', which means you have to write a synopsis (the story in a nutshell) plus three chapters. I've heard numerous authors say that after the book is bought, it doesn't write anything like the synopsis. I don't outline. I don't WANT to know what happens in the story, it takes the joy out of it. BUT I do have a vague logline (one sentence that encompasses the entire story), a few plot points and that's it. I start writing and let the characters take me on the journey. Sometimes it's easy (TROLL) and other times hard (EVERY OTHER STORY THAT I'VE WRITTEN!).
If you over-shoot or under-shoot the word count, don't worry about it. It's a rare thing when the first draft is ready to send out the door. With your edits you can cut scenes that don't move the story forward, or add detail, information, etc to pad a weak word count.
I hope that answers most of your questions for now.
And thank you for asking . . . as I'm always open to blog topics.
Write on!
Hi, Margaret,
You always speak in terms of the number of words that you wrote in a particular time span, and you also speak of the intended length of this or that story in terms of a targeted total number of words. Is the number of words in a time span simply a measure of focus and productivity? Also, how is the targeted total number of words determined in advance? Do you first write an outline and then decide how many words you think it should take? Is the idea to come in on target or "under budget" in terms of the word expenditure. It is an on going curiosity of mine as I read your blog.
First things first, Iggy. I prefer to measure my productivity by word count. Some writers write for X number of minutes or X amount of pages. Every writer is different and it depends on what works for each author. I recommend trying different methods and figuring out what works for you.
Since I like to measure the number of words, it doesn't matter what font I use and I can gauge my level of productivity if I use TNR 12, Arial 12, or Courier 12 (blech! I HATE COURIER!).
For example: A randomly chosen page from Gnome is 393 words TNR 12. Changing it to Arial takes the same section of words and puts three lines on the next page, while Courier 12 takes the same amount of words over 1 1/2 pages. It all depends on if the font is non-proportional or not, in which that W doesn't take as much space as I. Most editors just want a font that's readable. Do not use cursive or Comic Sans.
In general, if I write 400-600 words ( 1-2 pages) in 20 minutes, then I'm writing at a very good clip and I can finish 3000 words in about 3 hours (I take 10 minute breaks in-between my writing sprints). Of course, if I hit a plot point or motivation issue, I might spend days trying to figure out my next move. This last week is a perfect example of this problem. I have my plot answer, but I have to figure out how to manipulate the characters into not revealing too much too soon.
I know the final answer to the problem but I can't let the reader in on it quite yet.
Your next question has to do with the targeted word count for a particular novel and if that number is determined in advance. The answer is SORT OF.
Most of the fiction genres have an accepted word count range. And yes, I know there are books published that are outside the particular norm established by the publisher. In the current publishing model for paperbacks (with the event of e-readers and the ease of e-publishing without the risk, the model is evolving), a publisher has to plunk down money upfront to cover the cost of production (cover, editors, paper, print, etc.) without the guarantee of profit. Books can also be returned for a FULL REFUND by bookstores, which is the monies taken out of the author's royalties prior to the author getting any money from royalties, which is where the term 'advance against returns' comes from. Many publishing houses have been known to hold onto this money for years.
But I digress. In general, this is the accepted word counts for fiction genres. And don't take these numbers as an end all be all thing. Even agents and editors (from reading various blogs) differ on what is acceptable, though I wouldn't recommend trying to sell a 100K MG novel right off the bat.
Magazines are out of realm of knowledge, but I'd stick pretty close to their required guidelines.
Picture books: 100-500 words. Can go up to 1000 words, but it's rare.
Children's books (easy readers, beginning chapter books): 500-3000 words
Middle grade (young 7-10): 10,000-20,000 words
Middle grade (older): 30,000-50,000 words GNOME is 43 K, FAERIE (1st draft, unedited) 49 K
Tween and Young Adult: 40,000-60,000 words (Yes, I KNOW Harry Potter's are longer, BUT not the first three books in the series)
Novellas: 25,000-40,000
Romance:
series (Harlequins on and off the shelves in one month) 55,000-65,000 words, depending on the line.
single title: 70,000-100,000 words
Science Fiction/Fantasy can be longer 90-100 K, 120 K has been known to happen
Mystery: 60-85K
By studying the titles and the publishers guidelines, a writer can figure out how many words he needs to write a well-rounded three act story.
Outline or no outline? Again, writers differ, depending on what works for them. After a writer gets published, they will be bought 'on spec', which means you have to write a synopsis (the story in a nutshell) plus three chapters. I've heard numerous authors say that after the book is bought, it doesn't write anything like the synopsis. I don't outline. I don't WANT to know what happens in the story, it takes the joy out of it. BUT I do have a vague logline (one sentence that encompasses the entire story), a few plot points and that's it. I start writing and let the characters take me on the journey. Sometimes it's easy (TROLL) and other times hard (EVERY OTHER STORY THAT I'VE WRITTEN!).
If you over-shoot or under-shoot the word count, don't worry about it. It's a rare thing when the first draft is ready to send out the door. With your edits you can cut scenes that don't move the story forward, or add detail, information, etc to pad a weak word count.
I hope that answers most of your questions for now.
And thank you for asking . . . as I'm always open to blog topics.
Write on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)