A Side Note

Today, working on my mss is the furthest thing from my mind. My mom is going in for a pacemaker insertion early in the morning. We had a scare the week before Thanksgiving when my dad called to say she was being admitted to the hospital. This was not the phone call we'd been expecting.

You see, my mom has always been the strong one, the one who held the family together. On the other hand, my dad has been steadily become more frail. He's unstable on his feet and smokes like a fiend. A life of bad habits has made him the most likely one to have health problems.

The doctors were going to insert the pacemaker a week ago Friday, but decided to send her home with a monitor for 24 hrs. They said the new medicine seemed to be doing its job. However, after I returned the monitor that Monday morning, they promptly called her within a few hours and asked her to come in the next morning. I went with her, per doctor's orders, and found out that even though the medicine was working, it couldn't do the job needed. So, a pacemaker was definitely in order.

Thank God, we managed to get through the holiday with no mishaps or emergencies. Now, I'm camped at my folks house getting ready to turn in for the night. Four a.m. comes mighty fast. Luckily, my kids are in their late teens and early twenties and can fend for themselves, with a little help from dad

I'd like to think some day when all the tension goes away and life gets back to normal, I'll be able to make a great story from this. I'm certainly taking notes on what goes on around me.

With luck, I'll be able to get some hours in on my mss later tomorrow. Kept my laptop at the folks overnight. I'll keep you posted on how things go.

The Allure of Vampires...

What is the allure of vampires? Since I was a child and I’m sure long before that, the world’s been intrigued, horrified, fascinated, and compelled by the idea of vampires.

What does that bite feel like?

Are vampires wholly evil, only out to kill in the worst imaginable ways? Are they seductive creatures of the night, looking for the one woman (or man) to complete them? To spend the rest of their eternity with?

In the movies we see both. Some portray them as scourges of mankind. Others, the vulnerable hero-monster, wanting to love but so afraid of the monster within. Afraid of turning their beloved, or hurting them with their supernatural strength.

My sister and I both went through periods of time where we feared vampires. She often slept with her neck surrounded with stuffed animals. (Stuffed animals apparently work like garlic and/or holy water – no vampire can get past those sacred teddies!)

Tonight, when you’re lying in bed, close your eyes, expose your neck, and hope for the best (whichever best is the best for you…)

Response to Whine Country

A few days ago Lisa asked group members if we would continue writing even though we would never be published AND at what point would we hang up our pen and paper.

February something, 1983. I received a How The Hell Are You? card from a friend from my Operating Room days. I sat down to tell her what was going on in my life and . . . 27 pages later [I had to filch loose leaf notebook paper from the kids to keep it going], I began to think maybe I had something going with this.

That response turned into a story which went untitled for about 20 years, plus it was the best thing I've ever written. It was finally published in 2007. It only took me 24 years to see it in print. I didn't have an easy time finding a publisher. And every contest or pitch session garnered mixed responses. "No one wants a story with a 47 year old heroine." "Forget the old lady, give me a story about her kids; make her a secondary character." "The external conflict is difficult to read about. Your characters are harsh and unlikeable; good nurses don't talk like that." "Great story; super dialogue, fabulous characterization. Good luck finding a publisher. They aren't going for old lady heroines these days."

The story went on to win the Golden Wings Award from Wings e-Press, later it won the Barclay Brooch.
Would I give up writing even though I knew I'd never be published? No.
When will I hang it up? When they close the lid on my casket.
Kat

A Writing Exercise for your WIP (part 1)

If you're like me, you like playing around with your story, revising until your fingertips are calloused from typing. So I am proposing exercises to (hopefully) strengthen your manuscript. You may already use these methods, but if not, maybe it will give you something to work with.

First of all, I suggest starting with a chapter in the middle of your story or novel. The middle seems to be where most of my creative writing students falter the most. Sometimes it needs a "pick-me-up." Therefore, that is why I propose beginning in the middle, so to speak.

Notice your character's reactions. Are they strong? Is there emotional conflict? Every scene should either drive the plot or add emotional impact. If your scene does not have enough oomph, take it up a notch. Again, this is only an exercise. It may not work for your particular novel, but it's fun to see where it might lead.

Here's an example:
Cinderella realizes she doesn't have a dress for the ball. Good conflict. Let's take it up a notch.

"All my clothes look like soot and ashes. I can't go. It's not fair!" She kicked the broom and it skittered into the corner. Cinderella glared at it. "It's all your fault, you pathetic thing! Wal-Mart special! If only I had the Nimbus 2000, this place would be spotless!"

The broom shook, sputtered to life. Startled, Cinderella shrieked. The broom chased her around the room, sweeping all the while, until the place was spotless.

See how I've given the old story new life? Try it with your work, see what happens. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised at what comes out. Good luck!

Do you hear the crows this morning?

Did you know crows have funerals?
There may be a reason why these loud, black birds have a place in horror and mythology.
Crows are extremely intelligent birds. Crows, Ravens and Magpies have the largest brain among other birds.
Studies have shown they can count, use other animals to do their dirty work, and yes, have funerals.
How a crow funeral works, from what I've read, is, when a dead crow is found, large groups of crows gather, cawing, sounding off, and flying around. Then suddenly a moment of silence is observed, all the crows hush, and seconds later it's over, and they fly away. A moment of respect for their fallen comrade, probably more than a lot of humans get.
If you write paranormal, or mythological fiction, the crow may be a great animal to use in your stories.

And heck, if you're ever too tired to take your dog for a walk, you may find the friendly neighborhood noisemaker eager to help. I've read where crows grabbed on to a dog's leash, a cow's leash etc. and took the animal for a walk.

Whine Country

So, if you attended this month's meeting you heard my tale of woe: contest results that weren't quite what I was looking for. (Didn't final, lots of conflicting comments for a book I thought was gooood.) Kinda knocked me on my creative butt and left me thinking, "Why do I keep doing this writing thing? It's like dating an abusive bully." I've written other books that have gotten close to being represented by an agent, but no cigar. At what point do I cry uncle and give up?

I know, I know--want some cheese with that whine, Lisa? Just about every writer has faced disappointment and rejection on the road to publication. But here's my concern--how many writers just keep on slogging down that long road without ever actually making it to publication? For every "JK Rowling was rejected by 892 publishers story" how many stories do we not hear about the writers who don't ever make it to publication?

Many writers will ask themselves this question when faced with my quandry: "Would you keep writing if you knew you wouldn't get published?" And lots of writers will say, yes, of course I would.

Well, guess what? I wouldn't. I write with the hope that someday, my book will delight someone. I want to write a book that someone closes with a sigh and thinks about for the rest of the week. A book that makes them think and feel. A book they tell a friend "they have to read!" So, if I knew my book was never going to be published for others to read, no I wouldn't write it. I'd channel my creative energy elsewhere.

(It's like the time I collected giant clamshells in Cape Cod, took them home, handpainted them, placed them on handcrafted easels, carted them to a craft show and sold not one. Not one!!!! "Crafts gone bad" we now jokingly call it 20 years later. However, after that experience, I decided painting seascapes on shells was a creative endeavour I no longer wanted to pursue, and I'm fine with that.)

Now, I'm not at that point yet with writing, but it certainly is easy for my enthusiasm to be derailed while traveling down the publication road. Luckily, I belong to a great writer's group ready to prop up a sagging spirit. (Thanks guys. Just one of the reasons writers need to be part of a supportive community like LCRW.)

What about you? Would you keep writing if you knew you'd never be published? At what point would you decide to call it quits?

Old Friends

As I try to finish my mss, I had the niggling sense that I was missing something. One day it finally came to me. A book I had started (in between the two mss' I'm writing now)was no where to be found. It wasn't on my computer or the flash drive I keep my mss' on. Where was it?

This new 12-step program I'm on says you should pray about anything in your life, big or small. Well, this is a pretty small matter, but what the heck. I'll give it a shot.

After three days of praying for help in finding this story, I find it! Luckily it had been printed out and was saved in a nice, zip-up binder. Now, everything is on hold with all my work until I get the danged thing transcribed onto the flash drive.

I'm so caught up with it, the pages are flying as fast as my fingers can work. My husband is disgusted with me because it's the first time I've really been focused on getting my writing done. Of course, it didn't help that he was trying to nap in the same room I was typing in.

So the moral of this story is to always know where your friends are.

Strange things are happening

As Jennie posted Harlequin is going digital and into the vanity press. Remember when I said, digital is the coming thing? You may not remember cause you might not have known me back then in 1998, but it was the reason I chose to be published with a POD publisher. But the fee Harlequin is charging is outrageous. If you choose to self publish please talk to me before you spend money foolishly. Self publishing can be profitable but not if you pay up front.
I invested in a Kindle this past week and note I said invested, this is the next thing on the horizon. It may not happen in my lifetime as I am an old lady, but there will come the day when kids will have their homework on a Kindle or similar device. To be able to buy a book in 60 seconds is nothing short of amazing, and the cost is far less than a actual paperback.
Other than my new toy and the fact that my dog is finally potty trained my life is pretty much a daily thing. Note to those who have trouble training a dog. I tried everything trainers, vets and friends with dogs but what finally worked was a video. I was watching it and the dog sat beside me, when it finished Widget walked to the door and scratched to be let out. Job done.
I am sorry for the late posting but had a full day that I was not planning on. I look forward to seeing you all on Sat.
Good Night

Show me the...

...query letter.

Okay, so you don't want to share your WIP. How about your query letters?
Do you have one you're particularly proud of, or a letter Agents read and then actually asked for more?

I'm still struggling. I've got about ten different versions and NONE of them work. I need the hook, but the hook is based on some back story. I just don't know how to start it.

Are you guys sick of me whining about this yet?

I am.

So...may I ask for one piece of advice from each of you, that led you to query letter success?
Please?

Thanks!