2
Sep
Writers beware: the minute a hip, trendy word or phrase appears in a commercial for a child’s toy, it’s no longer cool to use (e.g. “That’s how we roll”). When you witness this horrifying phenomenon, immediately go through your manuscript and replace said formerly-cool word/phrase with a more recent entry to the urban lexicon. STAT.
Attempts to stay current aside, what would possess advertising execs to borrow a word or phrase from passé gangsta rap to shill kids’ toys? Sorry, to break the news to you, Major Advertising Firm Executives, but instead of thinking, “Oh, wow–I must buy this toy for my tot,” I immediately pictured a dorky, out-of-touch dude in a boardroom pretending to be cutting edge by falling back on hackneyed colloquialisms well past their expiration date.
*Sigh.*
Or maybe I was just bummed that I’m old enough to remember when some of these words and phrases really were kinda cool to say…
27
Aug
It just occurred to me that I’ve officially been blogging for one year. Wow. I can’t believe an entire year has gone by!
Looking back, I can honestly say I haven’t posted nearly as often as I had intended. But I think I’m finally starting to get the hang of things, so I hope to be more productive this year. (Disclaimer: Life has a way of changing my plans. Often. So “productive” is sort of relative…) 
To those of you faithful who check in from time to time, thanks for hanging in there with me and sending me the occasional email message (though, really, it’s okay to post comments, too! I promise!).
And to those of you just now stopping in, thanks for dropping by–I hope you’ll come back often and share my journey!
All the best,
Maura
13
Aug
Now that I’m actively shopping Red, I’ve begun developing Book 2 in the series. For me, the first step in beginning any new project is fleshing out my characters. I spend a lot of time mulling over not just each character’s personal appearance (which, honestly, could change anyway) but also his/her personality traits, quirks, nervous habits, taste in clothes and music, favorite movies, and so on–even if none of these things will even come into play in the novel.
Unfortunately, even after all the time I spend developing my characters before I start writing, I sometimes end up in the middle of the manuscript and realize I need to add more depth. In such cases, it’s nice to have a few resources on hand to help generate some ideas.
One book I’ve come across that’s been a great reference for character development is Writer’s Guide to Character Traits, by Linda N. Edelstein, PhD.
Topics covered include personality traits, psychological disorders, criminal types, career traits, and communication styles—just to name a few. Need to figure out which character traits correspond to a particular virtue? Covered in Chapter 2. Trying to determine which variety of stalker is preying on your protagonist? Chapter 5.
Bottom line–if you’re trying to come up with believable characters who pop off the page, Writer’s Guide to Character Traits could definitely give you some pointers.
Give it a try!
7
Aug
To say that the days leading up to the Midwest Writers Workshop were filled with drama would be an understatement. I ended up missing the events that first evening as a result of a family emergency. But after making sure my family was safe and sound, I was once more on the road again by Friday morning and heading to what I hoped would be a fantastic experience.
Fortunately, I was not disappointed. The workshop was wonderful! I had the chance to listen to some incredible presentations by several successful authors, including Marcus Sakey and John Gilstrap–two incredibly talented writers who were not only knowledgeable and helpful but also freaking hilarious! The session they did together had me in stitches.
In addition, several agents were there and gave attendees insight into the DO’s and DONT’s of dealing with those in their industry. Definitely a plus! Meeting a few agents in person also helped to demystify them a bit. I think we all tend to see these folks as titans who hold our entire writing future in their hands, but they’re really not as unapproachable as you might think. I certainly feel a lot more comfortable about the querying process now.
Which is a good thing because it’s time to hit the querying hard on behalf of Red. I’ve put together my list of agents I want to approach in this first round and will be sending out query letters to five or six individuals next week. I’ll keep you posted!
In the meantime, I have some very exciting new to report already! If you’ve read my previous few posts, you’ll recall that I was scheduled to make my first face-to-face pitch to an agent at the Workshop. I was nervous as hell about it, but the pitch went great! The agent loved my pitch and requested a partial of the manuscript. I sent that to her a couple of days later and was then asked to submit the full manuscript for consideration! “Elated” doesn’t even cover it.
This was my first ever request for a full, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I remember driving up to the Workshop that Friday morning, my chest aching from bronchitis, my head pounding from a sinus infection, my nerves on edge with worry for my family, and wondering if I should just pack it in and head back home. But, as the great Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” And, man, am I ever glad I took this shot.
It could be a couple of months before I hear back from the agent–hey, these things take time (and really, do you want an agent rushing through your manuscript? I certainly don’t!)–and she could still pass on it, but at least she asked to see the full in the first place. And, regardless of the outcome, my friends, that’s wicked cool.
28
Jul
I’m sick. Miserably sick.
Could the timing be any worse?
In around 24 hours I’m supposed to be picking up my registration materials at the Writers Workshop and happily beginning 2+ days of educational opportunities and networking with other writers. And sometime in the next couple of days, I’ll be making my first ever face-to-face pitch to an agent.
And I sound like I’ve been gargling broken glass and have a nose so red it would put Rudolph out of business.
But I’m not going to take this assault upon my immune system lying down! Oh, no. I’m currently pumping my system full of fluids, vitamins, and decongestants and praying I’ll make a rapid recovery by tomorrow evening. I’m even considering some of those crazy home remedies my aunts swear by — I seem to recall something about vapor rub and bacon fat… (Hey, at this point, I’d try just about anything if it would make me feel better.)
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a vat of green tea to consume…
15
Jul
Synopses are from the devil.
I don’t know of any writer who actually enjoys writing a synopsis, but it’s pretty much one of those things that must be done, regardless of how unpleasant — kind of like weeding flowerbeds in 95 degree heat, wearing pantyhose, and scrubbing toilets used by a houseful of boys, all of which rank right up there on my “Personal Hell” list.
Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why synopses are useful and necessary, so I mean no offense to agents and editors who insist upon them, but that understanding doesn’t make the process any less disagreeable.
Fortunately, there’s an entire session at the Midwest Writers Workshop devoted to how to deal with writing a synopsis, so I’m hoping I’ll feel more comfortable with the process after sitting in on the session.
If not, well, perhaps this is what’s meant by suffering for one’s art…
7
Jul
I’m currently reading Writer’s Market Guide to Getting Published, by the Editors of Writers Digest Books.
Writer’s Market Guide to Getting Published is a fabulous resource on writing query letters and synopses, working well with editors and agents, marketing and promoting your work, etc., and offers practical advice anyone can employ.
This was a particularly timely find for me as I prepare for the Midwest Writers Workshop at the end of the month. There I’ll be making my very first pitch to an agent! I’m incredibly excited and nervous as hell at the same time. Having a great resource like this one to help me prepare is keeping my anxiety to a manageable level (so far…).
15
Jun
The second pass of revisions on Red is finished! I’ll probably do one more pass after receiving the rest of the feedback from my Betas and then will start making preparations to send out the first query letters.
As exciting as it is to think Red is nearly ready to start shopping to agents, the querying phase of the process is probably my least favorite. Just the prospect of writing query letters makes my shoulders bunch with tension. And don’t even get me started on writing the dreaded synopsis!
Alas, such is the business of writing… It’ll all be worth it when I finally see my work in print. Stay tuned for additional updates!
1
Jun
Some authors listen to music while writing in order to block out ambient noise and help them focus. I listen to music to immerse myself in a particular emotional state and set the mood for whatever kind of scene I’m preparing to write. (Call it method writing, if you’d like.) As such, my listening queue is often varied and wide-ranging—sometimes drifting between such disparate artists as Disturbed and the Chieftains in the same day. However, one group that’s a constant in my writing “soundtrack” is Finnish symphonic metal band, Apocalyptica.
Their music, if you’re not familiar with them, is a fusion of classical music and heavy metal performed (for the most part) on cellos. Their stirring compositions are sweeping and romantic, and yet these guys definitely know how to rock it hard. No matter what I happen to be working on—whether it’s a dramatic love scene or a thrilling battle between the forces of good and evil—I know I can bring up Apocalyptica and be good to go. To put it another way: there are numerous performers whose music I enjoy, but there are few whose music moves me.
Recently, in a rather astonishing turn of events, I had the chance to meet my musical muses when I won tickets to a local rock festival and—joy of joys!—a meet-and-greet session with the guys from Apocalyptica.
How cool is that?!
Talk about an amazing opportunity! Not everyone can say she has met her muses in person! Even more incredible—these guys aren’t just exceptionally talented musicians, they’re also extremely nice. No self-absorbed prima donnas here, folks! Oh, and they’re also fantastic huggers. (Just saying.)
I’m looking forward to the release of Apocalyptica’s newest CD, 7th Symphony, which currently is scheduled to drop in August 2010. I guarantee I’ll be purchasing the CD even before I hear a single song as I’m certain this release will be just as moving and inspiring as the rest of their music has been and that their new compositions, like the men who perform them, won’t contain an ounce of the self-important pretention you’d expect to find in rock stars.
Two words, my friends: Wicked. Cool.
23
May
I just finished reading Dead Beat, a novel from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series, and I have to say, Butcher’s books just keep getting better and better. I didn’t think he could top Blood Rites (which had been my favorite thus far), but I dare say, he outdid himself again!
I discovered the Dresden Files books after the TV series came and went far too soon. Hoping to stop my bitching over the cancellation of the series, my HH bought the first several books for me the following year for my birthday. He then proceeded to bogart them, so I didn’t get around to reading the novels until around a year or so ago. And I was hooked.
Unfortunately, my reading time is rather limited, so it’s taking me a while to work my way through the series and catch up to the newest release, but it’s definitely time well-spent! If you’re a fan of mysteries, fantasies, paranormals and/or thrillers, you’d probably enjoy Butcher’s novels. At some point, he hits on all of these genres–sometimes all at once!
In addition to proclaiming my admiration as I reader, I also have to offer my thanks as a writer.
When I began writing Red, it was immediately clear to me that the protagonist’s story had to be in her own voice with no filtration from the narrator. This was a huge deviation from my normal writing M.O. and was both liberating and terrifying at the same time.
Fortunately, I started writing Red right around the time I started reading the Dresden Files series, which couldn’t have been more serendipitous. Butcher does such a fabulous job writing in the first-person, I think I would have been a lot more timid while writing had I not been exposed to such a fantastic example of how to carry it off. Butcher’s voice is, quite simply, fearless, and, as such, authentic–which, in turn, makes the stories much more engaging and enjoyable.
Aside from sharing the same genre(s), my manuscript has almost nothing in common with Butcher’s work, but inspiration can come from just about anywhere and in any form. And I was definitely inspired and have learned a lot about the more subtle nuances of telling a story from this point of view. I’m sure I still have a long way to go until I’ve mastered the craft, but that’s all part of the fun!
And so, as I continue to edit and refine Red in hopes of one day bringing the story to print, I offer a grateful nod to Jim Butcher for showing all us hopefuls how it’s done.
