Showing posts with label Self Pity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Self Pity. Show all posts

Writing: Is Your Novel a Grapple?


Now, I suppose for most of you, in order to answer the question you’ll need to know what a Grapple is. I, myself, was just introduced to this fruit not long ago, and it made me think of my novel.

A Grapple looks like an apple, it smells like an apple and yet, it TASTES like a GRAPE! I know, genius!

But, it can also be compared to novels. Now, bear with me for a moment while I try to explain.

Recently, I’ve been getting feedback on my novel. It’s the best feeling in the world-- to know people are reading it, and not people you personally know. Feedback, reviews and discussions are paramount. But, what if someone picks up your novel, they look at the cover, they read the blurb and then, after having closed your book, realize it’s nothing like they had envisioned.

It happens all the time. Publishers make covers that will catch the attention of the reader. Sometimes based on cover alone, you have no idea what the book is about, that’s where the blurb comes in. Blurbs are designed to further grab the attention of the reader, they are supposed to hook, entice and ultimately give the reader just enough to show them that they NEED to read the book.

These are gimmicks. I know, that’s not a nice word, but that’s what they are. The cover and blurb are only a small snippet about what the novel is actually about. The best 250 words that sum up the entire novel but only giving you the basis. The cover is an attractive picture that may or may not have anything to do with the novel.

And, when this is the case, the novel blurb and cover suggest one thing, and yet your book is that, but also something different, you have a Grapple on your hands.

A Stiff Kiss is a Grapple. The cover and blurb are very much pointing you in the direction of a dark, perhaps even, action filled Paranormal Romance. Remember, each person will form their own opinions based on these two items. They will expect what catches them the most but that doesn’t mean that’s the only thing the novel is centered around.

My novel, ultimately, is a love story, even more so than the cover and blurb let’s on. There are also other plot messages that are twined into the story; forgiveness and understanding, are just two. When it comes to writing novels, several things come in to play, many plot points, characters, settings and so forth.

Having a Grapple is just simply someone thought since it looked like and apple, smelled like an apple, that must mean, without a doubt, it should taste like an apple.

There is nothing wrong with that, it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. What it means is, or rather further proves, that reading is subjective. I’m sure you’ve been told this over and over, but, it’s true. And, I don’t think I really understood it until I started reading reviews for A Stiff Kiss. Every person seemed to pin point different things about the book that made them either love it, or not. Or showed that based on the cover and blurb they expected one thing but got another. Some people will love that, they will take the twist your novel has and roll with it, some won’t. You really can’t please everyone. There either is not enough romance, or too much. Maybe there should be more action, adrenaline pumping scenes, when there isn’t.

But, because reading is subjective, remember writing is, too. Don’t try to conform and write what you think people will expect. Write what you love, whether it’s a Grapple, an Apple, or a Pear. Just be true to yourself as an Author and you can’t go wrong.

 

 

 

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On Writing: A taste of the Editing Process

Working through edits and comments... This can be the most daunting of tasks, whether the edits come from your beta or critique partner or your editor, they need to be taken down and eradicated fixed.
I’ve shared my work with beta’s and critique partners in the past, I’ve learned all about “Track Changes” and “Comment Bubbles” but nothing quite get’s you ready for a manuscript fresh from your editor.
Recently, I got a manuscript back from my editor. It had 432 comment bubbles and over 1400 additions and deletions in it. To say it was marked up in red is an understatement, it looked like it had been swallowed whole and what resulted was something that mildly resembled my manuscript. My jaw hit the floor, tears stung my eyes, and I think I even started to hyperventilate. Even though I knew that seeing my novel in print form was what I always wanted, I suddenly was having second thoughts. Serious second thoughts. I worried that I might have made a huge mistake, that my editor and my publisher had made a huge mistake and that I was having a terrible dream because I couldn’t even begin to fathom how to wade through all the comments and fix the problems pointed out.
I scoffed at myself for ever thinking my manuscript was polished. But don’t get me wrong, it was polished, to the best of my abilities, with the help of beta’s and critique partners. So after taking a step back, deep breathes and calming music (and one frantic phone call to Mr. Olive where I had him reassure me that I wasn’t a hack and that I really could write, and work through edits) I dove in.
Having gone through—what I know call as mild—edits before I knew where to start, and the friendly e-mail from my editor confirmed my initial thoughts. Start from the beginning, read all the comments—all 432 of them—and let what they say stew for a day or two. This is how I always start, whether it was the measly 100 comments (or less) I’ve gotten from others, or the tidal wave of hundreds from my editor. Read through them, let them sit and then figure out where to begin.
In my experience, and because I like to take the slightly easier path, I always work through the comments and changes that I have no problems with. The easy ones. The simple ones like, “add in a line here about emotions, or “trim this line down because it’s too wordy.”
I make notes, skip over the tough one or the ones that I’m not sure quite how to work into the manuscript, and focus on one simple task. I take frequent breaks, when my mind begins to grow fuzzy, my vision starts to go cross-eyed, or when that overwhelming feeling tugs at my stomach I save the file, and take a step back.
When I’ve worked through the easy ones, I focus on the harder ones, the “this scene isn’t working, cut and add in a new one...” or something to that effect.
But you’ll always come to a few suggested revisions that just don’t sit well in your stomach. You read the comment over and over, note the suggested change that’s been inserted to give you an idea how it should look, but still, it’s just not working for you. You might feel like it takes away from your characters voice, the one you’ve spent months and months honing, it might change the dynamic of your characters current situation, whatever the case, this is when you need to speak up.
When I read over the comments first off, I had a few concerns I caught right away and I did the only thing you can do in this situation. Talk to your editor or go with your gut, if you’re working just with beta’s and critique partners. I promptly made a list of my concerns, and wrote out reasons for my concerns. This is important, just as your editor does for you, you need to give reasons why something isn’t working. When I felt confident with my drafted letter I took a deep breath and sent it out.
When people take the time to read your work, edit it and give their opinions, they (should) have your best interests in mind, but remember they don’t know you, or your novel like you do. So chances are, when you talk it through, you’ll reach a common ground as I did with my editor about a few things that worried me.
With those out of the way, I kept on sifting through the comments, making changes and finally after two weeks I was done. But not entirely.
Sure I’d worked through the manuscript, did everything I was supposed to, but in no way am I ready to send it off. I let the manuscript sit for another day or two and focused on something else entirely before going back in.
Now, what you need to do is read through the entire manuscript, start to finish and make sure you didn’t miss anything. With that many comments, a manuscript now marked in red (and blue because of track changes) you are bound to miss something.
This is what I’m doing now, making sure I’m not missing anything, making sure I’ve done the best of my ability, and that I’m happy with the way things turned out.
They say that writing a novel is the easy part, I agree, it’s the editing and revising that really sets people apart. If you can’t focus on making your novel better, accepting criticism and the help of others, your novel will never shine (at least that my opinion)
So, remember comments and changes aren’t there to hurt your feelings or make you think you are a crappy writer, they are there to prove to you that someone else is willing to take the time to help you, and wants you to succeed just as much as you do, they want to make your novel better!
It took me a day or two to figure that out, at first I thought my editor was nuts, but now that I’ve worked through the manuscript, accepted her help I can really see how much my writing skills have already improved. This is something that is priceless, every novel I write in the future will be that much better because I’ve learned so much.
Take it slow, take a breath and work your way through! Happy Editing!

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I Don't Need a Maid, But Want One...

Hello Everyone!
You’ll be happy to know that I did, sort of, clean out my office this weekend. Below you will see the before and after—sorry for the glare in the after picture. It’s not perfect, this is what we liked to call organize chaos. But I can see my floor, make it from the door to my desk without playing a dangerous game of should I step on something, how bad will it hurt? Also, I can actually use my desk. In fact, I’m using it this moment. It’s cleared off, organized and available. So, huge pat on the back for me, and warm fuzzies.
This weekend was also, for us Canadians, Thanksgiving. So I was busy indulging in turkey, pumpkin pie and reminiscing about what I’m thankful for—which is about a million things.
With that said, I’d like to point out that I am in full on editing mode for Stiff Kiss. I’ve got lots to get done in a relatively short amount of time. I’m going to do my best to stay focused, stay positive and make it through in one piece—and the manuscript a million times better and more polished.
So, I’m not going to lie, blog post will be at a minimum. I’m going to post as often as I can, but I promise, November is going to be full of awesome-sauce, so hang in there and don’t go disappearing on me.

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In Which I Dwell on the Fact that I Don't Have a 2am Phone Call Buddy.

A book I read a few weeks back hasn’t left my mind. Okay, let’s be clear, the book itself has, but a concept brought up in the book hasn’t.
In it, there is mention of a person having a 2am phone call. And no, I’m not talking about just calling someone up for a chit-chat at 2am. It’s a little more complex than that. It’s the who would you call at 2am that would, without a doubt and without much explanation come to your aid no matter the circumstance. Think of it as your I’m in jail and I get one phone call, who would it be. Who would you call to get you out of jail, pick you up from a date gone wrong, drive you to the hospital because you decided to remodel your house and cut your arm open, or that would lend you a shoulder to cry on no matter what.
I’m sure some of you can think, of at least one person, right? I mean you close your eyes and bam that person appears in your mind.
Well, sadly I’ve racked my brain for weeks and sadly, I can’t come up with anyone. I have no 2am phone call friend.
Sure, I could call my mother, I mean let’s be honest, she would of course come to my aid. She’d have to drive a few hours but still. She’s there. And well, I do have my mother-in-law. She’s closer, she’d come too.  And let’s be serious, Mr. Olive would come to my aid as well, if I could get a hold of him, and well, depending on the circumstance. Mr. Olive isn’t even the first person on my emergency contact list. His job takes him far from home, many, many days of the month and well, so he’s not really reliable.
But family doesn’t really count, because, they have to be there for you, no matter the circumstance. But a friend doesn’t, they can choose, when or if they want to help you. It’s the 2am friend that makes all the difference. The one that stands above all others and I just don’t have that person.
For some reason, it’s bothered me more than I should let it. But with a few recent events in my life, personal and medical, it’s given me more time to think, and dwell on it.
I have friends, I do, just not that kind. They each have different, yet important things going for them, what makes them my friend, but not quite the traits of that 2am person. I wish they were. I do.
So a goal of mine for the near future is to figure out who my 2am person should be, and make that happen. Maybe I need to be more available, see them more, connect, and well, tell them straight out that I need them, in case I find myself in jail and need someone to post my bail.
I curious, who is your 2am phone call person? Or do you too find that you don’t have one like me?
Also, if you can guess what book I’m talking about, the one that insists on everyone having a 2am phone call friend, feel free to shoot out the answer! And I’ll even give you a hint! It’s a book that I reviewed recently J
And just a friendly reminder, Lynn Rush, author of Wasteland will be on my blog September 29th doing an interview and giving away a free E-Copy of Wasteland to one lucky commenter!

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