Book Review

I just finished The Shadow of Your Smile, by Mary Higgins Clark. This author was recommended to me by my sister Quinn, and because I’m writing a mystery right now I decided to read one. This author is quite successful. My sister says her plots are always the same; the perp is in fact a sociopath…someone who can blend into to society but wait…he or she is really a killer. Quinn thinks the fun is guessing who it is.

And she was right. I began the book with a ho hum sort of feeling; it’s a traditional mystery, third person, a rather detached sort of style, lots of people introduced, big on plot less on setting and character development. No magical bits. :-)

But then I couldn’t put it down. I had to know Who Done It. Without giving it away, I guessed only half the ending. I was really trying. And Ms. Clark still fooled me.

Masterful.

I’m glad she’s written many books.

Feelin' Groovy

I’m smack dab in the middle of my new, as yet unnamed, book. Well, maybe not exactly in the middle, but pretty darn close. This one’s going fast…I love writing mysteries. It’s such fun creating a puzzle and then solving it. And although I do enjoy writing for young adults, it’s also interesting to compose a story with an adult protagonist.

Today I finished a chapter, sat back in my desk chair, and realized how happy I was. Even though I’ve got a lot going on with books and publishers and agents oh my, it’s a good busy. The writing lifestyle, while hard, is also wonderful.

Yes, there are pitfalls, yes it can be disheartening. But writing is also exhilarating. And writers are rarely bored; there are always new characters and plots popping into my head. I feel very lucky to have the time, the inspiration, and the tenacity I need to write.

I’m not much of a take a break, bask in the now, gather up roses kind of gal. But today, just for a moment, I understood how much fun I was having.

It was a great couple of minutes. :-)

Back to work.

Slow down, you move too fast
You gotta make the morning last
Just kickin' down the cobblestones
Lookin' for fun and
Feelin' groovy

Hello lampost
Whatcha knowin'?
I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain'tcha got no rhymes for me?
Doo Bee Doo Doo,
Feelin' groovy

Got no deeds to do
No promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morningtime drop all its petals on me...
Life, I love you,
All is groovy

Paul Simon

Wild and Wooly

It’s been a little crazy lately.

Right now I have a complete manuscript with an agent. She did not specifically ask for an exclusive read, but that’s pretty much understood. Another asked for the same book, but only wanted the synopsis. I sent the synopsis. However… after reading the synopsis if he wants the whole thing, I must wait until the first agent responds. (The thinking is the first agent is putting a lot of time into reading a complete manuscript while the second agent only has a page or so.)

It is perfectly acceptable to query more than one agent. If is also OK to query agents and a publisher about the same novel. If you sell it you can tell the agent hey…I sold it to a big publisher, want to represent me?

So. While the agent stuff is going on I sent that same complete novel to one publisher. Another complete novel is at a different publisher. Yet another publisher asked to see a synopsis of a different book, which means I can’t send that book anywhere else, even though they only have the synopsis. Publishers and agents have different rules.

This is all par for the course. Agents and publishers have unique wants and requirements; some want the whole thing right away, some want queries first, some ask for partials. Add to this mix...exclusive requests at different times in the process.

Yes, that’s a lot to keep track of. I have a document that I meticulously keep notes of where everything is. But I’m sure I’ve made mistakes. I don’t know specifics, I only know in the hundreds of documents I’ve sent I’m positive that I have. I try not to worry about it. Editors, agents, and publishers are, after all, human. What I hope is that if I’ve queried an agent more than once, he or she will smile and say that woman really wanted me. :-)

But since I do want to be professional, I do my best. I think all writers should. The tracking system doesn't have to be fancy; mine is a word doc with every book's comings and goings.

Remember that if you’re feeling like you are in a bit of a writer’s whirlwind that’s a good thing; you have a bunch of stories out there and a number of people who want to consider said stories. As my husband would say, chill, relax, breathe.

And keep track.

Taking It

Take it like a man. Just get over it. I was only joking. Don’t be so thin skinned. I’m just trying to help.

Heard any of those? Our society says one should be able to “take” a joke, meaning one should be able to laugh at oneself. I whole-heartedly agree with not taking yourself too seriously. Let’s face it, we all do silly things. To pretend otherwise is to deny your humanness.

I have a hard time defining the difference between a playful jab and a stinging slap. But like the famous Supreme Court judge and his definition of pornography, I know it when I see it. For me, when someone is “teasing” me about things I am insecure about that is no fun. Sometimes even if I am secure, if I hear about it over and over it becomes tiresome.

Unless it is a big deal I just ignore it. That way when something really bugs me I know people will listen and hopefully cease.

As a writer, “taking it” most often occurs when your book is being edited. An editor’s job is to find the mistakes. You WANT them to find mistakes. Another part of their role is to suggest changes and additions. Again, you want their advice. The tricky part is knowing when they have gone too far.

I’ve worked with sweet editors, ridiculing editors, picky editors, and editors who want to completely change my story. I don’t say anything to Mr. Ridicule or Ms. Picky; I ignore the bashes and follow their rules, even if I don’t agree.

A couple of times I’ve been asked to change something I felt would destroy the integrity of my story. Because I usually do anything an editor asks without question, they listen when I politely ask for a discussion.

Just like ignoring minor teasing, you must know when to pick your battles. If you argue over a word choice, for example, you may have no chips left when a truly important issue comes your way.

One last note: I thank every editor I’ve ever had, even the interpersonally challenged. Every one has worked hard, and every one has added much to my final outcome.

But I put the sweet ones in my liner notes. :-)