Color me pitiful. Just when I thought I was on track with my synopsis and first 5 for the Midwest Writers Workshop (not to mention the 10 pages for the manuscript session), I got the gift of a cold...complete with watery eyes, runny nose, stuffed up sinues, cough...the complete package. Eat, sleep, work, sleep, take meds. Not writing, or at least nothing I'm pleased with. I think my brain is clogged. Still, I do need the rest, and I still have time before the deadline. And I'm trying to get a short story done for a contest...so far, the plot is only partly thickened.
Anyone have a good recipe for a hot toddy? Oh...and buy stock in Unilever and Tylenol...I'm keeping them in business :o)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Ole!
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Have you ever wondered why we celebrate holidays that don't really belong to the US? Hallmark doesn't do Cinco De Mayo cards, or at least I don't think they do, schools don't close (although some school classes may talk about the importance of May 5 to the Hispanic World), banks are open, and there are no major parades. The answer might lie in the fact that Cinco de Mayo is an excuse to indulge in two of America's favorite things...tacos and margaritas. Food. Eating. An excuse to party. And perhaps the fact that part of this country once belonged to Mexico? Just a thought.
The writing and query process is coming along. Slow but steady. The five page synopsis is now one page. Tight fit, but writers who say that adjectives and qualifying phrases are overkill could be right...at least as far as the synopsis is concerned. I've researched some agents as well and note that some still prefer snail mail over e-mail for queries. This is somehow reassuring to me. With all the flash about e-readers and digital books, it is nice to know paper is still a viable way to communicate. :o) The process is longer, which can be nerve wracking, but somehow e-mail forms are more intimidating than the skill reqired to craft a good letter. Ah well, my age is showing, and I can adapt. Tomorrow is a quest for stamps and business envelopes. One more step.
Have you ever wondered why we celebrate holidays that don't really belong to the US? Hallmark doesn't do Cinco De Mayo cards, or at least I don't think they do, schools don't close (although some school classes may talk about the importance of May 5 to the Hispanic World), banks are open, and there are no major parades. The answer might lie in the fact that Cinco de Mayo is an excuse to indulge in two of America's favorite things...tacos and margaritas. Food. Eating. An excuse to party. And perhaps the fact that part of this country once belonged to Mexico? Just a thought.
The writing and query process is coming along. Slow but steady. The five page synopsis is now one page. Tight fit, but writers who say that adjectives and qualifying phrases are overkill could be right...at least as far as the synopsis is concerned. I've researched some agents as well and note that some still prefer snail mail over e-mail for queries. This is somehow reassuring to me. With all the flash about e-readers and digital books, it is nice to know paper is still a viable way to communicate. :o) The process is longer, which can be nerve wracking, but somehow e-mail forms are more intimidating than the skill reqired to craft a good letter. Ah well, my age is showing, and I can adapt. Tomorrow is a quest for stamps and business envelopes. One more step.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
One year later
Felled by some health issues, I've finally gotten back to where I was a year ago. Sending out queries...and working on book 2 of my trilogy. Still not published, nor did any of the agents who requested my words accept me as a client. One, in fact, never bothered to return an e-mail at all.
Oh well, it is what it is :o) Now, in addition to plugging away at perfecting my first book about the Carstairs, I'm writing a short story about the villain in my second book...partly to give him some backstory and partly because I think he's a hoot. My daughter gave me a one day seminar on fiction's subtleties...nothing like the Oregon coast in April to get the juices flowing. It helped that my instructor was Jessica Morrell, editor and author. That fact that she thought my writing was good did much to make me feel more confident. I learned quite a bit, got some constructive criticism from complete strangers, and am determined to continue.
That includes posting here, if only for myself...and not only about my favorite twins, Phil and Sam, but about other things I learn along the way. Stay tuned.
Oh well, it is what it is :o) Now, in addition to plugging away at perfecting my first book about the Carstairs, I'm writing a short story about the villain in my second book...partly to give him some backstory and partly because I think he's a hoot. My daughter gave me a one day seminar on fiction's subtleties...nothing like the Oregon coast in April to get the juices flowing. It helped that my instructor was Jessica Morrell, editor and author. That fact that she thought my writing was good did much to make me feel more confident. I learned quite a bit, got some constructive criticism from complete strangers, and am determined to continue.
That includes posting here, if only for myself...and not only about my favorite twins, Phil and Sam, but about other things I learn along the way. Stay tuned.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Color me lazy...and forgetful
It's April, and I'm planning a trip to New Orleans...and working full time at my part time job. I finally got all my submissions sent out to the agents who requested them and now I just wait. I'm not sure which is worse...no news or bad news. In any case, I've neglected this blog and that bothers me a bit. And, I keep misplacing my password...
Phil and Sam are already hard at work on their next adventure, having safely although not so speedily dispatched of The Cross-Dresser Killer. I'm bringing back a character from Phil's past...and there might even be a bit of romance. I'm not sure on that last angle. Still, I need someone to want to publish my first Carstairs adventure, right?
Phil and Sam are already hard at work on their next adventure, having safely although not so speedily dispatched of The Cross-Dresser Killer. I'm bringing back a character from Phil's past...and there might even be a bit of romance. I'm not sure on that last angle. Still, I need someone to want to publish my first Carstairs adventure, right?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Timelines and Plot Point and Nervous Breakdowns
The dreaded synopsis rears its ugly head...or rather five heads. I need a five page synopsis that succinctly tells my Phil and Sam story. How general is too general? How many details are too many details? The process is giving me a headache. Did a timeline, recounted plot points, now I need to combine, right? Without dialogue. In present tense. I'll tackle it tomorrow.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Sticks & Bones
I was watching BONES last night...I'm trying to catch up and got through the first three episodes of Season 3. I love forensic drama, and forensic mysteries, so the qustion arises in my mind- "Why are you writing an amateur sleuth mystery?"
The answer is "I'm not really sure." Although there is DNA and trace evidence and a scene or two in the lab, most of my action takes place outside the Justice Center in Portland. After giving it some thought, I believe the answer lies in my characters. I love the offbeat, so my characters are just that. Somehow, I don't see the Carstairs spending time debating whether the skin cells under a victim's nails are anything other than skin cells even though one of the brothers (Sam) is a detective for the PPB. Phil's interests are far different, even when he's committed to helping Sam track down a serial killer. It's their differences that drive the story I think, along with their determination to figure out just who the killer is. Forensics in detail might just get in the way, although what the M.E. finds does give them more than a clue or two. Maybe I have my answer after all.
Happy Sunday!
The answer is "I'm not really sure." Although there is DNA and trace evidence and a scene or two in the lab, most of my action takes place outside the Justice Center in Portland. After giving it some thought, I believe the answer lies in my characters. I love the offbeat, so my characters are just that. Somehow, I don't see the Carstairs spending time debating whether the skin cells under a victim's nails are anything other than skin cells even though one of the brothers (Sam) is a detective for the PPB. Phil's interests are far different, even when he's committed to helping Sam track down a serial killer. It's their differences that drive the story I think, along with their determination to figure out just who the killer is. Forensics in detail might just get in the way, although what the M.E. finds does give them more than a clue or two. Maybe I have my answer after all.
Happy Sunday!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Name's The Thing
What oh what to write for a first blog post? Right now most of my creativity is going into editing my mystery and besides, I haven't have my first cup of tea yet on this icy Saturday morning. My book is about two brothers, last name Carstairs (which explains the blog name, no?), who live in Portland Oregon and get involved in finding a murderer.
Editing the story of these two and their fictional companions is tougher than I thought. It seems I have a fondness for commas and my computer has a fondness for indenting willy-willy, which means I spend a bit of time correcting margins as well as punctuation before I even get to the story. Happily, my editor (Ramona, you are the best) has made some good suggestions and makes me realize each time I look at her notes just what more can be done with the boys.
I love Portland, which makes it easy to include my favorite places, but I have to remember that I am not writing a travelogue, but what I hope is a true mystery...you know, the kind where no one knows exactly whodunit until the final pages. That's a task in itself, since I have o throw aroun all those red herrings and false clues...yikes. However, I'm a month away from pitching my story, so I must move onward and upward, right?
Stay tuned for more on the brothers Carstairs.
Editing the story of these two and their fictional companions is tougher than I thought. It seems I have a fondness for commas and my computer has a fondness for indenting willy-willy, which means I spend a bit of time correcting margins as well as punctuation before I even get to the story. Happily, my editor (Ramona, you are the best) has made some good suggestions and makes me realize each time I look at her notes just what more can be done with the boys.
I love Portland, which makes it easy to include my favorite places, but I have to remember that I am not writing a travelogue, but what I hope is a true mystery...you know, the kind where no one knows exactly whodunit until the final pages. That's a task in itself, since I have o throw aroun all those red herrings and false clues...yikes. However, I'm a month away from pitching my story, so I must move onward and upward, right?
Stay tuned for more on the brothers Carstairs.
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