Feb 19, 2009 | Fun, General, Oddities, Writing |
Do you Google yourself? I do. I never know what I'll find. I have Google alerts, but they don't always work quite as thoroughly as a search will.
Imagine my surprise to find myself listed as a Simon and Schuster author! And I do mean ME, not the other Lynn Harrises out there. The page is cached, of course, because someone realized the mistake. But look at this link.
(My name was linked too, but that is long gone, sigh. Wish I knew what they'd attributed to me.)
Seriously, dear, dear Simon and Schuster, if you would like me to write a book or two (or three or four) for you, I'd be happy to entertain the idea! And then you could put the link back. Pretty please? 😉
If you Google yourself, what's the oddest or most surprising thing you've ever found?
Feb 12, 2009 | Writing |
Want to know what high concept is? Then read this post by agent Holly Root at Waxman Literary. I rather liked it. Now if only I could think of one.
I still haven't read Twilight (will eventually) but I started Charlaine Harris's Dead Until Dark (pub 2001) and there it was — a glowing vampire. Apparently, glowing vampires didn't start with Meyers. It takes more than a glowing vampire to make a high concept, of course, and Meyers managed it. I think, from the periphery, that Twilight is Wuthering Heights with vampires directed at teens. Will have to read to know for sure, of course.
What do you think about high concept? Does it come easy to you? Make sense? I'm still mulling it.
Feb 11, 2009 | Rants, Reading, Writing |
I don't usually talk about books much here but I just read one that irritated me so bad I had to rant about it. I thought the Big M was history. What's the Big M?
The Big Misunderstanding
Characters are kept apart by something that could be resolved with a conversation. Kept apart for a brief while over such a thing isn't unbelievable — not all of us suddenly jump up and demand to know the truth. We might labor under a delusion for a little while because we're still trying to figure it out in our heads and making sure we aren't jumping to the wrong conclusions.
But a misunderstanding that goes on for an entire book? Something that could have been solved with a conversation instead of the pages and pages of angsting over the past? I was seriously surprised at this book.
And I wonder if maybe I just didn't get it, if the fault is with me as a reader because the Big M didn't work for me or I wasn't able to see how deeply this misunderstanding would affect the characters' ability to discuss the truth. I'm just not sure.
I must say, however, that I've read other books by this author that were just fab, so I'm not put off entirely. I was just a little disappointed in this one.
I'm pretty positive I'm going to write things that don't resonate with all readers. Of course that bothers me because I am a perfectionist. Realistically, I know there will be those who dislike my work. I don't look forward to that, but I know it's going to happen.
What do you do when a book fails to meet expectations? Do you write the author off? Do you give him or her another try? What plots drive you crazy?
Feb 7, 2009 | Inspiration, Writing |
This post should be required reading for any and everyone setting out to write a novel for the first time. It WILL get better. But first, the long and winding road. Embrace it, live it, emerge a new writer.
Feb 5, 2009 | Writing |
But who knows for how long? Book 2 is sitting in my editor's inbox. So I get to breathe for a few days — until I get back the revisions. *sigh* After my last book, I'm trying to prepare myself.
So what does a neurotic writer do with herself in the days between shipping off the book and waiting to hear back? She might catch up on household tasks. Might consider going grocery shopping and adding variety to the diet — chicken, chicken, and chicken gets a little tiring night after night.
She might read. She might start working on the next book because she hopes they will want another one. She might go shoe shopping. She might watch a movie or catch up on the hours and hours of DVR programs she has.
Truthfully, I feel like someone who has been going 100 miles an hour and suddenly comes to a full stop. I still feel the motion and still feel like I need to be moving. So, who knows what I'll do? I sure don't.
Except for lucky lunch. That's a must. What do you do when you finish a project?
Feb 3, 2009 | Contests, Hunks, Writing |
You still have time to guess the desks! And no one popped up with names for an Italian hero, so I'm still thinking about that. How about some eye candy for inspiration? He could be a prince, don't you think? Works for me. DEFINITELY works for me….
Feeling inspired? Or just a bit warm? 😉
