Mar 3, 2009 | Rants, Submissions, Writing |
1. Synopsis writing. Seriously, it sucks.
2. Why? Because I don't KNOW what happens yet, darn it!
3. Wrote a synopsis for new book. Hate it. Book will not even remotely resemble synopsis. I know this from two books written for an editor now. Thankfully, she didn't freak out either time.
4. Writing a synopsis, even when I won't follow it, crushes down on my enthusiasm for the story like Dorothy's house on the wicked witch.
5. Must get over this and write story anyway.
6. Proposal nearly done, in spite of traumatic encounter with evil synopsisaurus.
Got any tricks for the synopsis? Any tricks for tricking yourself while writing it? Do you follow it once you've slaved over it? I used to try, but that only made things worse, so now I figure it's kind of like Captain Barbossa and the pirate code — guidelines to be followed when convenient or expedient. Or to be tossed aside when something better comes along. 🙂
Mar 2, 2009 | Books, Writing |
I got the news on Friday that my second book was accepted! CAVELLI'S LOST HEIR will be a Dec 09 release in the UK; US still to be determined. I'm so thrilled! The first book is the most special, of course, but to get past those sophomore fears and actually turn in something coherent and decent — and have my editor like it — is amazingly gratifying. I really thought I'd written the worst book ever when I sent that baby off. I'd been trying so hard and staring at it forever that I couldn't see the forest for the trees anymore.
(Though part of me optimistically kept insisting that it was good. And, while writing it, I DID love it. It was after, when I thought that what I saw in my head and what I got on paper were two different things that I went a little nutty.)
Writers, this is a lesson. It really is true that you are often a poor judge of your work — or a harsh judge, perhaps. We are harder on ourselves than anyone else is. We'll take praise, be happy over it, and brush it off while remembering every single word of a rejection or a contest judge's negative comments. You simply must get past those and press on if you are to get anywhere in this business. (Remind me I said this when I get my first negative review.)
Now, I'm working on a proposal for Book 3, and hoping to get that done today or tomorrow and off to my agent. CAVELLI'S LOST HEIR had a princess as a secondary character who I just fell in love with. She is the heroine in the proposal, so hopefully I'll get to tell her story. Naturally, she's getting her very own prince — and he is delicious! Prince Nico Cavelli was a bad boy — but I think my new prince is even badder. I do love a bad boy, especially when he's being reformed. 😉
Do you like bad boys? Princes? What are your favorite kind of themes or plots when reading?
PS Soon, my new website should be launching! I'm so excited about it! Keep visiting me because I'll start giving away goodies soon to celebrate. And thanks for sticking with me thus far. 🙂
Feb 27, 2009 | Revising, Writing |
1. So I finished the revisions, sent them off around 2AM, and collapsed in bed. Except sleep wouldn't come. Sometime after 4, I fell asleep.
2. Got up to have lunch with a friend (though it was really breakfast for me). Spicy beef salad, yum.
3. Came home to answer Interview questions sent by my editor for UK M&B magazine.
4. Hope I don't sound like an idiot since I'm a bit sleep deprived.
5. Uh, one of these questions is suspiciously like having to write a synopsis. I'll do it anyway.
6. Proposal needs to be finished. What is the hero's deep, driving problem? I don't know yet!
7. Lunch with writer friends is fun. Especially when we get into a discussion about the words we can use to describe certain, ahem, things.
8. I hate euphemism after a while.
9. Looking forward to the weekend. Mother cooking dinner for us. This is always nice.
10. Soon, it'll be time for yard work again. I don't look forward to that. *sigh*
11. I LOVE my job. Even if I'm sleep deprived from time to time.
What's on your mind?
Feb 25, 2009 | Video |
I'm hitting the video heavy on the blog lately since I'm finishing revisions. 🙂 No time for much else!
But I think I've mentioned that I always listen to specific music for different books. I don't necessarily pick it; it picks me. And I've discovered that the next book is an Amy Winehouse book. Don't know why, but that's the music that moves me most when I'm working on it.
I hope I can write with half as much emotion as she conveys in this version of Love is a Losing Game. What do you think? Is she talented or what? I hope she gets it together. It's a shame to see someone squander such immense gifts with self-destructive behavior.
Do you have favorite writing music? Or, if you can't write with music playing, do you have something you like to listen to before or after writing in order to get you in the right frame of mind?
Feb 23, 2009 | General, Television, Video |
It's no longer Friday, is it? Lots of busyness here, including some revisions and a new proposal.
How did you like the Oscars? Wasn't Hugh just to die for? Oh that man is gorgeous! And he can sing and dance. Gracious. I haven't watched the Oscars in years — but, well, it was Hugh. And he didn't disappoint.
Here's Hugh preparing for the big night. OMG, look at those ARMS! Big, big sigh. 🙂
