GONE GIRL-Summer Hit or Miss

Unless you've had your head buried in the sand for the past few months, you heard all the hype about GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn.  GONE GIRL currently occupies the third spot on the New York Times Best Seller List and has been mentioned in just about every hot summer read suggestions I've seen this season.  I ended up buying it because the line to borrow it from the local public library was too long and I had to see what all the fuss was about. 

I decided to review it in a post instead of putting it on my Note Worthy Book page.  Now, don't get me wrong, it's not that this is not a good read because it is.  It is just not one of my personal favorites.

I have never read any of Gillian Flynn's other works which have also met wide acclaim, so I didn't know what to expect when I picked it up.  Ms. Flynn is without a doubt an incredibly talented author.  Her writing is smart, creative, and unique.  The premise behind this plot is well-crafted and brilliantly executed.

If you love a dark, suspenseful thriller with a dash of psychopath thrown in, this one is for you.  Nick and Amy are truly two characters you will not soon forget which was part of the problem for me.  Both of them are so unlikeable as human beings there just wasn't anyone to root for here.  Maybe it's just me, but I like to have a least one protagonist you want to see come out on top.  Here, I was hoping there was a way for both of them to get their due.

Even so, I still enjoyed it and was reluctant to put it down until I finished it.  Don't wait for someone to make GONE GIRL into a movie.  The book is always better anyway!

The Joy of Sex

After reading my first two novels, my mother said to me, "I liked them, but you need some sex in there.  Sex sells."  After the initial do I really want to have to this conversation with my mother reaction wore off, I had to admit, she had a point.  Who doesn't enjoy good sex?  Whether it's in a movie, television show, or book, those are the scenes which garner the most attention and conversation.

Take the hot-selling FIFTY SHADES OF GREY trilogy, for example.  The series is a tremendous best-seller in thirty-seven countries, but I have yet to encounter a reader who can tell me the author or the plot for that matter.  I usually do not get past the, "On my god, the sex!"  Probably not what E.L. James had in mind when she wrote them, but then her name is on the checks and readers only need to know the title to buy the book.

When I started penning the sequel to SECRETS, LIES, AND TRASH, I tried to keep my mom's suggestion in mind having my married detective character embroiled in a tawdry affair with a sexy coroner.  However, I soon found this was easier said than done.  Painting a romantic scene and dialogue was simple enough, but when loins started exploding my keys stopped typing.

This genre is definitely out of my comfort zone.  My mysteries fall into the cozy category.  Even though the stories generally revolve around a murder, I tend to back off of the gore and violence.  Everyone needs a little romance in their life and I enjoy mixing it into my story lines. 

However, I now know my limitations.  When the clothes start hitting the floor, it's best to tease and leave the rest to the reader's imagination and the romance writers of the world.

The Joys of a Good Book

Recently, I made the decision to make MURDEROUS DESCENT available on Nook and Kindle.  I think the technology is great especially for people who travel a great deal by airplane or even commute daily on the train or bus.  I'm sure it is a real space saver as well as convenient.  E-books are quite popular and if it gets people to turn off the television and read more, all the better.

However, I must say that I do not own one and probably never will.  There is just something about having the book in your hand.  It's one of those simple pleasures in life like sipping a lemonade on the front porch.  When I curl up with a great read, I like being able to turn the actual page and not scroll down.  Holding a Nook or a Kindle in your hand, really doesn't invoke the same emotion. As a child one of my favorite activities was to take a walk to the library and load up my bag with books for the week.  For me, buying a new one is like purchasing a new pair of shoes.  It's an adrenaline rush.  I suppose that is the writer in me.  Writers love to read.

Ironically, two of my children received Nooks as presents.  They love them though I don't love how long they need to charge.  When I reminded them that they were for more than just playing Angry Birds, the six year old made a telling observation.  He said books were for reading and Nooks were for playing.  There was a remark I couldn't argue with.

Should I Or Shouldn't I?

One of my favorite scenes from the movie, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, is a recurring one where Billy Crystal's character keeps flipping to the last page of a book to read the ending first.  His rational, which his counterpart Meg Ryan thinks is completely insane, is that at least he will know how it ended in case he dies before finishing it.

When a writer sets out to create a piece of fiction, mystery or otherwise, the plot usually proceeds in one of two ways.  The first is perhaps the easiest.  You have your outline in place and you know exactly how the story is going to begin, climax, and ultimately end.  The other can be challenging, invigorating, and incredibly frustrating all at the same time.  That is the scenario where you have an idea which takes on a life of its own, sometimes even surprising the author with the conclusion.

In writing mysteries, the author needs to carefully weave clues into the progression on the plot which will gradually lead the protagonist as well as the reader to the eventual solution of the puzzle.  The trick is not to make the pieces too obvious or too obtuse.  I hate it when the villain turns out to be a minor player who didn't really have a substantial part.  It is equally as annoying when you are able to discern the identity of the killer within the first few chapters due to a predictable story line.

Recently, I purchased GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn.  It was listed on every suggested summer reading list I've seen this season as well as a mainstay on the New York Times Bestseller List.  After hearing a disc jockey rave about it on the radio, I decided to take the plunge.

I don't know if it is just me, but I think writers read books a bit differently than the average person.  Right off the bat, I liked the lay out of the book.  It's a first person narrative that alternates between the two major characters, one via diary entries.  I love reading and writing in first person.  It is as though the character is talking in your ear. 

While I was reading a minor plot point caught my attention and made me stop, glancing at the end of the book.  It is a long one, four hundred and nineteen pages.  Pausing, I thought about it.  Should I or shouldn't I?  It's not like I think I am going to meet an untimely demise before finishing it.  I just want to know if I'm right.

 

Turn It Off

This really should be the mantra for the twenty-first century!  It doesn't matter if it is an IPad, IPhone, cell phone, computer or video game.  People spend entirely too much time involved in electronic pursuits. 

Now, here comes the irony.  I am a writer and I use my computer to create my manuscripts as well as submit them to publishers.  Modern technology via this blog, Twitter, Facebook, and other facets of the Internet enable me to reach an audience that I might not be able to do otherwise.  Saying that I understand its purpose is an understatement.  The simple fact is that I am only just grasping the potential.

However, as with anything in life, somethings need to be done in moderation.  Technology is amazing and awesome.  It is easy to see how people can get carried away.  If I'm not careful, my already limited work time can be quickly eaten away by surfing the net.  Therefore, I set limits.  I give myself about ten minutes to play and then get to work.

Studies have repeatedly shown that excessive amounts of electronic stimulation is not a good thing, especially in children.  It can even become addictive.  Limiting time would seem to be the worthwhile solution.  Prepare yourself for the whining and complaining and set the clock.  It will be beneficial to you and them in the long run.

Meals really should be a cell phone free zone.  There isn't anything more annoying than having a conversation interrupted by your companion or child texting and or chatting with someone else.  Unless it is an emergency, it probably can wait until the meal is over. 

Bedrooms should also be void of technology or at the very least turned off an hour before you plan on going to sleep.  This is especially true if you have issues with insomnia.  One of the first things a doctor will tell you is to pull the plug to help let your brain wind down and let's face it, do you really want your significant other paying attention to you or the IPad?

Technology is a wonderful thing and it certainly has its place.  For a writer, it is a lifeline.  The key is to remember to take a breather and step outside once in a while and when you do remember to keep the cell phone in your pocket!  You just might discover someone or something new for your next story.

The Write Stuff

Before I made the decision to start submitting my mystery SECRETS, LIES, AND TRASH to publishers, I did some more revisions.  Taking a lesson from past mistakes, I sent it to one publisher and recently submitted it to Red Queen Press as well.  They publish e-books.  Their response time was listed at four weeks.  They responded in two.

Another rejection, though I must say that I do appreciate the promptness of their reply.  The editor read my sample chapters and synopsis and decided it wasn't for them.  Okay, I can live with that.  Publishers reject manuscripts for a wide variety of reasons.  The trouble is, the writer is rarely privy to what that reason was.  In all the rejections that I have received over the years, only one gave a reason and that reason led me to take a novel writing class which in turn helped me to tighten up my writing. 

Now, I understand that it is virtually impossible for editors to respond in detail to the large number of submissions they receive.  However, it would be nice because with rejection comes doubt.  In order for a manuscript to grab an editor's attention, it needs an intriguing plot with an auspicious beginning and memorable characters.  The writing should also be good, especially the mechanics.  For the most part, all writers write with these points in mind.

When you are finally ready to submit a piece of you work, you have labored over it for months or sometimes years.  It literally is a piece of you.  You believe in it and its ability to find an audience.  Rejection is and always will be a part of this business.  However, when you get one, that seed of doubt always resurfaces and begs the question-does my manuscript have the write stuff?

Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite

Why is it that whenever you are packing for a trip or planning one, the newspaper or television is doing a story on bedbugs?  Just the sight or mere mention of them can make you want to abandon your plans for a staycation.  At least you know that your home doesn't have the pests hiding somewhere.  Well, don't.  Travel is the perfect way to refresh, rejuvenate, and find inspiration for your writing.

A few practical, common sense suggestions can help make your stay at a hotel or vacation rental more pleasant.  First off, before booking, do your research.  A little surfing on the net will let you know whether a hotel has had any complaints regarding bedbugs and if worse comes to worse, ask.  If there is a long pause on the other end, you have your answer.

Upon arriving, check the pad and mattress for the tell tale blood spots.  If you see those, you can request another room, though I would probably leave despite the objections of my other half.  Another point to remember is to keep all suitcases and bags off of the floor and way from walls.  Also, avoid unpacking your clothes into the drawers.  Keep them in your bags and keep the bags closed until you need something.  Store dirty items in plastic bags you can seal.  Those huge Ziploc bags are great!

Finally, when you arrive home wash everything regardless of whether it was worn or not and this includes your children's plush toys.  The heat of the dryer kills most things.  If you stayed at a rental where you needed to bring your own towels and linens, make sure you wash and dry those as well.  Don't forget to vacuum out those suitcases and bags before bringing them in the house.  This is definitely the worst part of returning home, but it's a step that could possible save you some major pain later on.

Bed Bath and Beyond makes a bedbug spray and they recommend spraying it around the bed as well as the dressers and closets.  It is non-toxic since it is made from all natural materials.  Don't know if it works, but it smells nice and offers some piece of mind.

Don't let anxiety or fear keep you from enjoying all the wonderful sites the world has to offer.  I know I won't.  My spray is already packed.

So You Call Yourself A Writer

At what point do you begin identifying yourself to others as a writer?  Is it when you have something published?  Is it when someone else reads your work or when you begin making money from your writing?

I recently read an online article on becoming an author and one of the tips was to describe yourself as a writer.  It was one that I knew that I should take to heart, but would find difficult.  Perhaps it is growing up in a capitalist environment, but even though I have had a few things published, I still have trouble identifying myself as a writer.  Probably because my last check from PublishAmerica was for $1.50, not exactly commercial success.

When I decided a couple of months ago to work on my writing full-time, I got a piece of advice from an area sports writer whose blog I enjoyed reading.  It was simple, start small.  His first assignment was not covering the local NHL team.  It was high school sports.  You work hard and slowly make your way up the ladder, the same as in any other profession.  It was advice that I took to heart.

Recently, my husband purchased a laptop for me.  When I balked at the price tag, he remarked that it was my profession and I needed a good one.  The gift will be incredibly helpful to me and I love it, but I found the comment to be much more meaningful since it helped me come to the realization I've been ducking.  I am a writer.

RSVP

When you send your children off whether it is to summer camp, college, or elsewhere, you expect to get some sort of an update from time to time.  Well, it is the same with your manuscript.  Any writer will agree that a manuscript is like one of your children.  You nurture it, develop it, and then you send it off into the world.  As with any child, you'd like to know how it's doing.  Is it sitting in a slush pile somewhere? Does it have any shot at all at publication?

The question which always plagues me is, how long are you supposed to wait for a reply?  Now I understand that publishers are busy and are often inundated with submissions.  However, isn't everyone entitled to a timely response? 

One of my past mistakes was to submit MURDEROUS DESCENT to several publishers.  Even though some of them specifically stated that they did not accept simultaneous submissions, I figured, what are the odds?  Well, apparently pretty good because shortly after I accepted a contract from PublishAmerica, I received an e-mail from another publisher who was interested in my book.  In retrospect, the second offer would have been the better one, but they had been sitting on my manuscript for almost a year.

When I started to resubmit my newest endeavor, I decided to choose carefully and do one at a time.  It did not take long to encounter a familar problem.  This is what I find to be the most frustrating aspect of writing.  I'm a former writing teacher and you pretty much know the difference between a paper that has potential and one that completely missed the mark right away.  Why does it take so long for a publisher to reply?  If you hate it, send it back.  If you love it, let the author know.  If there's potential, but it needs more work, say so.

Perhaps what the publishing world needs is an Emily Post refresher course.  All of your contact information is a click away.  We're not asking for the moon, just an occasional update so you know how your baby is doing. 

Do You Need an Agent?

This is a question that I have pondered over and over again for the past few years and I still do not have an answer for it.  I am sure having an agent would be a wonderful thing.  Having someone in your corner who believes in your work and is trying to help you find the right venue for it, sounds like an oasis.  Practically speaking, an agent would also be a tremendous time saver.  I probably spend just as much time on queries as I do on writing my stories.  However, finding an agent is just as time consuming as finding a publisher, if not more so and the question remains.  Do you really need one?

If you look, there are publishers that take unagented manuscripts.  Most of the large houses are only interested in agented material.  I often wonder how Mary Higgins Clark found hers when she was a struggling writer who would wake up at an ungodly hour to write before getting her children up for school.  Some writers tell you that an agent is necessary if you want your work to find commercial success.  Yet there are others who will tell you that an agent is a blood-sucking leech and going it alone is your best bet. I suppose it is like one of those research studies.  If you look, you can always find data to support your stance either way.  I may not have found commercial success, but I have had some things published and as with anything in life, you take it one step at a time.

I do not know if you need an agent, but I have come to the realization that I am probably never going to have one.   I have sent numerous queries out to literacy agencies that have gone unanswered.  Once in a while a standard rejection would arrive after an incredibly long amount of time telling me that they only take clients on referrals.  However, the last straw was when I asked another author for a referral and the response was no.

That was when I came to the realization that if I wanted to get published than I had better get to work because sink or swim, it was all on me. 

Finding An Audience

I don't know if I am exactly qualified to write on this topic since I am still looking for mine.  However, I will tell you what I have done and some of the lessons that I have learned along the way.  Even though I have had my work published, I do not feel that I have been successful.  A journalist who covers an area sports team recently gave me a simple piece of advice, start small and keep writing.

When I first began looking for a publisher, I began with a copy of THE WRITER'S MARKET.  You can find one online or in any bookstore.  THE WRITER'S MARKET contains a list of publishers for just about anything you can write.  They also include articles on writing query letters and inspirational stories from published writers.  If you want to focus your search, they sell other more targeted books as well.  For example, THE NOVEL AND SHORT STORY WRITER'S MARKET.  I have purchased both and had an easier time navigating the later, especially for short stories.

When you do find a publisher that seems like it will be a good fit, take the time to do your research.  I already made that mistake and will not repeat it.  Writers Beware is a website that lists publishers that writers have had difficulty with.  While I was sending queries out for my latest manuscript, I got a bite from a publisher who seemed interested, but wanted me to put up $7,000.  FYI, a request for money is always a huge red flag.  I did a google search of the company and found that there were several complaints filed against the editor with whom I had been e-mailing.  She was less than pleased when I declined and requested my work back.  Her comments were quite nasty, but I considered the source and moved on.

There are publishers out there who accept unagented material.  It has been my experience that trying to obtain an agent is just as daunting as trying to find a publisher.  Many will only accept referrals from clients.  While I was doing a book signing and talk at my local library with an area romance author, I asked her who her agent was, hoping to get a contact.  She responded with a name, but asked that I not use her name when spoke with them.  Fat lot of help that was.  I sent a letter and the response?  We only take clients recommended to us.

Another helpful suggestion on trying to find a publisher and an agent was to attend writing conferences.  Great idea, but not exactly practical when you have three young children.  I knew I couldn't leave my husband with the kids to travel to South Carolina for a mystery writing seminar, so I joined the local chapter of Sisters in Crime, a mystery writing organization, instead.  Problem?  The monthly meetings are on Saturdays and for those of you who have children in youth sports, especially travel teams, you know how your weekends are spent.  My husband also coaches which is tough to do with a baby in tow.  Thus far, I haven't been able to attend one meeting, but did get two short stories published from an advertisement I saw in their newsletter for crime stories set in New Jersey.

Recently, I began using a website called writethismoment.com which for a small fee($8) will help you to connect with paying opportunities for your writing.  Since signing up with them, I have been able to find some outlets for my work.  Let you know if something pans out.

The bottom line is as I tell my children, there aren't any short cuts in life and anything worth pursuing requires perseverance and hard work!

GETTING STARTED

If writing is in your blood, you already know it and the great thing about writing is, all you need is a blank piece of paper or computer screen, if you will and an idea.  It is as simple as the Nike motto, just do it.  I majored in English at Douglass College which is a campus of Rutgers University.  All of the classes in my major had a writing slant after I switched out of the journalism program.  For a while, I wanted to be a play write.  Eventually, I saw that my talent swung more in the direction of fiction.  Even while I was teaching, I was writing.  First children's books and finally mysteries.

Whether it's mysteries, romance, or horror, write your story.  As with any topic, there are books available that can assist you as well as websites.  However, first and foremost, is writing something.  You can start small with a short story or dive right in and start your novel.  The thing to remember is, that as with anything else in life, the more you write, the more proficient you will become.  

Gotham Writer's Workshop, which is based in Manhattan, offers a diverse field of online classes ranging from Novel Writing to Script Writing.  So if the idea of writing seems a bit daunting at the start, try taking a class first.  If you are enrolled in a class, you will have assignments to work on and that can be a bit more comforting than a blank page.  I took Gotham's Novel Writing One and Two and found them extremely helpful in fine tuning my voice.  They also have periodic workshops in NYC.  I would love to attend one, but the crazy schedule with the kids always gets in the way which is why the online option is awesome.  Their newsletter is a big help as well because it highlights contests and upcoming writing events.

Many adult continuing education programs offer creative writing classes or workshops as does many public libraries.  Check out what's in your area.

Once you have your story whether it's a short or something longer, comes everyone's least favorite part-revisions.  Some writers save that to the end and concentrate on the writing part, going from beginning to end.  I like to revise as I go.  Before I dive in for the day, I will reread and edit what I wrote the previous session.  When I have completely finished a piece, I will reread it and then let it sit for a day or two depending on the deadline and then revise it one more time.  If you're comfortable and have someone who is willing, have a friend read it for feedback.  A third party can be quite helpful.

For a while, a classmate from my online class was reading my stories and it was great to get an opinion from someone who doesn't know you personally.  The closer the person is to you, the harder it can be to take the criticism.  That's why my husband never reads my stuff.

Now that you have your story or your manuscript and have edited it, comes the really hard part, finding a publisher.  However, that's another post entirely!