When Another Project Beckons

Have you ever been deep in a writing project when another project beckons?

This has happened to me in the past, and usually I'm able to stall the project by writing down a brief summary of the story that came to me and promising it (myself) that I'd get to it next.

Well, it's happened to me again and this time the story won't stay quietly in the background while I complete my current work(s)-in-progress. The new story idea is a sequel for my upcoming release BETRAYAL (coming November 15th). I really enjoyed writing BETRAYAL and very reluctantly said good bye to the characters on the last page of the novel. It was time to let them go, I know, but it was hard for me. I suppose it's natural after enjoying writing that book so much that I'd want to re-visit the place and the people with another story.

I have other works to complete, however, before I can get to the sequel, so the idea will need to simmer on hold for the time being. For now, I'll content myself with adding more pages to my notes on that project. By the thickness of my folder so far, I'm going to have a book made up of just notes before I ever get around to writing this story!

But that's a good problem to have.

I hope your own projects, writing or other, are going well.

Regards,
Karen
http://www.karenfenech.com/

The best intention

Last week I blogged about "reading for pleasure" and I mentioned that my "to be read" list is very long. Well, as of last night, it got a little longer, okay, the truth is, it got a lot longer.

I can't resist a bookstore. For me, a trip to the bookstore is the ultimate shopping experience. People who know me laugh about this. For some women their weakenss is shoes, for me it's books.

Last night after dinner, my husband and I took a walk to get ice cream. I know, getting ice cream sort of defeats the purpose for the walk, but that's a topic for another blog entry. Anyway, on the way to the ice cream parlor, we pass a book store. I told my husband I was just going to stop in for a quick peek at the new arrivals. I hadn't planned on browsing, because well, we were out for a walk, not a trip to the bookstore. From experience however, my husband has learned that I can never dash into a book store for a "quick peek". But he's a good guy and nodded agreeably when I told him that I would be in and out of the store in five, and then we would resume our walk. Since he's not much of a book shopper and I wasn't going to be long, I suggested that he wait outside and enjoy the evening.

I had the best intention - really - but once I was in the store, I couldn't help myself, and what started out as a quick browse became a full-fledged shopping event. As luck would have it, there was a sale on paperbacks. Buy three and get the fourth free. Now, how could I resist that? Of course, I couldn't and I didn't.

Forty-five minutes later I emerged with my purchases. My husband took a look at my two bags of books and just smiled.

Oh, well. . .

Regards,
Karen
www.karenfenech.com

The Courage to Create

In the past couple of weeks I’ve found my mind often drifting; moving… like a mental atlas of years gone by. I think with the realization of having achieved a lifelong dream, and the fact that my dream will soon be part of my physical world, it has caused a sort of self-inventory within me. The passages of time that brought me to where I am today. The many trials and tribulations and struggles I fought to overcome self-doubts and self-sabotage. The courage I mustered to keep on keeping on.

Courage is the refusal to quit. Courage is tenacity. It is TRUE belief in oneself. Any writer who lacks courage in their lives; lacks the main ingredient for success. Before you think to yourself, “What a ridiculous comment! What can take less courage than sitting in a quiet place to write?” Let me define what it really takes to be a writer.

It takes the courage to open a vein. To allow a world who could care less to have an honest and open look into your mind; your thoughts; your soul. It takes the courage to stand before firing lines of agents, editors and publishers who will take the liberties of being your judge and jury where talent or lack of it is concerned. It takes the courage to look at the overwhelming number of impersonal rejections objectively and to read and see them objectively. If they have that infamous scrawl: “Sorry, not for us” or the form salutation of: “Dear Author” it takes the courage to carry on and not crumble because your creative ego has just been crushed. It takes the courage to be alone with yourself, your thoughts, the silence for hours, weeks, months, years on end…daily.

It takes the courage to create and continue in the face of failure after failure. It takes the courage to painstakingly pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and continue after the many falls. It takes the courage of being at the bottom of Mt. Everest, knowing the climb is going to hurt like hell, but also knowing you will make it to that top. It takes the courage to go ahead and quit if you must…for today…but knowing you will be back at it tomorrow.

Chatting

I participated in an online chat last night at Romance Designs. It was such great fun!

Last night's chat was wild! If any of you reading this were there, I think you'd agree. At times I was laughing so hard, I couldn't type my responses.

Though some writers write with a partner, writing is something that is usually done alone. That's the way it is for me. So much of my time is spent in solitude. I joke with my husband that I spend my days inside my head. It's a real treat for me to go out in the world and interact with the people I write for.

If you know of an upcoming chat, let me know. I'd love to be there!

Regards,
Karen
www.karenfenech.com

The Mote In Andrea's Eye Is OUT

Just a quick note - because you can read my longer notes on the same subject below. My novel THE MOTE IN ANDREA'S EYE is out now...available at a deep discount at www.amazon.com (a little over $16) so if you are up for a cinematic plunge into the worlds of hurricanes, The Bermuda Triangle, and hurricane "hunting" - now's your chance.

DNW

PS You can read an excerpt of the novel at My Web Site

Summer Daze

The warm weather this week that came along a little early for summer reminded me that summer is near. For me, the start of summer is typically a slow time in my writing. The first warm, sunny days make me want to sit out on my deck, sipping iced tea, and reading a good book, rather than at my desk in my office, writing. I call this state of being my 'summer daze'.

Though it's not officially summer yet, so today can't really be called one of the first summer days, I'm in a summer daze today. The sun is bright and the breeze blowing across my desk is soft and warm. I know I'm not going to get any work done today.

Once the summer is underway, I don't have summer daze. Strange, I guess, that on the warmest, brightest July day, I'm content to be in my office, and writing happily. It's only the first days of the summer that affect me. Maybe it's the newness of the season that I'm aware of and attuned to?

Whatever the reason, when a day like this comes along, I've learned to go with it and enjoy the moment.

I hope you are also enjoying this lovely day from where ever you are.

Regards,
Karen
www.karenfenech.com

Pitching Agents (And Other Baseball Metaphors)

The dreaded agent pitch. Those of you who have ever attended a writers’ conference know what I’m talking about. When you have ten minutes or less to convince an agent, face-to-face, to take you on. Or at least to ask for sample chapters and a synopsis of your latest book. You have to convince someone you’ve never met that you’re a good enough writer and have an interesting enough story you deserve to be represented, published and eventually go on to fame and fortune.

I’ve had three agents in the course of my writing career. None ever sold any of my work. I have five books published. Three of them were published by major New York houses. But I’m a little like “Crash” Davis in Bull Durham. I’ve been to The Show, but got sent down to the minors. I want one more shot at the bigs. To do it, I’ll need a break-out book. I know I have one in me. Maybe the one I’m working on.

Last weekend, I attended "Murder In The Grove" in Boise. Participated on a panel, sat at an author’s table during a signing at Barnes & Noble (and watched people line up in front of Anne Perry). And pitched an agent.

I prepared ahead of time. Sent in the first 10 pages of my WIP. Worked with Mary Buckham on my pitch. First thing the big-name New York agent did was ask me if I’d attended the first panel of the day, and then made me feel like a truant school-boy when I said I’d missed it due to a previous appointment. Next thing she said, pulling out the polished, brilliant opening to my latest novel, was, “Weather report.” Seeing my confused expression, she patiently (well, patient in a New York fashion) explained that novice writers always make the mistake of describing the weather instead of telling the story. Then she proceeded to read from the first page of my book.

“It’s obvious you can write,” she said, “but what’s the story about.” I launched into my 25-word pitch. She said, “Now that’s a good story. What do you want to do with it?” I told her I wanted it to be my break-out book. “So what’s wrong with it?” she said. “What’s holding you back?” Slowly comprehending her meaning, I said tentatively, “I’m not telling the story?”

She nodded, smiled sweetly (looking as if she wanted to pat me on the head for being so smart) and then proceeded to tell me all the other reasons the book would never work as is (based on 10 pages and my 25-word pitch). Ouch!

The thing is, I know she’s right. I don’t think of myself as a novice writer after five books, but I still make novice mistakes now and then. And an outside set of eyes often can offer constructive criticism.

The brilliant opening? You can read it in my last blog or on my web site. When I fix it, I’ll post a version incorporating the agent’s suggestions and let you decide if she was right.

Mike Sherer
www.emersonwardmysteries.com

Hazards of Critiquing

As an author, I’ve grown tremendously through the honest, straight-forward feedback I’ve received from my critique partner in the past several years. She has the ability to point out the weaknesses as well as my strengths in writing and therefore I have benefited. Likewise, she has told me a number of times how I have caught the obvious or pointed out areas in which I thought she could enhance her stories. Before teaming up with my critique partner I had tried a number of groups—some which helped and others which destroyed. I was just about to give up on the idea of critiquing when Julie came into the picture. I had finally discovered, realized and witnessed through personal literary improvement the benefits of finding that perfect critique partner or group.

But (there’s always that but)…learning to depend and rely on critiquing also has its hazards. Not with the work-in-progress but with family and friends. Through the years I’ve discovered that I became more analytical with letters received or sentiments sent. I never realized it until recently when my best friend brought it up to me, “Why do you always have to analyze everything I write? It makes me cautious and leery of speaking honestly.” Now there was a critique that was a real eye opener.

The more I heard, “that’s not what I meant,” or “you misunderstood what I was trying to say,” the more I realized that constructive criticism is meant to stay within the writer’s world—between critique partners and far away from personal relationships. It’s important to critique partners to be constructive, honest, sometimes brutal in a caring sense—but those around us can and do get hurt when we allow the critiquing to flow into letters which were once written with honesty and excitement and, through our critiques or “analyzing” turned our friend into cautious individuals who end up withholding what they want to convey in fear it will be picked apart or misconstrued. Honesty is invaluable amongst friends and I hope I can succeed in letting my friends know that I am sorry for looking at their written sentiments and feelings with a critical eye rather than with an open and grateful heart. From this day forward I pledge to keep critiquing where it belongs—with MY writing—NOT the writings of my friends and family outside my writing world.