Lynn Raye Harris

Gawd, I love it when that happens! When the words just spill out and the pages are piling up and I don’t even care if it’s crap because I’ll fix that later (I hope anyway). Friday was one of those days! I wasted too much time in the morning, as usual, hitting the blogs and loops. I also had to deal with a kitten (rapidly turning into a cat) who only that morning discovered that, yes, he could reach the countertops in the kitchen. Not good for me, because now I have to get up 100 times a day with the squirt bottle ready.

But after a couple (or four) hours of other stuff, I clicked on the WIP. I read for a little bit, edited here and there, and then plunged into the scene in progress. And the words actually came out! I didn’t sit there staring, wondering what happens next. I didn’t know what happens, but the characters were of a mind to tell me. Love that. Wish it happened every day.

Just started rereading Linda Seger’s Creating Unforgettable Characters. It’s been a few years since I read it and I’m really pleased at how fresh it seems, even though the movies she talks about are pretty old now. (Jeez, I saw “Gorillas in the Mist” in the theater; “Out of Africa” too.) I like to peruse my writing books from time to time, but I don’t get hung up on them. (It’s always fun to encounter a new writer who just read Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. It’s a fabulous book, but a newbie can be a tad overzealous after reading it.)

Other books to read: JAK’s new one, of which I have a personalized copy. Yay! Allison Brennan’s book is on my pile, still reading Wuthering Heights (had to force myself to put it down), and have a JoAnn Ross book here…..if only I could figure out how to do without sleep.

Hope to see some sunshine this weekend! It’s been far too long without it. We had a few minutes today where the sun came out, and I could actually see blue sky out toward the ocean. It didn’t last, but at least it didn’t rain. I am sick of rain! Diamondhead is green instead of brown, so that’s nice. That’s about the only nice thing I can think of at the moment.

Hope you have a good, productive (or at least fun) and sunny weekend.

A writing friend (and fellow Aloha Chapter member) recently sent me an email that said, paraphrasing: I’ve been reading Miss Snark for the past hour and I’m hooked. Other than the brief visit I made to your blog recently, this is my first experience. I don’t understand why people write blogs. Why do you do it?

You know what, I don’t know precisely. I started this blog in June 2005. I forget why, I forget how I decided to do it, I forget which blogs I read before I did it. Partially, I thought of it like an online journal, just a place to type up my random thoughts (beats my handwriting any day). And, wow, other people might read my random thoughts and say things and we might have discussions! Who wouldn’t like that?

::snort::

Okay, when I got over that idea, I just sort of found a groove and started having fun. I enjoy the interaction, not just the comments on my blog, but the blog surfing I do and the discussions taking place throughout the writing/publishing blogosphere. It’s like being able to pal around with other writers, hang out with editors, ask agents questions, eavesdrop on cool conversations, etc. Oh, I admit it’s tough to think of things to talk about sometimes, but then other times I get a gift–like the conversation with my friend in Mexico. Blogging about that was good therapy because writers understand. Not to mention it’s just funny to think someone can be so obtuse about publishing.

To me, blogging is community. I enjoy being a part of it. The idea that even one person reads my post gives me a thrill.

So why do you do it? What makes you type up that post every day (or week)?

You’re 10% Irish

You’re not Irish. Not even a wee bit. Not even on St. Patrick’s Day!

Oh dear. And here I thought the Irish saved civilization…..

I was wondering what to talk about when Providence intervened in the form of a phone call from a friend (yes, he’s really a friend, and I do love him regardless of this paraphrased transcript). Friend is in Mexico, soaking up the sun while I watch the rain pour down here in Hawaii. He called me from poolside:

F: How’s your writing going?
Me: Great. One of my mss finalled in a contest, the short story collection is coming out soon, and I’ve got some ideas on the burner.

F: Are you writing about anything important?
Me: I think so, yes.

F: But how is your work any different from all the other books out there?
Me: It’s called Voice.

F: Yes, but do you have anything to say that hasn’t been said before? Is this worth doing?
Me: If you’re asking if I’m working on a literary piece that will make you mope around for a week pondering the meaning of life, no, I’m not. But yes, I think my stories and my characters have something to say, even if it is genre fiction. [said because friend is a professor and not because I think there's anything wrong with genre fiction]

F: If you’re any good, then why doesn’t anyone want to read it?
Me: [gritting teeth] It’s not as easy as shipping the mss off to New York and then raking in the bucks, dear. Sometimes it’s timing and luck. Sometimes it’s your idea or execution. The next one might be it. [didn't bother to mention I haven't actually shipped anything anywhere recently]

F: Take such-and-such. It was his 10th novel that hit big, but his previous 9 got published even if they didn’t make a splash.
Me: How do you know he doesn’t have 9 more under the bed that never saw the light of day? First novel doesn’t usually mean FIRST novel, you know.

F: Why don’t you dash off some short pieces for [insert major magazine markets here]? That’ll get your name out there and then when you send your work to NY, they’ll want to see it.
Me: Gee, why didn’t I think of that? Surely it’s infinitely easier to get, oh, say COSMO to publish an article by little ‘ol me than to get a mss request from a NY publisher!

F: Exactly. Dash off 30 or 40 of these pieces, get them published, and then submit your novel. You’re not getting any younger.
Me: I’m not even 40 yet.

F: Yeah, but time is of the essence. You’ll never make it if you don’t do it soon.
Me: [gnashing teeth, performing deep breathing exercises] Think I’ll keep doing what I’m doing for now. I have confidence in myself.

F: [I can hear the shrug over the phone] Whatever, but I still think you should get your name out there.
Me: [murder would get my name out there; too bad he's in Mexico] Well, I’ve got some things I’m doing for now that I think are good. Blogging, a website, active in my chapter–

F: But that’s not enough. You need a blitz campaign, you need to publish these short pieces, fling as much shit against the wall as possible and see what sticks. Get your name out there any way you can.
Me: [man, this murder idea is sounding GOOD] Yeah, okay. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, I see what you’re saying, mm-hmm. Oh hey, gotta run. I want to dash off a piece for the New Yorker and see if I can get it in by this afternoon.

F: (Thanks, Mauricio. Put it on my tab.) What? Oh, yeah, just got another beer. Okay, talk to you later. Let me know how the New Yorker piece works out.
Me: You’ll be the first to know.

[Head to kitchen. Dump tequila, ice, and margarita mix into blender. Crush with a vengeance. Back to computer with icy drink. Open file. Think. Stare. Give up and go to bookcase. Ah yes, A WRITER'S GUIDE TO POISONS.....]

Do your characters refuse to cooperate? Are you typing along when, wham!, someone reveals depths you didn’t know they had? Something that has the potential to change everything? I love that and I hate it. Love it because it’s cool. Hate it because it usually means I may have to rewrite a lot of stuff.

Did I mention I’m on the third rewrite of SEDUCING EVANGELINE? The first time, it wasn’t going anywhere. The second, it was going, but the wrong direction. And then I realized I’d given the hero the wrong job, the heroine not enough motivation, and the conflict not enough zing. Now I think I have it right and still I get stuck. I have a subplot involving the heroine’s relationship with her sister that is giving me fits. I don’t know why. I know why they are estranged. I know they have to work on the relationship. But I don’t know how much of that is important to the central problem of the book. And I hate the part where I have to write the scenes, knowing I may lose them in the end anyway. I don’t have a problem cutting, but I hate to do the work in the first place if I’m going to cut it. Catch-22, dammit.

(I’m reading Wuthering Heights for the first time ever. OMG. I don’t want to put it down. How did this sheltered woman write this story? It’s brutal and ugly and amazing and beautiful all at once. What talent.)

Nalini Singh is tagging people to interview their houses. Sounds like fun!

Me: Hi, house, how are you?
H: Wet. You see that rain out there?

Me: Yep, hard to believe we’re in Hawaii, huh?
H: Nah, I been here a while. It can rain for weeks.

Me: Now you tell me. The guidebook said no more than three days in a row.
H: It lied.

Me: That sucks.
H: If tourism is your biggest industry, would you tell people the truth?

Me: I like to think so.
H: Hey, it’s still Hawaii. Just because we’re wet doesn’t mean we aren’t warmer than most of the mainland U.S. right now. You’ve got the air conditioning on, don’t you?

Me: That’s because if I open the windows, the mosquitoes will come in. You know how I swell when I get stung.
H: Mosquitoes are part of the bargain. When it’s wet, they take over.

Me: I think I saw the neighbor’s car float away.
H: Mosquitoes or flash flood?

Me: Not sure. Could be both.
H: Hey, I thought this was about me.

Me: Anything you want to say?
H: Yeah, could you stop staring at your computer all day and vacuum my carpet? How about a little dusting too? Mmmmphh, mmmphhh–

Me: Thank you, that concludes our interview!

Can you imagine?

Separately, the LAT looks at the big launch of paperback editions of THE DA VINCI CODE scheduled for March 28. BN fiction buyer Sessalee Hensley says, “We held a very long meeting to decide how many of the paperbacks we would buy. And the number we decided on was staggering compared to other books. It’s the largest buy I’ve made for one book in 20 years.” The manager of a truck stop in New Jersey thinks his customers will be interested, too.

Hensley adds, “Everything contributes to the publicity. Every time there’s a squib about the book in the news, or there’s a short piece about Tom Hanks filming the movie in London, the sales immediately pick up.”

Got this from Publisher’s Lunch.

Now that’s a stupid question, right? Would a bookstore ask someone that before a signing? Might make it easier on the customers if, say, Bubba Greene’s coming to sign his cookbook about gassy food combinations and plans to demonstrate the effects of mixing pickled eggs with cabbage and Bud. “Join us on the sidewalk while Bubba educates us on lethal combinations.”

But is it okay to ask an author what color she is? Is it relevant? Millenia Black got a letter asking just that. This is shocking:

The following is an e-mail I received last week – although the store contacted me over a month ago requesting and scheduling the appearance. I’ve omitted the identifiers.

Referral: From a Friend

Subject: Your Race

Message:

Greetings, my name is [--] and I’m the director of [--], you are slated to do a book signing with us on the 18th of March. I want to know if you are a black/African American person.

Thanks,

[--]

This is TOTALLY outrageous. I am offended and appalled and even, yes, embarrassed because you pretty much know it was a white person who asked this. I just can’t see the relevance here. Do they want to put Millenia in the AA section of the bookstore? Are they asking so they can advertise in black publications? Does her race matter one way or the other to the bookstore’s marketing plans? Should it?

What on earth is next?

RWA has some great contests. I’ve entered a few in the past, and recently entered one after spending time away. Since I am a finalist, I can’t complain. In the past, however, I’ve gotten a 10 and a 3 on the same entry in the Golden Heart. WTF? (I don’t know what the scoring system is like now, but trust me, this was a looong time ago.)

Okay, I know there are people out there who get upset and refuse to change a thing, even when the comments might be of merit. No, instead, they disparage the judges and the contest and everything else under the sun instead of taking a long hard look at what they wrote and seeing if maybe they could fix something after all. And with the GH now, it’s even easier to dismiss the scores because there are no comments allowed. I forget the reasoning behind that. It probably happened when I was overseas and reading my RWRs sporadically.

But what about when you’re on the other side of the fence as a judge? I judged a contest not too long ago. I received 5 entries. I took my time, made lots of comments. I tried to impress upon each author what I felt she did really well. I also made suggestions for what jarred me or bothered me as a reader. I went for the big stuff: plot, characterization, motivation. I didn’t bother with nitpicky stuff, except to mention that oh, hey, you might want to take a closer look at X. I’ve been on the receiving end of comments from people who clearly didn’t know what they were talking about (grammar rules they got wrong, etc) so I know not to go off on tangents about subordinate clauses.

Now, how many thank you notes do you think I got? If you guessed one, you guessed right. Would it surprise you to know that the person was a finalist in the contest? A couple of the ones I judged got pretty high scores from me, and lots of nice comments, but they didn’t final. So no note. I fully admit that I myself have been guilty of not writing the note right away in the past. And the longer you wait, the less likely you are to do it. To my shame, there were times I didn’t send a thank you because I figured I’d waited too long and they didn’t want to hear from me.

I was wrong, though. People want to be thanked for their time. Even if you don’t agree with the comments, you should thank the person for making them. Realize that this person is a reader too. Sure, maybe it’s jealousy, if that makes you feel better. Or maybe she’s right and you could change your hero’s name from Englebert to Joe because nobody wants to read about an Englebert. Ultimately, you decide what to do to your work so don’t let your indignance get in the way of thanking someone for their time.

Yes, I admitted to sometimes dropping the ball on the thank yous. But not anymore. I even thanked the person who gave me a rotten score. I didn’t agree with a word she said, but I thanked her nonetheless. She took time out of her day to read the mss. Though I think she may need remedial English classes, that’s just my opinion and still doesn’t take away from the fact that she gave me enough of her time to read my work and comment throughout. So grit those teeth and write those thank yous. We all know we’re supposed to do it, but how many of us really do?

If you like romantic suspense, chances are you read the occasional mystery (or more than occasional) too. NPR’s Talk of the Nation recently featured mystery writers discussing the appeal of the urban noir.

In The Maltese Falcon, San Francisco is a character. The Big Sleep is all about Los Angeles. In mystery stories, there’s a distinct sound to every city’s mean streets, and the setting can be as important as the crime. Mystery writers talk about why they choose to imagine crimes in the cities they love.

Guests:

Eddie Muller, writes a series of crime novels featuring sportswriter Billy Nichols, the first of which, The Distance, was nominated for multiple mystery writing awards; author of three acclaimed books on film noir

Laura Lippman, author of 10 crime novels, and the Tess Monaghan crime series; editor of the Baltimore Noir collection

William Hunt Kreuger, author of a Minnesota crime series; his work appears in Twin Cities Noir

Give it a listen. I’m off to B&N for my readers’ group this morning. We’re discussing Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. They’ll probably ask me to leave the group now, LOL. But, since rereading it was killing two birds with one stone for me (I still have a section of thesis to write on this book), I was grateful they agreed. None of them had ever read Woolf before. I wonder if they’ll ever want to read her again? Maybe I should have suggested The Voyage Out, a much more straightforward narrative and a book I reread only last month.

Have you ever read any Virginia Woolf? Do you like her? Think she’s impossible? Figure life’s too short to muck through that stuff? TTLH is my favorite novel of all time. I know that’s weird, but hey. I can’t explain it, except that I shivered and caught my breath and cried at parts of it the first time I ever read it. It is a dense and difficult book (those pesky Modernist writers!), but I just love it. It holds up on a reread, but that wonderful sense of discovery I felt the first time isn’t there. Some of the things that made me shiver then don’t quite elicit that effect ever again. But I still think it’s amazing. It’s not urban noir, but the Hebrides and the lighthouse are characters nonetheless (and you thought my train derailed somewhere east of LA).