Okay. Question for you. If you were to have lunch with a famous writer (ALIVE) who would it be? How about I add an hour or so of quiet writing side by side?
My answer: Alice Hoffman.
Oh Alice. Remember me? I'm the one who tweeted you back and told you how to "Unfollow" all the people you followed on twitter before you decided that tweeting wasn't your cup of tea.
Dear Ms. Hoffman,
My name is Suzanne and I'm a writer. My novel is going out on submission this week and I'm very, very scared. (And happy too!)
Today I saw my essay "The Mother Crush" was published in Life Learning Magazine. And I thought... dreams, they do come true, right?? So how about lunch?
I'd love to write with you.
All best,
Suzanne Hayes
How about you guys? Who do you want to eat lunch with and then write a bit with?
Friday, April 29, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
The importance of rituals
Rule one in the writing world is: Write. Write everyday.
Sometimes this is hard to do. One of the things I do to help me with this is, well... blog. But sometimes? Sometimes I need to focus on my novels and essays. The paying things!
This morning I dropped my youngest daughter off at pre-school. I took her inside because we were bringing back her pillow and blanket (freshly washed from spring vacation).
"Where do you put your things, Little Bit?" I asked her. (We call her Little Bit. As in, Little bit of luck, little bit of sugar, little bit of ---- whatever fits!)
She pointed to a set of cubbyholes. One said GRACE right above it. I laughed and we put her things away.
Then she took her lunch box out of her bookbag. I thought of asking her why... but I wanted to watch her. And I could tell she wanted me to watch her too.
She put her lunch box on the bottom of the cubby and then took out a snack. She put her snack on top of the cubby and then put her folder next to it. I looked and all the other children did the same thing.
Their morning ritual. It keeps them on track. It focuses them. It lets them know "I'm at School Now"
Genius. So though I write everyday... I need a better schedule for the WIP. 1k at least a day. And I'm going to make sure I figure out a ritual to go along with it.
How about you? Do you have any rituals that help you to write?
Sometimes this is hard to do. One of the things I do to help me with this is, well... blog. But sometimes? Sometimes I need to focus on my novels and essays. The paying things!
This morning I dropped my youngest daughter off at pre-school. I took her inside because we were bringing back her pillow and blanket (freshly washed from spring vacation).
"Where do you put your things, Little Bit?" I asked her. (We call her Little Bit. As in, Little bit of luck, little bit of sugar, little bit of ---- whatever fits!)
She pointed to a set of cubbyholes. One said GRACE right above it. I laughed and we put her things away.
Then she took her lunch box out of her bookbag. I thought of asking her why... but I wanted to watch her. And I could tell she wanted me to watch her too.
She put her lunch box on the bottom of the cubby and then took out a snack. She put her snack on top of the cubby and then put her folder next to it. I looked and all the other children did the same thing.
Their morning ritual. It keeps them on track. It focuses them. It lets them know "I'm at School Now"
Genius. So though I write everyday... I need a better schedule for the WIP. 1k at least a day. And I'm going to make sure I figure out a ritual to go along with it.
How about you? Do you have any rituals that help you to write?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
On Submission!
Okay. Deep breaths.
Next week... next week I begin the next level of the game. (For my sanity I liken the publishing business to a video game. I love gaming and MAN was that Query Level hard to beat!)
I wonder what the level will look like. What demons will I have to slay? What are the tricks? How long will it take me to win? Because here's the thing.
When I beat this level, I've won this particular game.
Wow. If there ever was a time for patience and perseverance it's now.
And in an ASTOUNDING moment of pure literary gold......
Last night my oldest daughter and her friends finally beat the DRAN. It's a demon in an old school play station 2 game. They've been stuck on that level for eight years. EIGHT YEARS.
But they did it!
So there.
I'll do it too.
Next week... next week I begin the next level of the game. (For my sanity I liken the publishing business to a video game. I love gaming and MAN was that Query Level hard to beat!)
I wonder what the level will look like. What demons will I have to slay? What are the tricks? How long will it take me to win? Because here's the thing.
When I beat this level, I've won this particular game.
Wow. If there ever was a time for patience and perseverance it's now.
And in an ASTOUNDING moment of pure literary gold......
Last night my oldest daughter and her friends finally beat the DRAN. It's a demon in an old school play station 2 game. They've been stuck on that level for eight years. EIGHT YEARS.
But they did it!
So there.
I'll do it too.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
There's a Monster at the End of this Book
Okay,
So I've been thinking about my last post. Did any of you ever read this book as a kid?
I did. And I think it's the BEST EXAMPLE of how to get a page turned in all of writing history. Throw out all those books on plotting and JUST READ THIS ONE!!!! You are welcome in advance.
So I've been thinking about my last post. Did any of you ever read this book as a kid?
I did. And I think it's the BEST EXAMPLE of how to get a page turned in all of writing history. Throw out all those books on plotting and JUST READ THIS ONE!!!! You are welcome in advance.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
It's All About the STORY!!!!
It took me some time to figure this out. As a new writer I was listening to a story in my head but it didn't have a path. It was all character and setting more than plot. So these scenes would flash across my brain and I'd have to write them down. One scene after the next like a flip book.
But the story? Not so much. My first novel was one scene after another with beautiful moments and quirky characters. And here are some of the rejection lines I got.
"Beautiful! But not for us."
"Strong writing! But moves too slow."
"LOVELY! But no central theme."
"Ambitious. Too ambitious."
And they were all right, only I didn't understand how to fix what was wrong.
Until I read a book I couldn't put down and asked myself that all important question. "Why? Why can't I put this book down???"
And like a good writer,( and/or mechanic) I took the book apart.
It was the yarn. The ball of words that strung themselves together and pulled me from one point to the next. The breathless "And then????"
So, I humbly add to Stephen King's famous tip of the "What if?" in story telling. I give you Suzanne Hayes' practical way to get your story (novel) eaten up by agents and publishers alike:
Drum roll: THE "And then?" (You must create it at the bottom of every page. At the end of each chapter. Agent Anne calls them teasers.)
Oh, Oprah... take your "ah ha" moments. Me and my writing friends? We need "And Then???" moments.
For sure.
XO S
But the story? Not so much. My first novel was one scene after another with beautiful moments and quirky characters. And here are some of the rejection lines I got.
"Beautiful! But not for us."
"Strong writing! But moves too slow."
"LOVELY! But no central theme."
"Ambitious. Too ambitious."
And they were all right, only I didn't understand how to fix what was wrong.
Until I read a book I couldn't put down and asked myself that all important question. "Why? Why can't I put this book down???"
And like a good writer,( and/or mechanic) I took the book apart.
It was the yarn. The ball of words that strung themselves together and pulled me from one point to the next. The breathless "And then????"
So, I humbly add to Stephen King's famous tip of the "What if?" in story telling. I give you Suzanne Hayes' practical way to get your story (novel) eaten up by agents and publishers alike:
Drum roll: THE "And then?" (You must create it at the bottom of every page. At the end of each chapter. Agent Anne calls them teasers.)
Oh, Oprah... take your "ah ha" moments. Me and my writing friends? We need "And Then???" moments.
For sure.
XO S
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
ooohhh! Pretty New Things! And news....
I hit send on the final (cross your fingers) set of edits to Glorious Agent Anne. And now?
NOW I can finish my WIP!!!!!!!!!!! Oh! How I've missed you. My pretty characters. My lovely old southern mansion. My murder mystery. My deep, aching sorrow.
And then the redemption.
There is nothing like a shiny new story. Nothing in the world. It's almost more exciting than babies.
How about you? Are you giddy when you start a new project?
NOW I can finish my WIP!!!!!!!!!!! Oh! How I've missed you. My pretty characters. My lovely old southern mansion. My murder mystery. My deep, aching sorrow.
And then the redemption.
There is nothing like a shiny new story. Nothing in the world. It's almost more exciting than babies.
How about you? Are you giddy when you start a new project?
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friends with Benefits: Oh Yeah baby.
I'm talking here about my writing friends. Now you get to giggle about why you clicked on the link, right? :) I know a thing or two about how to get people's attention with words.
Anyway. I felt the need this morning to shout out to the writers who are now close friends. The people who make this journey sweet. Those who I think about every day.
I wish I could wake up to these folks and we could have coffee together, discuss our writing, go to our separate corners and return to share out ideas over lunch. I guess what I'm saying is that these particular folks have become like family. The strange thing is, they don't even know one another.
Amanda Bonilla: Amanda writes Urban Fantasy. Her AMAZING book Shaedes of Gray will be on the shelves in December. Amanda and I met online (Facebook!) and I have to say she has been my greatest champion. I don't really think I can express the amount of support I get from a quick email or chat. And when we started? When we started we were sitting on two of the WORST manuscripts imaginable. Put it this way, we met naked and now we wear ball gowns. (well, she does.) Amanda is represented by Natanya Wheeler of Nancy Yost Literary.
Loretta Nyhan: Loretta is represented by Joanna Volpe of Nancy Coffee Literary. Loretta is my soul sister. Not only do we share a similar writing voice (though she INSISTS on writing YA ... she's so good at it. I can't do that for CRAP. I tried.) We not only read and love each other's work, but we have the same ideas about politics, organic lifestyles and parenting. I met her online through Lisa And Laura Roeker. Thank you so much L&L!
Sarah Wylie: (Or when I met her: Sarah with a Chance) She had more than a chance. Her novel will be on the shelves in 2012. Oh Sarah. How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Sarah is represented by Suzie Townsend of Fine Print Literary.
Simon Larter: Damn. He's an AMAZING writer good folks. And someday he'll finish that novel. Right Simon? WRITE? WRITE SIMON!
Glen: Who hates publicity but writes the best damn stories this side of anywhere. I love you. And if I don't get to meet you someday, the regret will be hard to bear.
Here's the thing. Three of these writers are represented. Two have novels coming out, one is on submission. One is writing fantastic (and award winning) short fiction. And one is a father and a husband who likes to tell stories. These are people I've collected. People who I fell in love with.
And people I've never met.
My friends. (And I have many more... but these folks seem to live inside my pockets)
I write for you. Thank you, thank you, internet.
Xo
S
*Pre-Order SHAEDES OF GRAY (available 12-6-2011):
B & N | Borders | Powell’s | Amazon | Indiebound | Books-A-Million
*Sarah Wylie's Novel: ALL THESE LIVES, will be published by FSG/Macmillan in 2012. Look for it!
AND!!!!!! Read The Liar Society! Lisa And Laura's YA masterpiece! You won't be disappointed.
Anyway. I felt the need this morning to shout out to the writers who are now close friends. The people who make this journey sweet. Those who I think about every day.
I wish I could wake up to these folks and we could have coffee together, discuss our writing, go to our separate corners and return to share out ideas over lunch. I guess what I'm saying is that these particular folks have become like family. The strange thing is, they don't even know one another.
Amanda Bonilla: Amanda writes Urban Fantasy. Her AMAZING book Shaedes of Gray will be on the shelves in December. Amanda and I met online (Facebook!) and I have to say she has been my greatest champion. I don't really think I can express the amount of support I get from a quick email or chat. And when we started? When we started we were sitting on two of the WORST manuscripts imaginable. Put it this way, we met naked and now we wear ball gowns. (well, she does.) Amanda is represented by Natanya Wheeler of Nancy Yost Literary.
Loretta Nyhan: Loretta is represented by Joanna Volpe of Nancy Coffee Literary. Loretta is my soul sister. Not only do we share a similar writing voice (though she INSISTS on writing YA ... she's so good at it. I can't do that for CRAP. I tried.) We not only read and love each other's work, but we have the same ideas about politics, organic lifestyles and parenting. I met her online through Lisa And Laura Roeker. Thank you so much L&L!
Sarah Wylie: (Or when I met her: Sarah with a Chance) She had more than a chance. Her novel will be on the shelves in 2012. Oh Sarah. How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Sarah is represented by Suzie Townsend of Fine Print Literary.
Simon Larter: Damn. He's an AMAZING writer good folks. And someday he'll finish that novel. Right Simon? WRITE? WRITE SIMON!
Glen: Who hates publicity but writes the best damn stories this side of anywhere. I love you. And if I don't get to meet you someday, the regret will be hard to bear.
Here's the thing. Three of these writers are represented. Two have novels coming out, one is on submission. One is writing fantastic (and award winning) short fiction. And one is a father and a husband who likes to tell stories. These are people I've collected. People who I fell in love with.
And people I've never met.
My friends. (And I have many more... but these folks seem to live inside my pockets)
I write for you. Thank you, thank you, internet.
Xo
S
*Pre-Order SHAEDES OF GRAY (available 12-6-2011):
B & N | Borders | Powell’s | Amazon | Indiebound | Books-A-Million
*Sarah Wylie's Novel: ALL THESE LIVES, will be published by FSG/Macmillan in 2012. Look for it!
AND!!!!!! Read The Liar Society! Lisa And Laura's YA masterpiece! You won't be disappointed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)