Molly O'Keefe's Blog, page 44
January 26, 2012
Poof Magic
So I was talking to Molly the other day saying how I needed to come up with a bunch of new ideas for my editor. This is new for me. Usually I'm a one idea at a time girl. By the middle of the book I'm working on, I usually come up with what I want to do next. I can honestly say it's kept me steadily writing for years. But it hasn't always made me the best category writer.
I wrote comedies, then I felt like doing a suspense, then I felt like doing a golf book, then I decided I wanted to write weird historicals.
This has resulted in a lot of complete books. But not a lot of progress in my career. Now part of this wasn't always my fault. I had several lines close on me which forced me to change gear, but still I have to own up to the fact that I'm a little bit of a writing wanderer.
However, now for the first time in the 20 years I've been writing I've been asked to think of a bunch of ideas at once. For moments my brain froze. Multiple ideas didn't compute. Sure I had vague thoughts of what I wanted to do, but the idea of trying to really pull out concrete stories seemed incredibly daunting.
I could no longer rely on my poof magic just happening out of the blue. I was actually going to have to deliberately call on it like a genie in a bottle.
Let me explain - Poof Magic is my very scientific writing process. I think conceptually about the type of relationship dynamic I want to explore….wait for it and then… Poof, magic. The couple pops into my head. Then they live there for a while simmering and eventually I start to see those movie trailer flashes that lead me to the perimeter of what their story is.
The idea of using poof magic for several ideas at once… craziness. I had this very logical and rational fear I would fizzle it out if I over used it.
Surprisingly, poof magic has come through. I need only one more couple to show up and then I plan to just let them all simmer simultaneously. Like four different pots on four different burners all working toward a common goal. Which for me means a little forward career momentum.
I'm sure we've all talked about our process before, but I would also love to hear from some lurkers… Another classic writer questios.... Where do your ideas come from?
I wrote comedies, then I felt like doing a suspense, then I felt like doing a golf book, then I decided I wanted to write weird historicals.
This has resulted in a lot of complete books. But not a lot of progress in my career. Now part of this wasn't always my fault. I had several lines close on me which forced me to change gear, but still I have to own up to the fact that I'm a little bit of a writing wanderer.
However, now for the first time in the 20 years I've been writing I've been asked to think of a bunch of ideas at once. For moments my brain froze. Multiple ideas didn't compute. Sure I had vague thoughts of what I wanted to do, but the idea of trying to really pull out concrete stories seemed incredibly daunting.
I could no longer rely on my poof magic just happening out of the blue. I was actually going to have to deliberately call on it like a genie in a bottle.
Let me explain - Poof Magic is my very scientific writing process. I think conceptually about the type of relationship dynamic I want to explore….wait for it and then… Poof, magic. The couple pops into my head. Then they live there for a while simmering and eventually I start to see those movie trailer flashes that lead me to the perimeter of what their story is.
The idea of using poof magic for several ideas at once… craziness. I had this very logical and rational fear I would fizzle it out if I over used it.
Surprisingly, poof magic has come through. I need only one more couple to show up and then I plan to just let them all simmer simultaneously. Like four different pots on four different burners all working toward a common goal. Which for me means a little forward career momentum.
I'm sure we've all talked about our process before, but I would also love to hear from some lurkers… Another classic writer questios.... Where do your ideas come from?
January 24, 2012
MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!!!
I am writing the short story that would not end. Will. Not. End. It's my own fault. I went into it with a premise I liked, but not a lot of structure. It took off on me and I'm having a great time with the characters and the dialogue, but I'm nearing 10,000 words and it's not ending.
My darling Andy pointed out that it might be helpful if I knew how I wanted it to end and I do think that's part of the problem. There's really only one good ending. The bad guy has to die. He's a threat that can never be neutralized. He's driven, he's got nothing to lose and he feels that he's on the side of the angels.
I don't think I can stand to kill him, though. I know what happened to him. I know the horror of it all. I know he's certain that he's out slaying the dragons that threaten all that's good and pure about our world. How can I kill him?
The problem is, how can I not kill him?
And so the story keeps going. Help me. Please.
My darling Andy pointed out that it might be helpful if I knew how I wanted it to end and I do think that's part of the problem. There's really only one good ending. The bad guy has to die. He's a threat that can never be neutralized. He's driven, he's got nothing to lose and he feels that he's on the side of the angels.
I don't think I can stand to kill him, though. I know what happened to him. I know the horror of it all. I know he's certain that he's out slaying the dragons that threaten all that's good and pure about our world. How can I kill him?
The problem is, how can I not kill him?
And so the story keeps going. Help me. Please.
January 23, 2012
Why is Brad Pitt always eating?
Husband and I watched Moneyball this weekend - and I do believe Sinead's house did too! It's a great movie, totally engrossing, enlightening and entertaining. Highly recommend. And I have to say as Brad Pitt ages, he's becoming a better actor - or maybe he's getting better roles suited to his strengths (which are not long speeches, stir the troops, or declare the love or explain the mysteries of the universe - no, he's not good at that).
But, he's got pretty great comic timing and he can be still when he needs to be, which is something not a lot of actors can do. He's got great chemistry with men, even Jonah Hill, there were wonderful believable moments in this Mutt and Jeff relationship. And I think his best skill is his physicality. When he's moving, doing something, he's great. Smashing things up with a baseball batt, destroying enemy soliders, twitching and ticking through 12 Monkeys, bare fist brawling with an Irish accent, as a gum-chewing, goofy dancing trainer in Burn After Reading - give him something to do and the guy sings.
Which is why in contemporary movies, the guy is always eating. The Ocean's movies, and now Moneyball. Endless scenes with the busy working of dipping french fires in ketchup or shrimp in cocktail sauce.
Perhaps the argument is - people eat. All the time. At the very least three times a day. Which reminds me of something Wanda Ottewell told me in the very beginning of my career, when I CONSTANTLY had people eating or taking showers. "Because people do it all the time, we don't need to see it." Unless it means something, obviously. But busy work does not make good reading.
And I think it's time Brad Pitt found something else to do with his hands, because it was the only distracting thing in that movie....
But, he's got pretty great comic timing and he can be still when he needs to be, which is something not a lot of actors can do. He's got great chemistry with men, even Jonah Hill, there were wonderful believable moments in this Mutt and Jeff relationship. And I think his best skill is his physicality. When he's moving, doing something, he's great. Smashing things up with a baseball batt, destroying enemy soliders, twitching and ticking through 12 Monkeys, bare fist brawling with an Irish accent, as a gum-chewing, goofy dancing trainer in Burn After Reading - give him something to do and the guy sings.
Which is why in contemporary movies, the guy is always eating. The Ocean's movies, and now Moneyball. Endless scenes with the busy working of dipping french fires in ketchup or shrimp in cocktail sauce.
Perhaps the argument is - people eat. All the time. At the very least three times a day. Which reminds me of something Wanda Ottewell told me in the very beginning of my career, when I CONSTANTLY had people eating or taking showers. "Because people do it all the time, we don't need to see it." Unless it means something, obviously. But busy work does not make good reading.
And I think it's time Brad Pitt found something else to do with his hands, because it was the only distracting thing in that movie....
January 20, 2012
Would you rather write one great book, or three good ones?
Long title, but I've been thinking about some of the great books I've been reading lately, or looking forward to reading soon. A lot of these books are first books, where the author had years to polish and revise, or they have been from authors who took a solid year, or even more to get the book to where they are happy with it.
I just finished the Cecilia Grant book and it's exactly how Molly described it, surprising, fun, beautifully written and very different from any other historical on the market. The same with Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races, it's go gorgeous that it's intimidating to other writers out there, and so beautifully crafted, and I've skimmed her blog to find out how long it took her to write it, but can't find out and don't have the time to do any more research, but it reads like it took her three years to write it.
Joanne Bourne takes a year to write a book, Sherry Thomas takes almost as much time and I feel like their books really show this. And they have the luxury of time. I know a lot of authors that need to write more than one book a year, more than two really, especially in romance, where advances are low and building a readership means three books a year on the shelves.
And some authors write amazing books in three months, and I'm intensely jealous of them. A lot though, write competent books in three months. And a lot of readers are probably thrilled with competent. As writers, we get excited about the books that surprise us, give us something new and unexpected, something impeccably crafted. Books that get a lot of buzz in the writing community. Buzz that can push a book's sales, or not.
We all know of authors that were intensely admired by writers and bloggers, who never hit a list.
Or do we just learn to write better in less time?
I just finished the Cecilia Grant book and it's exactly how Molly described it, surprising, fun, beautifully written and very different from any other historical on the market. The same with Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races, it's go gorgeous that it's intimidating to other writers out there, and so beautifully crafted, and I've skimmed her blog to find out how long it took her to write it, but can't find out and don't have the time to do any more research, but it reads like it took her three years to write it.
Joanne Bourne takes a year to write a book, Sherry Thomas takes almost as much time and I feel like their books really show this. And they have the luxury of time. I know a lot of authors that need to write more than one book a year, more than two really, especially in romance, where advances are low and building a readership means three books a year on the shelves.
And some authors write amazing books in three months, and I'm intensely jealous of them. A lot though, write competent books in three months. And a lot of readers are probably thrilled with competent. As writers, we get excited about the books that surprise us, give us something new and unexpected, something impeccably crafted. Books that get a lot of buzz in the writing community. Buzz that can push a book's sales, or not.
We all know of authors that were intensely admired by writers and bloggers, who never hit a list.
Or do we just learn to write better in less time?
January 19, 2012
Downton Abbey and Pacing
Is anyone else watching this show? It's a Masterpiece theater show that follows the life of an Earl and his family at their family estate, Downton Abbey.
If you are at all a fan of historical romance I highly recommend this show. It's more soap opera in feel but it's so spot on the with the details of the period that you get completely lost in it. The clothes are spectacular. The second season is set two years into WWI. And I really hope editors are watching this show (I know my agent loves it) because it's about time we focus on other periods besides Regency with a dab of Victorian.
This period is so ripe with drama. You've got the class structure still in place but there are cracks as socialism is starting to take hold. You've got women gaining power and fighting for the right to vote. You've got the war and the impact it's having on the people in England. All of it fabulous!
But forgetting all the juicy story lines that are happening in this show, I took a moment when I was watching it the other night to marvel at the pacing. Ever since I hooked up with DWT I've been more focused on craft. I've learned that movies, TV and books aren't just entertainment anymore. They are learning tools. Especially the good ones.
What makes DA so completely enthralling (I think) is the way they move from story line to story line and with each jump something "big" happens. There is always a secret revealed, love is expressed, hate is exposed, a new intrigue is developing. There is not one minute of downtime, or a scene for a scene's sake, or a scene that explains or recaps another scene. It just goes, constantly, in one direction at full speed.
By the end of an hour your head is spinning and you love it. I'm near the end of my WIP that's due February 1st. And as I edit I really really want to keep Downton Abbey in mind.
If you are at all a fan of historical romance I highly recommend this show. It's more soap opera in feel but it's so spot on the with the details of the period that you get completely lost in it. The clothes are spectacular. The second season is set two years into WWI. And I really hope editors are watching this show (I know my agent loves it) because it's about time we focus on other periods besides Regency with a dab of Victorian.
This period is so ripe with drama. You've got the class structure still in place but there are cracks as socialism is starting to take hold. You've got women gaining power and fighting for the right to vote. You've got the war and the impact it's having on the people in England. All of it fabulous!
But forgetting all the juicy story lines that are happening in this show, I took a moment when I was watching it the other night to marvel at the pacing. Ever since I hooked up with DWT I've been more focused on craft. I've learned that movies, TV and books aren't just entertainment anymore. They are learning tools. Especially the good ones.
What makes DA so completely enthralling (I think) is the way they move from story line to story line and with each jump something "big" happens. There is always a secret revealed, love is expressed, hate is exposed, a new intrigue is developing. There is not one minute of downtime, or a scene for a scene's sake, or a scene that explains or recaps another scene. It just goes, constantly, in one direction at full speed.
By the end of an hour your head is spinning and you love it. I'm near the end of my WIP that's due February 1st. And as I edit I really really want to keep Downton Abbey in mind.
January 18, 2012
Obsessing
I've been working on my line edits for Deviant and gaining further evidence of my insanity. :)
Those of you who've followed this blog over the years (we have our SIXTH anniversary for Drunk Writer Talk this summer, I think...) Anyway, you may have heard me say before that editing and polishing the words is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. Second only to first drafting when (if) the words and ideas are flowing out of my fingers like magic.
But I'm learning that polishing/fine tuning can be the most angst ridden part, too. Yes, I do already have two books in print, but they were done on a write-for-hire basis, and very quickly and I didn't feel as if I really had final say over the text, even though my name is on the covers.
This new book... This is mine. This is a big deal. This is a book that (I hope) more people will read. This is a book that (I hope) more people will review.
And I have been making myself crazy obsessing over the words.
Does anyone else get like this?
Those of you who've followed this blog over the years (we have our SIXTH anniversary for Drunk Writer Talk this summer, I think...) Anyway, you may have heard me say before that editing and polishing the words is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. Second only to first drafting when (if) the words and ideas are flowing out of my fingers like magic.
But I'm learning that polishing/fine tuning can be the most angst ridden part, too. Yes, I do already have two books in print, but they were done on a write-for-hire basis, and very quickly and I didn't feel as if I really had final say over the text, even though my name is on the covers.
This new book... This is mine. This is a big deal. This is a book that (I hope) more people will read. This is a book that (I hope) more people will review.
And I have been making myself crazy obsessing over the words.
Does anyone else get like this?
January 17, 2012
Not a Thought in My Pretty Little Head
I've got nothing. I don't know why. I just don't. I've read a bunch of good books lately. I'm reading John Lescroat's The Hunter right now. It's awesome. Smart. Emotional. I wish I could do setting like he does. I read Catriona MacPherson's After the Armistice Ball. Also great atmosphere. Great dialogue. Oh, and Harlan Coben's Caught. Love his dialogue and pace.
I don't think I have anything to say about any of them, though, except I liked them.
On TV, I'm thrilled with the continuation of The Good Wife. I love the palace intrigue of the law office and the cases they work on. Incredible characters. Great conflicts. Don't have anything to say about it, though. I'm not so sure I like House of Lies. I've only watched the first one and maybe the people will become less reprehensible, but I think not. I'll give it one or two more episodes, but I don't have anything to say about it either.
I watched a funny little indie movie called happythankyoumoreplease. A little sweet. A little charming. But I got nothin'.
I'm writing. It's going fine one some days. Not so fine on others. I need more time without interruptions. I need to be stricter with myself and my friends and my family. That's all I have to say about that, though.
Help me, please. Get me started. Somebody say something.
I don't think I have anything to say about any of them, though, except I liked them.
On TV, I'm thrilled with the continuation of The Good Wife. I love the palace intrigue of the law office and the cases they work on. Incredible characters. Great conflicts. Don't have anything to say about it, though. I'm not so sure I like House of Lies. I've only watched the first one and maybe the people will become less reprehensible, but I think not. I'll give it one or two more episodes, but I don't have anything to say about it either.
I watched a funny little indie movie called happythankyoumoreplease. A little sweet. A little charming. But I got nothin'.
I'm writing. It's going fine one some days. Not so fine on others. I need more time without interruptions. I need to be stricter with myself and my friends and my family. That's all I have to say about that, though.
Help me, please. Get me started. Somebody say something.
January 16, 2012
Unravelling Eileen Cook
Since Molly's on vacation today, I'm going to assume she isn't posting and hijack the blog.
I interviewed the fabulous and honorary drunk writer, Eileen Cook, on another blog today about herself and her fabulous new book UNRAVELING ISOBEL.
Here's a link to the interview: LINK
A random commenter over there will win a book! It's lonely over there this morning. Stop by and say hi. :)
I interviewed the fabulous and honorary drunk writer, Eileen Cook, on another blog today about herself and her fabulous new book UNRAVELING ISOBEL.
Here's a link to the interview: LINK
A random commenter over there will win a book! It's lonely over there this morning. Stop by and say hi. :)
January 13, 2012
Making something really familiar feel fresh
It's been a slow start to reading for me in 2012, but I have this sense that it's going to be a great year for books and creatively, so I have nothing but great anticipation going into this year.
The book I'm reading right now is Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and it's flawed. Not every scene is absolutely necessary, it jumps about a little and parts of it feel a little like the author is still learning the nuts and bolts of craft, but it reads completely fresh in the genre and I think that's why it's getting so much buzz.
From the location to the plot points, it does not seem familiar to me and I've read a lot of YA over the past two years. The protagonist is interesting, but it's not her, it's what happens and how and the elements she introduces them and how. I'm guessing on all of this, but it seems as I read this book, that the author hadn't read a lot of YA going into the writing of this book and that's why it seems different.
And truly, I have no idea where she's taking me, which in itself, is exciting. It's not that she's reversing my expectations, it's that the story is progressing in a way that I can't predict and so I don't have any idea where a scene will play out.
Which is fun and I suspect why so many editors and agents love this book.
And on another note - Game of Thrones Season 2 - starts April 1st. Anyone else excited. Molly, I still have your copy of that...
The book I'm reading right now is Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and it's flawed. Not every scene is absolutely necessary, it jumps about a little and parts of it feel a little like the author is still learning the nuts and bolts of craft, but it reads completely fresh in the genre and I think that's why it's getting so much buzz.
From the location to the plot points, it does not seem familiar to me and I've read a lot of YA over the past two years. The protagonist is interesting, but it's not her, it's what happens and how and the elements she introduces them and how. I'm guessing on all of this, but it seems as I read this book, that the author hadn't read a lot of YA going into the writing of this book and that's why it seems different.
And truly, I have no idea where she's taking me, which in itself, is exciting. It's not that she's reversing my expectations, it's that the story is progressing in a way that I can't predict and so I don't have any idea where a scene will play out.
Which is fun and I suspect why so many editors and agents love this book.
And on another note - Game of Thrones Season 2 - starts April 1st. Anyone else excited. Molly, I still have your copy of that...
January 12, 2012
Why Tim Tebow is a fictional hero...
I don't know how many of our readers follow American Football – but if you do, Tim Tebow is the America's newest fascination. If you don't follow football and you're wondering what all those strange pictures are of people kneeling in seemingly odd places… that's the phenomena known as Tebowing.
As a sports nut and a writer – this guy fascinates me.
Here are the facts. He is not a proto-typical quarterback. He runs more than he throws, he misses receivers more than he finds them. He can only throw so far. And he doesn't have what's known as "touch" on the ball. Not to mention a very slow throwing motion and bad footwork.
But this is the other fact: he finds ways to win in clutch situations. He's had I believe four 4th quarter comebacks in his 8 wins. He just won his first playoff game in OT against a team none of the professional analysts said he could beat.
People either love him… and I mean really love him. Or hate him. And I mean really hate him.
Some people don't like the idea that someone less talented has a job someone else could do. Some people think he's just lucky. Other's think God is on his side. He's very religious and very open about it. That kneeling motion is no joke. But some people think he flaunts his beliefs in their faces.
So why is he such a sudden star?
I think I finally figured it out. Tim Tebow is Luke Skywalker. Tim Tebow is Harry Potter. Sports in my opinion has always been about the drama and this guy has arrived as an unlikely hero and people are rallying behind him.
Of course there are obstacles. Every good hero has them because he needs something to leap over.
His detractors are numerous. Not just the analysts but other professional players have mocked him and his game. A future hall of fame linebacker when asked about Tim said he was a good "running" back – obviously mocking his talent as a quarterback. To that Tim said, "I take any compliment from a future hall of famer as a great honor." AND HE MEANT IT!
What makes Tim Tebow special is his innate goodness. He's sincere and real and … really really good. When asked what was the highlight for him of his overtime win against Pittsburg he said, "Bringing joy to a little girl who in her short life has had 73 surgeries. Because that's what's important." AND HE MEANT IT!
In our stories we want to see good triumph over evil. And in a time of a bad economy, where coaching legends turn out to be pedophiles and baseball legends are drug users… on to the stage steps this weird guy who for whatever reason has captured our attention.
Just like any good hero out of any great story.
I will be watching Tim against the Patriots this week. I will be rooting for him with everything I have. I don't think they stand a chance against Brady and the Patriots… but what if our hero wins again?
It's going to make for a great story.
What do you all think? Do you know about Tim? Do you secretly Tebow in the shower? Come on… you can tell us.
And just because I haven't heard anything – Kristin Fischer you were the winner last week. If you want to claim your prize you can reach me at www.stephaniedoyle.net.
