Cherie Reich's Blog, page 92
October 12, 2010
Five Minutes with an Agent
After lunch, I prepared to speak with Melissa Sarver, agent for the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency. It was one of the scariest things I had to do, even though Ms. Sarver isn't scary at all. She's very nice, and I enjoyed speaking with her. She's my first New York agent I've ever spoken to.
I pitched Virtuoso, my YA Paranormal novel. First things first, Ms. Sarver loved the title, which is important, although the title that gets on books is usually up to the publisher instead of the author.
Then, I went into my pitch, telling her what Virtuoso is about.
First, she told me I had to be very careful about this pitch. The first part I said was almost exactly like this other YA book titled Should I Stay, which is about a violinist who is in a car accident and a coma, her family is dead, and she has to decide if she should stay or go. It sounds like a fascinating book, but you could imagine my horror and embarrassment to find out there was already a novel similar to mine.
Yet, the beginning of our novels might sound similar, mine diverges greatly. The second part of my pitch had her sit up, and I saw her eyes widen. I could almost hear her thinking, "Now, this might really work. This is different." Or, at least, that's the impression I got. She liked the concepts in the novel.
She cautioned me to lower Derek's age to keep the novel as YA, since it's on the border between upper YA fiction and adult fiction.
Then, she said when I was ready to submit the novel to send her an email, reminding her where we met, and to send along the first few chapters on my manuscript.
*blinks* That's right, folks. It's my first partial request.
*does happy dance for a moment*
But, the real work has begun. My novel needs a massive redo. I have research I need to do. And, I'm getting ready to write my NaNoWriMo novel in November. *sighs* Yes, it means I can't go back to Virtuoso until December at the earliest.
I realized something important when talking with Melissa Sarver. Being an author is what I want to do. If it means I have to write the novel again and do many revisions, then it's the way it has to be. I could do the rewrites I was previously doing and have the novel accepted by a small publisher, but I want to make the best product. I want to have a novel worthy of an agent and publisher. It'll be a lot of work, but no one ever said writing was easy.
I pitched Virtuoso, my YA Paranormal novel. First things first, Ms. Sarver loved the title, which is important, although the title that gets on books is usually up to the publisher instead of the author.
Then, I went into my pitch, telling her what Virtuoso is about.
First, she told me I had to be very careful about this pitch. The first part I said was almost exactly like this other YA book titled Should I Stay, which is about a violinist who is in a car accident and a coma, her family is dead, and she has to decide if she should stay or go. It sounds like a fascinating book, but you could imagine my horror and embarrassment to find out there was already a novel similar to mine.
Yet, the beginning of our novels might sound similar, mine diverges greatly. The second part of my pitch had her sit up, and I saw her eyes widen. I could almost hear her thinking, "Now, this might really work. This is different." Or, at least, that's the impression I got. She liked the concepts in the novel.
She cautioned me to lower Derek's age to keep the novel as YA, since it's on the border between upper YA fiction and adult fiction.
Then, she said when I was ready to submit the novel to send her an email, reminding her where we met, and to send along the first few chapters on my manuscript.
*blinks* That's right, folks. It's my first partial request.
*does happy dance for a moment*
But, the real work has begun. My novel needs a massive redo. I have research I need to do. And, I'm getting ready to write my NaNoWriMo novel in November. *sighs* Yes, it means I can't go back to Virtuoso until December at the earliest.
I realized something important when talking with Melissa Sarver. Being an author is what I want to do. If it means I have to write the novel again and do many revisions, then it's the way it has to be. I could do the rewrites I was previously doing and have the novel accepted by a small publisher, but I want to make the best product. I want to have a novel worthy of an agent and publisher. It'll be a lot of work, but no one ever said writing was easy.
JRW Conference: Day Three
James River Writers Conference Saturday, October 9thLast Day of Conference
The wonderfulness of this conference just continued on the last day. I must admit by lunchtime I was a nervous wreck. I had my five-minute agent pitch at 1:21 PM EST, which I'll talk about in my next post.(This post was also on Raven and the Writing Desk.)
First Page Critique
The first page critique is perhaps the best part of the entire conference. Here we hear people's first pages they submitted and three agents tear them apart. The tearing them apart wasn't too terrible, and I found a lot of things the agents said about the first pages, I was thinking too. The three agents were Michelle Brower, Lucy Carson, and Melissa Sarver.
Here are some comments about the first pages and what every author needs to consider for the first page:Character first before detailsGet rid of passive wording; find active wordingIf your character is thinking, don't have that character think in complete sentences. People don't do that, I guess. Don't bombard your readers with too much descriptionYou must have action, character, dialogueYou can write A to C without describing B.Short sentences pack punch!Do not have your character wake from a dream. It's so cliché.SHOW, DON'T TELL!!!!!Description should be weaved in character and plot. Attach your readers to people, not setting.Trust your readers.Sometimes less is more.Watch for details that pull your reader out of the story.Make sure language is evocative.Don't explain a metaphor too much.Watch out for abstract references.Watch out for too many adjectives.Pay attention to EVERY word.
One key fact I learned, the first page must have NO grammatical errors. An agent will reject you if there is one, even if it is a small comma out of place or a mistyped word.
Also, read first pages in your favorite books to see what grabs you and how the first pages work.
Capturing History
This panel included Jon Kukla, Dean King, Charles J. Shields, and Kirk Ellis.
They mentioned you have fifteen seconds to sell a book. Yes, just fifteen. Wow.
When opening a story, you need to take the reader to the heart of the story.
It's important to know the ending of the novel you're writing, so you can show the trajectory of the characters.
It's important to know when to stop scenes, tell the story of middles, and don't begin with the beginning or end with the end. Writers should write inside out, not outside in.
In writing history, you don't have to impress readers with tons of details. A writer must keep in mind to write what history was, not what it came to be.
Most of all, history was lived in the present, not the past. Fantasy
This panel consisted of Michelle Brower, Jeff VanderMeer, Bill Blume, and Zachary Steele.
The writer must build the world. The more the writer knows, then the easier the story flows. The world needs to be accessible to readers and the description should serve the story.
They warned about using fantasy clichés, such as the orphaned child. It is almost important to use twists to open this new world.
Interview with Charles J. Shields
For the final session on Saturday, Dean King interviewed Charles J. Shields. Mr. Shields writes biographies, and he is currently working on his first YA novel while also writing a biography on Kurt Vonnegut.
For the writer, there are some key points I got out of the interview:You must be willing to be revised.You must be willing to take criticism.Become a literary detective.Read slowly.Read critically. High moments deserve a scene; whereas others might deserve just a summary.
Overall, the conference was a HUGE success. I can't wait until the one next year. I just wish I knew some of this stuff before I began writing. If you ever get a chance to go to a writers conference, go. You won't regret it.
The wonderfulness of this conference just continued on the last day. I must admit by lunchtime I was a nervous wreck. I had my five-minute agent pitch at 1:21 PM EST, which I'll talk about in my next post.(This post was also on Raven and the Writing Desk.)
First Page Critique
The first page critique is perhaps the best part of the entire conference. Here we hear people's first pages they submitted and three agents tear them apart. The tearing them apart wasn't too terrible, and I found a lot of things the agents said about the first pages, I was thinking too. The three agents were Michelle Brower, Lucy Carson, and Melissa Sarver.
Here are some comments about the first pages and what every author needs to consider for the first page:Character first before detailsGet rid of passive wording; find active wordingIf your character is thinking, don't have that character think in complete sentences. People don't do that, I guess. Don't bombard your readers with too much descriptionYou must have action, character, dialogueYou can write A to C without describing B.Short sentences pack punch!Do not have your character wake from a dream. It's so cliché.SHOW, DON'T TELL!!!!!Description should be weaved in character and plot. Attach your readers to people, not setting.Trust your readers.Sometimes less is more.Watch for details that pull your reader out of the story.Make sure language is evocative.Don't explain a metaphor too much.Watch out for abstract references.Watch out for too many adjectives.Pay attention to EVERY word.
One key fact I learned, the first page must have NO grammatical errors. An agent will reject you if there is one, even if it is a small comma out of place or a mistyped word.
Also, read first pages in your favorite books to see what grabs you and how the first pages work.
Capturing History
This panel included Jon Kukla, Dean King, Charles J. Shields, and Kirk Ellis.
They mentioned you have fifteen seconds to sell a book. Yes, just fifteen. Wow.
When opening a story, you need to take the reader to the heart of the story.
It's important to know the ending of the novel you're writing, so you can show the trajectory of the characters.
It's important to know when to stop scenes, tell the story of middles, and don't begin with the beginning or end with the end. Writers should write inside out, not outside in.
In writing history, you don't have to impress readers with tons of details. A writer must keep in mind to write what history was, not what it came to be.
Most of all, history was lived in the present, not the past. Fantasy
This panel consisted of Michelle Brower, Jeff VanderMeer, Bill Blume, and Zachary Steele.
The writer must build the world. The more the writer knows, then the easier the story flows. The world needs to be accessible to readers and the description should serve the story.
They warned about using fantasy clichés, such as the orphaned child. It is almost important to use twists to open this new world.
Interview with Charles J. Shields
For the final session on Saturday, Dean King interviewed Charles J. Shields. Mr. Shields writes biographies, and he is currently working on his first YA novel while also writing a biography on Kurt Vonnegut.
For the writer, there are some key points I got out of the interview:You must be willing to be revised.You must be willing to take criticism.Become a literary detective.Read slowly.Read critically. High moments deserve a scene; whereas others might deserve just a summary.
Overall, the conference was a HUGE success. I can't wait until the one next year. I just wish I knew some of this stuff before I began writing. If you ever get a chance to go to a writers conference, go. You won't regret it.
JRW Conference: Day Two
James River Writers Conference Friday, October 8thFirst Full Day of Conference
The conference is completely awesome! I feel like I'm learning so much, and I hope I can put that learning to practice from now on. I attended several sessions, and I'll talk about each one below. (This post is also on Raven and the Writing Desk.)
Pitching an Agent
Pitching an Agent was my first session on Friday. So far, it might be the most important one, since I'd pitch my novel Virtuoso to agent Melissa Sarver from the Elizabeth Kaplan Agency on Saturday at 1:21 PM.
Katharine Sands was the agent who spoke with us. She's a vivacious woman, and I feel like I learned so much from her. She talked about what she terms "pitch craft." There are three important things: getting ready, getting read, and getting readers. She explained the difference between a writer and an author. A writer is the solitary act of writing; whereas being an author is the complete collaboration of the project.
For the pitch, it's important to pitch ONE idea. That's right. Just one. Your pitch needs to answer the question "Why does the world need this book?" Also, there are three important things your pitch needs: setting/place, protagonist/person, and problem/pivot. Ms. Sands mentioned that you shouldn't waste the first paragraph with useless salutations. There are six words that are important to pitches: love, heart, journey, fortune, dream, and destiny. You don't have to have all of them in there, but they're important.
And, most of all," Ms. Sands said, "Be a happy hooker." The hook is important to the pitch.
You also should think of your pitch as a movie trailer. Very good advice.
Finding Your Inner Teenager
The second session I went to was "Finding Your Inner Teenager." Erica Orloff, Meg Medina, Lauren Oliver, and Jacqueline Woodson were on the panel. First, they clarified the differences between Young Adult and Middle Grade. Young Adult fiction relies on the moment the character is in. There is some redemptive quality. The character is very internal or about self. In Middle Grade, the fiction focuses on children between ages 9-12. The protagonist is a similar age, and the characters have outward adventures, such as saving the world.
In writing teen fiction, it is important to remember the child you were. You must write for reality instead of an ideal. Everything is very enclosed to the characters.
In general writing, you need to "aim for truth, so beauty will follow," have discipline, and remember "a writer isn't something you become because it is something you are."
Character 101
After lunch, I went to the Character 101 session. The panel included Paul Whitlatch, Clifford Garstang, Michele Young-Stone, and Patty Smith.
Characters must be three-dimensional. Characters need an element of originality, but they must be recognizable. Characters can give a sense of voice and place. We all have the same emotions, even though we have different experiences. A writer must add some empathy in bad characters. Characters need to create conflict and make a scene where life intrudes. Mr. Garstang mentioned the Iago character, or the character that stirs things up.
In order to create three-dimensional characters, it's important to explore their background. Mr. Garstang creates a file and makes biographies of his characters. Michele Young-Stone keeps character blogs, which I thought was such an intriguing idea!
There are a few things to keep in mind about characters. Keep the rule of three when it comes to a character's details. Trust your readers to fill in the details. Also, try not to have names starting with the same letter. It can confuse people. Google your character's name, so you don't create a name of someone famous or infamous without meaning to.
Another way to get into a character's mind is to learn about how an actor gets into a character's mind. A good book is An Actor Prepares by Stanislavsky. (I may have the name wrong, but I think that's the name of the book and such.)
Setting 101
The panel for Setting 101 included Shawna Christos, Dean King, Lucy Carson, and Susann Cokal.
Setting is very important, but a writer should strive for atmosphere, or the feeling you get from the setting that is evocative. Setting can be locational, temporal, and situational. Setting needs mood and feeling. A writer should look what can be found and use experiences where you find them. A writer needs to approach setting as if a reader doesn't know it. Setting should feel exotic and adventurous to the reader. Even in fantasy and science fiction, the setting should feel true, even if it isn't. All five senses need to be used to establish setting. Also, a writer must learn X, Y, and Z about a world, but please remember not all the details have to be in the novel. Like characters, a writer must trust their readers to fill in the world.
As for setting, it should contribute to the characters' experiences. Everything should be relevant. A writer needs to use concrete words and be very careful about adjectives and adverbs when they describe setting.
Relationships: Writers, Agents, and Editors
The last session of the day on Friday was about writers, agents, and editors. Michele Young-Stone, author of The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors, her agent Michelle Brower, and editor at Simon and Shuster's imprint Scribner spoke.
Michele Young-Stone had a great suggestion when writing a novel. Once you finish the first draft, let it sit for thirty days before you go back to it. It's something I've heard before, and she's very correct about it. When you finish a novel, as well, the work isn't done yet. That first draft is really just the beginning to the real work.
In query letters, you shouldn't be too vague. You must translate enthusiasm. As for agents, you need to find the one that isn't promising you the most but the one that's saying the smartest things.
As for editing, the author and editor should be a good fit and want to make the best product possible.
By the way, Michele Young-Stone had on the coolest socks. They had skulls on them. She rocks!
The conference is completely awesome! I feel like I'm learning so much, and I hope I can put that learning to practice from now on. I attended several sessions, and I'll talk about each one below. (This post is also on Raven and the Writing Desk.)
Pitching an Agent
Pitching an Agent was my first session on Friday. So far, it might be the most important one, since I'd pitch my novel Virtuoso to agent Melissa Sarver from the Elizabeth Kaplan Agency on Saturday at 1:21 PM.
Katharine Sands was the agent who spoke with us. She's a vivacious woman, and I feel like I learned so much from her. She talked about what she terms "pitch craft." There are three important things: getting ready, getting read, and getting readers. She explained the difference between a writer and an author. A writer is the solitary act of writing; whereas being an author is the complete collaboration of the project.
For the pitch, it's important to pitch ONE idea. That's right. Just one. Your pitch needs to answer the question "Why does the world need this book?" Also, there are three important things your pitch needs: setting/place, protagonist/person, and problem/pivot. Ms. Sands mentioned that you shouldn't waste the first paragraph with useless salutations. There are six words that are important to pitches: love, heart, journey, fortune, dream, and destiny. You don't have to have all of them in there, but they're important.
And, most of all," Ms. Sands said, "Be a happy hooker." The hook is important to the pitch.
You also should think of your pitch as a movie trailer. Very good advice.
Finding Your Inner Teenager
The second session I went to was "Finding Your Inner Teenager." Erica Orloff, Meg Medina, Lauren Oliver, and Jacqueline Woodson were on the panel. First, they clarified the differences between Young Adult and Middle Grade. Young Adult fiction relies on the moment the character is in. There is some redemptive quality. The character is very internal or about self. In Middle Grade, the fiction focuses on children between ages 9-12. The protagonist is a similar age, and the characters have outward adventures, such as saving the world.
In writing teen fiction, it is important to remember the child you were. You must write for reality instead of an ideal. Everything is very enclosed to the characters.
In general writing, you need to "aim for truth, so beauty will follow," have discipline, and remember "a writer isn't something you become because it is something you are."
Character 101
After lunch, I went to the Character 101 session. The panel included Paul Whitlatch, Clifford Garstang, Michele Young-Stone, and Patty Smith.
Characters must be three-dimensional. Characters need an element of originality, but they must be recognizable. Characters can give a sense of voice and place. We all have the same emotions, even though we have different experiences. A writer must add some empathy in bad characters. Characters need to create conflict and make a scene where life intrudes. Mr. Garstang mentioned the Iago character, or the character that stirs things up.
In order to create three-dimensional characters, it's important to explore their background. Mr. Garstang creates a file and makes biographies of his characters. Michele Young-Stone keeps character blogs, which I thought was such an intriguing idea!
There are a few things to keep in mind about characters. Keep the rule of three when it comes to a character's details. Trust your readers to fill in the details. Also, try not to have names starting with the same letter. It can confuse people. Google your character's name, so you don't create a name of someone famous or infamous without meaning to.
Another way to get into a character's mind is to learn about how an actor gets into a character's mind. A good book is An Actor Prepares by Stanislavsky. (I may have the name wrong, but I think that's the name of the book and such.)
Setting 101
The panel for Setting 101 included Shawna Christos, Dean King, Lucy Carson, and Susann Cokal.
Setting is very important, but a writer should strive for atmosphere, or the feeling you get from the setting that is evocative. Setting can be locational, temporal, and situational. Setting needs mood and feeling. A writer should look what can be found and use experiences where you find them. A writer needs to approach setting as if a reader doesn't know it. Setting should feel exotic and adventurous to the reader. Even in fantasy and science fiction, the setting should feel true, even if it isn't. All five senses need to be used to establish setting. Also, a writer must learn X, Y, and Z about a world, but please remember not all the details have to be in the novel. Like characters, a writer must trust their readers to fill in the world.
As for setting, it should contribute to the characters' experiences. Everything should be relevant. A writer needs to use concrete words and be very careful about adjectives and adverbs when they describe setting.
Relationships: Writers, Agents, and Editors
The last session of the day on Friday was about writers, agents, and editors. Michele Young-Stone, author of The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors, her agent Michelle Brower, and editor at Simon and Shuster's imprint Scribner spoke.
Michele Young-Stone had a great suggestion when writing a novel. Once you finish the first draft, let it sit for thirty days before you go back to it. It's something I've heard before, and she's very correct about it. When you finish a novel, as well, the work isn't done yet. That first draft is really just the beginning to the real work.
In query letters, you shouldn't be too vague. You must translate enthusiasm. As for agents, you need to find the one that isn't promising you the most but the one that's saying the smartest things.
As for editing, the author and editor should be a good fit and want to make the best product possible.
By the way, Michele Young-Stone had on the coolest socks. They had skulls on them. She rocks!
October 11, 2010
Promo Monday
Thank you for tuning into Promo Monday. Today, I'll talk briefly about Bloody Carnival and Mertales.
Title: Bloody Carnival
Edited by Jessy Marie Roberts
Publisher: Pill Hill Press (September 2010)
Link to Purchase: http://www.pillhillpress.com/books
Book Blurb: Step right up, step right up. It's a bloody good time! Rediscover carnivals, amusement parks, county fairs, the circus, rodeos and more in this gruesome tribute to the fun, fanfare and frivolity of festivals. Freak shows, rusted rides, demonic ringmistresses, demented clowns, melting beauty queens, flesh-eating fun-seekers, ghosts, gremlins and other terrors haunt the pages of this bloody collection of thirty-four short stories.
I haven't read all the stories yet. My story "Freak Show" begins on page 183 and focuses on a young, mutated child's formation into a full monster. This is the same monster as featured in my ebook Once Upon a December Nightmare.
Also, my friend Nicole Zoltack's story "Carnival of Shadows" begins on page 147 and worth reading. It's about teenagers entering a ghost-like carnival.
I received my limited-edition hardback copy last week. It's so cool! The paperback version is currently on sale through Halloween.
*****
Title: Mertales
Edited by Dulcinea Norton-Smith
Publisher: Wyvern Publications (October 2010)
Link to Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Mertales-Short-Stories-Water-Pearl/dp/0956036333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286843582&sr=1-1
Book Blurb: In this collection of short stories for teens, readers will be plunged into tales of terror and love, with unimaginable beings of the deep.
From the kelpies and banshees of Tim Reed's "Waiting at the Water's Edge" to the shark-men of Jerry Sutton's "Discovery on Neptune Two," we meet some of the less understood watery creatures.
Dark and dangerous, Mertales will captivate and thrill, as selkies, kelpies, mermaids and river gods keep you captive within its murky depths.
Once again, I haven't read all the stories yet. My story "Neptune's Treasure" begins on page 67. My story focuses on Aiden, who discovers how hard the recession has hit his family and a mermaid's treasure that could bring his family out of it.
I have two close friends with stories in Mertales. Aubrie Dionne's story "Tempest's Saviour" begins on page 80, and Nicole Zoltack's story "Beauty is Only Fin Deep" begins on page 247 and ends the book.
Last week, I also received my contributor's copy of Mertales!
Title: Bloody Carnival
Edited by Jessy Marie Roberts
Publisher: Pill Hill Press (September 2010)
Link to Purchase: http://www.pillhillpress.com/books
Book Blurb: Step right up, step right up. It's a bloody good time! Rediscover carnivals, amusement parks, county fairs, the circus, rodeos and more in this gruesome tribute to the fun, fanfare and frivolity of festivals. Freak shows, rusted rides, demonic ringmistresses, demented clowns, melting beauty queens, flesh-eating fun-seekers, ghosts, gremlins and other terrors haunt the pages of this bloody collection of thirty-four short stories.
I haven't read all the stories yet. My story "Freak Show" begins on page 183 and focuses on a young, mutated child's formation into a full monster. This is the same monster as featured in my ebook Once Upon a December Nightmare.
Also, my friend Nicole Zoltack's story "Carnival of Shadows" begins on page 147 and worth reading. It's about teenagers entering a ghost-like carnival.
I received my limited-edition hardback copy last week. It's so cool! The paperback version is currently on sale through Halloween.
*****
Title: Mertales
Edited by Dulcinea Norton-Smith
Publisher: Wyvern Publications (October 2010)
Link to Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Mertales-Short-Stories-Water-Pearl/dp/0956036333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286843582&sr=1-1
Book Blurb: In this collection of short stories for teens, readers will be plunged into tales of terror and love, with unimaginable beings of the deep.
From the kelpies and banshees of Tim Reed's "Waiting at the Water's Edge" to the shark-men of Jerry Sutton's "Discovery on Neptune Two," we meet some of the less understood watery creatures.
Dark and dangerous, Mertales will captivate and thrill, as selkies, kelpies, mermaids and river gods keep you captive within its murky depths.
Once again, I haven't read all the stories yet. My story "Neptune's Treasure" begins on page 67. My story focuses on Aiden, who discovers how hard the recession has hit his family and a mermaid's treasure that could bring his family out of it.
I have two close friends with stories in Mertales. Aubrie Dionne's story "Tempest's Saviour" begins on page 80, and Nicole Zoltack's story "Beauty is Only Fin Deep" begins on page 247 and ends the book.
Last week, I also received my contributor's copy of Mertales!
October 8, 2010
Flash Fiction Fridays
Trick or Treat
I felt the push, and I teetered forward. They shoved again, and I splattered in the mud puddle.
"Come on, Billy. Get up." They laughed. One kicked me.
I grunted and got to my knees. Thick brown sludge coated my pirate costume. "Leave me alone."
More laughter.
"Why would we do that?"
Sam picked me up, throwing me toward gate. "Go in there. Trick or treat. I dare you."
"Dare, dare, dare." The other three chorused.
Straightening my glasses, I peered up the driveway to the house on the hill. The haunted house. The scary house. The place no kid wanted to go. "I don't wanna."
Justin hit me in the back. "Get in there."
The gate creaked open, and they threw me in.
"Be a man, Billy. Or are you a pussy." Alan taunted me. The boys snickered.
I stood up and looked between the house and the others. Sam was fourteen, Alan thirteen, Justin fifteen, and Mike twelve. They'd picked on me since I moved here last summer. The broken down house with the eerie green light emitting from the windows appealed more than trying to get through them.
"Fine, I'll do it." I glared and tried to regain some dignity, despite the mud on my puffy shirt and black pants. I'd lost my pirate hat somewhere. "If I do, you'll leave me alone." It wasn't a question.
"Sure, sure, we promise, Bill. Get up there." Sam crossed his arms and waited.
The others followed suit.
"Fine." I marched up the hill.
My footsteps grew slower as the house grew closer. A low hum pulsed, and the hairs on my arms lifted. I broke out in goose bumps. Finally, I stepped up on the porch. The steps groaned and creaked. The weathered door seemed to stare back. I knocked.
The inside lights extinguished. When the door opened, someone shined a flashlight in my eyes. It blinded me.
"What do you want?" The man barked.
"I-I...trick or t-treat." I stuttered.
"I chose trick."
The boards beneath my sneakers vanished. I screamed.
Darkness surrounded me while I fell through the trapdoor.
Then, I hit the hard ground. I couldn't breathe. My hands clawed cool, concrete floor.
Something growled.
"Hello?"
I howled in pain.
I passed out.
***
The sun had set, and I walked home from the library. A shiver raced up my spine when I saw the haunted house again, and I broke out into a run. A couple more blocks.
"Where do you think you're going, Billy?" Sam stepped out from St. Peter's cemetery. He held a can of spray paint.
"Home." They hadn't bothered me since that night a month ago.
"Maybe not yet." Alan shoved me inside the cemetery.
"What are you doing?" I spun around.
"If you want to join us, you have to pass all the tests." Justin grabbed my arms.
"But I don't want to join you." I was confused.
Mike ran around with a rope, tying me up.
"Stop it, guys!"
They mimicked me, and I stumbled onto a grave. The tombstone rested above my head. Panic and anger warred inside me, and I shook with the fear and rage. "Stop it. Untie me."
They didn't heed my words.
Then, the full moon broke through the horizon.
Madness seeped into my bones. They snapped and shifted. The rope burst. Fur sprouted over my hands, my face.
I howled.
The boys' faces drained to white.
Gnashing my teeth, I growled at them.
When they ran, the chase was on.
Closer, closer, closer. My fangs snapped down on…nothing!
Darkness descended.
Growls and laughter rose and died.
"Trick or treat?" I heard my own voice in my mind.
"I choose treat."
October 7, 2010
JRW Conference: Day One: Short Story Workshop
This afternoon, I attended my first day at the James River Writers (JRW) Conference. It's held in Richmond at the Library of Virginia. The first day consisted of a two hour workshop. I was in the short story one.
I enjoyed this workshop. Clifford Garstang was the speaker, and he has a short story collection titled In an Uncharted Territory, published in 2009.
First we introduced ourselves. Most in the group seemed relatively unpublished, except for a few short stories here and there. Mr. Garstang spoke about the differences in flash fiction, short story, novella, and novel. It's pretty much the same stuff I already knew.
He defined a short story as a "close up, a moment in time." Typically, short stories have conflict, some desire that someone wants and another person/thing stands in the way. Short stories should still have some of the same things as novels, including plot, character, setting, theme or "aboutness," and language. Mr. Garstang is very character-oriented, especially since he write literary fiction. He told us he often finds ideas from a character and lets the story take him where it will.
I found it fascinating that he writes and writes about the characters and then looks to see if there is a short story in what he is written. I suppose since I write speculative fiction that is why I'm more plot-oriented. Typically in my own writing, I think of the plot or conflict and then come up with the characters to fill the story and move the plot onward.
He believes you should write, get the story out there, and then find what you can cut and is irrelavant. Personally, I don't like all that editing. *laughs*
Mr. Garstang said that with short stories, you need a "near verisimilitude" or just the essential details. I couldn't agree more, although I've been known to put things in short stories that aren't necessary.
Also, in writing, you can't assume anything. Each time you write, you have to create a whole new world, even if it is the same as our own. I found this idea fascinating.
I, also, learned something new about flash fiction. In flash, you should introduce the conflict but not resolve it. Thinking back on my flash fiction, I think I've been doing well in that concept, but I'll definitely have to keep it in mind when I keep writing it for Flash Fiction Fridays.
The thing I took the most out of this conference was learning about linked short stories. You start with a couple characters and create a world, and then you find knew people in this world and new conflicts to write about. I never really thought about it, but it's what I did with my story "Magna's Plea" and "Autumn Kicker" and what I plan to do with "The Monster Within." I'm taking either characters or people from the world and creating short stories about them. It's fun, and you get to use people from it. I suppose I'm doing the same thing with the characters from Moonlight Murders, since they started in my short story "The Case of the Tom Cat." It's just wonderful to think about and how you can expand upon things.
The biggest rule I learned about short stories. THERE ARE NO RULES.
Yep. That's right. There are no rules. Exactly. You just have to find what works for you. If it works, then it works.
Now, if it doesn't, there lies the problem.
I'd say day one was a success.
I can't wait to learn stuff tomorrow!
I enjoyed this workshop. Clifford Garstang was the speaker, and he has a short story collection titled In an Uncharted Territory, published in 2009.
First we introduced ourselves. Most in the group seemed relatively unpublished, except for a few short stories here and there. Mr. Garstang spoke about the differences in flash fiction, short story, novella, and novel. It's pretty much the same stuff I already knew.
He defined a short story as a "close up, a moment in time." Typically, short stories have conflict, some desire that someone wants and another person/thing stands in the way. Short stories should still have some of the same things as novels, including plot, character, setting, theme or "aboutness," and language. Mr. Garstang is very character-oriented, especially since he write literary fiction. He told us he often finds ideas from a character and lets the story take him where it will.
I found it fascinating that he writes and writes about the characters and then looks to see if there is a short story in what he is written. I suppose since I write speculative fiction that is why I'm more plot-oriented. Typically in my own writing, I think of the plot or conflict and then come up with the characters to fill the story and move the plot onward.
He believes you should write, get the story out there, and then find what you can cut and is irrelavant. Personally, I don't like all that editing. *laughs*
Mr. Garstang said that with short stories, you need a "near verisimilitude" or just the essential details. I couldn't agree more, although I've been known to put things in short stories that aren't necessary.
Also, in writing, you can't assume anything. Each time you write, you have to create a whole new world, even if it is the same as our own. I found this idea fascinating.
I, also, learned something new about flash fiction. In flash, you should introduce the conflict but not resolve it. Thinking back on my flash fiction, I think I've been doing well in that concept, but I'll definitely have to keep it in mind when I keep writing it for Flash Fiction Fridays.
The thing I took the most out of this conference was learning about linked short stories. You start with a couple characters and create a world, and then you find knew people in this world and new conflicts to write about. I never really thought about it, but it's what I did with my story "Magna's Plea" and "Autumn Kicker" and what I plan to do with "The Monster Within." I'm taking either characters or people from the world and creating short stories about them. It's fun, and you get to use people from it. I suppose I'm doing the same thing with the characters from Moonlight Murders, since they started in my short story "The Case of the Tom Cat." It's just wonderful to think about and how you can expand upon things.
The biggest rule I learned about short stories. THERE ARE NO RULES.
Yep. That's right. There are no rules. Exactly. You just have to find what works for you. If it works, then it works.
Now, if it doesn't, there lies the problem.
I'd say day one was a success.
I can't wait to learn stuff tomorrow!
October 6, 2010
Wednesday's Writing Update
It's time again for another episode of Wednesday's Writing Update!
On Saturday, I updated September's writing stats and wrote down October's writing goals. You can check out that post here.
On Monday, I wrote this Friday's flash fiction. Since I'll be at the James River Writers (JRW) Conference, it's all ready and set to post on Friday morning. Please do stop by and read it.
Speaking of the JRW Conference, I'm preparing to go. I have off today, so I can get my car washed and fueled up and buy some groceries I'll need for next week, since I won't be going grocery shopping against until then. I have to make certain to have enough cat food for my Cinderella kitty. *grins* I'm beginning to get excited about the conference, although I'm majorly stressed about parking and the hotel arrangements. I'm just not used to these things, and I hope everything goes smoothly. I'm going to try to do my best to blog about everything I learn on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. So be on the look out for those posts.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm working on editing/rewriting Virtuoso. It's going well so far.
So far, I'm working in my head on Sarah's Nightmare. I'll need to start putting the timeline, outline, synopsis, character sketches, etc. down on the computer soon, so I'll be ready to begin writing it on November 1st.
I haven't heard anything back on the submission front. I should know some things in a few weeks.
And, that's all the updates I have for now. Wish me luck at the conference and especially think good thoughts for me on Saturday at 1:21 PM EST. That's when I'll be having my five-minute pitching session with Literary Agent Melissa Sarver.
Oh, and I received the ARC of DRACULAS by authors Blake Crouch, Jack Kilborn, Jeff Strand, and F. Paul Wilson yesterday in my email! Yay! I can't wait to read it!!
October 5, 2010
Rewrites/Edits
I've been working on rewriting/editing Virtuoso this month. Yes, if you've followed this blog, I've said many times my plan was to edit/rewrite my two novels (Virtuoso and The Phoenix Prophetess). Every month, I had good intentions, but I never got around to it. Or when I did, I worked on the first chapter or two and stopped.
I don't know why I dread editing so much. Maybe once I spent so much time writing it, I just want it done and other with. I know it isn't perfect, though, so I must edit, but I drag my feet.
Now, I want it done, though, so I set out to rewriting Virtuoso. I'm changing it from third person to first, so rewriting is the easiest thing.
So far, I'm up to chapter four, and I realized something. I forgot that I really did enjoy this book. It's so heartbreaking, though, since it deals with grief and overcoming obstacles. It's much harder to write this book in first person. I'm feeling the protagonist's pain much more closely than I did when I wrote it in third. It's a good thing. Nadia is writing the book more than I am now. It's how it should be, if that makes any sense. I do wish her problems with her left hand wouldn't affect me so much, though. It makes it very hard to type. *laughs*
I hope I can finish this edit by the end of October, so I can send it to my critique buddies. Come January, I want to do a very intense edit on it and try my best to make it agent ready. It's the goal. I'll have to see how it works out.
The main thing I'm learning is this edit thing isn't too bad. It can even be a bit fun. Well, maybe. *grins*
Side note and completely unrelated to this post: Romeo jumped in the toilet today. It was so "EWWWWW!" Let's just say he got a bath when mommy took her shower this morning. Silly kitty!
I don't know why I dread editing so much. Maybe once I spent so much time writing it, I just want it done and other with. I know it isn't perfect, though, so I must edit, but I drag my feet.
Now, I want it done, though, so I set out to rewriting Virtuoso. I'm changing it from third person to first, so rewriting is the easiest thing.
So far, I'm up to chapter four, and I realized something. I forgot that I really did enjoy this book. It's so heartbreaking, though, since it deals with grief and overcoming obstacles. It's much harder to write this book in first person. I'm feeling the protagonist's pain much more closely than I did when I wrote it in third. It's a good thing. Nadia is writing the book more than I am now. It's how it should be, if that makes any sense. I do wish her problems with her left hand wouldn't affect me so much, though. It makes it very hard to type. *laughs*
I hope I can finish this edit by the end of October, so I can send it to my critique buddies. Come January, I want to do a very intense edit on it and try my best to make it agent ready. It's the goal. I'll have to see how it works out.
The main thing I'm learning is this edit thing isn't too bad. It can even be a bit fun. Well, maybe. *grins*
Side note and completely unrelated to this post: Romeo jumped in the toilet today. It was so "EWWWWW!" Let's just say he got a bath when mommy took her shower this morning. Silly kitty!
October 4, 2010
Promo Monday
It's time for Promo Monday. Today I'll be promoting Emerald Tales, Vol. 2, No. 2 "It was a bright and sunny day" issue. My story "Grave Mistakes" is in it. I'm also promoting Heartsick by Chelsea Cain.
"Grave Mistakes" 3,408 words ThrillerScribblers and Ink Spillers Emerald Tales,Vol. 2, No. 2 "It was a bright and sunny day" April 2010
About this magazine issue: A lot can happen on a bright and sunny day: a student writes a story; time flies by an old man sitting outside his home; a teacher gets hooked into playing a computer game; The FBI is on the trail of a serial killer; A man tried to avoid making the same mistakes that he did in his first marriage; a teacher meets a man who knows a bit more than she does about the Elizabethan era; the animals of the forest teach owl a lesson; a man investigates a meteorite; an elderly couple prepare for their great-grandson's visit; there's a New World Order following the philosophy of Margaret Thatcher; and someone has changed all the King's horses into ducks.
With poetry by: John Hayes, Guy Belleranti, Matthew Byer, Amanda C. Davis, Marge Simon, Lauren McBride, Darrell Lindsey, and Michelle Mead.
Contributors: Guy Belleranti, Matthew Byer, Lisa Clark, Laurie Dalzell, Amanda C. Davis, Jason Flum, John Hayes, B. M. Kezar, Darrell Lindsey, Lauren McBride, Michael McGlade, Michelle Mead, Mario Milosevic, Jenny Morientes, Cherie Reich, Jennifer Schwabach, Marge Simon, Abra Staffin-Wiebe, and Justin Whitney
The electronic version is a free download in pdf format.
Website link: http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/emeraldtales.html
My Story's Blurb: After the Grave Digger makes the mistake of leaving a live victim, FBI agents Alex Reynolds and Ryan Delos are hot on his trail. They discovered their unsub, and they are waiting outside the cabin to arrest him and save his current abducted young woman. Yet, the agents make mistakes of their own. Who will come out alive in this fast-paced thriller?
Please do read my story and all the others in this great issue. The theme was "It was a bright and sunny day," and all the first lines had to begin like that. Also, if you read the free electronic version and enjoy the stories, please consider a donation to Scribblers and Ink Spillers.
*****
Title: HeartsickSeries: Gretchen Lowell/The Beauty KillerAuthor: Chelsea CainPublisher: St. Martin's MinotaurTo Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Heartsick-Chelsea-Cain/dp/B001C2DEYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282921403&sr=1-1 Blurb on the book cover: A Living Nightmare. Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful and brutal serial killer. In the end, she was the one who caught him…and tortured him…and then let him go. Why did Gretchen spare Archie's life and then turn herself in? This is the question that keeps him up all night—and the reason why he has visited Gretchen in prison every week since. A Deadly Obsession… Meanwhile, another series of Portland murders has Archie working on a brand-new task force…and heading straight into the line of fire. The local news is covering the case 24/7, and it's not long before Archie enters a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the killer—and his former captor. But this time, it's up to Archie to save himself…
To read my review of Heartsick, click here.
It's a fantastic first book in the Gretchen Lowell/Beauty Killer series!
"Grave Mistakes" 3,408 words ThrillerScribblers and Ink Spillers Emerald Tales,Vol. 2, No. 2 "It was a bright and sunny day" April 2010
About this magazine issue: A lot can happen on a bright and sunny day: a student writes a story; time flies by an old man sitting outside his home; a teacher gets hooked into playing a computer game; The FBI is on the trail of a serial killer; A man tried to avoid making the same mistakes that he did in his first marriage; a teacher meets a man who knows a bit more than she does about the Elizabethan era; the animals of the forest teach owl a lesson; a man investigates a meteorite; an elderly couple prepare for their great-grandson's visit; there's a New World Order following the philosophy of Margaret Thatcher; and someone has changed all the King's horses into ducks.
With poetry by: John Hayes, Guy Belleranti, Matthew Byer, Amanda C. Davis, Marge Simon, Lauren McBride, Darrell Lindsey, and Michelle Mead.
Contributors: Guy Belleranti, Matthew Byer, Lisa Clark, Laurie Dalzell, Amanda C. Davis, Jason Flum, John Hayes, B. M. Kezar, Darrell Lindsey, Lauren McBride, Michael McGlade, Michelle Mead, Mario Milosevic, Jenny Morientes, Cherie Reich, Jennifer Schwabach, Marge Simon, Abra Staffin-Wiebe, and Justin Whitney
The electronic version is a free download in pdf format.
Website link: http://www.scribblersandinkspillers.com/emeraldtales.html
My Story's Blurb: After the Grave Digger makes the mistake of leaving a live victim, FBI agents Alex Reynolds and Ryan Delos are hot on his trail. They discovered their unsub, and they are waiting outside the cabin to arrest him and save his current abducted young woman. Yet, the agents make mistakes of their own. Who will come out alive in this fast-paced thriller?
Please do read my story and all the others in this great issue. The theme was "It was a bright and sunny day," and all the first lines had to begin like that. Also, if you read the free electronic version and enjoy the stories, please consider a donation to Scribblers and Ink Spillers.
*****
Title: HeartsickSeries: Gretchen Lowell/The Beauty KillerAuthor: Chelsea CainPublisher: St. Martin's MinotaurTo Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Heartsick-Chelsea-Cain/dp/B001C2DEYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282921403&sr=1-1 Blurb on the book cover: A Living Nightmare. Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful and brutal serial killer. In the end, she was the one who caught him…and tortured him…and then let him go. Why did Gretchen spare Archie's life and then turn herself in? This is the question that keeps him up all night—and the reason why he has visited Gretchen in prison every week since. A Deadly Obsession… Meanwhile, another series of Portland murders has Archie working on a brand-new task force…and heading straight into the line of fire. The local news is covering the case 24/7, and it's not long before Archie enters a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the killer—and his former captor. But this time, it's up to Archie to save himself…
To read my review of Heartsick, click here.
It's a fantastic first book in the Gretchen Lowell/Beauty Killer series!
October 2, 2010
October Goals
It's October now, so it's time to wrap of how my writing life went in September and make my October goals.
Here are September's stats:
Submissions: 3 ("Magna's Plea," "Melek Katili," and "Lady Death")
Rejections: 4 ("Government Project 103-1-10," "Changeling," "Eat Your Heart Out," and "Melek Katili")
Acceptances: 0
Short Listed: 1 ("Magna's Plea")
Releases: 1 (Bloody Carnival)
Total Word Count: 11,225
It's not bad at all. I also wrote several short stories in the month of September and flash fiction pieces for Flash Fiction Fridays.
I'm changing things up again in October, and my word count will likely be way down this month, although it won't be because I'm not writing. I will be, but it'll be more rewriting and preparing.
I am trying to do a quick rewrite of Virtuoso this month. I'm literally retyping it from third person to first and making changes as I go. I'd like to finish this rewrite before the end of the month for two reasons. One, I can't do anything about the novel in November. For two, I want to get it to my critique partners, so I can know what they think. In December, I'll be submitting the first chapter and synopsis (which I'm also writing this month) to Wyvern Publications' novel competition. They don't choose the winner until May, so I'll have time to make a better revision of the novel before then.
This month, I'll be writing horror flash fiction for Flash Fiction Fridays. Don't forget to read yesterday's "She's a Real Doll."
I am also going to be working on a synopsis, outline, character sketches, etc. for Sarah's Nightmare. I want to have as much planned out as possible, so I can go into November 1 and begin writing.
I will also be finishing any November writing (the flash fiction, story for Raven and the Writing Desk, etc.) in October, so I don't have to bother with any of it in November.
And, to a few updates:
"Melek Katili" didn't make the semi-finals for All Romance eBook's Just One Bite contest. It's okay. I submitted it to More Scary Kisses anthology.
I sent the first 500 words of "Lady Death" to Rogue Blade Entertainment's Assassins: A Clash of Steel anthology. I received an email yesterday requesting the rest of the story, so I read through it once more and submitted it this morning.
And, I saw on Wyvern Publications' Facebook page the cover art for Mertales. It's an anthology Aubrie Dionne, Nicole Zoltack, me, and others are in. My story is "Neptune's Treasure." Here is the cover art:
Isn't it beautiful? I can't wait to get my contributor's copy!
Well, I'm off to prepare for the James River Writers Conference on Thursday and work on rewriting more of Virtuoso.
Here are September's stats:
Submissions: 3 ("Magna's Plea," "Melek Katili," and "Lady Death")
Rejections: 4 ("Government Project 103-1-10," "Changeling," "Eat Your Heart Out," and "Melek Katili")
Acceptances: 0
Short Listed: 1 ("Magna's Plea")
Releases: 1 (Bloody Carnival)
Total Word Count: 11,225
It's not bad at all. I also wrote several short stories in the month of September and flash fiction pieces for Flash Fiction Fridays.
I'm changing things up again in October, and my word count will likely be way down this month, although it won't be because I'm not writing. I will be, but it'll be more rewriting and preparing.
I am trying to do a quick rewrite of Virtuoso this month. I'm literally retyping it from third person to first and making changes as I go. I'd like to finish this rewrite before the end of the month for two reasons. One, I can't do anything about the novel in November. For two, I want to get it to my critique partners, so I can know what they think. In December, I'll be submitting the first chapter and synopsis (which I'm also writing this month) to Wyvern Publications' novel competition. They don't choose the winner until May, so I'll have time to make a better revision of the novel before then.
This month, I'll be writing horror flash fiction for Flash Fiction Fridays. Don't forget to read yesterday's "She's a Real Doll."
I am also going to be working on a synopsis, outline, character sketches, etc. for Sarah's Nightmare. I want to have as much planned out as possible, so I can go into November 1 and begin writing.
I will also be finishing any November writing (the flash fiction, story for Raven and the Writing Desk, etc.) in October, so I don't have to bother with any of it in November.
And, to a few updates:
"Melek Katili" didn't make the semi-finals for All Romance eBook's Just One Bite contest. It's okay. I submitted it to More Scary Kisses anthology.
I sent the first 500 words of "Lady Death" to Rogue Blade Entertainment's Assassins: A Clash of Steel anthology. I received an email yesterday requesting the rest of the story, so I read through it once more and submitted it this morning.
And, I saw on Wyvern Publications' Facebook page the cover art for Mertales. It's an anthology Aubrie Dionne, Nicole Zoltack, me, and others are in. My story is "Neptune's Treasure." Here is the cover art:
Isn't it beautiful? I can't wait to get my contributor's copy!
Well, I'm off to prepare for the James River Writers Conference on Thursday and work on rewriting more of Virtuoso.
