On Writing

  • ·

    Studio 60 and dialogue

    Watched the premiere of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip last night. Really enjoyed it. Great cast, great concept, great execution.

    And really great dialogue.

    The intelligent, sharp, rat-a-tat exchanges between the characters were one of the best parts of the show. And one of the best parts of TV and movies in general.

    The truth is that you just can’t do that kind of rapid-fire dialogue in books. Oh, you can have great dialogue, no question, but you can’t go overboard with it the way you can in other mediums. After a couple of lines in a book or short story, people lose track of who’s talking. Without any visual aids to cue them in … well, it’s just not as thrilling as it is in the movies and on TV.

    What about you? Do you love great dialogue? Or does description make your heart sing? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • ·

    782 and counting … and the problem with historicals

    2 Comments

    For those of you keeping count, I read my 782nd book this weekend — Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas. It’s the first book in her popular “Wallflower” series.

    I enjoyed it. One of the best things about historicals is the witty banter between the hero/heroine, which Kleypas excelled at in this book. I also loved the friendship between the four “wallflowers.” I think we’ve all been a wallflower at some point in our lives. I wish I’d had friends like Lillian, Daisy, and Evie to hlpe me through the tough times.

    But I had one quibble with the book, and it’s more a quibble with historical romances in general — why does the heroine almost always have to be a virgin? I realize that times were different back then, but c’mon. People had sex then, too. Men and women. Otherwise the human race would have died out a long time ago.

    I can think of only two historicals I’ve read in recent years where the heroine hasn’t been a virgin — one of the Bridgerton novels by Julia Quinn and a book by Karen Hawkins. The names escape me at the moment.

    Sometimes, when I read a historical, I just want the heroine to have her way with the hero, instead of it always being the other way around. I want her to be the one doing the teasing and chasing and seducing. If anyone knows of any historicals that break the mold a bit, please let me know. I’m always on the lookout for a good, different read.

    What about you? Have you read the “Wallflowers” series? Do you like your historical heroines to be virginial? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • Write and write often — no matter what anybody says

    3 Comments

    Met with my monthly critique group last night. And was saddened to know that one member wouldn’t be joining us. She recently received a critique/rejection from an agent, and she was pretty much crushed by it. She said she doesn’t feel that she can critique other people’s work when her own wasn’t up to this agent’s standards.

    I tried to change her mind, of course. To tell her that everyone’s opinion matters and that she does us all a great service with her critiquing.

    But she didn’t change her mind and come.

    And I started to wonder — why do we let agents and editors determine so much of our self-worth as writers? Sure, I know everybody wants to sell and see their pride and joy in a bookstore. I’m no different. I’m practically counting down the days until Karma Girl is out (it’s something like 230, not that I’m obsessing or anything). Everybody wants to be the next Nora Roberts. Everybody wants to hit the bigtime.

    But I got over 200 hundred rejections for three different books before I got my fabulous agent (Hi, Kelly!) and my terrific editor (Hi, Cindy!). Some of those rejections were nice. Some were impersonal. And some were just mean.

    I think the worst one I got said something like this: I love your voice and premise. But as I’m sure you’ve already placed this, I’m going to have to pass.

    Um, no, I hadn’t placed it. That’s why I wasted my 39 cents, paper, ink, envelope, etc. and mailed it to you. Geez.

    I tried to tell my critique buddy some of my horror stories and to encourage her to submit to other people. That one person’s opinion isn’t going to make (or in this case) break her. But I haven’t changed her mind. Yet.

    So, I think we should all remember this — writing a book, no matter how good or bad it is, is an amazing accomplishment. It’s something that everybody says they’re going to do, but only like 1 percent of the population ever does. So, be proud of yourself, even if all your book ever does is collect dust bunnies under your bed. I’ve got a few manuscripts down there with you, too. 🙂

    What about you? Do you live and die by what agents and editors say? Or do you feel a sense of accomplishment no matter what? Inquiring minds want to know …