Archive for June, 2009

Bits and Pieces

30
June
2009

Here are a few bits and pieces of news:

FORTUNE’S FOLLY has gotten a couple more nice reviews…

“Mixing romance, adventure, and unpredictable plot twists, this heartwarming story is a must for every collection.”
~School Library Journal

“Practical, determined, and immensely likable, Fortunata is a compelling heroine.”
~The Horn Book Guide

I’ve received the proof pages for THE MAGICAL MISADVENTURES OF PRUNELLA BOGTHISTLE. As it was with FF, this is definitely one of my favorite parts of the process: seeing the manuscript looking like a real book! The fonts and such may be changing because the cover is still in the works, but it already looks wonderful. I also heard some very exciting (to me, at least) stuff about the cover, but I don’t want to say anything more until I actually see it!

And lastly, I just this morning finished my first revision pass on the circus book. I am still buzzing about it because I had one of those nifty experiences where you realize that you’ve set up something that clicks into place perfectly, without actually meaning to. Yay, subconscious plotting!

Recipe for Happiness

25
June
2009

No, I don’t actually have one. Though adorable dog + beloved husband + excellent reading material + tea + chocolate works pretty well.

There’s been a bunch of excellent posts around the internet lately, talking about writerly self-confidence and angst, envy, happiness, and everything in between. And it’s something I’ve been thinking about quite a bit since selling my books. So although I don’t have a recipe for happiness, I do think I’ve started to understand myself a little better. I’ve still got a ways to go, but I wanted to put a few things down here, for myself, and for anyone else who might find them useful.

I remember very distinctly going into a bookstore in November of 2003 (while I was in the middle of drafting Fortune’s Folly, actually!) and feeling a physically painful yearning: I wanted my book to be there. I wanted other people to read my stories, and enjoy them. To establish that connection with readers. And I did believe that if I could sell my book, that yearning feeling would go away and I’d be happy.

Then I picked up a book (it was Kai Meyer’s The Water Mirror, which takes place in a fantasy Venice) and felt this huge wave of self-doubt: Fortune’s Folly also involves a fantasy city inspired by Venice and all I could think was that I was an unoriginal hack. In fact, I just went and found the old livejournal post from that day. Here’s an excerpt:

So many wonderful authors. So many beautiful words and fabulous characters. I’m having a crisis of faith in my ability now. My characters are flat and unlikable, my prose stinks, my plot is silly, etc.

At least I had some inkling of what was really going on, since I also said:

But it’s happened before and I know this too shall pass. Hopefully by tomorrow. I need my positive energy…

It took a lot more yearning and a lot more self-doubt (and a lot of rejections!) but I finally did sell Fortune’s Folly in early 2007. I was over the moon, thrilled, excited, dancing around the house. It was definitely one of the happiest experiences of my life so far.

And yes, I think on the whole I am happier today, in 2009, than I was in 2003. Part of that is thanks to knowing my book is out there, that I made my dream happen, and that people are reading it. The very sharpest pains of yearning have been dulled. I can’t remember the last time I lay awake at 2AM wrestling with existential angst. And there’s plenty of non-writing things have also made me happier: moving to a state and city I love where I am near my good friends, adopting a dog, taking more control of my fitness and health, planting a garden. I’m even reading better books! A lot of it, though, is just plain recognizing that life is valuable. Time is valuable. I’m better now at prioritizing what really matters to me and mine, and cutting out what isn’t.

But I also still yearn painfully for things I don’t have (starred reviews, awards, foreign rights sales, etc.). And I still dip into valleys of doubt, in which I am convinced I am an utterly untalented hack. Realizing that I was still going to have to battle envy and self-doubt was one of the least pleasant discoveries of the past two years. I spent a good amount of energy being angry at myself for not being happier.

Thank goodness for the internet, though, because it’s connected me with so many wise and wonderful fellow writers and book-lovers, and I think I am finally starting to get a clue how to make this work. The thing is: wanting more is part of human nature. It’s what drives us to build space shuttles and create symphonies. Seeing faults is part of human nature. It’s what allows us to experiment and develop the science to build those space ships, and to find the right notes that harmonize so perfectly.

So here’s what I do.

When I’m fighting with envy: The big key for me is recognizing that I don’t really want exactly what someone else has. I may envy J. K. Rowling’s success but I honestly don’t wish I had written Harry Potter. I love those books, but they aren’t mine. What I really truly want is for that thing to happen to me, for my own books to be good enough to make people love them. If I can twist it around in my mind just right, it turns the envy into a desire to improve my own writing, to try harder, to dare for more.

When I’m fighting self-doubt: There are two things that help with this. One is simply that I’ve gone through enough ups and downs to know that both are temporary. So when I am having a miserable day, I can look back and remind myself that I had a miserable day last month too, and it passed. The second thing I do is to focus on my enthusiasm, rather than my self-confidence. I thank my fellow writer R. J. Anderson for that realization, since she’s the one who first directed me to this excellent article. The thing is, I may not be confident that other people will like my work, or that it will sell, or even that my writing is up to snuff. But I know that I was enthusiastic about the story, that there’s something about it I love and want to bring out. So I focus on what excites me and makes little shivers run along my skin as I dream about it. If I can find the love rather than dwelling on the fears, I can usually move onward.

It doesn’t always work, but it’s what I strive for, and I think it’s helping me make my envy and self-doubt work for me, rather than the other way round.

How about you folks? Anyone else struggle with these things? How do you cope?

Debut 2009 Blog Tour: Mandy Hubbard

25
June
2009

Today I’m happy to welcome Mandy Hubbard to my blog, to answer a few questions about her recently released debut novel Prada and Prejudice.

Q: Tell us about a scene or character from your novel that was especially easy (or especially difficult) to write.

A: Callie was a tough one. Over time, she morphed into a completely different character, about around drafts 4-6 she was a real mishmash of the two personalities. I had a hard time getting rid of her old traits… it was like a ghost of her former character was hanging out!

Q: What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) myths or fairy-tales, and why? Or alternately, what fairy-tale or myth do you dislike, and why?

A: My favorite is probably The Little Mermaid. I still love Cinderella, but I’m more a fan of the Drew Barrymore film EVER AFTER than the disney movie– the Disney version makes Prince Charming seem flat and boring. I like the more flawed prince in EVER AFTER.

Q: EVER AFTER is one of my all-time-favorites too! So, what has been the most exciting part of selling your book(s) and getting published so far?

A: Seeing reviews of people who actually liked and/or loved my novel. It is still really strange to think that strangers everywhere will read it.

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Poetry

20
June
2009

Honestly, I don’t read a lot of poetry and I’ve never tried writing it outside of school assignments, but there are certain poems that have just stuck with me. This is one of them, which I had forgotten for a long time, but which came back to me (well, a few lines came back, then google helped with the rest) after one of those glorious sun-spattered days we had last week. Yes, part of the reason I am posting this is to lure the sun back again. I do enjoy the fact I’ve been able to make good use of my new tattooed rain boots but enough is enough!

Pied Beauty

GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.

~Gerard Manley Hopkins

Debut 2009 Blog Tour: Sarah Ockler

20
June
2009

Today I’m happy to welcome Sarah Ockler to my blog, to answer a few questions about her recently released debut novel Twenty Boy Summer.

Q: Tell us about a scene or character from your novel that was especially easy (or especially difficult) to write.

A: Frankie Perino, the main character’s best friend in Twenty Boy Summer, was the most challenging character to write. I knew that a lot of readers wouldn’t connect with or even like Frankie, because on the surface, she’s very shallow, materialistic, and bossy. But underneath all of her masks is a grieving, devastated girl who lost her brother only a year earlier and who is still struggling to be herself in the shadow of the family tragedy. I felt sad for her, knowing that I was creating someone with whom many readers wouldn’t empathize, but I had to write her honestly. It was a huge but rewarding challenge for me.

Q: What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) myths or fairy-tales, and why? Or alternately, what fairy-tale or myth do you dislike, and why?

A: I’m not sure if it’s considered a myth or fairy tale, but I love The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I’m amazed at how Tolkien created an entire world, complete with its own rich history and mythology. Reading the trilogy, I’m transported to another time and place, as if all of these people and creatures and realms existed before us or alongside us in another world. The story itself builds on the traditional hero’s quest, but the characters and setting are so detailed and layered that I always get carried away in the story. I love books that do that!

Q: What has been the most exciting part of selling your book(s) and getting published so far?

A: Hearing from readers! Yes, seeing the book on the shelves has been incredibly surreal and exciting, but when I hear from a reader who really connected with the characters and struggles in Twenty Boy Summer, it’s like a reminder from the universe about why I’m writing books for teens. I mean, not that I need a reminder, because I *love* writing YA, but it’s a great feeling to know that even just one reader was touched by my book enough to send me an email or Facebook message. :-)

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I love libraries!

18
June
2009

Last night I did my first open-to-the-public library talk at Lithgow Library in Augusta ME, and it was excellent! I had a tremendously fun time and did not get nearly as nervous as I feared.

The event was held in an amazing room that probably has a cool name I neglected to record. Among other things it has a really high ceiling, all sorts of embellishments on the walls, stained glass, a Grandfather Clock, and a huge fireplace. It was definitely a fun space for a talk, making me feel like I was a guest in someone’s manor house.

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Book Reports

15
June
2009

I did a little poll on my livejournal about what people were most interested in reading about on this here blog. The winning topic was “books I’m reading and what I think about them” so I am going to make more of an effort to crosspost my thoughts from Goodreads over here.

Here’s some recent reads. If you’ve read any of these, what did you think? And if you are a Georgette Heyer fan, what are your favorites?

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Draft Done

15
June
2009

Whew! The first draft of Circus Galacticus is DONE. I love the mad rush to the end of the book, when all I want to do is just writewritewrite until I have it out, but it sure is tiring. I normally shoot for 1000 words a day when I am drafting, but in the three days on CG I added over 10K. No wonder my brain still feels like mush.

I think the universe must be paying attention, though, because it has been raining and raining and raining, giving me excellent opportunities to try out my cool new boots, which were my reward-aka-bribe for finishing the draft. I love them! Not only are they keeping my toes dry, they’re also inspiration for my hopefully-next writing project, which involves ghosts, pirates, Maine, fiddles, mermaids, and tragic, star-crossed romance.

But first, there’s still plenty to be done on Circus Galacticus: I have two characters to rip out (one forever, since the role I thought he would fill was taken over by someone cooler. The other character will show up if I get to write a sequel) plus several events that need better setup. And there’s the usual cleanup where I realize I’ve said “He grinned” a bazillion times and every character is raising her eyebrows and flashing his smile constantly. But now I have something solid to work with. And I am already really eager to dive back in. I hope that’s a good sign, since often I have the opposite feeling: I finish the draft and just want to walk away for a few weeks (or even years). My plan is to not touch it for two weeks or so, then go back and get it fit to be seen by beta readers.

In the meantime, I have a ton of reading to catch up on, and brainstorming to do for the new Ghost Pirate book. I’m also giving my very first “talk” at Lithgow Library in Augusta ME this Wednesday (the 17th) at 6:30 PM. I’ll be talking about writing Fortune’s Folly, and about fairy tale and myth-based fantasy novels in general. I’m making a handout with a list of other MG and YA novels that include fairy tale or mythic elements so if you all have any favorites please comment to share them. I’d love some more suggestions!

Debut 2009 Blog Tour: Sarah Cross

11
June
2009

Today I’m happy to welcome Sarah Cross to my blog, to answer a few questions about her recently released debut novel Dull Boy. I am extra-excited about this book because it’s about SUPERHEROS! As a girl who with a closet full of comic books I have been eager to get my hands on a copy of Dull Boy ever since I read the synopsis. And check out the amazing cover! Look, her name is in comic book font and everything.

I only recently picked up a copy for myself, so I’ll be coming back later with my own review after I’ve read it. But for now, here’s some tidbits from Sarah:

Q: Tell us about a scene or character from your novel that was especially easy (or especially difficult) to write.

A: Action scenes are always hard to write. It’s like writing a regular scene and then doing choreography on top of it, while making sure that the action you’re describing never feels mechanical. And yet I always look forward to writing them.

Q: What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) myths or fairy-tales, and why? Or alternately, what fairy-tale or myth do you dislike, and why?

A: I love Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” because the tin soldier falls in love with the ballerina for all the wrong reasons, and it ends badly, and I somehow find tragic toy romance really
moving. Don’t judge me. ;)

Q: What has been the most exciting part of selling your book(s) and getting published so far?

A: Seeing the interior design for the first time was by far the most exciting part of the process. Oh–that and getting a Library of Congress summary for Dull Boy. I love those summaries! They’re so efficient.

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Character Strengths and Weaknesses

03
June
2009

I had a writing epiphany yesterday, and like most of my writing epiphanies, it’s something relatively basic I just never took the time to think about until now.

It started as I was struggling over a new chapter in my circus book. The MC has (almost) hit rock-bottom, having recently screwed a number of things up in her life and learned some things about her past that she didn’t like. Now she needs to go obtain a piece of information that will progress the external plot to the next stage. The information is in the spaceship recycling system, which happens to be inhabited by Something Alien. My initial thought was “Oh, she can fight it”, because this MC’s primary strengths are her bravery and physical abilities. To reduce things to gaming terminology, if Fortunata was a bard (strong in words and wits) and Prunella was a mage (strong in magic and knowledge), then Trix is a warrior (hit it! hit it again!).

The problem is, I myself find just hitting/shooting things boring most of the time. There needs to be something critical and meaningful at stake, or there needs to be witty banter, or it needs to be spectacularly beautiful (which generally means it has to be a movie/tv show – I do love a good kung fu movie!). Otherwise, the story takes on a certain video-game quality: Fight X, get Y, Fight Z, Advance to level Q.

Looking back to my last two writing projects, I realized how fun it was to set challenges in front of the main characters, because they couldn’t just fight their way through them. They had to be clever and think outside the box, and sometimes they failed, but they kept trying. Their limitations were as inspiring as their strengths.

And that’s when I had my epiphany: I need to throw some things at Trix that don’t play to her strengths. Giving her something to beat up is too easy. I need to confront her with something that targets her weaknesses. As soon as I thought that, the whole scene started outlining itself in my brain.

What about you guys? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your favorite characters? And if you’re a writer, how do you balance strengths and weaknesses of your characters?