Why Two Writers in a Coffee Shop Will Receive Weird Looks

This Sunday I met with Swati, my "writing mentor", to talk about the first 15,000 words of WHERE THE DOVES WILL FLY. I may blog about what we discussed at a later point (I need time to process), but for now I'll share an observation I made - why two writers in a coffee shop (in this case, Starbucks) will receive weird looks.

For some, hearing two pretty average-looking people, one adult and one semi-adult (I'll be eighteen at the end of January, though a lot of people tell me I look/sound like a college student), talk about characters as if they are living people with histories and motivations and desires and futures in the context of writing and prose may be a little bit disconcerting. I'm sure that we weirded out the few people who sat close enough to us to hear the discussion.

Have you ever sat back and imagined what it would be like to hear two people - rational, healthy adults - talk about characters? As if they could come over to your house for a cup of tea?

It was very satisfying - one of the many reasons that I love writing so much.

Try it sometime.

(P.S. Have any funny stories of your own? Please share!)

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Challenged & Overwhelmed

I haven't written a word since October. I knew that writing during the school year was going to be tough, but not this tough.

The reason?

I realized early last month that I don't know how to write a novel. I've been in a state of panic since then. I wonder how many older and/or more experienced writers go through periods like this - I sit and stare at my computer screen and I can see the entire novel unfold before me, but I'm held back by the lack of knowing how to approach it.

A while back I was told by a writer - one whom I trust entirely - that I needed to rework the second half of my novel and she offered me suggestions in regards to content: what kind of character motivations I needed to have, what kind of plot lines needed to be altered, etc. I can handle that.

What I don't know how to handle are the techniques. I can read a book and identify an excellent climax from a mediocre one, but I don't know how to take the lives of my characters and weave them into a story that rings true to me (first off) as well as to many of those who will read it next.

This is a big problem. I know that I have written the first draft of a novel that isn't terrible, but now I don't know how to better it. I second-guess every decision I make in going forward with the second draft. The frustration was originally about being behind others. I watched writers find agents and get book deals and I sped up my writing and spewed out the last few chapters of this novel rapidly. I think being into my seventh year of writing 'officially' helped spur the intensity.

Fortunately, the process has slowly (but surely!) become about knowing how to write and knowing how to write better - rewriting and revising are two big components of that practice. After my internship, I realized that excellent writers, those who turn in tight and remarkable drafts, will always find a home. Not all of their projects will necessarily be published, but they as creators of art will have the opportunities they desire. So I'm patient now - totally, totally patient. I want to write a draft that can make me happy (because this one currently doesn't) and then can take away the breath of an agent or editor out there somewhere (like my breath was taken away while I interned).

This whole writing gig feels exponentially tougher for me as a teenager. My parents still aren't the biggest supporters of writing as a hobby - and definitely not a career. I told them that no one will stop me from working in the book publishing industry as an editor. As for the writing, I've never talked about it much. I know I can't ask them for money to take writing classes, but I'm not sure that writing classes can teach me the application of all the pieces I've read and learned about for years. I've found a live critique group, but it's still kind of large now, and I don't get the individual feedback I really, truly need. As for my online endeavors, I don't have the time to reciprocate, so I've paused my beta reading and critiques.

I don't know how to fix it. I keep on writing, pushing forward, but that's really a waste of time for me if I don't know what's right or what's wrong. I'm terrible at the big ideas - when reading someone else's work, especially when reading and reflecting upon my own. When a critique partner tells me, "I connected more with your MC in the previous draft," I can only throw up my hands, thank them for the criticism - which I'm sure has its merits - and then struggle through fixing it again.

This reality has become overwhelming. I love to write, but until Anna's (my main character in WHERE THE DOVES FLY) story is complete, it will haunt me. I can see her face. Sometimes I dream of these characters. I don't mean for that to sound freaky, but that's how it always has been for me. I envision a story unfolding in my mind and it plays on repeat until it's sealed away with my stamp of approval.

That means I need to finish this book. Whether it makes its way to an agent is an entirely different question. Right now I'm dealing with HOW DO I DO IT? Because I honestly can say I don't know what to do. Perhaps I should lower my standards?

The picture above can be found here.

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BOOK & MOVIE REVIEWS: "The Lost Symbol," "Up," and "A Serious Man"

Book Information (Courtesy of Amazon)

Hardcover: 528 pages

Publisher: Doubleday Books; First Edition edition (September 15, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0385504225

ISBN-13: 978-0385504225

Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches

Average Customer Review: 3 / 5 stars

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2 in Books

THE LOST SYMBOL begins with an ancient ritual, a shadowy enclave, and of course, a secret. Readers know they are in Dan Brown territory when, by the end of the first chapter, a secret within a secret is revealed. Again, brilliant Harvard professor Robert Langdon finds himself in a predicament that requires his vast knowledge of symbology and superior problem-solving skills to save the day.

I love a good Dan Brown. DIGITAL FORTRESS remains one of my favorite books of all time - I read it for the first time in middle school and then again and again and again. I started THE DA VINCI CODE a long time ago, but I never finished. I can't remember why. I have read ANGELS & DEMONS, however, and I got through THE LOST SYMBOL entirely last night.

It's hard for me to read a book that so eloquently merges history and symbolism with supreme action and say that I'm disappointed, but it is impossible not to compare THE LOST SYMBOL to all other good books with similar historical twists or to the rest of Brown's collection.

In the end, I'd give this piece of work 3.75 / 5 stars - the story and mystery are there, as is the action (I'm talking here about plot points, not the pace). Unfortunately, Brown doesn't make clear all character motivations, using a book template that his readers will be familiar with: introduce the bad guy, introduce the symbol that will carry the weight of the book . . . His pace has slowed down in this one, too. There are too many embedded history lessons, most of them awkwardly a part of dialog. Some chapters are also unnecessary - I'm disappointed with the editor for not cutting out some chunks that are really, really unnecessary.

Don't let this stop you from picking up a copy, though. Robert Langdon appears again to cleverly hook readers with his knowledge and aptitude, and the twist and ending are good - I sure didn't expect them.

By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn't alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

You've probably heard all of the good things there are to say about this movie, and I'd say that all those things are right. Whenever I hear consistently that a children's film is good, I watch it, and I rarely regret it. UP fulfills all of the expectations a kid may have going into a movie, and I felt it blow away all the expectations I had. It's an excellent story.

In the end, I give it 4.75 / 5 stars. Two things (both minor) that I didn't like were the semi-stereotypical bad guy and the ending that doesn't really address the reality of the situation. (If you've seen it, I'm referring here to Russell's dad.) There are questions left unanswered, and they don't hold answers that are necessary to enjoying the movie, but answers I still would have liked to hear.

The new film from Joel and Ethan Coen.

A SERIOUS MAN is the story of an ordinary Jewish man’s search for clarity in a universe where Jefferson Airplane is on the radio and “F-Troop” is on TV.

My friend Edward Jr. (that's not really his name) suggested that we drive into a smaller cinema in St. Paul and see what it was showing. We did. And we fell upon A SERIOUS MAN, the new film from brothers Joel and Ethan Coen (who have both directed movies Ed and I love). We jumped on the chance to see a film we hadn't heard anything about, and we both left incredibly happy - it really is true that the smaller movies are oftentimes the ones that are most life-changing and mind-boggling. This one was both in its simplicity - in a slow, poignant, and real portrayal of a man faced with some of life's smallest-but-greatest challenges, the directors explore some of humans' most common traits, emotions, and relationships.

I have no problem handing over a 5 / 5 stars and a recommendation to watch it when you can. I won't share anymore here, with the hope that you'll find it as good and thought-provoking as I did.

(P.S. To be completely fair, the movie was filmed in Minnesota, and a friend of mine has a minor part, though I didn't know that until after I saw her in the movie / saw the credits. But still. It was good.)

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A Thankgiving Thank You

In autumn when the trees are brown

The little leaves come tumbling down

They do not make the slightest sound

But lie so quietly on the ground

Until the wind comes puffing by

And blows them off towards the sky.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you,

and the storms their energy,

while cares will drop away.

John Muir

I'm thankful that my passion for writing has only grown, opening doors.

I'm thankful the opportunities I've been offered this year - for Flux, for the inkTANK council, for a coach who let me try a new debate type, for co-leading my school newspaper. On that note, I am also thankful for all the wonderful people I have met along the way.

I'm thankful for all my friends - the real-life and the online kinds - for letting me into their lives and for helping me grow as a person and as a writer.

I'm thankful that my mom's chemotherapy treatment has worked, and that I will have another year to spend with the one person in my life who has supported me unconditionally through life's numerous ups and downs. I am thankful, too, for my family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The photo above can be found here.

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Some Publishing Updates

I just wanted to post some pieces of good news that have gone up recently.

I recently interviewed author Holly Schindler. At the time of the interview, she'd just received the contract for her second YA, both forthcoming from Flux. A few days ago, she posted the cover art for A BLUE SO DARK, the first of the two YAs. The cover is gorgeous. I had the chance to see it while I was still at Flux and I think it fits the book perfectly. The good news? She has sold her third book to Blooming Tree Press: a romantic comedy for adults tentatively titled FIFTH AVENUE FIDOS.

Congratulations to Holly!

Also, you've probably seen Steph Bowe's name around the blog a few times. I interviewed her long before she signed with an agent and also relatively recently. Her novel, THESE BONES, has sold to an Australian house - Text Publishing.

Congratulations to Steph as well!

P.S. HAPPY TURKEY DAY, ALL!

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[Interview] Author Cat Connor

Please welcome crime thriller author Cat Connor to the blog today! She has been published extensively in various U.K. and U.S.A. publications, and she currently resides in Upper Hutt, New Zealand, with her husband and children. Cat's crime thriller novels, KILLERBYTE (April '09) and TERRORBYTE (November '09) are available from Rebel E Publishers. She is working on polishing the 3rd Conway book while writing the 4th.

Cat's quick rundown:
Blog / Website / Twitter

Welcome Cat! It's a pleasure to have you.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself, including the quirkiest thing about you as a person.

Son-the-younger introduces me as, “This is my mum Cat Connor – she writes awesome thrillers – go buy her books.” It’s cute especially when he has an arm draped around my shoulder and a few drinks under his belt. From that you can glean, I have at least two children, one who is very astute, old enough to drink, younger than his brother and taller than me.

I live in New Zealand. (For those who are scratching their heads and looking confused … it’s an island nation in the South Pacific. We’re part of the Commonwealth. About 4 mil people live in NZ. We can kick most countries' asses in rugby, and apparently, we’re not too bad at soccer either!)

Quirkiest thing about me as a person – crikey, where to start? For the last few years, in fact since the Lost Highway album came out, I listen only to Bon Jovi music while working. Other times I’ll listen to anything, I have seriously eclectic musical tastes. But when I’m working it's Bon Jovi and only Bon Jovi. I’m not entirely sure why, but it sure doesn’t hurt the writing process!

Is having a chicken in every novel quirky?

You've recently come out with a new novel! Can you tell us about the series and the second installment?

I’m looking for a series name at the moment – I refer to the books as the Conway series, but that doesn’t really work for me at all. The series is first person, written from the point of view of Special Agent Ellie Conway. You’re right there with her, seeing what she sees as cases unfold, relationships develop, her world changes, and madness edges ever closer.

It started with KILLERBYTE (which is now a finalist in the 2010 EPIC awards!! Oh my!!).

KILLERBYTE came out on April 10^th 2009 and introduced the world to my main character Ellie Conway. In a nutshell, KILLERBYTE is about a poetic psychopath who hunts and kills patrons of a chat room. It gets very messy. Dismembered bodies are left for Ellie (rather like the way a cat will leave dead mice for its owner). Unluckily for the Unsub Ellie is an FBI Agent with an unusual imagination and the guts to listen to her intuition. Even so, finding herself embroiled in his twisted plan takes her to the brink of insanity and seriously challenges her sense of humor.

My newest novel is TERRORBYTE, and it hit the online book stores on Nov 10^th 2009 – so it’s very new and shiny. (This is a tricky novel to describe without accidentally tossing spoilers into the mix.) TERRORBYTE sees Ellie Conway return: wisecracking, kicking ass and using her psycho-prophetic talents to grapple with a murderer with ulterior motives, secreted behind a series of grotesque crimes.

Now you’ve probably noticed the names of the novels: KILLERBYTE, TERRORBYTE … next are EXACABYTE, SATELLITE and ETHERNET. Full on geeky plays on the computer terms. Willing to listen to suggestions for an appropriately ‘computer geeky’ series name – don’t be shy: leave a comment or twitter me your suggestions for a series name @catconnor.

When did you decide to be a writer?

I didn’t. It was never on my ‘to do’ list. It’s not as if I decided to write a novel before I was 30 or anything. Many people do aspire to become novelists but not me… It just happened one night. I was sitting with my dogs and I picked up a pen and began to write. It took a few years and three novels before I found my voice and wrote KILLERBYTE.

How has your publication process looked like thus far?

It kinda looked like a twisted sick making roller coaster until January this year.

I don’t have an agent – that was something I gave up on a while ago. It’s simply not feasible from New Zealand, especially when so many agents still require the author to send printed manuscripts.

While I was deciding what I wanted to do, and how to approach the publishing business I set out to get some publishing credits in the form of published short stories, which I quite enjoyed writing and had no trouble placing with magazines and ezines. It was a way of proving to me that I was marketable.

KILLERBYTE first sold in 2005 but the publisher declared bankruptcy seven days before its release – turns out that was a hugely lucky escape for me! Even so, it took months to get my rights back!

I spent the next year concentrating on writing. Tried a few agents again, got the same unhelpful responses I’d gathered before and lost a lot of money on postage. Admittedly, I was feeling a tad jaded. Okay, I was close to throwing in the towel and quitting once and for all.

A friend in Australia stepped in and sent the first three chapters of KILLERBYTE to a friend of his at Penguin Australia, it then landed at Penguin NZ. The commissioning editor asked to read the first three books in the killerbyte series. She loved them but they weren’t kiwi enough for her to sell to the board! (So close and yet...)

She suggested going the eBook route and that I try the United States.

I grumbled and grumbled about the eBook thing until– eventually I met someone on Barry Eisler’s forum, turned out she was a publisher – I queried her at Rebel e Publishers (how very cheeky, but I really liked the company philosophy) and she LOVED killerbyte. The rest, well, it’s been a dream. I couldn’t ask for more helpful and caring publishers. Rebel has an awesome editor, Jayne Southern, and works with an amazing design company, Stenvert.co.za. They’ve since signed a friend of mine from Backspace. (After he and I discussed the merits of eBooks and smaller publishing houses.)

What about the FBI fascinates you? And what about your main character, Ellie Conway?

I don’t know that the FBI fascinates me, as such, law enforcement in general interests me. I’ve read a lot about the history of women in law enforcement, and I truly admire the spirit and guts those women have.

Traditionally, law enforcement has been a ‘boys club’ of sorts, and women have fought hard to prove they can do the job and do it well. (Not just in the FBI but in all forms of law enforcement – even the NZ police force.)

My main character is one of those women who knew she could do it and did it. When Ellie knocked on my door (figuratively), I knew she was an FBI agent and it didn’t take me long to realize she was my next main character. She’s gutsy, smart, intuitive, mentally tough (but she doesn’t think so), and very capable but she tempers all of that with a wicked sense of humor and the ability to laugh at herself and she isn’t afraid to vomit when needs must!

Do you have a writing schedule of any sort?

Not really – at the moment, I’m doing NaNoWriMo so every second I can grab is spent writing. Makes for one cranky mummy when I get the string of interruptions that go with having an almost 4-yr-old-truly-adorable-child in the house! I don’t write at night, I used too but have found with Breezy (almost 4) I’m too damn tired to do that and churn out anything decent. All my writing is squeezed in between 7am and about 8pm, and slotted around kids and household demands!

What has been the toughest part of maintaining a writers' life?

I’m not entirely sure what a writers’ life is. I’m very lucky in that I can be home with my kids and write. One of the hardest things is having people ask me about my work. I’m very conscious on spoilers, so I don’t say too much about my published works that will ruin the fun for readers!

I don’t talk about my works in progress. I may as well be a spy! It even drives me crazy sometimes. I have a writer friend who comes by for coffee once a week and I know it drives him mad because he wants to discuss scenes etc and I cannot do it. If I do talk about it I find my writing doesn’t flow, and worse… if I figure out how it all ends I can’t see the point of writing it. (Maybe that’s quirky, huh?)

Do you have any advice for beginning writers?

New writers – you have to write. You can’t learn to write without writing.

Grow a thick skin. Seriously, it helps, and you’ll find out why soon enough.

I don’t advise showing your work to anyone until you have a first draft and even then choose whom you want to show it too wisely. Be prepared to hear wonderful things from your family and friends. Then go find people you trust to be objective and solicit their opinion, what you need now is a critique partner but not one that will leave you a sobbing wreck!

Don’t be afraid to start again. It’s not a waste of time to drop a manuscript in your bottom draw and start over, it’s how we learn.

It can’t hurt to get some writing credits under your belt either, before you start shopping your novel. If you’re writing fiction – try writing some short stories and get those placed in magazines or ezines. (Always cool to be able to put a publishing history in your query letter to an agent or publisher.)

Finally, remember to breath, smile, and laugh. (Life’s just not that serious)

If writing were illegal would you still do it?

(The question was suggested by Karen Schindler at Miscellaneous Yammering.)

I would, bugger being told I couldn’t write. It’s not like I’m taking illegal drugs. (Although I have likened NaNoWriMo to Crystal Meth.) If writing were illegal I would still write, they might as well ban breathing. I suspect secret clubs would pop up, where writers would gather to share work with readers. (People didn’t stop drinking during prohibition, they just took it underground.)

On that note I would like to thank you for having me on your blog! I had a great time answering your questions, Weronika.

No, thank YOU, Cat!

*

If you can think of someone who would be a good interviewee,

or if you would like to join the ranks, please shoot me an email.

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With a Blink of My Eyes

I can't believe it's been a week since I last had the time to think about this blog - the debate tournament in Chicago made it hard to concentrate and work on so many things, so I limited myself to school and debate. My partner and I did very well: at the end of 6 preliminary rounds, our record was 4-2, and we were 27th out of 116 teams going into double-octofinals (the top 32 teams). We lost in double-octofinals, which means that we lost three rounds overall. Two of those rounds (our fourth round and the double-octofinal round) were losses to the national champions this past summer and the guys who won the tournament; the last one (our sixth round) was to a good team - a legitimate loss overall and we weren't frustrated with the decision.

This tournament is huge in regards to the amount of powerful teams it brings together and it was a huge honor and a very educational experience.

For you all, I have an interview from a novelist that I'll post tomorrow (and I'm sure you'll enjoy), and a few more things I'd like to share.

Hope you all have great weeks!

It's been seven days . . . before I could even blink my eyes.

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YES, I DO THIS FOR FUN!

Is it hard for you to believe that I am not just about writing/reading/publishing/high school (four significant categories in themselves)?

I will be in Chicago for four days this weekend to compete at a debate tournament.

Most people don't get debate. It's not a conversation about politics that matter.

It's intense. It's a full-blown discussion of hundreds of little issues. Most debaters know so much about the topics they debate they could write papers on them, and they form well-developed opinions and know how to argue extremely well. It's dangerous.

I'd like to introduce to you the activity I did for three years before switching to Public Forum, which holds a different format (less philosophy, slower); I couldn't keep up with doing all of the work individually, so I joined one of two partner debate forms (there are three in total) and now work with one of my best friends.

To get a good/understandable feel for it, watch at minimum 10 minutes - the Cross Examination (when the debaters pose each other questions) is at a conversational speed and super interesting. If you want to see just that, jump to about 6 minutes and wait.

Oh, and by the way (this might help), they are debating that, Resolved: The United States ought to submit to the jurisdiction of an international court designed to prosecute crimes against humanity.

Please enjoy this Lincoln Douglas round from the Tournament of Champions (a tournament that consists of the best debaters that had to qualify to attend):

Tournament of Champions 2009: Lincoln Douglas Semifinals

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WHERE THE DOVES FLY In Songs

I didn't even have to think about this one. Here are the songs that come to mind right off the bat (as representations of my novel WHERE THE DOVES FLY). The songs resonate with me on three levels primarily: lyrics, instrumentals, and artist emotion. Therefore, no one song is a representative sample of the novel. I don't think that this group of songs is representative.

I've starred the three songs that I think are truest to the novel. Each is a YouTube link. Enjoy!

* "Tears in Heaven" *

Eric Clapton

"Ordinary People"
John Legend

* "Aniol wie" *

Urszula

"Weeping"

Josh Groban

"Long Night"
The Corrs

"There You'll Be"
Faith Hill

"Breathe Me"

Sia

"Open Arms"

Mariah Carey

* "Can't Stop Loving You" *

Phil Collins

"Footprints in the Sand"
Leona Lewis

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