All the World's a Page

2010-09-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

Not Fun To Think About But....

Not long ago, there was a post to several loops by a family member trying to let people know his mom had passed away. It was a sad post and difficult for the son, because he didn't know exactly who to inform. This got me thinking about what my family would be faced with if something happened to me.

One thing I really need to do is update my contact list with basic info that my family can use. I'm still working on the exact wording, because "let this person know if I've died" seems kind of...I don't know...

I certainly need to tag contacts by whether I have business dealings and/or if they are personal friends.

Beyond the informing part of the situation, I also need to make it easy for my family to sort out my writing business and protect the rights to my intellectual property in the process.

I have talked to my kids about what of my personal property they might be interested in. I love my books and other things I've collected, but the last thing I want is for them to become a burden to my family when they are already (at least I hope they will be) struggling with losing me.

While it's not fun to think of the end of our lives, if we don't look to our personal affairs, we risk leaving the people we love dealing with chaos when they are already grieving.

One need only look to Steig Larsson, (author if you don't know) who left his live in lover out in the financial cold upon his untimely demise, to realize that if we want any say in what happens to our stuff after we die, we need to arrange our affairs before that moment.

Not all inheritance laws are equal, so make sure you take the time to protect the people--and your legacy--before it's too late.
perilously
Pauline

2010-08-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

Post Conference Musings on Writing Business

When ever I spend time with other authors, my juices get flowing, both creative and business. With so much happening so fast in the industry at large (i.e. Dorchester/digital ramp up), it was even more interesting to rub shoulders and share thoughts with other authors from all walks of publishing life.

I came away with two over-riding thoughts from these discussions.

First, it is time for authors to realize that publishing IS a business. While the marriage with art and business will always be an uneasy one, publishers publish books TO MAKE MONEY.

This shouldn't be the shock it seems to be to some writers. There are contracts involved (a HUGE heads up that this is a business). If you are lucky, money exchanges hands either up front or some time during the interaction. Your book GOES ON SALE to readers. You aren't (usually) giving it away. Or if you are, it is in hopes of generating interest in your other work (i.e. a promotional exercise hoping to generate SALES).

Do you see a pattern here that heightens the whole "publishing is a business" reality?

What this means for the author is that when a publisher agrees to publish a book, they and the author are entering into a business relationship. You aren't becoming best friends (though it is wonderful if that also results from the relationship). You aren't getting married to each other and you aren't doing the publisher a HUGE favor by "allowing" them to publish your "art." It is a business transaction that both parties hope will result in a flow of money to both of you.

Like you, they have bills to pay and while they might get into the business because they love books, they won't be able to stay in business if they don't make money at some point. If they are publishing your book and don't make money EVER, eventually they will get out of the business and orphan author AND book.

So when you engage in this business transaction, it is in YOUR best interests to do all you can to make sure that YOUR book sells. Particularly within the small press world, this is almost a business partnership, because you are taking responsibility for your part of the publishing equation.

Which brings me to my next point: It isn't, IMHO, an imposition to take responsibility for helping to promote YOUR book/product. I can't believe how often I heard authors complaining about publishers not promoting them.

A publisher has many authors/books that they like enough to publish, but YOU HAVE YOU and your own books. No one, not even your mom, is going to care as much as you do about your work. Why should it be an imposition to participate in promoting your work to readers? Why shouldn't you have a vested interest in the success of YOUR work?

Personally, I care very much about MY product and am happy to take responsibility for my work. I like the fact that I can make a difference in how well my books do. Would I like to have a bunch of money thrown into advertising in my behalf? Sure? Do I want my success almost wholly dependent on whether my publisher will do that? And if they don't, do I want to know they will dump me because they didn't promote my work? No.

We all make choices about who to submit to for publication. Those choices (and getting accepted for publication) determine the type of interaction you wil have with your publisher. If you submit to someone, you should already know what type of relationship you will have with that publisher. You should know BEFORE you submit what they will do for you and what they won't.

A small publisher can and should promote their PUBLISHING HOUSE, but they probably won't have the resources to actively promote each author or book. If you sign on for a small press experience, if you sign a small press LEGAL contract, you shouldn't be surprised when you don't have a New York experience. And if you sign up for the NY experience, you shouldn't be surprised when you get it.

All publishing paths have their ups and downs, but the author who does their homework knows them, prepares for them and is able to take the highs and lows in their stride because they did their research BEFORE they submitted anywhere.

I am so excited by the possibilities inherent in the current tumult in publishing. For too long, authors have lacked power in the publishing equation. This reset of the publishing model is rife with power shifting that we're already seeing going on with bigger name authors. A savvy author will do their research, pick the best model for THEIR business/product and enjoy the wonderful ride that is the publishing business.
perilously,
Pauliine

2010-08-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

NUTS AND BOLTS OF PROMOTION

How soon is too soon to begin promoting a new work? Theories abound, but most agree 3 months is reasonable. I compared to movie trailers. So many producers show trailers early, early, early and by the time the movie opens, it has become so familiar I find myself asking if I’ve seen this movie. To say the least, my initial enthusiasm has waned, but movie producers should know what works, shouldn’t they???

Question: hire a publicist or get in the trenches and get those nuts and bolts connected? What’s the best way to go? It would be great to hire someone with PR knowledge to put my book(s) in the marketplace, but that would come with a price. If the price weren’t too great, it would be worth it, don’t you agree? I can see heads shaking back and forth saying “Nonsense. You can do it yourself, stuff that money back in your pocket and use it for promotional materials.” Maybe, but how about the argument that time spent on promotion takes time away from creating that next best seller and besides that, the average writer doesn’t know how to get the most bang for his buck. Catch-22?

How about on-line promotion? Very attractive to me. It’s been said that this type campaign, if done right, has the potential of reaching anyone with an Internet connection. True, but you have to put yourself on social contact ladders and find your audience, your ideal reader. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? BUT one has to research the best ladders for his platform. My conclusion after this small bit of self-prodding is use the Internet to its full advantage. I have a website, I had trailers for my previously published books (I can do that again), I’m on Facebook, Twitter, etc., I try to comment on other authors’ blogs, I’m on the lookout for new social avenues. I CAN DO MORE and I know it.

I have goals in place on what I desire to achieve for the new book(s), I just need to organize my plan of action. I love talking to people about my work and other authors’ works, so bookstore appearances or readings in public hold no fear. In other words, I’m willing to do whatever it takes (within reason, of course) to make this book(s) the very best it can be.

I can’t leave this subject alone without recommending the valuable information in Linda Houle’s The Naked Truth About Book Publishing recently released by Wisdom Trends, www.wisdomtrends.com, available in paperback and Kindle Edition at Amazon. There are many jewels filling the pages of Linda’s book and whether you are pre-published or published, they are worthy of putting in your treasure chest.

In my present search for promotional success, I’ve found it profitable to check off Linda’s suggestions to see where I am NOW and I keep repeating Linda’s words, “…a book is a product and you are now in the business of selling it to readers!” So, I ask myself if I’ve done everything Linda suggests. A quick ‘yes’ slips through my lips – then I have to admit there’s room for improvement.

The second recommendation is information imparted in workshops and a Muse On-line Conference by Pauline Baird Jones and Jamie Engle. If you’ve been fortunate to hear one of these presentations, you are well on your way to “crafting a total promotion plan.” A check-off list should include “Building a Platform, Speaking Engagements, Expanding Your Reach (offline and online),” etc.

Perhaps it’s a good exercise for a writer to review periodically what’s worked and what’s not worked in the past. Even though one might have a ‘favorite’ type of exposure, if it is hasn’t worked, it simply hasn’t worked – time to readdress social networking sites to see which ones are pertinent to your platform.

Conclusion? If I can’t direct myself to the best campaign possible with the aforementioned information in hand, I should get assistance and stop whining. Before I close, though, how about a little self-promotion for my next novel , Valley of Obsessions? Egypt, a land filled with obsessions, passions, and fantasies, is fertile ground for Desiree Roberts’ dreams. Her journey, filled with unexplained phenomena, leads her down a dangerous path of no return.

Comments, suggestions are welcome.

Keep writing,

Betty Gordon
www.bettygordon.com

2010-07-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

WRITER’S BLOCK

Writer’s block is a devious torture that attacks an author and grips his mind with nothingness. I’ve been fortunate, knock on wood, for this malady to pass me by – until now, that is. Believe me, I have the utmost sympathy for those suffering from this torture.

I don’t mean to infer my writing transferred from brain to fingers to computer in the blink of an eye – far from it, but I had not experienced sitting in front of a computer screen for very long without some words trickling out.

I’m sure there are numerous reasons for a ‘block.’ In my case, the recent death of a loved one triggered this response. At the time I thought writing would aid in the healing process. Wrong! Up stepped a wall of nothingness. Maybe I shouldn’t say ‘nothingness’ because I could get a page out here and there, but I’d almost have a panic attack in the process. I finally gave up. It’s been a month now and the well of words is no longer dry. I had a dream that showed a huge cornucopia filled with letters written on small pieces of cardboard. The letters tumbled out forming words. That was my signal – my writing process was on its way back - perhaps not as fast as before, but fast enough.
Have you had a ‘block’ to break through?

I’d love to hear responses from other writers about this hindrance to the Great American Novel.

Good writing,

Betty Gordon

2010-06-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

A SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH…

SUSAN WHITFIELD, author of the award-winning Logan Hunter Mystery Series and friend to writers everywhere. Susan generously gives her time to showcase authors on the internet and assist them with marketing and timely information. On behalf of fellow writers, we salute you, Susan.

1. BIO.:

I’m a late bloomer. After marrying my college sweetheart at 19, I waited until our two sons started school to go back to college and complete my B.S. I taught English for 13 years, earning my MA.Ed in the process. I moved into high school administration and earned my doctorate. I really didn’t have time to write fiction although the desire stayed with me. When I retired from my principalship in 2005, I got serious about writing what I really wanted to write instead of what I was required by my position. I’m a North Carolina native and set my novels somewhere in this beautiful state.
1. DESCRIBE SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT READERS/WRITERS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN:
My books would probably frighten me if they came to life on screen, especially Just North of Luck.
2. YOUR BACKGROUND AS AN EDUCATOR IS IMPRESSIVE. WAS IT DIFFICULT TO SWITCH GEARS INTO FICTION?
After earning three degrees and working full-time too, I had no time to even consider fiction as a possibility. Everything I read and wrote was nonfiction academia. What I found difficult was the repetition they insisted on for nonfiction writing. It really went against everything I’d been taught and what I taught hundreds of students. I was delighted when I earned the doctorate and knew I was done with that. Don’t get me wrong. The degree has certainly improved my life, but I enjoy fiction now. I’m not sure I could ever go back to nonfiction.
3. WHEN YOU BEGAN YOUR QUEST INTO FICTION, WHAT WRITER(S) INFLUENCED YOU THE MOST OR ONES YOU MIGHT CONSIDER MENTORS?
When time permitted, I’d occasionally pick up a romance I could read quickly. Then I found a James Patterson novel, bought it, and I was hooked. I’ve read all of the Cross series and absolutely love it. I also follow Deaver, Gerritsen, Scottoline, and many others. I live in a rural area and seldom meet authors in person. I am looking forward to meeting Jeffrey Deaver when I go to Killer Nashville in August.
4. ENVIRONMENT. The following quote on your website regarding “Sin Creek” (scheduled for a late fall, 2010 release is not only intriguing but couched in beautiful language:
“The Cape Fear River snakes through eastern North Carolina past the
stunning port city of Wilmington, and sidling up next to it is Gator Creek.
Some call it “Sin Creek”, a sliver of water where wickedness and decadence
Take precedence over decency.”
TELL US MORE.
Thanks. I think it’s a good hook for the back cover of Sin Creek, based on a truth a student told me. The story is about young folks who eagerly go into the porn industry to raise a grand in the hand for tuition that’s due and some stay in for the thrill of it…a decadent and dangerous way to live. I wrote this book to raise awareness about a very disturbing trend. In the book, Logan Hunter has to investigate the death of a college freshman and uncovers shocking behavior that rattles her to the bone.
5. THE LOGAN HUNTER SERIES HAS ENJOYED TREMENDOUS POPULARITY. HOW DIFFIICULT WILL IT BE TO LEAVE THESE CHARACTERS AND WRITE A STAND-ALONE?
I’ve been wanting to write a book about two ladies who’ve been friends since infancy, so I knew that once I completed Sin Creek and placed it in the publishers’ hands, I’d work on it. In The Goose Parade of Old Dickeywood (working title), two menopausal women have lots of crazy adventures while trying to save the goose population that’s taking over the subdivision and riling the neighborhood. If you’ve ever been around geese, you know what they leave all over the grass.
6. WILL THE LOGAN HUNTER SERIES BE OPEN-ENDED FOR RETURN?
Sin Creek ends in such a way that Logan can return at any time. She’s such a strong woman, I imagine she has more adventures coming. I’m looking forward to readers’ reactions to this book and the knowledge that I’m not working on a fifth one at this time.
7. DESCRIBE YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE.
I have a wonderful year-round sunroom that overlooks our pond. I write at the large tavern table where my work sprawls unless someone comes to dinner. It’s glorious!
8. WHAT ASPECT OF WRITING DO YOU ENJOY MOST—PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT OF PLOT/CHARACTERS, RESEARCH, PUTTING WORDS TO PAPER, EDITING, ETC.?
Gee, that’s a good question and difficult to answer. I’m pretty much a pantster, so planning is not an issue in the beginning. Most of the research is done online because I know most of the settings I use even though I take great liberties with them. I will have to do a great deal of research when I start the historical fiction I hope to do. I tremendously enjoy developing my characters and plots. Editing doesn’t bother me since I have plenty of experience in that area, but I’ve learned that I can’t always find my own problems so I enlist the help of other writers who are willing to help me out. I am always glad to return the favor.
9. WHAT THEMES DO YOU FEEL MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT IN YOUR WRITING?
Child molestation pops up in every book in one way or another, and even though I was never a victim myself, I can’t bear to hear about the horrors some children endure. Another theme is Just North of Luck and Sin Creek is organ donation about which I feel strongly.
10. FUTURE PROJECTS. WILL YOU GIVE US A PEEK?
The work in progress is The Goose Parade of Old Dickeywood. I infused my observations of our gaggles of Canadian geese with two women struggling with weight, age issues, marital strife, and illness. Their incomparable friendship gives them strength and determination.
11. WHERE CAN READERS LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU?
www.susanwhitfieldonline.com I’m also on Facebook and Twitter and a resident of Booktown.com I blog and interview authors and other industry experts at www.susanwhitfield.blogspot.com and recently started www.grazersanonymous.blogspot.com to hold myself accountable for my struggle with weight. Gulp!

SUSAN, THANKS FOR THIS INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEW AND, ONCE AGAIN, (DRUM ROLL, PLEASE) SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OTHER WRITERS.
Betty Gordon
Good Writing!!

2010-05-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

Characters With Beating Hearts

In the run up to, and during the release of Girl Gone Nova, I've done a ton of interviews in a lot of different places. While the questions I've been asked have been, for the most part, unique, there is one question that's popped up a lot:

When did you decide to become a writer.

I answered it in a variety of ways, mostly based on my mood the day I did the interview, but the last couple of months, as I launch into a new book, I've come to realize that there is another answer to that question (thought my previous answers were also true).

I became a writer before I knew I'd be a writer. I became a writer when I started to read, really read. I became a writer when I became a reader. It took me a while to reach the point of creating my own fiction, but as I was reading, I was learning. One of the essential lessons from that reading is that characters are the beating heart of good stories. It's the characters that drew me, and kept me in, the books that I still love to read today.

The challenge for any writer, I don't care how long we've been at it, is to make our characters come alive. At first, they come alive for us, so we can become partners in telling the story, and then they come alive for readers.

Sometimes characters arrive in my head fully formed and very pushy. That doesn't mean that I get a pass on working the character out, because I still have to have my personal "meet and greet," I still have to get inside their head and find the right words to make them live on the page.

But what about those times when I have a plot and have to find the right people to experience that plot? Often it's like watching a stage filled with shadows, some that shift and some that disappear as I try to get close enough to see and hear them talking. I began my adventures in writing with stage plays, so it is natural for me to see my story like that, as if were playing out on a stage or movie screen with me in role of scribe.

I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: when you write a script, either for stage or screen, you don't know which actor or actress will play the characters you create. So you have to focus on what they are inside, more than what they look like. You will know the basics of sex and age and you need to know what they do (and sometimes don't do!). But the bulk of your time is spent figuring out what they want, what they will do to get what they want and who will try to stop them.

I have an article on my website about this process called "Getting the Wood Out." In the article I go into more detail about my character discovery process. I quote from that article:

"In his book, Playwriting: The Structure of Action, Sam Smiley identifies basic character traits, from the simple-tangible to the complex-intangible, that are important to good character creation. By understanding and using these traits, you rise above simple craftsman to character magician, resulting in characters that linger after the last page is turned."

Everyone has different methods of character discovery and I am a huge proponent of sticking with what works. The end goal is the same: creating characters with beating hearts that hook the reader and keep them from first word to last.
Perilously,
Pauline

2010-05-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

Humor in Fiction - The Last Part!

This is my last blog on writing humor (for now). You can read my first three parts here, here, and here.

Choosing to write with humorous intent doesn’t mean you are allowed to blow off the other craft of writing elements. Not long ago I read this short piece of fiction that lurched from joke to joke. It could have been a really good book, but the author didn’t care about craft or logic or anything, but funny. And because the author focused on one thing, it was only funny for a few pages and then it was just silly.

In a book, jokes aren’t in there just to be funny. Everything in your novel needs to do more than one thing.

In both novel excerpts (posted in previous blogs), the goal of the humor is to engage the reader with my heroines, but it also tells you something about them. Sara gets scared, but covers it up with wry bravado. Doc gets mad and pokes her enemies with words and actions. She wants them to react, because that teaches her about them. And she does it without giving much away about herself, but she does reveal herself to the reader. They get to feel like they are in on the secret. This can also help to tie readers more deeply into your character’s fictional journey.

I’d like to say I am all wise and all knowing when I write my books. But I’m not. I throw everything on the page because I’m an “into the mist” writer. No plan, just words and more words. It’s in the editing process that I make everything earn its place in the story. It’s hard, but true that what you cut away is as important as what you keep.

All writing is rewriting. Humor isn’t exempt from the rewriting. It is in the excising that humor really begins to shine. It’s like cutting back the weeds in a garden. You want it to flourish, to show to its best advantage, not take the weeds and put them on display. If there are any rules to humor writing, then this would qualify as one: don’t kill your own jokes.

I’d like to say it’s an organic, shi-shi process, that I’m really smart, but it’s not and I’m not. It’s big and messy and frustrating and often not funny. I have to work to find each character’s voice and finding a wry or humorous voice is part of that. My characters can’t all sound and joke the same. It’s like tuning a piano. I keep hitting spots over and over, adjusting it until the tone is clear and true—to me.

And then I give it to a reader or readers and when it comes back, I do it all over again. I drain my creative well trying to make the surface product look effortless. And then I hand it off to my editor, and eventually reviewers and readers. And then I brace for impact.

Remember what I said about how I can’t control how it hits anyone else. I can still hit wrong notes with readers because they aren’t me.

You launch your story and you don’t get to decide how or where it lands. It can land on the moon, or in the garbage if you accidentally push a reader’s button wrong.

The good news, humor can help with that, too. I take the angst and frustration of what I can’t control and fold it back into my fiction. No one but me knows who the dead people really are in my books. Trust me when I say, someone annoys me, they are going down—fictionally.

So let’s summarize what we’ve learned about my non-rules for writing humor:

Add humor—and everything else—very carefully.
You don’t get to control the way your audience reacts.
Humor comes from character, plot or both.
Throw in some serious for contrast.
Humor can build a bridge between the reader and your story—or it can burn it.
Humor can help readers bond with your characters—or learn to hate them.
Jokes need to do more for your story than be funny—though they do need to be funny.
Don’t kill your jokes.
All writing is rewriting, even funny writing.
You launch your story and you don’t get to decide how or where it lands.

I know I said the same thing two different ways, but that’s because it needs to be said twice. If you’re going to write humor, you are adding another risk factor to the process, an extra element that readers can love or hate, but it is—in my humble opinion—well worth the risk. If you can make anyone laugh, then go for it. It’s a lot of fun being funny.

This concludes my discussion on humor. While it wasn't necessarily funny, I hope you learned something about writing funny from it. This past week there was a discussion at The Galaxy Express about humor in science fiction. If you haven't tried funny in your fiction (as a reader or writer), I hope you'll give it a shot. I know I like funny. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

http://www.perilouspauline.com

pauline@paulinebjones.com

Girl Gone Nova
"A spectacular ride!" Romantic Times

Her world rocked, and when it stopped, it was off its axis. She should have known how far off, but she didn’t. Her brows pulled together as the remaining sliver of sentience in her brain produced a hypothesis based on her body’s reactions.
Desire.
So that’s what it felt like.
From Girl Gone Nova

2010-05-07T06:32:00.000-07:00

Humor in Fiction - Part Three

Welcome to part three of my Humor in Fiction discussion. You can read parts one here and part two here.

Humor can also help the reader bond with your characters. In real life, we often use humor to connect with other people. What’s true in real life can work in fiction. In my novel, The Key, my heroine, Sara is an Air Force pilot on an intergalactic mission to a distant galaxy. She’s pretty tough, but then she gets shot down and separated from her space craft. She wakens in a dark cave that is occupied. The situation is kind of funny, in a scary way, but most of the humor of the novel flows from Sara and the way she looks at and reacts to events. In this excerpt we see how she deals with the cave and the man in the cave.

He looked like a ragged cave man, but there was a sharp intelligence in his eyes. And he’d managed to get her clear of her bird. Not exactly cro-mag man skills.

She wanted to say something, but all she could think of was, crap.

Not particularly useful.

After a moment, she realized he was holding something out to her. A wooden-ish…thing.

She took it, since he seemed to expect it.

“Thanks.” Her voice sounded a bit loud, and a bit too bright, breaking the deep silence.

He blinked, just the once, the green of his eyes disappearing, then slowly reappearing. It was very Cheshire Cat—one channeling Tim Burton.

Not a good combo.

Sara looked down at the bowl. The assortment of dingy pieces in the curved center could have been fruit—fruit having a really bad day. She picked out a piece. It felt slimy and a bit gritty, but she’d eaten worse than that in survival training.

She hoped.

She sniffed it. The pungent aroma made her eyes water. She slid it between reluctant lips and chewed. Okay, this was worse than anything she’d eaten anywhere. Her eyes watered some more. When she swallowed, nasty lingered like thick oil in her mouth.

She looked up, blinking and wincing, and said, her voice a thin croak, “It’s... good.”

Not her most convincing performance.

You’ll notice that Sara isn’t doing a stand-up comedy routine either. She’s using humor to try to defuse her own fear—a very human response when faced with the unknown. I’m guessing that no one who reads my book is going to get shot down in a distant galaxy, but we’ve all been scared and at least some of us use humor to deal with our fear. Humor can take the particular and make it feel universal. It can take the universal and make it feel personal.

In Girl Gone Nova, Doc also has an unfortunate meeting with some aliens, which she also uses humor to deal with. It’s a similar situation, and not unexpected, since meetings with aliens is a given during intergalactic fictional travel, but Doc isn’t Sara.
She’s a genius. She’s got black ops training. She’s used to doing the impossible. In this excerpt, she’s not afraid, she’s ticked.

He puffed up, like an angry cat, but without the cute factor. He was more like a sabertooth tiger, but Doc didn’t know if they puffed up. That was the problem with using an extinct species in an analogy, not enough information to be sure it was apt.
“Why would you do this?”
Doc gave him a cool look. Her tone was flat, indifferent. “You shot me.”
He crossed his arms over a chest Doc had to concede was nicely put together. “I stunned you.”
“By shooting me.”

Not the typical response, but exactly right for Doc. With her, I use humor to help the reader sympathize and engage with Doc, rather than identifying with her because she’s kind of hard to identify with.

An example of situational humor can be found in Linnea Sinclair’s An Accidental Goddess. The main character, Gillie, wakes up 150 years in the future—and a goddess. Linnea likes to crank up the action, so humor helps provide respite for the reader. She also uses humor that flows from character in most of her books and does it very well.

An example of humor that flows from plot and character can be found in Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin. This is the first of four books.
Raine sounds like a wise-cracking detective from a classic mystery series, only she’s an elf, who accidentally puts on a soul sucking necklace. The author mines humor from plot and characters in this entertaining and suspenseful series.

I also use plot and character humor in my novel, Out of Time. Mel is an adventure reporter who gets an usual request from the aging former captain of her grandfather’s B-17 crew. It’s enough to make a heroine’s head explode.

“Is there something you wanted to tell me about Norm?” she asked, hoping to prompt him. Curiosity was a very uncomfortable emotion.

He looked at her then. “Yes, it’s about Norm. And you and me and what we did sixty years ago…what we shouldn’t have done.”

“What could you and Norm do then that would affect me now?”

“Not me and Norm.” He hesitated, as if at the edge of a dive, and then said in a rush, “You and I.”

Mel blinked. She couldn’t have heard him right. “I wasn’t born sixty years ago.” It was stating the obvious, but she felt it still needed to be said.

For some reason, this appeared to help him relax. His shoulders rose and fell in a quick sigh. He looked apologetic.

“I can’t believe I’m muffing this, but there just isn’t a good way to explain. It’s so unbelievable.”

Jack seemed to be a few marbles short of a full complement. “What is?”

He held up one of the photos. “This isn’t your twin, Mel. This is you.”

Mel blinked again. It wasn’t particularly useful, but it was something to do. Make that more than a few marbles. She was, she realized distantly, alone in the house with a loony tune.

“Norm shouldn’t have died fifty years ago. You…we…changed history and now we have to change it back. Actually, you have to change it back.”

Mel swallowed, trying to wet a suddenly dry throat. He didn’t look dangerous and she could kick his butt, but she didn’t want to beat up an old man, even if he was insane.

“And you know this because…”

“You told me sixty years ago. I sent you back to tell me and…you told me.”

Out of Time is an intense action story about time travel to WWII. My heroine ends up in Occupied France. Not a funny situation. Again, most of us won’t be traveling through time any time soon, so the humor is there to help readers bond with Mel, to provide a break from the suspense, and to help readers stick with her through her many challenges as she tries to change the past without wiping out her own future.

Next post I'll post the conclusion to my thoughts on writing humor.
For now, perilously yours,
Pauline

2010-05-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Humor in Fiction- Reflections of a Sit-down Comic (Part Two)

My last blog post was part of a talk on humor that I gave this weekend at a mini-writer's conference at Read It Again and Again Bookstore in south Houston. Last post we stopped here:

If you’re willing to face the risks of writing humor, then how do you add humor to a book?

Very carefully.

Actually everything you add to a work of fiction should be added carefully.

I realize this isn’t a news flash to most writers. If you’ve spent any time trying to be a better writer, you know that writing is a craft that takes care to get it “right.” We writers have been known to disagree on what’s “right.” Sometimes to the point of flaming each other.

There is information out there about writing humor. It shouldn’t surprise you to know, I don’t agree with everything others have to say on the topic. I once heard a very popular author give a talk on humor some years ago and she said, seriously, she wasn’t joking, she said “Women’s humor is kinder than men’s.”

I wanted to raise my hand and say, “So you’ve never been in a girl’s locker room in high school?” This was before the movie Mean Girls. But she shouldn’t have needed a movie about mean girls to know they exist. I think what she was trying to say is that men and women perceive humor differently, but that doesn’t track with my experience either. People can experience humor differently, but men and woman can and do laugh at the same things. I have seen this with my own eyes. Yes, it is true that we don’t always laugh at the same things and yes, there are jokes that are gender oriented, but I believe that for the most part, humor is divided by experience, not gender. Your life experience affects your point of view in all aspects of writing. It is what makes us—and our writing—unique.

Years ago, I saw this postcard that said, “It’s funny, but where ever I take my eyes, they always see things from my point of view.”

Your sense of humor will flow from your experience, so how and what humor you inject into your work will be different from the humor I inject into my books. And readers will react based on their experience.

If everyone has a point of view, and if everyone has their own experiences that shape that point of view, shouldn’t it mean we can’t share anything? Thankfully it doesn’t. We have and continue to find common ground. It does mean that not everyone will get your humor, so if you expect to make everyone laugh, you will be disappointed. Settle for making some people laugh. You can work on everyone later.

Humor finds its way into a book three ways. It comes from character. It comes from plot or from a mix of both.

A work of fiction can be consistently funny, laugh out loud funny, quietly funny or an author can sprinkle humor into a book like rest stops for the reader, a break from the drama or suspense. Shakespeare used comic relief in his dramas. And he used drama for contrast in his comedies. I tend to start with a character that has a humorous or wry point of view, though I have also started with whacky situations and then peopled a book with characters who would get into those situations.

How you add humor will depend on the type of book you are writing.

I can’t have humor without a thread of serious.

I like the contrast of light and dark. That contrast makes each element more intense. How much serious depends on the book. I have some books that are funny, with elements of suspense and some books that are seriously suspenseful, with elements of humor. Different books, different balance.

Humor isn’t only a way to provide a respite for the reader, or provide contrast. Laughing makes us feel better, so letting readers laugh while they read your book gives them an endorphin boost. When they want to be cheered up, readers look for funny books.

Humor—or that endorphin boost—can help you build a bridge between the reader and your story.

Bridges are good. Bridges help build a fan base. Of course, the reader can choose to cross it or not. Some readers will run across the bridge, some will edge across, and some will shrug and turn away. Some will blow up your bridge. Not everyone will get your humor. Someone somewhere IS going to think you’re not funny. As I pointed out before, we’re lucky we can share anything.

Next post I'll cover other benefits of adding humor to your fiction. In the mean time, I'm...

...perilously yours,

Pauline

2010-04-28T06:12:00.000-07:00

Transition from written word to film

My husband and I found ourselves imprisoned in front of the TV for a full day recently. He had a back procedure and had to take easy. So, we rented some movies—some were good and some not so good. It’s amazing that we continued to sit and watch bad films when we knew they weren’t going to get better.In our defense, we, forever positive, thought each of them would improve. There were three movies out of four that fit into the disaster slot.

I’m not going into all the titles because I’m sure there are viewers who like them, but the one I was most disappointed in from the viewpoint of a writer was “Dolan’s Cadillac.” This film was adapted from a short story by Stephen King, an undisputed master of suspense. It also had good actors, Wes Bentley and Christian Slater. Actually, we picked up the movie because of Christian Slater and didn’t realize until later that it was adapted from King’s work. A brief synopsis posted on Slater’s website tracks a vengeful widower, Wes Bentley, who seeks revenge against Jimmy Dolan (Slater), the untouchable Las Vegas crime boss who killed his wife.

Suspense was diminished, the viewer knew what was going to happen early on—they just didn’t know how it would happen and even that waned.

My point, it’s sad a work like Stephen King’s can be so diminished in translation to film.

Oh, well--it happens. Wouldn't we love to get our hands on the script?

Good writing, Betty Gordon

2010-04-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

Humor in Fiction- Reflections of a Sit-down Comic (Part One)

I have been invited to give a talk on humor in fiction this weekend at Read It Again and Again Bookstore, here in Houston (if you're in the area, I hope you'll stop by!). I thought it would be fairly easy to write a talk on the topic.

I was wrong.

I'm going to share parts of the talk over the next week or so, because i hope others will find it helpful. I know I learned a lot by wrestling with the topic.

The problem with giving a talk on writing humor is that people expect a funny talk.

So we’ll start with a disclaimer. I’m not, nor have I ever been a stand-up comedian. This is a talk on writing funny, not being funny. Though I will try not to be boring.

It is a truth, not universally acknowledged, though it should be, that most of us find it easier to know when something isn’t funny, than explain when it is. Nothing kills a joke faster than trying to explain it to someone who doesn’t get it.

In the interests of full disclosure, I will tell you that when I wrote my first novel, I had no intention of writing a humorous book. In fact, it was my intention to write a great love story that might someday be compared to Gone with the Wind. I wanted to make readers cry. I wanted them to feel deep things.

Only a funny thing happened on the way to my great love story. I tripped over my sense of humor. Thanks to that face plant, I found my author voice. Since then I’ve written nine novels, one novella and some short stories. In all but one novel, there are varying degrees of humor. And I did hear from my readers about the one without humor. My fan base likes my books to have humor.

Note what a reviewer wrote about Girl Gone Nova, the book releasing this month:

“Amongst the densely packed and mind-bending action, there's also some welcome humor.”

While I’d like to promise that today I’m going to give you the amazing secrets of writing humor, or even the surefire ways to write humor. I can’t. There are no secrets. What I can do today is share my experiences writing humor. If it helps you, that’s great, if it doesn’t, sorry.

So, let’s assume you want to write humor. Let me begin by stating the obvious:

Written humor is different from spoken humor.

A standup comedian has a big advantage over the novelist. He or she knows right away if the joke bombed. The downside for the standup comedian is they know right away a joke bombed and might be able to fix it, but they have to do it on the spot.

The novelist obviously waits months for their jokes to hit or miss and if they miss, it’s too late to do anything about it. On the upside, your book passes through the hands of early readers and your editor before you have to face readers and reviewers.

If you’re willing to face the risks of writing humor, then how do you add humor to a book?

Very carefully.

Actually everything you add to a work of fiction should be added carefully.

I realize this isn’t a news flash to most writers. If you’ve spent any time trying to be a better writer, you know that writing is a craft that takes care to get it (air quotes here!) “right.” I’m adding air quotes, because we writers have been known to disagree on what’s “right.” Sometimes to the point of flaming each other.

This seems like a good place to pause. In a few days I'll post part 2. Not sure how many parts it will end up until I post them. :-)
For now...
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2010-04-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

The Naked Truth About Book Publishing Hits Virtual Book Shelves

I've talked a lot on this blog about book publishing realities because I believe writers need to be prepared for what's coming when they cross the publishing line. I have this crazy idea that if writers know what's on the other side, they will make better decisions before they cross that line. If you can match your expectations with reality, you are less likely to be unhappy. Happy writers produce. Unhappy authors...well, we won't go there. Let's just say we are more productive and our Muse sticks around when we are happy and leave it at that.

As part of my desire to give back to the community of writers that mentored me, I co-wrote Managing Your Book Writing Business with Jamie Engle. In this book we touch on the unpalatable truths of the publishing business. But now you can get the whole, naked truth of book publishing from author/publisher Linda Houle.

The Naked Truth About Book Publishing hit the virtual shelves of Amazon on April 6th and will be appearing on other virtual and real shelves as April marches toward May. From the press release:

"The Naked Truth about Book Publishing takes a quick and dirty peek at the realities of publishing. Whether you are an author, independent publisher, or just an avid reader, it’s critical to know what’s happening and how current changes affect you!"

I've been reading this helpful handbook and I have to say, there is so much I wish I'd known when I was aspiring to be published. I spent a lot of time figuring out what it was that I truly wanted from my publishing experience, time that could have been better spent on my actual writing.

There is also, IMHO, a lot of power in knowing your options and choosing. It sounds simplistic, but so much of the business involves elements we don't control, so actively controlling and choosing what you can helps blunt the force of what we can't.

Back when my daughter was an editor for a press, she'd get so many submissions that were painfully not suited to her company's publishing needs. She said many were heart rending, because the author's were so desperate and it showed in their approach.

Back in the days when print publishing was the only game in town, publishers wielded enormous power, while authors were a bunch of Oliver Twist's begging for more gruel.

Those days are behind us, but too many authors still randomly, and often inappropriately submit, because they have a vague need to "be published." They give others power over them, and sometimes get tied into bad deals, just because they didn't know.

While there are some great writing books out there, too many are slanted toward this or that kind of publishing. Self publishing books think it's the only way to get published. New York published authors often think their way is only way to go. Obviously we all thing our choice is "right" -- and it IS right -- for US. But publishing choices aren't one size fits all any more. For a good, basic breakdown of all the publishing options, check out The Naked Truth About Book Publishing by Linda Houle.

And if you are looking for a good, basic handbook on managing your book writing business, check out (shock!) Managing Your Book Writing Business by Pauline Baird Jones and Jamie Engle.

Perilously yours,
Pauline
Girl Gone Nova, April/2010
"A spectacular ride!" Romantic Times

2010-04-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

SHORT STORIES AND THE “HILL CURVE”…

The short story has held a significant place in literature for countless years and I dare say it will continue to do so. A writer friend of mine commented a few days ago that a short story was much more difficult to write than a novel. She found it hard to maneuver the events of her tale into lengths of 3,000 – 10,000 words. She also felt if she managed 10,000 words, she should go forth to the novella or novel format. Her comments returned me to literature class and a review of the six elements under a plot line—the “Hill Curve.” I still visualize the famous (or infamous depending where you stand with it) curve when I begin a short story. My comments are primarily meant for ‘newbies’ dipping their toes into this concise world of fiction.

I believe most of us would agree that the elements involved in the curve are easy enough with one exception…rising action. Certainly the beginning of a story, or exposition, conflict, climax, falling action and resolution all fit snugly into place much like pieces of a puzzle, but oftentimes rising action rears its ugly head to give us trouble. Most writers accept the idea, at least intellectually, that it shouldn’t be a problem because the action is simply transporting the reader to a believable climax. True, but the road from conflict(s) filled with appropriate rising actions is frequently filled with as many potholes as some of our Houston streets. Keeping the reader filled with energy of the writer’s particular story—excitement, intrigue, terror, etc. is often a demanding task. After the climax, of course, the other side of the hill, the falling action, slides into place and begins solving the characters’ problems. Then joyful, or perhaps not so joyful, resolution concludes the story and the writer rejoices as he types ‘The End.’

Rising actions of a story, in concert with the genre of the tale, may reveal themselves in many ways, but one constant—the events leading to the climax must be compelling.

Good writing, Betty Gordon

2010-04-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

Setting The Stage

When I was a little girl, my mom taught me how to set a "proper" table. She included instruction on where to put the silverware, napkins, plates and glasses. We didn't have special salad forks, but I still feel that imperative to put everything in "it's" place.

I'm not sure if this helped me with my writing, but I do know that "setting" your book stage is critical to the successful suspense novel.

"It was a dark and stormy night."

It's a cliche, no question, but it tells you right up front that something is going to happen. It's an immediate clue to the reader that your novel will be suspenseful. Should all suspense novels start with "dark and stormy" settings? Of course not. Setting can mirror a story or contrast a story.

What does your story need for a setting? Your setting can be a back drop done in broad strokes, like the back drop of a stage play. Your setting can be so integral to the story, it is like another character in the story.

If your setting can be anywhere, then it is probably a backdrop. But just because it is a back drop, that doesn't mean you get off lightly in setting your stage. You still need to make it feel real to the reader.

When I wrote The Spy Who Kissed Me, the story required a setting close to Washington DC. I've since visited DC, but when I wrote it, I'd never been to the East Coast. I contacted the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and got a map, watched TV shows and movies set in the area, and also did a lot of research online. I knew I'd been successful when a reader wrote that she "could tell I knew the area well."

You don't have to have visited every area you write about, but you do have to "know it well."

Once you've done your research and picked your setting, use details--both broad and specific--to set your mood. Dark and stormy nights can be creepy, but quiet spring days, birds chirping, children laughing--and evil lurking has shock value. Again, what does your story need?

Once you've decided on your setting remember that word choice matters. Choice matters. Make sure that you are choosing and using as much detail as your story needs to burst into life. While intensity will vary, the overall tone shouldn't. Don't start out like a horror novel and then lurch into comedy. You can have both in a novel, but they will be intertwined, not randomly inserted into the story. Consistency and choice matter.

And use your senses! Make the reader see, taste, smell, hear, and feel your setting. Make them believe that you "know it well" and you'll be on your way to great suspense writing.

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2010-03-28T12:21:00.001-07:00

WHAT COMES FIRST—THE PLOT OR THE CHARACTERS?

For me, the plot comes first. What is going to happen in the story, what conflicts are involved in getting to the, as yet, undetermined end, etc. Then, as soon as I have a flavor of the narrative in my head, my characters jump to the page albeit they are ‘wooden’ at that precise moment. For example, if it’s a crime novel and the protagonist or one of the protagonists is the hero detective, you decide if you want him gruff, hard as nails, dogged, determined. On the other hand, he may be a diligent puzzle solving cop who gives off a calmer exterior. Clothes? The first example would be a rolled-up sleeves kind of guy, he doesn’t like ties or suits although he keeps them in his office closet for times he must wear them. He doesn’t hide his emotions from his staff or suspects who take one look at him and know he means business. He’s not some pretty boy who sits in an office and barks out orders. His hair might be cut military style and he vascillates between wearing military or cowboy boots with jeans. He sometimes skips shaving every day. The second detective is a suit and tie kind of guy who studies color to acquire desired results. If testifying in court, he wears grey with a moderate tie. He doesn’t stand out in a crowd and while his exterior projects calm, his insides are constantly battling for composure. This battle might show itself by nervous movements, constantly running his hands through his hair, chewing on his lips, thumping his fingers on the desk…you get the point.

Once the plot is secure and some of the characters are determined, dressing them is the fun part. Creating actual flesh-and-blood people gets my adrenalin pumping. I keep a steno pad by the computer where I jot down different attributes of each character and the list grows and changes with the story.

A sidenote: Discussing characters’ clothes reminds me how much I loved making clothes for my baby doll or paper dolls when I was young. I could design anything I wanted and color them anyway I wanted. I had good girls and bad girls and their clothes showed their dispositions. As I grew older, I actually sewed clothes for my doll which became extravagant, but thought provoking. I guess I’m doing something similar these days—showing my characters’ dispositions by their actions and clothes.

A question: do you prefer a detailed description of a character when they are introduced or do you prefer bits and pieces dropped at various times? Somerset Maugham was a master at giving detailed descriptions of his characters as they were introduced. The reader could get a flavor of the character quickly and weave him into the story. My personal choice is an author who intertwines the characters’ clothes and mannerisms with the twists and turns in the story. Of course, who can quarrel with Somerset Maugham’s characterizations?

Bye for now, Betty

2010-03-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

Dressing Your Characters for Success -- and the Future

I had an interesting email discussion with a friend. She's rereading an old favorite novel, one written in the 80's, and got kicked out of the story when the wedding party in the story trotted onto the page wearing brown spice tuxedos with ruffled apricot shirts. The suspension of disbelief was further eroded when the bride's mother exited the room wearing "Eve Stillman."

Back then, my friend probably knew what that was. Or maybe not. Doesn't matter if she knew it then, because she doesn't know it now. And if she doesn't recognize the designer, then a new reader, born in the 90's? That reader won't recognize the designer for sure.

There's obviously no way an author can foresee and plan for all possible changes in society and fashion and we want/need to make our stories feel current and "real." How do we make our stories feel current and yet be durable?

It takes a little foresight and some planning, that's for sure. For instance, designer clothes. While you might have your personal favorites, unless they are paying you for product placement, don't dress your characters in labels that haven't been around for a significant amount of time.

There's nothing wrong with trendy clothes, and they are often important to character creation and consistency, but avoid detailed, time stamped descriptions, such as spice brown tuxedos.

Try to find a balance between the particular and the general that feels current, but allows the book some longevity and durability. (Just between you and me? I hope that even in the 80's I'd have twitched over the thought of a spice brown tuxedo and apricot ruffled shirts on the groomsmen.)

Before authors go ballistic on me, yes, I know that there are details that will anchor your book in your contemporary setting. That is inevitable and, yes, necessary. The problem with contemporary fiction, it takes time for the time frame to become historical. And while you are waiting, if you don't expire first, children are being born who might discover your fiction, then bump into details that are just out of style.

If you are building a long term career, one that lasts ten, twenty, even thirty years, then you should consider taking the long term view when you are dressing your characters. And if you use contemporary, trendy detail, at the very least, be conscious that you are doing it. Make it a choice, not an accident that will come back to haunt you 20 or 30 years from now.

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2010-03-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

THE HEART OF A POET…
When I put fingers to computer keys, I planned to discuss short stories and then my Muse took over: -
Let me begin by saying I enjoy poetry—I enjoy reading it, I enjoy writing it, but I don’t do either anymore because I’m so immersed in writing fiction. However, since my source of inspiration is pushing me to reminisce about poems, I decided to consider the strongest connection, at least for me, between poetry and fiction. It’s probably no surprise that the primary connection is the rhythm of a sentence(s), the rhythmic flow, the cadence that fills the air with blended sounds. Fiction writers are faced with it every time they read their work aloud. When something is off, but the words are correct, the structure is correct, what is it? In my case, it’s usually the rhythm. I find this occurs with names too—one syllable, two or three?
One of my writing professors once told me if an author writes from the heart, the reader will take it to heart. One might argue that a writer always creates work from his heart, but is this true in fiction where our imagination flows into situations we have never encountered? On the other hand, I believe poetry must come from the heart. Good examples are Robert Frost’s poems. One that comes to mind is “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Is this a poem of isolation, philosophical views of a way of life, death, etc.? I’ve heard many good arguments on each item listed. When reading this wonderful poem, I focus more on the rhythm and images his words evoke than the underlying philosophy of his words (that does come later, of course).
So, how does the above dovetail with fiction? There are numerous ways, but it bears repeating that the most significant for me is the cadence and the image(s) the sentence portrays. There are many, many authors whose work reflects beautiful rhythms, but one who immediately comes to mind is a local author many of you know, Rosemary Poole Carter. The following quote is from “Women of Magdalene”: -
“Spanish moss drooped from the low branches of cypress, overhanging
the tributary, whose shadowy course was rarely lit by a patch of sunlight. There
was a dark, damp closeness in the air. No birds sang here, no squirrels chattered
in the trees along this particular stretch of water. Pausing to wipe the sweat from my
brow, I felt a soft breeze and took a deep breath of it. And then I understood the
quiet. My head and lungs filled with the biting odor that silences Nature. …”
Robert Frost would no doubt pen a thought provoking poem from this paragraph.
Now, I’m going to take my iambic rhythm and dimeter meter back to my office and concentrate on whether to use a gun, knife, or poison in my next mystery.
Betty Gordon

2010-03-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Talking Character Creation This Week

We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world. Helen Keller

When authors start talking about characters, 90% of them will mention Deb Dixon's GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict. I'm one of them who does that, but I also use a playwriting book called. Playwriting: The Structure of Action by Sam Smiley. I wrote an article called Getting the Wood Out that is posted on my website on his character creation techniques and expanded my use of them in my handbook Made-up Mayhem.

I like using screen writing and playwriting techniques when creating characters. When you are creating for film or stage, there is less focus on looks and more focus on what's inside. It is, IMHO, an immutable truth that no matter how precisely we see and describe our characters, readers will cast our characters in their own, personal way.

For instance, when I read Twlight by Stephenie Meyer, I "saw" her characters in my head as I read the book. When the movie released, my first reaction was: they didn't look like that! I went back and re-read the descriptions and guess what? They did kind of look like the actors and actresses cast for the movie.
Meyer described her characters very precisely, but I, as reader, still saw them through the personal filter of my own experiences and expectations.

So while it is important for you to "see" your characters, ultimately you can't control the readers' perceptions. This makes it vitally important that your characters be consistent internally. Who they are inside has to ring true to the agent and/or editor and finally, to the all important reader.

While knowing their goals, motivation and conflict is a great start, to make my characters live and breath for me (and hopefully for readers!), I use the Smiley method to give my characters stature and clarity. I push and push until they jump off the page and become partners with me in telling their story.

If your characters don't live and breath for you, they won't engage the reader in your story, no matter how finely you craft your plot and their GMC. So if you're having getting "wooden" or "flat" back from your critique partners, or worse, editors and agents, take a walk on the screen writing/playwriting side of the tracks. You might be glad you did. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

(Note: My two-for-the-price-of-one sale on Adapting Your Novel for Film and Made-up Mayhem will continue while supplies last.

2010-03-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

Casting Your Film

Last month I wrote about "Finding Your Film Story in your novel" on this blog. I pointed out that the film story might be different from the novel story, because the elements of a film are visual. When I talk about casting your film story, I'm not talking about actors and actresses (though that would be fun!). I'm talking about the characters in your book that have the ability to transition successfully from page to screen.
   Novels tend to be more complicated than movies and can have multiple subplots. There's no way all of them can make it onto the screen. Often you'll see characters "composited" for film, i.e. two or more characters made into one character (or one character given all their actions/dialog).
The first requirement for your film cast is that they need to have a stake in the outcome. If you shove them in there because they are interesting, you will weaken your script and your film story. You don't want to do that. :-)
   If you've found the spine of your film story inside your novel, then you should already know the main players in your film cast. Sometimes that can surprise you. Your film story may shift the focus from one main character to another, or even to a subplot character. Remember, your goal is to build a strong, interesting film story, not recreate your novel for film. If you can't distance yourself from your novel, then you should consider getting someone else to do the adaptation for you (though you will have to pay them!).
   To get you started, here are eight questions to ask yourself about your film cast:
1. Can this character or set of characters carry the action?
2. Do my main character/s have the stature, strength and intensity to interest a star in the part?
3. Do my characters have the volition, the will power to propel the plot?
4. Do your characters relate well with the other characters in the story?
5. Are they attractive? (This is a commercial assessment and has less to do with appearance, than who they are. Will viewers care about what happens to them?)
6. Are they credible and believable?
7. Do they have clarity and consistency?
8. Is there contrast between your characters?
   All of your film cast doesn't have to meet these criteria, but your main characters do. (There is more leeway in the foreign film market than the US market.)
  With your film story and cast identified, you are half way through Adapting Your Novel for Film. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline
(Note: While supplies last, I'm running a 2-for-1 sale on my website for Adapting Your Novel for Film and Made-up Mayhem.)

2010-03-08T13:47:00.000-08:00

DRAW THE READER IN…

As writers, we all search for character descriptions that intrigue, entice, and tickle readers’ imaginations. It’s easier said than done, right? It goes back to the old show don’t tell advice. It’s good advice. Hopefully, the more one writes, the easier this task becomes. There are as many techniques to ‘show’ as there are brilliant writers. I particularly liked Lisa Gardner’s opening in “The Next Accident” which defines emotion in a thought provoking manner, but also uses words that shape warnings: -

“His mouth grazed the side of her neck. She liked the feel of
his kiss, whisper-light, teasing. He drew her earlobe between
his lips, and the giggle turned to a moan. … His fingers lifted her
heavy hair. They danced across the nape of her neck, then slid
down her bare shoulders. …
“One bottle of champagne empty on the bed. Another half gone. Her
mouth tingled with the forbidden and she kept telling herself it would
be okay. … They were celebrating, they were mourning…and either way
champagne sex shouldn’t count with the nice folks at AA.”

This could be read as a simple romantic connection between two characters. On the other hand, since we know Ms. Gardner writes mysteries and/or suspense tales, there are signals that all may not be well for the female character. Certainly she shows the reader a great deal about the young woman in a few sentences. The use of “heavy” in relationship to her hair was interesting as well as the juxtaposition of “celebrating” and “mourning” and champagne sex” with the “nice folks at AA.”

Showing contrasts, particularly for our villains, works wonders. We see this on many television shows—a killer may possess true sensitivities one moment and ruthless ones the next. A great example, of course, is Hannibal Lecter. Who among us can forget the sharp contrasts at play in his story. He is a villain capable of horrific acts but also one capable of appreciating fine music. In other words, good versus evil play off each other.

The study of contrasts leads away from nouns with modifiers to active subject-verb sentences. I have to admit I love a good modifier that creates a wonderful description in my mind, but what about everyone else’s? I used to take time to analyze certain sentences in a book after I finished reading it, but gathering time to do so is hard. Writing about this now, however, leads me to keep aware of juxtapositions and contrasts other writers use and see where it takes me.

Happy writing!

Betty Gordon

2010-03-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

THEN AND NOW…

A writer’s journey to publication can be daunting, intimidating, and overwhelming for the pre-published, but it can also be filled with learning, growth, and joyful anticipation. There are many pitfalls along the way—a lot of us succumb to them before we finally grab the brass ring that confirms words folded into our beloved manuscript have made their way into a publisher’s stronghold.

Before entering the fiction arena, I had published poetry and non-fiction, but fiction was an animal with different stripes. I read every book I could put my hands on examining other writers’ efforts to get published. Of course, I went to conferences, took on-line classes, etc. It was all good. I kept my focus on a star overhead confident it would lead me to an outstanding agent, one who would immediately sell my work to a publisher. In the meantime, I listened to all the horror stories about less than perfect agents—I won’t go into them as I’m sure most of you have heard them too, but I will say I met some wonderful agents at conferences who were receptive and welcoming. I also had one very bad experience which, after I had time to reflect, was my fault. Even so, the situation could have been handled better. In the long run, the less than perfect experience proved to be a gift because I learned how to handle an interview storming down the wrong path. This particular conference had a long list of agents, but there was only one available who appealed to me. There was a problem, however, she wouldn’t accept mysteries. The agents who did handle them were filled to capacity. So, when I saw she worked with women’s fiction and since my ‘mystery’ revolved around the lives of four women, I thought (novice that I was) I could turn around and pitch it as women’s fiction. A BIG mistake on my part as it took the agent less than a minute to declare my work a mystery. Her blood pressure shot up and she told me in no uncertain terms that I wasted her time. Her angry display wasn’t necessary, but it certainly made an impression on me. If my manuscript was a mystery, it was a mystery—plain and simple. When I returned home and had time to reflect, I wrote her a letter apologizing for “wasting” her time and closed that chapter.

Time passed. I continued to study, to write, to learn from mistakes and they all led me to my great publisher, L&L Dreamspell, owned and operated by two successful and enterprising women, Linda Houle and Lisa Rene Smith. I don’t tell them often enough how much I value them, but I sincerely do. My wish for all aspiring writers, as well as for published authors seeking a change, is that they find a publisher of L&L’s ilk who will nourish and encourage their growth.

Bottom line—watch for that brass ring, grab it, and ENJOY.

Betty Gordon

2010-03-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

Welcome Betty Gordon!

I"d like to welcome author, Betty Gordon to All the World's a Page! I'm thrilled to have this talented author join our blogging team!

About Betty:

Betty Gordon, a native Texan, moved from Dallas to Houston in search of her destiny. After careers as a dance instructor, sculptor, and legal assistant, she followed her dream to write books that would entertain and challenge readers.

Betty graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a B.S. in Professional Writing and from U of H-Clear Lake with an M.A. in Literature (Creative Writing), and an M.A. in Visual Arts. She attended law school for a year before leaving for the world of art and writing. She continues her education with on-line writing workshops and conferences.

A supportive husband, three grown sons, and a Maltese who thinks he’s another son complete her family.

Publishing credentials include her debut mystery novel, MURDER IN THE THIRD PERSON, released Fall, 2007, a literary piece in The Journal of Graduate Liberal Studies, and poetry in University of Houston publications. She is a member of and current president of The Final Twist Chapter, Sisters in Crime; as well as a member in Mystery Writers of America, Writers’ League of Texas, Ft. Bend Writers’ Guild, and Bay Area Writers’ League.

Betty has two published novels: Murder in the Third Person and Deceptive Clarity. She also has short stories in A Box of Texas Chocolates, A Death in Texas and Dead and Breakfast.

About MURDER IN THE THIRD PERSON:

“It’s lessons are basic and instinctual and are good reminders of self-esteem issues.
Betty Gordon no doubt writes as a mother and an observer of students in college and law school. … Her plot is believable; tragic; and engrossing to the reader. Her writing style is crisp and fresh, and any mystery lover will have a hard time putting her book down. … lots of twists and turns that can be enjoyed by any reader of almost any age. It’s lessons are basic and instinctual and are good reminders of self-esteem issues.”
Shelly Glodowski, Senior Reviewer
Midwest Book Review
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm looking forward to Betty's insights on writing and publishing in the 21st century!
Perilously yours,

Pauline

2010-03-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

Authors Behaving Politely

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about authors behaving badly, but this week I had another, related issue bubble to the top of my brain. I'll start by saying, I know authors are busy. I'm one. I'm busy.

That said, if you are going to interact on readers' loops and groups, it is important that you read the directions for those loops and FOLLOW THEM. And beyond that, if a list owner posts instructions for special events or contests, READ those instructions and FOLLOW them. Please.

As one who has gotten herself in trouble through the years for speed-reading directions and missing important chunks (mostly in school), I am sympathetic, but there are two really good reasons for making the effort:

1. It protects YOUR brand. Most loop owners understand and allow some latitude for authors who make mistakes. We're all human, but if you regularly err and have to be put on moderation, it inhibits your ability to interact freely with readers AND makes you look less than professional. Did I mention it makes you look less professional? Because it does.

2. A lack of attention to details hurts the wider community of authors. I mentioned in my previous blog that some list owners consider authors little better than telemarketers. Maybe you don't care, but you should. Other authors are part of, or should be part of, your networking efforts. They are your source of industry information and a knowledge base you can tap into when you need it...if you haven't messed in that nest. And if you still don't think you need other authors in your network, remember that most authors are also READERS.

Many of the lists ask that authors not "hit and run" promote, but if there are no consequences, many still do. Other lists require interaction, but do allow unrestricted promo some days. I've been guilty of the occasional hit and run promotion, but I've become a "born again, stay and chat" promoter because I know I don't read promotion from authors if I don't have a connection of some kind. With the limited time at my disposal, I don't have the time to read everything, so I have to pick and choose. I expect a lot of other people are that way too, hence the encouragement not to hit and run.

I recently joined a new loop and it's a bit intimidating to be the new girl on the block. I can see the relationships already in place, just by watching the ebb and flow of conversations. It's not easy to make friends. It's tempting to hit and run back to my comfort zone.

But I've made some wonderful friends through the years, both personal and professionally based, by NOT running for my comfort zone, by taking the time to chat a little. And by not EXPECTING them to buy my book, just because I showed up and stayed a while.

Most of us, at one time or another, suffer from something I call "I am the center of the publishing universe" syndrome. It usually hits around the time our first book releases. We're so excited and sure no one has ever felt like this before. No one has a baby as beautiful as yours. We all go through it and, generally, everyone is pretty understanding--unless you don't grow out of it.

When I go into any situation, I'm "selling" my brand AND my book, but if I go in thinking it's all about me, I damage my brand. I don't sell books when my brand is damaged. I sever support networks, too. To paraphrase, no author is an island--unless you repeatedly sink the rescue boats. (insert wry grin here)

Perilously and politely yours,
Pauline

2010-02-24T09:30:00.000-08:00

Cranking Up the Suspense

"Don't mistake a good setup for a satisfying conclusion -- many beginning writers end their stories when the real story is just ready to begin." Stanley Schmidt

Years ago, a writer asked me to read some of her work. It was beautifully written. The characters were interesting and compelling. And there was NO tension. NO conflict. No sense of urgency.

Our writing "eyes" are like our real eyes. They see selectively. Sometimes we just can't see our forest, because our favorite trees are in the way. This author had asked a bunch of writers to read her work. We all said the same thing. There's no conflict. I don't know if she ever believed any of us. I know she didn't believe me.

It is very hard sometimes, to see our writing with enough clarity to figure out what's wrong. But it can be done. I don't know, but I suspect that writer's problem was she liked her characters too much to make them suffer. They were vividly written, so I know they were vivid and real to the writer.

Even in non-suspense, books revolve around something going wrong, or something changing in the characters' lives. Something needs to happen. In suspense, lots and lots of something needs to happen and it needs to happen on a rising scale of something going wrong.

It can start small, as small as your character getting in a fender bender, but that something needs to lead to bigger problems for your character. And each something needs to be worse than the last something. Each something needs to be harder for the character to resolve until you reach the point where the reader (and maybe you) aren't sure your character can solve the problem.

Getting to those points can be hard if you can't bring yourself to make your characters suffer. So you need tough love for your characters. Think of what you're doing as character building.

But what if you're perfectly happy making them suffer, but your "somethings" seem flat and not as interesting as you'd like? That's a problem, IMHO, of not pushing your imagination hard enough. There are lots of different brainstorming techniques for getting past bland. Just keep in mind that first thing, or even the first few things, that you think of going wrong are first because they've been done and done and done. You need to push past those first ideas, keep your brain working until you get into the "zone." The zone is the place where you surprise yourself, too. Where you feel a tingle of excitement. It's scary, because you don't always know how it's going to work out, but if you trust your muse, trust your characters, solutions will present themselves when needed.

I tend to push my muse into the crazy and ridiculous, then I dial it back until it's (hopefully) believable, but still fresh and exciting.

When I was writing Girl Gone Nova, I had a clear idea of where I did NOT want to go with the book. But the characters kept driving me toward that place. I finally gave in and went where it needed to go. It almost made my head explode, but in the end, I had a story that a) worked with the characters I'd created; and b) I loved.

Will anyone else love it? Well, early reviews are looking good and I'm hoping readers will love it or at least like it. But during the creative process, I can't worry about who will like it. That makes my writing and plotting self conscious. And that leads to stilted and flat writing.

When you write with passion and conviction, you can bet you won't please all the people. But if you are true to yourself, and true to your story, you have a better chance of finding AN audience, than if you try to please everyone.

A couple of books I use for brainstorming tips are:

Fiction Writer's Brainstormer You can only buy it used now, but I like the various brainstorming tips.

Writing the Breakout Novel There is also a handbook.

There are other brainstorming/idea generating books out there. When you find one that works for you, keep it close. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2010-02-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

Putting Your Best Foot Forward (or Authors Behaving Badly)

One of the issues we spent time on in Managing Your Book Writing Business is author behavior, both good and bad. I have to admit, I didn't expect the need to tell adults to behave in their internet dealings. This seemed like a no brainer, but years of experience proved otherwise.

Just this last week, I've experienced everything from mildly rude to "wow, I can't believe someone did that." So let's talk manners. Manners aren't hard. They are based on treating others the way you'd like to be treated. So if you like it when people are polite to you, then you need to be polite to others. What we send out tends to come back to us.

We are ALL excited about what we write and we ALL think its the best out there. Insulting and dissing other authors also insults the readers who like those authors. And the publishers who publish the books. And it doesn't make your book look better, it makes you look bad.

Someone on one of my loops said that some readers consider authors no better than spammers or telemarketers. That's serious. If we want readers to read our books, they need to know our books are out there. That requires a certain amount of promotion.

But there is promotion and there is PROMOTION. I'm constantly amazed by authors who are offended by drive-by promotion and "it's all about me" attitudes, but fail to see it in themselves.

Spammers and telemarketers don't have to worry about damaging their brand when they engage in annoying behavior. Authors do. Your name IS your brand. That means that good behavior HELPS your brand. Bad behavior HURTS your brand.

Good behavior isn't that hard, but it does take an extra bit of time to, say, find out what posting rules are BEFORE hitting a list with a promotion-only post. Or a massively inappropriate post for that loop (such as erotic content to a non-erotic loop). And it takes even more time to not be a hit-and-run poster. I've seen authors post to loops, get a comment from READERS and never come back to say, thank you. I have to assume they are no mail on the loop, so they never saw the feedback. Or they don't care.

But how can you post promo and NOT CARE if it worked? You damage your brand when you fail to say thank you to people who take the time to check out your book or help you in some way. (It hurts all of us, but we have already figured out some authors don't care.)

One of my pet peeves is authors, on author loops, who push and shove their books at other authors, but never feel the slightest need to, at the very least, pretend to be interested in other people's books. On one loop, I clicked through, checked out a book, found it hard to find, and went back and offered a suggestion to fix that. The author never responded. But a few weeks later, he was back pushing his book. I clicked through, found he'd fixed his links. Not once did this person EVER say, your books look interesting. No sense he'd looked at my sig line or that I was an author, too. You don't have to buy/read every book of every author who crosses your path, but IF you are going to pitch to them, at least notice they write books, too. You're a writer, you can make up something nice to say.

And if you post links to your blog on author-only loops, and people comment, its common courtesy to reciprocate. I know it takes a lot of time to visit blogs and comment. I've even had problems getting my comments to post (I had to download two different browsers!) and I go through periods where I don't comment, but I also don't post blog links if I know I can't reciprocate. It's crazy, but commenting actually helps you, too. It's a win-win, because you get a link back to your site.

When you are out on the internet, you need to don your company manners and your business side. When you post, when you interact, when you react (which you shouldn't, btw), ask yourself, will this HELP my brand or hurt it? Everything you do leaves tracks in cyberspace that others can follow back to find out who and what you really are. Readers, editors, agents, publishers all know how to use the internet. And they do.

PROTECT YOUR BRAND. Be the person you want others to be around you and if you make a mistake, say you're sorry. Remember to thank, pause to check the rules, nurture your writing network and don't burn bridges after you've crossed them. You might need to use them again. :-)

In the run up to the release of my new novel, Girl Gone Nova, I've been running some contests and also set up a website only sale of my non-fiction. I hope you'll check them out, but if you don't, I promise not to stalk you. LOL!

Perilously (and politely) yours,

Pauline

www.perilouspauline.com

2010-02-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

Cranking up the Suspense in Your Suspense Novel

"Don't mistake a good setup for a satisfying conclusion--many beginning writers end their stories when the real story is just ready to begin." Stanley Schmidt
   And some experienced writers do it, too. It is HARD to make your characters suffer. For the most part, you like them. They are YOUR characters.You get fond of them and it is hard to kick their trash all over your creation.
   But you still should.
   Have you ever felt a thunderstorm building? You feel the tension in the air and see the dark clouds building, so dark you start considering what you'll do if you lose power...
   ...and then...
   ...nothing. It just goes away.
   That's how readers feel if you start big and don't end big.
   I can almost hear you thinking, "That's easy for you to say, but hard to do."
   Of course it is hard to do. Anything worth while is hard to do. But it's worth it to keep asking yourself, "How can I make their lives worse," until you feel that tingle down your spine that tells you that you're in kicking it up territory. Some other questions you can ask yourself are:
   * What's at stake?
   * Is there a ticking clock? (i.e. urgency)
   * If there isn't immediate urgency, is there potential for it?
   *If I don't have any of the three, can I find them in this story?
   We all have stories that we need/want to tell. That need sometimes decides what kind of story we have to write, even if that isn't the "commercial" choice. If the story you are writing doesn't have suspense, then its not a suspense story. If it doesn't have the potential for suspense, then again, its NOT a suspense story. And if your heart isn't in to making it a suspense story, then don't go there. You can't move readers to a place that you AREN'T.
   To find out more about how I write suspense, check out Made-up Mayhem available in print and eBook at most online bookstores.
Perilously yours,
Pauline
www.perilouspauline.com
The Key
Girl Gone Nova, 4/2010
Tangled in Time, steampunk romance novella, 12/2010

2010-02-03T08:52:00.000-08:00

Finding Your Film Story in Your Novel

One of the hardest things an author will face, when adapting their own novel for film, is finding the film story buried in the novel. If you've read many books and then seen film adaptations, you should have noticed that they are often different--ranging from slightly to beyond recognition. I think The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is the only book to film that is almost unchanged? I could be wrong, because I haven't seen every single book to film ever made, but in my world, yeah.

So what is the film story in a novel? You find that by remembering what a film is. A film is a visual representation of a story. In simple terms, a film is seen. So the stuff that goes into a script has to be seen. One way to find the visuals in your novel is to print out a copy and go through it with a highlighter, marking only the stuff that can be seen. Marking only the stuff that characters can do.

Once you've got the action spine of your story, you need to look at for story structure. Without the novel stuff, do you have enough action to tell the film story? Not every book does. Is there a visual beginning, middle and end?

If there isn't, that doesn't mean you through down the highlighter. Because the next question to ask yourself is: is there film story potential in what I've pulled from my book? What if I changed this or that? What if this character became more important and this one less so?

If you can let go of "how its supposed to be" and find the potential film story in your novel, you can do a successful adaptation of your novel. Or you can know when to walk away.

For more information check out my handbook Adapting Your Novel for Film, available in print and ebook from most online bookstores.

And the next time you watch a movie made from a book you've read? Spend a little time thinking about the choices they made during the process. You can learn a lot, even if its just what not to do.
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2010-01-27T10:17:00.000-08:00

Side Effects of Writing Fiction

   Unless you really are writing novels in a garret somewhere, you will eventually experience a side effect of fiction writing. Someone, somewhere, will ask you a "how" question. How did you write that book? How do you come up with such great characters? Sometimes other writing groups will ask you to talk about how you do your thing. Sometimes those talks can lead to articles or even "how to" books.
   It's a good side effect. People only want to know how you do something, if you're doing it right. I mean, I don't ask people to talk to me if I don't like what they wrote. Writing groups don't invite you to talk to their members about how NOT to do it.
   My handbook Made-up Mayhem was the result of this synergy, this writing side effect. Most writing how-to books are big. They can be a mix of basic writing info and genre specific tips. I wanted this handbook to be a quick guide for a specific genre, for a specific writer who wanted to write--not spend hours reading about how I write. I do include a short reading list, but even as I type these words the suspense/romantic suspense genre is changing, shifting on the sands of reader demand. Its my hope the handbook will have some durability over time because it is more about how you create characters and crank up the action, than a book about the market for suspense/romantic suspense.
   Writing non-fiction can also come out of your "aha" moments, when you figure something important out that you think/hope might help other writers. Or it comes from finding a hole in the "how to" books that you can fill.
   This is how I came to write my Adapting Your Novel for Film handbook. I had submitted three chapters to a high profile agent and got an actual response back. He told me he thought the book read more like a movie script than a book. This got me thinking about screen writing. I'd done some playwriting, but minimal research revealed that playwriting and screen writing are very different animals. So then I went searching for how to adapt MY novel for film. There are tons and tons of books about screen writing. There are some books about adapting books to film, but I found that there wasn't a trimmed down look just at how you assess your book for adaptation and then do it.
   This handbook provides some limited information on what you do after adapting, but again, that is a fluid situation that can change from month to month, let alone year to year. I didn't want my handbook locked in the "screen writing used to be" shelves. I wanted it to be durable. If you've learned how to market a book, you can adapt to the strange and wonderful world of marketing a script. The research skill set is the same, but a simple breakdown of how you look at your novel for film potential, how you find your film story...that handbook wasn't generally available when I first wrote this handbook.
   A quick Amazon search shows that this is still very much a niche book for the working novelist. This handbook isn't for the working screenwriter, or even one who hopes to become a working screenwriter--though the beginning writer can learn from this handbook, IMHO. This handbook is for the novelist who does not have the money to pay someone to adapt their book, who hasn't been approached by someone desiring to option and adapt their book, or the author who has been told their book "would make a great movie" and wonders if that is true.
   It has the added benefit of again, being short. The reader/author won't be investing a huge chunk of their writing time to reading this book. I know when I grab a writing "how-to" book I tend to read until I get an answer, an aha moment, or distracted. And I rarely return to finish. It is our reality, that if we are reading, we aren't writing. I'm all for continual education, but I like it to be fast. Time management is also an issue for me. I've looked at time management how-tos but they'd take even more time to read!
   My last how-to book came about because my publisher asked me to write a book about the writing business. After I got over the fetal-and-whine moment, I approached my wise and savvy friend, Jamie Engle and she agreed to work with me on the project. Once again, I wanted it to be short and to the point. I wanted it to be about the things I wish I'd known about the business and things I'd learned.
   There are a lot of books about the business of writing, but most of them are really about the craft of writing and then how to sell what you write. This handbook is not about how to write, how to market, or even how to pitch to editors. It's about managing your business, both before and after you become published. It's also about how to work with the people you'll meet in the business and how not to mess up your professional life.
   None of my handbooks are long. I save the bulk of my words for my fiction (something my editor both loves and deplores). And it is my hope that these handbooks will also save your time for the heart of your writing business: the actual writing.
   In the coming weeks, I'm hoping to both stay on top of this blog and pull some blog ideas from my handbooks. I also know I will commit random acts of blogging, when ideas strike me. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2010-01-19T13:20:00.000-08:00

It's All In Your Head...

Morgan Mandel has a discussion on surviving book signings at her Make Mine A Mystery Blog that got me thinking of my first book signing "event." It was on a Saturday at the big B&N in Metairie, LA.(New Orleans). First, much of the freeway was shut down early for construction. Then the President arrived at the Kenner airport, shutting off most of the main, non-freeway streets.

I didn't know this at first. I got the store, amazed when there was plenty of parking spaces, including one right by the front door. Usually you were lucky to get a parking space IN the parking lot around the store. Then they put me behind this table that was--I kid you not--about one foot square. No room for displays of any kind, or to sign anything, assuming the three people in the store were moved to buy. Last, they put me at the base of this HUGE escalator. It was like a big arrow pointing to a dot (me). Anyone who did stop and talk to me wanted directions.

As the time moved oh so slowly on, I felt smaller and smaller. By the time my two hours were over, I felt about two inches tall. I don't think I did a book signing again for two years and then it was a group thing. That doesn't mean I didn't stop thinking about it.

There are some things that will probably never change. I don't have the soul of a sales person and can't chat up strangers, though I love talking books with people who chat me up. I have to work with who and what I am, so signings like that aren't my best venue and money-wise, I make less per sale, too.

That said, there is one big thing I did different at my next book signing. This was a huge group, a charity event sponsored by RWA. This time I was in a long row of authors. It felt like everyone around was selling books but me and I could feel myself shrinking again.

But this time, I decided I wasn't going to let that happen. I started shifting my thoughts to the positives. I was sitting shoulder to shoulder with other authors. I was an author! I was "there" wherever "there" was. This wasn't about me and my ego. This was for charity. And my positive redirection of my thoughts worked. I sold every book I'd brought with me.

It made me realize how much of what we are thinking on the inside is reflected on the outside, be it by the look in our eyes or unconscious body language. If you feel successful, you'll be successful--or you will at least attract people to you to talk. If you look around you, you'll see that confident people make things happen.

Now the great thing about this business, the field can be level, because if you can fake confidence until you feel it, then your book will bring them back.This isn't real estate. When someone else sells a book, you don't lose, because readers read books. They finish one book, they need another one. If you can get past your self-consciousness long enough to open a dialog with readers, then you have a chance to sell a book. But you can't open a dialog if you're shrinking on the inside and projecting that onto your outside because it makes you invisiable.

If you can't get past who you are, then become one of your characters. You do it while you're writing, so bring one of them to the book signing with you and let them have some play time.

Or let yourself be an author, let yourself arrive. You worked hard to get there, don't miss the moment because you're shrinking--or giving directions to the restroom.
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2010-01-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

Cleaning out the Dust Bunnies in Here!

I was shocked when I realized how long its been since I posted on this blog, but I have been writing, which is a good thing. All the publishing advice in the world is useless if you're not writing. All the things we do, as writers, are so we can write. Jamie and I wrote Managing Your Book Writing Business because we wanted to help other writers keep writing.

There's a measure of self-interest in my desire for people to keep writing. I like to read and if I find an author I like to read, then I want them to keep writing. It's like an endless causality loop. You're here, or you're writing, because you want to get into the loop. You want to write, find readers and you really, really want them to want you to keep writing.

So if you're doing a lot of book writing business, but aren't doing a lot of actual writing, then you need to rethink and redo your plan.

And I really need to sweep. Excuse me while I look for a broom...
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2009-09-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Why Contribute to an Anthology Collection?

As our chapter releases its third short story anthology this month, I found myself talking to a new member about the benefits of taking time out from novel writing, to write short stories.

There are good reasons for contributing a short story to an anthology. For some, it is a chance to donate to a favorite charity. For me, it is both a chance to change my writing pace and to promote myself to (hopefully) a new audience.

How can a short story promote your other work? Some authors set their shorts within the world of the larger novel series. I did this with Men in Jeans that was included in the A Death in Texas anthology that The Final Twist released last year. I introduced new characters, but had a character from The Key make a guest visit to the story. I've also written three short stories using the characters from Do Wah Diddy Die. One of these stories has already released in Dead and Breakfast and the others will release in Ghostly Dreamspell and The Mystery of the Green Mist.

Doing these shorts gave me a chance to revist some fun characters, but without the pain of plotting a full length novel. Hopefully they will also ignite a desire to read the novel by the people who buy the anthologies. Authors live in hope a lot.

Anthology contributions can also be an introduction to your writing style. Or they can give you a chance to explore new directions and genres with your writing. For instance, my short story in A Texas Box of Chocolates is a short romance story called Getting a Clue. I also have a couple of other romance shorts releasing in The Romance of My Dreams II. It was fun to try something different, to write some fiction where no one died. **g**

For me, writing short stories was also a way to keep writing through a personal, family crisis that occupied a very long year and a half in my life. They also gave me books to promote while I have been working on my latest novel, Girl Gone Nova.

No question, switching writing gears can be interesting and sometimes challenging, but it can also be a way around a road block or writer's block and a way to hook a wider audience into your promotion net.

And if you have yet to sell your first novel, paricipating in an anthology can give your a publication credit--and a boost to your self confidence.

If you've never thought about submitting to an anthology, I'd urge you to give it some thought. Just make sure you understand the business implications of any contract you sign and that the projects you're involved in are done in a professional manner. :-)

Perilously yours,
Pauline
Perils of Pauline

2009-07-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

When Did We Stop Boldly Going Where We Haven't Gone Before?

I've been reading and thinking a lot about the 40th anniversary of man's first walk on the moon. I was alive then. Yes, I am that old. :-) I was alive for all our adventures in space. As I look back, what shocks me most is how much we haven't done since we put that first man on the moon. When did we stop boldly wanting to go where no man has gone before and instead started settling for where we are? When did brave and bold and risk taking go out of style? When did we stop wanting to do amazing things? When did we stop looking up and wondering?

We accomplished SO much back then and with SO little. If you want to get an inkling of how amazing it was, buy or rent From Earth to the Moon. As a country and as a people, we are the beneficiaries of many amazing achievements, but you can't see all of them on video. We can see that journey to the moon and we should see it. We need to know about the good parts of our past, too. We need to be inspired, to dream big and aspire beyond the ends of our noses--or the edge of our atmosphere. We need the generations that follow us to have dreams, too. We need them to have a sense of wonder and to believe that not only is "boldly going" a good thing, but its also possible.

We need to go back to the moon and then go beyond it.

And why am I asking these questions and saying these things on a blog devoted to the business of writing?

I thought about that, too, as I mulled moon walks and blogs and being brave and aiming high. Writers may not visit the moon or outer space for real, but our stories and essays and articles are a way to reach into the hearts and minds of those around us.

We need to believe that dreams come true to start a story or novel or whatever it is we write and we need to pass that legacy on. We need inspire the generations behind us with our words and ideas. Small goals are fine and good, but when I was a little girl gazing up at the night sky, my goals weren't small. They were bold and bright and as big as that sky.

Life hits hard and fast sometimes, it can take our legs out from under us and it should take the legs out from under our characters, but we--and they--need to get up and go forward. We need to share our belief that we can do seemingly impossible things.

We learn to do from trying and failing and we learn to do it by learning from the example of men who walk on the moon and the people who helped them get there. We learn it by boldly going and by doing and by living.

And then we pass it on, because if we miss that step, the story--and the vision--dies with us.

I don't want my grandchildren to grow up in a world where no one looks up at the sky and wonders...

I want them to wonder and dream and boldly go...even if its only in their imagination.

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2009-07-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

July has been a crazy month for me (I keep saying that, don't I? Maybe I should just say that my life is crazy and be done with it?). Some big changes in my writing career. After eleven years with Hard Shell Word Factory, my back list is moving. Still love HSWF, but felt it was time to bring the babies all together under one roof and maybe get them some new clothes (covers) and a new look. So my back list is moving into the same house as The Key and my non-fiction books at L&L Dreamspell. I'm excited that my books will also come out of the move with a more coherent look. I loved my old covers, but they didn't tie the books together in any consistent way. As a small business owner, I need to do more than love a cover, it needs to build my brand.

It's taken me a while to understand this--though I've always known that I'm not the best judge of my covers. I don't shop books by their covers (though they can run me off!), but I know a lot of people do. I'm not a marketing expert, nor am I a graphic designer. In this down economy, liking my covers isn't enough. As I said, they need to be consistent, coherent in design and build my brand--my name.

One of the cool things my new home (publisher) is going to do is use my personal logo on the book covers. It will be small, a little space on the back cover, but it will tie my books together. I'm so grateful they are willing to take on my back list. Some of them have been out for over ten years! We're both hoping the new look will bring new readers.

While I can't say all my decisions have been all business, all the time, this decision is about what is best for my small business and my product. It's hard for me to have my back list unavailable for even a short time, but in the long run, I believe it is a good move.

It's interesting how there are always things to learn in this business. That's why I keep networking with other writers, even when time is tight. Many thanks to all the authors who have helped and advised and shared what they knew with me!

I have two releases coming up:

A Box of Texas Chocolates Anthology (my short is called "Getting a Clue.")
Girl Gone Nova - The next installment in my Project Enterprise/Garradian Galaxy Series.

I also have some more short stories releasing in several anthologies, but don't have release dates yet. Be sure to stop by

The Perils of Pauline

to find out what I'm up to and what's releasing when. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2009-06-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Now Remember: Pillage First, Then Burn

Okay, now that I've got your attention...

So I've been reading all the posts related to the RWA and the Digital Divide. I'm not going to weigh on on the actual discussion, but use it as a reminder about minding your manners when you're out and about. There's been a lot of pillaging and burning going on. As someone who's been there and burned that bridge once or twice, I'll just say: run, save yourself!

Authors are passionate, opinionated and strong-willed. We have to be those things to write. But when you are representing your small business, whether in person or online, you need to stuff passion in a closet or a trunk and protect your brand.

Authors sometimes forget that they don't just write books. If they are published, they are also a small business. If you go into the local market and the clerk is rude to you, your reaction is:

"I'm never going there again."

So why would it be different for readers who see us publicly lose control? Leave pillaging and burning to the barbarians and video games. When you're out of the house or online, keep it cool. Keep it polite. Don't engage. I'm not saying you can't have an opinion or express it. I am saying, write it down, let it sit for a while or run it by someone who won't tell you what you want to hear.

We KNOW the power of words. We KNOW how easy it is be misunderstood. If your words CAN be misunderstood, don't sent them out. Just vent and delete.

IF you engage and get misunderstood, apologize.

It doesn't matter if you're right.

Being right isn't the issue.

Protecting your brand, protecting your business IS the only issue.

Word of mouth either sells books or it stops sales of books.

You are either burning bridges or building them.

You've worked hard to write. You've worked hard to sell your work.

Why would you risk it for a flame out?

So what if you think someone has it wrong? So what if you have a brilliant argument to present? Does it help your brand?

So save the pillaging and burning for your novels. If it's making your crazy, kill the offender fictionally. Quit reading the discussion. Step back from the edge (and the computer). If you're having a bad day, don't go where you know you might have a problem. If you want to effect change, then address the person/org/people who can affect change.

If you have to engage, keep in mind that:

* Not every issue is about right and wrong. Sometimes they are just different points of view. You remember points of view, right? How peoples' POV is shaped by their life experiences?

* Where ever you take your eyes, they will always see things from your point of view. Be willing to accept premise that no one is ALL right or ALL wrong--including you. Your opinions are also shaped by your life experience. You have a POV. You get to keep yours and so does everyone else.

* Find where you DO agree and build on that.

* Agree to disagree. Be okay with agreeing to disagree. You can be brilliant and still not get agreement. (see my point on POV)

Life is short. Where and how you spend your energy and creativity should always be a choice and not a reaction, particularly the knee jerk kind.

Cultivating a professional persona is as important to your business as creating great stories and great characters.

Be the business person your writer needs you to be to make your small business a success.

To open a shop is easy, to keep it open is an art.
Chinese Proverbs

Managing Your Book Writing Business
Fictionwise Amazon

2009-02-21T12:10:00.000-08:00

Pondering Paragraphs

On the Blood-red Pencil blog, Charlotte Phillips is talking paragraphs. Charlotte had this to say on the subject:

"I checked my trusted Chicago Manual of Style - which disappointed me for the first time in a very long time. Chicago was silent on paragraph rules (or I simply wasn't smart enough to locate the information). I Googled. I even cracked open several of the writing and grammar books parked on the corner of my desk. Did I find anything definitive? No."

She has some interesting comments on her paragraph questions. If you're curious about paragraphs, you should check it out.

She did get me thinking about how I decide on paragraph length, etc. As I pondered the subject, I realized I get some of my paragraphing technique from scriptwriting. Scriptwriters are always (or should always) be aware of the white space on every page. Lots of white space and shorter paragraphs are said to make the page more friendly and accessible to the reader.

Script paragraphs are generally very short, typically no more than two or three lines. Obviously that guideline is too extreme for novels. Paragraphing like that would make for very choppy fiction. Still, I realized I am aware of how my words look on the page. Does each page invite the reader in? Does it look friendly or hostile?

I do have longer paragraphs, but not excessively long. Looking at my WIP, I tend to switch to a new paragraph when a change in topic occurs, even if it's happening inside the head of a character. I'll also isolate an important conclusion and/or decision in a paragraph by itself. It's a quiet way of telling the reader: this is important.

George Smiley, in his book Playwriting: The Structure of Action points out how important it is to show a character's thought processes when they are engaging in ethical or deliberative thinking. (Excellent book, btw, on how to create characters with consistency and stature.)

Most of what I do when I'm writing is unconscious, but when I'm editing, I do look for these types of thought patterns. I look for clarity, consistency and ways to highlight the key points, so that the reader isn't surprised when a character acts.

Donald Mass, in his Writing the Breakout Novel, urges the author to figure out something that your character would never, ever do and then write a scene where they are forced to do that thing.

If you push your characters to that point--and want to take the reader along with you--then you need to have deliberative paragraphs in place, so that the reader can believe it when the character acts against their deepest convictions and does the previously unthinkable.

For me, this means not burying those moments in long paragraphs, but framing them in ways that show they are important by what goes before and after. Over time, you develop an instinct for when a break needs to occur in the flow of sentences.

This kind of choice is also integral to developing your own style. No two writers will use paragraphs in exactly the same way. You can learn from other authors, but you also need to have the confidence to be true to your own style.

When I'm going through a manuscript, if a section needs more than grammer corrections, I'll write MB in the margin. This means "make better." I keep breaking, unbreaking and rebreaking my paragraphs until I can't make it any better. Then I set my WIP aside for as long as I can and try again.

Because this business is so subjective, there will always be someone out there to tell you that you got it wrong, but if it feels right to you, then I'd say go with your gut. (And it helps to have a great editor.)

Perilously yours
Pauline

2009-01-19T12:41:00.000-08:00

Twittering Around

I've been really enjoying exploring Twitter and the people who tweet there. I think my favorite part is that I have to write short. No more than 140 characters allowed per tweet. It seemed short at first, but now I'm amazed at what people can communicate with micro-blogging.

So if you're in the mood for a quick way to promote (or whine), check out Twitter. It's fast and easy to sigh up for and even faster to use. It will take time to build followers. The best way to do that is follow people and them show them you're reading them. Not all the time, but the occasional reply to a comment shows an interest and attention to their posts.

Like most social networking sites, you can't hit and run and hope to get attention. You have to build your network. And then you have to be interesting in 140 characters or less. :-)

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-12-31T06:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I can't believe 2008 is almost over and I really can't believe I survived it! Been a crazy year, but I'm still here. :-)

As a gift to my writing friends, I've compiled an eBook of my "best of" tips, taken from Writers Nibs: Dip into the Well, a feature on my website. I've been posting tips, sort of on a schedule, since 2006, but I've never gone back and looked at them. So this was a looking back exercise for me, too. You can download the free eBook on my website and I hope it will give you a boost to head into 2009 with more determination to succeed at your writing goals. ;-)

You can find some other, cool writing related free stuff here. I printed out the free calendar to use in 2009. I like to have a calendar on my desktop, where I can make quick notes or check dates. It's a mini-diary for me as I pass through the year. I also like the DRAW tips. I think you have to sign up to get those by email, but some great tips for jump starting the writing.

I've also been hanging around with Twitter Moms that Writer. It's a diverse group, but most interesting. Finding the right kind of support for your writing efforts can be a challenge, but with the internet, it is possible. :-)

I hope that your new year brings you the realization of your writing dreams and much happiness!
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-12-03T08:32:00.000-08:00

Managing Your Book Writing Business

November was such a personally challenging month for me that the release of our non-fiction book almost passed without my notice. But it IS official. Here's the official blurb:

Are you a writer? Have you published your work or are you seeking publication? Did you know that you are also a small business owner? This helpful handbook outlines basic and important information every author needs to know about the publishing industry and the “business” of writing. From developing a business plan to cultivating a professional reputation, award winning author Pauline Baird Jones and public relations expert and author Jamie Engle share their years of knowledge and experience. Don’t wait until it’s too late, then say “I wish I would have known…” Managing Your Book Writing Business includes helpful web links and guidelines to help you get started, and keep you from making simple but potentially costly mistakes. Save time and start out right—success comes sooner for authors who take the time to organize and plan a strategy!

It was a dream to work with Jamie to finish this book. She is a wonderful writer and very professional and knowledgeable. She pulled things from me that I didn't know I knew.

Hope you'll check it out in ebook or print!
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-10-28T05:52:00.000-07:00

Today we're guesting author Jeff Rivera on the blog. He's the author of Forever My Lady, releasing today. Welcome, Jeff. :-) He's agreed to answer a few questions, so let's get started!

What would you say Forever My Lady is about to you as the writer?
For me Pauline, Forever My Lady is a cautionary tale not just to teens but also to the world about what happens when you're not willing to let your relationship go in the direction in naturally should go. Sometimes we want to hold on to things and keep things the way they are, we panic when we see the relationship evolving into something else. That's what the character Dio goes through when he sees his soul mate start to be "distracted" and he keeps holding on to the hope that she'll be there for him even though her actions are showing something else.

You have an interesting character named Louise who is in what seems like an abusive relationship. Why did you decide to give her that background?
I knew from the beginning that she was going to appear at first as sort of trailer-trashy. I saw her with missing teeth. Then, I asked myself how did she get those missing teeth. That's when the story evolved and I realized that she had them knocked out by her current husband. I have friends who are still in abusive relationships and no matter what I do to plead they get out of it, they're not ready yet and it breaks my heart to see it.

Have you ever experienced an abusive relationship?

Yes, I was in an emotionally abusive and dysfunctional relationship but I don't feel sorry for myself, I chose to stay in it and in that way I was a willing participant in the dysfunction.

Why did you decide to go against the grain with the ending in the book?
I wanted the ending to be happy in a way, and in a way it is depending on how you look at it but at the same time I wanted it to be realistic to be believable and no matter how you feel about the ending, love it or not you have to admit it is believable.

Can we get Forever My Lady on Amazon?
Yes, Amazon.com or www.JeffRivera.com or of course, bookstores all over.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog, Jeff. We wish lots of success with the book!
Perilously yours,
Pauline

Pauline Baird Jones
www.paulinebjones.com
Pauline@paulinebjones.com
The Key; Men in Jeans: Death in Texas Anthology
Made-up Mayhem,
Adapting Your Novel for Film
Managing Your Book Writing Business

2008-09-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

This and That....

If you missed me, well blame it on Ike. We got our hardest hurricane hit this time, though it was nothing like it could have been. There are a lot of people out there who got hit a LOT harder and longer. To read about my adventures with Ike, check out my personal blog. There are pictures, too.

While I was offline, our chapter released our latest anthology, A Death in Texas, which is way cool. You can find it online at amazon and B&N or at fictionwise as a mutliformat ebook. I downloaded my copy and have read four of the short stories and so far am very wowed. My short is in very good company!

I also got a review of The Key from Booksmugglers. It was a decent review, though I was surprised they found it political. It is a good lesson in this truism:

Where ever I take my eyes, they see things from my point of view.

Simply put, we each bring our personal experiences to the reading experience. It's not something the writer can control or even predict. You can plan to be political and still not get the response you hoped for. It's just the way things are. So it's not worth it to get huffy and bent out of shape if you get a review you don't like.

I'm fortunate that good reviews have far outnumbered bad (and the BookSmuggler's review is really nice. They liked my story and loved Sara, my main character) but I have gotten slammed. I had one reviewer not only hate the book, but she proceeded to give away each and every plot surprise in the book. My mildest "bad" review thought I was "too funny."

At no time have I written and complained about a review. If I write, I thank the reviewer for their time. If I find something interesting or a surprise, I might mention it, but never in a hostile manner. We can learn from reviews, even if that lesson is just: turn the other cheek.

If you're going to be in the this business, if you put your writing out there, someone somewhere is going to have an opinion about it and it won't always be flattering. And if you don't get reviewered ever, you need to work on your promotion and marketing.

Char's Book Reviews has an interesting discussion on her website today about even genre fiction writing can reflect our world view and become a forum of our beliefs. Guest blogger Mark Phillips writes:

"I believe that fiction, even, and perhaps especially, genre fiction is the modern democratic forum for ethical discussion. We can and should be conscious contributors to that ongoing dialogue."

And if you become a part of that dialogue, you WILL tick someone off somewhere. For the writer, the question then becomes, "Do I allow my critics to silence me? Do I slink off into a dark corner and lick my wounds? Or do I accept that everyone has their own point of view and experiences? Can I allow them their differences? Can I refuse to give them power over my words and thoughts and writing?"

You probably won't know how you're going to take criticism until it happens. It's probably a good idea to expose your work to others prior to publication. Learn to smile when someone tells you how your work would be better. And consider the fact that they may be right. Or might at least have a point.

People will analyze your work and see things you don't. Because where they take THEIR eyes, they will see things from their point of view. That's never going to change, no matter how much you might want it to be different. And if you set out to make your work didactic, you can count on ticking off people.

To toughen your hide, put on your asbestos drawers and do what you love. Words have great power--but they still only have the power You give them.
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-09-10T07:36:00.000-07:00

Dealing with Fatigue...

I haven't written a blog here, because frankly, couldn't think of anything to write about. I went to my writer's meeting on Saturday and a friend was talking about how hard it is to start a novel, just how much energy it takes to launch a big project and I realized I was suffering from fatigue--not just writer's fatigue but general life fatigue.

Life happens. Sometimes it lifts. Sometimes its a rip tide. We've been swimming against the rip tide for a while, plus I've got promotion burnout big time.

So, no writing blog advice. I've been browsing the blogs and sites, looking for a way to fill my internal well. In the past I've been able to funnel hard times into my writing, but it hasn't worked that well this time. Going to my writers meeting helped (I knew it would, which is why I dragged my sorry out to it despite my fatigue!).

I've also been writing some short stuff, just to keep that feeling I'm doing something. But that seems to be working against me, in a way. My brain has gotten lazy. I've also been working on some non-fiction with Jamie and preparing for the amazing Muse Online Conference next month (and preparing for hurricane season and now bracing for Ike-talk about a distraction!).

So, I'd like to be wise and tell you, here's how you get through writing/life fatigue, but I'm not to wise yet. It does help to know that when this has happened to me in the past, it's not forever. Like the tides, creativity can ebb and flow. Sometimes you just have to wait for the tide to come back in. Sometimes you have to wade out to it.

Other than that, all I can say is that you're not alone. And that I know it will pass. Been here, done that, bought the tee shirt. And the chocolate. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline
The Key; Men in Jeans: Death in Texas Anthology
Made-up Mayhem, Available now!
Adapting Your Novel for Film, Available now!

Fyn emerged out of the woods at the back of her house and gestured for him. They met in the center of the backyard.
“Found something.”
Apparently he’d used up his allotment of full sentences. Rick signaled for a couple of the guys to come with them and followed Fyn into the woods.
(from Men in Jeans in the Death in Texas Anthology, 10/08)

2008-09-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

Taking a Look at Adapting Your Novel for Film

I think we all dream of making it big, in publishing and then in film, but the odds of having your books adapted to film and then made into a major motion picture are beyond my math skills to calculate.

That said, there are independent film routes into movie production. When you look at the success of indie films such as The Blair Witch Project and My Big, Fat Greek Wedding, then it makes sense to target your efforts at more than just the big movie studios.

And if you are going to work with an indie, then it's a good idea to learn how to adapt your own work. Many of the small indies don't have the budgets to hire scriptwriters to adapt books, though it does happen. It's just a good strategy to know how to do your own adaptation. And it doesn't hurt to learn to talk the talk, even if you don't do your own adaptation.

There are some excellent books out there on adapting novels for film, but they are targeted at scriptwriters who will be adapting other people's work. They focus a lot on theory and storytelling--something I assume you already know if you've written your own novel. My booklet is just about adapting your work for film. It's short and to the point.

And in other news.....

I’m participating in an event to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Please join me and help raise funds for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education.

During the month of September, I commit to writing 15,000 words and I'm hoping to raise at least $150 for CFF.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. More than ten million Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene. Advances continue to be made in finding a cure, but your help is needed now-more than ever-to help keep up the momentum of this life-saving research. To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those with cystic fibrosis. Thank you for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation!

Thanks to everyone for your support!

Click Here to donate.

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-08-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

Taking a Look at Made Up Mayhem

Week two since the print release of my two, new non-fiction titles and it's past time I did some blogs about the books. I have no excuses for why I've been slow, except that it is August. It is my personal belief that we should be allowed to be unconscious for the whole month.

I hadn't looked at either book since I turned in the last edits to the publisher, so I was curious to see how they looked in their new format and if I still liked them. (Yes, I do worry about that!)

Is it conceited to say, I still like the book? There's something distancing about seeing your work formatted and presented by a publisher. It doesn't feel like it belongs to you anymore. So it feels possible to get some distance, but I don't know if you actually do get that distance.

In the book (booklet really, it's pretty short and to the point), I talk about the basics of writing as they apply to writing the suspense or action oriented book. Like pretty much everyone else who has written book about how to write, this is how I did it, what works for me.

Will it work for you? I have no idea. Not everyone strikes sparks in the same way, or has chemistry with someone's writing process. I do think, that for the price, it's worth checking out, but I am prejudiced. And excited to have both Made Up Mayhem and Adapting Your Novel For Film available in print. :-)

If you buy the books and have questions, I hope you're stop by here or email me and ask. :-)

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-08-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Key Wins Dream Realm Award!

I'm pleased and excited to announce that The Key has won the Dream Realm award for its category. I'm also pleased that Adapting Your Novel for Film and Made-up Mayhem have released in online bookstores and fictionwise.com!

I was going to do some blogging about the booklets, but life intervened. I will try to do better in the upcoming weeks.
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-07-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

Made-up Mayhem and Adapting Your Novel for Film

The print and e-release of my first non-fiction books is fast approaching! I was going to post the covers, but Blogger is just totally whacked today. I'll have to try again when its not so hinky, not to mention ANNOYING.

In the run up to the release of the books, actually booklets would be a more accurate description, I plan on doing a couple of short blogs on subjects from the booklets. Basically both books are my "quick and dirty" techniques on how to write a suspense novel and adapt your novel for film.

Let's look at Adapting Your Novel for Film first. There are a lot of excellent books on how to write screenplays and on adapting work for film. But they are BOOKS. They are meant to be long and authoritative. My booklet just covers the basics of how you dissect your work and then recreate your story as a script. There is some advice on basic screenwriting in there, too. It's not meant to be definitive or even authoritative. It's just my experiences and how I did it. If you want to now more on the subject, then there is a nice, long bibliography, but for the person who just wants to know the nuts and bolts, then this is, IMHO, a good resource.

Made-up Mayhem also cuts away a lot of the chaff. It assumes you know the basics of writing and want to know how to write a suspense based novel. It takes the reader through information that I had to collect by reading a lot of other books. At the back, there is a list of some of the most useful of those books, if you want to know more.

I was thrilled to get two new reviews for The Key. The book will be out for a whole year, so I appreciate both sites doing the reviews anyway. :-)

Mostly Fiction Reviews

Manic Readers Reviews

I guess the message here is: never surrender, never say die. **g**

Perilously yours,

Pauline

2008-07-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

Book Teasers

Okay, this is totally my opinion. I've viewed a lot of book teasers (can't call them trailers, because it has been trademarked). I've seen many I liked a lot, some I didn't. But liking a teaser and having it impel me to go buy the book, well...

Again, MY opinion, but I don't think a teaser should be:

*Long. It's a teaser, not a novella or even a summary of your book. We live in a short attention span society and your teaser is competing with all kinds of crazy stuff on you tube, etc. You can't hope to condense a novel into something comfortable to view anyway. What your goal should be, IMHO, is a hook that makes the viewer want to find out MORE. If you think about movie teasers, most are also short. They are designed for maximum impact and to create questions the viewer needs answered by either seeing the movie or looking it up if it isn't out yet.

*Cast with actors. Again, this is just my opinion, but if I see actors portraying roles in a book, well, it messes with MY casting those parts in my head. And if I'm not wowed by the people playing the parts then it turns me off the book, not on it. The other reason I personally, have issues with book teasers containing acted out sequences if that the teaser is about a BOOK. If people won't read a brief teaser, watching it acted out isn't going to make them buy the book. Teasers should be targeted at READERS.

*No music with words in the background. I find myself listening to the words of the music (or trying to figure it out) and miss the words I'm supposed to be focused on.

I don't have a problem with teasers that have pictures. It should certainly include your cover art. And it can have some nice visuals and good sound is nice, but again, IMHO (I have no data to back this up, just my gut feeling) spend most of your time focusing on the WORDS. Your goal is to tease visits to your website for more information--or better yet, get them to go looking for it in a bookstore.

I did my first teaser and I have no clue if it is a good one or not. Obviously I don't have the necessary distance from it to judge it dispassionately. I may never know if it is successful or not. It's hard to find linkage between any promotion you do and income. (It's on my website on The Key info page, if you're curious or want to mock me.)

So why do a teaser if you don't know if it works or not?

Its just one more tool in your promotion kit, one more way to get your name and book title in front of people. I rarely go looking for book teasers about a book I want to read, because well, I READ books, I don't view them. But I will go look at a link for a friend or if someone forwards me a link with a "this is cool" comment.

So, my last suggestion would be, make it cool. Make it fun so people want to forward i. Be creative. Or completely ignore everything I've written. Because it just MHO.
Perilously yours,
Pauline

Pauline Baird Jones
www.paulinebjones.com
2007 Dream Realm Awards Finalist
The Key; Men in Jeans: Death in Texas Anthology

Rick wished he had a tie to tug on. Not that he liked wearing ties, but the moment seemed to call for a good tie tug. “We need to talk to you about your books, ma’am.”
"Is this some kind of weird joke?” She looked past them, as if she expected a camera crew to pop out of the under brush. “A new reality show?”
“We’re not allowed to joke, ma’am.” It took some work, but his lips didn’t twitch.
(From Men in Jeans, DEATH IN TEXAS Anthology)

2008-07-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Talking Sig Lines...

Sig lines (signatures at the end of your email posts) can be a wonderful promotion tool or drive some people into a foaming frenzy. The frenzy comes from expectations--mostly the unmet kind. Everyone has opinions on what is the perfect sig line.

Here's mine:

Some sig lines are block-long parades and others barely cast a shadow.

What a sig lines should do for the author is tell people a little about you without you having to come out and say it. Look at this way, you don't go into a party wearing a sandwich board or carrying a blow horn. You should approach your internet contacts with the same courtesy and restraint.

A good sig line will contain:

1. Your name (believe it or not, a lot of people forget this basic necessity. If you're name isn't there, then your name recognition isn't being built.)

2. Your website URL: This tells people where to find our more about you if they want to.

3. Email contact: While most email programs let you find an email address, you want to make it easy for people to contact you. (And no, if someone creepy uses this info, you don't have to answer them. Use the delete key.)

4. Your book title. It can contain book titles, but probably no more than two. Too much information and your sig line because a novel, not a sig line.

5. In SOME situations, you can add review or book snippets to your sig line, but be sparing and respect the list rules. Put this information at the bottom, so you can delete it easily where necessary.

Note the word snippet in the above line. That means SHORT. To the point. Yes, there will be a longing to shoe horn all the wonderful things a reviewer said about your book, but you want to pick ONE sentence. Later you can use the other wonderful things, because a sig line should also evolve.

And while you're waiting for review quotes or once you've used all you have, consider the benefit of adding short snippets from your book. Linnea Sinclair creates a special file of these snippets while she's writing her book, then sprinkles them through her email correspondence. It does a wonderful job of creating buzz and anticipation for novels. I tried this and actually had a reader email me for more information.

The good thing about sig lines, because they are a work in process, you have time to hone and refine yours. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-06-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

Social Networking and Promotion

As some of you know, I'm co-writing a promotion book with Jamie Engle, and as part of the research, I dived into the world of social networking. Holy cow! I don't think I scratched the surface of what's out there.

I came away feeling like it was something that could literally suck up ALL your time, but it's still worth doing IF you learn to manage your time effectively.

I couldn't even begin to list all the sites out there, but here are a couple that are, IMHO, worth it for authors (and readers!):

Goodreads
Shelfari

These two are specifically targeted to and for readers, which means, that while you'll still be authors marketing to authors, you'll also find readers looking for books and sharing their reading experiences with other readers.

Be prepared to run into readers who don't like your books (if they've read them). Don't answer back or flame. Take it on the chin and look for the readers who DO like your stuff. I know it's easy to say, but let the negative just wash off you. You can't please everyone, so don't bleed away your precious time trying.

And if time is a huge issue, consider microblogging...
Perilously your,
Pauline

2008-06-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

Covers and Contracts...

I thought some of you might be interested in these links to a discussion about cover art by Kathy's Review Corner. While the discusion focuses on romance novels, writers can still learn a lot from the readers answers to her questions. The discussion is broken into two parts and here are the links:

Part One
Part Two

In other news on the net, writers are again discussing how to handle it when a publishing relationship goes sour. Everything, everything depends on your contract. While other writers can give advice, they can't give reliable legal advice unless they happen to be lawyers.

We had a lawyer come speak to our writers groups about scams and cons, but he had good advice for anyone signing a contract: the only thing that matters is what is written down.

What you think the contract says or what the other party told you they meant don't matter. In a court of law, it's all about what the contract actually says.

If you don't understand what's written, get legal advice. For authors, there are tons of sites out there that break down contract clauses and warn against certain types of language.

Too many authors sign nasty contracts because they are so eager to get published, they forget to protect their intellectual property rights adequately. Too often we're afraid to mess up a deal with reasonable questions.

Learning how to ask intelligent questions about your contract/s is a sign of your professionalism. If it makes a publisher/editor upset to be asked reasonable questions and to reasonably negotiate a contract (note that word reasonable -- how much you can negotiate depends on a lot of factors) that is a huge warning flag.

The savvy writer does their research. The savvy writer is also willing to walk away from a bad cotnract.

Perilously yours,
Pauline

Pauline Baird Jones
www.paulinebjones.com
Pauline@paulinebjones.com
The Key, L&L Dreamspell, Independent Publisher Awards Bronze Medal Winner,
2008Proud member, Broad Universe (http://www.broaduniverse.org)

It was hard not to feel like the gods had sent him a gift for not giving up, but he realized she might not see her arrival in quite the same light. He ran a finger down the smooth curve of her cheek, then across her soft, full lower lip, relieved to see the slow rise and fall of her chest.
from THE KEY

2008-06-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Did You Hear....?????

One of the questions that come up a lot on the lists, "Why didn't anyone warn/tell me there was a problem with XYZ Publisher?"

Information is important currency to authors. It can save us time--or cost us time and opportunity.

Information can also be the killing blow to a small press publisher.

There is no magic formula for how to foresee if a publisher is healthy or about to disappear. All of us struggle with how and when is the "right" time to share what we know or what we've heard.

While it can be fun to be "in the know," spreading information that you don't know is true can have devastating effects on a small press working with a thin profit margin in a hostile environment. Rumors can even take down a healthy small press. If you've ever played "Gossip" as a child, then you know how quickly information can get distorted, even by well-meaning individuals.

My best advice is: don't pass on information until YOU have personal proof that something is wrong. And then be careful how you share that information and who you share it with. If your careless words caused harm, you could get sued.
Perilously yours,
Pauline

The Key, L&L Dreamspell, Independent Publisher Awards Bronze Medal Winner
2008Proud member, Broad Universe (http://www.broaduniverse.org)

It was hard not to feel like the gods had sent him a gift for not giving up, but he realized she might not see her arrival in quite the same light. He ran a finger down the smooth curve of her cheek, then across her soft, full lower lip, relieved to see the slow rise and fall of her chest.
from THE KEY

2008-05-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Do You Suffer from Repetitive Work Injuries....

....such as carpel tunnel syndrome? I used to, but don't anymore and I did WITHOUT SURGERY. I had it so bad, I used to sleep with braces on my wrists--and I had to type with them on, too. Now I don't even use ergonomic equipment. Don't care if my bed is hard or soft or worry that much when I lift something.

And I did by reading a book. :-)

To read more about my "adventures in curing repetitive work injuries," visit my website and read the article I wrote about it. Click on the link for "adventures in writing." The article is top of the list on the right.

And while you're there, if you like the website, vote for it in The Romance Studio's Diva contest. :-)

Here's hoping that your writing work week is a productive one!
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-05-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

The Key is a semi-finalist in the Independent Publisher's Book Awards (the IPPYs!)

From their website:

This year's contest attracted over 3,100 total entries; just over 2,500 entries in the national categories and just over 600 entries in the regional competition. Books came from 49 U.S. states (come on, North Dakota!), D.C., and U.S. Virgin Islands; 9 Canadian provinces (get with it, Northwest Territories!), and 16 countries around the world: Trinidad to Thailand, Croatia to Czech Republic, and France to Finland. As you can imagine, we are judging a large and wonderfully eclectic collection of books.The quality of entries this year is totally amazing, and we're seeing better designed books, reading higher quality writing. and being exposed to a more widely diverse collection of concepts. We've been impressed with the in-depth research in our non-fiction and current events entries, important breakthroughs in our science and health entries, and breathtaking artwork and photography in our fine arts and coffee table book entries.These are the eventual gold, silver and bronze medal winners whose designations will be announced on May 23rd. Congratulations to all!

And about me:

10. Fantasy/Science Fiction Brian Froud’s World of Faerie, by Brian Froud (Insight Editions); The Starfish People, by Leann Marshall (Xlibris Corporation); Virtual Evil, by Jana G. Oliver (Dragon Moon Press); Sharlie, by Lynda Johnson (Swansea Music); The Oblivion Society, by Marcus Alexander Hart (Permuted Press); The Key, by Pauline Baird Jones (L&L Dreamspell)

I'm thrilled to find myself in such great company. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-05-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

I blogged at Novelspot last week, as I mentioned in my earlier whine, er, blog. It was a great experience. Really helped me focus my thoughts. I was looking through those blogs and found myself drawn to the last one, about endings.

As I mention in that blog, when I was young, all the books had "The End" at, well, the end of the book. Maybe they thought we wouldn't know the book had ended. I don't know. Books today don't always have "The End" at the end, but I still type them in when I finish the first draft of a new novel. It is SO satisfying to reach that goal post.

I still have edits and re-edits and edits of edits ahead, but I still crossed an important finish line in the process of writing a book. I can still remember the rush of excitementn I felt when I finished Pig in a Park, my first book. I thought, "Wow, now I know how to write a book. It will never be this hard again."

Wrong.

The next book was a different as my first child is from my second and they are from my third. For each book that came after that first book, what helped me keep going, what helped me face the new challenges and struggles of finishing those stories was the knowledge that I'd done it before and I could do it again.

Agents and editors know the importance of finishing that first book, too. With few exceptions, they won't look at a new author's stuff until they've finished one, whole book. It's all part of the "earning your chops" process, of proving that you can cross that finish line.

So, the first time you type "The End," (and all the times after, if you want), take a moment to celebrate, to pat yourself on the back. You've reached a key milestone in the process of becoming a writer.

And now, it is time for me to type....

The End.

Perilously yours,
Pauline

Pauline Baird Jones
www.paulinebjones.com
Pauline@paulinebjones.comThe Key, L&L Dreamspell
He sighed, signaled for her to get up, then strolled forward, circling the damaged ship, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Dang.” He looked at her. “I said it before and I’ll say it again. You fly like a girl.”
Sara grinned. “I crash like one, too.”
His bushy brows rose. “Suppose that means you broke a nail.”
She kind of shrugged and rubbed a finger along one of her fingernails.
from THE KEY

2008-04-21T12:45:00.000-07:00

I'm Blogging Somewhere Else...

...so there's not really any point in posting a long blog here. Yes, I'm that lazy.

Besides, Novel Spot asked for seven blogs! Now we all know I don't blog that often here. So, please stop by Novel Spot and check me out this week, blogging until Sunday!

It's for their "Behind the Scenes" feature and I'll freely confess, made me work the old brain box pretty hard. It may not seem like it at first, but stay with me until the end and you'll see. Work. Fun, but still work.
Perilously yours,
Pauline

Maria Zannini: Win a Business Card Design

2008-04-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

Maria Zannini: Win a Business Card Design

2008-04-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Singing the Promotion Blues?

Not long after that rush of joy from contracting a book, comes the crashing realization that if you want the book to sell, you have to promote it.

There's lots of excellent information out there about what is an effective promotion tool. A friend sent me to this blog about using business cards effectively. She had some excellent points that I hadn't thought about before.

I will admit that much of my promotion has been targeted to how I buy books and what promotional material I keep. Anecdotal evidence isn't science, but it IS helpful in giving us a glimpse into how at least a segment of the book buying public responds to promotional material.

The hardest part of planning promotion is figuring out what works. If you only do one thing, by the time you get a royalty statement letting you know if it worked or not, a year (or sometimes more) has gone by.

My best advice, for what it's worth, is to take a little from your own book buying habits, mix in a little advice gleaned from others...and don't put all your promotional eggs in one basket.

Perilously yours,
Pauline

P.S. We'll see if I know anything about promotion before too long. I've entered The Romance Studio's Promo Diva Contest. It requires participation by readers, so stop by and check it out.

2008-04-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

New Month, New Challenges

If you're an author, then you've probably heard a lot about the new Amazon/Booksurge "deal." Blog world and the internet is buzzing with the giant trying to smash the ants into obedience. If you need to catch up on all the nuances of the situation, you should start here, where the story first broke. More information here about why this is bad for READERS, not just authors and publishers.

This is hard for me, because I love Amazon and have their Prime program for shipping stuff. I love the quick click to get the stuff I want and it's a familar place for me to shop, but I'm going to remove all my amazon buy links from my website. It may take me awhile to track them all down, but I'm going to do it.

I'm also going to start doing my shopping at B&N.com. I'm also checking out other independent booksellers and online stores and I'll post what I find on my blogs.

I keep thinking of the story of the frog and the boiling water. It goes, if you throw the frog into boiling water, he'll jump out. If you put him in cold water and gradually turn up the heat, he'll cook to death. Amazon has been "cooking" us all for some time. It's time to jump out of the pan. IMHO.

While I'm the first to admire the entreprenurial spirit, I am fundamentally opposed to someone with a big stick slamming it into the little guys. Amazon could have made Booksurge services competitive instead of targeting publishers and authors already operating on a very thin margin and trying to force a deal that isn't good for anything but Amazon's bottom line. They are trying to make money off the people with the least in the equation.

They are the Sheriff of Nottingham in this story and sadly, there doesn't seem to be a Robin Hood out there.

If you want to do something, you can. As hard as it is, stop buying at amazon. Also, you can sign this petition.

There are already signs that the public outcry has slowed their attempts to roll over small presses. But the only thing that will really get their attention is hurt against their bottom line. They won't listen until they start losing money.

This move isn't just going to cost authors and publishers money. It's going to push up the cost of books. It's going to take some small presses out of the equation. It's going to reduce the books available to readers. And for the books that do survive, they will cost more.

We ALL have a dog in this hunt.
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-03-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

Sharing Experiences

L&L Dreamspell just contracted for my two non-fiction books, Made-up Mayhem and Adapting Your Novel for Film. As I ready them for their debut in print, I am reminded what a good experience it was to write them in the first place.

Sharing what you've learned seems to be a integral part of the human experience, or there wouldn't be so many self help books out there, but there is a personal benefit to the experience that goes way beyond the money, IMHO.

When I first started to try to share what I'd learned, my thoughts were all over the place. Being forced to order and organize my thoughts, experiences and lessons was really good for me as a writer--and I also think it helped in my own writing. I know that thinking about my personal writing process helped me to push my own boundaries when working on the books that followed.

It also reminded me, once again, about why I write. This is such a tough business, I find I need to get back in touch with my writing roots on a regular basis.

And last, penning the books helped me to look back and see how far I've come, as an author and as a person. I don't wallow in it, because that doesn't get anything done, but I do pause to think, "Dang, I did all this."

Others besides me will also point out that non-fiction articles can help sell or at least introduce others to your fiction. Sharing what you've learned or what you are particularly good at is a win-win part of an other all career strategy.

If you're looking for what to write about, look at what excites you about writing. Have you given talks for writers' groups? If you feel passion, if you get good feedback, those topics are a good, first place to begin.

Another place to look for ideas is your own reviews. I noticed that many reviewers commented on my characters, so that's where I started. Made-up Mayhem grew out of talks and questions from writers about how I managed to ratchet up the suspense. Adapting Your Novel for Film was written, again, because of questions and advice. While there are books about there on the subject, mine is a "quick and dirty" way into the process for novelists.

If someone reads your book or books and asks, "How did you do that?" That's a good place to start sharing what you've learned. :-)

The last reason I did it was because it was the only way I had to thank all the people who helped me when I was starting out. I once heard a published author say, "Why should I train my competition?"

My answer to that question would be because craftsmen have always passed their knowledge on to those behind them. It's a time honored tradition and the right thing to do. IMHO.

And keep in mind that writers are readers. Not everyone you help will buy your books, but they will be grateful to you and that's not a bad thing. :-)

Perilously yours,
Pauline

“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?” she said, even though she knew what he meant.
He arched his brows. She felt his hand on her chin. He tipped her face up.
“Hide from them if you must, but don’t hide from me.”

2008-03-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

Recycling....

I've been procrastinating for several months. Our chapter is putting together our second anthology and I wanted to get a story in, but life intervened and there is that procrastinating component. So, the deadline is the end of the March and there I was, with not a single word written.

In theory, puking up five to ten thousand words is possible in a month. I mean NaNo participants write whole books in a month. But that's not me. I need to time to get to know my characters.

In that dark time, just before dawn, when I typically worry at all the things I need to do during the day (and wish I wasn't), I realized I have two, perfectly good proposals that I put together for my agent some years ago (when I still had an agent). While the proposals were written to be novels, I learned when writing The Key, that you can migrate characters into new stories, if you do it early enough in the process.

So, I opened up both proposals and have started looking at them in terms of shorter stories. One will have to be changed a lot and both will have to be moved from New Orleans to Houston (the anthology is called A Death in Texas).

I might have been discouraged about giving up on the novels I'd planned to write, but I'm not. For one thing, migrating characters into short stories doesn't mean they can't be moved back into a novel.

And I'm not sure I'll ever write either novel.

When I created the proposals, they were fresh and alive in my head. While I had to come up with synopsis for both possible novels, I keep a lot of my plot in my head, because I'm an "into the mist," seat-of-the-pants writer. I'm not sure I can go back and write those books, so many years (not to mention about four books) later.

So, whether I rediscover my novels in this process or not, I'm glad these characters will get to live in a story, even if it wasn't the one I originally planned. (If you've read any Jasper Fforde, you'd realize how cruel that is!)
So, recycling doesn't have to be limited to aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Your words, your characters, your ideas can all be recycled, re-emerging onto the page better and brighter--and just in time to save the day.
Perilously yours,

Pauline

“Why would a beautiful woman choose to be a soldier?” he asked.

“Some pukes in a movie said it best," Sara said. "I joined to travel, meet new people…and kill them.”

2008-02-28T11:03:00.000-08:00

The buzz on the loops is about trends in publishing: how do you study them and how to beat them. The problem we all face, when attempting to study the publishing marketplace is that the books you buy today were acquired one to two years ago. So using current books as a marketing guide means you'll always be behind the trends.

It's totally frustrating and everyone knows it. This agent talks about it here. It gets even worse when you factor in publisher preferences and editorial slant. It can make you crazy.

My advice, for the two cents it is probably worth, is to read what you like, then write what you'd like to read. It isn't a sure way to become famous. (I'm a great case in point of that!) But at least you won't spend your time writing stuff you don't want to write OR read.

My other useless bit of advice is to not put all your eggs in one basket. Be flexible in what genres you explore, don't be afraid to color outside your own lines, and learn how to spin yourself and what you write in new ways. (A good example is chick lit, which is dead, but not really. I've just read two chick lit books, both recast as something else.)

When I started writing The Key I didn't write it with any calculation at all. In fact, I thought I'd lost my mind to be switching from contemporary suspense to sfromance. Until I started seeking out groups to market the book to, I had no clue that sfr was "hot."

Sometimes you just luck out. Sometimes you can stumble onto a trend you didn't know was there until you stumbled on it. Sometimes you just have to wait until the circle comes back around and scoops you up. No genre is ever completely dead.

But you always, always, always, have to write the best books you can, deliver the best stories you have in you. I've quit reading authors who fail to deliver consistently good stories, no matter which genre they wander into. If you switch gears, not every reader with follow, but those that love your writing, love your storytelling will--if you don't let them down.

Perilously yours,
Pauline
"The floor looked stone, but then a path of lights appeared in front of her, kind of like an invitation.
Okay.
She looked at it for a long moment, debating the wisdom of following it. It wasn’t much of a debate. She’d seen the movies on Sci-fi. She knew what could happen. "

2008-02-20T07:34:00.000-08:00

Titles....

Okay, let's face it, whether we like it or not, readers initially are attracted to a book by the cover or the title (if you're not a famous name or someone they are already familiar with).

I'm a sucker for a time travel, so when I was in the local Walgreens and saw Tumbling Through Time I had to pick it up, even though the cover didn't jazz me that much. I read a bit and brought the book home, because the writing delivered, IMHO, on the promise of the title. This is from a debut author, so that makes it even more fun. I love discovering new, favorite authors, so looking forward to diving into the book and hoping it does all it promises.

But it did make me think about my titles. Do they say "pick me up?"

Because I'm not in marketing, I really have no idea. I pick them because they suit the book or tell the reader something about the story. For instance, my new release The Key is perfectly titled for the premise. Keys are very important throughout the story, in a variety of ways. The same could be said for Missing You. That title works on a lot of levels, but I don't know if it makes people pick the book up and read a bit of it.

Because if they don't pick the book up, if they don't try it, they probably won't buy.

So basically all this puts the author part of me at odds with the business/marketing person. My next book is tenatively titled Invasion, which is, I think, going to work for the book thematically, but doesn't even hint at the humor, the high adventure, the romance of the book. It's possible that in the writing, another title will float to the top, but it's bound to be more about the book and less about selling the book.

So, what's your take on it? Do you prefer books with pick-me-up titles or books that fit the theme and style of the story?

And wouldn't be wonderful if you could find a title that does both?

Perilously yours,
Pauline

Pauline Baird Jones
The Key, Fall/2007, LL Dreamspell

“Dang.” Briggs looked at her. “I said it before and I’ll say it again. You fly like a girl.”

Sara grinned. “I crash like one, too.”

2008-02-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

In Retreat...

No, I'm not advocating quitting writing, I thought I'd talk today about writer's retreats and the need to refill your inner well. For some reason winter (even though winter here is not particularly winter-ish) fills me with a desire to find a quiet cabin somewhere or a place on the seaside, preferably somewhere that is beautiful, isolated and free of bears and mountain lions. (I don't ask for much, do I?)

Of course, the problem with most retreats is that they are targeted to the "serious" author, i.e. the literary writer. Popular fiction authors need not apply. I'm not really bitter. I can't imagine finding fellowship with people whose writing is the polar opposite of mine. I just wish we popfic-ers had some options for retreats, that's all.

Now, when I picture a retreat, it is a place of beauty, peace quiet and like-minded people. A place where I can get support, but also be alone when I need to. A place to write without the distractions and imperatives of my real life, like not forgetting to pay bills, a place where I only do my own laundry. (grin)

I can trace this longing back to a particular moment in time, though I don't have an exact date. It was when I read Anne Morrow Lindberg's Gifts from the Sea. The book is about her retreat to a seaside cottage and a time to reflect on her life. It's a small book, but one I still pull out when my life seems out of balance. The book I pull out when I can't retreat from my real life.

As writers, we have to do a lot of stuff, much of it not actually writing. It is important to take a step back and ask yourself, am I keeping my creative well filled so that when I have the time, when the moment is right, that I am able to put words onto paper? Because if you're not writing, then all the other stuff is just sound and fury and flailing about.

If you let any part of the peripheral of writing overshadow the actual writing, then your writing life isn't in balance. Sometimes that means cutting out the "tremendous triffles" that litter your daily path. Sometimes that means giving in to the tremendous imperatives that are part of living in the real world. But it also means realizing which are trifles and which aren't.

You won't be perfect at this, but if you thinking about it and assessing it, and taking steps back when it's not clear where you are, then you're probably 80% hitting your target and that's not bad. At least you're not giving up. :-)

If you're interested in finding "real" writers retreats, do a search on the term. You'll be surprised what you find. If you can afford it, just find a cabin or go to a hotel room. If you can't afford it, don't forget your great imagination. Mental retreat is better than nothing. Just don't forget to come back and get back to work. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2008-01-31T13:46:00.000-08:00

The Romance of Writing

Since tomorrow is February, romance seems to be a good theme to write about. A lot of people have a romanticized view of the writer's life. I'm sure some writers even have that romantic writing life.

Most don't.

That doesn't mean you can't have a happy writing life. But most of your happiness will depend on how you learn to roll with the punches, find the joy in small victories and keep focused on your goals.

If it sounds like work, that's because it is. That doesn't mean it isn't fun, rewarding, amazing, and crazy-making.

What makes it all worth while is when someone lets you know that you were heard, that you were read, that what you did met some need in them.

I got a great (unsolicited) review on this blog that thrilled by day (scroll down to see her talk about The Key).

So, if you don't have someone to send a love letter to this Valentine's Day, why not your favorite author? Just don't make it one of those creepy, stalker letters, okay?
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-12-29T10:49:00.000-08:00

New Year Wish, Favor and Gift -

Hello to all my fellow bloggers, and to my readers out there! May you have a wonderful New Year filled with exploration, excitement, gratitude and peace. I hope that covers all the bases!

This past year has taken me to the lights of New York and the starry darkness of Hawaii, and despite some life challenges to cope with, it has been overall an illuminating year, and I hope it has been so for all of you as well.

Okay, that's the wish part. Here comes the favor -

You can read - and rate - an excerpt from a new mystery novel of mine, Marathon, at this web address right now through January 2nd:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977202009

You do have to register - just a first name and e mail address - to vote, and only "10's" count, although you can comment as well if you wish. It's pretty painless, and will give you a little taste of a type of fiction you haven't read from me before. I'd really appreciate it, too!

Now what about that gift part?

If you get a chance to read and vote, e mail me that you have at genie@geniedavis.com, and I'll send you a gift copy of The Girl and the Gun, my short published on Amazon to introduce you to a little bit more of my writing .

News on the romance/erotic romance book front coming soon....

Wishing you much good cheer -
Genie

2007-11-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

The Amazon Kindle

I got a link today to a place on Amazon.com where you can buy the new ereader being released by amazon.com: The Kindle. I have to say, if you don't look at the price tag, it looks pretty cool. It features e-ink, the same tech that the Sony Reader uses, resulting in an amazingly crisp reading screen and it has some stuff other readers don't. Looks like the biggest thing that seperates it from the pack is the fact that it is wireless. You don't need a computer or even a phone line to download books. I have to say, that's pretty cool.

Is it cool enough for the $399.00 price tag? I don't know. I know I can't afford to buy it, but I'm happy to drool over it.

I've been doing a lot of e-reading the past three months during our many, many hours at MD Anderson. It's been a huge help to have 80+ books at my fingertips.

What does this have to do with writing? Not so much writing, but definitely relates to promotion. In e-world, the playing field gets a lot more level when you play in small press sand box like I do. Or even if you're a mid-list author for a major publisher. In the bookstore, you're lucky to get on the shelf, let alone get any kind of prime placing. In an online bookstore, you can get on a bestseller list with anyone from NY published to self published, as I did with The Key. But a reader is also a hook of its own.

Readers come up and talk to me about the reader and it does help to be able to talk the tech talk. I typically will show people my Sony Reader, my ebookwise reader (yes, it was with me, too, since my son needed something to read, too) and lastly, my Palm Treo. I have all my books loaded on all three readers, so my show and tell always exposes them to... me.

I can also talk about ebookstores, the ereading experience, and how I find indie books--something I find most readers very interested in. I don't have a clear hook for my books, beyond their perilous element, so using my ereading devices as my hooks, works pretty well for me.

Though I should probably get some kind of commission from these ereader companies.
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-11-10T20:09:00.000-08:00

A Chilly November Night and...

more than time to check in on all the great postings here on this blog. Pauline always has something interesting and true to tell us about writing, and I have to say that this night as I sit here trying to think of something that will make us all wiser and more wonderful, something that will connect us soul to soul as all great writing does, I feel very gratified just to be a part of this site!

Now it's time to rant a bit - I'm working on some very different sorts of fiction, some very straight edged dark mystery and a potentially "big" family saga while shopping about for both new representation and new contracts...I'm pleased to say that my last book, FIVE O'CLOCK SHADOW was picked for translation into Portugese and distribution in Brazil...Norman Mailer has passed off this mortal coil and commented in a recent interview quoted in the NY Times that he thought the novel was on the way out and it made him sad (he said it more eloquently but in more words.)

And where does that leave us? Writers, readers, the whole game of writing in which we do this dance with publishers who are part of major conglomerates and everything is the bottom line?

Has anyone else seen the very funny and very pointed Idiocracy? Anyone else see disturbing parallels to life today ALREADY?

Has anyone heard how poorly children = at least out here in California = can read? And yet at the same time has anyone taken a look at the endless stream of writing required - mostly banal - in order to complete a college application to any "well ranked" college in the country?

Who are we kidding really? We are supposed to write story driven advertising copy (supposed to, doesn't mean that we do). We are supposed to "brand" ourselves like Kleenix and just as disposable too, I warrant. We are supposed to weed ourselves out from the masses as it were by composing brilliant responses to less than brilliant questions conceived by minds who have never been taught that reading and writing is valuable -- and not as a boundry marker between who can get into which college or who can answer the ninety million dollar question of a best seller that is probably a fake memoir about drug abuse.

It's valuable for the mind.

Learning. Reading. Writing (and a paltry nod to arithmetic.) We are a nation of "doers." No one understands what we do anymore, except consume more and more technology and throw it on a growing landfill (watch Idiocracy!)

And there's a writer's strike in Hollywood, not that I've worked in the industry for awhile, but it would be nice when I do again and when I did five, six years ago, to be treated like someone of value.

Writers don't usually invent ipods, but then even if you do throw our inventions in a landfill it won't pollute the environment for the next three hundred years.

How'd that for a rant and a big plus for writers! And Pauline, you go, girl! What a great new book! Read her!

Genie Davis
Author of:
The Model Man, Five O'Clock Shadow, Rodeo Man (The Cowboy anthology)

2007-11-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

I Got a Spam Promotion from Another Author...

...and posted it to one of my writers' loops to start a discussion on how to write good promo material. It was particularly awful, so I won't post it here or mention any names, but will list what was wrong with it, which will hopefully help.

Mistake #1 - Sending promo unsolicited. I almost deleted it unread and am glad I didn't--though not for the reasons the author would want.

Mistake #2 - It had a lousy opening hook. The blurb talked about demises and other negative things, then in paragraph two mentions it is a comedy!

Mistake #3 - There is nothing in the blurb that engages or excites about the story. In fact, I'm still not sure what the story is even about. The author uses ten words (huge and pretentious words) where one or none would have been better. He also focuses on all the wrong things and ends the blurb in a self-congratulatory, arrogant way.

Mistake #4 - Though I can't prove it, it looks like the author "created" his own review quotes. The writing similarties are marked to the point of embarassing--and are as badly written as the blurb. (I could do a whole blog on how bad the review blurbs were, but won't go there right now.)

Mistake #5 - His bio was as badly and oddly written as all the other elements of the pitch.

It's amazingly easy to write bad promo material, though this particular pitch didn't look easy--it was very painful to read and looked painful to write, too. It's much harder to write your own promo well. As the author of the material, you're close to it and we tend to focus on all the wrong things.

Remember that you only have one chance and a few seconds to make a good impression, whether its in person, on your website or through an email. Always, always put your best foot forward. Don't tell your intended target how much they will like your book. SHOW them with a great opening hook that focuses on the ACTUAL STORY.

Most readers don't want to know the themes you explore in your book. They want to know that you have a great story and characters. Again, just telling isn't enough. SHOW them. A pitch is your first chance to show your potential audience that you can WRITE. They WILL judge your book by how you present your self and your material.

If you've written a comedy, show it in the first sentence. When you are trying to sell a screenplay, you have to start with a one or two sentence "log line" that distills your story down to its essential conflict and main characters. I use that for my opening sentence when I'm writing a query letter.

And if I get a slew of "nos" back, then I KNOW I need to retool and rewrite that opening. Don't be afraid to keep writing and rewriting your promo material until you start getting positive responses. It's also a good idea to practice your "elevator" pitch, so when someone asks you what your book is about, you can tell them in an interesting and intriguing way.

I try to structure my promo material into:

* logline
* Brief synopsis (a couple of paragraphs about the book)
* Longer synopsis (but still no more than a page)

NO WHERE in this material, do I talk about myself, how I felt about writing it or what a wonderful writer I am. These are only about MY BOOK. They are only about my CHARACTERS. And the CONFLICT.

If you can learn to get out of your own way and become adept at promoting your work, it WILL help you with your agent/editor/publisher and ultimately help you find readers.

But still don't spam. It's tacky and unprofessional. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-10-31T12:59:00.001-07:00

I'm always surprised at how many people are not only willing, but happily willing to discourage other people from writing. I guess it surprises me, because they've been there, they've faced the blank page, felt the hope of submitting, the stomach punch of rejection and possibly the joy of acceptance. How do you know how it feels and still pull the rug out from under someone else?

I just don't get it.

We all were beginners at some point. We've all had to learn our craft, learn the business, take the knocks and feel the rush. There is no written law anywhere that everyone has to start off somehow knowing not to make mistakes or write crap. We don't all start with a "clue."

So, why, when we reach some level of expertise/publication, do some feel the need to look sneeringly down at those still climbing behind them?

So what if "too many" books are getting published or submitted or clogging up the submission piles? Boo, freaking, hoo if my books have to compete with other books for readers/agents/editors attention.

Bring it!

I'd rather compete with everyone than win because someone didn't put their work out there in the first place. And what if the book that doesn't get submitted is a book I'd love to read?

I love finding a wondeful new book almost as much as I love writing one. :-)

Life is too short to feel negative or to be afraid. To not try and not encourage others to try, too.

IMHO, reading, writing and publishing AREN'T a zero sum game. When any writer crosses the publication line, it's a win for all writers, no matter where they are. It's a sign to hope in an industry that too often is not very hopeful.

I don't want to live in a world of Sneetches and "stars on thars" that separate us from each other. There's too much against us for us to be against each other. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-10-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

eBooks Alive and Well? Why should you care?

Some of my lists are abuzz with a new blog at PW. It's called the eBook Report, authored by David Rothman of Teleread fame. It's good to know that reports of the demise of the eBook have been, and continue to be, premature. While some in eBook world view the interest of Big Publishing with suspicion, I find it encouraging. And it proves I was right. eBooks aren't going away. (grin)

Rothman asks the question of whether eBooks can be, or are, a sort of slush pile for big publishing, a chance for authors to strut their stuff and interest a big publisher in their work. Clearly, that's already happening, though some agents/editors seem reluctant to admit it. MaryJanice Davidson is the first name that springs to mind, but there are many others who have made the leap from small/ePress to NY.

With The Key doing so well at Fictionwise I suppose it is possible that I could attract NY's attention. It's hard to say, since I've been there, done that, and decided not to buy the tee shirt. Okay, if NY came calling with bags of money, of course I wouldn't say no. But back when I had a NY agent and had my shot at a NY publisher, I found I didn't like the strings attached. Call me crazy, but I couldn't see myself writing books I didn't want to write.

My agent at the time asked me, what genre do you want to write? You need to focus, get serious.

I gave it some thought and told her, I want to write MY genre and yeah, I'm serious about this, but it's not worth it if I don't also enjoy it.

We parted ways when a publisher made me an offer I found I had to refuse. Do I regret it?

Not really.

I wish the publisher had been willing to compromise, because I think it would have worked my way, but they didn't and I couldn't. If either of them ever think of me, they probably still think I'm crazy and they'd be right.

I couldn't NOT be crazy to be a writer. (grin)

But I'm still right.

How do I know?

Because the books they didn't want me to write are published, are doing well for me. If we hadn't parted company, I'd never have taken the leap to write The Key. And I'm really glad I didn't miss this book. It was crazy fun to write and even if everyone hates it (which thankfully no one has yet!) I love it and I loved writing it. That feeling is what keeps me writing.

If you read back through this blog, you'll find I say this a lot (probably because it works for me!), but if you don't enjoy what you're doing, if you're not loving the writing (or even hating it), if you're not passionate about all this, then why bother?

I'm really lucky that I get to do something I love and with it, I also get to read some wonderful books. I don't just love writing, I love eBooks. I love the choices I get as an author and as a reader. Because I get to write books NY isn't interested in, that means other authors get to do that, too. And I get to read those books. I may have to search around for them, but that's okay. They are worth it.

What hooked me into reading in the first place was delight...delight in the words, in the characters, and the stories, and as a reader, I'm still searching for that, still thrilled when I find it. Sometimes I find it in a NY book and thankfully there are tons of small press/eBooks out there that have it, too.

So I'm glad for every blog, every person who points readers to the off-the-beaten path places to find books. So, kudos to PW for starting the blog and to Rothman for taking up the challenge. :-)

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-09-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

My Sisters in Crime local chapter, The Final Twist, contributed to a mystery anthology, that is officially releasing in October, called Dead and Breakfast. Obviously, it revolves around crimes committed in bed and breakfast places.

The chapter, of which I'm the current president, had a lot of fun with this anthology and we are looking forward to doing another one. :-)

You can buy the Dead and Breakfast Anthology here. One dollar from each book sold goes to benefit the chapter, which was totally cool of the publishers to do.

In other news, The Key has been getting some great reviews:

"At four hundred and sixty nine pages, Pauline Baird Jones's sci-fi action adventure, The Key, has a heck of a lot of punch to it. Well-developed and well-paced, Baird's novel is a must-read for fans of science fiction romance. The plot's twists and turns are well-executed, while Sara and Fyn's developing relationship is the kind that will keep readers turning the pages in tense expectation...Sara is the very definition of the kick-butt, super-empowered heroine, but she also has vulnerabilities...She prefers to blend in, to disappear into her surroundings at will, but Fyn...isn't about to let this beautiful, ...woman cut herself short...The sci-fi elements, on the other hand, are an interesting mix of present-day technologies (and movie references) and futuristic creations, all of which lend credence and interest to the turbo-charged plot. Love Linnea Sinclair? Get a kick out of Susan Grant? Then you'll want to glom up on releases by Pauline Baird Jones. The Key isn't so much a sci-fi release as it is a dang good read, and this reviewer is anxious to read more of Baird Jones. Fun and fantastic at the same time, The Key is an intergalactic space adventure that will thrill readers to the very tips of their toes." Heartstrings Reviews

"Action is the name of the game as a feisty and hard-hitting heroine rises to the challenge in this rousing space adventure. Not only is this a fast-paced tale, the rampaging deception and cultural clashes ensure this hero and heroine will need all their survival skills." 4 stars from Romantic Times

"Great plot! Superb workmanship on the characters! So sit back and take the ride of your life. This was by far the best Sci Fi novel in a long time. Pauline Baird Jones, a marvelous creator of some remarkable characters, put a new twist on a great Sci Fi story, The Key." Simegen Reviews

It's always a buzz when other people like what you write. We all try not to let negative reviews get to us, but it's hard not to. Because of some family issues we've dealing with, haven't had time to do much writing and promotion for the new book has been spotty. On the upside, without too much work on my part, The Key made it into the top ten of books sold at fictionwise.com.

I'm pretty jazzed about that--and that it is selling well there. I've always loved the fact that my books release in electronic format, too. I just wonder why more of the big publishers don't release more author backlist into eBook? When I find a new author I love, the first thing I do is look for their backlist in eBook, because I'd like the author to make some money on the sale. Too often I end up buying used books.

It is sad, but true, if authors don't make any money at their writing, they will stop doing it. While I'm always thrilled that someone likes one of my books enough to lend it to a friend, I also keep hoping my bottom line will be good enough for me to keep doing this. So readers, if you like an author's writing, at least tell someone. Word of mouth is still the best promotion around. :-)

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-09-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

Pauline, Pauline....someone throw some water on her, I think she fainted!

Yes, c'est moi, long lost contributor to the blog. I took a turn at a real job and it sideswiped me off the network for a while. But now, my head's finally poking up through the water.

From nonfiction writing to....reporting. Yep, small town reporter. A small town that can't seem to stay out of the national spotlight. Check out this week's 20/20 and you'll see exactly what I mean. If they show a good pan shot of the crowd, you'll see me taking notes at the town hall meeting last November.

Reporting for a small, weekly community paper is different than most people imagine. I don't take sides. I report. I make observations. Fair and accurate.

And sometimes it chokes ya.

But for the most part, it's fun. I love doing profiles, whether it's a resident, business, student, npo, whatever. It's my absolute favorite thing to write.

Elections are the worse, I found out this past May. I thought I was going to skip the November election, but lo and behold, they had to call a special election. Sigh. More shenanigans. I thought it was only a saying, 'small town politics are brutal,' but alas, it is no lie.

Anyway, this week I got to profile a local ska band. The boys are in the marching band with my daughter. She saw their band perform at a teen club, got a CD (and a tshirt and a bumper sticker, as did her sister). I heard their glowing review, listened to the CD, and was impressed. Ended up I knew one of the kids' moms, and she told me how she got drafted as a roadie during the band's tour this summer. Bingo - love it when a story comes together!

That's the fun of it. Would that it was always that way.

I also just got back into the flip side of reporting, copywriting. Total different type of writing that pays two to three times as much as reporting. Go figure (I did, and boy, it's a good thing I love reporting!).

But hey, getting paid to read, write and talk to people - can it get any better than that?!?

Jamie

2007-09-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

In honor of the release of The Key I'm having a fun giveaway at my website. Hope you'll stop by and check it out. I'm thrilled with the early reviews on the book:

"Action is the name of the game as a feisty and hard-hitting heroine rises to the challenge in this rousing space adventure. Not only is this a fast-paced tale, the rampaging deception and cultural clashes ensure this hero and heroine will need all their survival skills." Romantic Times

"Great plot! Superb workmanship on the characters! So sit back and take the ride of your life. This was by far the best Sci Fi novel in a long time. Pauline Baird Jones, a marvelous creator of some remarkable characters, put a new twist on a great Sci Fi story, The Key." Simegen Reviews

For fun, I interviewed myself about the writing of this book:

Me: There's something else...different about this book, right?

Myself: (sigh) Yes. It's...long. By the time it is for sale, it might not be as long, but it is longer than any book I've ever written. I didn't mean to do that. It just...happened.

Me: It just...happened? It had nothing to do with you typing, oh, too many words?

Myself: No, it just happened. I'm too lazy to type too many words.

Me: Right. So, moving on, this book, does it contain your signature humor mixed with your signature peril?

Myself: Absolutely. My early readers tell me that they are glad about that, too. I had a lot of fun with the setting, with the characters, even with some of the names.

Me: How do you have fun with names?

Myself: Well, the story is set in another galaxy, so I had to make up all kinds of names. When I could, I had fun with that, but it was also kind of hard.

Me: Does your galaxy have its own language?

Myself: No. I didn't want to go there. I'm lucky I know MY language, no way I could make up another one. Clearly this isn't a book for hard core science fiction readers, unless they are also able to get a bit whacky and have fun--and are able to do without the science component.

Me: Why did you leave the science out of the science fiction?

Myself: You just had to ask, didn't you? (sigh) Basically, science is my worst subject. Even ahead of math. Way ahead. I bought a book about world building and right away knew I was in trouble. They wanted me to do math AND science! So, if you want a meticulously researched book, this isn't it. I made it ALL up. It's all fiction.

To read the rest of my interview with myself, click here.

Happy Reading!
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-08-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

Virtual Book Tour Guest: Karina & Robert Fabian

I'd like to welcome Karina and Robert to our blog.

Is that religion in my science fiction or science fiction in my religion? The writers of the Catholic SF anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God (available at http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/) have so seamlessly combined the two that it's hard to tell.

Infinite Space, Infinite God features fifteen stories about the future Catholic Church: its struggles evangelize aliens and lost human colonies and to determine the soul-status of genetically modified humans, genetically-designed chimeras, and clones made from the Martian sand; the adventures of religious orders devoted to protecting interstellar travelers or inner-city priests; and how technical advances allow monks to live in solitude on the Moon and help one criminal learn the true meaning of Confession. But it’s more than just a great read. With introductions exploring the issues at hand and current Church thinking, Infinite Space, Infinite God is bound to spark discussion and make people think--just as good science fiction should.

I had the opportunity to interview the authors about their book. Hope you enjoy their answers as much as I did. :-)

1. What do you wish you'd known when you first started writing?

This is probably a frustrating answer, especially for any new writers reading this, but there's nothing I could think of that I'd wished I'd learned when I first started selling my writing. (I'd been writing since I was a child.) I've pretty much been able to learn things as I was ready in my career, I think, and the things I wish I knew--like the "trick" to finding the perfect agent--don't really exist.

However, some things I think every new writer should be aware of is that there are a lot more ways to get published out there, including electronic presses and small presses. However, you have to be careful--there are some large "traditional" presses that are more interested in making money off their authors than off the books they write. Read the terms carefully--and research the company on the Internet.

2. What's the best piece of writing advice anyone ever gave you?

Rejection usually isn't personal. In this business, you often have to send out works 5-50 times before the write publisher gets it at the right time. The rest of those submissions are the wrong fit thematically (because you've already made sure the manuscript is professional and that you match their requirements for size and genre/topic, right?), or they have story similar to yours, or the style doesn't hit the editor right, or they're full through next year, or whatever.

3. You've been an editor yourself, with Infinite Space, Infinite God. What did you look for in a story?

Our guidelines were simple but specific: engaging story involving solid, internally consistent science, and involving Catholicism in a cooperative and sympathetic manner.

Writers had to show us they understood what they were writing--stories solving their crisis by "reversing the polarity" or having characters who carried rosaries but acted like Fundamentalists were easy to spot. A little tougher to quantify but nonetheless stood out were the ones that suffered in the storytelling--the lecture thinly disguised as a mystery, the characters that for no discernable reason don't use the obvious solution to their problem or make truly illogical mistakes (a real pet peeve for us). Equally important was characterization--were these complex individuals with a past affecting their actions, or just strawmen created to move a plot or prove a point?

We had a couple of stories that had terrific promise but needed work in some areas--in one, the resolution of the crisis was too simple; in two others, there were some theological issues. However, the rest of the story elements were so compelling, we gladly worked with these writers to tweak the stories. The writers, too, showed great imagination and professionalism in working with me as a new editor for an anthology that didn't even have a publisher yet. I'm grateful and pleased that they did. Reviewers and readers have mentioned them often as personal favorites.

4. You didn't have an publisher? What was your process for finding one?

We had an interested publisher, but no contract, so we took a chance and compiled the anthology--then the person we were in contact with couldn't get the company to take a chance on science fiction. Understandable, if regrettable. After that, we simply scoured Writers' Market and the Internet for publishers who took either science fiction or Catholic or Christian fiction. I would look on their site for what they required. Often, they didn't mention anthologies, so I'd send an e-mail for clarification if needed. Then I would send a query, sample chapters or book proposal as requested. I started with major publishers and worked down into smaller presses.

We actually found Twilight Times through another author I know on a Yahoo group. She mentioned it, and I looked it up, liked what I saw and sent the book proposal. Lida liked it, asked for the manuscript, liked that, and here we are! She's showing a lot of faith in Infinite Space, Infinite God, and we're all anxious to see how all of this translates into hard sales.

5. Infinite Space, Infinite God came out August 15. Where can folks buy them?

We prefer you go directly to the publisher: www.twilighttimesbooks.com. It's better for us, and you can also browse the catalog and see the other great titles from TTB.

If, however, you are an Amazonian, it's available via www.amazon.com.

Finally, for those who prefer brick-and-mortar stores, you can ask your bookstore to order it. It's available through Ingram, Baker & Taylor and several other distributors as well as from the publisher.

We'd also like to see libraries order copies as well, so please ask your librarian about it.

6. You've already been selling copies since May, correct?

The electronic version has been out since October 2006, and has done steady sales. In addition, Lida did a big print run of the pre-production copies because Rob and I knew we were moving and we wanted to try to have some book signings in Virginia before we left.

We've just about worked our way through the books we purchased from her. (By our contract, we purchase at a reduced rate without royalties and can re-sell or give away.) About half have gone to friends, family and reviewers, but we had a very successful fundraiser booksigning for our old parish in Pueblo West, Colorado, and orders keep trickling in from people who know us through various groups. They're also handy to have to show to bookstore owners, display at events (conferences, etc.)--and just to look at gleefully now and again.

Many thanks to Robert and Karina for stopping by our blog on their way around the blogosphere!

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-08-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

Can't Believe its Been a Month!

I was looking at my various blogs, wondering if I could pull out one or two posts and was shocked to find its been a month since my last confession, er, post. July pretty much kicked my trash and August, well, August always kicks my trash. If our family personal challenges weren't enough, the tropics have decided now is a great time to start kicking up a fuss.

TS Erin sloshed her way through on Thursday, trailing enough storms to last through Friday. And this after a rainy June and July. Texas is awash and flooding. And Hurricane Dean is trying to decide whether to pay us a visit. (Who comes up with the names for these storms? I have a cousin named Dean who is very nice, not some uber storm and Flossie?)

What does any of this have to do with writing? Not much.

In fact, I've not done much writing in the past month. I have done some thinking about the next book and I guess that's my point. For writers, thinking is part of the process, so even if you can't write, you can always think. My thoughts have been a refuge and a place of escape when life has seemed too intense, too serious the past month.

I guess my other point is don't take guilt trips either. This business is plenty discouraging enough without throwing big gobs of guilt into the mix, too. You do what you can, when you can and learn to be grateful for it...or you crash and burn on guilt and discouragment and don't write anymore.

It's not that simple, but it's close to that simple. Or maybe I'm just incoherent from stress. Who knows?
Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-07-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Writing Through Challenges

You may have noticed that not much has been happening on this blog lately. Well, I think most of us have been side-swiped by life. I know I have. Big time. So how do you keep your writing going when life whops you up-side the head?

Sometimes you just don't, but if you can, writing can be an excellent place to funnel all that emotion and frustration you are struggling to deal with. A lot was happening in my life when I was writing A Dangerous Dance. The book turned out to be pretty dark, but I felt better.

Right now, it's not so easy. And the book I'm working on is still very much in the early stages. Luckily, I finished my next release early in the year, before the crap hit the fan, but I still miss the writing. I do find that the world is one I can retreat to in my head at night, when I'm trying not to think about the big stuff, so I can go to sleep.

If you can't write through the stress, don't beat yourself up about it. I mean, why add to the stress? But also don't be afraid to try. We all have to find our own ways to cope.

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-06-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

Talking Contracts....

The lists are abuzz with the fall of a another publisher and its impact on their authors. No matter how a publisher goes down, it is a devastating blow to the authors who have contracts with them. It is a sad, but true reality that the ability to pick publishable books does not mean that a publisher has good business sense.

There's not much that can be done after the fact, but authors do have a measure of control before they sign a contract, particularly if you're working with a small/indie press. While I fully understand the longing to see your name, your words in printed form, don't let your passion overwhelm your business sense. Please.

Do your research. Keep your ears to the ground. Listen for the rumblings that always precede the fall of a publisher. Keep in mind that authors might not be willing to share their doubts about their own publisher with a total stranger BUT you can assess the level of their enthusiasm for a publisher. Don't listen only for what you want to hear, listen for what they aren't saying. Don't fill in their blanks with your hopes.

Funnel your creativity into the writing, but when you approach contracts, bring out your business head. Do your research. There is plenty of information out there about contracts, clauses, what to look for and what to avoid. Even if it makes you want to scream READ YOUR CONTRACTS. Read every word. Then ask questions about the parts you don't understand.

Decide what's important to you, where you draw your line in the sand. If a publisher won't budge on basic protections of your rights, have the courage to move on. If you decide to sign, be prepared for the risks involved and take precautions.

Realize that even if you do all you can do, you can still get burned in this business. Crap happens. If you get burned, learn from it, but don't let circumstances keep you from trying again.

Perilously yours,
Pauline

2007-06-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Virtual Blog Tour Guest - Vicki M. Taylor

Virtual Blog Tours are the hotest new promo tool for authors and I'm happy to host her tour today. :-)

About Vicki:

Award-winning author Vicki M. Taylor writes dramatic stories with strong women as her main characters. Her novel, Not Without Anna, won 2nd place Florida Associations's Royal Palm Literary Awards and was published in January, 2004.

Trust in the Wind Synopsis:

When pregnant teen, Joanne, chooses single motherhood, she loses everything, including her family. Four years later, she's fiercely independent, trusts no one and is barely keeping her head above water. Roy is a Hillsborough County Sheriff, and a widower who lost his wife and child during a burglary gone terribly wrong. Six years later, he still refuses to love for fear of losing it again. Together, these two just might get a second chance to learn about trust and love. When you can't count on people, TRUST IN THE WIND.

I asked Vicki a couple of writing questions and here are her answers:

1. What do you know now, that you wish you'd known when you first started writing?

I wish I knew more about promotion and marketing back when I first started. No one should be working harder to sell your book than you. There are so many ways now to market yourself as an author and to promote your books - websites, forums, blogs, virtual blog tours, speaker/chat appearances, bookmarks, radio, podcasts, book trailers, and so much more!

2. Best piece of writing advice anyone ever gave you?

The best piece of advice is put the butt in the chair. You can go to all the workshops you want, read all the books you can get your hands on, have a blast at all the conferences you can afford, but the reality is the book doesn't get written until the butt hits the chair. Write the book.

Vicki M. Taylor

Real Women. Real Life.

http://www.vickimtaylor.com/

http://www.vickimtaylor.com/blogs/

http://www.vickimtaylor.com/forums/index.php

http://www.myspace.com/vickimtaylor

Thanks for stopping by All the World's a Page, Vicki! Keep us posted on how the tour works for you. :-)

Perilously yours,

Pauline

2007-05-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

I've received comments about my novel, Ninth Lord of the Night, that although it's written for teens, it's good enough for adults. My response to this is simply that teens read books targeted at adults which means the book can't be written down to their level, but written at a level anyone would enjoy. James Patterson said it best when interviewed on Larry King, "Teens are just like us. They just don't have as much experience."

I figured that out years ago. Think of the stories read in high school; Silas Marner, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Of Mice and Men, and of course, Lord of the Flies. None of these books were written for the teenage market, but I'd be willing to bet that they're read in high school more than in any other setting.

There are problems that have to be addressed when writing for this paticular market. Pacing, for instance. The book has to be a fast read. It has to be a page turner. Teenagers have too much to do to spend their time thumbing through boring pages. Plus, the characters have to be realistic. Boys will be boys and girls will be girls and we all know that girls mature faster than their counterparts. The characters have to act and speak in realistic ways, and not like mature adults. They can't be "talking heads" because teens aren't very good at verbalizing emotions. Characters have to show their feelings - not discuss them.

The way in which backstory and important historical facts are presented is also important. Every word - and that includes all factual material - has to move the plot along.

Writing teen characters is a challenge, but a fun challenge. The characters get to act and say things in ways that would make an adult sound lame. I enjoyed opening Zack's eyes to the world that surrounds him and watching him change from a boy who hates history to a young man who'll risk his life to rescue a precious artifact.

Diana