Openings

Hi. My name is Kristin. I am a writer. I want to be published.

You'd think that's the way to start a query letter to an agent, wouldn't you? Not the case actually.

They want a hook. A well delivered line to make your letter stand out amongst the piles they receive any given week. (Some agents state they receive upwards of two hundred letters a week! A WEEK! Makes my eyes hurt just thinking about it.) But more than a hook, they want a reason to keep reading past your letter. They want to be gripped by your story enough to want to read your book. Don't we all?

Find your favorite book. You know the one with the worn-out binding and the cover with rippled edges from hard use? Mine happens to be right here. REBECCA.

Got yours? Good. Now open to the first page. Read the first line.

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."

Just like that, I'm hooked. If this was my first read (instead of my sixth), I'd instantly want to know where Manderley is and why it's chasing her into her dreams. I read further.

"It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive, and for a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me. There was a padlock and a chain upon the gate. I called in my dream to the lodge-keeper, and had no answer, and peering closer through the rusted spokes of the gate I saw that the lodge was uninhabited."

It really doesn't get any better than this for me. I can SEE Manderley. And I know she is someone who once lived in this place. I immediately want to know why she no longer has access, and why it's what she wants more than anything. (It wouldn't be haunting her dreams if she was okay with their parting.) And listen to me, one paragraph into the book and Manderley has come to life again.

This is the goal of a writer. This is my goal. I will create another world with my writing. One that will enchant and thrill and mesmorize and make the reader want more like I want more.

What about your old favorite? Did it come to life for you too? Why?

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to dive into DuMaurier's world again...

Blood sucking market

According to Romance Writers of America paranormal is defined as "fantasy, futuristic, time travel, ghosts, supernatural beings, etc., where psychic and mental phenomena are intregral parts of the plot."

Think it's pretty clear? I thought so too until I submitted my query to a couple of published writers from the bay area. My manuscript deals with a girl who has visions of death.

Visions or premonitions are psychic and mental phenomena, aren't they?

Apparently not. I've received some emails reading "perhaps you should market this as suspense because there's not enough paranormal," and "are visions the only thing that is paranormal about your book?"

I'm thinking perhaps people are so vampire-saturated that anytime something is deemed "paranormal" they automatically assume vampire, werewolf, zombie, etc, flippin' etc. Don't get me wrong...

Edward Cullen from Twilight is a well-written vamp. And hot to boot.



Selene from Underworld is a total badass.



And Jacob Black from Twilight plays the sexiest werewolf I've seen in a long time.



I guess I was wanting something different, something other than what's already filling bookstore shelves. But now I'm looking at this from a career perspective. With that comes understanding that if I want to be published in a paranormal market, I have to somewhat write to what is selling...but I thought I had. Visions, premonitions, psychic and mental phenomena, remember?

So what does this mean? It means my next story better have something sucking someone's blood in it if I want it to be recognized as proper paranormal.



Suddenly the outlook doesn't seem to bad. *wink

P.S. Being that I've mentioned my crazy dreams on this blog twice now, I thought I'd write another. Last night I dreamt I was playing chess with John Mayer...on a rickety wooden set...in the dark. He was cheating-he had two queens from the get-go for crying out loud! It didn't matter. I won. Funny thing is, my chess set is glass, I can't play in the dark, and I don't care much for John Mayer. But I do kick ass at the game. Anyone care to interpret?

Revisions

Okay, so I finished my manuscript. It's a paranormal romance bordering more on romantic suspense with a cozy mystery feel. And I love it. It's fast-paced, action-packed and I'm connected with my characters. Mostly. As I revisited my scoresheets for the SFARWA Heart-to-Heart contest, I started wondering if my beginning was as strong as I thought it was when I wrote it. So I went back and took yet another look.



I thought there was a saying somewhere about not looking back? Yeah, that one must not be geared for writers. Close your ears and type away anyway.

My opening scene still grabs me even after a million looks at it. I've gotten praise for its descriptions and the strength of the characters. Good stuff. Then comes the scene that follows. The one that's suppose to keep the action-ball rolling toward Best Selling lists...but it falls short. My heroine is introduced in this scene so its got to be great. Better than that.

My heroine has got to fly off the page, reach the readers face and pinch their cheeks. SHE'S GOT TO LIVE AND BREATHE.

I go back. I delve into her world, her thoughts again. I put her in a "less safe" situation. I challenge her. I challenge myself.

And I think it's better written for it. In fact I know it is. I went through with a fine tooth comb this morning, checking all angles, adding more depth, and that's when something hit me. I didn't need to add the two paragraphs of backstory that'd been staring me in the face on the first, tenth, millionth go-round. They came out in her thoughts, in her actions...naturally. Can you believe it? I didn't force my heroine to wade in her insecurities and expose them to the reader upfront. By challenging her right away, the reader KNOWS her insecurities and fears without her having to reveal them outright.

(Side note: Donald Maass really knows what he's talking about in his book "The Fire in Fiction." If you haven't read it, you should. YOU REALLY SHOULD. It's changed the way I write. Just ask the people who read my first work then compared it to my second. Uh-huh. That bad. Here's the amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Fiction-Passion-Purpose-Techniques/dp/158297506X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262457808&sr=8-1)

So anyway, after rewriting my second scene, I think I'm in love with my heroine all over again. My cheeks hurt. And she just keeps pinching away. I think I'll let her.

2009

Enough said about 2009 I think...

Freezing Cold and Ants and I Chew Soul

Just in case you didn't get a chance to head over to yarnagogo.com.



And another if you want to read the subtitiles,