I'm back

How lovely to come back to your birthday greetings and well wishes for Pat's surgery. Thank you.

I've been away at Keji (Kejimkujik National Park) for the annual "Not-Back-to-School" camping trip and at the hospital with Pat who had arthroscopy on Friday. Yesterday was a veg day although my son and I caught a short play at the Fringe Festival in the afternoon. His play-writing teacher was directing This is a Play and it was hilarious. Daniel McIvor write the 30-minute play that treats audiences to the inner dialogue of the actors onstage: their petty criticisms of each other, their flubbed lines, their self-congratulations. It was quiet entertaining.

For now, I must get to work. I have a number of short stories to comment on for my writing group tomorrow.

I hope you are all well and have ordered your copies of Maya Reynolds' Bad Girl. (It's your opportunity to pay-it-forward because someday it'll be your book being released.) I read my copy on Thursday night and oh la la! it was most definitely spicy. The story literally races along from the first line and the tension builds to the frightening climax (no pun intended) when the plucky heroine... oh, I'm not going to spoil it for you... you'll have to read it yourself.

Congratulations to Maya on what I hope is the first of many successful novels.

Colleen

Oh, you crazy Americans!

Two days till Bad Girl is released...

I don't know who's looking more forward to it, me or my significant other!
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The Manuscript

I've received some feedback on my MS and have to say that some of it gave me a giggle.

Apparently, if I want to market the thing in the U.S. I have to use American spelling. It seems that adding a "u" to color, behavior, or honor will confuse the heck out of the American reading public. Not only will metre will not be recognized as meter, but if I am to go so far as referring to a social security number as a social insurance number my book would never sell. Heaven forbid that one might derive meaning from context should a term be unfamiliar.

Don't forget that Harry Potter had a U.S. version, I have been reminded.

Of course that was the case, but, frankly, it was something we laughed at. Canadians don't call sorcerers philosophers either, but we could figure out the gist of it.

This brings to mind a column I read recently about American and Canadian tourists. According to the premise of the article, Canadians make crummy hosts, but are great travellers; Americans are wonderful hosts and lousy tourists. The reason? Canadians are acquiescent and will adapt; Americans are inflexible and have higher standards. Canadians will eat different foods, sleep in less-than-perfect rooms, and attempt to honour local customs wherever they are. Because we Canucks are so compliant, however, means we make terrible hosts providing little direction or hospitality to guests. When Americans travel, they want to take America with them, but are wonderful hosts because they will ensure their guests have only the best.

Perhaps this is true of books as well.

But it's a pain because now I have to decide what to do about the damn spelling. I don't imagine Canadian publishers would be too crazy about a Canadian using U.S. spelling for marketing purposes. On the other hand, the MS might not sell in the U.S. anyway because of place setting, so maybe I should just go with Canadian spelling and market it here.

It seems the first element of the business side of writing has just hit me.

Like there wasn't enough to fret about.
Colleen

The Challenge: Are you up for it?

Six days to Bad Girl!

There's only one thing hotter than doing something you shouldn't... Getting caught.
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The Challenge!

Since goals written are more likely to be reached than goals remaining in the ether, here are my writerly ones for the Fall:

• Continue with the writers' group I joined this week. I attended my first meeting on Monday. Group members were welcoming and offered good advice. The snacks were terrific too. Can't wait to get feedback on the chapter I submitted.
• Apply to the Writers' Fed. mentorship program. (Deadline: Sept 14)
• Sign up for one writing workshop through the Fed. (The new Fall schedule is posted.)
• Rewrite MS by December.
• Apply for writing grant (Deadline: Dec. 15)
• Enter Atlantic Writing Competition (Deadline: December 7)

Whew! No time for dawdling, is there?

And now my challenge to you: share one goal (for the writers in the crowd, it should be one to do with your writing) and report on progress. I'll commit to providing updates as I go along.

Colleen

Critique therapy

Having your work analyzed is sort of like sending your child to a shrink so you can hear about all the damage you've caused as a poor parent. At the same time, you can't tear yourself away. Could anything be more personal or compelling?

Yesterday, I received a critique on my MS and am really pleased with it. And who wouldn't be? There's nothing like the thwack of a hammer on your thumb to let you know you're alive! Actually, the comments were very helpful and extremely revealing -- eerily so.

Want to hear a little psychobabble 101?

One of my characters, a 16-year old girl who has been traumatized by a family death, is left to her own devices to get through her emotional turmoil. The adults around her either ignore her pain or use their own wounds to solicit her sympathy and understanding of their neglect.

Thing of it is, I never noticed this kid was expected to act more adult than the adults until it was pointed out to me. The writing of her experience seemed entirely normal because, of course, that girl was me. It was one of those epiphanal moments when I realized that my psyche was dripping through my writing. I suppose this is nothing terribly profound except that I had been blind to it till then. Funny, the things we don't see that are right in front of us.

On a less introspective note, the critique pointed out my strengths -- which were lovely to hear -- and helped me with some areas of the story I wasn't happy with. Problems for which I could find no clear solution -- in most part because of my own inability to see the forest before me.

It will take me some time to review and assess this draft before I can determine the best approach to the next one. Refocusing will be challenging as I've already begun the next MS and don't want to tear myself away from it.

Perhaps I need a day out in the garden, away from the keyboard. Looking at the weed situation, I know my garden needs me out there!

Hope you're having a terrific day,
Colleen

3-Day Novel Contest

So, how about it? Think you can write a novel in three days?

I'm giving serious thought to entering Vancouver's 3-Day Novel Contest. Sounds like the sort of gruelling exercise I'd be up for. The writing takes place over the Labour Day Weekend and is open to writers around the world. Outlining and research can be done ahead of time, if desired, but actual writing can't begin until midnight. September 1. If you're interested, let me know. We can encourage each other during the writing period.

All the info is here.

Colleen

Interview with Maureen Hull

I am delighted to announce that Maureen Hull, author of The View From a Kite which was shortlisted for this year's Atlantic Book Awards, has agreed to be interviewed for this blog later this summer. (If you'd like to read the first chapter, Nimbus has posted it here.)

If you have any questions for Maureen, please send them to me either via the blog or email and I'll incorporate them into the post.

She has had an interesting background, which I share with you as posted by the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia.

Maureen Hull was born and raised on Cape Breton Island. She studied at NSCAD, Dalhousie University and the Pictou Fisheries School. Before and during her formal education she worked in the costume department of Neptune Theatre. Since 1976 she has lived on Pictou Island in the Northumberland Strait. Between 1976 and 1998 she worked as a lobster fisher; for seven of those years she home-schooled her two daughters. She began writing in 1992.

Her fiction and poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, most recently To Find Us: Words and Images of Halifax. Her short story collection, Righteous Living, Turnstone Press, 1999, was short-listed for the Danuta Gleed Award, and several of her stories have been read on CBC radio. Her second picture book, Rainy Days With Bear, 2004, was short-listed for the Ann Connor Brimer and Blue Spruce awards. Her first novel, The View From a Kite was published by Nimbus/Vagrant in September, 2006.

I hope this will be the first of a series of interviews with NS authors.

Colleen

MIA

Hi

I haven't been around for a while as I was devoting too much time to blogging and too little time to editing.

I am hunkering down to grapple with POV for my multi-protagonist story and, while it isn't grueling, it requires focus.

So, I hope to be back on the blogosphere in another week.

Hope you are all doing well.

Colleen

This is ridiculous

Noticing that it was after 10 a.m. and I hadn't done anything productive with my writing (which has been the case for days now) I figured I'd better get my rear in gear and, at the very least, enter some of the hard copy edits I've made.

Holy Hannah. Holy friggin' Hannah. (Although what's really going through my head is substantially more profane.)

I have notes on various copies/versions of the ms, handwritten sections to be added, and electronic edits provided by my friend Becca.

I am officially daunted.

I've now had too much coffee and my stomach is jittery and my hands are twitching and I'm looking at the mess before me with hypertrophied eyes praying for some insight on where and how to begin.

And so, I inhale and exhale with great deliberation -- a few times -- hoping the phone will ring or my stomach will stop doing somersaults or the stiffness in my neck will miraculously loosen.

What I wouldn't give for a secretary right now.

But the phone isn't ringing and my stomach is still doing the jive and my neck is pulling the muscles from between my shoulder blades to those bony knobs at the base of my skull. There's nothing for it, but to begin.

And so, I dive.

Wish me luck.

Colleen

Writing the Great American Novel

I haven't figured out how to write the Great Canadian Novel, but, apparently this is how the Great American Novel can be written. A good breakfast, champagne and a refreshing apricot scrub.

The Father Space: Pt II

I've begun giving some thought to what I might write about my father. This isn't going to be easy. I could write about what a prick he was, but since he's no longer around to defend himself, that doesn't seem fair. So, I have to find a way to offer some balance. To find a way of uncovering a piece of my father that is true and, perhaps, even compelling.

This is going to be interesting.

Writing ain't for sissies.

Colleen

The Father Space

(Thank you, Margaret Atwood for the above.)

Before I head out I wanted to share an idea with you.

A book has just been released called The First Man in my Life. (from Amazon) "In twenty-two original narratives, some of Canada’s most acclaimed writers share stories, memories, insights, and revelations—from the comic to the tragic, and every shading in between—about the first man in their lives. Complex, compelling, unforgettable, these stories will open a fresh and intense conversation with daughters everywhere about the men they’ve observed since childhood: their fathers.

"Contributors: Katherine Ashenburg, Anita Rau Badami, Christie Blatchford, Mary Anne Brinckman, Nancy Dorrance, Jane Finlay-Young, Camilla Gibb, Catherine Gildiner, Rebecca Godfrey, Rachel Manley, Sandra Martin, Lisa Moore, Sarah Murdoch, Marina Nemat, P.K. Page, Emma Richler, Eden Robinson, Rebecca Snow, Tina Srebotnjak, Susan Swan, Emily Urquhart, and Pamela Wallin"

I just listened to an interview with Anita Rau Badami and editor of the book, Sandra Martin and thought wouldn't it be a great idea for us to write and compile our own stories of our fathers? I think it would be even better to have stories of fathers from both men and women.

So, I'm inviting you to submit stories of your fathers. I haven't written mine yet, but will post it as soon as I'm done and hope you will too.

If this goes well, perhaps we can select other topics to write about and share here online.

Colleen

Query writing tips

I've just read a terrific article by Judy Kellem on how to write a great query here. She has written the article specifically for scriptwriters, but everything holds true for novelists as well.

Here's a snippet...

"...When you sit down to write your query, get crystal clear on what the absolute heart of the story is so that it can work as your compass. You can jot down phrases to help yourself wade through the mire, sifting through all the extraneous arcs, themes etc that are in the material to zero in on the bottom line. For example, what is "STAR WARS" really about? A lot of things - good versus evil, imperialism and despots, fathers and sons, first love, to name a few. But at the very core of this movie, one could argue, is LUKE SKYWALKER'S COMING OF AGE. It is his growth from being a boy to being a man that unites all the other story arcs. This is the FOCUS. Hence, in pitching the script one could begin with this umbrella trajectory:

" Born on the planet of Tatooine, young, inexperienced farmer LUKE SKYWALKER has only dreamt of traveling outside his hemisphere. Until now. For when he discovers two foreign robots on his land, which contain the destructive plans for a 'Death Star' weapon capable of destroying entire worlds within seconds, Luke is catapulted out of his boyhood and into an intergalactic struggle between the forces of good and evil."

I love seeing examples to bring an instruction home. Judy's article uses Star Wars the throughout the article which is really helpful as it is familiar.

Colleen

Writing schedule

Something amusing happened this morning regarding my writing schedule that may give you a smile.

I sat down to finish a new chapter I'm creating for the next draft of the current manuscript. When rifling through a stack of loose pages to uncover what I had already written, I stumbled upon a page with the following:

"You had to hand it to Celeste for her aplomb. Her husband had just found her in bed with her best friend and she didn't even look upset."

Oh, that looks interesting, I thought to myself. Wonder what it is.

I pulled the sheet out of the stack and realized that it's a line from the next MS that I began months ago and had printed off without reading last week.

I had to laugh at myself -- and my poor memory.

Whenever I complete a draft of a MS, I begin the next one then return to the first for editing/review/whatever. If a manuscript takes many drafts to complete, I may begin more than one other story. This is what had happened with the above-mentioned line. I wrote it months ago when I was working on a story that may never see the light of day. (It isn't terribly well written so, unless I develop new enthusiasm for it and complete another rewrite, well, I'm sure I can use it to prop up a table leg somewhere.)

Does anyone else write this way? My vast experience with fiction writing has spanned a whole year and I'm interested in hearing what works for other writers.

Have a great writing day!
Colleen

Hooks and key messages

Writing a hook has been on my mind since I began this MS. I've wondered/worried/obsessed about how to condense seven protags into two succinct paragraphs. Just as I turned out the light and was drifting off to sleep, violà, it came to me. (Must have been Chris' blogging about his hook that had my brain working.)

Of course, I roused myself and wrote it down (the significant other was still in the basement watching a hockey game -- for god's sake, it's almost summer!) and was delighted by my brain wave. The test will come in another month or so, when I am ready to look at it again, but it sure felt good to have thoughts crystallize for a few moments.

I used a connecting character to launch the hook. While this may sound obvious, she is a minor character in the story so focusing on her wasn't instantly top of mind. However, she provided me with a way to discuss the characters in a general way and highlight the plot development and outcome without listing each protagonist. Wouldn't that have been deadly?

The more I read/learn about hooks, the more I am convinced that we (writers) have to distance ourselves from what we have written to be able to delve into what's interesting from someone else's point of view. Yes, our baby may have cute fingers and toes, but these are superfluous to what is in her heart. The details that mean so much to us -- and, hopefully someday to others -- mean little to an agent or editor who has seconds to determine yea or nay.

Hook writing is akin to what I used to harp about when it came to developing key messages with my clients. They would insist that every angle of an issue was a key message and I would ask: "If someone were to learn one and only one thing about your issue what would that be?" I think this is where we need to go with hook development as well. What is the essence of our book? What is the one thing that strikes to the heart of what we have written?

Of course, getting there is another matter. But it helps to know the direction you need to take before you leave home.

Anyway, off to the home school group for most of the day.

Have a great writing day!
Colleen

New chapter

What a great editing day it's been today! While waiting in the city for my son to do some volunteer work at the film festival office, I sat at a coffee shop and wrote a partial chapter to replace the one I hated. I am really happy with this addition as, I believe, it helps to complete an element of tension for one of my protagonists that wasn't clearly set out previously.

Gotta get back to it, but thought I'd share.

Colleen

May I have an umbrella in that?

So much for waiting a month to begin editing. I managed to go about 48 hours before diving in. (Methinks my addiction is showing.)

The work had gone well. I made amazing strides tightening prose with a finely-tuned wrench, slashing overwriting with new-found skill.

And then came section seven -- the end bit to chapter one. What a *&#$%* dreadful piece of writing it is. I hate it. What was I thinking?

And so, I procrastinate catching up on my blog reading, paying bills, writing this entry because it's too early to drink. And that is what is required. A vat of alcohol to generate creative brain cells, to make me feel brilliant, perhaps to drown myself in.

Of course, the fact that I submitted my application for the grant yesterday has nothing to do with my bout of insecurity today. Nothing at all. The fact that I held on to the damn thing for weeks, repeatedly rewriting sample pages and submitting only when deadline was upon me is no indication of lack of confidence. Not at all.

Hmmmm. Seven minutes to noon.

Colleen

Best intentions

So, I was having lunch with a friend the other day and we were sharing with each other what was the latest and greatest in our lives when she asked me: "So, how do some authors get their first books published so easily?"

Which implies: "So why can't you?"

"Because I must suck," I wanted to huff, no doubt spurting Perrier through my nostrils.

Instead, I inhaled (such a good thing to do) and recognized that her question, no matter how ill-conceived, was asked in innocence. I attempted an answer that spoke to the inscrutability of the industry as well as the fact that some first books aren't actually first manuscripts.

But, in the end, my blather felt defensive and I left the restaurant feeling like such a loser.

No wonder so many of us develop neuroses and personal tics faster than plots.

Have you found yourself running from supportive (I use the term broadly) questions such as:

"Have you found an agent yet?"

"Is that another rejection letter?"

"Book done yet?"

"Did you hear about XXX's book deal?"

AGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Enough with the support already. Trust me, if I land a deal or get an agent, my friends and family will be the first to know of it. These are not the questions they need to ask.

Are you with me on this?

Keep smiling!
Colleen

Loose ends

Okay, so what do I do now?

The MS is done for a bit as in: I need to let it go for a month and come back to it so I don't obsess, picking away for the sake of picking resulting in nothing constructive. You know what I mean, don't you?

I've already got a start on the next MS. About 20,000 wds in. But I can't seem to feel it today. It:the desire to write. And I'm not sure why. Just like I'm not sure why I wasn't really celebratory after finishing the MS.

I've said before that I can write anytime and that's true. It isn't bragging as I lay no claim to the quality of the writing I complete. It's just that my past professional life has taught me to write to deadline and so I do.

Maybe that's it. I don't have a deadline looming. Just all this time ahead of me. I'm not sure if this is the reason for feeling at loose ends, but it sounds like it could be.

Tick tock. Tick tock.

Yikes.

Well, enough of that. It's research time. (Some call it surfing the Web, I call it research.) Seriously, I think I'll take some time to do some agent research and let my dreams get the better of me for one afternoon.

That's allowed, right?

Here's to great writing!
Colleen

Time to celebrate

Well, it's done. This draft of the MS is done.

It now rests in the gentle hands of my good friend and editor who is giving it a read. It is something to be grateful for to have such a friend -- someone who can be counted on to drop everything and start reading whenever I send something her way. Thank you, Becca! If I ever get anything published, it'll be because of you. Seriously.

Today, I'm going to nestle up to a proposal I'm submitting to the provincial government for a creation grant. Deadline is mid-May and I've been sitting on it for the past month so I better get it done. The government administrator was helpful (imagine that) and looked over my draft so I have a better chance of acceptance. I've never applied for one of these babies before, but imagine the competition is pretty tough. I have no idea what the odds are of getting one, but hey, no harm in trying. Wish me luck.

Have a great writing day!
Colleen

Working through the chatter

Well, I opted out of movie viewing yesterday and, instead, spent a few hours at Starbucks editing. Amid the chatter around me I managed to edit a whole chapter. I think I made some needed changes. We'll see what my view is once I have a chance to look it over.

Have a great writing day!

Colleen

P.S. Have you tried their Toblerone cookies? Sin was never so affordable. mmmmmm