Well, I needed the eye of a skilled editor. And I got it. For a very affordable price, Margo Dill gave me two pages of praise (specific praise) along with suggestions on how to improve the manuscript--and ways to implement those suggestions.
I realized that my subject is compelling, I've done a fairly decent job of creating a narrator, but I need a plan. I need some planned tension or excitement (Is that really a necessary component? I'm just kidding.). I need to rewrite the manuscript and keep some of it, but scrap a lot of it.
The last couple of weeks I've been a slacker. My summer job was keeping me busy, which I used as an excuse. I belong to a writing accountability group, and I wasn't always achieving my small, weekly goals. What was going to nudge me into getting back into a writing groove?
A change of scenery did it. I had a couple of hours between the end of a workshop and the beginning of an evening writing critique group meeting. I went into a fast-food place, saw they had a counter with an electrical outlet (my laptop was in need of juice) and had a bite to eat... after which I wrote. I met my weekly goal while I was sitting at that high counter, and the change of scenery was responsible for the success, I think.
Sometimes heading to a restaurant or coffee shop and sitting there for an entire morning or a whole afternoon is a good thing. For me, there is enough distraction, allowing me to occasionally take a momentary break from my writing, but not so much to prevent me from writing anything. I've done this at Starbucks, but I prefer the funky, neighborhood places.
What unusual places do you like to use for your writing? And now onto book blurb stuff...
Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. Is it a coffee table book on candid pool pics? Is it a photo collection of crazy kids doing crazy things? You decide.
Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.
Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this writing challenge. She moved to Florida, she's gone through three sixteen cabana boys (they don't have the energy to keep the pool clean enough, constantly falling behind and are always falling short when compared to Lisa's word count) and Lisa's too busy to host a weekly book blurb. Check out her blog, along with her books. She's a wonderful writer and a wonderful friend.
Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.
Not Very Good At Breaking Bad
Byron had seen every episode of Breaking Bad at least seven times. He loved the power that Walter White had amassed by the time the series was almost finished.
Byron started trying to live just like Walter White. He ordered a children's chemistry kit, and started dabbling in mixing things up. This Walter-wannabe had enough college classes under his belt, and got hired as a substitute teacher. Not quite ready for working with the high school kids, Byron filled in for the kindergarten and first grade teachers.
And when he was home, Byron paraded around in nothing but his tighty-whities.
But then things started spiraling out of control. Byron’s wife refused to dye her hair blonde, she refused to change her name to Skyler... and then she left him.
Can Byron win his wife back? Or will he have to shave his head and go 100% Walter White? (146 words)
And for anyone who'd like to play along, here is the picture for next week:
I think anyone who wants to imitate Walter White deserves to be alone. Either he finds a new role model or he will lose his wife forever!
ReplyDeletePat--Well, if you watched the series, you know exactly what happened.
DeleteOops! I forgot there was a picture for this week.
ReplyDeleteI would be too distracted to write in a restaurant of coffee shop. However...driving, or riding along, gets my mind working on ideas for later.
Val--I wonder what you're thinking of as you ride along with the Sweaver... Perhaps your life is passing by in front of your eyes?
DeleteI am too nosy to write in a coffee shop or any place where there are people to distract me. But I do like to write outdoors.
ReplyDeleteLinda--I can see that. So much of your writing is rich with sensory details. I imagine that when you write outside, you get super inspired.
DeleteMaybe I need to try a change of scenery. I'm not firing on all cylinders lately.
ReplyDeleteMZ--YOU are dealing with some misfires or out-of-sync cylinders?
DeleteI don't believe you.
I always think that writing in another location would be difficult BUT I actually write more when I'm at the beach. It's getting increasingly difficult to write at home because all I can see is all the stuff I have to take care of (that Mister Man used to take care of) and before I know it, the day is gone. So maybe I'll juice up the laptop and head to a park or something to get some writng in. I'll let you know how that goes, Sioux!
ReplyDeleteCathy--Knowing you, you'll probably draft an entire children's book while you at the park (or wherever). Good luck.
DeleteI do best in my own office with the door closed. Sitting elsewhere is simply for jotting thoughts and ideas to be developed later. I'm a creature of habit.
ReplyDeletePat--Well, your habits work for you, since you have 3 books coming out in 3 months. Congratulations.
DeleteYour subject is very attractive to me, with many interesting issues
ReplyDeleteduck life
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