I'd Like a Bit of Messiness Please

I don't usually listen to NPR, but I was glad I did yesterday. I caught an interview with actor Paul Giamatti who was speaking about a his new movie, Cold Souls. I'm always interested in hearing what artists have to say about their work and became even more intrigued when the interviewer asked Mr. Giamatti if he remembered referring to himself as a"messy actor". His answer had me sitting up and listening much closer. He admitted believing himself to have this messy quality separating himself from other actors and then he compared the acting world to the world of literature. Many of the books coming out of publishing houses now are so clean and precise, edited to crisp detail that when an author comes along who is a bit of a mess, it is refreshing.

Yeah!!!! I couldn't agree more.

What happened to the Tom Robbins' and Terry McMillan's where the extra fleshy parts of the books are what make it so human and enjoyable. I've participated in heated debates with writers slamming Stephenie Meyer and her Twilight Saga because it is generally considered to be poorly written. But I believe that one reason her Twilight books have resonated with readers (especially young readers) on such a deep level is because they are not edited within an inch of their life. There is a rawness in Meyers telling that absorbs the reader. It works with Bella's narration of the unfolding romance and has captured millions of readers.

Hello Publishing World, are you listening? Readers are telling you that its okay to be a little messy, and heck they even like it...in the millions.

Now don't get me wrong, I know that if every book was a bit of a mess, this wouldn't work for the few authors who manage to pull this off. I am committed to creating clean memorable stories that move along and is clearly going someplace. The hours I spend editing the words I've already written can attest to that.

But I think I will go see Mr. Giamatti's movie, if only to see a bit of mess in action.

Read to Write

I read an interesting post in a writing forum I participate in debating whether or not one must be an avid reader to be a good writer. According to my husband, no, but since he has nether read a book, nor written one in the ten years I've known him, I'll let that stand for itself. Most authors that I am familiar with absorb books like water, ready to whip out a battered paperback to fill in a tedious wait or even more impressive a mini grammar book to consult for obscure structuring issues.

I admit, I have always filled my leisure time in with reading. In fact I can never recall a time when I did not read. It started nestled against my mother as we read the "Little House" series over and over again. I doubt its a coincidence that those books are still among my favorite reads. I doubt any author has ever described a prairie sky with quite the same emotion as Laura Ingalls Wilder. As a pre-teen I devoured the Sweet Valley High Books and anything by Cynthia Voigt. Not exactly literary gems, but hey they kept me reading. I found Stephen King when I was a teenager reading everything from "Carrie" to "The Stand". I still get chills thinking of those thrillers, and trying my hand at telekinesis myself. Although disheartened that I wasn't so remarkable as Carrie, I was secretly pleased to be rather more ordinary.

I slowly found my way to more literary fiction once I went through Ann Rice's books. I discovered Pearl Buck, Jane Austen, Ursela LeGuin and John Steinbeck. I remember finally finishing "Anna Karena", marveling how Tolstoy could so easily balance life's dichotomies. But I never quite got out of the teen section of the library. It was exceedingly interesting to me to read poignant stories about teenagers with more experience myself. I have to admit when I read Katherine Paterson's "Jacob Have I Loved", I was a thirty year old woman weeping at the end.

I can't imagine trying to write without reading. There is so much to learn from each book, whether its about word choice, or voice, or how to create a rhythm so when you end a chapter its leaves you wanting to keep reading. I have also found that reading passages about what characters are eating bore me to pieces. I hope to never do that to my readers.

Let me know if I do.

Waving the Red Flag

I've realized the unexpected is to be expected on this journey of mine to be published. Those of you who have been following regularly, know that I was asked to submit the first three chapters of my completed manuscript to an agent.

I re-read my chapters before submitting, making sure they were in tip top shape. I hit the send button, covered my shocked face with my hand. There was no turning back. I starred our correspondence in my inbox, hoping the next e-mail would be good news. This particular agent has loads of information on her blog/website about what she's looking for, and I felt confident that I was at least hitting in the ballpark.

But I was prepared for anything.

I was prepared to hear that the writing wasn't quite there. I was prepared to hear that this just wasn't quite right for her list at this time. I was prepared even for silence.

I was not prepared for her to say that my submission was good. Big smile. BUT...smile falters...she found herself more interested in the contemporary situation of my main character and not so much in the paranormal aspect that was introduced. With my brow furrowed and a general look of confusion I read the message several times before it hit me. She liked the backstory.

For a quick summary, backstory is the necessary evil writers must present to the reader so you know where this character is coming from. This must be done so cunningly that the reader never gets bogged down and lose interest in the unfolding story. This is especially important for young adult authors, whose audience is younger, and therefore less tolerant with past details.

So with one sentence here, one sentence there, and no more than three sentences together here, this is the story that is more interesting. Bang....that was my head hitting the table as I slump over.

But I am unfailingly optimistic. I realize this is a good no. She liked the writing, and even mentioned that other agents may feel very differently than she does. And I know that's true. Stories evoke feelings in a person, and I have never known two people to feel exactly the same about anything before, so why would this be any different. I still have a full and a partial submission to agents that I am hopeful about.

But, Kristin Nelson, you have waved the red flag in front of me...and I am a Taurus...Ole!

Remember to Believe

Believing in yourself is a hard thing to do sometimes. There are so many things during the day pressing in and vying for attention that its easy to forget why we've started something in the first place. Or if we do remember, it may only be to think, "I must have been crazy that day." Luckily there are shining moments that remind us of why we have chosen to put ourselves out there.

I must admit in the past few weeks I've become a bit hardened to the responses from my "Query Letter". Its surprising how each form rejection letter is different from one another. I'm quite impressed with the many different ways one can say "Thanks, but no thanks." I suppose it must be similar to how agents feel reading "The Query Letter"; they are all different, but essentially say the same thing, "Oh, Oh, Oh, Pick me, Pick me, Pick me!"

Ah ha, but today was a shining moment. My "Query Letter" did not fail me. I received a request for a partial submission from one of the most respected agents in the YA publishing market. Needless to say, my "Query Letter" deserves a nice pat on the back, and if she comes back and wants to see the full manuscript, I just may kiss it.

Keeping it Simple

Having children is a constant reality check and an infinite help to me as a writer. I am constantly reminded that communication does not have to be complicated. For instance, my five year olds earlier comment, “Daddy saw me go off the diving board.” I was interested enough to prod him further, looking for the deeper meaning behind the words. It took me a couple minutes to realize that nothing else was necessary; all I needed to know was in that sentence. He didn’t have to say that as he stepped onto the rough platform and looked over, his chest swelled with pride. I didn’t need the description of his daddy’s face smiling at him as he soared through the air, or the feel of the cool water welcoming the impact of his body.

It was all there. I just needed to read between the lines.

So maybe the next time I’m hung up on a long-winded description, trying to make the reader see what’s in my head, I’ll challenge myself to write whatever it is in one sentence. If I keep it simple, trusting the reader enough to “get it”, won’t we both reap the rewards? Besides it’s not so much making others see what’s in my head, it’s offering the story for you, the reader, to make your own pictures.

To Query or Not to Query

Family and friends who know me well.... Well, let's go ahead and put acquaintances in there too.... Okay, anyone that I have talked to in the past six months knows of my anguish over "The Query Letter." For those of you new to this, "The Query Letter" is that magic piece of paper containing everything about you and your novel. It floats across the desk of an agent or publisher instantly capturing their intrigue, making them marvel at your skill with words. They stop everything to phone you to ask for an exclusive look at your fully completed manuscript. Of course this is all done in 250 words or less.

Ahhh, if only it were that easy.

But there is hope. I think I've gotten a little less obsessed with "The Query Letter", because only a couple weeks ago I would have used all capital letters to type "The Query Letter", instead of just quotation marks.

I just may emerge from Querydom intact; slightly stunned but essentially whole.

The key may be to be a moving target. Not literally of course, but mentally. To know that you've done the best you can with the tools at your disposal and to always be always looking forward, moving toward your goal. For me it is "The NEXT Query Letter."

What is it for you?

Excerpt

I know what you're thinking...two posts in one day? Sheesh, who does she think she is? Sorry, but I'm really excited to get the show on the road, and since I'm gearing up to do a major e-mail blast I wanted to give everyone a little something for their effort.

My completed project is a young adult urban fantasy entitled Lost & Found. Book 1 in the Three Wishes Trilogy, Lost & Found weaves elements of Aladdin together with a teen romance while exploring themes of guilt, trust and friendship, as icons of Egyptian mythology resurrect in modern DC.

Whew, say that in one breath.

Please sign up to be a follower, or better yet subscribe to receive the blog via e-mail. There are various links below.

Below you will find the first pages of Cassie's story. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

Thanks for signing in!


CindyLou




CHAPTER 1: SPRING BREAK

In my opinion Spring Break is overrated. Okay, maybe if I had the kind of family who was doing something cool like skiing the Rockies, going to Disneyworld or even journeying to Guatemala on a missionary trip to build houses for the poor, maybe then it would have a little more appeal. If you had told me that in a week I’d believe in Djinns, I never would have believed you.

Lunch was the usual trial of determination as I sat at the end of the table, an open book in my lap the excuse to listen without participating. Everyone seemed too preoccupied with their own life to notice me, which is a big improvement from the last month.

“So Cassie, we haven’t heard what you’re doing yet.”

The challenge came from Michelle Mitchell, all tight jeans and miniature sweater underneath a perfectly perky ponytail.

I looked up, startled into answering a little too fast and rehearsed to fool anyone. “I’m actually staying around here.” I bit the inside of my cheek.

“Oh. Any plans?” Michelle went on, sensing weakness like a wolf stalking a flock of sheep.

Several people turned their attention to us. I didn’t know what was worse the blatant staring or the quick glances from me to the opposite end of the table where Ashley and Brent were whispering to each other in a private conversation.

“No, not really,” I replied hoping I wasn’t blushing too obviously. I had learned the hard way not to reveal anything.

“Oh c’mon you must have something planned?”

She was circling, going in for the kill.

“Nothing exciting.”

Cleaning out the house for your Grandmother hardly constituted as “plans” in Michelle’s world.

“Oh.”

The dismissive triumph of the one word stung, making me blush deeper. We smirked insincerely at each other before I turned back to my book and she to her friends. I wish I had never taken my eyes off the words, answering Michelle’s questions to the page instead of opening myself up for more ridicule. That would’ve been much cooler.

Why do I always think of these things afterwards?

I must be crazy, sitting here everyday, pretending I belong, trying to show that despite recent humiliations, I don’t care. I finished my sandwich in silence, folding the rumpled tinfoil into a tiny square. The clock behind the cage on the cafeteria ticked the minutes. Only a couple hours to go.

Classes passed and when the final bell rang the remaining portion of the three thousand students of Alexandria High that hadn’t been pulled out to start vacation early or who weren’t skipping, came pouring out of the building. I stood at my locker, carefully placing each book in its space and choosing which ones to take with me. Ugh, homework over spring break. But it would offer a good excuse to go to the library and escape the moving frenzy for a bit. Quietly closing the door and spinning the dial, I turned to start my vacation.

Who am I to do this anyway?

It's a question that I keep coming back to as an aspiring writer. Who am I to do this anyway? Is it arrogant to think that what I write and have to say would be read and enjoyed by others? Ever since I've taken the step to be on the other side of the book, the writing end, I've thought more about the authors of the books that I love and enjoy reading. Who are they? I read bios of authors with MFA's and impressive publishing histories and the ringing silence of my bio makes my gulp of dismay all the more audible. I don't have any of those things that make me instantly acceptable.

So what does that mean? Will I languish in the politely phrased world of being a pre-published author for years?

Maybe.

Or maybe the stars will align and everything will fall into place. Great stories, great writing, great agent, great editor, and great fans. Nathan Bransford, literary agent of my dreams and blogger extraordinare eloquently stated on June 4th, "It's time, basically, to look inside yourself and step up yer game." Well Nathan, your point was well taken. I know I have one of my "greats" and I'm diligently working on the rest.

There is one thing I do know. I love writing. It is the most fun I have during my day. I get a deep satisfaction of breathing life into my characters and revel in the challenge of refining their movements, making them real to others as well. And I do know one other thing. Everyone starts somewhere. And here I am. I am planting my flag at the base of this mountain known as The Publishing World. I have five more flags in my hand to plant as I go up the side.

Here I go. One word in front of the other.

Wish me luck.