Blog Chain: Advice for Writers

So here we are at the end of the chain. This chain was started by the awesome Cole, so head on over there if you'd like to start at the beginning (or because her blog's so awesome). Or you can head over to Michelle's blog who answered this before me :)

The blog chain topic is:

This blog chain is a game! Your subject is writerly advice. Pretend you are addressing a crowd of aspiring authors eager to soak in your words of knowledge. The problem is, you've only been given a time slot of five seconds. In one sentence (no more than 20 words), please summarize the most important words of wisdom you can impart.

There's been a lot of really amazing advice and I had a tough time coming up with something that someone hasn't already said but I think I came up with something appropriate:

"In order to have life experiences to write about you have to get out there and experience life."

In other words, don't get so caught up in writing and trying to find an agent and getting published and writing the next book and tweeting and blogging and reading your contemporaries that you forget that there's a big wide world out there for you to explore. Not only will it make you happier but it'll make you a better writer.

Friday Mixed Bag: Question about Revisions

All I have to say is TGIFF. That extra F stands for something. I'll let you interpret it as you wish. This has been a long week, no? But I'm looking forward to a full and fun weekend so it's all good.

I actually have a question today. It was posted in the comments section and I thought today would be a great day to bring it over and give it an answer. Mr. Winch asks (after buttering me up with compliments, which, as most of you know, is the best way, other than offering me food, to get anything from me,

I wondered if Chris (your agent) had any major problems with the story when you were signed. Nothing mechanically or grammatically, more in the likes of the story itself. Were there any parts where, although he loved your story, he said, "Chop the fat here" or "what in the world is this semantic slop here"? I wonder because I wonder if agents focus on the big picture (your kick-ass story) and overlook things that might be problems (plot-wise).

This is a really good question and the answer is yes. Okay, see you next week.

Oh, more. Right. One of the things Chris and the other agents (and editors) who read The Deathay Letter loved was the voice. But Chris had some issues with some of the places I'd chosen to go. There was a particular scene he felt bordered on making my character unlikable. And I'd managed to completely botch the ending in terms of tense. I'd prefer not say how because I don't want to spoil the book.

The point is that yes, there were some things that Chris had issues with plot-wise. And before he even signed me he asked me if I'd be willing to do some work on my book. Some agents will ask you to do the work before signing you. Chris did not in my case, but he has in others.

If I can get to the heart of what I think you're asking, I think some agents (and this applies to editors too) can and do look at the big picture and maybe see the potential of a project. If they're more hands-on (like Chris) or have more time, or just really believe in the project, they might ask for revisions to see how you tackle them. To see if you're capable of revising. Because you're going to spend more time revising than you did actually writing the book.

My editor at Simon Pulse asked me for revisions prior to buying the book. She had specific changes in mind, changes that completely changed the focus of the book. The core remained the same, but the focus is different. I think my willingness to revise and work on my book is what helped.

I think I've rambled a bit here so let me distill this as best as I can: Write the absolute best book you can. Don't submit it until you believe that there's nothing you can't make better about it. If you think there are plot inconsistencies or "fat" in your book, fix the inconsistencies and cut the fat. Don't expect an agent to do what you should have done. But be willing to work with an agent and revise. Take their suggestions and make them your own. Do your best and then do a little bit more.

I've often said on this blog that my agent's enthusiasm for my book is a huge reason I am where I am. It only takes one person to champion your work and help you get to that next level. With two full request out there, Mr. Winch, it sounds like you're well on your way. Congrats and thanks for the question :)

Monday Funnies sponsored by MURDER!!!

I'm having trouble getting started this morning so here's the funny:

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Weekend Update!

So I'm likely going to be rolling the weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) into one lump post for the next few weeks. I got my revision notes back from my editor and I have a lot of stuff to do. Unfortunately blogging tends to get the short straw when I have to prioritize. That just means I'll have to make every post count!

My Friday Mixed Bag was really just going to be a short little piece on taking time to smell the roses. My boss at my day job went on vacation and when he came back he ended up in the hospital with some viral heart thing and pneumonia. The doctors attribute it to stress. My boss owns the company so he's frequently up at the ass-crack of dawn working. Then he's in the office working all day. Then he goes home and works until all hours of the night. Yes, our business is successful, but at what cost? The event has caused him to reevaluate his situation, which is awesome. What's the point in living if you can't enjoy it a little?

Saturday Health stuff: Still a fatty. I admit it: the reason I want to get healthy is because I hate looking frumpy. It has nothing to do with wanting to feel better, though that would be nice. No, mostly it's vanity. I just can't seem to find an activity that I enjoy that also has the benefits of being good for me. I get to the gym a couple times a week but it's SO BORING! Even listening to good music and podcasts and audio books it's boring. That's one of the reason I want to move to CO. I like hiking and skiing and rafting. On the dieting side, I'm doing better. I had Thai last night and still feel stuffed today, but it was SO worth it. The Thai place by my house does an awesome Panang Curry.

Sunday Media! Dexter. I got ahold of an advanced copy of the first episode of the new season and it rocks. I've been a Dexter fan since day one. He's a character with a darkness inside that most people won't admit to having, yet he's so relatable that I find myself both cheering for him and skeeved out that I'm cheering for a sociopath. That's a real credit to the writers of the show (and the original books which are also awesome). They take someone normally despicable and make him sympathetic. More than sympathetic. They make him just like us.

Anyway, so this season looks to be great. Last season ended with Dexter's marriage and the impending birth of his son. This season picks up 3 months after the delivery of the baby and there are surprises galore. It's tough being a first time parent. It's even tougher being a first time parent and a serial killer. This season is shaping up to be the best season yet. A great new antagonist is introduced and some old friends from past seasons are back with a vengeance. I highly recommend watching it when it comes on. September 27th on Showtime.

Tuesday Book News!

No news on The Deathday Letter. It's starting to make me a little edgy. Some people with my same release timeframe already have covers and dates and stuff. I have none of that. It makes me a little nervous. I'm supposed to get my revision notes by the 20th. We'll see if that happens.

In other news I've finally taken the plunge and started my new project. It's neat and new and I'm in the midst of the lust phase of book writing. It's that part where I can do no wrong, where every word and page is magic. It's my favorite part. Ideas for further down in the book are coming fast and furious and the whole thing seems like it's going to be a piece of cake. Reality will soon catch up, but right now I'm loving this.

Hopefully everyone else will love it as much as I do.

The plus side is that I'm going rock climbing this weekend as research for the book. How much fun is that?

Smile or Die

Happy Monday. It's my first full day back at work and this made me laugh. I tried not to for as long as I could, but this baby's laugh is like a virus. If you don't at least smile, then you have no soul.

Sunday Media Review: Need More Music!

It might have been smarter had I saved my video and pics of the DMB concert for today, but alas I lack the ability to think that far ahead. Instead I find myself in a musical black hole right now. I've obviously been listening to a lot of DMB but the first half of this year has left me with little in the way of new music.

I'm hopelessly addicted to music. New music, old music. The only music I really don't get into is country or hardcore rap. Other than that I keep a totally open mind. To that end I'm curious what you all are listening to. What are your favorite new bands (or favorite old bands)? What should I be listening to?

Let me know in the comments and I'll buy it and give it a shot!

What else? Okay, while I was visiting my friend in Chicago, I watched Whale Wars. It was a sobering sort of thing for me. I like to believe that I'm at least trying to be environmentally friendly but the truth is that if something is not shoved right in my face I tend to not think about it. I am the epitome of "Out of sight, out of mind."

I find myself of two minds about the show. In the show, the Sea Shepherds chase the Japanese whaling ships. They keep them from whaling. Now most countries have agreed not to kill whales but the Japanese claim they're killing whales in the name of science. I get that science sometimes requires sacrifice, but the Japanese allow almost a THOUSAND whales to be collected every year in the name of science. WTF!!! It's crazy. And the Sea Shepherds are the only people out there, putting their lives in danger, to keep the Japanese ships from killing whales.

On the other hand, some of the tactics used by the Sea Shepherds make me angry. They operate with a foot dipped in a sea of hypocrisy. They frequently cross the line and claim to do it because they're provoked, but the evidence shows otherwise. Maybe it's not even their actions that disturb me so much as their hyperbolic statements.

And yet I can't side with the Japanese even for a second. In an enlightened world there is no justification for killing whales. None. I may not agree with the tactics employed by the Sea Shepherds but I do admire their tenacity and bravery. Without people like them doing what they do, I might never have even known there was a problem.

I encourage everyone to watch an episode or two. It's on Animal Planet. If you ignore all the blustering you can really get to the heart of what's at stake. The lives of some beautiful creatures.

Saturday Health Stuff plus DMB and the Apocalypse

Today I'm back on my diet and I'm about to wash my car and hit the gym. How's that for healthy? Right.

So this was my first Dave Matthews concert and it didn't disappoint. It was freaking fantastic. It was a cool mix of old and new songs. I went with Angie. She isn't a huge fan and got annoyed when they jammed for fifteen minutes during Jimi Thing, but I just ignored it and soaked up the songs. Really great stuff. The two highlights for me were when they covered Burning Down the House, and when they closed the show with Grey Street. It was really special. Here's the set list and some video and pics.

Funny The Way It Is
So Damn Lucky
Why I Am
You Might Die Trying
Crash Into Me
Typical Situation
Spaceman
Burning Down The House (Talking Heads cover)
Seven
Squirm
Jimi Thing
Shake Me Like a Monkey
Alligator Pie
#41
Dancing Nancies
You & Me
Time Bomb
Encore:
Sister
Little Thing (tease)
Grey Street










The apocalypse refers to the two tropical systems that may or may not be bearing down on me later this week. As of now we're in the cone of death, but Ana and future Bill may peter out. I could stand a nice cat 1 hurricane. It would give me some nice writing time :)

Friday Mixed Bag?

I got nothing. Okay, that's not true. I've always got something to write about.

Tomorrow I get to begin on my next project. I don't mind admitting that I'm terrified. The project is risky. At the same time, I think it's my most mainstream project yet. It's the kind of story that I have to knock out of the park or it'll be a failure. But, you know, no pressure.

I've been thinking a lot about news and social media and people-based knowledge sources like Wikipedia. I am not ashamed to say that Wikipedia is the first place I go when I need to know something. I AM ashamed to say that I rarely check the "facts" I get from there. I've come to rely on Wikipedia so heavily that I rarely stop to wonder about its validity. And I'm not the only one.

Such blind faith has spread to Twitter where fake death announcements have been made.

Events such as Amazon using its Skynet Whispernet online network to delete the illegal copies of 1984 (and some poor kid's homework), the constant pronouncements of the death of books, and even experiments like John Green's have made me wonder if the rise of the internet will actually cause the collapse of the physically written word or if it will give us a reason to keep physical books around forever.

How, you ask, will more digitization lead to a greater reliance on paper books? Here's how: Twitter and Wikipedia and John Green have shown us that information can be manipulated to such a degree that it can become nearly impossible to know what is true. Digital media can be manipulated by anyone at anytime. He who controls the media controls the world. Amazon has shown us that it has the capability to control what you read. Yes, I know that its purposes were not so nefarious, but their PR nightmare demonstrated that they COULD. And once something is done, it'll be done again.

Imagine a scenario where parents protest Catcher in the Rye. Bending under the pressure, an Amazon-like company replaces every instance of the word "goddamn" with "golly-gee." They then go to every Kindle-like device and swap out the digital copies. People who have never read the book won't know the difference. Eventually the Golly-Gee version of Catcher will be the only version and thus the REAL version.

Because what is real? The version that exists.

Wikipedia can be used to erase the sins of our past. Slavery? Never happened. Not if it's not in the Wikipedia entry. If a lie is propagated long enough it will become the gospel truth. People have known that for centuries. People have practiced that for a millennia. But hard copies of our information limit the damage. Sure, they can release a Golly-Gee print of Catcher in the Rye, but you'll always be able to find the unmolested version. You can burn the Library at Alexandria but books will always survive.

Not so in the digital age. Not so as we move toward a digital model that doesn't even give us ownership over our own property. We rent our books from a source that tells us how we can use them, what we can read them on, how long we can read them for, and eventually whether we can read them at all. In this digital age, knowledge is at the mercy of anyone with a login and password.

Which is why I believe that as we move forward, book will become an even greater treasure. Digital copies can't be trusted. If a new version of a book is printed, the two can be compared for differences, but if a company has the ability to change a book and replace...REPLACE...the digital copy they're letting your borrow, how will you ever know?

Books are more than just repositories of fun stories. They're who we are as a people. That kind of knowledge should not be mutable. Not easily anyway.

In a world where history and the vast sum of human experience can be altered with the click of a few keys, books will be king.

Happy Friday!!!

Back from the Vacation

So I'm back from my vacation. It was really fantastic. I went to Chicago Comic-Con where I saw Edward James Olmos (Admiral Adama), Margot Kidder (Lois Lane), Lori Petty (Tank Girl) and then a whole bunch of scantily clad fan-boy wet dreams. Luckily I am immune to such things.

I also went to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry where I got to tour one of only 5 remaining German U-Boats, to fancy schmancy restaurants, to see G.I. Joe (Go Joe!), and lots of other really rad stuff, including the biggest, baddest used bookstore I've ever seen. Seriously.

I had to use an extra bag to get home.

But the best part of my trip was this:

That's my adorable nephew Graeme. He's not technically my nephew but my bestest friend Rach and I have been friends for so long that we're family. He's just the cutest, smartest little boy I've ever met and hanging with him was an absolute joy.

Sigh. Anyway. I'm catching up on emails and stuff today but I'll be back on the schedule tomorrow with my review of Steven Gould's book JUMPER and the sequel REFLEX.

Blog Chain: Multi-tasking

First off, I'd like to thank the lovely ladies of the blog chain for inviting me to be a part of the chain. I hope I do well.

Terri started this chain with the question: Do you focus on one project at a time, or do you have many irons in the fire at any given moment?

Yesterday we got to hear Elky's (or would you rather Michelle?) awesome take on this, and be sure to visit my Awesome Agent-mate Senshi's (Cole) answer tomorrow!

While it's difficult for me to settle down and pick a project from the millions that buzz around my brain and keep my from sleeping, once I put my head down and start to work, I become so focused that I can't even think about writing another book. It's been a real challenge recently to have to deal with revisions for The Deathday Letter because every time I get them I have to switch gears. Once I lose my focus on a WIP I have a really difficult time going back. This process has led to more than one aborted novel.

When I'm not focused on a novel, I'm pretty much a freak. I usually try to develop as many ideas as I can so that I always have a treasure trove to plunder should my idea well run dry. In that respect I usually have more irons in the fire than I can sanely manage. Ask my poor agent. Just when he thinks he knows where I'm at with a story I've jumped ship and moved on to another idea.

I compare it to me going into an electronic store. When I go to Best Buy, I usually go in with one thing in mind. I need a camera. When I get there, though, my head spins around. The possibilities are limitless. Oh the things I can do! A five minute trip turns into an hour, then two hours, as I play with all the shiny toys. Eventually, though, I have to wander over to the camera section and start realistically deciding what I want. Then, just when you think I'm going to get a nice digital camera, I end up at the register with a flat screen plasma TV and a Wii. But man is that plasma TV awesome.

It's also like this post: I began talking about multi-tasking and now I want a new TV.

So to close, I think it's good to cultivate a lot of ideas so that you have options, but when it comes time to put butt to seat and fingers to keys, I'm a one WIP man.

Don't forget to stop by Cole's blog tomorrow :)

And feel free to let me know what you guys think of all this? Do you work on one thing at a time or are you like that crazy, creepy ball-juggling Palm Pre commercial girl? Speak up in the comments.