pat esden

Over the years I’ve spent a great deal of time fretting about how to move my writing to the next level. I usually attempt to do this by taking a class which will address a specific problem area or with focused reading. I don’t recall ever knowing the exact moment when the jump to the next level occurred. That was, until ten days ago during a query critique at NE SCBWI.

Deep in my gut I might have suspected how I could strengthen my writing. And I did have specific questions I wanted to ask during my critique. But it still surprised me how the answer hit home and effected how I looked at my writing.

First off, my query (and first pages) got very little criticism from the agent (or editor), almost none. But they didn’t recieve an ecstatic reaction either. This gave me the guts to ask my question—and, seriously, as silly as it sounds it took guts.

I think I know what the hook is which makes this manuscript unique and marketable, but I’m not sure if I’m right. What do you think? Then I told him the hook.

I got an ecstatic ‘I could sell that’ reaction to the hook. This reaction was a huge boost to my self-confidence. I knew what was wrong with my pages(and manuscript) and query. I knew how to fix it and-- if the hook doesn’t fly in this novel—I know how to make the next novel marketable even in these tough times. What hit home and jumped my writing to the next level was a new awareness of how pov choice and writing what you know can combine to create marketability. Of couse knowing doesn't mean I'll succeed, but I have the tools.

Also I realized I could enjoy writing something other than fantasy, that I shouldn’t shut the door to something I hadn’t given a fair chance to.


How do you work toward taking your writing to the next level?

Have you had any eye opening writing experiences lately?

Over the weekend I was tagged by my writing friend, Lora Rivera, http://lorariverainsidewriting.blogspot.com/ --if you have a moment, check out her 7 sentence post. She has a wonderful gothic brewing.

The 7-7-7 Challenge:
Flip to page 77 or page 7 of your current WIP.
Find line 7.
Post the 7 sentences that follow.
Tag 7 more writers.

One of my goals for this past weekend was to work on a specific character. The challenge sentences happened to be a setting description which involves that same character. So I posted my quick revision, not polished, but not the old draft either.

My WIP is a YA gothic, MOONHILL:

. . . A crystal chandelier hung down from a hammered tin ceiling and the tall windows revealed a view of the crescent-shaped hillside and the ocean to the south.

The antiques were as amazing as in the rest of the house, but here they reflected a love of the Empire period, and someone’s obsession with silver tea sets and eggs--marble eggs and jeweled eggs and amazing eggs painted with intricate designs, displayed in primitive carved boxes and under glass domes.

“We’re in the den,” Olya’s voice came from an open doorway.

Olya, Zachary and a man I assumed was my uncle David sat on cushions around a low table which looked like it belonged in a Japanese restaurant. It was the least formal room I’d seen since I’d gotten to Moonhill, pretty much a normal den with cushy chairs and big couch, a huge television and computer desk. And a fish tank full of what looked like rat-size leaches. They had to belong to Zachary.

AND YOU’RE NEXT:

My 7-7-7 authors are:

1.Anabel http://anabelgonzalez.livejournal.com/
2.Kelly http://kellyhashway.blogspot.com/
3.Alice http://alicelbeesley.blogspot.com/
4.Anne http://critically-yours.blogspot.com/
5.Marcia http://marciahoehne.blogspot.com/
6. Suzanne http://suannewarr.com/blog/
7.If you’d like to take part please do so. The more the merrier!

I’d love to read what you’re working on. But if you don’t feel like participating, please don’t feel like you have to. No pressure, really. Regardless, I’m sending tons of good writing vibes your way.

If you decide to play, then let me know when the post goes up because I’d love to read your lines!

******
As a bonus here’s a hint about the character change I’m making. Sometimes research is just plain fun—well, most of the time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l63OyUrBifc&feature=related

Throwing Out the Kitchen Sink

By Suzanne Warr

April's theme is house-keeping the writer's way here on the Cabinet, which some of you may think means no house-keeping at all! lol Thank goodness we're not talking about organizing your closet and decluttering your kitchen--my personal take on that sort of thing is leave it til the next move or the next flood, which I guess is one reason to be thankful I've always moved so much!


No, this theme deals with de-cluttering your writing life and tossing out those old habits that are standing in your way. Here we are in April, the fourth month...how are those New Year's resolutions coming? Are your writing goals on track? If you suspect that your writing habits are hamstringing your progress, maybe we can help!

First up this month is knowing when to toss out old writing habits that aren't working--also known as being willing to write garbage. This is difficult as a beginning writer, but I think is even more challenging once a writer has been around the block a couple of times . . . Read the rest over on my sister blog http://fivecuriosities.blogspot.com/

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So guys, I haven't been around a lot because I'm up to my elbows in revision. After brainstorming with Jaye Robin Brown http://www.jayerobinbrown.com/ , I've decided to change two of my characters' personalities and looks. Hopefully, this will add clarity and tension to the story. I'm not sure why my brain resists making changes, but it seems to. What's the worst that can happen? I have to go back to the old version or try another one?

How about you? Are you willing to make a mess and try something new?

I'm poking my head out of the revision den and the flower shop to wish everyone a wonderful Easter!

Since today is St. Patrick's Day, I couldn't resist posting a picture of a book I unearthed in a box of junk. It includes photos of the play the novel is based on. I wonder what this cover would look like and what the title would be if it was published today instead of in 1913? I just love the dog--and the look on her face.

 

Last night I did a St. Patrick’s Day themed flower arranging workshop for a local women’s group. While I was doing the demonstration, my mind kept wandering to the similarities between the techniques I was teaching and writing.

 

First, I showed the women how important it is to weave a solid foundation of greens in order for the rest of the arrangement to stay in place. My mind went right to the importance of first lines, first paragraphs and pages.

 

The women’s arrangements ended up being a variety of shapes, styles and sizes. Some of them were low and plump, and would look nice displayed on a kitchen table. Others were tall and skinny, more suitable for a buffet or stand.  In this case, where the arrangment ended up being displayed didn’t matter. But, when doing orders in a flower shop or writing a story with the intention of selling it, creating something which fulfills the customers/readers expectations is vital.

 

I had included an oversized palm leaf with each woman’s flowers as kind of a test.  Several of the women shoved the leaf to one side. Others eyed it skeptically. I’d included the leaf to challenge the woman—and provide the chance for them to individualize their arrangements. I showed them how they could snip the huge frond into several small pieces, then use it so it looked like blades of grass.  Or they could create loops with the blades. At any rate, the palm was like a writer’s inventiveness which individualizes stories.

 

Enough about flowers. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all.  

 

I hope your writing and life in general is going well. I’m up to my elbows in revisions and totally thrilled.  

What are you up to this weekend? And St. Patrick's Day traditions happening?

 

 

YAY! I’ve completed a solid first draft of MH.

 

Actually I finished drafting at the end of last week, but I was still working on a bookmap of the story. Now the bookmap's finished as well—which makes this a double YAY!!

 

I was inspired to create a bookmap after reading about them on Cheryl Klein’s blog http://chavelaque.blogspot.com/2011/12/behind-book-three-things-writers-can_12.html . It looked to me like bookmapping would address a lot of the issues which I face when revising. And-- in my case--starting to create the bookmap when I was halfway through drafting worked better than waiting until the entire draft was finished (I tend to get bored with outlining and start skimming so I can move on to the revision stage).

 

At any rate, I ended up winning a copy of Cheryl Klein’s SECOND SIGHT which discusses bookmapping and a host of other revision and editing techniques. http://cherylklein.com/second-sight/ . I was going to do a detailed review of the book and how much I love it, but I think that’s unnecessary.  Simply, SECOND SIGHT is a must have tool for any writer who wants to hone their craft and would like to have a peek at the process from an amazing editor’s point of view.  

 

So what new revision techniques have you learned or used lately?

 

There's a game of tag going on in the blogosphere and danged if Jaye of http://jayerobinbrown.blogspot.com  didn’t catch me. Part of the tag was answering her vicious and evil questions. Okay, so not that vicious and evil but difficult, yes.

1. What is the best meal you've ever eaten - what, when, and where.

 

How about the most memorable week of meals? Hands down it would be the food at the Orson Scott Card’s Literary Bootcamp (Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia 2006). Maybe it was the southern Mormon cooking, maybe it was the company and conversations, but it was fantastic.

 

If you scroll down this post on Kennedy Brandt’s website, you’ll see everyone who was there and another photo of a reunion meal at ReaderCon in

Boston. http://www.kennedybrandt.com/main/fact/live.html

 

 

2. What is your earliest memory?

 

Actually, one of my earliest memories plays a role in my WIP.

 

I remember waking up in the front bedroom of the large Georgian house I was raised in. It was pitch-black and I had to go to the bathroom.  As a rule the streetlights brightened that bedroom, so the darkness startled me. I didn’t want to be a baby and cry out—or pee in my bed. I think I ended up yelling for my mother to bring me a glass of water, instead of saying I was scared to get out of the bed and go to the bathroom.

3. If given your choice of a secret rendezvous with any fictional hottie - who would you choose?

 

LOL. Since I’m dying to see the new Dark Shadows movie and am working on a gothic, I’ll fall back on a vintage favorite. Quentin Collins (David Selby—who’s like seventy-one-years-old now)

5. Pick three words to describe yourself (one is just too hard!)

 

How about:

1. determined
2.  creative
3. woodsy-hyphen-loving-animal-loving-grateful-florist-antiquedealer-writer-with-hope.

And now it's my turn to tag some folks! I'm picking some writing friends I’d love to know more about.
 

1. Rachel Marks http://www.shadowofthewood.com/

 

2. Jenny Peterson http://jennypetersonya.blogspot.com/

 

3. Jennifer Estes http://onemomsworld.wordpress.com/

 

 

And I’m passing Jaye’s evil questions on to you.
1. What is the  best meal you've ever eaten - what, when, and where.
2. What is your earliest memory?
3. If given your choice of a secret rendezvous with any fictional hottie - who would you choose?
4. What is your favorite joke?
5. Pick three words to describe yourself (one is just too hard!)