pat esden

One of the best ways to research literary agents is to follow them on Twitter. It can help you discover if your dream agent is all she or he seems—or if different agent might be a better fit. You can get an idea about what an agent is looking for and a handle on their tastes. Basically, Twitter following agents will help you know more about them as individuals, that will help you make wiser choices about who to query, and in turn will lead to a higher request rate.

 

Here are a dozen of my thoughts about following and researching agents on Twitter . . .Read the rest on my sister blog   http://fivecuriosities.blogspot.com/

 

 

Before I started my WIP, I did a lot of thinking about my main character’s greatest fear. My WIP is a gothic novel, so I decided I wanted a fear that would be particularly pervasive in that sort of story—you know, genre expectations and all that stuff.

 

I also decided to take my main character’s fear one step further. I’m trying to make the fear active, not in the literal form of a flesh and blood antagonist, but in the way setting can be treated as a character.

 

My main character’s fear is of the dark. It’s not a small fear, like I had as a child. Her fear is depilating. She has created coping mechanisms, but she also has come to the point where she’s angry with herself because of the fear. In other words, her character is ripe for change. And, of course, she will have to face this fear as part of the climax.

 

I know this is not some new wondrous idea. Lots of writers use it.  But this is the first time I’ve consciously focused on it as a writing tool. Have you used this technique?

 

How do you choose your main character’s greatest fear? Do you uncover it organically as you write or do you pick a fear which will challenge your character within the context of the story?

 

I’m working on another article for Vermont Bride Magazine and am wondering if there are any details that you remember from weddings you’ve attended?

 

One wedding detail which always stands out to me is live music before the ceremony. Groom’s cakes aren’t that common in the northern part of the US, so they also draw my attention in a good way.

 

What beautiful or sentimental touches have stood out to you?

If you'd like to take a look, here's a link to Vermont Bride Magazine's website. http://www.vermontbridemagazine.com/

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all my friends and family. I’m looking forward to things slowing down at the shop, so I can spend more time around here and in my writing den. See you soon!

Here is a rare photo of me during my high school years. I mostly avoided cameras. If you want a peek at what was going on behind that smile, check out this interview with high school age me on Hanging on to Wonder.

http://jayerobinbrown.blogspot.com/2011/12/memories-of-high-school-you-pat-esden.html

(Sorry I haven't been commenting on many posts lately. Florist and Christmas equal crazy busy)

Elizabeth Bunce’s STARCROSSED is now $2.99 on e-book! 

 For the chance to win a hardcover + LIAR'S MOON and more check out this wonderful post about book maps by Cheryl Klein.

http://chavelaque.blogspot.com/2011/12/behind-book-three-things-writers-can_12.html

 

Tonight, I launched into a bit of research for my WIP. It had to do with sheep care, specifically if salt blocks might be found in a modern-day sheep pasture (aka a graveyard).

I know how to care for a fairly wide variety of animals, however I didn’t recall ever having known anything about sheep. But, when Googling sheep care, one of the links was connected to a university class—a class I took years ago!  

Man, I feel like a complete noodle-head. When I took the class, I had guys and partying on the brain, still you'd think I'd remember something.  Hmmm-mm, it’s coming back now. It was a night class, mostly guys and I remember learning how to hold a sheep’s muzzle to lead it. Now that I think about it, I dropped the class because it wasn't what I'd expected. Who'd have guessed it would come in handy years later.

 

Hope you guys are having a great December. I’ve got balsam pitch under my fingernails and have started having nightmares about giant poinsettias—proof that the holiday season is upon us, or at least upon me J

Oh, and by the way, does anyone use salt/mineral blocks for sheep now-a-days? I never did find out. I don’t need to know if it’s normally used, just if it’s possible someone might.

There’s a lot of talk about how the internet is a horrible time suck, a devil waiting to distract writers from their work. This certainly is true. However, cruising the internet also can be a great way to recharge the brain or refocus and find fresh solutions to writing problems.  The trick is to set limits on the time spent online or the number of sites visited.

 

In the spirit of focused time wasting, here are a few blogs and websites I use for inspiration and recharging . . . the rest of this post and some cool links are on my sister blog:  http://fivecuriosities.blogspot.com/

If you happen to be in northern Vermont this weekend stop by and visit 9-5 Saturday  at the 1830's brick store in Fairfield Center (route 36). There will be hot cider simmering on the woodstove, homemade donuts, venison chilli, and other goodies .

This is a tradition we've had at our shop for a long time--all are welcome, old friends and new, customers, writing friends and family. There are three craft fairs in town that day and Christmas tree farms nearby. We sell creatively decorated wreaths, gifts and antiques. But don't feel like you have to spend cash. This is the weekend we set aside to visit with friends.  We'll be around all day to chat.

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

 

I’m in a rush between making Thanksgiving centerpieces and decorating Christmas wreaths. But I wanted to share a Thanksgiving story that I learned when I visited President Calvin Coolidge’s birthplace last month. It’s about Coolidge’s love of animals and a live raccoon which was sent to the White House to be part of Coolidge’s Thanksgiving meal. The photo is of Mrs. Coolidge and Rebecca.

 

Here’s a link to a quick version of the true story. Scroll down to ‘Rebecca’. And while you're there check out the Coolidge's other pets.

 

 http://www.calvin-coolidge.org/html/coolidge_pets.html