Monthly Archives: April 2010

Querying…

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Hi everyone!
Hope you are all writing like it was going out of style.

First things first–Past Cliches:
Movers and Shakers: Individuals with the power and/or influence to effect change. First, they alluded to God, but in 19th century started being applied and compared to human beings. Check out A. O’Shaughnessay’s Music and Moonlight (1874).

Snow job: Exaggerated flattery used to cover up some real issue. Term probably came from – to be snowed under, meaning overwhelmed.
Originated among GIs during WWII when they talked to a superior officer with elaborate fiction to excuse some misdemeanor.

Did you find the cliches?

Now, on to Querying..
How often do you write your piece, whether short or long and keep editing and don’t attempt to write a query letter? How hard do you find it to write the query?

The novel, for me, is the easiest part of my writing. Trying to condense my novel and myself down to a page is the hardest part of writing to publish. That and the synopsis.
We won’t go there at this time.

So, do tell, how many query letters have you written and sent out? I have several written. As a matter of fact, I have a query for each of my novels, but have sent out only two, and that was way too early, before I knew what I was doing.

I took a couple of classes in query writing. Think I learned anything? Yes, that it is very difficult to write one. Why? Because each agent or publisher wants something different. What I learned in my query writing class, the agents that have lectured, don’t want. Very confusing.

But, that does not mean the writer gives up. He/She studies and writes and re-writes. Just like the novel. Then the writer should have a critique group look it over.

Main thing is we shouldn’t be afraid to send it out when we think it’s ready.
Again, it’s write, write, and write some more.
Give it a try.

So how many queries have you sent out and received a reply on–other than a standard rejection? Let me know.

Keep Writing until next time.

Julie

Writing every day

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Hi Everyone!

Hope all of you are busy writing and perfecting your craft.

Last cliches: Cut and Dried–commonplace, routine. Term dates from the early 18th century, some disagreement to origin. Most believe came from timber, which is customarily cut to standard sizes and dried before it is used. One writer believes it refers to the wares of English herbalists, which were cut and dried before being sold. Jonathan Swift used the phrase for boring speech in Betty the Grisette, 1730.

Needless to Say: unnecessary to state. This phrase originated as “Nedelesse to speke” in the early 16th century.

Hope you are enjoying the cliches and their meanings and origins.

Now on to writing every day. Do you do it? What time frame do you give yourself or do you just write when the muse strikes?

The movers and shakers probably write on a schedule and so many hours a day. However, I write when I get up for as long as I can, then I write during the day and in the evening, whenever I’m not doing something else. Of course, I’m retired and have no other job, but I do have a life besides writing.

If I didn’t write sometime every day, I’d not feel well. Even when I’m sick, I make up stories in my head. Writing is a part of me and without it, I feel bad inside.

Now this is no snow job. I really do write whenever I can and as often as I can. Even if I only write a paragraph a day, my story will develop.

People who talk about writing a novel, usually keep talking and write very little. But, writer’s write. And Write some more, and more, and more.

What are your thoughts?

Until next time,
Keep Writing,

Julie

Editing and re-editing…

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Hi Everyone!
Hope you all had a good week of writing and fun.

First things first: last cliche: Worth Its Weight in Gold means extremely valuable; singularly useful. Roman playwright Plautus liked this metaphor, which also appeared in early 14th century. Later, Henry Medwall (A Goodly Interlude of Nature, c. 1500) became one of the first of thousands to use the phrase.

Now, on to Editing: How often do you edit? Do you edit as you write? Or are you one that writes the entire piece and then goes back to edit?

I try and write as much as I can. Then, when I get stuck, I go back and start editing. Editing and re-editing is not all cut and dried. I believe it’s up to each individual how they do it, but you must not get caught up in editing too much.

Needless to say, sometimes I get so stuck on my story that I start editing and re-editing the beginning, and I don’t finish the end. I have 3 novels completed and am editing and re-editing them, but I’m also working on two uncompleted novels that I’m “stuck” on and am editing and re-editing the beginning and NOT working on the “rest of the novel.”

How many of you get into that rut? I think it’s better to write, write and write and finish, then go back and edit and re-edit. What’s your opinion?

Until next time…
Keep Writing,
Julie

Research in your Writing…

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Hi everyone!

Hope all of you are writing and writing and writing.

Cliche from last post:  That Does It =that accomplishes or completes it.  Used to be that does the trick and it replaces does the trick.  Don’t have a first date used for this one.

How much do you research for your writing?  I write mysteries and I do a lot of research.  I interview experts, read as much as I can, and talk with people who might be in the field.

For example on my arson novel, I interviewed two arson investigators, spoke with firemen, talked with nurses, watched videos and read books on arson fires and arsonists.

The book has to ring true no matter what you’re writing on and if you can’t manage believability, then you’ve lost your reader.

So no matter what you write about, you must do some sort of research.  Reach out and touch an expert.  Talk with someone in the field, read about it or watch films about it and not just fictional films, but documentaries or teaching films.  Your story will ring true and you’ll keep the reader’s interest.

For example, in my working novel, Birthmark, a shark eats a body and when it’s gutted, pieces come out with a birthmark still on it.  Is that possible?  Well, yes I know it is, because I contacted a forensic expert and got the answer.

The internet is filled with good answers.  Writer’s Digest is filled with good books with good answers not only on writing, but books that tell you how to write mysteries and other genres, besides having lots of poison books, who dunnit books, and all of this turns out to be worth its weight in gold.

Research to make your story come alive with the ring of truth and believability.

Check out my links for some experts.

Keep Writing and Enjoy!

Julie

Write, Write, Write,…

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Hi everyone!

Well, it was a busy week for me.  Not only does the writers wokshop online keep me busy, but my mystery-novel in progress does.  After being critiqued by the on-line group, I’ve made many changes and all for the good, I hope.

My last post was on 3/26 and the Cliche:

T.G.I.F.:  Thank God It’s Friday.  Glad we made it to the last day of the traditional 5-day workweek.  Probably started by teachers, but by mid-1900s taken over by all who work at a 5 day job.  Boston GLobe from 1991 to 2000 ran a column entitled T.G.I.F.

Anyway, thank God for small favors.  It’s Friday again and I’m back to this blog.  Why do we write?

Most writers write because they can’t not write.  At least that’s my opinion.  If I don’t write every day at something, I feel down and I’m not happy.  Writing, for me, is for my soul.  I may never get a book published.  I say that because I have published in magazines.  However, if I didn’t write every day, I’d wither and not feel good about my self.

It would be great if I get published so I could entertain others, but just entertaining me makes me feel good.  Writing is like a cleanser.  It refreshes and makes my soul sparkle.

So why do you write?

Well, that does it for now.  Check into this blog and find the cliches and hopefully get some entertainment at the same time.  Till next time,

Keep Writing,

Julie