Current Project:For the Love of a Sister
Status: Chapter One
As I mentioned last week I've been listening to the 2008 RWA conference workshops on cd while driving around. I'm up to workshop #28 though three were blank. Not sure what was up with those. And I skipped ones on Regency writing.
Some interesting things I've noticed and gleaned.
Many Dorchester mystery/suspense writers don't plot. Period. And yet by sending their editor one paragraph about the books they are bought.
Half the RS authors say you should use a known law enforcement agency in your books and half say make one up. They all say- action, action, action.
I learned two more resources for truly catching your characters traits- enneagrams and Linda Goodman's Sun Signs.
While I've been known to have a grasp on where to start a story, I realize I haven't been starting them with the needed hook. I have rewritten the beginning of the WIP I sent to my editor and the two novellas I've started. I also hadn't paid attention to starting every chapter with a hook.
Everyone says read, read, read. Which I am trying to do more of.
Voice- It is the cadence of your words and sentences, your phraseology, and your humor or lack of. They also said your underlying theme in most of what you write is part of your voice.
Every scene should have a slam- something that slams the emotion.
Some telling in a book is necessary, just don't make it a habit.
The question you need to ask yourself about every book you write: What keeps them together? What keeps them apart?
And I'm still gleaning more info as I prepare to hit the road again this week. I'm finding that listening to these workshops like this I am hearing more and figuring out how to use them in my stories better than when sitting in a workshop.
Do you think you glean as much as you should when sitting in a workshop or do you learn more by yourself listening to tapes?
8 comments:
Paty -- You and I must be the early risers in the group. For this I blame ... er, credit ... Bonnie the alarm clock dog. She has moved from 5:30 wakings to 6:00, so I guess I shouldn't complain. The other part of that name has to do with the fact she's literally dragged off my alarm clock to who knows where.
It sounds as though you've enjoyed listening to the workshops. I listened to one several years ago and I agree with you; without the distractions of other people, notes sliding off your lap, growling tummy and the person next to you jiggling their foot to the beat of some inner reggae tune, you concentrate on just the words.
I think what you said about the Dorchester authors goes pretty much for every writer with an established track record with a publishing house. I sold a book on five words once and another friend routinely sells in groups of three -- two related books and a blind one. Of course, all these sales are contingent on the eventual delivery of a proposal. It's just they know you're a professional and will be able to hand that (and the book) in as contracted.
I enjoyed reading the other things you have gleaned. They all sound like good things to keep in mind. It's funny how you can hear things over and over but it's just as important WHEN you hear something as WHAT you hear, isn't it?
Fun blog. Did you buy the tapes or are they on a CD?
Hi Alice, Well, my dh gets up between 5:30 -6:00 and is out the door to work at 6:30. But I've been writing up my posts the night before and scheduling them to post at 12:01 so if there are people back east (Flo) who like to read the blog with their morning coffee it's there.
Actually at the end of July's meeting, Lisa said, "I have the chapter's cd's from last years Nationals if you want to listen to them." So I grabbed them and am looking forward to this year's that Deb purchased for us while she was at the conference.
I'm curious to hear the business and publisher chats.
Hi Paty. Interesting post. :-)
I find that I get different things out of workshops that I attend vs. just listening to the recordings. When I attend in person, I don't bother taking notes (knowing that I'll have access to the CDs later). Instead, I focus on the presenter(s), their interaction with each other, if there are multiple presenters, and their interaction with the audience, as well as on what they're saying. Body language and facial expressions can hold as much meaning as what's being said.
This year I chose the workshops that I attended partially for those differences and, if they were recorded, I'll listen to them again on the CD when it arrives in order to focus more on the content (the presentation). I'm also looking forward to being able to listen to the workshops that I didn't get to attend in person this year.
Great highlights, Paty. Thanks for sharing them with us!
Hey, Paty!
Definitely good reminders for writing.
I usually take a lot of notes in workshops, which I may or may not refer back to. It's just a way to lodge the ideas more firmly in my mind. When I'm listening to the recordings at home (I don't drive much) I have to be really sucked into the presentation or I tend to wander off and forget to return until I've missed most of the recording. LOL! So perhaps I'm better off going to workshops in person.
Thanks for sharing the good ideas you're gleaning!
Debbie, if the workshops are recorded as well from this year's conference as this year's it will be a good one. I was impressed from having listened to tapes before to the quality of the cd and that there is no background noise(the people attending) Interesting how you go to study the speakers. But I do that, too at a workshop and I think that's why I don't always hear everything.
You're Welcome, Eli!
Genene,that's funny about listening at home and wandering off. That's what I'd do, too. But being as how I am driving so much lately, I'm a captive audince! LOL
I think you must be an auditory learner!
I need to be able to take notes while listening to have something truly click for me, and it helps me to have visual references like charts to refer to. As a teacher, I try to always hit my audio learners, my visual learners, and my kinesthic learners.
I think I would really enjoy the RWA tapes though b/c there are so many great workshops and so many distractions at conference. It would be nice to be able to cherry pick without worrying about what you were missing!
Wavy, I hadn't thought of myself as an auditory learner, but I'm thinking so. It also may be why I like to listen to music when I'm working on the first draft of stories.
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