On writing: Beginning a new novel

For about three weeks I've been making notes on the protagonist for my new novel. I started writing Saturday night. After a few beers...and a few glasses of wine...I opened another beer and suddenly I was typing full-out.

An hour and a half later I had the first three pages done...as well as a bunch of plot notes and even had the ending fully written out.

On Sunday, over coffee, I  read what I had written, expecting to begin deleting. Instead I really liked what I had down, and, besides [quite] a few typos, may have captured the feel I was going for. Even though it's early yet, Paul [the main character] is filling out nicely, and even with all of his predicted weaknesses and mishaps, seems to be someone I'm going to enjoy spending the next year or two with.  Probably over a few beers.

On writing: The dreaded SYNOPSIS

The book's done. It's good; I'm really happy with it.

My query letter is written...not so good.. It needs work. An agent won't read my book if they aren't intrigued by the query. I'm trying...even getting some professional help. [Thanks Gary!]

Onto the synopsis. Somehow, I'm to put the main plot lines of the story into a  one or two page summary...keeping it interesting, hitting the key points and leaving out the mundane.

This is hell.

I  made progess on it tonight, but the professional procrastinator that I am, I made more progress on my notes for my next book...actually for my next protagonist. He's starting to really form for me, and what he's up against is no fun...especially with his limited skill set and built in weaknesses.

The thing is, I'm starting to love this guy, and, the story is beginning to form--organically [Thanks Beck!] ...without me forcing it.

And this is why I'm addicted to writing...I may even be getting better at it...[not counting tonight...I'm posting from an Irish Pub in Raleigh with internet access...]
Geoff

Freedom and Rejection: Jonathan Franzen

I started reading Jonathan Franzen's "Freedom" on Saturday. I was on the treadmill at the gym, reading on my trusty old Nook when my phone started blinking, indicating that I had mail. I opened it to see that it was another rejection from a New York agent, and I had to smile.

There I was reading a book by the author that made the cover of Time Magazine as I received a kind let-down email on my book. Mr. Franzen and I are on opposite ends of the literary scene. and that's okay [for now] because damn, can that man write.

First Submission: First Rejection

At the beach for Beck's b-day

I wrote about sending out my first query letter on Wednesday. Well, I actually sent out a small batch [5] based on advice I'd read.

By Thursday morning I had my first [form letter] rejection. It wasn't a surprise. After all I had 46 rejections on my previous novel.

But still...I've worked really hard on this book, and have been editing for 10 months, where for my first book I edited for 10 minutes.

So, what to do?
First off, I need to get used to it...there are more coming. Then I'll rewrite my letter before submitting it again, and finally, I'll keep believing in the story; I laughed as I read a section in the middle of the book the other day...and to me [who wrote it and have read it countless times] it was a good sign...my characters made me smile.

On Writing: Pete Hamill

On Wednesday we were eating lunch in Manhatten when I looked across the restaurant and saw one of 

Pete Hamill

my favorite authors, Pete Hamill having lunch. I tried to explain to the chef I was with how cool it was for me.

I wanted to say hello, that I was a big fan, etc. etc. the way other people go crazy when they see Derek Jeter.

Of course I didn't.

First, I didn't want to interrupt their lunch.  Second, I was afraid I'd tell him I was an aspiring author who'd just begun sending my book out to agents and make a fool of myself.

Still, it was a highlight of my time in New York to see the writer that so well defines the city, it's history and especially it's people.





On writing: Submitting to Agents

I'm in NYC, and for some reason I am always creative here. When every other visitor is exploring the sites, I'm in a Starbucks or a dark bar typing away. Of course I should be creative here, my first book started as a short story in my hotel overlooking Times Square four years ago.

I have finished my [10 months of] edits, and, after re-reading the book again have decided it's ready, so this morning I sent my first query to an agent after working on my letter for probably not long enough.  I have a good feeling about the letter and a good feeling about the agent, though.  It's kind of cool to decide who to send your manuscript to first. Chances are it won't be the last once rejections begin to flow, but for now I feel great.

Besides, I owe to Billy Connelly and the other great characters of Into The Middle Distance who are ready to meet the world. Wish us luck.

On reading: When a book clicks

Haven't been reading much lately, but yesterday I finally dug into The Sojourn. I started it last week and read about 15 pages. It didn't capture me, so I wasn't expecting much when I read again yesterday...but then, on about page 23, I was hooked. The whole book clicked for me, and I read for an hour straight.  I
 can't wait to find out what happens, but I don't want it to end either.

And that's the point. I try to never give up on a book, because who knows when it's going to pull you in and own you. How many people give up on a book [that they might have loved] too soon?

I'm incapable of telling where [or even if] in Into The Middle Distance that the reader connects. I wrote it and still spend two hours a day with it, so there's no way for me to be objective. A lot happens in the first pages that hopefully pulls the reader in, but I think until the reader builds empathy for the protagonist...in this case Billy....there is no real connection. As a writer, I can only hope they stick with it until they do.

On writing

There is so much advice out there on the internet for aspiring authors that, at times, it can be overwhelming. There are thousands of would-be-writers looking for the magic formula to get published.

I admit, I've read it all, sometimes late into the night; advice on genre, plot, voice and marketing your book. Recently I read a blog post, 'On Hope' by Natalie Whipple, who, after countless rejections and months of self-doubt, finally got published. Not to great sales or acclaim, but to the payoff and satisfaction of believing in her own writing. I wish her the best.

For me, it's been best to ignore the buzz and focus on my writing, and then the characters. I write best when I am alone, deep in my story; believing in the book, and knowing it's up to me to bring it together. If, at the end of the day, my story resonates, with people, it will do well; maybe even great. Imagine that.

Writers: National Book Award Finalists

The finalists for the National Book Award were just announced. The Tiger's Wife, The Bhudda in the Attic, Binocular Vision, Salvage the Bones and The Sojourn are all on the short list.  I just started The Sojourn, so it's too early to tell how I feel about it.

Either way, it must be something to be one of these authors who's book was [mostly] little known, and to suddenly have such well-deserved attention to their work.

It's fun for me to dream of the what-if's once in a while...then, back to reality and back to work. 

Thanks to everyone for all the kind words on my short stories.

Geoff

Getting published: a jump in hits

Since my story was published last week, the blog has had a big jump in hits. Now don't get me wrong, a big jump is taking it from 5 or 10 to 30 or 40 a day. But still, it's cool. Hopefully some of the new readers will become followers and I can continue to grow the site.

As far as the book, it's coming along great....I'm [speed] reading it and reviewing beta reader notes, before I send it for editing. Yeah, maybe I'm stalling, but I want to put out my very best work this time.

Then, I'll send it out, up to 46 times [like the last one] and wait [yes, at the bar] to be discovered. That way, no matter what happens, I'll be at the bar.

On Writing: short story published

As I wrote about yesterday, my creative non-fiction story, A Piece of Me, has been published in the Yale Journal for Humanities in Medicine, an on-line magazine. The link is below:

http://yjhm.yale.edu/essays/ggardner20111013.htm

On Writing: Love and Loss

My great friends Connie and Laura came with me to Providence in March to recruit students for work. We had an amazing time. Connie hadn't been doing well, and so it was like an escape.The first night we had lobster, the second night steak. Both nights we had steamers, [clams], which I introduced to Connie I few years back and she fell in love with. We laughed, made fun of each other, and the ladies shopped. Connie got halfway through Into the Middle Distance and told me "This is the one. This is the one that will get published..." She had a way of motivating me, and everyone.

Laura and I are back in Providence this week. Without Connie; she died right after we got back from our last trip up here. So, needless to say, it's been a tough visit, but we have great memories and our other friend Beth joined us and is a great help.

 Back in April, I wrote a story in the waiting room as Connie lay dying. It was another one of those that I wrote in one sitting; crying the whole time. After Connie's death, I submitted the story--again and again--not because I cared about it getting published, but because of Connie. It was rejected quite a bit.

The crazy thing? Just as I packed for the [sad] trip back to Providence, I received an email accepting the story in the Yale Journal for Humanities in Medicine. I can't help but think Connie has something to do with this; we will toast her again this evening, of course, and I will post the link as soon as it's published...

Geoff

So, I just finished The Last Werewolf, but I'm still not sure how to rate it.  On one hand it was really fun to read in a new genre, and the author is a strong writer; his murder and sex descriptions make my writing look tame in comparison.

On the other hand, it was hard for me to suspend disbelief and buy into all of the premises of the book; werewolfs, vampires, etc. But once I did I enjoyed the story and read it quickly.

So, I guess I'll rate it a four out of five...because the book certainly delivered what it promised. Then, I'll run back to my safety zone; mainstream and literary fiction...where almost nothing happens, but at least I don't worry about my protaganist getting attacked by the undead.

The Writing Life: Jonathan Franzen

I just read how Jonathan Franzen [award winning author of Freedom] always starts with the character, and never the story.  Without realizing it, I've been doing the same thing. I've been working on a character for my next book--the main character, starting to get a sense of what he's like; even what he looks like. Still, I have no idea what this poor bastard will be up against; I just know it won't be pretty.

Franzen also said that he always writes a female character first, afraid that if he writes the male first, he'll be in danger of writing himself into the story...very interesting.

I tend to think more along the lines of another author [can't remember who...] that said all of his male characters are him, and none of them are.

Either way, I can't get going on the next one until I finish this one, which I just printed out for the first time. It's thick and heavy, and yes, it's sitting on a bar.

On writing: Writer's Conference

There's a big writer's conference coming to Asheville in November, and I can't decide whether or not to go. I know I should, of course; there will be agents and did I mention agents? Besides that there is a great line-up of seminars and workshops.

But I doubt I will go. I get claustrophobic just thinking about it. Surrounded by writers, many of them with books published, all of them jockeying to get noticed. It scares the hell out of me.  I can't imagine sitting around and talking about my book to a room full of strangers.

I'm not even the shy type--last week I spoke to a college class of fifty students with only an hours notice; no problem...but, the idea of standing up and reading from my book....hell no. Maybe I still don't consider myself a true writer, yet....

Still, they say so many authors get their agent at these conferences, so I know I can't just write it off. So, for now, put me down as undecided....

On Writing: My Last Beta Reader

Sorry I haven't been blogging as much lately, but the good news is I'm putting finishing touches on the book. My wonderful beta-reader, David, just finished reading and commenting on the last 2 chapters and thinks [with some tweaks] it's ready.

He has been a motivating, life-saver [book saver, actually], coming onto the scene at the perfect time. I was in a bout of doubts with my rewrite when David and I got into a reading list discussion [writers ask everyone what they're reading, like other people ask your sign...] David, it turned out, also loved literary fiction; actually he reads some how-brow stuff that I wouldn't get, but something made me ask him if he'd read mine, and he agreed.

Before giving me his  first comments on Chapter 1 and 2, he apologized in advance, hoping I wouldn't take offense. His notes were painful to read, with words like "amateurish" and tons of crossed out passages and corrections. I laughed out loud when I read his comments. They were brutal...and dialed-in. He was exactly right...at one point he wrote "you're a better righter than this..." on the margin.

Overlaying David's advice onto that I'd received from my [terrific] earlier beta- readers before has been really helpful, and instead of bringing me down, I know it's making my book better.

Halfway through reading the book, he came to me and said that I write really characters well and that he couldn't wait to see where the story went, which made my day.

And what did he think when he finished it? He loved it!

I'm grateful to David and my other beta-readers for giving me the time and commitment to help me with my book. Let's see where it goes from here....Geoff

On Writing: Reading Now

Lately I've been reading two books at a time, one "real" book and one Nook book. I take the nook to the gym and read it on the treadmill or bike and I read the book at home, usually in bed.

Right now I'm reading "The Invisible Bridge" in the book, and just started "The Last Werewolf" on the nook.  The Invisible Bridge, by Julie Orringer, is literary fiction; and as such is building slowly, and I look forward to seeing where it goes. The Last Werewolf, by Glen Duncan is upmarket horror [?] maybe, a genre I haven't read in years.  The reviews on it are mixed, so I'm looking forward to seeing where mine falls. Already-through 50 pages--there's been humor, murder and crazy sex; so yeah--I think I'm going to enjoy it. If nothing else, it's nice to step away from my usual reads...

What are you reading?

Last Chapter

For those of you that have been following my posts, you know I've been editing INTO THE MIDDLE DISTANCE since January. At this point I've been editing longer than it took to write the novel. Which is good, I guess.

On one hand I know I'm doing the right thing be being so diligent, but on the other I miss the creative process. I've written a few short stories and have jotted down ideas for my next novel [actually ideas for the next character, not much on plot].

Maybe I'm stalling. Afraid to finish. Afraid to put it out there and have it rejected like my first book.  I know I need to see it through before I dive into my next one, or I'll have a shelf full of unpublished novels when I die.

Now that I sounded all that out, I realize I just need to sit down and finish chapter 20 and see what happens. Wish me luck.

Movies on Writers: Midnight In Paris

Recently I saw Woody Allen's new movie, Midnight in Paris.

I loved it.

Maybe it was because I could relate to the main character, [played by Owen Wilson] an aspiring author facing his doubts about his own writing as he prepares to get married on a trip to Paris.

A great romantic comedy, it is at times moving and hysterical, and, as a bonus, it stars the great literary characters of the twenties. 

For those of you in Asheville, it's still playing at the Carolina. If you see it, please leave a post.

Have a great weekend.

The Writing Life: Quitting a book

As an aspiring author, I should be reading all styles of writing in fiction. And, I should finish every book I start. The reasoning: even books I don't enjoy can teach me something about the craft.

Here's the problem. Of the three books I started last week,I managed to plow through the first one, get half-way through the second before giving up, and abandoned the third on page 4. Each of these books are by author's who's acclaim I'd give my first born for [sorry Ash], and I've read every other book one of the authors wrote, and loved them.

So, if there's a lesson for me in this, I guess it's that there will be people that love my book and people that quit it on page 4...and everything in between. And now I know to be okay with it, either way .[Not a chance, actually; but it's the lesson for the day.]