Say what, it's March already? You know what that means--another installment of my sex-food-and-writing column, "Cooking Up a Storey." You may have noticed last month I moved to a new address in Author's Resources. That's because I'm trying to focus on this new novel and I figured if I kept a sort of journal of my process, the column would be less distracting from my work. Perhaps more importantly, I'm hoping that by going public, I'll be embarrassed into actually making some progress. It's rather like one of those diet features in a women's magazine where you're weighed in every month for all of America. That would keep my hand out of the cookie jar (and you know how much I like cookies).
Anyway, if you're interested in some second-time-around strategies for novel writing, check out "Trying to Get the Feeling: Barry Manilow, “Successful” Passions, and “Let-the-Feelings-Flow” Almond Cake." Regular visitors will remember the recipe, but it's still just as tasty and just as fail-proof as ever. Fingers crossed writing this novel will be the same.
Also check out Ashley Lister's wonderful interview with Neve Black. You might find yourself heading off to your favorite cocktail lounge with a copy of Anais Nin--and who knows what adventures await you?
7 comments:
Great insights into the novel-writing challenge as a process of crafting something for author, agent, publisher, and reader to love. Hey, what's not to love about striving for lovable books! : )
Hey, I say, stay focused while having your whole hand in the cookie jar! :-)
Thanks for the shout out, D.
Thanks, Jeremy. Yep, love makes it all more fun, too. And Neve, just mention cookies and my knees go weak, lol.
"Agents buy novels they love, readers recommend novels they love to their friends. But it all starts with the feelings the writer has for her work."
Nicely put.
I have to admit (I don't have to, but I'm going to anyway), I seem to feel even more eager to read your novel as I read these entries about your process as you work on it. That's not meant to invoke any pressure at all; I just feel excited about the energy/passion I have gleaned from your work in the past. :) I'm looking forward to more!
Thank you for sharing!
Feeeeeelings...
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Feeeeeelings...
You got that song in my head Donna. Damn...
Anyway, great column! I can relate to the benefit of a good "draft pitch." It was in refining my draft pitch recently that I came up with solutions to a couple of things that were bothering me in my book.
I look forward to following your column and the progress of your book!
Emerald, thank you so much! I am definitely running into some challenges with this second novel, mostly emotional ones at this point, and the knowledge that you are rooting for me and looking forward to the result is so very encouraging. I was talking with Herr Doktor last night about this and how as I'm outlining the novel, I really feel myself drawn into some of the scenes and am very excited by that, but I worry that the novel as a whole won't hang together. And he said--go with the excitement and let the rest work itself out. Which makes perfect sense, go for the feeling in the first draft and let the editors and the worries do their job down the line. So your support nourishes those feelings for me. Thanks so much for "admitting" that :-).
And Craig, I've been singing that damn song for a week now. That's why I tried to replace it with the Barry Manilow song, but that one's pretty annoying, too, lol.
It is true, isn't it, that the pitch is a very powerful tool in the process. I didn't really get that the first time around, interesting to hear that it's helped you focus, too.
The awesome almond cake! I enjoy that cake almost as much as your first novel. If your second novel is even half as delicious, it'll be a huge hit, lady.
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