Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Wimsatt on March 8, 2012 at 7:26pm

Right now, I am working on what may be my first novel, or more likely, my first short story. It is about a newly married couple and  one of them has manic depression and the other does not. The wife in the story was diagnosed about 10 years ago, although she had been showing signs for about 10 years prior to that. The story is about her questioning the choices she has made in her life, whether they had been made because of her manic depression or if she was truly in "control." It is also about the ups and downs of being married to a manic depressive; the arguments, the moments of tenderness, the husband trying to understand what his wife goes through when she is depressed or manic, the constant vigilance for clues to an upcoming episode, her reliance on him to be a "sounding board" for whether her thought is because of manic depression or if it comes form her core personality. Mainly, it is about two people both struggling to cope with this illness in their own ways. 

I think I probably have enough material from my own life and marriage to a non-bipolar for a novel, but that seems daunting compared to writing a short story first. So, probably short story first. This will be my first attempt at character development, plot line, and story development. If anyone has suggestions on how they do these things, it would be very appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Lynda Rutledge on March 9, 2012 at 2:35pm

Hey, I'd love to show you mine and see all of yours!  Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale is coming out April 26, from Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam.

If forced to put it into a word bite: It's about death, God, and antiques and not necessarily in that order. ;)

Deep themes:  "Do our possessions possess us?  What are we without our memories?  Is there life after death? And is Faith Bass Darling really selling that authentic Tiffany lamp for $1?" 

Here's the book jacket:

Permalink Reply by Melanie Conklin on March 16, 2012 at 6:15am

I introduced my novel awhile back, and thought I'd also share some more about myself -- after all, these books of ours come from SOMEWHERE, right? My path is as atypical as many writers . . .

http://melanieconklin.blogspot.com/2012/03/so-who-hell-is-melanie.html

Permalink Reply by Catrina Barton on March 21, 2012 at 10:15am

Hello, My name is Catrina, but pretty much everyone calls me Kitty. Here is the blurb for my current WIP. I'd love to hear what you think about it and how I might improve it.

After losing her father in the line of duty, the last thing seventeen year old Kaitlin Sinclair wants to do is fly halfway around the world to live with an uncle she's never met. She certainly doesn't want to get to know the locals… That is until she's enchanted by some of the legends about the natives. Armed with her camera she heads into the jungle and makes a startling discovery the could put both her heart and her life in peril.

Cadmon Quinn is a Borneo shifter, charged with the task of keeping his people safe from the local hostiles who have been uncooperative in the meetings to try and establish peace. To say he's unhappy when he discovers one traipsing about his people's land is an understatement. Too bad no one warned him she would prove to be more of a challenge than he'd expected. One that could jeopardize his people's existence and his heart.

Permalink Reply by Jeannine Bergers Everett on March 21, 2012 at 3:05pm

Hi,

I'm deep in the editing trenches of my first novel.

When Jess McLaine finds “I Love You” doodled in the dust of her boyfriend’s television, having left her Wall Street job to return to Chicago and salvage their relationship looks like a monumentally huge mistake. Jess has the opportunity to start her career over again with everything she needs—a newly minted MBA, her hard-to-please family's support, and a new boyfriend with all the right connections--but the reappearance of a childhood friend with a singular personal code, and a great aunt who is one part salt, two parts pepper make her question if she’s lying to herself while she’s lying to everyone else.

I've gotten great feedback from test readers, but struggling to make the pitch sound unique enough to pique interest.

Permalink Reply by Melanie Conklin on March 21, 2012 at 5:22pm

Hiya!

I found it very helpful to ask myself: what is the central conflict my character is facing? What are her choices regarding the conflict? And what are the consequences of those choices? Even if a million zillion things are happening to your character throughout the book, there's one central conflict or theme that's uniting it . . . pushing the story forward. For contemporaries, this might be a personal lesson or revelation of some sort. Try to build towards that to give gravitas rather than listing plot points -- all plot points kind of sound the same.

Best of luck!

Melanie

www.melanieconklin.com

Permalink Reply by Jeannine Bergers Everett on March 22, 2012 at 4:04am

Thanks Melanie, that's really good perspective.  It's so easy to get lost in the details and forget the most important aspect of the story.  I do struggle with a generic premise - the people that love you want the world for you but you want to live on Mars. 

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Hart on March 22, 2012 at 4:45pm

Hi there ladies!  I'm new, but love reading all the comments and posts here.  I'm currently working on my first novel and am co-writing with a close friend.  It's supernatural thriller, that would be upper age YA (probably).  There's a romance, but mostly it's about a boy and his family who survive by feeding off the emotions of others and what happens when someone who is already entertaining fantasies of murder is drained of the feelings that make them human.   There's a million other little details that flesh it out, but I'm trying to tell you without rewriting the book here, it's hard though since I want to add in he's a decent guy and the girl he's in love with is not like him and his family isn't so nice....See, I could go on and on.

It's set in the Pacific Northwest and we are completely without a title at this point (Underneath Your Skin is the working one), but character names have fallen into place.

My main problem at the moment is that writing has always come easy for me, now at 40 when I'm really trying to write, I'm worried that I lost it somehow and will totally suck. :)

Anyway..Hi there!  You are all amazing and give me hope.

Permalink Reply by Autumn on March 22, 2012 at 4:54pm

Your novel sounds very intriguing - I want to know more! :)

It sounds like you are getting in your own way as far as the actual writing is concerned ~ what jumped out for me was the statement: "now when I'm really trying to write" ~ your head has taken over (*raises hand* I'm part of that club too believe me and have the same fears you mentioned) ~ you need to get back to what you loved about writing, to sitting down and letting it flow out of you - not wondering about who will read it or what they'll say but just to enjoy your characters and where they take you.  I think once you get out of your own way you'll discover why you're still doing this - it is a part of you! (and yes I realize I should attend my own lecture. lol!)

Good luck, Jennifer, keep us posted! :D 

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on March 22, 2012 at 4:57pm

Hi, Jennifer!  Welcome!

And I agree with Autumn.  The story sounds really interesting already, and sometimes, we let our heads get in the way of our best writing.  I'm a chronic over thinker, so I know how that is.  :)

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Hart on March 22, 2012 at 5:45pm

Autumn and Regina - Thank you so much for saying that (and saying that you do it too so I don't feel like a nut).  Over thinking things is my biggest big bad!  I'm going along smooth and fun and then start worrying that no one will ever read it or that it will be horrible or that I'm old and should not write 20 somethings. lol  I'm going to try just taking a breath and letting it flow like I always did, because you are so right.  This is what I love to do, it's not a chore, it's life.

Thank you for saying the idea is interesting too! :) I'm excited about it.

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on March 22, 2012 at 6:01pm

Looking forward to hearing more about it, and your process.  This is a great place to share thoughts and get support.  I'm excited for you.  Keep at it.  :)

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