To Double Space or Not To Double Space. That is the Question.

It would appear I am not as hip as I would like to believe.  To be fair, I don’t even believe myself to be terribly hip at all.  To not even be that hip is a major blow.  Perhaps using the word ‘hip’ at all should have told me that already.

I had submitted a portion of a manuscript to an editor for review.  Elizabeth marked it up, returned it, and I read it.  One particular note had caught my eye – “Remove the extra space after the periods.”  I eyeballed the pages but couldn’t find more than two after any given period, so I wasn’t certain what she had meant.  After a follow up, I learned that two spaces after a period is considered passé.

As I prepared to type this, I asked a friend their thoughts.  I had assumed they would have said ‘two’ and I wanted some corroborating evidence I wasn’t the only one still using this practice.  I was incorrect. 

Boyd:  “How many spaces should you put after a period?”

Friend:  “One.”

Boyd:  “What!?!  Why one?”

Friend:  “Why would you put more?”

Boyd:  “I was taught TWO.  I’ve always used TWO!  I’ve used TWO since I would get papers marked incorrectly in typing class!!!”

Friend:  “Typing class?  What is this – the 60’s?”

What made me even angrier was he was alive in the 60’s and he knew to only use one period.  I was born over a decade later and I wasn’t in the know.

It would seem that this is not a new rule.  A quick Google search shows there has been an extensive dialogue on this for a number of years.  The earliest webpage I could find was 2011, but I’m certain this has been a discussion for far longer.

How on Earth did I miss this?

I feel as though there should have been some sort of announcement made.  On any given day, I’m made to suffer the latest hairstyle of the Kardashian de jour in a news feed, but a monumental shift in a rule of grammar?  Nothing.

When did this lot become more important than grammar...?

I can see the argument for the change.  Back in the days of the typewriter, each character typed used the 

same amount of horizontal spacing (fancy word for ‘width’) no matter the need.  A good example would be the lower case ‘w’ vs. the lower case ‘l’ – clearly one is wider, but on a typewriter they would take up the same amount of spacing.  Since all the spacing was equal, it could be difficult to tell when one sentence ended and another started.  The extra space after the period made it clear.

The old monospace type from a typewriter on top.  The more modern proportional type on the bottom.

Fast forward to the age of word processers where the traditional monospace type was replaced with proportional.  Meaning?  Proportional sets the spacing based on the actual size of the letter.  Here’s a random assortment of letters to demonstrate:  wlmi1qvbzx.  The lower case ‘l’ between the ‘w’ and the ‘m’ 

clearly takes up less space.

The first computer I ever used - the Radio Shack TRS Model 80 Version 3.

Learning this is difficult to mentally process.  The double space after the period has been ingrained in my head for decades.  It’s like suddenly waking up and having everyone tell you that the sky is green, apples are orange, or that Donald Trump is President of the United States.

For the moment, I’m refusing to embrace the single spacing thing.  I was taught two spaces, I’ve always used two spaces, and damn this new-fangled way of thinking.  Until next week, I’ll be on my front porch yelling at the neighborhood children to get off my lawn.

Bringing Opening Lines to a Close

It’s as if the groundhog saw his shadow and we have six more weeks of opening lines.  Okay…okay…not six more weeks, just one.  Since this has become Opening Lines:  The Trilogy, let’s press on as we bring this topic to a close. 

“When the Spook arrived, the light was already beginning to fail.” – The Last Apprentice:  Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney.

Why it doesn’t work for me?  I’m curious about who – or what – the Spook is.  It’s nearing nightfall.  Outside of that, it doesn’t give a lot away and isn’t terribly enticing.  Here’s the thing – this book is the first in a series of no less than fifteen books.  I’ve read every last one!  I offer this up as an example that while first lines are important, they are just that – first lines.  There are still 80,000 or so other words in most books for the reader to ultimately decide.  So why did I continue one?  It may have been the clever little marketing trick on the back cover…

Naturally, I read it after dark.  ESPECIALLY page 140.

“Lady Farley-Stoud set her cup and saucer down with a clatter.  The occasional table beside the armchair in our drawing room wobbled precariously under the impact.” – Christmas at the Grange by T.E. Kinsey.

Why this doesn’t work for me?  Hmmm…this one is tough.  It’s not so much the words as the tone.  The “Lady”, “occasional table”, and “drawing room” all implied something…stuffy?  It didn’t appeal to my senses as being fun.  It reminded me of being in my Great Aunt’s house as a child.  Staring into the room where you were never to step foot.  And if by chance you were allowed to venture in, you certainly didn’t touch anything.  Opening lines convey information, tone, and voice.  If this is a period piece set in England, someone would most likely be in love at first sight.  Not being a Downtown Abbey fan, I closed it up and moved on.

“The tired old carriage, pulled by two tired old horses, rumbled onto the wharf, its creaky wheels bumpety-bumping on the uneven planks, waking Peter from his restless slumber.  The carriage interior, hot and stuffy, smelled of five smallish boys and one largish man, none of whom was keen on bathing.” – Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.

Why it works for me?  Talk about painting a picture!  They’ve engaged all five senses in these two sentences.  The tail end of the second line – on not bathing – tosses in a little bit of the tone that is to come.  It’s as if you’ve slipped on those virtual reality googles and stepped into their world.  This passage ticks off all the points of a strong opening.  If you haven’t read the series, I highly recommend it!    

The illustrations in the book were done by Greg Call.  They are simple yet full of incredible detailing.

“Toni Diamond heard the ping signaling a text message.  As though the signal had an echo, her daughter Tiffany received a text at the same time.” – A Diamond Choker for Christmas by Nancy Warren.

Why it doesn’t work for me?  Read the opening before this one – from Peter and the Starcatchers.  Then read this one again.  Night and day, my friend.  Let’s break it down.  We have Toni and Tiffany getting texts at – gasp! – the same time.  Where are they?  Time of day? So many more engaging details could have been slipped in.  Even something about the text itself to build suspense.  There was nothing here enticing me to continue on.

“Elisabeth Strenger peeled three boiled eggs under running water, dropped them into a chipped Blue Willow china bowl, and began to mash them with a fork.  She took a quick puff on her cigarette, blew smoke out through the back window, and tapped ashes into the drain.” – You’ll Never Know, Dear by Hallie Ephron.

Why it works for me?  I know she’s in a kitchen.  The chipped Blue Willow china bowl allows you to see something very specific.  Granted, I didn’t know the Blue Willow brand.  In my head I was seeing Corning’s Blue Cornflower.

Not what the author was referring to, but she invoked an image.

The speed of the puff and where she blew the smoke imply that perhaps she wasn’t supposed to be smoking in the house.  Or was sneaking a quick cigarette.  That she tapped the ashes into the sink drain supports that.  Otherwise she may have had an ashtray nearby.  Again, you have strong imagery here.  Look back at our previous example and then to this one.  Two sentences each, but the two from Hallie Ephron give you a far greater bang for the buck.

And just like that, we’ve wrapped up our three week discussion on opening lines.  I’d love to know your thoughts.  If you agree, disagree, or have some examples of good and bad opening lines you’d like to share.

See you next week!

AP Wordology: Dissection

I feel as though we should slip into one of those heavy, latex aprons we wore in biology class.  Ick…I can still smell the formaldehyde.  Last week, we tossed out some opening lines.  This week, we’ll start to dissect them to see what work and what does not.

As it was with the unfortunate frogs in class, there was no better way to start than simply diving in…

“No one could have foretold how it was going to end.  Not even the murderer.” -  Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan.

I was in Barnes and Noble randomly eyeballing books when I stumbled upon this one.  I LOVED it.  I wasn’t planning on purchasing any that particular day, but once I read that opening line the book never returned to the shelf.  As I recall, I actually raced about the store looking for Cliff so I could read it to him.  I half suspect I looked like a contestant on The Price is Right who was just summoned to contestant’s row.

What makes it work?  While not providing a great deal of specific details, it plays upon your curiosity.  Had it simply read “No one could have foretold how it was going to end.” and stopped there, it wouldn’t work.  It would simply sound like a line the late Don LaFontaine would fire off during a trailer for the latest summer blockbuster.  It’s the little jewel tacked on to the end where the magic happens – “Not even the murderer.”  Ooo…suddenly it’s kicked up a notch.  Clearly this isn’t a cut and dry murder.  SOMETHING goes awry.  You have to read on to find out what that something is.

“Our troubles began in the summer of 1914, the year I turned thirty-five.” – Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart.

What makes it work?  You instantly get a year action takes place and age for narrator right out of the gate.  You know it involves others from the “Our” and continuous action from “troubles” – plural.  We also know that it was summertime.  Amy is able to convey a great deal of information in a single sentence.  As you continue on, the seeds planted in the opening line blossom.  An excellent way to kick off an adventure!

“It was five o’clock on a winter’s morning in Syria.” – Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.

Why it doesn’t work for me?  First of all, let me say that I know this is Agatha Christie.  She’s only been outsold by The Bible and William Shakespeare so she clearly she knows how to write.  I want to enjoy her work.  I feel as though I should enjoy her work.  Yet, sadly, I’m put off by the pacing.  I recall being at book club one evening and hearing an audible gasp from those around the table at the mention of not enjoying Christie. 

Hear me out.  From the line, I see it is 5:00.  It’s winter.  And we’re in Syria.  I’m not feeling any pull or intrigue to continue.  I realize the vagueness of the line could lead to any number of possibilities, but this one truly left me lacking.  It’s a slow open to me – which leads to my larger challenge in reading her work – the pace.  Perhaps back when readers didn’t have a million television channels and the internet to choose from, a lovely – and slow burning – read was just what the doctor ordered.  Like the opening line, I often find her stories taking the long way around.  I’d be curious for your thoughts and feedback on this one.

“There was going to be a funeral.” – The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz.

What makes it work?  It’s an ambiguous first line.  Is there going to be a funeral in the sense of someone has already died and a funeral has been planned.  Or something more…sinister.  Perhaps no one has died yet, but a funeral is certainly on deck for someone.  This certainly doesn’t pack the detail that some of the others we’ve reviewed has, but with a line that can have multiple meanings, it gives it a far greater depth than may appear.

“It was nearing midnight when one of the new lampposts on Auburn Avenue achieved the unfortunate fate of being the first to be hit by a car.” – Dark Town by Thomas Mullen.

What makes it work?  Well, a car accident is always a way to capture interest.  Think of the times you’ve been held up in traffic because of folks rubber necking as they slowly pass by a scene.  

Beyond that, we know it’s midnight.  It’s fairly safe to say this wasn’t someone returning home from buying eggs and milk at the grocery store at that hour.  We’re not on a nameless street somewhere – we’re on Auburn Avenue.  It may not conjure up a strong image, but using the proper name of the street helps to anchor it.  Along the same lines of “he was eating ice cream” vs. “he was eating pistachio ice cream” – that one extra word helps you see it a bit more clearly and make a more personal connection.

We are halfway through the list, readers!  Let's take some time to digest what we've covered so far and we'll reconvene next Monday as we bring this topic to a close.

Tell Me Lines, Tell Me Sweet Little Lines

First impressions matter.  It may be a date, a job interview, or that moment a police officer walks up to your car after pulling you over.

It certainly translates over to the opening line of any story.  Back in the day, it was primarily a device to hook the reader into continuing on through the book.  Now, that opening line still holds that same requirement, but it also competes with the internet, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Netflix, and a myriad of other distractions ready tear a reader away from the pages.  Your opening is more important than ever before.

Admittedly, even while I wrote this update I mentally wandered away for a few minutes to watch a movie trailer.  

I’m cautiously optimistic about “Game Night.”

This week, we’re going to split the topic into two parts – and it has homework!  I haphazardly removed several books from my bookshelf in the den and have listed their opening lines down below.  There may be a slight breach of protocol by not citing the work or the author, but we’re looking for blind first impressions.  Next week, I will certainly list the source material as we dive deeper into each example.

They are not in any order, they are not from the same genre, and they are not all best sellers.  Read each one as if you had simply picked up a copy of the book at a bookstore and were deciding on whether or not you’d find it intriguing enough to purchase – based entirely on the opening line.

Dim the lights, here we go…

“No one could have foretold how it was going to end.  Not even the murderer.”

“During the night, frost had come and used the windowpanes to sketch its fantasies.”

“Our troubles began in the summer of 1914, the year I turned thirty-five.”

“It was five o’clock on a winter’s morning in Syria.”

“There was going to be a funeral.”

“It was nearing midnight when one of the new lampposts on Auburn Avenue achieved the unfortunate fate of being the first to be hit by a car.”

“When the Spook arrived, the light was already beginning to fail.”

“Lady Farley-Stoud set her cup and saucer down with a clatter.  The occasional table beside the armchair in our drawing room wobbled precariously under the impact.”

The following three examples aren’t the very first line.  I included them on the list as they contain two sentences that make up a short opening paragraph…

“The tired old carriage, pulled by two tired old horses, rumbled onto the wharf, its creaky wheels bumpety-bumping on the uneven planks, waking Peter from his restless slumber.  The carriage interior, hot and stuffy, smelled of five smallish boys and one largish man, none of whom was keen on bathing.”

“Toni Diamond heard the ping signaling a text message.  As though the signal had an echo, her daughter Tiffany received a text at the same time.”

“Elisabeth Strenger peeled three boiled eggs under running water, dropped them into a chipped Blue Willow china bowl, and began to mash them with a fork.  She took a quick puff on her cigarette, blew smoke out through the back window, and tapped ashes into the drain.”

If you’ve read them, read them again.  Not one after another after another – it will start to sound like a record skipping through a song.  Let each one sit with you for a few moments.

When we convene next week, we’ll talk more about those incredibly important first impressions, what tone and images they evoke, and most importantly why - or why you wouldn’t - keep reading.

A Lot of Noise About Being Quiet

There was a bit of brouhaha at a local library this past week.  Large enough to make the news and larger still to spark a debate on a review of the official library policies.

A gentlemen had become rather upset with those around him.  They were making more noise than he felt was permitted and let them know as much.  One group apologized, but the other asked where it stated they couldn’t talk.  The gentlemen pointed to a sign that read “No Mobile Phones Allowed” but as they weren’t on their phones, they said it didn’t apply and he was incorrect.  Things were getting rather heated when he left the area and decided to check with the main desk.

As it turns out, there was no longer an expectation of silence – at least, not here.  The librarian went on to explain that at an academic library (college, university) that the expectation still existed.  Where a public library no longer held that same standard.

In my book The Stockings Were Hung, even I reference what I thought to be the universal policy of near silence… 

“We were trying to be as quiet as possible.  There was no one around, but a charnel house is one of those places you whisper.  Like a library.  Or behind someone’s back.”

A charnel house is a place they store bodies or bones.  In colder climates, this is where a body would be housed during the winter.  After the spring thaw, it would be removed for burial.

Have the rules changed?

The argument at the library sparked a slew of comments on social media.  Some would go to their graves believing there should be no talking, where others felt that libraries have morphed over the years and conversation was more acceptable.  Once upon a time, if you needed to do extensive research, you had to trek to the library.  For me, that was normally for high school or college papers of some sort.  I certainly appreciated the silence during those times as it made it easier to get the work done.  But…back in those days, the library was the about the only place you could go to get that information.  Now, I can research material for a book while sipping wine on the back deck.

I remember walking up the steps of the Phillips Free Library in Homer, New York when I was child.  The building was large and cold looking, the wooden front doors incredibly heavy, and when you stepped inside you would face Ms. Baldwin.  For the record, I can say I have no idea if she was a nice woman or not – the only place I ever saw her was the library and since you weren’t allowed to speak I couldn’t exactly ask her how her weekend had been.  Her hair was always pulled back tight, she wore a wool blazer and matching wool dress that went down to her ankles, and – quite honestly - she frightened the hell out of me.

Phillips Free Library in Homer, New York.

Back to the library, itself.  It was a place you simply didn’t speak.  It was almost a sacred tomb filled with books and assorted research materials.  Dimly lit with the same sort of atmosphere as a funeral home.  Today, when I visit the library across the street from Hearst Tower, there are computer rooms, labs, teaching centers, social networking areas.  Heck…the book club I belong to meets there each month and there are always lively (and sometimes loud) conversations on the current selection.

The main library in Uptown Charlotte.

The vibe has completely changed.  No longer dark and brooding, they are lively and inviting.  They almost seem to spark conversation.

What do you think…?  Has the no (or low) talking rule outdated?  Does it only apply to particular libraries?

Speaking of potentially outdated things…

In the midst of typing this update today, a vehicle slowly drive past the front of the house.  He tossed what I thought was a bag of trash out the window and into the front yard.  I made my way outside.  I then spotted him throwing items into everyone’s yard.  Turns out, it wasn’t trash - but phone books.  So in a way, I was correct.  The book made its way from the front yard and straight into the recycling bin.

Free to Read You and Me

Everyone will tell you that you should be well read in your genre.  There’s no better way to learn what works - and what doesn’t - by those who have ventured first.  I make it a point to read everything from best sellers to the books lurking in the bargain bin (I’ve found some gems there!)  Sometimes, I feel the lack of success a book may experience may be more related to poor marketing than poor writing.

Just as important?  Reading outside of your genre.  Let’s face it - sticking with what you know and what you like is…comfortable.  But great writing isn’t confined to your favorite genre and there is much to be learned - and incorporate into your own work - within the pages outside your normal reading list.

Towards the latter half of 2017, I discovered a perk with Amazon Prime that I didn’t even realize I had called Amazon First Reads.  It entitles you to one FREE Kindle book at the start of each month.  Don’t have the Kindle proper?  Not to worry – if you have the Kindle app on your smartphone, it can be delivered there.

At first, I wasn’t terribly impressed.  As I mentioned in the past, I tend to gravitate towards hardcover books so eBooks were not on my radar.  Besides – I have so many titles on my reading list at the moment, I’m not entirely certain I’ll even get through them before I die.  Side note:  one of the books on that list is “Girl Waits With Gun” by Amy Stewart.  It was released in 2015, but after reading the first few pages, I was hooked.

The dust jacket hooked me, as well!  It has a vintage newspaper look and feel to it.

In October, I gave First Reads a second look.  They offer up several different genres from mystery to thriller.  Contemporary to literary fiction.  My first instinct was to grab a mystery book, but then I had a thought - what an extraordinary opportunity to get some research material outside of my genre.  I know myself enough to know I wouldn’t go out of my way to purchase a book in the literary fiction genre, but a freebie?  Count me in!

It has been an enlightening experience.   As I said above and in a previous post on poetry, there is plenty to learn – and incorporate into your own writing – to be found outside your standard go to genre.  Amazon First Reads gives you FREE opportunity to do it.

The best part?  No excess books hanging about the house!  Since these are for research, they can hang out on my phone taking up relatively minimal space.  This allows you to reserve space on your shelves for the books you truly treasure.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, be certain to check it out!

Tarot Into the New Year

I’m writing from the living room this evening, while under the cover and comfort of an electric throw.  The temperature in Charlotte didn’t break thirty degrees today and the forecast low overnight is fifteen. 

I realize there are places far colder than what we’re experiencing here.  However, in the six and a half years I have been here, this is the longest stretch of cold weather I have seen.  As a writer of Christmas mysteries, I'm enjoying every minute!

I did manage to get out for a quick run today.  It was only two and a half miles, but I needed a holiday detox and the run fit the bill.  Speaking of detox, at work tomorrow, the kitchen will be overflowing with junk food of every sort imaginable.  The arrival of the new year brings resolutions of healthy eating.  People will be unloading boxes of chocolates, bags of candy, containers of cookies…in short, any sort of high caloric temptation that isn’t nailed down at home will land in the kitchen.  It will look like offerings to the God of Junk Food.  The only thing missing will be druids waving curved knifes and bits of mistletoe as they prepare the sacrificial virgin.

The freezer will be an impenetrable wall of Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice boxes.  Here’s a shot from last year…

Meanwhile, here at the house, we’re in that awkward in-between stage.  Christmas is over, the decorations are coming down, and boxes & storage containers form an obstacle course worthy of American Ninja Warrior.

I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks.  As the last vestiges of 2017 are packed away and schedules return to normal.  For now, I’ll be snuggled under the throw doing some quiet reflection on the year that has passed and the one we have entered.  From my vantage point on the sofa, I can see one of the Christmas trees we had in the dining room.  In place of ornaments, tarot cards hang from the branches.

I invited a bit of history in “The Stockings Were Hung.”  The characters would gather round the tree and select seven cards.  The meaning of the cards were meant to foretell the events of the upcoming year for them.  I wrote that it was a tradition dating back to the 1700’s.  In reality, nothing like that was ever done, but I thought the creepy images of the cards against the wholesome backdrop of a Christmas tree was marvelous contrast.  I used the Sherlock Holmes deck of tarot cards on my tree, because...well...mysteries.

Still…could there really be something to it?  Perhaps I’ll select seven cards for myself this evening…

Bonfire of the Vanity Plates

While I was pumping gas late on Friday night, a man in the car behind me got out and walked over. 

“So…you write books?”

My license plate is a dead giveaway.

Self-explanatory

“I do.” I said.  Not entirely certain where this was headed.  Over the years, the plate has been an introduction to a wealth of fascinating people at red lights and in parking lots.  It has also brought along a fair share of characters rivaling anything I have ever created in any story.

“How’s that paying off for you?  Can’t be well if you’re pumping your own gas.”

Before I could I respond, the passenger side door of his car opened and teenage boy appeared.

“My son thinks he wants to be a writer,” using his head to point back towards him.  “Poetry.” 

While I don’t talk a great deal around people I’m not familiar with, I have gotten quite versed at reading situations.  It was clear the father wasn’t a fan of his son being writer and even less of it being a writer of poetry.  I suddenly felt as though I was being used as an example.  As if being a writer and pumping my own gas was meant to dissuade his son from following his passion.

"You're a writer!  Confess!  Confess!!!"

I wanted to point out he was also filling his own tank.  Sadly, my response is often tempered by fears of someone killing me – perhaps even fatally!

I encouraged the son to stick with it.  As I had mentioned in a previous post, I’m envious of those who are able to convey so much imagery in so few lines.  From that brief encounter, I’m certain he has plenty of material at home to work with.  #teenangst

It's Hard to Network in the Corner

The annual Writer’s Digest Conference kicks off on Thursday in New York City.  I’m reaching for my fidget cube as I type that.

I love my fidget cube!

As a writer, you spend a great deal of time alone.  Alone inside your own head, alone with your keyboard or notebook, sometimes alone even in a room full of people.  By nature, many of us are introverts.  As if rushing about getting everything ready for the conference isn’t stressful enough, the mere thought of attending the conference can be physically exhausting.  For someone who finds social situations challenging, they can be quite a drain.

What it feels like as I get ready.

I have no issue walking into a large conference room, sitting down, and listening to the presenters.  I’m excited to see Donald Maass, Jane K. Cleland, and Paula Munier.  They are some of the best in the business.  It’s the surrounding elements I’m not fond of.  The small talk with other attendees before each session begins.  Having to share my own thoughts or ideas with the group.  And cue the high school flashbacks as I spend my lunch hour alone while it feels like everyone else instantly bonded and became fast friends.

I loved high school *so* much, I didn't return for twenty-five years.  And made certain it was closed when I went.

Old Homer High

It’s certainly not the people themselves that make it unenjoyable - it’s me.  I’m not good at small talk.  A co-worker actually offered to make me index cards with questions and appropriate responses.  On any given day, if someone asks me how I’m doing, I would say “good” and move on.  Apparently, that should be followed up with “How are you doing?”  Normally, I wouldn’t ask.  They asked me a question, I answered.  Exchange complete.

It reminded me of Romana and K9 in an episode of Doctor Who.  She asks a question, K9 asks for clarification, she gives him an instruction, and he takes it…literally.  I imagine I’m mentally wired in the same way.

You can watch the clip here.

Why am I am prattling on about all of this?  Maybe you’re headed to this conference, or a conference, or to a birthday party where you’ll know exactly no people.  Know that you aren’t alone in your anxiety and do all you can to push through it.  

I can count on one hand the other attendees I spoke with at the conference last year.  Of those, I keep in contact with one.  She is an awesome one to keep in contact with, by the way.  BUT…a huge part of these conferences is to network and meet other writers.  Sadly, that is something I missed out on last year because I let my anxiety get the best of me.  Don't let the same happen to you!  Remember - you've paid for the conference, so get your moneys worth!  The sessions and pitching are important, but don't neglect the networking.  It has the potential to open unlimited doors for you.

My goal this year to meet as many people as possible and to step out of the shadows.  I’ll do a running recap of each conference day here to let you know how it’s going.  If you are reading this and see me there, be certain to say hello!  I’d love to add you to my tally and my contacts.

I’m feeling intrepid at the moment.  Hopefully it will last upon my arrival and I won’t myself lurking in the corner like Mike in the Blair Witch Project.

Hopefully this will NOT be me again this year.

How do you overcome your social anxiety?  Will you be attending the Writer’s Digest Conference this year?  Let me know in the comments section below.

Ready for the First Pitch

We may be in the midst of baseball season, but there will be no peanuts, popcorn, or Cracker Jacks in this update. 

MMMmmm...Cracker Jacks!

While many are looking forward to a summer afternoon at the ball park, there’s only one pitch writers from around the world are interested in — the one they’ll be making as they venture to New York City for the annual Writer's Digest Conference.

The Annual Writer's Digest Conference

Aside from sessions geared towards learning the craft and opportunities to network with other authors, the conference provides you an opportunity to participate in something they call a Pitch Slam.  If you aren’t familiar with the term, it’s basically speed dating for authors and agents.

Will you find the agent of your dreams?

I won’t be covering the architecture of the actual pitch today.  There are several hundred books, blogs, and webinars to guide you through creating the magical blend of words to interest an agent.  I want to talk about the experience itself.  If you haven’t been through it, it can feel incredibly overwhelming.  As a primer, here’s the CliffsNotes version of what you can expect…

The layout.  It's normally held in a large conference room with tables lining the outside walls.  Sometimes agents will be sitting in alphabetical order sometimes not.  You will be given a map of the room with the positions of the agents in advance of the pitching session.  Review the map and know where you want to go!  Don’t waste your valuable time in the session attempting to locate agents.  You want to be pitching! Not wandering about as if you were looking for Waldo.

Study the map!  Don't waste valuable time looking for Waldo.

A line will form a good hour before the session.  As intimidating as the line will feel, don’t panic!  The sessions at WDC run incredibly smooth.  Once the door opens, it is NOT a Black Friday-ish stampede.  I normally get into line about thirty minutes before it kicks off.  It allows me some last minute mental prep.  

When the doors open, it will NOT be anything like this.

People will file in and fan out to assorted agents.  Again — know who you want to talk to and where they are in the room!  If one of your choices is two deep with authors, scan the room.  Because you’ve studied the layout you’ll be able to spot your other choices.  If they are alone or have no line, it may make sense to move.

Do.  Not.  Be.  A.  Robot.  When you reach the agent, shake hands and introduce yourself.  I always ask them how they are doing and how I appreciate them taking the time to be there.  Then slide into your pitch.  “Thank you so much for taking the time to be here.  I wanted to speak with you about my novel – The Stockings Were Hung.  An 85,000 word mystery…” 

Don't be a robot!  Be YOU.

Do not sit down and simply rattle off your pitch.  Starting off in a more conversational tone brings their attention in and allows you to make that personal connection.

THE ADVANTAGES.

Advance to Go.  In the traditional search for an agent, you follow guidelines posted on their website.  You send off your query and hope for the best.  Imagine the submissions a quality agent receives on a daily basis.  It is incredibly difficult to stand out from the pack.  During the Pitch Slam, you have live face time and are able to make a personal connection.  

If they request more information and materials, it gets you to the top of what’s known as the slush pile (that stack of daily submissions they receive).  The agent may give you an identifying number or ask you to include something along the lines of “WDC17 Pitch Slam” in the subject line of your E-mail submission.  That’s basically an express pass to the top of the stack! 

Practice makes perfect.  If this is your first time pitching, pitch your heart out!  If you stumble over your words, that’s okay!  Agents know you’re going to be nervous.  Some authors will enter the room and immediately head to their 1^st choice.  I highly recommend against doing that – especially if you haven’t pitched before.  Start with your 3^rd choice.  It will allow you to get the ‘first pitch jitters’ out of the way and make talking with your 1^st and 2nd choices considerably smoother.

Feedback.  Even if you do not get a single request to send along anything further, you will have experienced the process first hand.  Pay attention to any feedback the agent has to offer while chatting.  THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY AGENTS ON THE PLANET.  Receive their words with an open mind and you’ll be better off on your next pitching event or query submission.

THE DANGERS.  

The first pitch.  It can be a great relief or throw you off your entire game.  Imagine the pressure of practicing, waiting in that line, and walking up to meet the first agent you’ve ever pitched to — only to have them respond with a thanks, but no thanks.  Now you have to walk away from the table, the hour clock still ticking down, and immediately move on to your next selection.  All the while second guessing everything contained within your pitch, your work, and yourself.  

Rejection happens!  You have to be open to positive and negative experiences.  If you’ve followed my blog, you know that negative doesn’t mean bad.  It may not be the outcome you hoped for, but is certainly an invaluable learning experience.  If you get a rejection out of the gate, file it away.  Move on to the next agent as if you were starting over again.  And the next agent.  And the next agent.  You don’t need them all to say yes - you need the right one to say yes!

Rejection in general.  I once witnessed a gentlemen at the conference having a considerable breakdown after a rejection.  He was shaking, sobbing (quite loudly), and muttering to himself.  Another attendee took time she could have been pitching to console him and give him a pep talk.  I admired her for doing so.  

His response wasn’t all the different than one you’d see on any given television reality talent competition.  Think of the pitch as an audition where you have previous few moments to impress the judges.  How many singers or dancers have you seen leave the audition room in tears?  In this case, it can be even harder on a writer.  It isn’t one and done – that was simply one pitch of half a dozen or more you’ll go through over the sixty minute session.  

You have to be able to walk it off on the way to your next agent.  Pretend it’s a dry erase board.  Wipe it away and be ready to go as the next three minutes kicks in.  Repeat if needed.

It’s not you, it’s your…pitch?  Getting handed a rejection may not be a representation of your work, but your pitch.  You may have the most fantastic book ever written, but if your pitch isn’t strong it may never see the light of day.  Hone, hear, and harmonize.  Hone that pitch before heading to Pitch Slam.  Hear how the agents are responding.  What component isn’t appealing to them?  Harmonize that with what they are looking for on your next opportunity.  If you’re fast on your feet, you may be able to tweak as you go from agent to agent.

Once the hour is complete, allow yourself some time to decompress.  It can be mentally taxing — especially for so many writers who are natural introverts.  Chat with other writers.  Review any notes you may have taken.  In the end, this is a mere sixty minutes of your very long writing career.

Ready for that first pitch?  Want to share your pitching experiences?  Let me know in the comments section down below.

Cataloging Christmas in July

Christmas in July wraps up today!  What makes that slightly more bearable was the cool (relatively speaking) temperature this morning.  The two week run of heat and humidity broke over the weekend and gave way to a lovely sixty-one degree morning.  It reminded me of summer break back in central New York.  A morning where I would step outside with a full day of vacation fun on tap instead of leaving the house for work.  Oh, adulting.

The view from the office.

Several times over the course of the month I was accused of rushing the holiday season.  I prefer to say I’m being prepared, but I do see their point.  However…I’m certainly not the only one who has thoughts of Christmas during the summer.  Back in the day the annual holiday catalogs – a la the Sears Wishbook and JC Penney Christmas catalog - would arrive in the stores or your mailbox in mid to late August.

The 1974 JC Penney Christmas Catalog.  Oddly enough, the little blond hair kid looks like me as a child.

I will forever blame JC Penney for my early holiday obsession.  Growing up, the family never really shopped at Sears, so the Penney Christmas Catalog was my go to.  Summer vacation would be winding down – this was back when I enjoyed summer - I would cross the street on a routine trip to the mailbox.  When opening the door I swear angles were singing as I reached inside to discover it had arrived.

How I felt finding the catalog in the mailbox.

I’d spend hours – if not days – scouring it from cover to cover in search of the perfect gifts.  Items would be circled, page corners bent, pictures cut out and pasted to construction paper in a sort of 'dream board' fashion.  Sadly, the tradition came to end for children everywhere as companies eventually ceased the printed publications.

For a bit of nostalgia, a gentlemen by the name of Jason Liebig actually maintains a website dedicated to Christmas catalogs!

The website where Jason catalogs the...uh...catalogs.

If you want to kill a few hours, check out the catalog from the year (or near the year) you were born.  For me, that was 1974.  I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the fashions from the time period.  Then I stopped as I realized someone could be looking at the 1996 (when I thought I dressed cool) catalog the same way I look at the ’74.  Suddenly, it wasn’t so funny.  Where does the time go…?

Maybe you have a particular fondness for a catalog you remember from your childhood.  For me, it was 1987.  That was the last year I truly went page by page marking what I wanted to find under the tree.  I purchased a copy from eBay.  It makes a unique conversation piece sitting on the coffee table during the holiday season.

The last catalog I scoured for toys.

How does any of this relate to writing?  For me, old catalogs make convenient one stop research guides.  I can see the latest fashions for a particular year.  Toys, housewares, electronics – all with their prices.

My novel, The Stockings Were Hung, is set in 1954.  Perhaps the main character is buying a jacket.  I can quickly see some styles and know that he paid about $13 for it. 

The latest fashions of 1954!

Does the story call for a pen?  Why not the Jet-o-Matic by Vectura.  $8.75 for the set or $5 for the pen only.

Not just any pen, the Jet-o-Matic!

Catalogs offer an often entertaining glimpse back in time and can give your story a boost of realism.  Instead of just a razor, your character reaches for his favorite Ronson razor.  The last gift he received from his wife before they divorced.

The Ronson razor.  A steal at $19.95!

Those subtly placed names or descriptions help you connect with readers.  It may be “Hey!  I remember that razor.  My grandfather had it!” or perhaps someone had it themselves.  It allows a deeper, more personal connection to what is occurring on the page.

Did you spend hours perusing the annual catalogs in search of the perfect gift?  Have you considered using an old catalog as a reference guide?  Let me know in the comments section down below.

Creative Catalysts

I spent the bulk of the weekend organizing the attic.  Well certainly not a life-altering event, it was at least 130 degrees up there.  If I didn’t already detest summer, this certainly would have solidified it.

Attic selfie.  Still smiling because heat stroke hadn't set in yet.

This has become an annual tradition.  The holiday’s end, I wait a bit longer than I should before taking the decorations down — which is a month long event — and by that point I’m so tired of seeing assorted Christmas trees, garland, and snowflakes that everything is hurled up into the attic in no particular order. 

This isn't even a quarter of the clutter.

Eventually, summer rolls about and I pop up to get everything in order before its November migration back downstairs.  Occasionally, I’m able to get the husband to assist.  Although, if given the choice, I’m certain this is the path Cliff would choose…

Cliff choosing the lesser of two evils.

Included in the attic organizing were the hundred or so St. Nicholas Square houses used in the village each year.

The 2016 village.

Oddly enough, those houses were the reason I found myself writing again after an incredibly long hiatus.

Each one usually has some sort of window.  If you peer inside, you can catch a glimpse of…something.  It could be an elderly woman knitting by a fireplace.  A family eating a meal at their dining room table.  A child gazing out the window.  It may even be an empty room.

Simple small talk at the market or something more sinister?

Where is everyone...?

I became fascinated by the views in an almost voyeuristic way.  Who were these people?  What was going on in their lives?  What if something sinister were taking place?

I sat down and started to write.  Originally, I planned to pen a simple short story to publish on my Facebook page.  Then I had a thought!  At the time, my house count was twenty-five.  What if I wrote a short story about each of the houses?  A single self-contained tale that would occur within each building, but all set in the same town.  I could post one story each day as a sort of literary advent calendar leading up to Christmas day.

It continued to grow from there. 

Even though I was aiming for a one-off on each building, I found myself continuing the action.  What transpired in the train station carried over to the hotel.  The events there leading to adventures in the library.  From there, the local pub.  It was no longer twenty-five short stories, but morphing into one long one.

And heck!  Since this entire project was going to be online, why not make it interactive?  Each day would end with a choice – a la the Choose Your Own Adventure book series.  

I purchased two new Choose Your Own Adventure books last week.

“Should Ian (the main character) continue looking for clues at the library or follow Ms. Cooper to her bakery?"  The reader comments would then dictate where the story went the next day. The response was incredibly positive.

Eventually, the entire venture blossomed into my first novel “The Stockings Were Hung.” 

"The Stockings Were Hung"

I’m always fascinated by the catalyst or creative spark that gets someone moving.  It can be something terribly traumatic like death or as simple as a ceramic Christmas house.

What inspired you to start writing or to pick it back up if you stopped?  Let me know in the comments section below.