Petty Worries

Normally I devote my space here to my writing thoughts, but in a way this is related as it relates to one of my all time favorite novels, Les Miserables. Anyone who knows me knows that I am crazy about the musical based on the book and may or may not know that I am almost equally enamored of two French language adaptions of the book (the epic 1950's film that I have been unable to find in the original french with subtitles, and the 2001 version with Gerard Depardieu). I can't stand the US versions that end with Javert's death. That is not the end of the story. The Liam Neesen version was brilliant up until it ended with half an hour of story left.

Anyway, that brings me to my current topic, the impending 2012 film of the musical. I'm a big fan of hollywood musicals, but I hate it when they needlessly mess with the flow of the story. With Les Miserables, we have nearly three hours of non-stop music and little chance to change things. But from a writing perspective, I find the casting interesting and brilliant. I have been pleased with nearly every casting choice. But that is not the case elsewhere.

Taylor Swift has been offered, and I understand that she accepted the role today, and fans of Les Miserable on Broadway are up in arms. She can't sing, they say. She doesn't have the look. I have always been sensitive to quality singing and am quite picky about who I like and don't like. There are a great many supposedly great singers that I can't stand the sound of. Sarah Brightman, at least in her solo career, can't seem to enunciate a single word rendering the songs an unintelligible mush. Yuck. Colm Wilkinson, the originator of Jean Valjean, seems to have developed and strange enunciating style, as has Leah Solanga. Love her work for Disney, but her Eponine in the 10th anniversary concert and her Fantine in the 25th anniversary concert really suck. I know she can act, but I can't hear it in her voice. I recently saw the touring production in Denver, Colorado, and all the cast members were excellent, though maybe their Cossette was a bit weak. I have quite a number of the cast recordings, in three languages, and I know it can be done well.

That brings me to miss Swift and her singing and acting ability and her ability to pull off this role. For one thing, that young woman has had the heartbreak that gives her the emotional foundation for the role of Epoinine. Second, she is a damned fine singer. I am listening to her last album as I write this. The complaints I have heard is that she doesn't have the right look, that she can't hit the notes for On My Own, that she is a country singer and not fit to do a Broadway musical, and I'm sure the list will continue to grow through the end of the year. But I have to say, seriously people, you have crap recordings that are lauded as great and you have a girl who can actually sing cast in a MOVIE version of a London stage production. Not Broadway, London. Big difference. But look at who she is cast with. Sasha Baron Cohen is playing her father and is a mere 4 inches taller than she is. Her love interest, Marius, is the same 5' 11" as she is. She is tall and thin and waifish. She also has a very similar voice to the woman who originated the role in London at the Barbican. I think she will make an excellent Eponine and I can't wait to see it.

So to bring this back to writing, as a writer, when I create a character I have an image of that character in my mind. I may or may not put down the description I have in mind, but that doesn't change what is in my mind. If I should be so lucky as to have one of my stories find its way to Hollywood to be filmed, I might have some general guidelines for the type of people who should be cast but I would never dream of putting the image before the quality of the performance. Considering the other actors cast in Les Misserables, the fit of Taylor Swift seems perfect. Yet some people have an image so ingrained in their heads of who should play the role that instead of just saying that they wanted to see some other person cast, they have to resort to calling her names. They obviously haven't listened to her songs. She has been dealing with that for years and is quite adept and defending herself.

Let the casting director do their job. Unless I am mistaken, this movie is being produced by the original producer of the musical. I have no doubt that the quality of singing and acting has been more important in their casting choices than star power. They wouldn't cast her if she couldn't do it. Everyone needs to give this cast lineup a chance. I, for one, will be planning for the best theater to go see it in and am already planning on purchasing the soundtrack and blu-ray when it comes out.

A Busy Year

2011 has been an eventful year, so much so that keeping up with this blog has been impossible.

One of the things that has kept me very busy has been writing. I have completed several short stories, edited 3 novels, and written two other novels. All in all a very profitable writing year. In particular, November was an incredible month. As a writer of speculative fiction, my manuscripts always exceed a hundred thousand words. I decided to participate in the National Novel Writing Month. Rather than stick the established goal of fifty thousand words, I decided to take the concept of writing a novel in a month and apply it to the epic fantasy genre. After much world building early in the year and writing the first volume of the series over the previous 4 months, I found I was ready. I have yet to read the result, but the rough draft topped out at just over a hundred and fifty thousand words. I have a policy of letting freshly finished manuscripts sit for at least a month or two before I look at them so I have no idea of the quality at this point.

A highlight of finishing that manuscript was that somewhere toward the end, I completed a million total words written. Well, I probably passed it a while I ago if I truly consider every bit of fiction I’ve ever written, but I’m just counting the items I’ve written with the intent to sell/publish. It was quite fun because the first thing I did after completing that manuscript was to go back to my first story, written in the early 90’s, and restore it to a format that is readable. I wrote with pen and paper back then and had a family member type it up. That was before I even owned a computer, something hard for those who know me now to imagine. It is good to be able to look back on something I wrote twenty years ago and still like it. It had some failures, but it was not a total loss. It is still fun to read.

My aims for writing have changed dramatically this year. At the beginning of the year I was continuing to try to seek a traditional agent/publisher to get my stories out there. But as I have looked at the type of stories I write and the market and what agents are looking for and how long it takes to submit to publishers, not to mention the many established writers who are turning from that old standard, I have decided that self-publishing, the modern way, is a much better fit. I won’t claim I am good enough to be the next Isaac Asimov or Terry Brooks, but from the feed back I’ve gotten, I’m no Ed Wood either. That first story was good enough to land me a screenwriting agent (and I can still see why) and I’ve only gotten better since then. Rather than continue to wait on someone to take a chance on me, I am going to take a chance on myself.

I have three novels and a short story collection ready for final proofing and publication so that is what will happen in the coming year. First the short story collection, which I think has its final title - Edge of Hyperspace. I’m working on what stories to include (I’m actually in the middle of writing one specifically for the collection) and editing them (for what seems like the tenth time in some cases) and sorting them into a cohesive unit. Once the editing is finished (with e-publishing is it ever really finished?), then it is time to format it, upload it, and make it live. It should prove to be an interesting adventure for 2012.

The business continues, but so too should the blogging. For 2012, I would like to return to writing something every month at a minimum.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

A Writer’s Dream

A real writer has dreams. I’m not talking about dreams of commercial success, fame, wealth, etc, though we have those too. No, the real dreams are to tell stories. A true writer is a reader and the stories we dream of creating are stories to match or rival those we grew up with.

Dreams are why we write. We have thoughts and imaginations and storylines flowing through our heads. We put them together in new ways and spin new stories, ever striving to create something that can live up to our dreams. Even if we actually do achieve something that others see as living up to what we are striving for, we have elevated our dreams higher that the works that inspired them.

Our dreams are on a pedestal and they are hard to match. What we need is a dose of realism when we look back at our writing. How many writers out there think they are not good enough. How many gems lie hidden in drawers or boxes, forgotten because the writer doesn’t think they stack up.

I was recently reminded of this when I stumbled upon a place where writers were encouraged to post their work. It was the hard work of obvious amateurs, but it was still their hard work, their attempt to reach the dream. But at the same time, I have seen writers ten times as talented who balk at letting people read their work. Sometimes that is because they have no support for their dreams. Sometimes it is just insecurity. Whatever the reason, all writers, of whatever level, should find other writers who will give them an honest opinion. The bad need to be told that they have a long way to got, but the great need to be told they are great.

I think back to the stories that I read when I was young. They are better in my memory than they really are in some cases. They are the dream I aspire to. I am a horrible judge of my own work. I find it flawed and often wonder if it is worth trying to see it published. Then I am encouraged by those who read it. It is encouraging when my fellow writers give the same comments my early readers do. But still I doubt. My own stories don’t compare to the dream I aspire to. It drives me on to always aspire to writing better.

Character Lessons

Christmas brought to mind one of the messages of the person the holiday commemorates. It’s probably the one he stressed the most, both in words and actions, yet it seems to be the one most often overlooked by those who claim to follow him. How this relates to writing is as a character study in belief, ignorance, and stupidity.

Jesus stressed, after the obvious duty to God, that we are to love our neighbor. And not just in any way, but to the same degree that we love ourselves. And come on, we all know it is human nature to be self centered. While I think there are a handful of people since Jesus who have been able to put this in practice, (Mother Theresa is the only name that comes to mind as I write this), in general this very stressed and basic tenant of the Christian Faith is rarely practiced to the extent that it was intended.

First, I’d like to examine what this phrase means. Jesus did not just say these words, he lived them. When Jesus said love your neighbor, he meant everyone. While the religious leaders of the day kept themselves apart from the poor, the diseased, the criminal, Jesus was right there with them. He went to dinner or a party at Matthew’s house, who was then a tax collector. Today we don’t like the IRS. Back then a tax collector was a mix of an IRS agent and a mob stooge, collecting for his boss. He ministered to the poor, the lepers, the blind, women, and even to a few non-Jews. Who didn’t he minister to, the religious leaders.

Now we come to today. In place of this great love for the people of the world that Jesus showed, a love that is recorded in each of the four gospels and preached on occasion in pulpits all over the world, we have had a Christian world full of racism, oppression, divine right of kings, (and the list could go on and on) etc. So why do fo few Christians fail to hear these words and truly take them to heart? The answer to that lies in human nature. While we can be taught many things, we cannot be forced to believe in anything. Christians today should be supporting gay rights, supporting President Obama, striving for peace in the Middle East, and loving everyone in the world, especially and specifically including homosexuals and Muslims. Instead we get the harshest hatred of those two groups from the one group who is supposed to be loving them.

Jesus really didn’t give Christians much choice in the mater. First, God. Second, your neighbor. The implication was not your Christian neighbor, or you Jewish neighbor, but everyone, no matter who they are. Actually, when we look back, even the disciples could not agree on this. Some went out to minister to the gentiles, while some maintained Jesus’ message should only be for the Jews.

Human nature being what it is, people don’t listen to their teachers or parents. While sometimes you can point the finger at some little voice that gets to people instilling doubt, fear, etc. We have to accept that sometimes that little voice is one of our own. We hate to think that someone raised in a good environment could turn out bad, but they can. A hatred instilled in childhood, whether it be from parents, teachers, friends, bad experiences, or some strange not-yet-understood thought process, some people just turn out with that hatred in their hearts. And once it is there, there is no getting rid of it. That is why we like the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his redemption. We like to hope that it can happen, and in rare cases it does. Usually not, but once in a great while.

It has been my experience that something held as a belief cannot be shaken. While occasionally a person may find a new belief and change their ways, typically a person never changes. Often, beliefs grow in ignorance of the source of societies teachings - what is learned is some interpretation and it unfortunately sticks. While to many of us this stubborn refusal to see the correct interpretation seems stupid, it really isn’t. It lies in the deep seated beliefs. This can hold true in any area, not just religion. Just get two physicist started on opposing theories and you will see that same level of heated debated you would between a Mormon and a Baptist. It is an unfortunate but true statement of human nature that belief trumps reason.

How to Begin a Story

The conventional wisdom does not always hold true. We writers, when we are starting out, are told, in no uncertain terms, to get right to the story. But what is the story. To some, it is the action. That is not really the story. Stories are about people. That’s all. Just about people.

So where does this wisdom come form? I don’t know, but I’m guessing that it is from bored readers who need to be enticed into reading a book. I’m not sure that it does any good. It has not always been the case. I’ve read enough pre-twentieth century literature to know that a lot of the older writing does spend time getting to the meat of the story.

What brought this up is that I have noticed that a great many movies that I have watched in the last couple of years do NOT start with some action. The story starts with the characters. We get to know them, the setting, their joys and/or their sorrows, before the story really gets going. Now, not all movies start off this way, but a surprising number of them do. What is true for these movies, is that you get involved with the characters almost immediately. The characters are what draw you into the fictional tale.

Now to apply this to writing, it is not easy to craft interesting character interactions and to instantly make the characters breathe and come off the page and into the imagination of the reader. An action scene is much easier and gets right to the conflict. Of course a written story can take the time to go back and fill in the gaps as you go, but I think it relates back to writing ability.

When do you start your story? When you can draw the reader in, either through action or characterization. You have to have something that will catch the reader and make them turn the page. It does not have to start at that crucial moment when the heart of the story start, but when you have agents asking to read the first five to ten pages in the submission process, it does not enhance the craft of writing. It makes it very mechanical.

That’s not to say I have not succumbed to the trend to start with the beginning of the action. I have. I probably will continue. But that does not always have to be the case. If you have the skill to craft believable, likable, and three-dimensional characters and can catch the readers on page one when the meat of your story may start a chapter or two later, then trust the reader.

Writing in November

Ah! It is here again. National November Writing Month. This is my second year spending a month scribbling away. I’m not much for signing up for things so I do it unofficially. Last year I had a huge writing spurt in May and June and when I heard about NNWM, I realized that I had already achieved that speed wtih the volume I had done before. The other thing is that both last year and this year, I am not writing an entire novel in November. I am just working on my current one at that pace. Last year I started with 15,000 words and finished in December. This year I started with about 33,000 words and am hoping to finish, if not by the end of November, in very early December.

It is a challenge to keep up the pace. Last year I carefully tracked how I was doing. This year, I have the figures and I could track it, but the only thing I am worried about is staying ahead of the goal. For the first week I was behind. Then I caught up and I’m trying to stay caught up. My goal to beat is 53,000 words, my accomplishment for November 2009.

In thinking about NNWM this year, I realized that whoever decided on November was not nice. In the middle have a major holiday, at least for us Americans. And not just any holiday, but a big eating and shopping holiday (read into that time consuming). This is the perfect time of year, but it’s also the time of year when holidays and travel can get in the way. Fortunatly for me, this year is quiet so it looks like I can get my quota of writing done on each of those days.

So for any who are joining me is the quest for 50,000 or more words in November, good luck. For friends and family of NNWM writers, be patient and understanding.

It’s Finished... NOT

So the manuscript is finally finished. It is edited and polished and is a gem waiting to be revealed. The writer sits back, satisfied at the accomplishment. What’s next? Answer, the real work. It’s time for the manuscript to find its way to a publisher.

Writing a book is only half the work. The next step is to sell. Some authors go direct to a publisher, some go through an agent. New authors face the same difficulty either way. First step is the query and the first thing needed to send out a query is the query letter. Sounds simple doesn’t it? But it isn’t.

Writing a query letter takes almost as much time and effort as writing and editing the novel. You have to compress your story down to about 200 words. Unless you started with a 200 word story summary and followed it to the letter, you have to write this after the novel is complete. Taking a complex novel of 80,000 words or more and compressing it to 1/400th it’s original length while maintaining your voice and style takes rewrite after rewrite. And while you’re at it you might want to create a 800 word synopsis, some agents and publishers ask for one.

Okay, so you go through that hell and have the materials, next you need to find out who to send it to. First it takes research. There are various sites online and book with lists of publishers and agents to help you out. But each one selected has to then be separately researched to find out your novel is right for them. No point in sending a mystery novel to an agent who only deals in romance.

Then there is the waiting. Now if you are submitting to a publisher, chances are you have to query them one at a time. For some reason most of them are grumpy about simultaneous submissions. Don’t argue with them, just follow what they say. Agents, on the other hand, aren’t so grumpy about it, probably because there are more of them. You can send them out in batches, maybe 10 or 20 at a time, you don’t want to loose track. But in any case, you wait until you get a reply, which is probably a rejection. Then you send out another. Repeat this (inserting partial and full requests) until someone finally says yes.

The long road to getting published starts when the manuscript is finished.