Over The Top Writing (Not a good thing)

Hello.

My name is Peg
and sometimes I tend to write over the top.

Before I give you an example, let me just say that I'm working through my very own recovery program (and that's not to make light of anyone who has actually gone through a 12-step program for addiction).

The thing is, when I write over the top I get euphoric.  High. Yep. It's my favorite place to be. I think that particular scene sparkles with everything a writer should strive for. I don't see the fluff. The pretense. The pure crap. I see literary style.

Thank goodness I've been anchored (yes, anchored) to some take-no-prisoners editors who've called me on it every time.

Here's my latest:

FLAMES SCREAMED out the windows, reaching up and licking the air like crack whores hungry for the next fix that could keep them going a little longer. The charged orange creatures chased the oxygen that pushed and twisted them into demented dancers. The ironic contrast between the energized heat from the fire and the snow nestled peacefully on nearby pines underscored the silence broken by the wail of sirens. 

Undulating smoke changed color depending on what was being consumed, then veiled silently down the mountain valley. The shades of gray faded into a harmless and barely discernible mist, its secrets lost.

The was the old opening for FLAME GAME. While I still love it, it's history. It fed me, not the story.  

As readers, have you ever read anything that sounded over the top? What did you think? Did you keep reading?

As writers, can any of you identify?

It's all better with friends.

FLAME GAME Cover Reveal

I'm excited about this cover and hope it resonates with readers.

It's all better with friends.

Arson Dogs

Here's a cool video from Victoria Stilwell about arson dogs.

The cover for FLAME GAME is getting close! This is so exciting!









It's all better with friends.

Winkin', Blinkin' and Duh

Tonight I finished my text-to-speech edit for FLAME GAME. It's amazing what else I caught. It's scary what else I caught. It makes me terrified of what else I've missed.

And overused words? Oh, my.

I have a lot of four-letter words that I'll be cleaning up. When I wrote them they seemed to fit. But hearing them? Oh, dear. A little too much. Especially the f-bomb. There will be plenty that will win the war and remain in the manuscript, but seriously, it's embarrassing.

Then there's my newest: wink. Everyone was winking at everyone. I went from easily ten "winks" in my manuscript to three. And two of them were from a dog. That's how bad it was. You need to know though, I kept one of those. I might even have a contest surrounding that particular canine wink.

My next step is to assign chapters and do a little more finessing based on notes I've made and additional research that's come in from my experts.

Then off to my beta readers! I'm so excited to hear what they have to say. And just a little (okay, a lot) anxious.



It's all better with friends.

The Steps We Take

I was talking with another author recently and he was stunned at the myriad of steps I take before I consider my book ready to let go of. Well, ready to be willing to let go of.

I finished the first draft of FLAME GAME several days ago. This book took me forever to write and it's not all that complicated. 

Who knew?

My schedule has not only been backed into a corner, but shoved up the wall. Not pretty.

Here's how birthing a book happens in my world:

• Finish the first draft. This is by far the most difficult thing for me to do. During this phase I will do a lot of light edits. And I have a good friend who tries to read some bits and pieces in spurts. Not the most effective way to improve a story, but she's good and I take what I can get.
• Let it sit. If I'm luxuriously ahead of my schedule, 3-7 days is wonderful. With this book? 24 hours was all I had, and that was a stretch.
• My first self-edit is to read it through. Make notes, write stickies, try and answer all of the silly things that need answering. Incorporate those edits. This is where I begin to believe I have a book. This is where I really begin to love the process.
• Listen to it. The text-to-speech function is incredibly robotic and boring. But maybe that's the point. (This is the step I'll begin next.) Incorporate those edits. More loving.
• Beta Readers. These are the angels in my life. Writers and readers of my genre who are willing to read a manuscript that's still pretty raw. I have a general list ready for these angels to keep in mind as they read, but of course they're free to add whatever they desire. These take a little more time and evaluation, and there will more edits to incorporate. At this stage I've actually coughed my book out to readers.
• Professional edit. This is where I go when I can't possibly pull together a better story. When I need a professional to evaluate and probe and pick and push. It's a strange mix of collaboration and admonishment. I love it.
• Proofreading. With all of these edits there's likely to be details that are missed. A word that has been unintentionally deleted. Quotation marks that need to be adjusted.
• My cover designer and I have already been in communication. We're working to create a cover that will put my book in a place where a reader who's never heard of me might be compelled to take a closer look.

It's all better with friends.

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them, and an update on FLAME GAME

“Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it’s a letdown, they won’t buy anymore. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book.” —Mickey Spillane

And so, well... ugh. The ending of FLAME GAME continues to elude me but I'm going into stalker mode. I know who. I know why. I know what happens. I just want to make it special. I want that last page to sing. 

And sell my next book.

It's all better with friends.

Plot Twists

In FLAME GAME I have some plot twists. Hopefully they provide a momentary surprise, but once they're revealed they feel quite natural. I think that's the key to a good plot twist.

I'm struggling with wanting to have a huge twist at the end of this book. Actually, what I want is a jaw-dropping, head-smacking, OMG moment. But I'm not finding one that feels organic to this story.

To be fair (to me), even when the current plot twists transpire, and the reader knows what was done by who, I think they might still want to hang in there to find out how the good guys find out what happened.

What do you think about the jaw-dropping plot twist at the end of a book? Do you love it? (Duh.) Is it necessary?

I really want to know.


It's all better with friends.

The Importance of a Title

When I go to the Menu button for my television cable service, the first thing I see as I scroll through the schedule are titles. Usually I'm looking for a movie to watch.

If I see a title that intrigues me I can get more information.

But only...

IF I SEE A TITLE THAT INTRIGUES ME.

With the cable menu program, there's not even a cover that can enhance the intrigue.

Titles are important.

I read recently that some research indicated many readers responded with interest to the word SECRET in a title. I immediately began second guessing the working title of my newest manuscript where arson plays a huge role, FLAME GAME. I couldn't come up with anything that didn't sound like someone having an affair.

Are there words that catch your attention?

I think for me they might be DEATH, MURDER, LIES

or, since I've published three books: RED TIDE, MISSINGS, SACRIFICE.

But seriously, are there words in a title that make you look at the description? Does it depend on genre? Curious minds want to know.


It's all better with friends.