Saturday, January 27, 2007

Writing Blog v. Writing Book

Writing here is so much more fun than writing in my book. What I write in this little paragraph or two or twelve doesn't have to connect to the earlier or later stuff, doesn't have to build the character or progress the plot. I don't have to worry about re-using a reference to Buffy or about pumping new blood into a tired metaphor.

I say that because right now, I'm in the midst of a new book. I'm sitting in one of my favorite local wi-fi cafes, sipping tea and writing. I've just finished Chapter Eight for the second time.

Two chapter eights? What kind of new construction is that? What I mean is this: I wrote the first three chapters, sent them to my agent, and got encouragement to continue. As I plodded into the next five chapters, I knew I was in the weeds. I sent him those first eight chapters and he (patient soul) read through all that nonsense, gave me direct, concise, constructive notes and sent me back to my keyboard.

So. I re-wrote as far as Chapter Seven and sent it to him -- partly so that I could have an excuse to stop writing and just take care of holiday stuff. See what a patient soul he is? Got the greenlight to continue have completed one more chapter. So, here I am with all of the NYU students, buying over-priced caffeine while I plug into my iPod and laptop.

Opportunities to write are tough to come by in my universe, so I make the most of them.

On to Chapter Nine.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Happy News

...And Baby Makes Two will come out in trade paperback in February of this year. Turns out that Target has picked up the book and has labeled it as "Breakout fiction" for February.

So, run don't walk to your local Target and buy a few (dozen) copies of my book!

See you there!