Theme of Life

I'm continuing small edits and finishing touches on both of my books. "Grand Rouge" and "Sheila, Quest for the Golden Sapphire". I held off on the edits for a short time, (A week and half really) because the stories had begun to stale off in my mind and I wasn't enjoying the experience. Long, countless hours at the day job wasn't helping. I started to see certain grammatical and punctuation errors that I had missed even after I'd ran through the manuscripts several times--and after I'd taken said scenes, to my critique group and allowed them( certain ones, I'm certain, morph into blood sucking vampires when they review my work--kidding!) to hack away at my drivel. But by and far the biggest piece that I've realized throughout this draft is that theme has its own way of sneaking up on you. It gives you that kind of much needed head slap that helps you TRULY finish your work. It's true, the mind and the heart knows things. And most times theme is there, in the details, sitting next to the devil--with two fingers behind his head and pointing him out to you. "Right here, here he is. Now, get him the hell out of here, so can we finished the damn thing."
     It's things I've found about my characters that had been there, but I never noticed. Things, or phrases that they repeat when I'm at the wheel of their point of view and trying to ensure that they are not jumping out of character. But I understand that theme is life, somtimes ironic, sometimes mean, sometimes painful. The best thing about Theme, though, (when its not forced, like a square in a round peg) is that it is beautiful. To me anyway.  Nothings more rewarding than when you see on paper a story, that you wrote, with subtle hints about real life and how things could turn out, or have. It's that story question that we all have in our minds and hearts, which may or may not have an answer. For new writers, like me, keep writing and it will show up, I'm proof. It collects all your thoughts and plots throughout the story and brings them together, before you. And when the smoke clears and the sanding and leveling are complete, it nods its head and shows you, "See kid, this is what you were trying to say. . .  beautiful, hunh?" 

Indeed. 

Bully for the Ages

As a writer, I cover the topic of bullying in a wide range of areas. When we first think of the bully, (well me anyway), I think of the schoolyard kid that we used to call the Super Duper Senior! Or whatever the corresponding grade lap was--freshman, sophomore, junior, whatever. Most cases this individual had failed one grade or another over and over. Of course, the traditional bully was bigger, ugly; a gorilla or goon of sorts. And he waited outside the lunchroom to clobber some poor schmuck over the head that didn't give up his chocolate milk fast enough.
     But now is different. Not so much mentally but physically. Some of the aforementioned goons, have traded in their khaki pants and faded shirts for a suit and tie. They throw their weight around in the workplace, authority is the new weopon of choice and integrity is the chocolate milk.
     As adults we try to find that common ground with our children that attempts to help them understand that most situations they encounter at school is something we've dealt with in the past. It doesn't always work. Think about it! Did it work when you were a kid? To us, most mom and dad's were well away from the olden days (As my son so eloquently puts it). And you thought, kids today aren't like they were back then. It's not the same, you say.
I submit that it is. Bullying has been around for ages and as long we human beings walk the earth there's going to be a bully. Different skin colors, different clothes, different hair, different modus operandi, but a bully is a bully. We just have to learn how to deal with them.
     In some jobs, the boss is the bully. He pushes everybody around and treats some  of the employees better than others. So, how do we handle that? One suggestion is to reach into your backpack and grab your english literature book (hardback, of course) and smash it against his nose, causing his eyes to water and his nose to bleed, like my main character Sheila did to Ethan, bully in the story.. But since some of us have bills to pay, I suggest a more civilized approach. Stand up for yourself--respectfully, especially if it's your boss. And if he or she can't respect that then maybe its time to find another job. But it has to be done, or the pushing around could go on forever. Everyday your throat will be dry from that dry peanut butter topped slice of cake that the cafeteria lady gives you, because you let the Goon take your chocolate milk. Now, in a world so busy that even our kids need android cell phones, we have to learn to stand up for ourselves and each other. And hopefully not with violence, but with wisdom.  It reminds me of an old proverb that said, "If you don't find an identity for yourself, there's someone who will give you one."     

SHEILA first draft complete!

After one year of working my way through a story that buzzed to get out of my head, I've finally finished the first book of a trilogy. Sheila, is a young adult fantasy novel about a troubled young girl who finds out she is a descendant of a rare breed of Lycan. Once I had Sheila, the character, firmly in my head (tomboy, feisty(though these two undoubtedly go hand and hand), smart, adventurous; yet, troubled, lonely and curious). I know what your thinking, Doesn't sound like any teenager I know, (HA!), I was ready to go forward, and I did. The story has been alot of fun writing; exciting at times, but other times heart wrenching, and still others, scary. 
I am now beginning second draft and wildly excited because I get to take the first adventure with Sheila, Gina and Agog all over again. But this time, I get to hone and polish where the pen may have gotten a tidbit excited. Soon, I'll publish several excerpts of the story right here on the site, so stay tune!

FYI, in the coming months, I will have a few chapters of both novels posted on Anthology.com. The HarperCollins site for unpublished writers.

Gearing up for the new writers conference in April. Revise, revise, revise. Still not working? Chunk it. Start over. This is how I'm spending my writing time. Of course it takes years to become brave enough to just chunk your babies. But it is true in what we study in the craft, and I believe it was Hemingway who said, "First drafts are crap!" Forgive me if it was not Ernest but the is true. Sometimes it takes two or three rewrites to get it right, and then it still sucks a fat one. 
More great writers coming to this years shindig. I'm excited and sorry if this post is so short but my writing time is paper thin.
Later

Revise, revise, revise . . .

Mine

As we begin 2012, I feel compelled to reflect on 2011 and what it has meant for me; writing career, as well as personal. In 2011 I was fortunate enough to attend a writers conference--one that showcased an intelligent group of accomplished, yet, humble authors, editors and publishers. For the first time I sat with these, industry pros, and pitched my novel "Grand Rouge" and attempted to relay my enthusiasm and fervor for the story. Let me start by saying that I have never been the gaudy, Barnum and Bailey type (at least I would like to think so). And I still cringe when I think of having to toot my own horn in front of anybody, particularly, an agent or publisher. Now, I do realize that this is a necessary evil, albeit, if I am, indeed, trying to sale my work.  But I think its the part where I have show why the book is the next great thing( which of course, is what these things are all about, right? Otherwise, why would a literary agent take you on?) that makes me uneasy.
     But the experience taught me several things about the process of publication, helping me refill the tank and push on in the pursuit of represenatation and publicaton. First, I had three ,10 minute, pitch sessions, where  I was allowed to discuss my story and try to "wow" the audience of one (agent, publisher). Like most, I think, I spent the time before each session, worrying incessantly about getting in the hot seat and fumbling my words, making a complete idiot of myself. Or, sitting brightly and eagerly infront of the agent or publisher and prattling off the details of my pitch so fast and incoherently that ,said audience, does not understand one word that is coming out of my mouth. But the experience was a good one and yes I was very nervous, feeling the sweat spring up in the palm of my hand. In these brief conversations, I was able to find out what agents and publishers think about my story and, in part, find out what they are looking for. It was truly an enlightening experience and I hold the knowledge very close to me, knowing that I am growing as a writer and novelist.
      So, why do I say this here? It's because I feel that it is important that each year that we are blessed to still be here, that we grow from what we learn. And to me, a great measuring stick is to look back in retrospect and find something that has propelled us forward and taught us something we did not know before, no matter how small we think it may be. My experience in front of these industry professionals gave me courage and insight into my own soul. I recieved three requests to read more, one of which was to see the full (which is still out). And I know that some agents actually respond and some don't. But for me its another step in the process to success. For me, (the self proclaimed non-Barnum and Bailey type), now, I know I can do it. Perhaps for you, it's something else.