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Crits, signs, PMB
Feb. 25th, 2010 10:04 pmIt's amazing how a good critique can make you feel energized. My crit group is doing a round of full ms crits, one per month, through the whole group. Usually we do a few chapters at a time, but we all felt we needed to look at the big picture. This month has been spent on my book. They've all come up with such useful suggestions and objections and comments and I'm really looking forward to spreading it all out and diving in to revising. It's true that whichever book you're working on, that's the one you are most excited about. I hope good things for the one out on sub right now, but oh! I want the one that just got critted to live, too.
Other, random thoughts:
After a lady in charge of one of those teens-go-door-to-door-selling-magazines-for-trip-points groups came by the other day to let the neighborhood know that 200 kids would soon be canvassing the area, and after I pointed out the no soliciting sign on our door, and after she said, "oh, we never pay attention to those signs," I made an addendum. The fine print now says that we don't buy services, products, cable services, or magazines (even if they are to get points for a trip) from door to door salespeople, sorry. DH thinks it looks tacky and wants to take it down. But today it worked! I was sitting on the couch with PMB and saw someone come up to the door through the curtains. He paused for a moment, then walked away. I saw him hitting the rest of the neighborhood after that. He looked like he might be from the same group. Tacky or not, it's staying!
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robinellen , I've been thinking lately about the kinds of books I feel most drawn to write. I like what I've seen described as novels that walk the line between commercial and literary--I want things to happen in my books, but I want them to matter. I like layers. I like moral choices. I like humor, but I really want to write something that grabs you around the heart, the kind of book that becomes a little part of what you are. I like magic in my books, but the core choices are real, they're decisions anyone might have to make. I want it to be an escape, and yet make you think. And I don't write dark. I've read several southern gothics lately and they were fun, but I realized I'm more interested in writing mysterious and transcendent than mysterious and dark. (L'Engle as opposed to borderline horror.) At the same time, I love it that everyone is drawn to write something just a little bit different. When you read widely, it gives you a much more 3D picture on how people really are. Like having two eyes set in slightly different parts of your head, so that together, it's 3D.
PMB (sorry, non-relatives can skip this part). He's just doing funny things these days. Normally I have to put him to sleep because he doesn't know how to relax on his own. But today I was working on something, and he was exhausted, so he snuggled up with a handful of screwdrivers on the couch and fell right asleep. Who would've thunkit? All we need is screwdrivers...
Also, now that the birds have come back to herald in spring (um, we think it's coming someday? Despite another forecast of snow?), PMB is fascinated. So far, all animals are "dogs." Once he learns the difference between dogs and birds, though, we'll have son 2 sit him down and teach him all he learned in his bird unit last year.
I realize LJ is awfully empty these days, what with everyone doing the internet fast or Blogless for Lent or whatever, but I wish pleasant spring thoughts to anyone listening!
Other, random thoughts:
After a lady in charge of one of those teens-go-door-to-door-selling-magazines-for-trip-points groups came by the other day to let the neighborhood know that 200 kids would soon be canvassing the area, and after I pointed out the no soliciting sign on our door, and after she said, "oh, we never pay attention to those signs," I made an addendum. The fine print now says that we don't buy services, products, cable services, or magazines (even if they are to get points for a trip) from door to door salespeople, sorry. DH thinks it looks tacky and wants to take it down. But today it worked! I was sitting on the couch with PMB and saw someone come up to the door through the curtains. He paused for a moment, then walked away. I saw him hitting the rest of the neighborhood after that. He looked like he might be from the same group. Tacky or not, it's staying!
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robinellen , I've been thinking lately about the kinds of books I feel most drawn to write. I like what I've seen described as novels that walk the line between commercial and literary--I want things to happen in my books, but I want them to matter. I like layers. I like moral choices. I like humor, but I really want to write something that grabs you around the heart, the kind of book that becomes a little part of what you are. I like magic in my books, but the core choices are real, they're decisions anyone might have to make. I want it to be an escape, and yet make you think. And I don't write dark. I've read several southern gothics lately and they were fun, but I realized I'm more interested in writing mysterious and transcendent than mysterious and dark. (L'Engle as opposed to borderline horror.) At the same time, I love it that everyone is drawn to write something just a little bit different. When you read widely, it gives you a much more 3D picture on how people really are. Like having two eyes set in slightly different parts of your head, so that together, it's 3D.PMB (sorry, non-relatives can skip this part). He's just doing funny things these days. Normally I have to put him to sleep because he doesn't know how to relax on his own. But today I was working on something, and he was exhausted, so he snuggled up with a handful of screwdrivers on the couch and fell right asleep. Who would've thunkit? All we need is screwdrivers...
Also, now that the birds have come back to herald in spring (um, we think it's coming someday? Despite another forecast of snow?), PMB is fascinated. So far, all animals are "dogs." Once he learns the difference between dogs and birds, though, we'll have son 2 sit him down and teach him all he learned in his bird unit last year.
I realize LJ is awfully empty these days, what with everyone doing the internet fast or Blogless for Lent or whatever, but I wish pleasant spring thoughts to anyone listening!
