tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21434966969803426322024-03-08T05:35:51.319-05:00Iriarte Files--Writer's NightmareLisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-75506298168898835892012-10-21T14:57:00.000-04:002012-10-21T18:16:05.179-04:00My First Conference as a PresenterJust got home from presenting at the Florida Writers Association Annual Conference. I was honored to give two presentations--one on writing query letters and the other with my agent, Amy Boggs, on the agent/client relationship.<br />
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Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Despite some opening-five-minutes nerves, the presentations went well and the feedback we received was extremely positive. The conference organizers were very attentive and friendly, and everything went off without any hitches.<br />
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However, just a few words of friendly advice:<br />
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1. If a conference offers pitch sessions for an additional fee, don't pitch an agent while she or he is trying to eat a meal unless the agent specifically asks you about your book. Agents get hungry and want to eat, too.<br />
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2. Don't push pages, CD's, or full manuscripts on an agent at a pitch session. Have those materials in your bag in case the agent ASKS for them, but don't offer unless they are requested. Agents don't want to carry manuscripts on airplanes or try to fit them in their luggage.<br />
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3. Don't ask an agent to read your pages and offer feedback in a ten-minute pitch session. You are forcing an agent to rush through your work and you're putting him or her on the spot, which no one likes. You want the agent to take time with your materials.<br />
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4. Don't open a conversation with a writer by criticizing her presentation, her agent, or her work. If feedback is requested, that's fine, but otherwise, the old saying applies. "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."<br />
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5. Be aware of personal space. Don't back someone into a corner. Leave at least a couple of feet between you and the person to whom you are speaking. Don't hang on to someone's hand throughout your conversation. I may have more issues with physical contact from people I don't know than the average person, but I don't think anyone would feel comfortable in these situations. <br />
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Yes, all these things happened, some to me, some to others I observed. No, they did not dampen my enthusiasm for the experience. And in the cases that directly involved me, I responded politely and professionally. But not everyone would. If you're a writer looking to make those vital networking connections, go about it in a positive, intelligent way.<br />
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Many, many attendees approached me and my agent at appropriate times, at cocktail receptions, during snack breaks when everyone was mingling, and between sessions when we weren't hurrying to get somewhere, or after the final session of the day.<br />
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Many asked first if this was a good time to chat, which we appreciated. Many opened with a compliment on one of our presentations, making sure it was honest and heartfelt. Many expressed appreciation for our time. Many asked if they could join a conversation before jumping in. These were all wonderful ways to network.<br />
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Overall, I had a fantastic time at the conference, and I do hope I'm invited back to present again. Many thanks to the FWA organizers for the opportunity.<br />
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<br />Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-63521324675872435002012-06-11T20:02:00.001-04:002012-06-11T20:02:44.301-04:00Fanfiction--A Good Jumping Off PointOne mistake I think a lot of new writers make is trying to take on too much too soon. They outline sweeping stories with multiple sub-plots, huge casts of characters, deep, meaningful themes. They choreograph complex fight scenes and build complicated worlds. And all these things are fabulous.<br />
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If you're up to it.<br />
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The fact of the matter is, most beginning writers aren't up to it.<br />
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The book of your heart may have one or more of the above components, but if you don't have a few finished, simpler novels written and under your belt, you may not be ready to write that heartfelt book. It might not be a bad idea to put that one on the back burner. Try something with two or three characters, one storyline, set in present day, requiring little research. Baby steps. Makes sense.<br />
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I wrote three novels before the fourth one landed my first agent. And yes, that fourth novel had multiple points of view, a complex dual plot alternating between the main character's past and present, and some complex world building. It was the book of my heart, the character I wanted to focus on. Could I have written it better if I'd had a few more practices beforehand? Absolutely.<br />
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I knew going into it that even with three previously completed manuscripts, I might not have the chops to pull off what I wanted to accomplish. So, I fell back on something that gave me a ready-made foundation: fanfiction.<br />
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For those unfamiliar with the concept, fanfiction is playing in someone else's world, or with someone else's characters. It takes one or more items out of the writing equation. You don't have to build the world if it's already built. You just have to add a new story. You don't have to establish as much characterization if everyone already knows the characters. And often you don't find yourself over-characterizing because YOU already know the characters.<br />
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Writers can use this medium as a practice ground. And there's some fantastic fanfiction out there. I've read great Xena stories on fan sites. The science fiction/fantasy/superhero shows and comics are frequent subjects of fanfiction. Many established novel series have fanfiction short stories written about them. And posting the work online can earn a new writer some valuable feedback.<br />
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Now, some might view fanfiction as plagiarism, but I would hope most would find it flattering. If it were me, if I had something published that people wanted to write fanfiction about, I'd like to believe I'd be flattered so long as they weren't making a profit from the work or trying to pass it off as something I'd created.<br />
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So anyway, I used fanfiction to help me work through some characterization issues in the book of my heart (and one more since). I won't admit here which worlds I played in, and I'd challenge anyone who doesn't know me personally to figure that out since I made dramatic changes, but I had previously established people in my head. I definitely used the medium, and I highly recommend it for beginning writers. Because the cool thing is, once I'd done it a few times, building my own characters came that much more easily to me.<br />
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If nothing else, it makes a great practice exercise, whether you share the work with anyone or not.<br />
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<br />Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-9719723318750840582012-06-02T21:27:00.001-04:002012-06-04T07:59:16.044-04:00NEWSFLESH series by Mira GrantIt's been awhile since I wrote a book review post. To be honest, I'd gotten tired of writing them. Though I only post my honest opinions, it felt like I was saying the same things over and over again. So it was going to take an extraordinary book (in this case, an extraordinary entire series) to get me to write another one.<br />
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Every once in a very long while, I read a book that makes me wonder why I write. A book that is so brilliant, so compelling, so suspenseful, so emotionally moving, that I know I can never possibly compose something as good. And every book I read immediately thereafter is unsatisfying by comparison.<br />
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Every once in a very long while, I read a book or series that, when I finish it, I am deeply saddened by the fact that there will be no more. That those characters have completed the story arc the author set out for them, lived their lives on the books' pages, and vanished into whatever ether discontinued characters disappear into. I miss them like lost friends. I want to know more, and yet I don't want anything to detract from the perfect story in which they appeared, and so I am torn.<br />
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And every once in an extremely long while, an author will create characters that make me want to cry or cheer for them. Or both.<br />
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The NEWSFLESH series by Mira Grant accomplished all these things.<br />
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For readers, it is a compelling page turner, a non-stop suspense thriller, an emotional roller coaster. I have set times in my day which I devote to reading, and I don't deviate from those times. If I do, nothing else gets done. These books made me drop everything on my to-do list and just read. Every time I'd think, "Just one more page. What could possibly happen in one more page?" and something would happen, something emotionally charged or terrifying or surprising, and I'd have to continue reading.<br />
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And then there were the characters. I'm a hard sell when it comes to characters. I rarely cry at movies. I rarely cry in real life. It takes a lot to move me with words on a page. This series nearly moved me to tears on numerous occasions. And when I wasn't on the verge of crying, I was cheering the characters on with each thing they accomplished. I wanted to hug the two main characters. I wanted to laugh with them and fight at their sides. I hurt when they hurt.<br />
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For writers, it's a lesson in creating suspense, in putting that "tension on every page" so many speak of. With every accomplishment, the characters faced a new challenge. Every word served a purpose.<br />
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And I can think of no better example of characterization. The relationships between the characters, both major and minor, are built from page one. By the time we left them, our two main protagonists could do no wrong. We loved them that much. And they did plenty of questionable things. Didn't matter. The author made us love them for who they were, made us accept them on their terms, no matter what.<br />
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Lastly, I'd like to compliment the incredible world building. Mira Grant created a post apocalyptic Earth so real that I found myself analyzing every building I entered for possible escape routes and items to be used as weapons against the zombies, should an outbreak occur. Of course, I live in Florida. Readers of the series will know I'd better be prepared. :-)<br />
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P.S. I'd love to discuss the specific scenes that moved me, but I didn't want to give spoilers. If anyone wants to share their favorite scenes, put them in the comments, and we can talk about them there. :-)<br />
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<br />Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-37779973044638389622012-04-24T19:31:00.000-04:002012-04-24T19:34:26.196-04:00Lucky SevenA Twitter pal of mine recently tagged me in a blog game called "The Lucky Seven Challenge." Normally I don't participate in these things, but since I haven't blogged in awhile, I decided this gave me a good excuse. So, here's how it works:<br />
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1. Go to page 77 of your WIP or latest book.<br />
2. Count down seven lines.<br />
3. Copy the 7 sentences that follow and post them.<br />
4. Tag 7 other authors.<br />
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I'll do the first three, anyway, since the seven sentences serve as a rather nice teaser for my current work in progress, HARSH REALITY.<br />
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Could it all have been some sort of hallucination?
I blinked and shook my head, snapping myself out of my daze, and lit the lamp. The glow spread outward, revealing the disturbed pile of black ash to my right, from where I'd come. From--at least by my best calculation--right where I'd awakened.<br />
No, it couldn't be.<br />
Something else had burned there. It couldn't have been me.<br />
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And you all will just have to wait to get more than that. But I'm pleased to say that HARSH REALITY is almost complete. I've got about two more weeks' worth of work to put into it, and it's done.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-57527051863960835632012-01-22T10:35:00.006-05:002012-01-22T13:11:12.442-05:00The Green-Eyed MonsterI am a competitive person, no doubt about it. My husband is the same, and in our particular case, this is a good thing. We drive one another toward success. If one is achieving more in the writing career, then the other fights to catch up and surpass. In my opinion, this is good. This is healthy. We compete to better ourselves, and we celebrate our accomplishments. Will I be jealous if his book sells first? Sure. Of course. But I'll be thrilled for him, too. And I'm certain he feels the same. It's not really jealousy of him so much as disappointment for me, I suspect.<br /><br />Because we aren't REALLY competing with each other. We're competing to see which of us can obtain our own new personal best faster. And each individual's personal best is different.<br /><br />This is something I think many writers fail to recognize. The path to each writer's publication will be different. The achievements obtained along the way will be different. The speed at which goals will be reached will be different. And often this has nothing to do with personal speed. I write fast. The hubby, well, doesn't. But I suspect he produces a more polished project in the end. Regardless, he may very well sell first, even though I have more to sell and have been represented by my agent longer. His market is better. His writing is less "niche". Is this my fault? Well, I suppose I could try writing something hotter in today's market, but that's not where my heart lies, and I doubt I'd do a very good job. So, no, it's not my fault.<br /><br />So, if he sells first, there will be disappointment for myself, yes, but not jealousy. At least I hope not. Because there's really no need.<br /><br />We aren't competing AGAINST each other.<br /><br />And this is my point. WRITERS AREN'T COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER!<br /><br />If you are GOOD, if you are GOOD ENOUGH, and you DON'T GIVE UP, and you STRIVE TO KEEP GETTING BETTER, you WILL SELL. Eventually. But it's the "eventually" part that many stumble over.<br /><br />So many writers I talk to seem to think the publishing world is finite. "If so-and-so lands an agent, well, there goes my slot."<br /><br />Nope, don't think so. Yes, it's true, agents only take on a few (if any) clients a year. But there are a lot of agents out there. And even if your best writerly friend just snagged the agent you've been hoping for, it's not going to stop you if your work is GOOD ENOUGH and WHAT THE AGENT IS LOOKING FOR. Because I don't know any agents who would turn down a fantastic manuscript they think can be sold, even if their client list is full. Okay, maybe they would if your book is too similar to your friend's, but then there are many, many more agents to query. And if you do get turned down, it's because it wasn't good enough, or not what the agent was looking for, NOT because your friend took the last agent client space in the universe.<br /><br />I've also known other writers who get totally frustrated at conferences because certain writers "hog" all the agents.<br /><br />Well, I have two views on this.<br /><br />1. That's how the networking game is played. A good, professional conversation now can mean a partial or full request later. If you're comfortable walking up to strangers in the business (agents/editors), and chatting them up, then you should do it. Don't resent those who are better at it than you. Get better at it yourself. The old saying, "It's not what you know, but who you know," does apply, to some extent in publishing. Though again, I say that it doesn't matter how good a conversationalist you are. It's the writing that will really count.<br /><br />And that said, I will remind everyone that while I'm not the least bit afraid to chat with agents and editors, I got both my agents through query letters initially and met them later.<br /><br />2. If you are NOT good at striking up conversations with people you don't know, if you AREN'T outgoing and have tried to improve on this and failed, then choose a different way to make these connections. Again, some people are naturally good at this. Some people can teach themselves, like I did. (I'm extremely shy by nature, but you'd never know it at a conference.) But if this isn't you, then pick another method--Twitter is great for less-threatening contacts, so is posting on agent blogs, and well-written query letters are about as non-threatening in a social sense as you can get while still being very effective. You may not get a free pass to the top of the slush pile like an in-person contact might get you, but GREAT writing WILL attract attention, eventually (and there's that word again).<br /><br />Just don't get angry with other writers who happen to be more outgoing. You're you. Be you. And let them be them. And don't let the sometimes perceived "unfairness" at conferences get to you, either. A friend of mine was in this situation recently, and she apparently handled it pretty well, but many don't. Will conference organizers introduce their friends to the agents and editors? Of course they will. Will paid editors and book doctors make sure their clients get agent/editor face time? Absolutely. Is this fair? Nope. How do you deal with it? You either play their game and make nice with these "introducers," or you change the rules and go your own route. <br /><br />Whatever you do, don't resent friends, family members, and acquaintances who are successful, those who get the requests, the agents, the book deals.<br /><br />Because these are YOUR new contacts! Every success a spouse/friend/acquaintance has is a potential success for you! A new connection. A new introduction to an agent or editor. The books they sell will not be the last books ever sold until the end of time.<br /><br />So, celebrate EVERYONE'S success as if it were your own, because in the long chain of events that leads to publication, it very well could be. Eventually. (grin)Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-60487834398932196222011-11-04T19:11:00.005-04:002011-11-05T08:58:29.976-04:00How to Deliver (and Receive) a Difficult CritiqueSo, by popular demand, I've decided to tackle this topic. Again, I'm not an expert by any means. And I'll admit, that while I try to present my critiques in a professional manner, I may slip up on my own rules from time to time. But here are some things I feel critters should and shouldn't do, especially when delivering or receiving a particularly harsh critique.<br /><br />First, the delivery.<br /><br />1. Watch your word choice. There are some words that come out of critters' mouths that make me cringe every time I hear them. One of them is "bad." "Bad," to me, translates to "unfixable," and that's not something I ever want to say to someone I'm critiquing. Because nothing is irreparable. It might take starting over to fix something, but it can be fixed. Better to say that something "could use work," or "doesn't work for me," or "in my opinion." It is all subjective, and while the entire group might agree that something isn't working, it's still just our collective opinion.<br /><br />2. Also watch for flippancy. This is one that I know I need to work on some myself. It can get easy to forget the feelings of your crit group friends when you've been together for years and joke around all the time. You might have a member who always takes joking well, but he/she had a bad day. Or maybe this was a scene he spent hours on and thought he finally had right, only for you to tear it apart and make a wisecrack about it. Which brings me to number three . . .<br /><br />3. Make eye contact and watch the recipient's facial expressions. If someone looks like he/she is getting upset, ease off. Remind the person that it's just your opinion and it's not personal. Perhaps apologize for being too flippant.<br /><br />4. Share the pain. When I catch someone making a mistake that I often make myself, I'll share that. If it's something my agent has pinged me for, I'll share that, too, and also share how much effort and pain it cost me to fix it. Misery loves company, and it's nice to remember we're all on the same path together.<br /><br />Now, on receiving a difficult crit.<br /><br />1. Never, ever get defensive. Let the critter have his/her say. I think I do pretty well with this, though I'm sure I slip up from time to time. We all want to jump in and say, "But it's so clear. It says so, right THERE!" But to that critter, it wasn't. Now, maybe the critter missed something. But more likely, it's not clear. And so I follow . . .<br /><br />2. THE THREE STRIKE RULE! I did not make this up, but I can't remember where I heard it first. I think I picked it up at a writers conference. Regardless, I follow the three strike rule. In other words, if one critter says there's a problem, I'll look at it. If two find the same problem, I'll consider it more carefully. But if three or more critters see the same issue, I can be pretty darn sure there's something wrong.<br /><br />3. Consider everyone's opinion, regardless of where they are on the path to publication. Not every member of my group has the same amount of experience when it comes to writing and critiquing, and sometimes they know something is wrong but don't know how to pinpoint it. It doesn't matter. Your readers won't all be highly experienced writers, either, but if they are bored or confused, they will put down your book just as fast. <br /><br />4. Admit mistakes. Very often one of my critters will point out a poorly written line and as soon as he/she starts to read it out loud, I'll want to hide under the table. This is similar to the "don't get defensive" rule, but it creates an even greater atmosphere of congeniality when people come out and say, "Yes, I did write like crap there. Good catch."<br /><br />5. Last, but I think most important--Thank everyone! Whether you agree with a crit or not, your critters took time and effort away from their own lives, their own writing, to try to help you with yours. They may not know how to phrase things, and maybe they make some of the mistakes I've suggested above, but we all put work into our crits, and some are better at presenting them than others. By all means, you don't have to take everyone's advice, but nod and smile and say you'll think about it and thank them.<br /><br />And that's it! Sounds easy, right? Not so easy when you've rewritten the same scene six times and that one critter says it still isn't working for him. But really, we're not in competition with each other. We all want to see each other succeed. Heck, if one of us succeeds, he/she may open the door for others to follow.<br /><br />Happy writing!Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-34804515902613219812011-11-03T09:03:00.003-04:002011-11-03T09:23:22.740-04:00The ListSome people have a "bucket list" of things they want to do/accomplish within their lifetimes, and of course, I have a mental one of those as well. Some of the items on it include getting published, traveling the world, speaking at writing conferences.<br /><br />But I have a second list, and this one features famous people who've influenced me in some way. I want to meet/interact with these people, even if it's only for a brief time, like a greeting or a handshake, because these people shaped my worldview, gave me pleasure through their entertainment or writing, unconsciously contributed to characters I've created. And I want to thank them.<br /><br />I created the list back in college. A few names fell off as they passed away or their public personae changed into people I no longer admired. Many got checked off as I met them.<br /><br />I've always had this uncanny knack for running into or arranging to run into famous people. Starting at age fourteen when I ended up in a restaurant one table away from Michael Jackson, I've bumped into an unusually large number of famous people.<br /><br />The best is when they turn out to be just as nice as you always imagined they would be. The worst is when they are egotistical, rude, or have hit such heights that they don't even have time to acknowledge their fans.<br /><br />Anyway, the reason I'm writing this now is that I've only got about four people left on my list (though more will likely be added as time passes). Recently, I got to rub elbows with Sir Patrick Stewart, and I am pleased to announce that he was kind and gracious.<br /><br />Others who met my expectations or went beyond them include Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, George Takei, Armin Shimerman, Tim Russ, Mark Hamill, Davy Jones, Tanya Huff, Elizabeth Moon, Linnea Sinclair, Ann Aguirre, and several more writers and performers.<br /><br />I won't list those who treated their fans poorly. <br /><br />So, four to go. Anyone know where I might run into Sam Neill, Harrison Ford, Anne McCaffrey, or Dick Van Dyke? :-)Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-70737210958362787832011-11-02T13:04:00.004-04:002012-01-23T19:00:19.623-05:00Building CharacterA topic that has come up in my classroom as well as my writing group lately is how one creates a believable, well-rounded character. Now, granted, I'm not the "end all and be all" in writing, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt, but I'd like to think my characters have depth and dimension, and here's how I go about creating them.<br /><br />First off, in my opinion, a writer should know far, far more about his or her characters than the mere information that makes it into the finished manuscript. This knowledge adds layers to a character's personality and actions. It gives the character reasons and motivations for what she does. <br /><br />Far too often, I read a character in a work in progress that does things seemingly randomly. Usually this happens because the AUTHOR needs for it to happen, and not because it is something that character would normally do based on what we know of the character so far. It doesn't work. If I can't accept a character's action, I can't accept that character. Either the action needs to change, or the author needs to include the character's motivations for doing the action.<br /><br />Think of it like being a method actor. The actor is performing a part in a play that might show only a small slice of a character's life, but the actor might create background for that character in his head so that his emotions ring true when he portrays the character on stage. He tries to expeience what that character has experienced, tries to live the way that character might have lived. It needs to be THAT REAL to the audience.<br /><br />It needs to be THAT REAL to the reader.<br /><br />In my manuscript, we might not meet my protagonist until she is twenty-four years old. But I know that character's childhood inside and out. I know her childhood fears and joys, her desires, even details like her favorite colors and foods. Again, these facts might never make the final draft, but hints of them will. Subconsciously, if you know these details, they will find their way into the writing. The character might think back on these fears and desires when faced with something similar as an adult. It gives the character depth.<br /><br />Now, granted, sometimes I take this character development to extremes. When I'm really into the writing, I will try to think like my protagonist, respond as she does, view the world as she might view it. Writing assassin characters, I can't sit in a restaurant with my back to the door without feeling like I have a target painted between my shoulderblades. I always try to go for the corner seat, much to the amusement of my husband and anyone else who happens to be dining with us.<br /><br />Another component to good characters is what they say. Speak your character's dialogue out loud. Does it ring true? Does it sound like something a real person might say? Or is it stilted or out of voice for that character? Is it too intellectual in word choice? Too limited?<br /><br />I recite most of my dialogue out loud to myself before it ever makes it onto the page. Often I'll repeat the same line three or four different ways before I get it the way I want it, the way that character should really sound.<br /><br />Some writers keep index cards or files on each character. Others do what I do. Whatever method you choose, be consistent and true to your characters' personalities. Characters should be as multifaceted as any person you meet on the street.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-49628808626515087442011-11-01T08:57:00.004-04:002011-11-01T16:18:18.955-04:00Why did YOU join a crit group?I'm a big fan of crit groups for writing. I strongly encourage writers of all ability levels to belong to one. However, it needs to be the RIGHT one.<br /><br />My group is awesome! We're a collection of writers at a variety of stages in the process, all with the goal of eventual traditional publication, all with different strengths and weaknesses, different areas of expertise, and different preferences and backgrounds. For example, we have a pair of teachers, several with extensive knowledge of the sciences, a former member of the military, an engineer, and so forth. My contribution tends to be character development and grammar/punctuation, another's is choreography and plot holes, and another is finding errors in our science/engineering elements (many of us write science fiction). None of us are afraid to tell each other where the problems in our writing lie, and though we will sometimes "negotiate" for our points, we all take criticism very well.<br /><br />But we weren't always that way. We had to build the group to this level. We had to weed out those who weren't serious enough, those who got hurt feelings every time they were critiqued, those who just wanted to be told how awesome they were. Well, actually, they weeded themselves out. It takes about two meetings and one critique for someone to realize he/she isn't ready for our level of feedback and our somewhat fanatical drive towards getting published.<br /><br />Now anyone can have a rough day, and a harsh critique can really get a person down . . . for a day or two. But the members of my group go home, shake it off, and come back gunning to be better, often with a piece of writing that takes it to the next level.<br /><br />Which brings me to my title question. Why do some of these people join a crit group in the first place? Crit, meaning critique, meaning there will likely be criticism involved.<br /><br />Our group president is very up front with new people. We are a serious crit group. We tell it like it is. We try to be polite about it, but if something is wrong with the writing, we will tell you. And if a piece needs to be scrapped and started from scratch because it has fundamental errors at the plot's core or the character's development, even a whole novel you wrote before joining us, we'll tell you that, too. Then we'll make suggestions on how you can fix it.<br /><br />And people still come, and are shocked when their work isn't perfect the first time they show it to us. Um, if you thought your work was perfect, why did you join a critique group? Why aren't you sending it out to agents and editors? Or did you just jump in to get praise?<br /><br />I've talked to people from other groups who complain about members who give any negative feedback at all, as this is "discouraging." They don't want to be told they aren't good enough, but if they were good enough right now, they wouldn't need a critique group. That's the point!<br /><br />And quite frankly, if you can't take constructive criticism from a group of your peers, you are NOT ready to query agents and editors who will care a whole lot less about your feelings and send you enough rejection letters by mail and email that if you printed copies of them all, you could wallpaper your living room. They won't tell you how to get better. They won't say their comments with a smile. Most won't even use your name. They don't have time for that kind of hand-holding.<br /><br />So the new question becomes, do you want to be published, or do you just want to play at being a writer? Because writers revise and rewrite and start over from scratch even fifty pages in, and consider everyone's opinion and choose the ones that make sense to them to fix. They listen to those farther along the path than they are. Heck, I hang on every word that comes out of my mentors' mouths. I have two friends who are published authors who give me feedback, in addition to my wonderful group, and if they tell me something is wrong, then 99% of the time, there's something wrong. And I try to fix it. Because I want to get better. <br /><br />That's why I joined a crit group.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-22880824719424524702011-10-31T12:13:00.002-04:002011-10-31T12:41:23.564-04:00Convention Goers BewareThis past weekend I had the mixed experience of attending a science fiction convention. On the positive side, there were several stars there whom I'd wanted to meet for a long time. I got to chat with them, have my picture taken, get autographs. Everything ran very smoothly. Organization was well done. However, I'm not naming the convention or the stars present because of the rather major negative side to my experience:<br /><br />THE WRITERS TRACK (insert horror movie theme music here)<br /><br />First of all, out of all the authors they brought in to present to new writers, only one of them was traditionally published. The rest had self-published their books, or gone the route of print on demand. Now, don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with those options, if that's the route you want to take. However, I feel it would have served new writers much better to see a more balanced group of presenters. Often, new writers don't know the difference between these tracks to publication. All options should be presented.<br /><br />Now for the presenters themselves. Most were polite, nice, well-spoken, personable. While their path to publication does not mirror mine, I had no problem listening to their viewpoints.<br /><br />Until the last guy.<br /><br />A man claiming to be "an agent, consultant, and book reviewer" gave a talk on advice for new writers. (We looked him up. He's an "agent" who works for a self-publishing house. That does not fit with my definition of agent.) But that wasn't the biggest issue. His method of showing new writers what mistakes to avoid was to READ EMAILS FROM HIS FORMER CLIENTS, point out their mistakes, NAME THEM, show us the covers of their books, tell us how STUPID these people were (because they didn't listen to every bit of advice he gave them.)<br /><br />Holy poop!<br /><br />I certainly wouldn't want to be this guy's "client." I sincerely wonder if his former clients know he badmouths them by name at every convention and conference he attends. It doesn't get more unprofessional than this, in my opinion.<br /><br />He then went on to ask several people in the room where they were in the writing process. After hearing that my husband and I had legitimate agents, he pretty much ignored us. Go figure. But he zoomed in on this poor new writer in the back who had just begun his first novel. <br /><br />Our presenter suggested this new writer should hire him as a consultant. He pushed strongly for self-publishing, citing that "if you go with traditional publishing, it will be years before your book gets in print." Yes, that's true. What he didn't mention is that if your book does get into print the traditional way, the publisher pays the author. The author doesn't pay the publisher.<br /><br />I thought he might redeem himself a bit when he mentioned that agents were a good thing, and to never hire an agent who charges money before selling your book. But then he added that agents who charge reading fees are okay, and one might expect to pay $45 to each agent queried in order for that agent to read the manuscript and make a decision on representing it. <br /><br />Um, no. Good agents do not charge reading fees.<br /><br />My writers group sat there, somewhat stunned, trying to remain professional and not verbally rip this man to shreds. I truly had to bite my tongue. Maybe I should have spoken up, but someday I'd like to present myself at conferences like these and promote traditional publishing, so I didn't want to alienate anyone.<br /><br />But I'm putting my thoughts here, for anyone who might read them. Watch out for this sort of thing at conventions and conferences. Look up the presenters' credentials before taking anything they say to heart. Listen to how they treat others and realize that the clients they are badmouthing could include you if you decide to work with someone like that.<br /><br />At the end, he had the audacity to ask me and my husband if we'd learned anything. <br /><br />"Oh, yes," we both said. "We learned a lot."<br /><br />Yep, we learned that new writers should avoid people like this guy.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-44528657707634387032011-10-03T20:56:00.003-04:002011-10-03T21:27:54.517-04:00100 Year Starship ConferenceI like to think of myself as a pretty intelligent person. However, this past weekend I spent my time with hundreds of people who made me feel like a complete moron.<br /><br />Yep, I attended one day of the 100 Year Starship Conference.<br /><br />What is it, you may ask?<br /><br />Sadly, I'm not entirely sure. The basic premise seemed to be that scientists from a variety of backgrounds would come together to present their ideas on what it would take to create and support an interstellar exploration mission within the next hundred years.<br /><br />I poked my head into several different lectures going on throughout the conference, covering topics in a range from societal views on why mankind should take to the stars, to potential propulsion systems, to estimated costs of creating an interstellar capable vehicle. Cool, right?<br /><br />Well, it would have been, if I could have understood half of what they were saying.<br /><br />And, perhaps, I didn't understand much because the conference wasn't intended for me. Most of the attendees were scientists. But it was free and open to the public, which would seem to imply that the public should be able to understand the discussions--that, perhaps, the presenters should be presenting in terms that the above-averagely educated public should understand, and not only those with doctorates. <br /><br />Now, to be entirely fair, I spoke to other attendees who told me that not all the presentations were incomprehensible to someone without a physics degree. Some, I hear, were quite entertaining, thought-provoking, and creative. I just happened into the one where the screen at the front was displaying complex formulas for achieving near-light speeds, and another where the presenter kept her head down the entire time, reading straight from her notes.<br /><br />Interstellar travel is a concept that excites me, that fires my imagination as a writer of science fiction. If achieved, it opens all sorts of possibilities for the future of mankind. I feel guilty for complaining about a free conference. After all, no one made me attend. And the concept is fantastic. But organizations like this one are going to need the people like me for support, funding, a positive public opinion, political backing. So, we need to better understand what they are working on.<br /><br />They did make some strides towards that goal. They brought in a number of successful writers of science fiction to present panels on their views of interstellar travel. I attended one of these, featuring one of my favorite writers, Elizabeth Bear. During the panel presentation, the authors helped make some connections between those working in the scientific fields, and those who loved the concepts but may have lacked the science backgrounds. They brought up the human factor of interstellar travel, what it would be like from a psychological standpoint, how it would affect the evolution of the human race. I came away with several great ideas for future stories.<br /><br />So, no, the conference was not a waste of time. What I understood, I enjoyed. I just wish my brochure had come with a Universal Translator.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-6414340014201993782011-06-24T21:36:00.002-04:002011-06-24T21:39:30.546-04:00Agent for the Hubby!Yes, I know I promised more Backspace details, but I've been away on a trip and without internet access. And while traveling, the hubby GOT AN AGENT! And not just any agent, but the fabulous Cameron McClure of The Donald Maass Agency. So, we are now agent cousins (writers represented by the same agency but not the same agent.) I'm so thrilled for him. Now he can suffer with me through revisions and the submission process. :-)Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-81547729163421083812011-05-29T11:43:00.007-04:002011-07-20T14:55:13.310-04:00Back to Backspace--Day OneAbout a year and a half ago I won a scholarship to the Backspace Conference. It was a phenomenal conference with lots of agent/writer interaction and personal attention. This year, my husband won the same scholarship. How cool is that?!<br /><br />We just got back from New York this morning. Physically, I'm exhausted. Mentally, I'm recharged and ready to storm into a summer of writing. This would be a very long post if i tried to describe the whole experience, so I'm breaking it into days.<br /><br />We got in very late Wednesday night. Thursday morning, bright and early, the conference began. (Why do they always have to start these things so early?) We attended panels on "What Agents Want" and "Query Letters That Work." Then, I went off to read while the hubby attended the workshop on query letters. By the time that ended, he had two requests for partials from the agents conducting the workshop. We had lunch with some other very nice writers of young adult and middle grade fiction. Then he went back to the opening pages workshop and I read some more. After this came the mixer where we chatted with agents and writers. It's all done in a very comfortable atmosphere, everyone mingling and exchanging experiences and advice. Next came an agent panel on "The Wow Factor." In other words, what makes an agent say, "Wow!" while reading your manuscript or query. At the end, my husband went up to speak with one of the agents and got another request for his material.<br /><br />We then had a two hour break, so we headed off to The Donald Maass Literary Agency. My agent, Amy Boggs, had said I could come by and see the agency and chat. It was very nice, and more orderly than I imagined it would be. Lots of books, but no piles of manuscripts and letters. Everything is electronic these days. I also got to meet agent Stacia Decker and Donald Maass himself, and he welcomed me very warmly.<br /><br />Back to the hotel where I hung out while Joe attended another workshop. And then we hit the bar. Now, let me say up front, I don't drink. One glass of wine is quite enough for me. But most of the networking at writers conferences goes on in the bar, and the lobby if the bar is overflowing. Best trick is to order something nonalcoholic that looks like a real drink. Stick a stirrer stick in anything and it looks like the real thing. Otherwise, you might say something really stupid in front of a future agent or editor.<br /><br />We found a group of writers and chatted for several hours about writing, querying, etc. I don't generally tell people I have an agent unless I'm asked directly about it, or if my husband is bragging on me. I just sit and listen to all the "advice" writers give other writers about how to land an agent. I will offer my own suggestions, but I don't say I already have one, mainly because I get amused when people tell me that I'm going about it all wrong. As long as everyone is nice about it, I keep my secret. If someone really gets aggressive or rude, though, I (or my husband) will casually mention that I'm already represented. If someone is really obnoxious or condescending, he'll toss in there that I had seven offers of representation, and we get to watch their eyes pop. That doesn't happen too often, though. Almost everyone we met at this conference was polite, friendly, and eager to soak up any advice anyone could give about this very long and difficult process, and also willing to acknowledge that there is no one secret method or path to getting an agent.<br /><br />And so ended day one.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-77528787854249063872011-04-05T19:29:00.002-04:002011-04-05T19:38:32.692-04:00Moving Right AlongI love writing. I hate revising. Not to say I won't do it. I will. And I'll give it my best effort. I just don't enjoy it the way I enjoy creating new words. I think most writers feel the same way, although I have met a few who embrace and love revising.<br /><br />Must be something wrong with them. :-)<br /><br />Anyway, got my revision suggestions back from my new agent. I was, understandably, a little nervous. I mean, I knew she loved the book, or she wouldn't have offered to represent it. And she'd said she wanted minimal changes. But I worried that once she'd reread it with a closer eye (and no competitive deadline hanging over her head) that she'd find all kinds of things that needed fixing.<br /><br />So I opened the email with some trepidation to find . . . one suggestion. That's right. One. And it was the same one she'd suggested in our initial conversations about the book. I take this as a tremendous compliment.<br /><br />In addition, she offered several great ideas on how I might accomplish what she was looking for in that one suggestion. I guess I shouldn't have worried so much.<br /><br />Now let's hope the changes meet her expectations.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-16075988709902847042011-03-08T16:07:00.003-05:002011-03-08T16:15:14.794-05:00New Agent a Good InfluenceI've only been represented by Amy Boggs a couple of weeks, and she's already proving to be a good influence on my writing habits. One of the tasks assigned to me was an outline of where the VICIOUS CIRCLE series is headed in its sequel. I had some vague ideas to that effect, but nothing definite. This forced me to get my thoughts in order.<br /><br />So, I spent the weekend preparing a rough synopsis of book two, currently titled DARK ADDICTION. Between my general notions and the hubby's brilliant input, I think I've pulled together a pretty good plot. We'll see how well it holds up after Amy and a future editor make changes to book one, but at least it's a starting point. It even served to provide a guide toward book three in what I'm thinking will be a three-book story arc.<br /><br />I will say, it's weird getting back into that particular protagonist's head after so much time has passed. I rather missed writing her, actually. Cor is dark and sarcastic, but with a definite sensitive side. However, given the amount of torture I'm about to put her through, she would kill me if we ever met on the street.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-74184521447273631352011-02-26T21:02:00.003-05:002011-02-26T21:20:02.427-05:00New Representation!!!!!Yes, it has been a very long time since I blogged. That's because I was dedicating every minute of free time to the Great Agent Hunt, also fondly known as GAH!!!!<br /><br />I will say, I did things quite a bit differently this time. I had two manuscripts ready, so I tried to gauge agent personalities and send the right one to the right person.<br /><br />I also queried a lot more widely. Instead of sticking to those representing science fiction and fantasy, I also queried agents who handled "general" and "commercial" fiction. Surprisingly, I got a lot of requests from those areas.<br /><br />After I got the first offer of representation, I also decided to nudge agents who already had my partials and fulls. But in addition, I nudged those with only queries from me. This generated a firestorm of sorts, nine full requests in one day, and many more over the course of the next several days. I also received a large number of thank-you notes from agents who appreciated being "kept in the loop" even though they only had my query letter. Apparently, this sort of notification isn't normally done, but some agents have backlogs of emails, and I gathered that they are frequently disappointed if they finally get to a query letter, only to make a request and find out the writer has already accepted representation elsewhere.<br /><br />The next thing I knew, I had SEVEN offers of representation, all from wonderful agents. Each night brought a different CALL. I ate little, and slept less while I agonized over making the right decision.<br /><br />Some were boutique agencies. Others were major, long-established agencies in New York. Every single one of them had something positive to offer. I asked questions, spoke with their clients, did anything I could to narrow down my choices. I called friends and family members who were patient while I brainstormed my decision-making process out loud to them.<br /><br />After much deliberation, I selected the fabulous Amy Boggs of The Donald Maass Literary Agency. Many, many of my favorite authors are represented by them. I am honored to be part of the Maass Agency family.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-70659340521256406752010-12-05T10:01:00.003-05:002010-12-05T10:14:13.442-05:00Book Review Time - Richelle Mead and Gini KochIt's been awhile since I did a book review post, maybe because it's been awhile since something really knocked my socks off. But I've read a couple of books in the past few weeks that I enjoyed from beginning to end. That's not easy to find for me. Often, it takes me awhile to get into something, but STORM BORN by Richelle Mead, and ALIEN TANGO by Gini Koch had me from their opening lines.<br /><br />STORM BORN was a book purchased out of desperation for something to read. None of my fave authors had anything new out, and the cover attracted me, so I gave it a chance. I'm not usually into fantasy, but I loved this. Modern day meets faerie realm. Great, strong female main character, two intriguing male leads. Snappy dialogue. Steamy romance. (Not for the middle school set, and I know some of you reading this are in middle school, so, no, not for you). This book gave me a whole new perspective on foxes, though I already thought they were cute. And if you adults out there read it, you'll understand what I'm talking about.<br /><br />ALIEN TANGO is a sequel to TOUCHED BY AN ALIEN, and again, not for middle school readers. I'll confess, I almost didn't read TOUCHED BY AN ALIEN because it sounded too tongue-in-cheek for me, but I'm very glad I did. And ALIEN TANGO might be even better. Gini Koch is the master of snarky dialogue, and her heroine is as kick-butt as they come. Jeff Martini, our hero, is utterly desirable. The action is non-stop, and the plot twists and suspense-builders are cleverly woven throughout. I haven't finished this one yet, but I'm halfway through and need to stop writing this post so I can go and read more.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-5247324386837902152010-11-09T16:58:00.002-05:002010-11-09T17:08:37.954-05:00Back in the Query SaddleI am, once more, unagented. Well, mostly.<br /><br />FinePrint will continue to represent ASSASSIN'S NIGHTMARE for the duration of its submission process to editors. However, my new agent there just didn't have the same love for my writing that Colleen Lindsay had. I can't really blame her. She doesn't handle science fiction, and she didn't select me for herself. Therefore, we've decided to part ways.<br /><br />And so, I find myself back at square one. Frustrating, but not insurmountable. Depressing, but not as horribly so as I thought it would be.<br /><br />I am extremely grateful that I have two new finished manuscripts ready to query. I am glad I didn't sit back and wait to see what ASSASSIN'S NIGHTMARE would do before going ahead and writing more books. Now, I'm ready to hit the query trail again.<br /><br />Hopefully it won't be long before I find an agent who loves my work and will show the same enthusiasm Colleen did.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-83043120464478134692010-09-19T20:45:00.002-04:002010-09-19T21:14:28.913-04:00Dragon*Con--The ExperienceI've returned from Dragon*Con, courtesy of PYR Books, and I have to say, it was a memorable experience.<br /><br />It began with an uneventful plane ride, thank goodness. I hate to fly, and leave nail marks in my poor husband's arm with every bounce of turbulence. He's wonderful about it, though, and endures the torture without complaint.<br /><br />Upon our arrival in Atlanta, we took the Marta train downtown. Very efficient transportation system they have there. Round trip, twenty minutes each way, cost the two of us nine dollars combined.<br /><br />We checked into the Westin, where my con badge was awaiting me at the front desk, and went to our gorgeous room on the 34th floor, overlooking the city. It is important to note that I had my badge, and my husband did not. His was at will-call at the Hilton, several blocks away.<br /><br />We strolled to the Hilton, pleasant enough despite the heat, and came upon the will-call line which wrapped around the building. This was the only major failing of the convention. Dragon*Con has no idea how to manage crowds. Imagine thousands of people, many of whom wore heavy costumes, standing in ninety degrees for two and a half hours to get their admission badges! Their excuse for not mailing the badges was fear of counterfeiting. I'm sorry. They ticked off a huge number of people, many of whom vowed not to return in future years. If you wanted to simply buy a ticket, you could walk right to the front, but if you'd given them your money beforehand, you were at their mercy. I could go in the air conditioning, since I had a badge, and I ended up doing water runs for strangers in line about to pass out from the heat.<br /><br />After that, though, everything went well. We missed a couple of panels we'd hoped to attend, but managed to make it to the PYR presentation panel. There I met editor Lou Anders and the authors with whom I would be dining later that evening. At the opening of the panel, Lou explained the contest I'd won, and then presented me to the crowd, so I got to stand and do my little princess wave. Very cool. The hardest thing about the panel was wishing I could be on the authors' side of the table. Well, hopefully someday.<br /><br />From there, we proceeded to dinner at Sear, a fabulous steakhouse in the Marriott. I sat between my husband and author Mike Resnick. Also present were Lou Anders, publicity expert extraordinaire Jill Maxick, authors Sam Sykes, James Enge, Jon Sprunk, and Mike Resnick's wife and James's daughter.<br /><br />Though I was a bit nervous at first, once the conversation got started, it never stopped. Lou and Jill were wonderful about making us feel welcome. I'd read books by three of the authors present, so I could ask questions. And it turned out, I'd read two books by Mike Resnick's daughter, so we had that to discuss as well. The food was excellent. I had filet mignon, mushrooms, and sweet potatoes. By the time we left, we were delightfully full.<br /><br />The rest of the con is a blur of panels and insane crowds. I got to hear readings by Laura Anne Gilman and Mary Robinette Kowal. I also got to meet several editors looking at my manuscript, so those were nice connections to make. At the PYR booth, I ran across Ari Marmell, an agent cousin, and had him sign my copy of his book. I also snagged (thanks to Jill) an ARC of Clay and Susan Griffith's upcoming novel THE GREYFRIAR (which I've since finished. Fantastic thrill ride of a read).<br /><br />Evenings were spent wandering between the Hyatt and the Marriott lobbies, admiring the variety of costumes and styles. Imagine a two-sectioned space station in a far off galaxy connected by a transparent tube. Then picture every possible species of alien life promenading through those sections. That was nightlife at Dragon*Con. I did experience a few pangs of regret that I hadn't brought costume wear of my own, but as an aspiring author, I needed to maintain a more professional appearance.<br /><br />Leaving was painful as well. It meant a return to reality. Not that I mind my reality, but escapism is my writing stock and trade, and the longer I can live within that world, the better. Well, there's always next year . . .Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-51015524788184997002010-08-04T11:46:00.002-04:002010-08-04T12:06:21.913-04:00Agent ChangesIf you are an unagented writer who reads this blog, here is a bit of advice. Given a choice between two equally great agents, one in a large agency, and one in a smaller one, I recommend you go with the larger agency. (And may you all have such decisions to make!) Or at the very least, be sure to ask about the agency's policy if your agent leaves.<br /><br />I'm represented by FinePrint Literary Management. My agent there was the wonderful Colleen Lindsay, but my contract is with FinePrint. Colleen is moving on to a great new job elsewhere. And because of my contract and FinePrint's client policies, I'm not finding myself agentless. Instead, Colleen worked hard for each and every one of her clients to find other agents within FinePrint that would be good fits for our work.<br /><br />My new agent is Stephany Evans, President of FinePrint. We met briefly at the Backspace conference last year, and I found her to be most friendly and professional. She's been in the business for twenty years, and is a member of AAR (Association of Authors Representatives), so I think I'm in great hands. I'm told she has a particular fondness for strong female protagonists. Sounds like a good match for what I write. I'm looking forward to working with her, and I am pleased with the way in which FinePrint is handling what could have been a very scary situation for writers. The thought of returning to the query process makes me a little ill. No, I take that back. It makes me very ill. I don't want to do that again, and I'm glad I don't have to.<br /><br />So, I wish Colleen all the best and am eager to start working with Stephany Evans. My manuscript is out on submission right now. It's too soon, but I still jump when the phone rings. Time to go focus on something else--like my new manuscript.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-64922241917109893942010-08-04T11:10:00.002-04:002010-08-04T11:33:26.125-04:00Gate Crashing RWA NationalsFirst off, if any RWA officials read the title, no, I did not actually crash any pay-to-enter functions at Nationals. However, I did get to meet up with many of my authorly and agenty friends while they were in town for this auspicious gathering, and by the end, I wished I had attended. The price tag was just a bit too high for my summer teacher income which is $0.<br /><br />I got to have drinks with my agent sibling, Allison Pang. Allison is the fab author of the upcoming release, BRUSH OF DARKNESS. We have the same agent. That makes us agent siblings. (actually, this has changed, but I'll explain that in a later post). We'd never met in person, but we'd chatted online about concerns of the newly agented, and commiserated when we made newbie errors.<br /><br />Getting to have drinks with her was a treat. The publishing industry, from the author perspective, is amazingly faceless. So much is done by email. Many authors go through their careers having never met their agents or editors in person. Honestly, I think this is a mistake the industry makes. People who work so closely together on such personal material as a novel, should meet face-to-face on occasion. I make a point of gathering with industry professionals as often as possible. And I'm proud to say I've met both my first agent and my new one(discussed later). But I digress.<br /><br />Allison was lovely, as pleasant to chat with in person as online. And she introduced me to some of the other writers we both know through Twitter as well.<br /><br />Then, on a different night, my husband and I arranged a little gathering at Jellyrolls, the dueling piano nightclub at Disney's Boardwalk hotel. We had dinner first with the wonderful author, Ann Aguirre, whom we've known for years. We tried a new Greek restaurant whose name I can't spell. The food was delicious. Then we headed to the club where we met up with literary agent and author Lucienne Diver and a number of friends from my writers group. Those still in the query process need to know that Lucienne is one of the most down-to-earth agents (and all around nice people) you ever want to meet. If you ever get nervous pitching her or speaking to her, picture her dancing to the "Unicorn Song" at Jellyrolls. That will loosen you right up.<br /><br />My RWA Nationals experience ended with a high tea party Lucienne threw at the Grand Floridian. I was thrilled to be invited, but a bit nervous. If you've ever seen me, I'm not exactly the tea type, and when I spotted all the various devices/equipment required to simply drink a cup of tea, I panicked a little. The china cups were beautiful, but so delicate I was sure I'd break one, and my husband found himself in a gathering of eleven women wearing feather boas and tiaras. (Nope, no pictures of me were taken in said boas and tiaras).<br /><br />It all went really well, though, and we both had a great time. I found a vanilla tea that was delicious. The waitress poured it for me, so I didn't have to worry about the odd equipment, and the wonderful romance author seated next to me confessed this was only the third cup of tea she'd drunk in her lifetime. And here I was thinking that romance authors must have high tea all the time.<br /><br />I'll say it again. Romance writers and those who work with them are some of the warmest, friendliest people I've encountered in the publishing industry. They exclude no one and reach out a helping hand to new writers. The hubby and I had wonderful conversation with the authors at our tea table, and also two acquisitions editors from Tor publishing. It was a most pleasant afternoon.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-50963715438703740172010-07-16T13:27:00.004-04:002010-07-16T13:58:48.182-04:00I'm Going to Dragon Con, For Free!http://pyrsf.blogspot.com/2010/07/announcing-winners-of-pyr-and-dragons.html<br /><br />Many writers swear that contest wins do nothing to help them fight their way down the road to publication. I beg to differ. I do believe they need to be the RIGHT contests, but contest wins can do a lot for an aspiring author.<br /><br />I've won four contests in the last two years, all of which helped in one way or another by gaining me exposure to other writers, placing my work in front of editors at major publishers, or sending me to awesome conferences. This latest win (see link above) is sending me to Dragon Con! <br /><br />The essay I submitted http://pyrsf.blogspot.com/2010/07/grand-prize-winning-essay-by-lisa.html followed a chain of major events throughout my life, each of which was touched in some way by fantasy or science fiction. It amazes me, even now, how much influence these genres have had over the paths I've chosen, and I'm certain they will continue to do so as I seek publication of my own work and an opportunity to touch the lives of others.<br /><br />So, I'm off to Atlanta, Georgia, in September to Dragon Con. I'm the guest of honor at a banquet being thrown by PYR publishing. I think I need to go clothes shopping!Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-85821271304481301302010-06-02T12:46:00.002-04:002010-06-02T12:59:42.573-04:00Novel DetachmentColleen made the announcement on Twitter that she was:<br /><br />Going out with a fun adult SF thriller this week! Kick-a** female assassin protagonist. 100% poly-unvampired! #youknowyouwanttoreadthis<br /><br />And that's me!<br /><br />It's unreal. It's like reading about some other writer's work. The road has been so long, I'm a little detached. I'm excited. I know it's me, but this little voice keeps whispering, "Getting published is a dream, a fantasy. Like becoming a rock star. It doesn't happen to normal people."<br /><br />Then I remind myself, I'm not normal. Hee.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-8086622271610567622010-05-13T17:32:00.004-04:002010-05-13T17:44:22.909-04:00Awesome Author Day (Round 2) and More Cool StuffLike last year, I invited several authors to come talk at my school. This year in particular, since I teach creative writing, the idea seemed fitting.<br /><br />The magnificent agent/author Lucienne Diver took me up on my invitation. She's the author of VAMPED, a YA humorous vampire novel, and REVAMPED due to release on Sept. 1st of this year. She spent the entire day with my classes, talking about writing, her books, and being a literary agent. Though I've known Lucienne for years, even I picked up a few new choice bits of information. She's a wonderful speaker. The students were enthralled, and the glow-in-the-dark fangs she gave out didn't hurt their attention spans, either. In addition, many of my students had purchased the book ahead of time, and still more bought copies from her, and she signed and personalized them all.<br /><br />Then, by sheer good fortune, it turned out that one of my other favorite authors, Laura Anne Gilman, was meeting up with Lucienne after her visit, right outside my school! My husband rushed home to pick up the novels I had by Ms. Gilman, and when she arrived, she was kind enough to autograph all of them for me. It was a thrill to meet her. She lives up north, so it was a rare opportunity, but she was in Florida attending the Nebula awards for which she's been nominated this year.<br /><br />In other news, I'm finished with the revisions on ASSASSIN'S NIGHTMARE requested by my fantastic agent, Colleen Lindsay, and I truly believe it is a much better book thanks to her insights. This is a good thing, because I must admit, I've developed a real love/hate relationship with that novel. I know that once it sells there will be more revisions to complete, but for now, I'm quite happy to not look at it for awhile. ASSASSIN'S NIGHTMARE goes out on submission next month. I can't even begin to convey how excited that makes me. One step closer to my dream of publication.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143496696980342632.post-42384559418754571102010-04-16T19:53:00.003-04:002010-04-16T20:11:13.152-04:00A Gathering of Cool Stuff!So, as many of my followers have noticed, I haven't blogged in a long time. Actually, I haven't blogged since my dog, the best dog in the world, mind you, died. I had thought that when I could bear to write about it, I would dedicate a post to Fraemie's phenomenal life. I am still not at that point, but it will be soon.<br /><br />Instead, I wanted to discuss some of the cool things happening in my life and the lives of those around me.<br /><br />First off, the writing. I continue to work on revisions with my wonderful agent, Colleen Lindsay. I have found her to be most insightful and have agreed wholeheartedly with almost every suggestion she has made. ASSASSIN'S NIGHTMARE will be a much better book with her input.<br /><br />I also finished my newest manuscript for VICIOUS CIRCLE. It is unrelated to ASSASSIN'S NIGHTMARE, a bit lighter in tone, though it still features an assassin as the protagonist. I would categorize it as space opera/romance with a touch of fantasy. I'm very proud of it, but still nervous sending it off to Colleen. I guess that's normal, but I really hope she enjoys it.<br /><br />The hubby has also had some recent writing success. He won first place in the YA Fantasy category of the Do It Write literary competition. This is a contest I won last year in the sci-fi category. The Harper Collins editor who ranked him first had some very nice things to say about his manuscript for VANISHING ACT, and he is starting the query process himself, now. In addition, a good friend of mine, Alina Blanco, won in the sci-fi category this year. It's nice to know all the winners!<br /><br />And speaking of winning, Joe (hubby) entered a contest on author S.L. (Lynn) Viehl's blog. He won an amazing prize--a galley copy of the as-of-yet-unreleased novel in her STAR DOC series, and an extremely rare copy of the short story on which the series was based. In fact, there are only two copies of the short story in existence. The author has one, and we have one. How cool is that?! The actual book doesn't get released until August, but I get to read it now. I've read all the other books in the series and am a huge fan. I'll be diving into that this weekend. And no, I won't tell how it ends. You all will have to get your copies in August.<br /><br />So, that's the latest news around here. Sorry it's been so long. Fraemie has been gone two and a half months. I still miss her terribly, though a new puppy in the house has helped ease that loss somewhat. It's hard to lose a friend of 16 years.Lisa Iriartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12746425619147737744noreply@blogger.com7