I was surfin' this morning after I got out of bed - and before I had to go to work *groan* - and I was reading about how much fun Alesia Holliday was having in Reno and one link led to the other and I landed on Michelle Cunnah's website. At the very top of her website, there were *in huge letters * her name and then right under it were the words "chick lit romantic comedy," and I went UREKA! THAT'S IT!
Ahhhh. Chick lit romantic comedy. There's the chick lit and romance combined with laughs throughout. That's absolutely what my book-in-progress is...or is it?
In yesterday's post I was confused about the genre of my book because it was centered around relationships, but romance wasn't the overall theme of the book. The overall theme was all about Molly - her silly antics at work, her life at home taking care of her grandmother, her determination to not let Meg, her best friend, make bad relationship choices even if it came down to going on the date with her to put the guy in his place. It was all about Molly, Molly, Molly. However, there were romantic elements in it and that was what was confusing me. Was I writing a chick/hen lit or was I writing a romance?
Well, then I came to Michelle's website, saw the catchy little phrase "chick lit romantic comedy," and even though I'm barely awake, it is making sense to me now.
But, then, I wanted to make sure. So, I went back to Michelle's website and read some excerpts. I thought maybe this way I could get a feel of what a chick lit romantic comedy was.
I started with "Confessions of a Serial Dater." I could have kicked myself for not ordering it when I made my last Amazon order, but it's on the list for next month.
Anyway, I read the excerpt there on her website and tried to get a feel of just exactly what is a "chick lit romantic comedy."
Omg...wonderful prologue and I didn't get past the first couple of sentences before I actually chuckled out loud. Wowzers. I am just so in awe.
So, I checked out "Call Waiting." I'm telling you, this woman is my hero. But, I did notice with this book, the protag really concentrated on her relationship with Jack, her boyfriend I presumed, which opened the first chapter. If I read it right (still half asleep), the first chapter concentrated on their sexual escapades...not sure...relying on memory on this one because I'm too darn lazy to go back to it. Well, mine doesn't. Sexual tension, but no sex. As of yet anyway.
Hm...I thought. My character is somewhat the complete opposite, but that is good I think because it doesn't concentrate on romance enough to make it a romance per say. Plus, the fact that my protag is older than hers and that would make a huge difference in the way they perceive goals and relationships.
I already had "32AA" but my daughter grabbed it before I could read it (remind me to ask her about that). Anyway, so I'm back on Michelle's website and read the excerpt there.
Okay, her book and mine is very different but the tone is similar. Light and full of fun.
So, anyway, these are chick lit/romantic comedies.
And that, I believe, led me to the conclusion that my book is definitely a hen lit romantic comedy. I could see by reading Michelle's books that the goals and aspirations of twenty-somethings are quite different from thirty-, forty- and above-somethings. And that is what hen lit is all about anyway - experiences of older protags which comes with its own set of rules on love and dating. Interesting. Anyway, that's it and I'm not going to change my mind. Hen lit romantic comedy. I even like the sound of it.
It's amazing what a good night's sleep will do for you. Oh heck, gotta go, I'm going to be late for work.
Chow amigos!
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Tell The Story The Way It Wants To Be Told
Such words of wisdom.
After stressing out whether I'm writing a chick/hen lit or romance, my friend Kathy comes along and says:
"Older women need romance, too. :) Tell the story the way it wants to be told."
You don't know how much that means to me to hear that (thanks Kathy!).
In my last blog post, and even people are talking about it in the chick lit group, too, I was contemplating about the thin line that exists between chick/hen lit vs. romantic fiction. And the reason behind my contemplation was the fact that I wanted to make sure it was one or the other for the simple fact that when I query an agent or publisher for this, I really would like to be able to put it in one or the other genre. I figure that by the time it is written, I will know.
It's coming along beautifully. I've gotten the word count up to almost 12,000 words - a big jump over day before yesterday's post of 5,967 words. I almost hated to even get into this book because I knew what my life was like writing the other books. Quite time-consuming - although to be truthful I love every minute of it - but more than that, I am like this other person.
I remember what it was like now that I've gotten into this and this is my book-writing mode. Everything gets put on the wayside because I am on such a freaking roll and I know that if I stop, the muse will quietly go away and I don't want that to happen. It's actually fun and I do feel productive. Makes you feel like you are working towards your goal and that can't be too bad.
Molly is such a cool character to work with. She confuses me sometimes, though, and I have to go back and read what she said earlier to make sure it's the same opinion she is saying now. Like her views on soul mates. They have to be consecutive. They have to be of one opinion and I found myself changing her opinion and something kicked in and I went, "Okay, Molly, I'll go back and make sure I don't change it." Wouldn't want to make her mad or confuse the reader, either. So, that's what I've been working on today. Making everything kosher.
Now, back to the chick/hen lit vs. romance thing. Molly has someone interested in her, I mean VERY interested in her but because he does not live up to her "opinion" on soul mates, she disses him. However, what she doesn't know is, he actually would be a good match for her. As I get further in the book, maybe I'll have a surprise or two for Molly. But, she is so damn defiant, she'll probably rewrite it when I'm asleep.
But, that's where that romance thing comes in again. Is it a romance or a chick/hen lit?
Arrrggg...
But, Kathy put it in a new light by saying, "Tell the story it wants to be told."
I like that. Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment...;o)
After stressing out whether I'm writing a chick/hen lit or romance, my friend Kathy comes along and says:
"Older women need romance, too. :) Tell the story the way it wants to be told."
You don't know how much that means to me to hear that (thanks Kathy!).
In my last blog post, and even people are talking about it in the chick lit group, too, I was contemplating about the thin line that exists between chick/hen lit vs. romantic fiction. And the reason behind my contemplation was the fact that I wanted to make sure it was one or the other for the simple fact that when I query an agent or publisher for this, I really would like to be able to put it in one or the other genre. I figure that by the time it is written, I will know.
It's coming along beautifully. I've gotten the word count up to almost 12,000 words - a big jump over day before yesterday's post of 5,967 words. I almost hated to even get into this book because I knew what my life was like writing the other books. Quite time-consuming - although to be truthful I love every minute of it - but more than that, I am like this other person.
I remember what it was like now that I've gotten into this and this is my book-writing mode. Everything gets put on the wayside because I am on such a freaking roll and I know that if I stop, the muse will quietly go away and I don't want that to happen. It's actually fun and I do feel productive. Makes you feel like you are working towards your goal and that can't be too bad.
Molly is such a cool character to work with. She confuses me sometimes, though, and I have to go back and read what she said earlier to make sure it's the same opinion she is saying now. Like her views on soul mates. They have to be consecutive. They have to be of one opinion and I found myself changing her opinion and something kicked in and I went, "Okay, Molly, I'll go back and make sure I don't change it." Wouldn't want to make her mad or confuse the reader, either. So, that's what I've been working on today. Making everything kosher.
Now, back to the chick/hen lit vs. romance thing. Molly has someone interested in her, I mean VERY interested in her but because he does not live up to her "opinion" on soul mates, she disses him. However, what she doesn't know is, he actually would be a good match for her. As I get further in the book, maybe I'll have a surprise or two for Molly. But, she is so damn defiant, she'll probably rewrite it when I'm asleep.
But, that's where that romance thing comes in again. Is it a romance or a chick/hen lit?
Arrrggg...
But, Kathy put it in a new light by saying, "Tell the story it wants to be told."
I like that. Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment...;o)
Thursday, July 28, 2005
The Saga Continues...
I've done it. Gone and started on another book. This one is in between a chick lit and a hen lit book. I say this because the heroine is 35. Could go either way or hen? I don't know, but I'm into the third chapter and am standing on 5,957 words and 25 double-spaced pages. It's a start.
I've had this manuscript in my files just waiting for the right time to start it. Time is not a problem, getting the muse started is. Sometimes it just takes me a matter of a few months to write a book but if the muse isn't there, I let it sit until it is there. After all, I have too many other projects going on and can keep quite busy finishing those up.
Actually, Unpublished Book #1 has to be reworked. Or something. I think. Actually, I have only sent it to one agent and she never got back to me. That was back in December. I figured she didn't have the heart to tell me it stunk. Sob. Pout. Another author told me that's the way they do business. They don't return emails, although they tell you to query by email. Go figure. This one was about a romance novelist who finds love in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. I loved writing that book. I actually did find love in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and that's why I wrote it. But that's a long story for another time.
While I was waiting on word from them for that one, I wrote another. This is Unpublished Book #2. This is dubbed my "hen lit" because the protags are about to turn the big 5-0. Cute premise if I say so, but seems Agents 1, 2, & 3 couldn't take it on. Bah. Humbug. Well, along comes Agent #4 and this is a BIG agency. What's the odds of them taking this on, I thought? Practically zip. So, then I did a little evaluation of what I sent them. The first chapter tells nothing of what the book is going to be about and instead concentrates on the main character and her life. Okay, so what's the big deal, huh?
Well, the big deal is that nothing made the agents go, "Wow. Sign her on. This is going to take her to the top and make lots of money for us."
So, I've got to rework that first chapter to make them do that. Which I've started on and then when I finish and send it off and if they reject it, I'm going to jump the next plane to Zimbaywe or something. Bad mispelling, but you get my drift.
So, anyway, I don't know what I was doing, but I found Unpublished Book-To-Be in my files and I went hmmm. Looked good but instead of having the main character like this, I'm going to make her like that and I think it's way better than what I started out with.
Some things are better if they have time to stew awhile.
Wanna read a little bit? Okay, let me find something...hold on...okay, here's a little part....
Well, that's only a little bit of it, and it's a rough draft, but as you can tell I think I have mixed soul mates and chick lit into one book. Kathy Holmes, bless her little pea-picking heart, suggested I do this since I knew a little bit about soul mates and that is what made me decide to go back into this book and give it a whole new angle. And I do believe it's going to work. I hope so anyway. Okay, back to writing!
Au revoir mon amie....
I've had this manuscript in my files just waiting for the right time to start it. Time is not a problem, getting the muse started is. Sometimes it just takes me a matter of a few months to write a book but if the muse isn't there, I let it sit until it is there. After all, I have too many other projects going on and can keep quite busy finishing those up.
Actually, Unpublished Book #1 has to be reworked. Or something. I think. Actually, I have only sent it to one agent and she never got back to me. That was back in December. I figured she didn't have the heart to tell me it stunk. Sob. Pout. Another author told me that's the way they do business. They don't return emails, although they tell you to query by email. Go figure. This one was about a romance novelist who finds love in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. I loved writing that book. I actually did find love in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and that's why I wrote it. But that's a long story for another time.
While I was waiting on word from them for that one, I wrote another. This is Unpublished Book #2. This is dubbed my "hen lit" because the protags are about to turn the big 5-0. Cute premise if I say so, but seems Agents 1, 2, & 3 couldn't take it on. Bah. Humbug. Well, along comes Agent #4 and this is a BIG agency. What's the odds of them taking this on, I thought? Practically zip. So, then I did a little evaluation of what I sent them. The first chapter tells nothing of what the book is going to be about and instead concentrates on the main character and her life. Okay, so what's the big deal, huh?
Well, the big deal is that nothing made the agents go, "Wow. Sign her on. This is going to take her to the top and make lots of money for us."
So, I've got to rework that first chapter to make them do that. Which I've started on and then when I finish and send it off and if they reject it, I'm going to jump the next plane to Zimbaywe or something. Bad mispelling, but you get my drift.
So, anyway, I don't know what I was doing, but I found Unpublished Book-To-Be in my files and I went hmmm. Looked good but instead of having the main character like this, I'm going to make her like that and I think it's way better than what I started out with.
Some things are better if they have time to stew awhile.
Wanna read a little bit? Okay, let me find something...hold on...okay, here's a little part....
“So, Molly,” Clint said, leaning closer to me, “tell me your story.”
Want it made up or are you ready for the real McCoy? I giggled to
myself.“Not much to tell,” I answered. “How far back do you want me to go?”
He laughed and a whiff of his cologne drifted by. I made another mental note to put that on my list of things my soul mate just had to have.
“For beginners, tell me how you’ve managed to stay single all your life,” he continued.
Eek. Uh. Because I’m too picky?
“I’m looking for my soul mate and until he comes into my life, I refuse to marry
someone just because I fall in love with him.”There. I said it. In a nutshell. Like it or leave it.
“Soul mate?” he laughed. “So you are looking for The One, are you?”
“Well, not actually looking. If it happens, it happens.”
Clint leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “As in fate?” he asked, slyly.
Hm. Good question, Clint.
“No, I don’t believe in fate,” I replied, taking a gulp of my daiquiri. “I have a system.”
He laughed gregariously. “A system?”
“Sure, everyone has some sort of system they use,” I said nonchalantly. “The thing is, mine works.”
Well, that's only a little bit of it, and it's a rough draft, but as you can tell I think I have mixed soul mates and chick lit into one book. Kathy Holmes, bless her little pea-picking heart, suggested I do this since I knew a little bit about soul mates and that is what made me decide to go back into this book and give it a whole new angle. And I do believe it's going to work. I hope so anyway. Okay, back to writing!
Au revoir mon amie....
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Life is Fantastic
I want to say enjoy the high because it's always short-lived but I have had the most fantastic day in my whole life.
This morning, I was on the Cuzin Eddie Show with co-host Penny Sansevieri. I was nervous as all get out, but I made it through and if I can remember right, it was pretty smooth sailing. They were excellent hosts and they made me feel so at ease.
But, anyway, this morning, I checked the stats at Amazon for my book, Romancing the Soul, and they were over 700,000. I just checked them a few minutes ago and they're at 76,707. Now that does a body good.
Radio promotion really does work!
However, that's not all.
I had another agency request a partial of my hen lit. My poor little hen lit is coming back to life.
However, this time I really am prepared for the worse. I've been turned down by two agents and this one is even a bigger agency, so you know what that means.
But, anyway, I can enjoy the moment.
Ah...life is freaking good.
This morning, I was on the Cuzin Eddie Show with co-host Penny Sansevieri. I was nervous as all get out, but I made it through and if I can remember right, it was pretty smooth sailing. They were excellent hosts and they made me feel so at ease.
But, anyway, this morning, I checked the stats at Amazon for my book, Romancing the Soul, and they were over 700,000. I just checked them a few minutes ago and they're at 76,707. Now that does a body good.
Radio promotion really does work!
However, that's not all.
I had another agency request a partial of my hen lit. My poor little hen lit is coming back to life.
However, this time I really am prepared for the worse. I've been turned down by two agents and this one is even a bigger agency, so you know what that means.
But, anyway, I can enjoy the moment.
Ah...life is freaking good.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Dorothy Thompson to Appear on Cuzin Eddie Show Tomorrow!
Hi everyone!Just a note to let you know that if you're going to be in the Illinois area, I will be appearing on the Cuzin Eddie Radio Show with co-host Penny Sansevieri tomorrow morning at 9:30 Central Time. I will be discussing my book, Romancing the Soul, and how you can find the soul mates in your life. Hope to see you there!
Dorothy ThompsonEditor/Co-Author of "Romancing the Soul"
www.dorothythompson.net
Don't forget to check out my new advice column blog at:
www.soulmateadvice.blogspot.com
Dorothy ThompsonEditor/Co-Author of "Romancing the Soul"
www.dorothythompson.net
Don't forget to check out my new advice column blog at:
www.soulmateadvice.blogspot.com
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Soul Mates, Soul Mates, Soul Mates
Well, I'm back. Haven't posted for days, maybe weeks, because I've been throwing myself into promoting my book, Romancing the Soul, and getting ready for these radio interviews coming up. I've also sent out press releases on my soul mate advice blog, hoping that will generate a little interest my way. Soul mates, soul mates, soul mates. I believe I'm even dreaming soul mates.
It's a really interesting progression of events, though. One minute, I have a dream about my twin soul coming to me and telling me to put this book together and the next minute, I'm suddenly an expert on soul mates. Funny how things happen when you least expect it.
Years ago, I would have laughed at the whole soul mate concept.
Fresh out of high school, I marry who I thought was my soul mate. Almost twenty years later, we separate. The kids are divided between Mom and Dad and life goes on. There's one soul mate fairy tale thrown in the gutter.
Thrown into a life that was oh-so-foreign to me, I date. And date. And date.
I think I'm in love and then turn around and I'm not. Over and over.
It was a pattern I repeated for years until a chain of events led me to a women's shelter for domestic violence. Oh yeah, been there, done that. But, I credit this women's shelter for turning my life around, plus I credit ME for coming to the point in my life where I declared independence.
You see, independence was not part of my vocabulary. I was a wife and a mother, and not allowed to have a life of my own. After years of conditioning, I knew nothing else. That is, until I was thrown into it.
It seems that is the way with most women in my situation...they are afraid to take that first leap into independence land because of financial reasons or because of the kids or because because.
Some people have to be forced into it.
And you know what happens?
A whole new exciting world unfolds. Things happen that wouldn't ordinarily happen that are for the good.
And when she gets to the point where she knows she is responsible for her own well-being, she changes. She gets that kick ass attitude. And that's what chick lit is all about and that is what I'm all about and one day...one day...I can stop promoting Romancing the Soul for just a few minutes and work on getting that darn manuscript published...but for now...soul mates is on the brain...soul mates, soul mates, soul mates.
It's a really interesting progression of events, though. One minute, I have a dream about my twin soul coming to me and telling me to put this book together and the next minute, I'm suddenly an expert on soul mates. Funny how things happen when you least expect it.
Years ago, I would have laughed at the whole soul mate concept.
Fresh out of high school, I marry who I thought was my soul mate. Almost twenty years later, we separate. The kids are divided between Mom and Dad and life goes on. There's one soul mate fairy tale thrown in the gutter.
Thrown into a life that was oh-so-foreign to me, I date. And date. And date.
I think I'm in love and then turn around and I'm not. Over and over.
It was a pattern I repeated for years until a chain of events led me to a women's shelter for domestic violence. Oh yeah, been there, done that. But, I credit this women's shelter for turning my life around, plus I credit ME for coming to the point in my life where I declared independence.
You see, independence was not part of my vocabulary. I was a wife and a mother, and not allowed to have a life of my own. After years of conditioning, I knew nothing else. That is, until I was thrown into it.
It seems that is the way with most women in my situation...they are afraid to take that first leap into independence land because of financial reasons or because of the kids or because because.
Some people have to be forced into it.
And you know what happens?
A whole new exciting world unfolds. Things happen that wouldn't ordinarily happen that are for the good.
And when she gets to the point where she knows she is responsible for her own well-being, she changes. She gets that kick ass attitude. And that's what chick lit is all about and that is what I'm all about and one day...one day...I can stop promoting Romancing the Soul for just a few minutes and work on getting that darn manuscript published...but for now...soul mates is on the brain...soul mates, soul mates, soul mates.
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