Ureka! It's a Hen Lit Romantic Comedy!!!

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!

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)

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....

“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....

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.

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

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.

Agent Rejection Sting # 1

Yes, it happened. And yes, I can now write about it, but the sting is still there.

Agent #1 turned down my hen lit. It was a form letter...no suggestions...no encouragement...no words to help me come down from the fall. Just a standard form letter. And what was weird was, a friend of mine got the same rejection (on the same day, same hour, same few minutes in fact), only the name of the book and our names were changed. And this is coming from one of my dream agents.

So, I pined for two days.

But you know what was funny? After that sting, I threw myself into finding promotional outlets for ROMANCING THE SOUL. I submitted my relationship column to even more websites. I even sent an article that I had submitted to Arabella, now defunct, to a paying market.

I also got to thinking about finding my author platform. I thought maybe I should dive headfirst into my relationship advice column, "Ask Dorothy." Even to the point of changing the name - making it flashier - and setting up a website for it.

I was on a roll.

It reminded me of the time when my twin soul died. I was at the computer and someone walked in and told me. I sat there numb. The mouse was in my hand and never left it. Instead of breaking down, I kept on, kept going, kept working...more vigilantly than before. Of course, I ended up breaking down, grieving, but I did it with the mouse in my hand.

There is a movie called "Sleepless in Seattle" (which incidentally is a great twin soul story) and at the beginning of the movie, we find that Tom Hank's wife had died and when he finds out, he dives into work. Same principle.

I think that work helps you to forget. Takes your mind off of it...helps you to forget the STING.

Anyway, after Agent # 1's sting, I queried Agent #3. I think. I'm losing count. Maybe it's 4. Arggg.

And, I dived into finding more ways to promote my first book...the book that means more than life itself. I guess. Do all authors think that way?

So, that's where I'm at right now. I won't give up on the hen lit, but meanwhile I'm going to work. Work my little toosh off. Develop my author platform. Write more columns. Forget.

It's all part of the game. If getting published with a NY house was easy, then everyone would be there. It's only for the dedicated. Only the strongest survive. And I'm not giving up without a fight.

Dragged Out of Blog Lurkdom

Thanks to Kathy Holmes, one of my good friends and hen lit blogger, I've been dragged out of blog lurkdom. Thanks for your kind note, Kathy...;o)

My insides are still in turmoil, but I'm still working...albeit a little silent in the groups and elsewhere. I tend to be an introvert and retreat inside myself when this happens and that's the reason for the silence.

Meanwhile, I've been sending out columns and I've submitted to a paying mag for a relationship article I had with Arabella, a year before they even shut down. It was just sitting, collecting dust, and it was a really good article if I say so myself so no need of letting it go to waste.

I also got a wonderful review from Larry James for ROMANCING THE SOUL...

"This book will touch your heart, bring tears to your eyes and a smile
to your face. Explore all the soulmate possibilities as you experience
what others have when they discovered the spiritual connection that changed
their life and their relationship.
An excellent read!"
- Larry James, CelebrateLove.com, Author, "How to Really Love the One You're With"

He's such a love! He even put my book in his bookstore, along with other great relationship authors...really nice.

As for my other books, I'm still waiting on news from the agent. I've sent out other queries, but this particular agent is the one I'm hoping for. It's not been two months yet, so I feel that I don't have to jump off the nearest bridge just yet. JUST JOKING.

The how to book for first time writers is coming along. I've missed my deadline and I'm sure my publisher is screaming...I'll have to drop her a little note. This book has become more than just a whim at this point and I really want to put my all in it. When I do that, I tend to take my time, but I guess the publishing world doesn't want to hear that. I've gotten great responses from best selling authors, not to mention Dan Poynter. What a doll he is.

Anyway, I'm still alive...some days good some days downright frustrating....just another adventure in the life of an over the hill chick. ;o)

Mama Told Me There'd Be Days Like This...

Yeah, right.

Mama never warned me about this, I'll guarantee you that. See, my dear Mother, God rest her soul, died before she had to go through the inevitable - THE CHANGE.



Eek, I hate it!

I have vowed to stay off all writing groups until this passes. An ocassional comment in a blog as long as I don't go over a sentence or two might be all right and that would satisfy whatever need I might have to communicate with the rest of the world.

For now, I'm mum. Not saying a darn thing. Shouldn't even post in here because people are going to think I'm totally whacko.

I'm usually quite bright...or at least I thought so. I could write articles, columns, books and that ol' brain of mine would kick right in and help me out. Not so now. My brain is on a never ending journey to senility and there's no let up.

Okay, so I cancelled the last two appointments to go to the doctor to get help for this. But, I wanted to go SHOPPING. And it was so much fun. But, I'm paying the pauper now, that's for dang sure, more ways than one.

So, anyway, if you don't hear from me for a few days, a few years or however long it takes me to return to my lovable, sweet self, stay tuned...there ought to be a hormonal change coming up sometime unless I end up in the loonie bin first. But, I don't think they have computers there, do they?

Chicklet Lit?

Natasha Walter totally disses on yet another sub-genre of chick lit (I'm thinking there must be a million of them because this one is new to me) - chicklet lit - in an article today called, "In the world of Princess Perfect, boys aren't welcome" in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Can someone explain to me just exactly what this is?

She says,

This is chick lit for the under-12s: chicklet lit, you could call
it.

Chicklet lit is a boom area. It starts with tales for teeny girls, and in a
way these are just traditional stories about fairies and ballerinas, but they
have a twist: the heroines have to keep being reminded to put on pretty clothes
and do their hair nicely, and the story has to end with a lovely party. Once I
started reading them, I realised I'd never met such boring fairies. Even
Tinkerbell was stroppy, while E. Nesbit's sand-fairy was positively grumpy and
unpredictable.

But these fairies just twitter about how pretty their knickers are, how
nice their perfume is and what fun they are going to have at the party. When
human girls get into fairyland, it's all about makeovers rather than magic.

The book she is referring to is FAIRYDUST by Gwyneth Reese. Here's the pretty cover:



Actually, it does look quite chick lit'ish, doesn't it?

Why don't people realize that chick lit is evolving from this mindset and is more about women finding themselves than how pretty they are?

It might just be me. Maybe I haven't read enough chick lit to be an expert, but frankly I don't think those kind of books could keep my interest. And that's exactly what chick lit writers today know and that is the very reason why they are struggling to get away from this image. And I predict that as time goes on, we are going to see more of these stories where the protags don't give a rip about which designer shoes they wear. And that to me is when chick lit is going to boom. I can say this because I just so happen to write hen lit - yet another chick lit sub-genre.