First Lines

Living Well

I always have trouble starting a book. Once I get rolling, the writing gets easier. Sometimes I have to write the first page 100 times to get a right, and even then, it doesn't always grab people.

But first lines are even more important than I thought. I learned this on the chicklit digest I get. You'd be surprised at how many digests I get. If I wanted to, I could spend my day reading digests and never write a word. But I digress...On this chicklit digest we even shared first lines and although I thought all of mine were great, not every else did. Wow! Visualize light bulbs going on. This little exercise helped me see what grabs people, and it's usually something short. Remember the Henny Youngman quote: Take my wife. Please!

Yes, that short. A first line can also be astounding, something about dogs wrestling or bedwetting, just as long as it grabs. In fact, one of the members shared that if you don't hook an agent or editor with your first line, you might as well wrap it up, because they do. Chong! That's the sound of your manuscript hitting the waste basket. Yes, Virginia, not only is there no Santa Claus, but your story has been rejected.

It doesn't matter that you've written an epic novel or a cute chick lit delight. First lines are important. So, if you're a writer, sharpen that pencil and make it short and sweet.

If you're a reader, check out some of the first lines from the books you love---they have to current, because this has only come to pass since we've become a fast food nation---and see whether the first lines that grab you are short. If they're not, maybe I'm all wrong about this. Check it out and let me know, but bare in mind that I hate to be wrong.

Keep on reading and writing.

Happy Holidays!

Carolyn

Hope

Everytime I send out a query, a couple of chapters, or a complete manuscript, hope rises. I think---this will be the one that sells. This will be the one this agent loves enough to want to fight for it with editors.

My husband and I write romantic comedies. We just sent out one to an agent who'd already read 10 pages and liked that enough to request the full manuscript.

Now comes the wait. While we work on new stuff, edit and revise old stories, and send out queries for our other books, we wait. And try not to remember we're waiting.

If we thought about it---which we don't, because we love what we're doing---we'd have to admit that this is a strange way to spend one's existence. Especially since I've had enough of my non-fiction books published to know selling a book is only the beginning of the work. Then comes editing, marketing, book signings, yada yada...

Been doing this since the 80s, so I guess hope does spring eternal.

Keep reading and writing!

Carolyn

It's Finished

Where have I been?

Chained to my computer, that's where. Except for a brief foray into BAMLAND, where I did a book signing for LIVING WELL WITH MENOPAUSE, I've been writing my paranormal mystery.

Guess what?

It's done!

Well, the first draft anyway. Now I go through the arduous rewrite/revise process, get input from various critiquers I work with, and then I'll send out queries.

So far, everyone has been astoundingly helpful and encouraging. Everyone has been interested in the premise and the writing. Everyone said they would read on, after seeing a chapter or a partial chapter. That makes me feel terrific!

Hoping to be a little more regular in my posts now that my baby is birthed.

Keep on reading and writing,

Carolyn