Author Accountability

The other night my husband and I were watching an old re-run episode of How I Met Your Mother, and it reminded me of a discussion my friends and I had following the show's finale. For those who didn't watch the series or it's conclusion, the CBS comedy went out with a controversial ending that split their fan base between those who found it fitting, and those who thought it was THE WORST THING EVER. (In case you couldn't guess, I'm one of the latter.)

[To be clear, this post really isn't about a TV series. It's about author accountability and what that means. And it'll be a little long-winded.]

You see, when my friend Andy and I were discussing the HIMYM final (read "discussing" as a euphemism for heatedly debating), he asked me if I thought the show's creators should be held accountable to the audience they both thrilled and pissed off. As one of the "pissed off", my immediate thought was . . . of course! Of course they should cater to my every whim. And if there are other fans that disagree with me, too bad.

But you can see how this idea of accountability is both fascinating and debatable. The assumption is that authors are held accountable to either A) their artistic vision, or B) their audience. And sometimes they simply don't agree.

Let's take a look at the Divergent novels for example. This series spent a great deal of time in the limelight last year due to the release of the first movie adaptation and the final book of the trilogy, Allegiant. [SPOILERS ahead] I'll admit that I never read Allegiant, but it would be hard to miss the uproar that followed it's release. Audiences were outraged when the series' protagonist was killed off, so much so that author Veronica Roth spoke out defending her choices.

In some ways I understand her decision. I too have become disillusioned with the YA market spitting out a surfeit of teen love stories set against post-apocalyptic or "dystopian" backgrounds. Inevitably both partners make it through war and turmoil with nary a scratch, only to be reunited with their "true love" and live happily ever after. This is neither realistic, nor original. So I can't really blame Roth for taking a more George R. R. Martin-esque approach and bumping off at least one of the lovebirds.

On the other hand, she's chosen to write for a mass market that doesn't really want reality or, some might argue, originality. They want the war and devastation, followed by the predictable happy ending. So it's not shocking that her audience took exception to her more maudlin conclusion. So the question remains, should Roth have been accountable to the audience that stuck with her through three novels, or herself?

[More SPOILERS ahead] Last February, seven years after the release of the final chapter in the Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling made the somewhat shocking statement that she shouldn't have written Ron and Hermione ending up together; that this decision was a reflection of her own wish fulfillment rather than remaining faithful to the characters' development. I have to say, I found this statement quite distressing. Not because I don't understand a writer's desire to hold onto one of their "little darlings" as they say -- that's a struggle I am quite familiar with. But rather because I've read the novels countless times, listened to the audio books so often I wore out my discs, and I simply can't imagine a world in which Ron and Hermione didn't end up together. I could say the same of Harry and Ginny (for those who might argue a Harry/Hermione match-up). She spent seven books setting up the future depicted in the series' epilogue, and to write it otherwise would have felt incohesive. In the case of Harry Potter, I'm thankful Rowling followed through on her own wish fulfillment. I'd bet the majority of her audience, like me, shared that same wish. And hey, who's to says an author can't be considered among the audience of their own work? Write first for yourself they always say. 

In this case, I'd argue that J. K. Rowling remains accountable to her audience rather than her own artistic vision (in which a more "realistic" Ron and Hermione don't wind up together). How I Met Your Mother, on the other hand, suffers in from the writers' refusal to stray from the ending they scripted back in season one. Sure, if the show had ended earlier it might have made sense. But once the audience was finally introduced to the mother character and had the chance to fall in love with her, the original ending no longer fit with the arch of the show. In other words, this is a situation in which the "author" might have been better off listening to audience opinion rather than chaining themselves to their outdated artistic vision. In my humble opinion.

So one has to wonder then what's the better choice? Artistic vision, or audience approval? It's a complicated issue, and one which lack a definitive answer. In the end I believe that authors should ultimately stay true to the work itself. Ron and Hermione end up together not because audiences prefer it that way, but because the relationship built over the seven novels leads them there. Ted and Robin should go their separate ways because after ten seasons of trial and error, they realize they still want different things and found love with other people. And as for Allegiant, well, who knows. I probably won't get around to reading that one. 

As for my own work, I'll do my best to remain flexible with my artistic vision and follow the story where it leads me. 

Transformers 4: Or Why Too Much is as Bad as Too Little

Every author has at some point or other experienced the curse of the writer, otherwise known as writer's block. That soul sucking phenomenon when the literary well runs dry. As a writer, I've always feared this dreaded curse, considering it the worst possible scenario. However, after finally getting the chance to watch Transformers: Age of Extinction last night, I realized there is something perhaps even worse. 

Too many ideas. 

I've always been a little critical of Michael Bay movies. For all his excellent taste in franchises, the man simply cannot get past his love of overwrought action sequences and short shorts. But after watching the latest Transformers flick, I have officially lost all respect. There were certainly aspect of the movie I enjoyed (namely Stanley Tucci), and I thought the first half was at least decent. But then came the fatal case of too many ideas. 

[Spoilers Ahead:] The story was all over the place. There were unnecessary characters who simply disappeared. Superfluous explanations for statutory romances. Dinobots, which despite being aesthetically interesting, felt out of place and would perhaps have been utilized in the next movie. And far too many villains (Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Megatron/Galvatron, bounty hunter Lockdown, and the somewhat confusing "Creators"). 

All in all, I counted four different plot lines in a movie which, if edited, could have had real potential. It just goes to show that sometimes having too many ideas can be far more detrimental to a story than too few. 

Insecure Writer's Support Group

It's the first Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by one of my favorite bloggers and author of the CassaFire series, Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

Today I'd like to take a moment first off to say congrats to all the survivors of the Blogging A Through Z challenge that just ended yesterday. It was an absolute blast, but at the same time very very draining. And for those of you whose blogs I didn't get around to, I'm so sorry. Between writing my own posts and being in and out of the hospital with my family every day, I was a little short on time this challenge. I wasn't sure I'd even get my act together to write this post, I was so tired when I finished up with my alphabetic frenzie. But alas I did, much to my own surprise. And I even came up with something (in the  very midst of my exhaustion, so don't expect too much) that I consider invaluable knowledge. 

Write for yourself. Write to please yourself first, and everyone else second. I'd like to say for yourself first and nobody else, but as a writer who's trying to get published via traditional means (and yes, I've considered self-publishing. That's a topic for another day), I have to keep my intended audience in mind or I may never crack my way into the industry.

But it's important, no matter what you're writing, to write for yourself. If you're blogging, don't worry about what people might comment. If you're completing a novel, write something you'd love to read. I've heard people say it before, but this past month, with the insanity of posting every single day and very little free time, it finally hit. 

Write for yourself. 

It's the only thing that counts. 

Origins Blogfest

D.L. Hammon over at Cruising Altitude 2.0 is hosting a new blogfest . . . the Origins Blogfest. Those of us participating are supposed to write about how our dreams of becoming a writer began. So, here's my story . . . 

As a kid, my dream was NOT to be a writer. In fact, I never even considered it. Instead, I dreamed of being a ballerina, a marine biologist, a photographer . . . a superhero. A resistance fighter during the alien and robot invasions.

I dabbled in a lot of different interests, trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up, all the while carrying a notebook where I wrote down story ideas. I was always making up stories. I blame my mom for that one; whenever we’d be out running errands or eating at a restaurant, we’d invent wild stories for the ordinary people around us. You’d be amazed at the number of spies we encountered. And runaway princesses. Even a cylon or two.

I’m embarrassed to say that, though I began three different novels between sixth and eleventh grade, it still never occurred to me that I was writing. It was just an extension of the games my mom and I amused ourselves with. Stories were just . . . there. A way to keep a bored, only child entertained when my friends were too busy to come over and play.

Meanwhile, I continued to test out different skills, searching for a vocation. Ballerina was quickly nixed; I preferred soccer practice. Marine biologist, definitely not; I hated science classes.  Superhero . . . I still haven’t entirely ruled that one out.

I wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I finally comprehended the importance of the notebooks I was constantly scribbling in and thought, well hello. That my idols – J.K. Rowling, Mary Shelley, Madeline L’Engle – they, too, probably kept notebooks with mad scribbles and bits of dialogue. And so I decided that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up. If I ever do.

The Top 11 of 2011: Memories

In my previous post, I listed my top 11 "finds" of 2011. But there was something else I wanted to pay tribute to. Memories. 2011 was a spectacular year, and life-changing, year. I have so many incredible memories that it was really hard to chose from. But here they are, my . . .

Top 11 Patronus Moments of 2011:

*** Patronus Moment: A moment so wonderful it would evoke a Patronus. (For those of you who don’t know what a Patronus is, you should be deeply, deeply ashamed. Go read Harry Potter. Immediately.)

1. One of the best things that happened in my life during 2011 was meeting Julie, Terry, Jay Jay and Kristi. Up until this year, I didn’t have very many “writing” friends. Now, not only do I have four AMAZING writers who push me, support me, and make my writing better, I also have four new friends who I just flat out enjoy being with. Occasionally when we meet to critique one another, we get so caught up hanging out with one another that it takes us an hour before we even get to our writing. Each time I meet with them is a Patronus moment.

2. In May I attended (along with my awesome writer friends), the Houston Writer's Conference. There I met some amazing editors and agents. It was perhaps the very first time I felt like a "real" writer. Furthermore, one of the editors I befriended the first night of the conference over obscure garden gnome, Princess Bride and The Terminator references invited me out to dinner with another editor and two agents (including the agent who eventually signed me as a client). Though it was obviously an incredible – and fortuitous – networking experience, it was also just plain fun. They enlightened me with lots of insider literary gossip (which sadly I cannot share), and gave me tons of advice and encouragement (which I’m more than happy to share). It was one of the best weekends of my life.

3. I must admit that when I attended the writing conference, I had not yet completed my novel (shameful, I know). After pitching it to four different agents, all of whom asked to see more, I realized that I had to finish it as soon as possible. I waved goodbye to all my friends, locked myself in my room, and nearly a month later, surfaced with a COMPLETED novel. My first completed novel! And no though no one who has never completed one can understand exactly what that means, it was, without a doubt, one of the most euphoric feelings I’ve ever experienced.

4. So, if you’re still with me here, in May I went to the Houston Writer’s Conference, on June 1st I finished my novel (and subsequently sent it to the our agents I pitched to), and on August 15th, my agent Josh emailed me back and told me he wanted to sign me as a client. To this day, I still cannot believe it. I AM AN AGENTED WRITER. Since people often say a picture is worth a thousand words – something which, as a I writer, I have qualms with – here’s a pictorial depiction of my emotional state as I signed my agency agreement:

5. If getting an agent wasn't amazing enough, my friends' reaction to the news would have itself been a Patronus moment. They sat with me while I cried (happy tears of course), they bought me champagne (and even thought to buy me sparkling grape juice because I don't actually like champagne), bought me cake from my favorite dessert café, and showed me in every way a friend can how proud they were of me. As amazing as getting an agent was, my friends' reactions following the news might have been even better.

6. Shifting away from writing related moments, another one of the best aspects of this year was spending time in the kitchen with my friends. I’ll admit, I have NEVER thought of cooking as a pleasurable pastime . . . until this year. My friends Annie and Tina, who unlike me are quite culinarily talented, roped me into helping them cook. And I could not believe much fun we had doing it! Some of the best evenings of 2011 were spent with the three of us chopping, dicing, and sauté-ing in my teeny, tiny apartment kitchen.

7. And speaking of my apartment, moving into it was yet another Patronus moments – one which acted as the springboard for many, MANY others. Including, but not limited to: dancing around the apartment with my amazing roommate Tina. Staying up until 3 in the morning gabbing with my semi-second roommate Annie. Friendsgiving . . . and so many more.

8. In June I went to New York with my mom and cousin Allie. We had the BEST time! We visited the Harry Potter exhibit, went to a zillion museums, Stayed in the Marriott Hotel on Times Friggin’ Square, and went to see How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying . . . where we met and got the autograph of Daniel Radcliffe aka. Harry Potter. I’ll never forget that trip.

9. For the past three years running my birthday has been pretty amazing. And this year kept the tradition rolling. My amazing friends all took me out for a wonderful dinner at Olive Garden (a tradition which began when we were in college), and then came back to my apartment where they showered me with cupcakes (thanks Annie!), cookies (thanks Julie!), powdered sugar covered treats (thanks Tina!), festive party hats and some of the best gifts I’ve ever been given . . . including a printed and bound copy of my novel with “critical praise” excerpts from each of them. I’m not ashamed to admit that I bawled like a baby when they gave me that one. And then we watched Die Hard. It goes down as one of the best birthdays in the history of time.

10. Beginning in December, Lifetime Television started airing a series of truly spectacular made-for-TV Christmas movies. My mom and I recorded ALL of them, and spent our free afternoons mocking them. What started out as a funny pastime turned out to be one of my very best memories of 2011. The two of us, camped out on our living room couches by the fire, enjoying the cold weather and Christmas spirit. While most of the movies were spectacularly awful, a few of them wound up being pretty amazing; I even ordered two of them on Amazon. It’s a tradition which I hope we continue in the oncoming years.

11. Last but not least, my blog. I started Pensuasion in May after the writing conference as a way to stay connected to the writing community, with little expectation. I had no idea how to gain followers (thanks Julie for giving me some tips), or what all to write about. Now it’s been eight months, forty-six posts (or forty-seven including this one), and ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINE FOLLOWERS (I was hoping for 150 before the end of the year, but since my real goal was to reach 100, I’m going to consider this one a win)! So thank you to all my followers and readers for the much, MUCH needed support and comments.

Insecure Writer's Support Group

It’s the first Wednesday of the month, and time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. So here’s my insecurity for December. . .

What if my book is only as good as my title? I found out recently that I have to change the title of my novel – and it’s killing me. Truth be told, it’s because of the title that I wrote the book in the first place. I was joking around with a friend and said something along the lines of “wouldn’t it be interesting if there was training manual called The Evil Overlord Society’s Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord”. And then, because we agreed it would be interesting and there wasn’t one already . . . I wrote it. While a few people told me it was too long, or too ridiculous, or too fill-in-the-blank, most people agreed that it was awesome. Including my agent.

Unfortunately, after some discussion, my agent and I decided that my story had progressed beyond what my title suggested. It wasn’t a guide to evil overlordom anymore; it’s about three high school misfits on the road to becoming superheroes. And while I love the way the plot turned out, I am LOATH to change what is perhaps the best (and catchiest) title I’ve ever come up with.

How am I ever going to come up with something better? I don’t think I can. And while I think (or at least hope) my plot holds up, will anyone bother to pick it up off the shelf if I can’t come up with something just as interesting?

Dark YA Blogfest - Week 2

This week for the I Love Dark YA Blogfest I had to write a flash fiction piece of 500 words or less based on this picture:

Thankfully, I had more time to work on my post this week now that my edits are, for the time being, finished, and the second draft of my manuscript in my agents hands. I had some real fun with this one. Check it out . . .

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Fairy Scary Tales - Who Knew?

By S. L. Hennessy 

I hate running. Always did. I used to fake all sorts of medical conditions to get out of track during gym class. I’m sort of wishing I’d practiced a bit more, now that I’m running from the hellish monster intent on using me as the human sacrifice for some sort of dark, ominous spell. Unfortunately, hindsight isn’t as constructive as foresight. And so here I am, my white sacrificial dress irreparably torn, my dainty slippers – which are completely inappropriate when fleeing for one’s life – scuffed and destroyed, wondering where it all went wrong.

I guess I might have made a few mistakes here and there. Looking back, exploring the woods on my own, despite explicit instructions to the contrary . . . might not have been my best plan. Even if my evil stepmother was making my life miserable. It seemed harmless enough at the time. In the daylight. With birds chirping and all that other feel-good atmospheric crap designed to make unsuspecting, angst-ridden teenagers feel completely at ease amongst the dense trees. Guess I should have paid more attention to the meticulous design of it all. And where I was going. Woops.

Upon retrospective, when thick, black mist comes creeping through the branches and silences those sweet, put-you-at ease little birdies – well, maybe that was the time to kick in high gear and get the hell out of there. Live and learn.

It occurs to me now, as I’m being hunted by some indescribably dark creature, that my copy of The Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales might have been more of a field guide than a set of silly stories my dad used to read me at bed time. I usually associate them with princesses and other such nonsense, but the depictions of wolves, cannibalistic witches and way more gore than little kids should be exposed to at young ages are starting to come back to me.

Fairy tales are real. And they’re dangerous. Who knew?

Road Trip Wednesday

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

We'd love for you to participate! Just answer the prompt on your own blog and leave a link -- or, if you prefer, you can include your answer in the comments.

This Week's Topic: What themes, settings, motifs, scenes, or other elements do you find recurring in your work?

So, here goes. . .

When I take a critical look back at things I've written over the years, beginning with those first crayon "books" in elementary school to my current works in progress, I find that I often chose to write about characters that consider themselves rebels or loners (I'm sure psychologists would have a field day with THAT one). But I LOVE a good misfit. In fact, the manuscript I'm currently slaving away to get publish-ready is all about three high school outcasts working together to become the newest members of Team Evil Overlord (aka. superheroes in villain clothing). And they might just be the best three characters I ever wrote.

I also really like teamwork to accomplish a group objective. Like completing a heist or taking down the school bully. I enjoy sticking the three kids most likely to get picked last in gym class and forcing them to rally together to save the day. My story is about using the special talents we bring to the table, the ones that get us labeled "nerd" or "geek", to make a group of individuals stronger, smarter and more unified. As Jack - my main character - states, "The rebel, the brainiac, and the loner. . . we make quite a team."

But at the end of the day, I usually write about misfits finding their 'place'. They work together, they become heroes, but ultimately, they find a home together. And THAT is what I love to write about.

The Blue Door

Rachel Harrie at Rach Writes is hosting a First Campaigner Challenge! The contest is this:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count. If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

So, with much trepidation (and in EXACTLY 200 words), I've written my own short short story about an opening door. I'm not sure how mine will compare with the other entries, but here goes nothing . . . 

I'm registered as number 262. If you enjoy my story, please click "like" to help me win the contest!! 

Here's the link: http://rachaelharrie.blogspot.com/2011/09/first-campaigner-challenge.html

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The Blue Door 

by S. L. Hennessy

The door swung open – just barely. Just enough for Riley to see a shard of light spilling across the manicured rosebush she currently hid behind in an effort to evade Bobby Flannigan. She sat back, heedless of her white dress but careful to remain out of sight.

What on earth was a door doing in the middle of the garden?

She inched forward.

Was it there before? She hadn’t seen it when she fled the noisy party . . . had she? She couldn’t remember – but with a sudden urgency, she knew she needed to see what lay beyond.

Riley stood, eyes transfixed.

“There you are,” Bobby said from somewhere behind her. “What are you – ?”

But she wasn’t listening. Heart racing, Riley stepped forward and reached for the blue door.

She pushed, and as the door swung open light flooded into the night, wrapping around her. Anticipation shimmered in the air and the world went quiet as she stepped through the wooden frame, leaving Bobby and the twilight garden behind her. When her eyes lit on the world before her, Riley knew her life would never be the same.

Her laughter echoed behind her as the door swung shut. 

Agents, and Manuscripts, and Edits! Oh My!

Several of my friends and family have responded to my August 16^th "Down the Rabbit Hole" blog questioning what three events inspired the post. While the first two are personal and will therefore remain anonymous, the third event is part of the professional sphere, and now that it’s official, I see no harm in sharing. So, in case you’re interested and have not already heard via my many emails, texts, Facebook posts and phone calls . . .

I GOT AN AGENT!!!

I met my new agent – Josh Getzler of Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency – at the Houston Writer’s Conference in May 2011, where he very generously squeezed me in as his last interview on the last day of the conference. Lucky for me, he laughed with me over the oh-so-long title of my (then incomplete) manuscript, and asked me to send it his way as soon as I completed it. I assured him, not quite believing it myself, that it would be finished by the end of the month.

After four weeks locked in my room with no outside contact and even less sleep, I finally completed it and sent it his way on June 2. And thus began the waiting game (something which many of my amazingly talented writer friends are still pulling their hair over). But, after two months of torture, I finally heard back. Imagine my shock when Josh (my favorite of the four agents I interviewed with at the conference), told me he was interested in my work and wanted to schedule a phone conference. (P.S. I apologize to my friends and family members who had to deal with me while I waited to hear whether he wanted to represent me or not. To say I was a basket case would be the understatement of the century).  

But, after one amazing phone conference and two days of waiting for the official contract to come in, and as of August 17, 2011, I am officially a represented author!

Needless to say, it still hasn’t quite sunk in. Unfortunately, after the celebrating and haze of jubilation finally lifted, I realized how much editing I have to do before Josh begins sending my manuscript off to potential publishers. We’re looking to have it ready by late fall, so if you don’t hear from me much in the next few months, be patient . . .

But, for those of you who are interested in learning more about my new awesome agent, check him out:

http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/jgetzler/

P.S. Check out the names under the heading ‘Leading Clients’!!!

The Princess Bride Factor

My friend Annie texted me in a frenzy last night in order to alert me to the fact that Beauty and the Beast was airing on TV. After a moment of electronically shared glee, she explained that it was her favorite Disney movie because of its devotion to “far-off places, daring sword fights, magic spells and a prince in disguise”. The more I thought about it, the more I agreed – that is an excellent recipe for an incredible story. Which then got me thinking . . . What makes a story great?

As a writer, I’ve spent countless hours contemplating the question and tonight I came to the conclusion that the best kind of story is one that not only has a great plot, a cool setting, and an interesting and relatable protagonist (you know, the generic stuff), but also excels in seven other areas. These areas, which I have – in a fit of genius – categorized and defined for your convenience, will be heretofore known as:

The Seven Ingredients for the Best Story of All Time

1.  Clashes and Skirmishes – Ingredient number one was originally listed as ‘action’; however, I quickly realized that was much too broad a category. What makes a story really stand out is a daring bit of combat. Wizarding duels, a gripping sword fight, two stodgy British men kicking and scratching at one another because they don’t know how to brawl (oh Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, how you amuse us) . . . these are the scenes that make our favorite stories all the more interesting.

2. Something Unexpected – An incredible land hidden on the other side of a seemingly ordinary wardrobe or finding out the government is behind the creation of the story’s villainous monsters. A good story will always find some way to surprise you.

3.  Quirky Side Characters – Though everyone loves the dashing prince and beautiful princess that headline our favorite fairytales, it’s the side characters that make a good story amazing. Inigo Montoya and Fezzik, Clocksworth and Lumier. These are the characters that often steal the show and make a story.

4.  Witty Dialogue – Joss Whedon. Enough said.

5.  Bad Guy Comeuppance – The one thing everyone loves to see is the bad guy get what’s coming to him. We want to see the evil cheerleader get dumped at the prom and (spoiler!) Lord Voldermort die by his own curse. It’s universally satisfying.

6.  A Whirlwind Adventure –When our lives get too monotonous we all look to books and movies for adventure. The best stories understand and cater to that desire, whether it be a cross-country drive in a broke-down VW bus or following a lost boy past the second star to the left and straight on till morning. In order to make a mere good story a great one, it must have adventure. I say, when in doubt, throw in a pirate kidnapping across the high seas.  

7.  Love Story – Last but certainly not least, every great tale needs a love story. I don’t just say this to appeal to the female demographic (though it certainly helps).  But as my friend Julie Tuovi said in one of the first emails she ever sent me, “EVERYONE can relate to that! Even if you haven't had a relationship, you can still relate! Plus, I think relationships – including romantic ones – give you an insight into the characters . . . what drives them, what they want out of life. Gives them depth and makes them more interesting”. And she’s right – most of my favorite books and movies are driven by love stories. Where would the world (and the plot of The Terminator) be without the relationship between Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese? In the hands of the machines, that’s where. But instead Kyle’s love for Sarah sends him back through time where he fathers John Connor, humanity’s savior, thus inspiring one of the greatest movies (and stories) of all time.

Now, if you’re wondering how I came up with this list, here’s how it happened. Like any good scientist, I came up with a theory and went in search of data to back it up. I reviewed some of my favorite movies (such as Serenity/Firefly, Romancing the Stone, The Fifth Element, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.) and came up with the seven ingredients for an amazing story. However, upon review I found that one story not only possess each of the ingredients, but does it so well it blows all others right out of the water – The Princess Bride. 

There’s nothing it doesn’t have. Sword fights – Check. Love story – check. Side characters – Miracle Max and his wife Valerie. Check. Witty Dialogue – “Anybody want a peanut?” Check. This is a story that does not fail. I defy anyone to come up with a better one. 

God Complex and Mutiny

Many people assume that, like doctors, all writers have god complexes. And it’s an easy assumption to make. Writers create whole worlds from scratch, filling in every building and political belief, character and motivation.

But there’s one thing people don’t always know about writing – that sometimes, the characters we create have a mind of their own. You want them to be sad, but they’re funny. You mean for them to hate someone, but they wind up liking them. My friend Julie mentioned that she didn't intend to create a love triangle, it just happened. Characters can be greedy and difficult, and like a child to a parent, they don’t always mind their author’s instructions.

And it’s not just the characters that do what they want – one time I found my entire novel mutinying against me, insisting on changing its plot. It’s an odd feeling, realizing you don’t always have control over the world you created. The truth is, despite a writer’s authorial power, occasionally the stories control us. You can yell, and kick and scream, insisting on getting your way . . . or knuckle under and do what your novel wants you to do.

Still, religious philosophy dictates that God created mankind, and then gave us freewill. Perhaps these autonomous characters’ blatant disregard for our authorial intent merely demonstrates their own exertion of freewill. Maybe writers, like all creators, struggle with the strong, decisive nature of their creations. “God complex” might not be such a bad fit after all. 

The Perils of Editing

Last night at 2:30 a.m., I completed my novel (applause please). However, as I now face the ever demanding revision process, I find the challenge daunting. For one, my revisions come in a number of forms – some on paper, others on computer, and yet more simply rattle around in my brain. I hesitate to tell people it’s “finished”, when what I really mean is – it’s all on paper (the first writing hurdle, as I tend to skip around and leave places blank for later completion), and has gone through not one, but TWO rounds of editing.

And yet – it STILL needs work.

However, a recent debate with my friends over the value of James Joyce’s Ulysses got me thinking. Its first, and some believe most accurate, publication contains over 2,0000 errors. In fact, when published by Shakespeare and Company in 1922, Sylvia Beach added an insert that read: “The publisher asks the reader's indulgence for typographical errors unavoidable in the exceptional circumstances.”

Many question how Joyce could relinquish his novel with such blaringly obvious mistakes. To which I respond, they’re easier than one might imagine to overlook. For one, Joyce had multiple copies of his manuscript, and altered editing between them for no discernable reason. Furthermore, a good portion of the novel was handwritten as corrections on the original proofs, something I have a habit of doing myself. And more, Joyce rushed the editing process in order to complete it for publication on his fortieth birthday. All of these factors lead to the excess of mistakes in the finalized draft, which challenges editors even today.

But I think the truth is, a novel is never really finished. You could spend years trying to make it perfect, and still find mistakes and places you want to add to, subtract from, or cut out all together. So for now, I take comfort in the knowledge that greater authors than I make editing errors and pronounce my manuscript – COMPLETE!

Death of the Author

In my college literary theory class, we read an article by French theorist Roland Barthes entitled “Death of the Author”. Barthes argues that when analyzing any literary work, critics must separate the text from its author’s identity in order to achieve true interpretation. Basically, the moment the author relinquishes their work to the public eye, he or she dies a symbolic death while the text lives on; this way its analysis is unhampered by the reader’s assumption of the author’s intentions.  

Years later, this concept still haunts me. As a reader I see its value, but as a writer I bristle at the idea of my metaphorical death. And not just any death, but death at the hand of my own work. A classic tale of creation killing its creator, it conjures images of Frankenstein, tormented by his monster until his eventual demise.

Or perhaps it’s the reader who commits murder, rather than a piece of text. I’m positive there’s an Oedipal analogy in there somewhere. The reader, Oedipus, loves his mother, the text, and kills his father, the author. Freud would approve.

Regardless, I find this concept disturbing. Barthes’ work demonstrates the characteristics of a homicidal maniac, let loose on unsuspecting authors world-wide.  I’d question what traumatic events from his childhood influenced this essay, but that would violate his edict to “kill the author”. Either way, I’m keeping my manuscript away from sharp objects. 

Completed...But Not Finished

Today I completed the first draft of my novel, The Evil Overlord Society’s Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord (yes, the title’s a mouthful). For those not already subjected to my many late night emails with plot changes or villain name debates, and therefore unaware of the premise, it’s a parody of a real how-to guide – in this case, how to become an evil overlord. Like many of my blog posts, it involves comic books heroes, super-villains and plots for world domination.

Though I couldn’t be more thrilled to finally see the entire thing on paper (or computer as it were), the idea of editing it overwhelms me. It’s akin to the anxiety I dealt with starting the first chapter. Over abundance of adverbs, passive voice…I’ve got it all.

However, I read something interesting in a blog post by Chuck Sambuchino, editor of The Guide to Literary Agents. New author Rebecca Serle posits “You don’t write a book. You write a sentence and then a paragraph and then a page and then a chapter”, sage advice I’d have appreciated last year when beginning my manuscript. But perhaps this philosophy works the same way with editing. I’m not revising a complete novel, but a page, and then a chapter. And then another chapter, until it’s finished. Still a challenging project, but not quite as defeating.

Luckily I have a wonderful support system to help me in this daunting task. A few sarcastic friends not afraid to point out spelling errors and plot holes. My mother, an incredible writer herself. And The Houston Writer’s Guild – a group of aspiring authors who meet once a week to help each other with editing and general writing catastrophes. Special shout out to Terry Lee-Rosing and Julie Tuovi Hansen, not only great friends but fantastic writers. Check out their blogs!

In short, thanks to everyone for all your help support, and if you don’t see much of me for the next few weeks, someone make sure my novel didn’t murder me in my sleep….

Hemingway Challenge

For a bet, Ernest Hemingway once wrote a story in only six words:

“For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.”

He manages to tell a heartbreaking tale in the shortest amount of space possible. Some say this was his favorite piece. Having read of his six-word triumph, Wired magazine asked several sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers to do the same. Here are a few of the best:

“Automobile warranty expires. So does engine.”
- Stan Lee

“Starlet sex scandal. Giant squid involved.”
- Margaret Atwood

“Leia: ‘Baby's yours.’ Luke: ‘Bad news…’”
- Steven Meretzky

“Epitaph: Foolish humans, never escaped Earth.”
- Vernor Vinge

“Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: Civilization collapses.”
- Richard Powers

“The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.”
- Orson Scott Card

“Batman Sues Batsignal: Demands Trademark Royalties.”
- Cory Doctorow

“Heaven falls. Details at eleven.”
- Robert Jordan

“Dinosaurs return. Want their oil back.”
- David Brin

And my personal favorite:

“Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so.”

- Joss Whedon

As the type of writer who often uses ten words where five would do – making revisions long and challenging, I often wonder how some writers manage to be so succinct. But reading these six-word stories, I’m amazed at how much you can say with so little. From Atwood’s commentary on modern celebrity to Whedon’s brilliant evocation of Anne Boleyn style-death, these ‘very short stories’ prove that less is not only more, it’s plenty . 

Houston Writer's Conference 2011

If I needed to envision my happiest memory to summon a patronus, I'd think of the Houston Writer’s Conference.  The first I’ve attended, I spend weeks preparing for it. Terror overwhelmed me every time I thought about meeting literary agents and editors, but much to my surprise, rather than the sharks I expected, I met professionals that offered nothing but encouragement.

At dinner the first night of the conference, my friends from the Houston Writer's Guild and I  sat across from a certain editor/author of How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Rise Up (And They Will), a book I stumbled across several months ago while researching The Garden Gnome Liberation Movement (think Amélie). Never would I have imagined the crucial role my love of Michael Biehn, The Princess Bride and garden gnomes would play in my networking capabilities. 

Over the course of the weekend, I learned a lot about the long and arduous process a writer goes through publishing their novel. I left the conference with contrasting emotions – terror that I’ll never get my novel published, thus destroying my life’s dream and months of hard (and payless) work, and joy at my first contacts in the publishing industry.

Though it may be years before my novel sees the light of day, this was without a doubt the best moment in my writing career thus far. A special thanks to my friends from the Writer’s Guild for helping me hold it together, Nikki Loftin for sharing her struggle to get her novel, The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy, published, and all the agents and editors I met for their generous comments and guidance.