Rewrites R Us

Yes, after humming and haaing about whether to rewrite Cold Cuts in the face of my latest "turn down", I have decided that a rewrite is definitely in order.

Argh!

So, I went right back to square one and re-read the evaluation I had done back in 2005, to see if I had missed anything, and for an idea of where I might begin. Cheryl was most wise, and I was not, because I didn't quite make all the changes she suggested. Admittedly, initially it was difficult to "get" exactly what I should change to improve my bad guy (make him badder and more plausible) . . . but now I get it. And in getting it, an enormous amount of slicing and dicing is required to get my story to where it should be. I think I'm going to start with cutting the number of corpses in half, and revising the killer's motive somewhat. Not to mention, overhauling the foreshadowing I did, and the glimpses inside the killer's mind.

All this, and I haven't even re-read the ms yet!

Which reminds me, I better dig out the box with the hard copy in it, and get after it. I have many reams of paper, and fresh ink, so there's no excuse for avoiding this rewrite.

While I'm doing that, you should check out the new links I posted on the left, to some blogs of my fellow crime writers. Definitely some interesting reading there.

Rejected again . . . but you know, it doesn't really hurt.

That's right, I got a rejection letter yesterday . . . from Insomniac Press--the one I really had my hopes pinned on, since they actually asked to see my mss, after reading my letter and synopsis. But apparently, my book is not "outsider" enough for them. Not that I'm complaining, exactly, it was a very nice rejection letter, as far as rejection letters go . . . but its still a rejection. And I really would like to know what "outsider" means.

Does it mean my novel is too mainstream for them, or Canadian publishers in general? Or have I simply been too technical, put too much "stuff" in my novel, rather than letting the story flow, however it will? Not that I gave the plot a huge amount of direction . . . if my characters insisted on doing something I hadn't previously plotted or outlined, but it was good/fun/interesting, I let it happen.

Regardless of what "outsider" means, a review of my mss and some rewriting is certainly in the cards. Like starting tomorrow.

Luckily for me, my fellow CWC members have been most generous with their support and advice on moving past this latest rejection. Writing is fun, although rejection is not, so I shall persevere and hopefully, one day, this will become an AUTHOR's blog!!

Anyhow, enough drivel from me. Back to the drawing board.

New Computer ... new chapters

At long last, I upgraded and got a new computer, one which actually operates as fast I type!! No more plodding along with 320MB of RAM, no siree! I cannot believe I put up with that for so long ... and way back when we got it, when Y2K compatibility was the "in" thing, I thought it was fast!!

So, the words are flowing a touch faster ... and deviating from the outline once again. Oh well, technically, the outline is just a guide anyhow, an idea of how I'd thought the story would unfold. The killer hasn't changed, the protagonist hasn't changed, so I know where I'm going with that, lol.

I might post the first chapter here, sometime to see how you all like it. Personally, I think it's awesome, but then again, I'm a touch biased.

Ed Hoch honoured in renaming SMFS award

The late Ed Hoch, probably the most prolific short mystery fiction writer out there, is being honoured by the Short Mystery Fiction Society, which voted overwhelming to rename its Golden Derringer Award. Members responded to the following poll:

"Should the SMFS rename its Golden Derringer lifetime achievement award in honor of prolific short mystery fiction author Edward D. Hoch? "

Were I a member, I most certainly would've voted in favour of this. I have never read an issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine without seeing a short story of Ed Hoch's in it. And I thoroughly enjoyed each and every story. So much so, that I even tried to write short stories myself. Unfortunately, that was a no-go. I'm not a short-story writer.

I don't think there is any other short mystery fiction writer more deserving of having an award named after him than Edward Hoch. He will be sorely missed in the writing community, and I know I will treasure my copies of the AHMM issues with his stories in them.

Another long break between posts ...

I don't know how some people do it. Write their blogs everyday. I mean, I talk a lot, but I don't necessarily have that much to say. Which is why I haven't updated this for more than 2 months. More like almost 3 months.

That's one of my excuses anyhow.

The other, more accurate excuse is that its just been far too nice out to sit in the basement in front of the computer. So, instead of writing, I have been gardening. And my garden is just lovely. Not flowers though, although it does have flowers in it. I'm talking vegetables. My spuds are up to our 2-year old's shoulders, and everything else is growing great guns too. Well, except the carrots, had a problem with those, but I think I've fixed it. At last count I had over 30 carrots, so that's good.

But this is supposed to be a writer's blog, not a gardening blog, lol.

Due to the awesome hot, dry weather, and gardening, I have written nothing recently. Until yesterday, when I managed to get back to it. And you know, its going well. Apart from more technical difficulties with the computer. That seems to be a theme around here. Technology is against me! Seems I've mostly tossed my chapter outline out the window on this book - I mean, I'm following it, loosely, but the book is taking on a life of its own. Luckily, I decided who the killer was before I started, otherwise, who knows what would happen? My characters are running around Castor Creek, doing their own thing, and not necessarily listening to me. Much like children.

Speaking of children, I'm being paged by the 2-year-old. Still waiting news from Insomniac, but I'll update you all when I hear from them. If not before. No, I will write again before I hear from them. I will!!

The Muse is in the building

Forget Elvis, the Muse is in the building and the words are flowing freely in my current WIP, entitled Dead of Winter. I'm only up to Chapter 5 of the first draft, but the way it's going is encouraging so far.

I tried using the laptop yesterday, and managed to blast my way through Chapter 4, inspite of the technical difficulties. I hate that touch pad/mouse thingie with a passion!! But it enabled me to hang out, outside with the kids and write at the same time. And indulge in my other favourite past-time, sun-worshipping. I know, I know - I'm inviting skin cancer, melanoma, wrinkles and all that ... but the sun is just so nice and warm! Esp after months and months (seven months, actually) of winter.

So for today, my project is Chapter 5. Don't know how much I'll get done, what with running back and forth to the school to pick up kids, laundry, cooking (and eating), and a mission to the shoe store to tackle. Mummy needs a new pair of shoes!

In spite of all the interruptions, both self-created and otherwise, the work seems to be going well, my characters are busy hunting down the killer and I'm patiently awaiting news from Insomniac Press. A new book takes my mind off the wait, and its fun to boot!

Let the waiting game begin ...

It's time to play the waiting game, although I've actually been waiting for a week already, this is the first chance I've had to update you all.

Back in mid-March, I sent off some queries regarding Cold Cuts, with what I hoped were riveting letters and synopses. Ten days ago, I got an email from a publishing house. Seems one of my riveting letters found its mark and an Editor requested a copy of the entire manuscript!! So, I spent a couple of hours printing out all 334 pages of my brain-child. Thanks to Canada Post's wonderful online package tracking service, I was able to find out that my ms arrived, safely, and a whole day early!

And now, I wait.

I figure I'll be waiting at least a month. Even though my ms jumped the slush pile, and has gone straight into the arms of an Editor (a person with a name, no less, not simply "submissions"), I'm sure she has other ms's to look at, and evaluate their potential.

Thanks for reading, and cross your fingers for me, please. Hopefully, at last Cold Cuts has found a home, at Insomniac Press.