Mabel Talk: sweet romance

Okay, it's the weekend, so now begins: Blogging about personal-whatever-stuff.

THIS ONE'S ABOUT WRITING (kitties at the end)

Though I've been researching and preparing to write a new book, for about 5 years now, I've decided to pick up an old project and give it one more rewrite first. When I started my political science BA in 2003 I decided to write a sweet romance, only because it was a genre Harlequin was actively looking for, and it was 55 000 words which was nice and short. I worked on it summers, and it was done a few years ago.

Then I decided, well, maybe I should try selling it as a single title first. But it was too short, so I added a subplot. (Figured, if I don't get an agent, I'll just pitch the original MS to Harlequin.) But it needed to emerge naturally from the story, so I took a character who was only ever heard of offscreen but who was instrumental to the plot, and made him real. He was based on Leonard Cohen (it all takes place in Montreal) and I gave him a romance with the hero's mother.

But he and the mother had no chemistry. So I made Leonard a woman. The chemistry was great! So now I had a sweet romance with a lesbian romance subplot. I polished it to best effect, mostly with my brother's help, and started to shop it about.

It wasn't that sweet, but still...

My energy for shopping it sort of wore out, and I haven't been very disciplined about it since the first round and a half. Possible conclusions? (A) I'm not disciplined. (B) I don't believe in my story. Considering I don't even READ sweet romances and purposely butchered my own book... what do you think? lol.

After leaving my job last November I didn't do anything re my writing, because I had to look at my CV, I was seeing a job coach, etc. Now I'm working on my French to improve my job chances, as I also apply for English jobs. But since the harder work (making a new CV, a good one, is work yo) I feel it's okay to get back to my writing. And so many of the Betties are writers, that reading about everyone else writing was making me nuts anyway. (I've written stories since I was 9, so when I go without writing for too long, I actually get depressed.)

When it came time to look at my writing, I suddenly thought of my old Faux Fiancés story, and I thought... I think I have to rewrite it. I think I have to make it into a romantic comedy, because it isn't true to moi. I wasn't sure if it was a mistake to revisit it, or if I should just let it go. My brother--who listens to the Popcorn Dialogues (movie analyses done by two romantic comedy authors)--said I should go for it. And when I checked the mail later that week, the cover of my new French Châtelaine magazine had the actor who "plays" the hero of my novel:

Well. If the universe is going to be THAT obvious. Who am I to say no.

Fellow Betty blogger, Bonafide, wants to do a Nanowrimo and write up backstory for her novel; but since she's both a teacher and a PhD student November's a terrible month, so I told her if she ever wants to nano another month let me know. She proposed June. So unless she has to cancel (she also has one of those children-types and Real Responsibilities, so I am at her disposal) I am planning to rewrite FF in June. Or at least the first 50 000 words.

I'm reading Writing the Romantic Comedy by Billy Mernit, in prep. It's awesome, perfect. I can see the things I've got right (plot beats, sex), where I need to fine-tooth-comb it before June (theme), and ideas on how to intro the humor. Like THE TOPPER I LOVE THE TOPPER!!!!!* Must consciously see if I do toppers. If not, must learn how. But I know I do comedic set pieces, just not consciously. There's already one scene in my book that I was dying to turn into a comedy scene, but held myself back; and another that half turned into one, and then I had to make bad things happen so that it became all serious and sad instead.

Anyone want to write a novel in June? (Or an oracle deck?)

And now: Cat on an ankle.

And now: Cat being obnoxious on lap while I write.

She squirmy-wormies around, touching the touchpad and messing up the writing.

"Editor kitteh improves your writing!"

No she doesn't. Stop it!! Show the people how annoying you are:

this is me holding back her paws from the touchpad

worm

squirm

I don't blog about Haley as much because if Minion's being distracted by sitting on me, then H takes advantage and uses the best sleep spots. She's on the Coussin de pouvoir.