Book Country, Oh My!

Book Country is a new website for writers. A subsidiary of Penguin Group, this new site offers a place for genre fiction writers to display their work, offer/receive peer reviews, and  expose their work to industry insiders. I have been lost in the Country for a few days, participating in discussions as well as critiques. The site is full of wonderful people, professional writing, and support for anything, whether you're just looking for a wholesome conversation concerning the zombie apocalypse or need advice on how to improve your hook. It may be safe to assume that Book Country will quickly rise to the top and become indispensable to genre fiction writers. And it's free! So check it out.

http://www.bookcountry.com

A little something... AWESOME!

This is pretty cool. Suzie Townsend, an agent with FinePrint Literary Management, has invited writers to send the first 250 words of their manuscripts ("First Page Shooters") for possible critiques, which will be posted on her blog, http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/. Definitely worth it if you don't mind having your critique up for public view. I sent one of mine in. And, apparently, so did 699 other people. Ha. But seriously, even if you are not comfortable sending your first page, it's definitely a great source to keep up with. In the first three critiques posted last week, I recognized mistakes that I make repeatedly in my own writing. (I've probably already done it countless times in this blog, alone!).
Not much compares with agent advice and info. It's right up there with a "get out of hell free" pass at work and "unicorns really do exist". So don't waste it.

Couldn't resist!

 Okay, I got this website from the May/June 2011 issue of Writer's Digest. It rocks.  Go to http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/ if you are looking for a fabulous writing outlet that is fun, inspiring, and as simple or complex as you make it.

My page is http://www.smithmag.net/community/people.php/Forallitalk . Just started it so there is not much to look at yet. I'm sure it will build quickly, though.

More lewd than shrewd

I spent well into three hours last night revising the first three chapters of my urban fantasy manuscript, which I had affirmed many times to myself that I wouldn't do. "No, no," I told myself, trying to make it sink into my mind like a personal (and cheap and lazy) mantra. Didn't listen, though. And while some revisions proved to be quite pertinent, others were a bit...drastic. Somewhere in my Dr. Frankenstein mindset I decided to add the funniest combinations of lewd words and phrases I could think up at the witching hour. However, I did keep them in context to the story. Also -Okay, I might as well fess up to this- I succumbed to writing a fart story (yes, bathroom humor!) that made me laugh out loud in an otherwise empty room for at least ten minutes. Yes, I did that. Admitting it is the first step. But the first step to where?

Whether my changes stick for good or simply end up playing out as a hearty destressing activity, I think it was time well spent. I was able to add PG dialogue, as well, that helped flesh out my heroine. And I believe I smoothed out an introduction between her and another character. Originally, it seemed forced at times, and I felt the heroine was coming across more as a bitch-oholic rather than dejected and misunderstood. Now readers can relate to her easier, understanding the motives driving her actions. Or so is my intention.

So... I promise to look over my changes after I take a few days to recover from the rampant silliness that attacked my manuscript like a bad episode of angina. However, a few lewd changes may become permanent. I don't think I could stand to edit "Captain Dick Lick". It really is funny in context. Really... Just laugh anyway.

(And I will leave the argument for language choice in literature and the use of bathroom humor as a crutch for another time. Leaving it in 3. 2. ...)