Making a Literary Life Friday: Travels
The literary life takes us to so many places, real and imagined. Where do you go to write? To meet other writers? To get away from the pressure of meeting your goals? This week two members of the Writers' Group traveled literally--to New York City. One is preparing for a trip to agent city. Where is your literary life taking you?
Amy
I got in from New York late last night after meeting with the amazing team at Shaye Areheart/Crown Publishing Group. I will tell you all about it on Tuesday. Suffice it to say, I cried all the way back to Penn Station.
While I was there, my editor and publisher took me to a display case filled with books. Choose whatever you want and we'll ship it to you, they said. Think about that for a minute. Are you as staggered as I was? If you're looking for the big hit of Winter 2008, I'm holding it now. Will Lavender's Obedience is about a university logic class assigned with finding a hypothetical missing girl. If they don't reason out the evidence within the end of the term, the girl will be murdered. Soon, though, the students discover disturbing clues that make them believe this isn't a hypothetical case at all. What a hook!
Hannah
My travels this week were back to the beginning, to run a polish cloth over what I delivered to the Group. I read it before handing it over how many times? Still, repeated words, a missing word here and there, things I could have said better. Nothing that will affect the impact of their edits, only changes that need to be made no matter what they tell me. I have notes and scribbles for my next story beginning to pile up, yet I don't quite dare leap fully. I want to stay focused on this one and get it out on its own journey.
Lynne
This week my travels included a trip to New York to meet with my editor at St Martin's Press. To listen to her talk about my characters and my story was a time I will treasure. She understands my story more than I could've hoped any one would. The trip was a dream come true for a writer wanting to get a cherished novel into the hands of readers. More on my trip next week. And my travels took me to two events. Thank you to the wonderful staff and parents who came out to The Seaside Mothers of Multiples meeting and Barnes and Noble in Hingham MA. I'm so grateful for your positive response to Negotiation Generation.
11 comments:
What hooks, Amy and Lynne, to promise accounts of your NYC trips for next week!
And, Amy, what a treasure chest you had to choose from. Did your knees buckle and/or your head swim at ALL. THOSE. BOOKS? After reading about Obedience, I pre-ordered. Thank you.
Larramie, I can't wait to share. Thanks so much forcaring. Doesn't Will Lavender's book sound amazing? I love smart writing. Be prepared to stay up all night.
Amy
Oh, you're a tease...I must wait until February!
Amy, Know just how you feel! Last fall I met with my agent and my editor and it was such a great time I was floating when I got in the taxi and went back to my hotel room. Can't wait to hear about it on Tuesday!
Wow! So exciting for all of you. I love to see these snippets of your writing lives.
Carleen, I'm going through your archives to read all about it.
Ello, thanks for sharing the journey. Someday I hope you'll do the same.
Amy
Here's another vote for tales from the Big Apple. I love hearing them too. My literary travels have brought me HOME. I've learned I need to stop worrying, studying, editing, fiddling, work shopping, and just get a good dose of "sitzfleish" (Hannah, did you teach me that word?) and keep working toward the end.
Thanks so much for your kind comments about my book, Amy. Can't wait to read TETHERED. Sally raved about it at lunch this weekend. And yes, the folks at Shaye Areheart and Crown are Wonderful -- capital W intended.
Take care, Writers' Group, and keep up the good work.
--Will Lavender
Lisa, I know exactly what you're experiencing. There was a point where the end was in sight, but I got ahead of myself thinking about everything that came after "the end." Like you, I reigned it in and sat myself down. I can't wait to see where your journey takes you and to someday read your tale from NYC.
Will, it's easy to be enthusiastic about a good book. That first line is fantastic. And the people at Crown are Amazing, capital A intended.
Amy
Okay I pre-ordered Obedience too. It sounds very "Secret History" smart thriller like which I love.
Eileen, you won't be disappointed. And for anyone interested in learning more about Eileen Cook's much-hyped novel (just read the reviews), Unpredicatble, just click the link under Hot Off the Presses. I've been looking forward to it for over a year now.
Amy
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