Working Stiffs

Never Trust Bad Beginnings

2012-01-27T01:27:00.004-05:00

Treat for you today, fellow Stiffs and readers: we have the fabulous Linda Rodriguez here to entertain us! If you don't know Linda, you should definitely follow her on Twitter - @Rodriquez_Linda and buy her book. It won the Malice Domestic contest, which is quite an accomplishment. And can I just say how much I love the cover?

Without further ado, here's Linda:

I have a good friend, a giftedwriter, whose year has started off terribly. Her foster father diedunexpectedly. Her father-in-law died unexpectedly. One of her best friendsended up in ICU with an aneurysm. Now, her four-year-old has developedpneumonia. We’re checking for any cackling, old-country types who’ve put an evilspell on her! But seriously, it’s made for a grim beginning to her new year—andmade her worry what the rest of the year will bring.

I consoled her by telling her how my2011 began. I was already down because an editor who’d had my novel for a longtime rejected it, at the same time suggesting I send it to a national contest.I had pneumonia—which is quite serious for me since lupus has left me with verydamaged lungs. Once I got better, just as January ended and I was about to flyto Washington, D.C. for the AWP national conference, we had a blizzard, and Ifell on icy steps, breaking my cheekbone and knee and spraining my shoulder andright thumb.

No D.C. No conference where I meetdear friends who live half a country away. I could hardly feed myself. (Youhave no idea how necessary your thumb is until you lose its use for a while). Itlooked to me as if 2011 was going to be a hellish year, just as 2012 is lookingthat way right now to my friend.

This is what happened in 2011 forme.

1. I received a substantial research grant from anarts organization that had never before given to a writer.

2. I spent a wonderful week researching a book withall expenses, including travel, paid.

3. I learned I was a finalist in that nationalnovel contest that editor had urged me to enter, and I learned that even afinalist would probably get an agent and maybe a publisher.

4. I learned that I was the winner of the MaliceDomestic First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition. A $10,000 advance and apublishing contract with St. Martin’s Press. Woo hoo! My year was made rightthere.

5. I learned that St. Martin’s Press was going topay my way to the Malice Domestic Conference in Bethesda where I would receivethe award.

6. I went to Malice Domestic and had a blast. I metwonderful mystery writers who were so kind to me. My editor, my publisher, andall the St. Martin’s/Minotaur Books staff who were there turned out to bewonderful.

7. I came home with some directives from the St.Martin’s publicity folks. Get on Twitter was one of them. With trepidation, Idid—and now have almost 2,000 followers and many fantastic new friends.

8. I came home and found myself in demand for paidreadings throughout the Midwest (from the poetry book I’d published in 2009).

9. I started writing the second book in my mysteryseries.

10. I was asked to contribute a short story to Kansas City Noir, an anthology in thefamed Noir series from Akashic Books.

11. With a recommendation from my editor, I securedan incredible agent.

12. I received a beautiful book cover for Every Last Secret from St. Martin’s.

13. I was keynote speaker at the national conferenceof an important national arts organization.

14. My book launch and other events to publicize Every Last Secret when it comes outbegan to be finalized.

It took most of 2011 for my brokenknee to heal, and I will have to have major surgery on it later, but I hardlynoticed as all these exciting things continued to happen throughout the year.That year that had such a sour beginning turned into one of the best years ofmy life.

So I tell my friend to pay no attentionto the bad beginning of her 2012. I know she’s got the potential of having ayear like the one I just had, and I think she will. My husband and I spent NewYear’s Day marveling at the difference between this New Year’s and 2011’s. Ithink the same thing will happen for my friend next year.

One thing I’ve learned is nevertrust bad beginnings. A bad beginning doesn’t mean that the year or the bookcan’t turn out magnificently well.

Thank you all for having me as a guest on Working Stiffs. I hopeyou’ll all visit me at www.LindaRodriguezWrites.blogspot.comand check out Every Last Secret atyour local bookstore or Barnes & Noble or at http://www.amazon.com/Every-Last-Secret-Linda-Rodriguez/dp/1250005450

***

Linda Rodriguez’s novel, Every Last Secret (Minotaur Books),winner of the Malice Domestic FirstTraditional Mystery Novel Competition, will be published on 4/24/12. She has alsopublished two books of poetry, Heart’sMigration (Tia Chucha Press) winner of the Thorpe Menn Award for LiteraryExcellence and finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, and Skin Hunger (Scapegoat Press) and a cookbook, The “I Don’t Know How To Cook” Book: Mexican (Adams Media).Rodriguez received the Midwest Voices and Visions Award, Elvira CorderoCisneros Award, KC ArtsFund Inspiration Award, and Ragdale and Macondofellowships, among others. She is a member of Latino Writers Collective,Wordcraft Circle of Native American Writers and Storytellers, Kansas CityCherokee Community, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime.

The Process

2012-01-26T00:01:00.006-05:00

by Joyce

Some of you probably know I signed with agent Meredith Barnes a few months ago. Since then, I’ve been revising what used to be called THAT EFFING BOOK. The real title I finally came up with is IN SPITE OF MURDER (or ISoM as Awesome Agent calls it), which could be changed in the future as is known to happen.

More than a few beginning (and maybe not-so-beginning) writers have the impression that once you sign with an agent all you do is hand over your manuscript, the agent sells it as is, and voila—it’s on the bookshelf.

Um. No.

Not by a longshot.

I’m on my sixth revision of this manuscript, and that doesn’t count the revising and editing I did daily while I wrote it. (I always read over what I wrote the day before and fix what I don’t like before I move on.) Right now, I’m about 2/3 through my third agent-inspired revision. I’m sure the process is different for each author and his/her agent, but I thought someone might want to know how it worked for me. Or not. But I’m going to tell you anyway. Cause I’m like that.

My first revision letter from Meredith was four pages long—and this was before she offered representation. I was impressed that she took that much time to show what needed to be fixed and I wasn’t even her client. To say I was excited was an understatement. I actually cried. Hard to believe, I know. When I peeled myself off the ceiling, I got to work. About six weeks later, I sent it off and waited.

I didn’t have to wait long—only two weeks. I guess I did something right, because she offered representation. And sent more revision notes. This revision was more intense than the first. We decided to restructure the book, moving some plot elements from the third quarter of the book to the first quarter, which meant deleting a lot of scenes that no longer made sense and writing new ones in their place. That’s a very simplistic way of saying It was a bitch and the hardest thing I ever did and it almost killed me. It sure made the book a lot better, though.

The revision I’m working on now is more a clean up than anything else. We decided I needed another scene or two with my character’s love interest, and another one with the bad guy. I have a tendency to be a little short on description, so I’m fleshing that out, too.

You may have noticed I said “we decided” up above. The author-agent relationship and the decision of what to revise is very much a team effort. And I’m absolutely ecstatic to be on Meredith’s team.

When Progress Isn't Progress

2012-01-25T02:38:00.001-05:00

by Annette Dashofy

You lucky readers have caught me in a ranting mood today. Asin smoke-coming-out-of-my-ears ranting mood. All over eight dollars and fivecents.

When Fish Talescame out, I purchased a box of them to re-sell. You see, the royalties for thesale of the book go to cancer research, so none of us authors made any money onit. However, by purchasing some books at discount through our wonderful localindy bookseller, Mystery Lovers Bookshop, I had the opportunity to sell a fewcopies, make a couple of bucks (to please my accountant), AND cancer researchstill gets the royalties.

All well and good. Except that I had to apply for a salestax license.

No problem. I had a sales tax license years ago when Hubbyand I ran a photography studio. I don’t remember any problems with the filingand payment procedure. Fill in the sales numbers, write a check, stick a stampon the envelope, and mail it in.

Ha. Those were the good old days.

My license was denied. It seems I have to pay the money I’vecollected before I can get a license. Okay. The nasty letter I received said Icould do this easily online or by phone. The problem is that they want mylicense number. The license I don’t have because I have to pay first. But I can’tpay without a number.

You see the conundrum?

I finally managed to file a return online, but theelectronic payment refused to go through. I spent hours…literally HOURS…on thephone, being directed from one non-toll-free number to another. Each time I’dget a human, they’d say, “Oh, you have to call this other number.” I believethe process is known as PASSING THE BUCK.

My head was ready to explode. All because I owed eightdollars and five cents.

Did I mention the nasty letter? The one that stated taxliabilities may result in a criminal citation being issued against you????WTF? For eight dollars and five cents???

Relax. I don’t need anyone to bail me out of jail. On daytwo of this saga, I finally (only two phone calls later—YAY!) was able to speakto a real person who seemed genuinely interested in resolving my problem andwho didn’t treat me like I had the black plague. I wish I’d have caught hisname. I’d send him a bottle of wine. Or a chocolate cake. Or both. He looked upmy case, told me in very simple terms what the problem was and how to fix it. ANDhe gave me an address to use to send in my payment. Write a check. Stick astamp on the envelope. Mail it in.

THIS I can do.

Sometimes progress just isn’t.

Change

2012-01-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

ByK.M. Humphreys

Change, as defined inMerriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11^th Edition, is to makedifferent in some particular (among many others). We change ourselves a lot. We change the style or color of our hair fora lot of reasons. We don’t want any grayhairs showing, we want a change of pace, or we want to change ouridentity. No matter what the reason, wechange our hair all the time.

We change the clotheswe wear. Styles come and go, such astie-dyes, bell bottoms, leggings, leg warmers – styles change. What’s 'in' today won’t be 'in' tomorrow. We change what we wear to keep up with thelatest in fashion.

As we get older,everything about us changes. Ourpriorities, our weight, where we live, and our jobs are just some of the thingsthat change as we move into each part of our lives.

Change isinevitable. Sometimes we like change andembrace it. Sometimes we accept itkicking and screaming. We can complainall we want, but some changes we can’t keep from happening.

Some change is positiveand some change is negative. There aretimes we are going through a positive change in our lives, but we only see thenegative aspects of it.

Change inspires us toproduce more change. If major changeshappen where you work that you don’t like, it may inspire you to look elsewhereor encourage you to work harder so you can move up in your job into a positionof management so you can have more of a voice in future changes.

This blog post wasinspired by recent change in my company. We recently moved our offices from a suburb to the city. Everybody’s complaining about having to dealwith traffic in the mornings and evenings, having to pay for parking, etc. At first I was griping with the rest ofthem. However, I have recently reallystopped to think about it and for me, I think it’s a positive move. I believe this move could lead to moreopportunities for me down the road.

I know our company hastheir reasons for the move. I am nowgenerating my own positive ways to look at this move. The rest of the group can complain all theywant, but I’m going to embrace this move and look for the positives.

There is change inevery aspect of our lives. Take thepositive route and look at change as an inspiration.

Happy Writing!

House Hunters Meets Fiction Writing

2012-01-23T05:00:00.003-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

Today I helped one of my friends brainstorm a story line for her newest work-in-progress. She's written the first eleven pages. Gripping. Emotional. After reading, I wanted to devour the rest of the book.

The problem? The rest of the book is a twinkle in her mind. Actually that's an exaggeration. The rest of the book doesn't exist. Yet. And the beautiful eleven pages have been in a desk drawer incubating for seven years.

So we tried something new. As a brainstorming exercise, we came up with three different story lines, each of which could start from the same inciting incident, thus using the beautiful eleven pages. Think of it as House Hunters Meets Fiction Writing.

Story A - Long suffering wife, prodded by her empty nest, inspects her life. Discovers husband is having an affair, forces a confrontation with husband, and leaves, freeing herself to discover who she really is.

Story B - Long suffering wife, prodded by her empty nest, inspects her life. Discovers husband is not who she thought he was, and when he's outed by a jealous friend, she sees her husband with all his flaws for the first time as an authentic partner, and together they find a way to be a different kind of family.

Story C - Long suffering wife, prodded by her empty nest, inspects her life. Discover husband has hidden a secret that shatters her image of him. The secret, an illegitimate child, comes into their lives as a pregnant eighteen year old young woman. Together the husband and wife resolve their own battles and come together to make their family whole.

I don't know if you can see how the stories are so very different in these brief descriptions, but as we worked though the process (in about twenty minutes), my friend blew past her plotting roadblocks and envision three distinct and very different novels.

Best of all, each story centered around a hidden mystery, a secret locked away for eighteen years, that changed the very character of the opposing lead character, the husband. We were able to identify more heroic resolutions as we worked through the process.

So, what is the takeaway dear writer/reader?

When sitting down to layout your next novel, take a twenty minute quick walk on the wild side. Take a page from the House Hunters television show on HGTV. Look at three different properties, that is three different story lines. Throw in a couple of wildcards.

As in the television show, my friend was able to throw out one of the options pretty quickly, and was able to focus on the two remaining story lines. They were very different from what she originally considered. The process completely removed her writer's block.

Try it, and let me know how it works for you.

Keep writing!

Page to Screen

2012-01-20T04:45:00.001-05:00

By Pat Gulley

Movies based on Books, and how well they are interpreted.

I once read that when she first started her Kinsey Millhoneseries, Sue Grafton said she would never let Hollywood get their mitts on her books. And Iwas split 50/50 with her on that because 1/ I assumed any sale to Hollywood meant hundredsof thousands of dollars, but 2/ I’d seen so many characters and stories slashedto ribbons on the screen that I felt she was justified.

Well, I’ve learned since that like advances for books, onlya few get those big bucks for their work. And I’ve seen enough movies based onbooks to know that Sue had a major point in rejecting the big and littlescreen. I’m inclined to wonder why Hollywood buys these books, if they intendto rewrite them, change the characters and make them unrecognizable to fans ofthe original work, why bother?. It has been suggested that they just want topiggyback on the success of the author and her/his work, and I’m inclined toaccept that.

But there are always exceptions.

I recently went to see Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, theEnglish version with that cutie pie, Daniel Craig. (I’ve always liked him eversince I first saw him in Minette Walters’ The Ice House, which by the way was areal chop job.) I say English version as I did see the Swedish version too. TheSwedish version did cut the book up and just went with the mystery. If youhaven’t read the book, the part that captures everyone’s attention is thecharacter of Lisbeth Salander and her story, however it is also an excellentcold case murder mystery (with a major twist), investigated by a journalist andhigh tech researcher, and a family saga. The part that got the least attentionwas the main character and his story, MikaelBlomkvist. His story encompasses a lot of political history and corporateintrigue of Sweden,as well as how a journalist and his publication can get sued over stories, anddidn’t seem to interest a lot of people. Frankly, having lived through thehippy era, and the number of people running off to that land of ‘seeming’perfection, I found it very interesting. OTOH, I’d already read, The LaughingPoliceman. (I’d also seen the movie, AND wasn’t that the most ghastlyinterpretation!!!!)

Oh yeah, Mikael. So was I everpleasantly surprised to see the English version taking up his story, too. Yes,they changed a few bits, but nothing that would harm Stieg’s story. (For thoseof you who have read the book, no Australia—you know what I mean.) Itwas a long movie, it had to be to take in this much, but I didn’t find myselfanything but engrossed the whole time. It did leave out Salander’s mother andfather except for a few comments, but it did include her first advocate. I’minclined to believe the makers of this film will also do the second book, TheGirl Who Played With Fire and add in all of Salander’s back story.

I saw it with my Swedish Americanfriend, Barbara, and she actually like this version more, too. We are both veryfond of the whole series, and I’m sure we will be watching it again fromNetflix.

I honestly believe Ronney Maradeserves every award she is or will be nominated for, as she did a fabulousjob, but so did the actress, Noomi Rapace, in the Swedish version. Noomi alsodid a good job in the Swedish version of The Girl Who Played With Fire, but ittoo was much abbreviated. The Swedish movie must have been well received in Europe, because while the first movie had subtitles, thesecond movie was dubbed and you could have it in several languages.

If you have seen any of these,your pros and cons are most welcome. Any good examples you’d like to chime inwith? By the way, I mean individual movies, not series like Lord of The Rings.

Oh, and another book coming to thescreen that we all have our claws and fangs ready to extend for is One For TheMoney. Get Ready.

Where Do We Get Our Story Ideas?

2012-01-19T07:00:00.003-05:00

By Paula Matter

Burbank, Calif. – A Los Angeles woman was arrested last week for offering sexual favors in exchange for chicken McNuggets, according to Burbank police.

BOSTON (AP) — Boston police say a woman suspected of robbing a city bank was caught a short time later handing out dollar bills to children at a park.

DENVER. (AP) — Family members are waiting for answers about how a 66-year-old Colorado man's body went unnoticed in a locked movie theater restroom for about five days after he died there.

LONDON (AP) -- It was a daily reminder of the death of her father in a British industrial accident - but a mother of two says she feels relief after she was given the chance to demolish the factory where he was killed.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Portland police say more than a dozen rabbits reported stolen the night before a rabbit-cooking class have been returned by bunny advocates who had been caring for them.

Patients at a New York City hospital are getting billed for tens of millions of dollars because of a computer error.

A loosely formed group of scientists around the world is watching for communication from extraterrestrial life forms.

AP - A jury convicted a man Wednesday of the 1986 killing of a mother of four, a crime for which another man served 20 years in prison before being exonerated by new DNA tests.

A Missouri woman found herself on the wrong end of an arrest after she called police to report a crime. It seems that 47-year-old Suzanne Basham was outraged when her neighborhood crack dealer sold her $40 worth of sugar instead of cocaine.

What could any of y'all do with the above news stories? Any of them inspire you to create? Have you ever written a story based on a newspaper headline or some other source?

Flash Fiction

2012-01-18T05:00:00.003-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

I'm experimenting with flash fiction, that is mysteries under five hundred words. I'm struggling to set the hook and land the story. So I've come to Working Stiffs and my dear friends for advice.

Here's a little something I call THE HOBBY. What do you think?

Mary Wilson stared through the peephole in her front door at the clean cut young man standing on herporch. Against her better judgment, she opened the door. “May Ihelp you?”

“Ma'am, sorry to disturb you. I'mselling magazine subscriptions to pay my way through communitycollege? Would you be interested in supporting me?” The young mansmiled, his short dull brown hair waving in the wind.

Mary smiled. “Of course, come in. May I get you a glass of iced tea? You must be parched.”

“That would be so nice.” He wiped his shoes on the welcome mat and enteredthe humble bungalow.

“Follow me in the kitchen. Sithere.” Mary pointed at the worn kitchen chair, the paint peelingfrom years of careful use. “Would you like an apple?” She tookthe butcher knife from the block, and made quick work of quarteringthe apple. She poured the glass of iced tea and sat the apple beforethe young man.

He drank greedily, his thirst obvious.He wiped the back of his hand across his moist lips. “Ma'am, doyou know which magazine you would like?” He pushed the catalogtoward her. “The ordering information is right there.” Hepointed at the fine print on the back of the page.

“Do you have Ellery Queen MysteryMagazine? Or perhaps something with true crime?” Mary fingeredthe edge of the butcher knife, as her smile started to slip.

“No, but we have People Magazine,Time, and Newsweek. Would you like one of those?” His voicefluttered with a quiver.

Mary gripped the knife. “No, I wouldnot. I. Have. One. Hobby.” She accentuated each word with asinister pause. “What did you say your name was?”

“Um, I didn't.” He wiggled in hischair, his youthful swagger evaporating. “I'd better be going.” He snatched the catalog from the table, nearly tripping over the catas he ran to the front door.

Mary fingered the blade and sighed. Ohwell, it was for the best. She cleared the dirty glass from thetable, placing it in the sink. As she gazed out the window at hercollection of brightly painted wooden crosses, each with a singlename painted in black.

She only had one hobby.

Old Lang Syne

2012-01-17T06:00:00.004-05:00

by Martha Reed

I’m happy to report that I finished up a new short storyyesterday, one that I’ve been working on for yes, five years. I can rememberthe day I first came up with the idea, walking on the beach in Sanibel with mysister and deciding I’d like to try writing a story set in southwestern Floridabecause it was so different from my life in southwestern Pennsylvania. For onething, I have no experience with alligators and I’m okay with that but I took alook around at the Florida retirement lifestyle and thought: what would it belike to live in an older environment (even though our population in Pittsburghis aging)? There would be advantages like larger parking spaces and well litstreet signs but I’ve got enough East Coast in me to want to hurry things alongin the check out aisle every once in awhile, and that's rude. So it was adilemma.

But in those five years since I started the story idea, time hascarried me over the 50-year-old yard line, and I think I can bring a betterperspective to the story now. My friends and I have started to experience some healthissues. It’s been interesting to watch how everyone reacts to them. Some are inflat denial, swallowing ibuprofen or vodka martinis to kill the aches andpains. Others (like me) have gone all Zen, practicing Yoga in an attempt toresurrect our hips, knees, and flexor tendons. But the best part is that I’vecome to appreciate using humor to deflect age because, after all, the joke ison us. We may have gotten older but the definition of mortality hasn't changed.

Which brings me back to my new story, STRANGLER FIG. I have a character in it,87 years old, who confronts an armed intruder in her home. Scottie is confinedto a wheelchair, and at first I was worried that she would sound helpless but when Istarted noodling around with her character, she turned out to be feisty. A retired Navy nurse, Scottie is tough as nails. She absolutely resisted everyattempt I made to tone her down and, in the end, I capitulated. She wanted toconfront the intruder and once I stepped out of the way (as the author) she did. Itmakes for a wonderful story which I believe rings true. I’m sending it outtomorrow to look for a new home. Wish me luck!

PS. In the interest of disclosure I did mean to write old in theheadline, not auld. Did you catch that?

MOVING ON

2012-01-16T01:18:00.003-05:00

by Gina Sestak

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I hope everyone is celebrating equality and freedom.

On the home front, my last post described how my car was wrecked on the final day of 2011.

Everyone who looked at it said the same thing: It's totaled.

Well, it's official. After having the car towed to a collision center and partially dismantled, the insurance company declared the car a total loss and wrote me a check. I went out on Saturday and bought a new car.

I really liked the Saturn Astra and planned to be driving it for several more years. I would have bought another Saturn were they still available. Unfortunately, the near collapse of the American auto industry brought about the end of Saturn. They just don't make them anymore.

One hold-over from the Saturn is my addiction to On-Star. I never thought I'd like something like that, but once I tried it, I just couldn't get enough. In addition to providing driving directions in a voice that issues from your rear view mirror (creepy), it allows you to call in and speak to a live person when those directions fail to work. That live person will really try to help you, too. And you can summon emergency assistance anytime you see a wreck by pressing a button. Besides, it's fun to use. Whenever it loses track of your car in a tunnel (a common occurrence around here) it will begin to BONG! BONG! BONG! and warn that you've left the planned route. At first I used to argue. "How the *$@^%$ could I have left the route? I'm in a *&$@# tunnel!" On-Star never argued back. The calm voice from the mirror would only ask whether I needed directions to get back on route and, when I would answer, "NO!" it would go quiet until the car came through the tunnel exit, then pick up directions where it left off as if nothing had happened.

I love On-Star.

That's why, when I went looking for a replacement car, I wanted one with On-Star pre-installed.

I found it. Meet my new car, a Sonic hatchback:

And yes, it really is Inferno Orange. Go figure. So, if you see something like this coming at you

it just might be me.

So what's all this got to do with writing? you're probably wondering. A lot. Cars are part of life and life, as we know, provides the fodder for all writing. Plus, it provided me with a topic for this post.

OK, I can't resist inserting another Bollywood car chase clip. This one's from Don 2, the sequel to the one I inserted the car chase from last time. This chase takes place in Germany. The man driving the first car is an international crime boss. The woman chasing him is an Interpol agent who wants him for personal reasons as well: he murdered her brother and her friend. Enjoy.

Who Do You Love?

2012-01-13T05:00:00.003-05:00

by Ramona DeFelice Long

Lately, I’ve been thinking about love.

The first time I fell in love, hisname was Charles. He was older, tall and dark-haired, with a nice laugh and lotof patience. Charles was a gentleman. He even wore a uniform.

I showed my devotion to Charlesby chasing him around my back yard every Tuesday afternoon, tryingto get him to kiss me.

I should probably mention that Iwas five and Charles was nine, and he was in my back yard on Tuesday afternoons forCub Scout meetings. (Hence the uniform). My older brother was also a Cub Scout, and my mother was the Den Mother.

Imention Charles' patience because while the other boys made bird houses out of Popsiclesticks or sanded their cars for the Pinewood Derby, poor Charles was trying toavoid getting bussed by his friend’s besotted little sister. He ran away but hewas never mean. He never laughed at me.

My adoration for Charles reachedits peak during the scout Pageant, which featured a play about western pioneersgetting attacked by Indians. (Sorry, these were back in the politicallyincorrect days of yore.) I was cast as a pioneer girl. I wore a calico dressand a sunbonnet, and Charles gallantly pulled me around the junior high gym ina garden cart / covered wagon. When the Indians (sorry, again) attacked, the wagons formed a circle, and Charles gotdown on one knee and protected me by shooting away with a fake wooden rifle.

My youthful infatuation with Charles molded me. It’s tough to forget a brave young man who held back a bunch of marauders. Since the age of five,I’ve been a sucker for the good guys.

The other day, someone in myFacebook group brought up the topic of literary boyfriends. We talked about the fictionalmen who made our toes curl, and why, and what that said about us. I admittedthat the first love of my literary life was Marius from Les Miserables. I swooned while he mooned over Cosette. I alsofell hard for John Ridd of Lorna Doone, Captain Wentworth in Jane Austen’sPersuasion, and OMG, Will Ladislaw ofMiddlemarch, I would still follow you anywhere.

All good guys. All versions of Charles.

Some of the responses in thegroup were interesting. I, personally, can't understand why anyone wouldbe attracted to Heathcliff. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite novels, but EdwardRochester? Not telling her he was married? Letting her find out on her weddingday that the crazy lady in the attic was really his wife? Yeah. Like I’d be bigenough to get past that in real life.

And yet, I had something of asick crush on Silas Marner.

Which proves, the heart wants what the heart wants.

If you had to choose a fictionalguy to pull your covered wagon, who would it be? Good guy? Bad boy? Brave war hero? Torturedsociopath? Miser?

What man from the land of books would you chase around theback yard?

Keep On Trucking

2012-01-12T00:01:00.003-05:00

by Alan Orloff

I must have been a good guest (or at least not a terribleone), because I’ve been invited back to blog. Thanks, Working Stiffs! (Thistime, I promise to clean up after myself.)

Last time, I blogged about the stages I go through when I’m aboutto start a new writing project. Today, I thought I would offer a fewsuggestions about keeping an existing project moving forward when you’refeeling stuck.

Sometimes, it can be tough.

When a project is new, anything is possible—your optimism isboundless. Remember all that crisp, unspoiled filler paper on the first day offourth grade, just sitting in your looseleaf notebook, waiting to be turnedinto a masterpiece? Same kind of thing here, except instead of “What I Did OverSummer Vacation,” you’re determined to pen the Great American Novel.

But after twenty thousand words (insert your own numberhere), the excitement and enthusiasm may start to wane. The characters aren’tquite what you imagined. The plot seems a little “off.” The dialogue sounds abit stilted. There’s nothing “Great” about your novel. How can you keep plowingthrough, once the enthusiasm and excitement erode? (Or worse, plummet like astone.)

Here are some things I’ve found to be helpful:

Set a quota and stick to it. I’ve said this before,but setting a daily word quota—and sticking to it—almost guarantees you’ll getyour project finished. Be disciplined! (I’ve said this before, too, butsometimes I get up in the middle a sentence once I’ve hit my quota.) Don’tworry so much about the quality of the work; you can always fix it up duringthe revision process!

Try doubling your quota. Sometimes you can simplypower your way back on track, especially if you can get into that all-powerfulWriting Zone (notice the capital letters).

Skip ahead to a different scene. Sometimes skippingahead to a different, and possibly more exciting, scene may kickstart things.

Outliners: Change your outline. Maybe your writinghas slowed down because, on some level, you know you’re going in the wrongdirection. Don’t be a slave to your outline! Modify it as you go along, if itserves the story better. (Pantsers: Maybe you could try changing your pants.)

Try writing in a different location or at a differenttime of day. Many writers head down to the local coffee shop, bookstore, orlibrary to write. Fewer distractions and more caffeine (assuming you can ignorethe stares of the baristas, or all those books on the shelves, calling yourname). If you’re a morning writer, try writing at night, and vice versa.

Try a different atmosphere. If you usually write insilence, try writing with a soundtrack (or with kids screaming in thebackground). If you usually write in an isolated place, try finding a spotright in the middle of some hubbub (train station, shopping mall, Occupy WallStreet gathering).

Talk to some other writers. Most of the writers Iknow are interesting, engaging people. I find that talking to them re-energizesme and gets me back in the mood to crank out some words. (Yes, I know a few writersare twisted and deranged. They’re also fun to talk with, even if they make youa little nervous.)

Good luck with your next Great American Novel/Edgar winner!

Alan Orloff’s latest book, DEADLY CAMPAIGN, is the secondin the Last Laff Mystery series (released this week!). He’s also written KILLERROUTINE (Last Laff #1) and DIAMONDS FORTHE DEAD (a Best First Novel Agatha Award finalist). Writing as Zak Allen, he’spublished THE TASTE (horror) and FIRST TIME KILLER (thriller), both ebookoriginals. For more information visit www.alanorloff.com

Towanda!!!

2012-01-11T04:37:00.001-05:00

by Annette Dashofy

The holidays are over. Most of us have already startedblowing our New Year’s resolutions. We are firmly ensconced in the DEAD OFWINTER.

And for once, I’m not complaining about it.

Here in southwestern Pennsylvania,winter has been kind. So far. It’s been mild. We’ve had rain instead of snow,but not enough to cause flooding. Mud? I can live with a little mud. Yes, Irealize we have a couple of months to go, and Old Man Winter might slap us upside the head any minute now. But last year the nasty stuff started the dayafter Thanksgiving and continued until April. So every day of nice weather wehave is one less day of the wicked stuff. And one day closer to spring.

But there’s one thing I like about winter no matter what theweather. The stores aren’t jam packed.

All right, there is that milk and toilet paper madness thathits whenever the forecast calls for more than a flurry of snow. But ingeneral, it’s easier to shop this time of year.

I’ve come to the conclusion that it really isn’t the holidaycraziness INSIDE the store that I dread so much. It’s the craziness in theparking lot.

I confess. I hate (loathe) parking lots. People lose allsense of humanity when they’re trying to get a good parking space. Or anyparking space.

Yes, I seriously wish I had the nerve (and that big ol’ tankof a car) to do this. Don’t you?

But even once you’ve got the space, you still have majorobstacles to overcome. One day, shortly before Christmas, two different driversnearly backed over me while I walked from the far reaches of the lot to thestore. Is it too much trouble to look behind you before ramming your car inreverse and pounding the gas? Seriously.

And then there’s my 91-year-old mom who walks with a caneand can’t jog across the pedestrian crossing. I have to act like a schoolcrossing guard and stand there, daring these impatient idiots to hit me, so Momcan hobble into the store. I’ve been known to give “The Look” (Joyce, you knowthe one) to drivers who act like they’re going to mow us down. So far it’sworked. The day it doesn’t, I hope someone gets a license number. At the veryleast, I’ll be kicking the hell out of their car’s undercarriage as they driveover me.

Towanda!!!

On this Day in History

2012-01-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

By K.M. Humphreys

It’s January 10^th, 2012. This is a big day in our house as it’s myhusband’s birthday. I decided for myblog post today I would put together a history of the day.

First, I’ll look at famous birthson this day. Frank Sinatra, Jr. (1945)and Rod Stewart (1945) were both born on January 10^th. They were later shared a birthday with GeorgeForeman (1949) and Bobby Rahal (1953). You can see a whole list of other famous people born on January 10^thhere: http://www.historyorb.com/birthdays/january/10?p=2.

Next, I looked at famous deaths that happened on January 10^th http://www.brainyhistory.com/daysdeath/death_january_10.html.

1917: Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody)

1961: Dashiell Hammett, U.S. detective writer (Thin Man)

1966: Hermann Kasack, writer

1995: Halton Kathleen Tynan, writer

1995: Elaine Greene, literary agent

I also looked at events that happened on this day throughouthistory at http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/january10th.htmland http://www.historyorb.com/events/january/10. Theseare a few I found interesting:

1870: John D. Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil

1870: US Senate proposes female suffrage

1901: Oil discovered in Texas

1911: First photo in US taken from an airplane, San Diego

1920: League of Nations established

1945: LA Railway is forced to close

1946: 1^st radar contact with the Moon

1946: The first General Assembly of the United Nations tookplace in London, England.

1951: 1^st jet passenger trip made

1956: Elvis records “Heartbreak Hotel”

1957: Baseball Commissioner rules Bing Crosby can keep tokenstock in Detroit Tigers, even though he owns part of Pittsburgh Pirates.

1964: The first Beatles Album is released in the US by Vee-JayRecords.

1967: President Johnson asks for tax increases on personal& corporate income taxes to help support the Vietnam War.

1984: Clara Peller first asks, “Where’s the Beef?”

2005: BP sent moneyto Southeast Asia to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in thatregion.

So much stuff happened on this day in history. I hope you enjoyed seeing this little historylesson. Please visit

the links to seemore events, births and deaths on this date in history.

Pull the Trigger

2012-01-09T07:09:00.000-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

True confession. I'm a Denver Broncos fan. That might not be the most popular thing to admit this morning after last night's game between the Steelers and Broncos. My obsession started waaay back, when John Elway looked more like an Adonis than an aging football executive.

I suffered through years of lost expectations and mismanaged hopes. This year looked bleak. Until Elway, in a fit of what I can only view as desperation, gave into the horde of screaming fans and started Tim Tebow.

What happened next looked like a miracle. Victory followed victory. Then a three game slump. Last night, instead of losing as predicted, something unexpected happened.

Tebow pulled the trigger.

John Elway was quoted in the press, saying that Tebow needed to pull the trigger, cast caution to the wind, stop asking if he were a worthy quarterback. Pull the trigger. Don't look back. Or in Nike parlance, just do it.

This morning, I wonder how I can apply that advice to my own writing career.

Pull the trigger.

Where in your life are you holding back? Wondering if you should? If you could?

Pull the trigger.

Denver's tumultuous season may end next week, but last night, for one glorious moment, they looked capable of playing for the Super Bowl.

What is your Super Bowl?

Pull the trigger.

Will the imposter please stand up?

2012-01-06T05:28:00.002-05:00

by Jennie Bentley

So y’all heard the news, right? Flipped Out hit the extendedNew York Times list at #33 back in October.

It’s no big deal, really. It’s just the extended list. Itdoesn’t really count until you get to the top 20. I mean, #33 is just tworankings from the bottom. After #35 you’re not on the list at all.

And it could happen to anyone, you know? I have a greatpublisher, who’s given me great cover art and a lot of visibility. Those thingsare so important. My publisher makes sure my books are close to the doors atBarnes and Noble all over the country. And it’s the fifth book in the series. Iguess we just got to the tipping point, finally.

So really, it’s not that big a deal. Nothing to do with me,really. And it doesn’t mean much in the scheme of things, you know?

O_o

Three days after I got the call from my editor about thelist placement – and yes, it is a big deal; she was so excited shealmost cried, and I’m thrilled – I went to an all day workshop. The fabulousBob Mayer was in Nashvilleto talk to our local chapter of RWA.

About midway through the day, he went over some of thetrouble we as writers can run into. Some of the things that can trip us up.Fear of failure. Fear of success.

Imposter syndrome.

And a friend of mine, who sat on the front row while I satin the back – I was late getting there; I got lost – turned and pointed at me.Pointedly.

Yup. I have imposter syndrome. Along with a whole lot ofother people. Check out these quotes from some folks you may have heard of:

“I still believe that at any time the no-talent police willcome and arrest me.” -Mike Myers

“I just never know if I’m going to pull it off. I haveterrible, grave concerns about my own ability.” -Matt Damon

“I still think people will find out that I’m really not verytalented. I’m really not very good. It’s all been a big sham.” -MichellePfeiffer

My personal fave, from Valerie Young, PhD:

“I was sitting in class one day when another student rose topresent the findings of a study conducted by psychology professor PaulineClance and psychologist Suzanne Imes called The Impostor Phenomenon Among HighAchieving Women (1978).

In a nutshell, Clance and Imes found that many of theirfemale clients seemed unable to internalize their accomplishments.

External proof of intelligence and ability in the form ofacademic excellence, degrees, recognition, promotions and the like wasroutinely dismissed.

Instead, success was attributed to contacts, luck, timing,perseverance, personality or otherwise having “fooled” others into thinkingthey were smarter and more capable than these women “knew” themselves to be. Ratherthan offering assurance, each new achievement and subsequent challenge onlyserved to intensify the ever-present fear of being... found out!

And I thought, Oh my God, I've been unmasked!”

Sound familiar to anyone?

It’s familiar to me. Not that I’m afraid of being found out,because I did write the book, and nobody can take that away from me. But I amconcerned that the world will realize that I don’t really deservethat NYT bestseller status. Because it wasn’t really anything I did that got methere, you know? It was all contacts, luck, timing, perseverance... you get the picture.

So what about you? Got any writerly hang-ups? Fear offailure? Fear of success? Imposter syndrome?

Grammer Pet peeves

2012-01-05T07:00:00.004-05:00

By Paula Matter

I could of sworn it was’nt my turn for writing a post for the blog today; but I keep loosing track of time so I guess its my turn afterall. I have to remember Joyce and me alternate each Thursday. Gosh, me and her have been writing on Thursday’s for a long time. Of course, she’s been doing it alot longer than me.

OMG, I am totally cringeing at all the mistakes I maid in the paragraph above. Do you any idea how hard it was to ignore the red and blue squiggley lines! I mean really. Their are so numerous mistakes I can’t hardly beleive it. Its really hard to phantom all the errors; but these are mistakes I see alot of.

Irregardless of all the mistakes, I for one am glad that this post is over and I can know put it up on the blog for today. I will try and remember to come back buy today to look at any comments.

Do you’re best to find all of the mistakes I made! Than tell us your pet peeves!

Superpower?

2012-01-04T05:00:00.003-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

Like a good jazz musician, I'm going to riff on Martha Reed's post from yesterday. Martha asked, "Where do you get your good ideas?"

True confession. I get my good ideas by asking people crazy questions, sometimes at parties or one on one, preferably after a glass of wine. Or two.

Want to play?

"If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

How would you use it?

Why do you want it?"

Okay, that's technically three questions, but I hope you'll play along. I'll post my answer in the comments.

Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

2012-01-03T06:00:00.010-05:00

By Martha Reed

My nephew is home visiting from school, and after we caughtup on his adventures he asked me what I was working on lately. That is thegreat thing about raising kids up once you’ve already decided to become a writer;they take it for granted that’s what you are. My sisters, who knew me before Ibecame a writer still look at it slightly askance like I might suddenly drop itand take up some other time-killer like golf.

At first, Reed asked about my novel. I explained that my dayjob had gotten so stressful at year-end that I simply didn’t have the energy towork on anything long or involved. That’s why I started noodling around with ashort story format because 5,000 words is manageable. You can pick it up and putit down. And that’s when he asked me the big question: Where do you get yourideas?

Hummm. That’s kind of a tough one because every answer isdifferent. My first short story came from something I overheard at a restaurant:Table for One? Another story came from a question I wondered about halfwaythrough a home renovation: What if your house didn’t like you? A third camefrom a photo I saw of a Sumerian lion figurine that was so obviouslynon-Western culture that I immediately started to imagine living a prehistoriclife. This latest story is a gift from my grandfather, a man Reed never met.Pop was an intelligence officer in the Pacific during WWII. He never shared his experiences. So, of course, being a good mystery enthusiast, I researched thesubject myself and learned that what happened at Bataan and Corregidor was sohorrific and courageous and human the new story popped right out of it.

Which leads me to my question: what are you working on, andwhere did you get the idea?

GOING OUT WITH A BANG!

2012-01-02T03:39:00.008-05:00

by Gina Sestak

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Last week, I wondered what to write about in this first post of 2012. I considered resolutions, non-resolutions, anti-resolutions, and times of new beginnings and of ends.

Then all hell broke loose.

Picture this: middle of the night, December 30-31. I'm sound asleep. A THUD, as if the entire house is caving in. Flashing lights and sirens. Outside, the street is full of police. I wake the roommate (who can sleep through almost anything. OK, her room is further from the street than mine). We go downstairs.

From the front porch, we can see an SUV against a tree, about 50 yards away. My best guess is that a police chase was in progress and the SUV driver failed to notice that the road curved slightly to the right. He kept going straight. The police weren't giving out much information, other than to tell us to keep back away from fallen wires and that the driver wasn't dead, just drunk. The SUV had come up onto the sidewalk and proceeded between the front yards and the cars parked at the curb.

Along the way, it slammed into my car (which I had left parked safely in the driveway),

tore into my hedges,

took out a portion of a utility pole,

damaged the neighbor's hedge, smashed the neighbor's arbor, threw a tire against the neighbor's fence,

and came to rest against a big tree.

Now, you all knew I'd find a Bollywood connection, right? Here's a car chase scene from Don:

I just saw the sequel to this film last week. Both Don and Don 2 are exciting, thrilling works of art, but I prefer to keep my vehicle collisions on screen. In real life, there was a lot of damage to my car.

Talk about ending the year with a bang!

How did you say adios to 2011? Are you, like me, hoping for a better 2012?

And, by the way, how do you cope when everything goes kinda kerflooey?

Happy Holidays

2011-12-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Working Stiffs!

Enjoy your holiday and we'll see you in January.

Christmas Boats

2011-12-24T06:00:00.004-05:00

by Pat Gulley

The boats came on December 16, but my blog didn't get up. So I've rescheduled them for Christmas Eve so they will be viewable over the holidays. Happy Everything, Everyone.

Change of Heart

2011-12-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

by Kristine Coblitz

I'm very excited to visit the Working Stiffs today!

Family and friends recently have been asking my thoughts one-books. For a long time, I wasn’t sure how to answer the questions because Ihad sort of a love/hate relationship with the entire electronic bookrevolution. On one hand, I loved the portability of having all my books in oneplace, and I loved the idea of buying books from my bed in my pajamas in 60seconds without having to wait 3-5 days for the UPS truck. On the other hand,however, I loved print books. Plus, afilled bookshelf makes great home décor, and like most avid readers, my books aren’tjust books. They’re my collection of memories.

When the Kindle first hit the market a few years ago, myhusband wanted to buy one for me for Christmas, and I politely declined thegenerous gift. I wasn’t ready to get my feet wet yet. Authors were beingtreated unfairly, and I simply couldn’t support a technology that gavehard-working writers a difficult time. Reading on a computer screen gave meheadaches, and after working on a computer all day, the last thing I wanted was to read books on a lighted screen. So I bought more printed books andwaited for the trend to go away.

Well, it didn’t exactly go away, did it?

Times have changed, and I’ve had a change of heart. I havenot just one but two e-readers, and yes, I love them. I’ve spent more money onbooks since purchasing these devices, and I’m more willing to experiment withnew writers and books that I normally wouldn’t have picked up when I was buyingprint books. Given the recent statistics about book buying habits, I’m not the only one.

While I still believe the traditional road is the best one, I’m happy that digital publishing offers authorsmore control and flexibility in managing their careers.

When people ask me if they should buy an e-reader, I don’thesitate in telling them to take the plunge and buy one, because if someone is buyingan e-reader, that means he or she wants to buy books. It means supportingauthors. It means proving that reading is still fun and that the book industryis far from dead.

I’m delighted to see that e-readers are at the top of manyChristmas lists this year, and it’s not just about the Xbox and iPod anymore.While I hope print books never go away, I’m going to embrace this newrevolution because as long as people are reading, that means there will alwaysbe a demand for books, and that makes me very happy.

As a writer, I’m thankful to every person who will buy ane-reader this year. I’m thankful to every author who has the time and talent togive us the gift of a good story and entertaining escape—in whatever formatthat may be. But most of all, I’m thankful that people still want good storiesand appreciate good, quality writing.

Happy Holidays to my fellow readers and writers! May theupcoming year be filled with good books, good friends, and lots of goodwriting.

A Cop's Twelve Days of Christmas

2011-12-22T00:01:00.002-05:00

by Joyce

I wrote this little ditty back when I worked for a local police department. I thought it was about time I dug it up again.

A Cop's Twelve Days of Christmas (To be sung to the tune of you-know-what.)

On the first day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--two retail thefts, and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--three purse snatchings, two retail thefts, and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--four fighting kids, three purse snatchings, two retail thefts, and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--FIVE DUIs, four fighting kids, three purse snatchings, two retail thefts and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--six neighbor feuds, FIVE DUIs, four fighting kids, three purse snatchings, two retail thefts and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--seven car wrecks, six neighbor feuds, FIVE DUIs, four fighting kids, three purse snatchings, two retail thefts and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--eight verbal domestics, seven car wrecks, six neighbor feuds, FIVE DUIs, four fighting kids, three purse snatchings, two retail thefts and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--nine hookers working, eight verbal domestics, seven car wrecks, six neighbor feuds, FIVE DUIs, four fighting kids, three purse snatchings, two retail thefts and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--ten dealers dealing, nine hookers working, eight verbal domestics, seven car wrecks, six neighbor feuds, FIVE DUIs, four fighting kids, three purse snatchings, two retail thefts and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--eleven bar fights, ten dealers dealing, nine hookers working, eight verbal domestics, seven car wrecks, six neighbor feuds, FIVE DUIs, four fighting kids, three purse snatchings, two retail thefts and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, dispatch gave to me--twelve drunken elves, eleven bar fights, ten dealers dealing, nine hookers working, eight verbal domestics, seven car wrecks, six neighbor feuds, FIVE DUIs, four fighting kids, three purse snatchings, two retail thefts and a Peeping Tom in a pear tree.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Let's Party!

2011-12-21T05:18:00.001-05:00

by Annette Dashofy

I know of a lot of writers who talk about crawling intotheir caves to write. Oh, sure, they might have other names for it, but anyonewho has been hit with a looming deadline has been there. We have to shut outall outside influences, say NO to family and friends, and retreat to ourworkplace of preference to FINISH THE DAMNED BOOK. Or article. Or short story.Whatever it is that’s due.

And that’s where I’ve been since…egads…JULY. Oh, I came upfor air in August and September to catch up with everything I’d put off. Butthen I went under again in October and have been holed up quite a bit sincethen.

The reason being I have an agent awaiting myrewritten/revised manuscript. And I’ve sort of promised to get it to her inJanuary.

January felt quite reasonable in November. Now? Heh. Not somuch. But I’ll make it. I’m close. Real close.

However, being holed up in a cave isn’t so easy this time ofyear. When I mentioned on Facebook that I was spending the next several dayswriting, someone asked, “What about Christmas?”

Lucky for me, we’re not big holiday people. My decorationsconsist of a couple of wreaths on the doors. That’s it. And while I usuallymail Christmas cards, don’t look for anything from me this year. Unless I canfind some kind of Happy New Year cards. Does Hallmark do those? If they don’t,why not? They make belated birthday cards. Why not belated Christmas cards?

I have, at least, poked my head out of my hole for a fewparties. Writers, I’ve noticed, throw the best parties. This is mainly becauseof: 1.) Books. 2.) Great food. And 3.) Wine

The first writers’ Christmas party of the year was the oneheld by our Sisters in Crime chapter and hosted by our secretary Lee AnnDawson.

The second one was a Pennwriters party held at our Eat NPark Restaurant.

Okay, so it lacked the great food and the wine, but it didhave our annual book swap-and-steal.

Each person brings a wrapped book. Whenyou open one, you have the choice to keep it or trade it for one that’s alreadybeen opened. In other words, you shouldn’t get too attached to what you get.Someone might steal it from you. Poor Doris Dumrauf.

Some evil person (me)stole this book from her.

Note: most writers are nice and keep what they get,regardless. But I ask you, what fun is that?

The third party was another Pennwriters one, this one hostedby the lovely and talented Meredith Mileti.

That's Meredith on the left.

GREAT food. And I suppliedchocolate wine. We did a book swap-and-steal at this one, too. But I promised Doris I wouldn’t steal hers again.

Barb (on the left) reminded me thatI’d stolen hers the last two years and threatened to cry if I repeated mydastardly habit. Apparently I’m getting a bad reputation. So I kept what I got.

Regardless.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years, everyone!

A Year of Writing

2011-12-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

By K.M. Humphreys

It’sbeen an amazing year writing wise. Despite a rough year in all other aspects of my life, the writing hasreally taken off.

Iattribute this to the encouragement of new friends in Pennwriters and Sisters InCrime. There have been a lot of timesthis year when I couldn't get much done, but I always came back to writing andeven if I didn't write much when I first came back to it, it wassomething.

I enjoywriting, even if there are times the last thing I want to think about are thecharacters of my stories. I am oftenwriting letters to clients for work. It’sdifficult to come home and think some more about a story.

Lately,my plan has been to use Sunday’s as my writing day. I have football on in the background, husbandis often out of the house, and the dog lays down on the couch in the nextroom. It’s a quiet time that I canconcentrate on making my stories come to life. I do get writing done other nights during the week, but I’m not asfocused.

Thewriting conference was also a big contributor to my writing success thisyear. There were lots of great workshopsand published authors who had great advice for those still struggling to getpublished. I’m hoping to make the conference next year,although it might not be feasible financially.

Unfortunately,it’s not possible for me to write full time right now. It would be wonderful. Although, if it was a full time job, it wouldbecome more of a chore and something I have to do instead of something I wantto do.

I’m nowlooking forward to the New Year and another great year of writing. Over the next few weeks I will be working ongoals for the New Year with regards to my writing. I have had such success this year withoutsetting goals and I’m hopeful that if I set goals for next year I’ll be evenmore successful.

Howhave you been doing with your writing this past year? What are your goals for the New Year? Is there anybody hoping to send submissionsout next year?

Isthere anybody like me who has several projects going at one time? Is there one project that you are furtheralong on than others that you hope will really take off next year?

Whathave your successes been this past year? What do you plan to do next year to be more successful? How do you plan to meet your goals?

Hopeeveryone has a very enjoyable holiday season and happy writing!

Walk, Amble or Shuffle?

2011-12-19T05:00:00.003-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

Over the weekend I attended a college graduation and watched hundreds of shiny bright faces as they walked across the stage and collected one of life's great achievements. Except nobody walked.

Some ambled. Others glided. One young man, wearing a fishing ensemble glued to his cap, bobbed across the stage, as if propelled by a mysterious current.

At StoryMasters in Houston, Chris Vogler, author of The Writer's Journey, told a story about his early days at Disney. He mentioned one of the animators that worked with Walt Disney told him that they could not make a cartoon character walk. As I watched each person collect their diploma, I realized the animator exposed one of those fundamental truths about man.

Man does not walk. Nor does woman.

Whatever a person carries in their heart fuels their movement. The heart, the face, and movement are intertwined. Ever see a smiling face shuffle? Or an angry face skip?

When you put a song in your heart, a smile on your face, how do you move?
How do you move when your heart is filled with anger, your face clouded with rage?

What about those times when you are on auto-pilot, focused on the errand and chores you have to finish before Christmas? Does your movement change if you start singing Jingle Bells?

It's official. None of my characters will ever walk again. Amble or shuffle, absolutely.

Happy Holidays!

Keep Writing.

A Done Deal

2011-12-16T10:17:00.000-05:00

by Jenna Bennett

Doesn't look like anyone else is posting today, so I'll just share that I published the fifth and last - at least so far - Cutthroat Business mystery this week. A Done Deal is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, for any eReader you might have.

Here's the blurb:

Silver bells, silver bells...
It's Christmas time in Nashville, and all Savannah wants to unwrap on Christmas morning is Rafe. Unfortunately, things don't look so good. He's back in town, but not alone: on his arm is a stunning brunette, just the kind of woman Savannah always suspected was his type.

When Alexandra Puckett asks her help in figuring out a way to stop Maybelle Driscoll from marrying Alex's father Steven, Savannah jumps on the chance. It'll give her something to think about other than Rafe and the mysterious Carmen, and anyway, she doesn't like Maybelle much herself.

Between investigating Maybelle's past, helping her clients Aislynn and Kylie buy a house, and stalking Carmen and Rafe, she soon has her hands full. And that's before someone starts gunning for her. Suddenly it's not a question of unwrapping anything on Christmas morning anymore; it's a question of whether she'll even survive to see another Christmas.

And here's a taste of Chapter 1, a few pages in:

Todd looked coy.“What would you like Santa to bring you, Savannah?”

Rafe, I though, and immediately chastised myself. He was gone, he wasn’t coming back, he didn’t want me. I smiled. “Nothing. I have everything I need.”

“Diamonds?” Todd suggested.

“God, no.” That brought to mind engagement rings, and I couldn’t imagine anything worse than having to turn down another proposal in front of my entire family on Christmas Eve.

“A puppy?”

From his expression, it was almost as if he thought a puppy would make up for the baby I’d lost. My baby had been barely bigger than a blueberry when I miscarried, but after all the agonizing I’d done over whether or not to keep it, it had become very real to me. And as much as I like puppies, it wasn’t the same.

“I live in an apartment,”I said. “With a no-pets policy.”

“I guess a kitten is out of the question too, then.”

“You could get me a goldfish. I’m allowed to have those.”

Todd’s expression lightened. “Do you want a goldfish?”

“Not really,” I said apologetically. “I was joking. I don’t really need a Christmas present.”There was nothing anyone could give me that I wanted. Especially Todd.

I wondered if I ought to ask him what he wanted for Christmas, but I was afraid of what the answer would be. And I’d bought him a sweater in any case.

I speared a mushroom with my fork and lifted it to my mouth.

“Isn’t that Collier?” Todd said, looking over my shoulder.

For a second, my heart skipped a beat and I almost choked. Then I realized two things: 1) he’d probably only said it to get a reaction from me—Todd was suspicious of my feelings for Rafe long before there were any feelings to speak of—and 2) there was no way he could be right.

I swallowed the mushroom and made sure my voice was steady. “I doubt it. If he were back in town, I’m sure someone would have told me.”

And it probably wouldn’t have been Rafe himself. If he hadn’t stuck around when I lost the baby, and he didn’t get in touch after I was shot, he wouldn’t bother to call to tell me he was back in Nashville, either.

I had, however, become friendly with Tamara Grimaldi, homicide detective with the Nashville PD, and she knew Rafe too, and kept tabs on him through her contact in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations. I trusted her to let me know if anything important happened. Like, if he died. Or if he’d been shot or hospitalized.

Or if he’d come back to Nashville.

Todd nodded, reassured by my lack of interest, and forked up another piece of veal.

I continued my internal monologue while I chased mushrooms around my plate. Even if Rafe was back in town and nobody had bothered to tell me, he wouldn’t be here at Fidelio’s. He despises the place. I’ve had dinner with him here twice, and both times he treated the fancy cuisine and snobbish waiters with irreverent amusement. He wouldn’t choose to come here unless it was with me. And since we were over and done, he had no business being here. It was probably just someone with a passing resemblance to Rafe. Todd was a little bit paranoid on the subject; he was probably just seeing things.

“Are you sure he’s not back in Nashville?”Todd said. “Because that really looks like him. Just the kind of woman I’d expect him to be with, too.”

Woman?

I twisted on my chair. “Where? I really don’t think...”

And then my breath went when I saw that yes, it was indeed Rafael Collier on the other side of the restaurant, just sitting down at a romantic table for two. A table I had once shared with him, as it happened. Behind a pygmy date palm. And the woman he was with was exactly the kind of woman I would expect him to be with, too.

A woman very much not like me, I might add.

Like Rafe, she looked like she might be of mixed race. Long, dark hair fell straight like a waterfall down her back, and she had exotic almond-shaped eyes in a stunning face with flawless caramel skin and red lacquered lips. She was shorter than me, and even in four inch heels she barely came up to his shoulder. Granted, he’s tall—six three, give or take—but she was still on the petite side. And she was poured into a short, tight, Christmas-red dress that clung to every curve she had, and his hand was right there, on the exposed skin of her back. That, more than anything else, hurt. He was touching her. In a sort of intimate way. Skin to skin. The same way he’d touched me.

I own a red dress too. I’d bought it to coax a proposal from Todd, back when I thought being engaged to Todd would make me less likely to indulge in my feelings for Rafe. Instead, it had been Rafe who peeled it off me at the end of the night.

My dress isn’t as short or as tight—hers looked like lycra; mine’s satin—but it’s also backless, and I could remember disconcertingly well the feeling of his hands on my back, warm and hard and a little rough. I could remember what happened afterwards too, and the thought that they’d be leaving Fidelio’s and going home to make love in his bed—the bed where he’d made love to me—was enough to turn the Chicken Marsala to sawdust in my mouth.

# # #

Merry Christmas, all!

First Line Quiz

2011-12-15T07:00:00.004-05:00

By Paula Matter

ETA: ~~Time for some hints! In no particular order, here are the last names initials of the authors. All 10, even though Barb knew Alan Orloff's.~~ Scroll down for the ANSWERS.

I have a file on my computer that (which?) contains sentences that pop into my head. Some of these are opening lines for stories I’m currently working on, others are for stories that have nothing more than the one line. Some of them have been sitting in that file for a very long time. Some of them aren’t opening lines, but I know they’ll fit somewhere in a story. Someday. Somewhere. Somehow.

I love coming up with opening lines. I love reading great opening lines. I love quizzes matching opening lines with their authors. I especially love creating quizzes where I know the answers.

Just for fun, can you match up the following ten opening lines with their author and title?

There are no prizes, so go ahead and Google your heart out.

1. I hate whiners.

2. You may remember me.

3. I was lying dead in the churchyard.

4. The first thing I noticed as I was sitting in a squad car was that police cruisers don’t have seatbelts in the back.

5. “I’m scared,” Ethan said.

6. I lurked in the wings watching the man kill.

7. Falling on my ass really hurts.

8. If my life were a book, I would have masking tape holding my hinges together.

9. “They’re all dead.”

10. Justifiable homicide might be hard to prove, but my had-it-up-to-here brain was giving it a hearty stamp of approval as a reasonable defense.

So, have at it! I’ll be back later today to provide the answers. Y’all are such a smart group, I have a strong hunch I won’t have to.

Did you have to Google for any/all of these lines? I'm thinking at least one will be known immediately by this group.

What are some of your favorite opening lines? How important are they to you as a reader? As a writer?

~~Hints:~~ Answers:

1. Lois Winston; Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun
2.Steve Hamilton; The Lock Artist
3. Alan Bradley; The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag
4. Nancy Martin; Sticky Fingers
5. Linwood Barclay; Never Look Away
6. Alan Orloff; Killer Routine
7. Joelle Charbonneau; Skating Around the Law
8. Kate Carlisle; If Books Could Kill
9. Sheila Connolly; Red Delicious Death
10. Heather Webber; Deeply, Desperately

Does that help?

Facebook Etiquette?

2011-12-14T05:00:00.003-05:00

by C.L. Phillips.

Dear Friends,

I have descended into that special hell reserved for teenagers, college students and shameless self promoters. Facebook. That's right, I now have a Facebook fan page.

Twitter I pretend to understand. With a 140 character limit, there's only so much trouble a person can get themselves into. Unless you are Alec Baldwin. I like twitter because it makes me funny. As I shave letters and even words from my messages, they become sharper and more amusing that I can ever be in person.

But this Facebook thing? No limits? You gotta be kidding me. What do you write about? What is worthy of a status update? I had to face the truth today. Nothing I do is wall-worthy. Even the snarky comments I self-sensor in my mind cannot pass my test.

I am powerless to understand this social media mega-tool. So I ask you, my dear friends, just exactly what in the Sam-Hill-Do-You-Post-On-Your-Flipping-Wall? How frequently? Can anything fall into the Too Much Information category?

Right now, I am teetering on updating my status every time I shove a piece of chocolate in my mouth. But that seems like a cry for help.

Okay, Help.

Your favorite facebook noobie.

p.s. Will you friend or like my page? Pretty please?

Nutty as a Fruitcake

2011-12-13T06:00:00.006-05:00

By Martha Reed

Everyone should have a holiday tradition that kicks off the spirit ofthe season. For some, it’s choosing a Christmas tree or hanging a balsam wreathon the door or stringing twinkling lights in the trees. Maybe it’s hearing thatone favorite Christmas song that always stirs up a warm memory. For me, it’s fruitcake.

Johnny Carson used to joke that there really was only onefruitcake in the world and it got passed from family to family. I’veearned my share of teasing over them. But there’s something about those littlepieces of candied fruit that is just so stickily delicious that I will put upwith all the guff my family can hand out (and that’s a lot of guff) to get myshare.

I think this all started back when we were kids and Momserved us Boston brown bread in the can (remember that, anyone?) with creamcheese sandwiches for a treat. The next level was discovering the rich pecanversion put out by the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana when I lived in Texas.That chock full of nuts version is pure heaven. This year, my sister brought methe Bloomingdales version and I have to tip my top hat; those New Yorkers knowhow to do it right, too.

To keep the spirit of the season light, I’m sharing thisvideo of the Great Fruitcake Toss in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Someonecertainly got creative – check out the trebuchet. But my vote is for the guywith the motorcycle helmet who is trying to field the flying fruitcakes with abucket!

UP EARLY, POSTING LATE

2011-12-12T07:28:00.003-05:00

by Gina Sestak

Good morning, gentle readers. The question for the day is this: What time do you get up?

I'm in the habit of getting out of bed around 5:00 a.m. but this morning was a little different. I got up at 4:00 instead.

I know some people need a bomb going off to shake them out of sleep,

but I usually wake up at 5:00 naturally. There's an alarm clock back-up, just in case.

Back when most of us had farms, roosters filled the alarm clock slot,

but I'm a modern city dweller, so I make do with a cat.

And there's the rub. The cat is usually pretty good about knowing when I want to get up. She'll wander into the room a few minutes before the alarm is set to go off and make sure I'm awake. But not today. Today she woke me up at 4:00. I got up and chased her out of the room, then tried to go back to sleep for an hour. The cat came back at 4:20, more insistent than ever. I got up and chased her downstairs. By then, I figured that I might as well stay up, and so I put the coffee on and started trying to learn Hindi. [Those of you who have been following my posts know that I do a Pimsleur Hindi lesson every morning. It feeds my Bollywood addiction.]

BTW, while we're on the subject of sleep and bedrooms, here's a film clip. This is a dream sequence - the dark-haired guy is suspicious of his wife's relationship with the singer in the white suit. Enjoy.

But, back to this morning. Lest you think it's cruel to chase the cat, there is one thing you ought to know: she wants me to chase her. Honest. Kala's favorite thing is play and, when the available humans aren't in a playful mood, she will do whatever is necessary to make us chase her. She wakes me up and bites my ankles or, if all else fails, meows loudly beside where her favorite toy (a "cat dancer") is kept until either I or Theresa give in and play with her.

Here's what a cat dancer looks like:

If you'd like to know how it works, click on this link.

OK. Question. If I got up so early, why am I posting late? Because the internet is slow. It's been telling me it couldn't find the server, which means I couldn't get to Working Stiffs or access free clip art to decorate this post. I'm on-line now, though.

You're probably wondering why I get up at 5:00. On the days I work I rarely have to be there before 8:30 and the Hindi lesson could be done anytime, so why get up so early? Because early morning is my favorite writing time, when the world is relatively quiet and my mind is not too cluttered yet.

So here are my questions for you. What time do you get up? When do you write?

The Gift of Time...and a Boxed Lunch

2011-12-09T00:11:00.000-05:00

by Ramona DeFelice Long

Writers, imagine a wonderful place where artists get to mingle with peers and do nothing but creative work all day.

Imagine a barn built in the 1930s and newly renovated to provide private studio space—for writers with a desk and an ergonomic chair;for musician/composers with pianos; for visual artists with creativematerials and good lighting.

Imagine a view of open fieldsand farmlands, gardens with sculptures and benches for contemplation, and hiking trails for walks.

Imagine a private room in a nearby residence hall withbuffet meals prepared--and cleaned up--by staff people.

Imagine group dinners followed by evenings devoted to impromptureadings, musical performances, or chatting with your fellow residents.

Imagine no responsibilities or cares other than to write. Nocooking. No cleaning. No chores. No errands.

Sounds like a fantasy, doesn’t it? It’s not. What Idescribed above is the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, an international artist colonyfor writers, visual artists and composers set in foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In February, I will be in residence at the VCCA, for twoweeks. Fourteen days. A private room in the residence. A private studio in thebarn. Evenings with peers. No interruptions. No duties. No meals to prepare.

I’ve been to various types of writing retreats in the past:weekends organized by my writers’ group in a B&B with antique shops nearby; a memorable group retreat with an intrepid bunch of mysterywriters/flood survivors; a self-organized weekend with a writing friend at thebeach. I spent a week at Rosemont College studying short storywriting in a program sponsored by Philadelphia Stories. I was accepted into theDelaware Division of the Arts 2008 Biden Center Retreat, where a fiction group spent a weekend in a renovated World War II barracks in Cape Henlopen, Delaware.

All of these were wonderful experiences that taught me muchas a writer and allowed me to make many new writing friends. But none of these were devoted solely to private writingtime.

I've daydreamed about going away to a colony, but who has two weeks to spare, just for writing? It seemed almost sinfully indulgent. Then I read a novel set in a colony, where the writer/narrator disappeared every day into her studio to work. So sacred was her creative time that, at noon each day, there was a knock on the door. When she opened it, a boxed lunch sat on the doorstep, delivered by someone she never saw or spoke to. For all she knew, it could have been delivered by elves.

The boxed lunch did it for me. I've spent years working at home, scrounging for sandwiches, wishing I could go out to lunch like other working people but knowing that would mean changing out of my yoga pants and putting on make-up. The idea of my creative time being so precious that meals were prepared by elves (okay, they're probably not elves, but it's my fantasy) made me get serious.

Get thee to a colony! That was my theme for a year.

I began applying. The process involves work samples, references, projectdescriptions, even a letter of testimonial that said, basically, I can behavemyself and respect other artists. I sent off the applications and did what writers are advised to do about submission: forget about them and get back to work writing something.

And then, a couple of weeks ago, I received an email from VCCAannouncing that I’d been awarded a residency. I was thrilled. I posted it on myFacebook page. I called my mom. I sent heartfelt thanks to the writingcolleagues who’d provided my references.

I imagined myself in my studio, concentrating on writing for long quiet days.The evenings discussing my progress with like-minded people.

It was the perfect dream. In a couple of months, it will come true.

Except for one thing. I looked online at testimonials from alums, and guesswhat? The VCCA doesn’t do box lunches. They put out a self-service spread for the artists.

Oh well. No fantasy is perfect.For two weeks in a private studio, with no responsibility other than to be creative, and evenings with potential new writing friends, I guess I can forgo the boxed lunch...and the elves.

Christmas Shopping n'at

2011-12-08T07:09:00.000-05:00

by Joyce

For some reason, I'm having a hard time getting motivated to get ready for Christmas. I ordered a few things online, but I've been putting off hitting the stores. For most of the past month I worked on a revision for my agent (I sent it to her on Friday) and this week I'm getting caught up on all the cleaning that I put off. I even washed down the kitchen walls and cabinets (I like to do that twice a year. Sick, I know).

But shopping? I just don't want to do it. You'd think with only three people to buy for I could finish it in one trip. Here's what will happen, though. I'll print my list, and head out. I'll hit Target, Kohl's, Sears, and if I'm really desperate--Walmart. I'll maybe get a few things, but decide I don't like the prices of most things, go home and hope they go on sale next week. Rinse, lather, repeat. Before I know it, it's a few days before Christmas, the damn things never go on sale and I have to buy them anyway.

I think I just came up with my own solution. Okay. Maybe I'll get the shopping done today. I'll report back later. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

2011-12-07T04:35:00.001-05:00

By Annette Dashofy

Okay, guys, I’m going to talk about hair styles today, sothe gents reading this will likely want to leave now. But I hope you don’t.Because I intend to aim part of this post at the masculine gender.

First of all, I’m getting my hair cut today, which explainsthe topic. For the better part of a year, I’ve been trying to grow my hair out.My mom seems to think that any woman over the age of 35 or 40 should wear herhair short. And I did for a lot of years, simply because it was easier. Thebusier I became, the shorter my hair. Not that I’m not busy now, but I justwanted to break the mold, rebel against my mom (how often do I still get to dothat???), and give long hair one last shot before I become a full fledgedcrone.

It’s still not “long.” I’d call it medium. And I’m not readyto surrender to the shears just yet. My big debate has been: bangs or no bangs.

Yeah, deep subject matter. Not.

My hair dresser has convinced me to let my bangs grow out.I’d worn bangs, whether my hair was long or short, since high school. The sightof my forehead in the mirror makes me cringe. But I’ve noticed that NO onewears bangs anymore. Everyone, it appears, is doing the same thing I am.Growing the suckers out and trying unsuccessfully to tuck them behind an ear,only to have them constantly falling in our eyes.

The only way I can see to write is to wear a headband.

The other night, I decided to put it to a vote here. Iplanned to post a photo of me with my currently exposed forehead and let theWorking Stiffs readers share their opinions about whether or not I should keepthis look or go back to hiding behind my bangs.

I set up my tripod, set my Nikon for the remote release, andshot over 60 pictures of myself in the hopes of finding ONE that my ego wouldallow me to share here.

Please note, there are no photos posted.

And this, my friends, pushed me over the edge. There will beno vote. By 3:30, I will once again have bangs.

I don’t know that they’ll help, but egads, those photos werehideous.

My husband (who hates to be written about) is having similarissues. (See, I promised something for the guys!) His issues aren’t with hisforehead, however. His forehead has extended to the back of his head for morethan a decade. There are no bangs in his future. However, he recently shavedhis beard.

He and I have been together for over 30 years and this wasthe first time I’d seen his face. And I like it! He has dimples! Who knew???

Well, he says he knew. But I didn’t.

It took me some time to get used to seeing him bare-faced.He says he still isn’t used to it. But he only sees himself when he looks inthe mirror. I see him all the time. It makes it easier for me to get used toit. He looks a lot younger. A LOT younger. Some folks are calling him “babyface.” Please. He doesn’t look THAT young.

Anyhow, he still isn’t convinced that he’s staying with thenaked face thing.

I think it must be like me and my bangs-or-no-bangsdecision. We both want to cover up part of our face.

He says about half the people who have seen him like the newlook. The other half wants him to grow the beard back. I told him that theirvotes don’t count. Mine does. The only person’s vote that counts more than mineis his. When I told him this, he replied with a resounding “YES.”

Which means, if he decides to grow the beard back, I’m outof luck. Frankly, if he told me he liked me without bangs, I’d keep on wearingthis stupid headband.

But he’s a wise husband who keeps his mouth shut about suchdecisions.

So tell me, does anyone else out there hide behind their hair? Literally or figuratively?

Holiday Specials

2011-12-06T00:01:00.001-05:00

By K.M. Humphreys

‘Tisthe season for holiday specials on tv. Ilook forward to watching these specials every year. Everything starts off with “It’s a GreatPumpkin Charlie Brown” for Halloween followed by Charlie Brown’s Thanksgivingspecial. The Christmas season is filledwith shows like “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, “Frosty the Snowman”, “FrostyReturns”, “Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “A Charlie BrownChristmas”. I loved watching theseclassics as I was growing up and I make my husband sit and watch them with menow if he doesn’t have homework to do.

Asfor the holiday movies, my favorite is “Miracle on 34^thStreet”. I like both the original andthe re-make that was done in the 1990’s. Other re-makes were done, but theyweren’t as good. “A Christmas Carol” isanother great movie. Other movie classics are “White Christmas”, “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “A ChristmasStory”. I personally never understoodthe fascination with “A Christmas Story”, but the other movies are greatmovies. I’m not so fond of some of thenewer Christmas movies like “Elf” and “The Santa Clause”.

ObviouslyI’m a fan of the classic movies and shows for the holidays. My husband feels the same way. Although, I find some of the newer shows,like “Prep and Landing” are kind of cute.

TheHoliday Season allows us to enjoy these shows and movies, old and new, withfriends and family We enjoy the happymemories these shows bring to us year after year as we remember past holidays,good and bad.

Whatare your favorite holiday shows and movies? Why?

Write, Write, Write!

to : Me from: Me

2011-12-05T05:00:00.016-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

We have this silly tradition in our home. "To me from me" Christmas presents. Takes the pressure out of trying to find that perfect gift for someone. Just buy it yourself. No questions asked. No explanation required. No gloating. We buy them the first week in December. Don't ask why. We don't tell.

This year my to me from me present is The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. What a great antidote to a crazy finish of Nanowrimo. I'm loving the process of writing morning pages. I'm lost in the nirvana of the first week, the excitement of a new journey.

I know I'm not supposed to reread the morning pages, but I'm tempted. Each day the words flow faster, as if they've been arranging themselves while I sleep, waiting for daylight. While writing, I read the words slowly, etching them into my consciousness before they are lost. I hope some of the images find their way into my fiction.

I'm not an introspective person. My idea of therapy is watching Mrs. Doubtfire three times in a row. Cures anything that ails a soul, I swear. But this book, the Artist's Way gives me an opportunity to look at my writing in a new way. It's giving me a jump start on my end of year planning.

So this post is a shameless, independent, uncompensated plug for The Artist's Way. Whatever your way, your path, may you find it sprinkled with fairy dust and chocolate chip cookie crumbs, like my book. May your December be filled with moments of ease, grace, fantastic parking karma at the mall, and give yourself a little to me from me present. You deserve it.

So what's on your "to me from me" shopping list?

Keep writing!

Say it with music

2011-12-02T01:55:00.038-05:00

by Jenna/Jennie

Every Christmas, I hear this song, and every time I hear it, I tear up all over again.

I don't want to start a religious discussion, since those are not allowed here on the Working Stiffs, but the lyrics are extremely powerful. I suppose if you're not a Christian, it's just another song, but for anyone who believes that Jesus was the son of God, and especially anyone who's ever given birth to a child and held that child and kissed it... the question of what Mary must have felt when holding her baby boy is irresistibly compelling.

Songwriting is a discipline I've never been able to master. I can write. Sometimes, my sentences even approach brilliance. Or maybe I won't go quite that far, but once in a while, I manage to string words together into something that makes me happy, maybe even a little delirious. Most of the time I just write plain sentences, though. They say what I want them to say, in the best way I can say it, and they're perfectly serviceable. But every so often, on a rare blue moon, the stars align and the words come together in a way that comes off the page.

That's how I feel about a really good songwriter. The words are perfect; the kind that give me chills when I hear them.

There are authors out there who can do the same thing, of course. A friend of mine is a great admirer of Tim Hallinan. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim at Bouchercon back in September, and can attest to the fact that he's a lovely, lovely man. He told me I don't have an accent, I have a "lyrical intonation." How can you not love that?

Anyway, my friend Beth says this about Tim's writing: "I know all those words. Why can't I put them together like that?"

That's kind of how I feel about songwriters. I know the words; why can't I put them together the same way? Why can't I write something that makes people cry? That makes them smile and laugh and feel?

So what about you? Do you like music? Or lyrics? Do you have a favorite song that brings you to tears? Or a favorite songwriter? Or for that matter a favorite author whose words make you weep with joy?

Have a Merry Christmas season, ya'll. Or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year.

Oh, and if you happen to be getting a Kindle or Nook for Christmas, allow me to steer you in the direction of the Book Lovers Buffet. Almost 100 authors, almost 200 books, all different genres, all just $.99 each. A Cutthroat Business is on the mystery page.

Obsessions

2011-12-01T07:00:00.010-05:00

By Paula Matter

ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es

v.tr.

To preoccupy the mind of excessively.

v.intr.

To have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic: "She's dead. And you're still obsessing" (Scott Turow).

Any guesses where I’m going by showing the definition and the photo? Any clue what they may have in common?

I have become obsessed with following the tragic case of Michelle Parker’s disappearance. Are you familiar with the situation? Two weeks today ago this 33 year-old mom of three disappeared. On that day, the People's Court episode in which she appreared with her ex-fiancé aired just hours before she was declared missing.

It’s been like watching a train wreck.

I can’t stop looking at the following Web sites:

http://websleuths.com/forums/tags.php?tag=michelle+parker

http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?board=140.0

I tell myself in the morning that I’ll just go check to see if there are recent developments, then hours (HOURS) later, I’m still poring over the sites.

I feel like an armchair detective, an amateur sleuth. (That was my way of bringing this post round to mysteries. Clever, huh?)

Are there any cases, criminal or otherwise, where you’ve become obsessed? Do you crane your neck as you drive by accident scenes? Any tips on what I can do to curb this current obsession of mine?

I know, I know. Disconnect from the Internet.

Story Masters : Digging into your Protagonist

2011-11-30T05:00:00.003-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

Here's another treat from the first day of the Story Masters class with Donald Maass. Think of your protagonist and answer these questions:

1) What is their worst habit?

2) Where in your novel is the first scene where your protag must overcome this nasty little habit?

3) When does your protag give in to this habit? When does this pesky habit bring the protag to the point of embarrassment or humiliation?

4) What does this moment cost your protag?

5) Is this the worst moment - or what is the worst moment for your protag?

6) What is the first thing they do when they realize they must change?

You know you are working at a good level of depth when you can quickly answer these questions because you know your protagonist so well.

I use these questions like writing prompts in the first draft of character development, and later when editing, I use them like test questions. How well do you really know your characters? How well are the little tics and behaviors connected to the plot of your story? For me, it's a good writing day when I can punch out the answers to these questions for my main characters in ten minutes per character.

Give it a try and let me know how it works for you! And now, back to Nanowrimo.

Keep writing!

Someone's in the Kitchen

2011-11-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

by Martha Reed

I have a traditional as I near the end of the year where Imake a cup of tea and sit down to see how well I kept to my task list. EachJanuary, I write a task list and project the Top 10 things I want to accomplishover the next twelve months. Surprisingly, I usually manage to complete atleast 7 or 8 of them although the ‘lose 20 pounds’ line item continues topersist from year to year.

The biggest item from this year was ‘finish your mss’. I’mhappy to report that I did; my next task is ‘sell it to an agent or publisher’.I’m still working on that one, too.

The second biggest item on my 2011 list was ‘redo thekitchen’. That task seemed overwhelming but I bit the bullet in May and startedto research it out and miracle of miracles, I officially finished the newkitchen when I installed a stainless tile backsplash two weeks ago. Before you think I’m allhandy, this statement comes with a caveat: halfway through the night when thewall got cold all my lovely self-adhesive tiles fell off the wall. I’ll tellyou what, that was some noise to wake up to. It sounded like someone downstairswas shuffling cards at my dining room table. Anyway, the next day at Home DepotI purchased a couple of tubes of industrial adhesive. Those suckersare staying stuck to the wall now.

The other thing I like to do at year-end is to go through myMac and clean out my folders. While I was working on that this long luxuriousfour-day weekend, I came across this picture of our volunteer day at WQED withChris Fennimore. I thought it appropriate to post since we’re standing in hiskitchen. The other ladies in the picture are fellow Sisters in Crime Pittsburghsiblings but as I studied the picture I found myself wondering: why is the onlyperson afraid of the knife, me?

MUDDLED MIND MONDAY

2011-11-28T07:39:00.000-05:00

by Gina Sestak

OK. Thanksgiving is over. Christmas is three weeks away. I've spent the four-day weekend resting, eating, hanging out with friends and relatives, watching dvds, and avoiding shopping. So what do I write about? I haven't got a clue. I could rehash Thanksgiving themes or discuss the film treatment, screenplay or novel revisions I've been working on, or start in on the Bollywood addiction once again. I think I've done these topics all to death.

So I'll open it up today: how was your holiday?

The Fun of Cross Genre Writing--All Things Dark and Dastardly

2011-11-25T02:00:00.003-05:00

Please welcome guest blogger MARY ANN LOESCH. Mary Ann is anaward winning fiction writer whose novel Nephilimwas published by Lyrical Press Inc. You can learn more about her at www.maryannloesch.com or visit herblog, Loesch’s Muse.

The Fun of CrossGenre Writing—All Things Dark and Dastardly

I love reading mysteries or watching true crime shows ontelevision. I admit to a horrible addiction to Dateline and 48 Hours Mysteries. My husband calls me an armchair detective, andwhen I notice myself analyzing the latest crime stories on the news, I have toagree with him. I’m crazy for themystery!

But I don’t write in the mystery genre. I’m an urban fantasy, horror, speculativefiction writer all the way. If it goes bump in the night, it’s because of awerewolf, vampire, or psychotic angel (yeah, they’re out there!) It’s neverbecause of some husband cashing in on insurance fraud or vengeance from anangry wife. Of course, I think there isoften an element of mystery in urban fantasy, horror, or even science fiction.It’s only the characters and the supernatural elements that make it a differentgenre.

When my writing group, All Things Writing, decided it wastime to put together an anthology of our short stories, we weren’t sure how wellthat would work. Comprised of Steve Metze,Kaye George, and myself, All Things Writing is a mix ofeclectic people with a strong love of the written word. The challenge was that noneof us write in the same genre! The only thing we could see that linked ourwriting was the need to write short stories that had dark elements. Very dark.Sometimes even dastardly….

Viola! From that darkness came our anthology, All Things Dark and Dastardly. Acollection of thirteen short stories edited by the delightful Ramona DeFelice Long, this book is afun walk down a very twisted path of prose. With titles like Finger in MySoup, Aliens vs. Fat Bastard, and Balls,the All Things Dark and Dastardlybook provides the reader with a cross mix of genres that we hope will intrigueand cause a page turning frenzy. Eachstory is a little taste of urban fantasy, horror, mystery and even sciencefiction with a common link of unsettling darkness.

The process of putting together an anthology can either makeor break a writing group. After all, you have to commit your time and energyinto editing, meeting deadlines, and agreeing on the promotion plan. Luckily, Ican walk away from the experience feeling like I’ve grown as a person and as awriter. Because of our desire to write in the differing genres, I’ve had theopportunity to study my fellow writers' genres of choice a bit closer. I thinkthat is something many authors could benefit from! Observing Kaye and Steve’swork taught me how to edit manuscripts other than my own, providedinvaluable writing techniques, and made me think about tweaking some of myprocesses. I’m not ready to sit down and write a mystery novel yet, but I cansee it in my future.

Hmmm…but then again, it might need to be enhanced with awitch or two. Maybe a banshee. They never get enough play in stories thesedays…

You can purchase your copy of All Things Dark and Dastardly at Amazon or by visiting ourwebsite AllThings Writing.

Change for the Better

2011-11-23T04:07:00.000-05:00

by Guest Blogger, Lois Lamanna

I frequently think about how it must have been for writersin the past. Where did Shakespeare get his paper? How did he send hismanuscript to his publisher? What did he do when he made a mistake? What did hedo if his publisher wanted an extra thousand words or a thousand words removed?Did he have a style guide, thesaurus and dictionary? Were any of his worksrejected? Did Shakespeare’s children stand over his shoulder and say, “Dad, ifyou used a turkey quill instead of a pigeon feather you would be able to writefaster?”

Growing up in suburbia, post World War II, I recallmobilizing the entire family to search the house whenever we needed a piece ofpaper and pencil for a phone message. (Did Shakespeare have a junk drawer inhis kitchen?)

My first typewriter came from the toy department of K-Mart.I got it for Christmas when I was a freshman in college. It had a transistorradio built into the blue plastic case. I was humiliated when I carried it intomy dorm. Everyone else had black manual typewriters, except my roommate. Shehad an electric typewriter. I’ll admit I lusted after it. When themes were dueI pleaded to use her machine. I scoured the dorm for spare sheets of erasablebond paper.

I got an old, even for the early seventies, old typewriterfrom one of my professors. He offered it as a prize for selling candy for acampus organization. I hustled through the professors’ offices to win. I wrotemy master’s thesis using that Olivetti. I pounded out lesson plans intriplicate.

(In spite of what my mother said about cracking my fingers,I think manual typewriters are the reason I have fat knuckles.)

Woe to anyone who made a mistake while typing on a manualtypewriter, especially when you made the mistake in triplicate. You had toerase the error, sometimes resulting in a hole in the paper if you rubbed toohard with the little eraser pencil with a conveniently located brush on theother end. To precisely line up the page under the correct key, to type overthe misspelled word, was a skill very few people mastered.

The white tape that covered the black mistake was a miracleand I would like to personally thank the person who invented White Out.

I wrote my first manuscript using pen and paper thenpainstakingly keying the words into my primitive computer each night. Ispellchecked it. I grammar checked it. I saved it to disk. I printed it andsent the first thirty pages, via snail mail, to agents and publishers. I gotrejected.

Now I get rejected at the coffee shop by way of email, oneclick of a button.

The writing experience has changed dramatically sinceShakespeare’s time, but one thing hasn’t changed. My children stand behind meand say, “There is a better way.”

Backspace, delete, cut, paste. Don’t my kids realize thatthis is the better way?

Retired from teaching (a subject other than English), LoisLamanna’s first novel Matrimony andMurder, is being released in December 2011 by Avalon Books. While exploringher other options, she is working at Macy’s, selling jewelry. She lives in Murrysville, PAwith her husband and two dogs. When she is not working or writing, she enjoysbaking cookies and working in her yard. “I’m glad I am finally going to bepublished; it justifies not dusting or running the vacuum.”

My dog Rosie

2011-11-22T06:42:00.000-05:00

by K.M. Humphreys

Rosie is my beagle mix. We’re not really sure what she’s mixed with, but she’s not fullbred. My husband and I adopted her twoyears ago on October 17^th.

Shecame into our lives as a scared little puppy. Not a puppy really, she was six, but she acted like one and still doessometimes. We believe she was abusedand/or neglected prior to arriving at the shelter. She was scared when the woman brought herinto the little room where we get introduced. Rosie didn’t want to come near us at first, but she eventually startedcoming near my husband after a few minutes. It took her a little longer to come to me.

Atfirst we limited her access to certain areas of the house. Now she has full access when we’re home, andonly kept in our bedroom when we’re not home. She loves our bedroom, or at least our bed. It’s her favorite spot in the wholehouse. Even when we are home, she isoften found sleeping on our bed. Shealso likes our sofa and the futon.

She’sovercome a lot of her shyness. She stillwill run if a stranger tries to pay some attention to her. With us she’s no longer scared. She has a lot more energy than she did whenwe first got her.

It issaid that dogs are a man’s best friend. In our case she’s a woman’s best friend. Rosie follows me around wherever I go in the house. If she sees me get the keys out, she’s at thegarage door hopeful for a car ride. Myhusband will be petting her and as soon as she sees me, she walks away from himto come to me. She mostly avoids my husband. She only willingly goes to my husbandwhen she’s scared – such as a big bad thunderstorm.

She isa silly puppy when it comes to eating. She insists on dumping her food on the floor to eat it. We always know when she’s eating as we hearher tilting the bowl and all the food falling to the mat we have under herdish.

However,as she’s getting older, she has the possibilities of more illnesses. We recently found a mass on her paw. We took her to the vet to diagnose and theyended up doing a biopsy to make sure it wasn’t cancerous. We are still waiting for the results.

Whileshe was under the anesthesia, they also removed a cracked tooth, clipped hernails and cleaned her teeth. She worries us when she gets sick. We're just glad she's okay.

She isthe joy of our lives. She’s our baby andwe love her so.

Black Friday Reading with Jinny Wishmaker

2011-11-21T05:00:00.107-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

At Working Stiffs, we tend to focus on mysteries and true crime, but I confess one of the mysteries I would like to understand better is how authors find their readers and get their books in the hands of those readers. A friend, D.D. Roy is trailblazing a new path to publication with Books on Board.

I've asked D.D. to stop by and share what it's like to take a fast track to publication using a path you might not be aware exists. We've all heard of Amazon or Barnes and Noble, but there are other excellent options for indie publishing like Books on Board.

In one year, D.D. has published two novels. The first, Baby Dust (written as Deanna Roy), is a touching novel about women and miscarriage, and now her middle grade novel, JINNIE WISHMAKER is the newest addition to the Books on Board world. I've asked her to stop by and share her journey. I read an early version of this novel and plan to spend my Black Friday (after Thanksgiving) reading with Jinnie Wishmaker.

Q: First, tell us about JINNIE WISHMAKER.

Jinnie is a story about a girl who discovers she can grant any living thing its one true wish. But no one really takes the time to consider what they might really want, so Jinnie's wishes have to wind their way from the original request to fulfilling the real need. Often the twists and turns of the wish are quite unexpected.

Q: Will there be more JINNIE adventures?

Absolutely. From the beginning I knew that I would write a series revolving around kids with unusual and often unruly magical talents.

Q: How did you connect with Books on Board?

I am part of a test group as they decide the best way to launch their services to indie authors. They want to be able to use their newsletters and marketing placement to help authors get noticed.

Q: What does Books on Board provide you as an author?

Their services are still evolving, but so far they have placed me prominently in one of their emails to try and jumpstart sales. For authors who don't have a cover or book in epub format, they will assist with that. It isn't that different from Create Space, where you can do it yourself or you can buy packages.

Q: What has been your biggest surprise in going through this process?

How FAST things happen. With my novel Baby Dust, there were page proofs and advance reader copies and blurb gathering. The process after the book was written took over a year. But with Jinnie, we went from manuscript to email blast to the entire customer base in two weeks.

Q: What advice would you give to another author?

LEARN before you leap. About once a week, some agency or traditional publisher announces they are providing for-fee options to authors wanting to get their books out. Some are much better paths than others. Never get in a situation where you pay a company to do the easy things such as uploading to Kindle and Nook stores. Never agree to a forever percentage of your sales just to get an e-book formatted, which costs less than $100 to have done. And never agree to a terms of service on any web site without reading it. Publishing your work isn't like accepting a TOS on a new piece of software. You may be giving up very important rights that will lock you in forever.

In closing, I'd like to let you in on a secret. D.D. Roy, known as Deanna to her friends, has been leading the Novel-in-Progress group in Austin for many years. She cat-herds an unusual band of merry wordsmiths, each nurturing their own dreams of publication. I'm tickled to see the universe giving back to someone who has toiled so long and without recognition to the writing community.

I'd like to thank Deanna for stopping by today. You'll find her replying to comments. Ask her anything. Ask her what it's like to see your words in print, and how you can make it happen even as you continue querying for the perfect agent.

Cast Your Characters

2011-11-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

Who can play the parts of your beloved characters?
By Pat Gulley

We seem to be talking a lot about actors and the parts theyplay in movies made from our favorite books. Not surprising, it seems Hollywood can never get itright. Well, let’s be honest—much as I hate to take their part—how can they.There are 10 million stories in the naked city……is just another way of saying,there are 7 billion opinions in the world AND still counting!!!

So, here’s the fun part and a promo op for all authors,whether it is your novel or short story, to do a little daydreaming about whenHollywood comes calling and who you’d like to see play the lead roll in yourbook. Surprisingly, to some, I don’t see my book as a big screen movie. I’dprefer to see it as a made for TV drama on a station women love to watch, and maywatch more than once. By the way, most of my characters are in their fifties,with two in their forties. I used:

http://www.google.com/search?q=actresses+over+50&hl=en&rlz=1G1ACGWCENUS349&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=oFnBTqO-FIayiQKT6un1Ag&ved=0CDcQsAQ&biw=1152&bih=704&sei=jFvBTs75CsepiALCnvW2Aw

to find (and make sure) they were over 50 actresses. Theyhave other age groups sites too.

So though I’d like to see Meryl Streep or Glen Close in theroll of Prudence Peters, my protagonist, or one of my antagonists (don’t readvillain) Pru’s westcoast director, Donna Makely, I also like Jessica Lang orSela Ward for Pru. OTOH, for attitude, I’m positive Sigourney Weaver or HollyHunter could bring the attitude and hard business woman of Donna Makely alive.Holly and British actress Anna Massey could handle the eyebrow of HarrietBeecher Merriweather.

So let’s hear it, put on your casting director hat, drag outa casting couch, and cast your book. Well not the whole list of characters, buttwo or three.

AWARD-WINNING WRITER SCARES NANCY PICKARD*

2011-11-17T06:00:00.002-05:00

By Paula Matter

*Barry Eisler didn’t look too happy either. However, he did stay in his chair.

What in the world am I talking about, you ask?

After woefully cancelling my registration to this year’s New England Crime Bake con, I became even sadder as the weekend approached.

How could it be that I would miss this fabulous experience? I’ve made the trip to Dedham, MA the past two years for this mystery con. I know many of the attendees, and a lot of them are people I get to see only once a year. My car knows the route. I can drive it in six hours regardless what Mapquest says. I was scheduled to work only one day, and I could easily ask someone to cover half my shift on Saturday morning. If I got on the road by 9:30, I’d have plenty of time.

What could possibly stop me?

Oh. I’d cancelled and they’d been sold out for weeks.

Crap.

Since one of my mottoes is “It never hurts to ask,” I asked.

They said yes! Well, she said yes. Barb Ross, the wonderful lady in charge of registration, wrote back right away saying attending just the banquet would be no problem.

Yay!

But it was a costume banquet. Hmmm. Who here does not know how much I love dressing up for costume parties?

That’s right. I simply had to get a costume.

The theme: Sleuths, Spies and Private Eyes. Nothing simple about it since time was limited. I read further down on the Web site page, and there, there it was! A category for “The Best of the Baddies.”

A villain? Oh, hell yeah.

Here's the photo the fabulous Mo Walsh took. Can you tell who I am?

Here’s a hint: When I told Nancy Pickard I was her number one fan, she jumped out of her chair, and tried to hide from me.

After winning first place (the judges said they were too scared to not declare me the winner!), Hallie Ephron told me I could now call myself an award-winning writer. (Don’t worry. I’m only doing that today for a title.) Full disclosure: While there were many dressed in costumes for the other categories, mystery novelist Vincent H. O’Neil, and I were the only two “Best of the Baddies.”

If I hadn’t scared the judges, Vinnie had a good shot at winning as Professor Moriarty.

And just to show y'all the judges weren't really scared, here's another photo:

I have to share one more photo with y'all. Nikki Bonanni (on left) won Best Overall and here's why:

Lisbeth Salander, Harriet Vane & Emma Peel

Thanks to everyone at Crime Bake. See you next year!

Story Masters : The Emotional Landscape

2011-11-16T05:00:00.010-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

Would anyone like a ringside seat to the detailed recap of the Story Masters workshop in Houston Texas, held November 4-6, 2012? The first day kicked off with eight hours of Donald Maass. What follows are the key questions and statements from his lecture. Hope you enjoy!

What moves reader's hearts? The emotional landscape.

How do you get in touch with that emotional landscape? Answer these questions:

1) What is the feeling you are most afraid to put on the page?

2) What do you avoid?

3) What would people not understand?

4) When does this feeling occur in my life?

5) What feeling makes you tremble when it occurs? Who provokes it? How does it manifest in your life? How do you know ou are having this feeling?

Answer these questions in detail, and you have an authentic feeling backed with reason. Find an example of this feeling from your own life and ask where you can place this feeling into your protagonist's journey.

Now of course, I have more notes, but I thought these questions make a nice exercise. If you read the questions one at a time, work on the answer for three minutes and then move to the next question, you will have wonderful material.

When I attended the workshop, I'd recently finished two manuscripts, so I made a set of tables for each, and worked on both novels at the same time. What made that fun was the fact that I had to work so fast I couldn't edit any thoughts that came into my head.

So my advice for today - lock and load. Lock down the questions. Load up the answers and don't look back. Your story may be gaining on you.

In Nanowrimo we trust....

Keep writing!

Baby Steps

2011-11-15T06:00:00.002-05:00

By Martha Reed

Writing is a funny business. I can get an idea and let itstew for years before somehow it magically connects to another interesting bitand suddenly the two ideas link together and I have the suggestion for a story.People ask me where I get my ideas, and since I’ve been working on a shortstory lately I thought I would dissect the process a bit, to share the writinglife.

For this story, the title came first. I was walking thebeach in Florida when I saw a funny tree. It looked sort of like a mangrovetree with a palm tree sticking up out of the top. Like this one:

I asked a friend what kind of tree it was and she said: That’sa Strangler Fig. Well, you can’t give me a name like that and not expect me touse it.

Next, since I write crime fiction, I had to imagine thecrime. I wanted to set the story in Florida, which is full of retired folksliving in gated communities feeling all protected, so I imagined the one thingfurthest from their minds, a home invasion.

I decided to contrast the generations by putting an elderlycouple in their home with the invasion coming via a teenager for contrast. I hadto make the teenager the bad guy, so I had him abandon his friends, leavingthem to take the heat while he split with the loot. The story was shaping up.

I started casting around for character color. This is whereI wanted to play with the readers mind a bit. I decided the elderly couplewould be retired ex-Navy, but decided that the medals on display, whichincluded a Purple Heart would belong to HER. Ah, twist #1.

I’m not going to give you any more, because then you won’tneed to read THE STRANGLER FIG, which I’m hoping to have it polished up and ready togo by the end of the year.

Here’s today’s questions: What’s your process? How do youstart a new story? As I'm sure you've heard before, where do you get your ideas?

MORE WONDER OF TECHNOLOGY

2011-11-14T07:21:00.004-05:00

by Gina Sestak

Good morning, all. You may notice I'm posting a little later than usual today.

I would like to blame it on technology. In fact, I titled this post with that in mind. You know about the wonder of technology, right? You always wonder why it never works.

It isn't that electronics have been working around here. I've lost internet and telephone service both repeatedly in the past month. [Comcast. Enough said?] I could have easily blamed today's late start on something breaking down.

But I decided to come clean. I've been racking my brains, trying to think of what to write about this time. Nothing much is happening in my personal life. The new roommate is settled in. Everything seems to be going fine on that front and, as I've said before, the cat likes her.

I'm not overly fond of the cat right now. She has developed a habit of yowling at me in the morning, when she's not trying to trip me on the stairs. I've mentioned before that, due to my Bollywood obsession and desire to minimize reliance on subtitles, I've been trying to learn Hindi. I get up at 5:00 a.m. and spend 30 minutes on a Pimsleur lesson every morning. Kala sits on the floor out of reach and meows, apparently trying to drown out the speakers on the CD. I don't know why. I feed her before the lesson starts, make sure she has everything she needs. This morning she bolted her food, then threw it up on the rug right in the middle of the lesson. Yecchh. I had to stop and clean it up. The lessons are still focusing on teaching me to say things like "I like tea" and "We want to buy some gasoline." No mention yet of cats or mundane crises.

I have today and tomorrow off work so I tried to get into One Shot as an extra. I'm on Nancy Mosser's mailing list, but when I got the email late last week and called in, the man who answered said they already had everyone they need. I'm supposedly on the back-up list, in case the people scheduled fail to show. Nobody has called. I feel rejected.

I'm happy to be working part-time though. Two days a week is great - I'm earning enough to live on (since both house and car are paid off) and I have free time to do the things I like: writing and taking classes.

Classes first. I'm auditing an undergrad film class at Pitt - Bollywood, of course - and have been taking a short class through Pitt's Osher Lifetime Learning Institute on August Wilson. That man really had a way with language.

Writing. Well. I'm trying to gear up to write a short screenplay for this year's Steeltown contest. Hobart Writers is talking about writing one as a group project again this year - see my post Screenwriting With Cake for more information about last year's effort. I'm still working on a detailed treatment of another film project with Alcyone Pictures, meeting once or twice a week and writing on the off-days. Then there's the manuscript I've been revising. Another writing exercise in futility, I fear.

And this post, which seems to be a stream of consciousness ramble.

What else. What else.

I lead a dull and boring life.

I haven't folk danced much for a few months due to pain in my left leg. Chiropractic treatment and a week of steroids have been helping some, but it still hurts.

I haven't gone anywhere. A few movies, both Indian. Ra.One, a wonderfully entertaining super hero/ special effects extravaganza, and Sthaniya Sambaad, an award-winning serious film. One of the Sthaniya Sambaad filmmakers, Moinak Biswak, spoke after the screening but the cousin I went with had to leave early, so I missed most of what he had to say.

Here's a short clip from Ra.One:

Back to writing. Does it count that I am writing this????

Over Here

2011-11-10T23:27:00.000-05:00

by Ramona DeFelice Long

November 11 isVeterans Day--known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in othercountries. November 11 has been celebrated since 1918 to commemorate the Armisticethat brought an end to the War to End All Wars.

If World War 1had actually ended all wars, this year would be particularly significant. Thelast American World War 1 veteran died on February 27 of this year. His namewas Frank Buckles. He was 105 years old. During World War 1, Frank Bucklesserved as an ambulance driver near the front lines in Europe. In his finalyears, he advocated for support of the NationalWorld War 1 Memorial inWashington, D.C. He was buried atArlington National Cemetery, although a few strings had to be pulled becausehe’d never fought in combat. On the day of Buckles' burial, President Obama orderedflags be flown at half-staff in Buckles’ honor.

If the War toEnd All Wars had ended all wars, there would be no more living veterans in theUnited States to honor this year. Veterans Day could be retired as a holiday.The war veteran could go the way of the dodo bird. Extinct. Alive only in art,stories, and oral history.

I would love tobe writing today about the extinction of war veterans. Sadly, I can’t. Instead, I willwrite a little—just a little--about Dover Air Force Base.

I’ve neveractually been on Dover AFB. I’ve seen it from the highway on my way to thebeach downstate in Delaware. What I see of Dover AFB from the highway are tallfences, huge airplanes, and nondescript buildings.

I’ve been on thebeach a few times when C-40s fly over on the way to Dover. Everyone stopsfrolicking in the waves or digging in the sand to stare up at the giant planes, wondering if today they arecarrying equipment, or supplies, of the bodies of war dead.

Dover AFB is themortuary for soldiers killed abroad. Their remains are returned to U.S. soil atDover, and only at Dover. It is impossible to live in Delaware and not becognizant of this. The belief has always-always-beenthat the remains of our fallen soldiers were treated with the utmost respect. This week, thatwas proven to be wrong.

I won’t writemuch about the scandal unrolling except to report this. No one is rioting inDover. No one is occupying the base. I’m not sure why. Do soldiers and theirfamilies not protest that way?

There was amoment in American history when a group of war veterans did just that.Ironically, the soldiers were veterans of World War 1. They went to WashingtonD.C. because, equally ironically, they could not find work in a terribleeconomy, and they wanted Congress’ help. They weren’t beggars, not any morethan a veteran seeking government help would be called a beggar today.

To simplify acomplicated story, in 1924 Congress voted to award bonuses to World War 1veterans. The bonuses, based on a soldier’s pay plus interest, could not beredeemed until 1945. That wasCongress’ intent. But in 1932, in the black hole of the Great Depression,veterans were hungry, hopeless, and desperate. You’ve seen photos of vetsselling apples on street corners. That year, veterans wanted their bonuses.They’d earned them. They needed them. They couldn’t wait 13 more years.

A group of WWIveterans marched to the nation’s capital to appeal for early redemption of thepromised bonus. 17,000 soldiers plus their families and supporters eventuallyswelled to 45,000 people. The group was nicknamed the Bonus Army. In the summerof 1932, they squatted in tents in a makeshift settlement—a Hooverville—in theAnacostia Flats section of Washington.

A Bonus Bill wasintroduced to award early payment of the bonuses. In June of 1932, the bill wasdefeated by the Senate. The Bonus Army hadnowhere to go and no money to go there. They waited for President Hoover to actin their behalf. After all, they were veterans, not beggars. They’d broughttheir wives and children—their families. All they wanted was to receive whatwas due them, what had been voted on and promised, to honor them for participating in the war that was supposed to have ended all wars.

The Hoovervillewas a slum. Anacostia was a muddy, insect-infected swamp. There were masses ofhumans with no steady food supply, no plumbing, nowhere to dump garbage. Tensionbegan to run high. The local police chief was sympathetic and encouraging, butflare-ups and small altercations broke out.

Finally, PresidentHoover acted. He instructed the U.S. Army to evict the Bonus Army out of thecity.

The force thatexpelled the Bonus Army was led by General Douglas MacArthur. He was supportedby a tank division led by General George Patton. Major Dwight Eisenhower wasone of Patton’s aides. MacArthur, it has been recorded, believed that theveterans’ camp had been infiltrated and supported by Communists. He ordered the“eviction” be conducted with infantry wielding bayonets and cavalry onhorseback, both supported by six tanks.

The evictionturned into a melee that turned into a riot. The veterans’ Hooverville wastorched. The Bonus Army was driven across the river and out of the city. Threeveterans were killed, 54 injured, over 130 arrested.

It was apublicity nightmare for Hoover. A year later, after he was defeated by FranklinRoosevelt, another contingent of Bonus veterans marched. FDR did not supporttheir demands, but he did authorize a proper campsite and delivery of meals. In1936 a Bonus Bill was passed to award the bonuses early.

If this bit ofAmerican history is news to you, don’t feel badly. There was no 24-hour newscycle in 1932. If there was, can you imagine a sitting President ordering an armed assault on U.S. veterans?

The three military leaders became heroes in the next worldwar. That one didn’tend all wars, either. Nor did the Korean Conflict, or the wars in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq or Libya.

And in the skies over Dover, Delaware, C-40s continue to bring homethe war dead.

You can no morewin a war than you can win an earthquake. ~Jeanette Rankin

The Solitary Writer

2011-11-09T04:55:00.000-05:00

Please welcome Guest Blogger Mary Sutton to Working Stiffs. Mary is one of this year's survivors of the recent Sisters in Crime Writers' Retreat. In other words, she's been initiated into the sisterhood.

The image is iconic. The writer sits in a darkened room,hunched over, alone. Maybe an empty bottle of wine and an overflowing ashtraysit nearby. The writer is solitary, an observer and scribe. She observes andcreates. She is the lone wolf. Others may pass through her territory, butnobody stays for long.

At least, that’s how I always thought of writing. Oh, I hadfriends who claimed writing aspirations. I have a family that supports myefforts. But the work was down to me.Others could be my cheering section, but they could not help me create thewords.

At least, that’s what I used to think. A couple weeks ago, Ihad the good fortune to participate in a weekend writers’ retreat sponsored bythe Pittsburgh chapter of Sisters in Crime. I spent a weekend with five otherwomen, all writers, learning, discussing and improving our craft.

It was glorious. For the first time since, well, ever Irealized the tremendous value in finding a community of writers in which towork and play. The critique session Friday night gave me a lot to think about.My sibs had suggestions and I could see their points. But I was stumped as tohow to start implementing their suggestions and changing my manuscript.

Then the most wonderful thing happened. I mentioned mytroubles during a conversation. And the suggestions flowed forth. “You could dothis.” “Have your detective do that.” “The motive isn’t strong enough; youcould change things up to incorporate this.”

I’m told I spent two hours in oblivion working. I’ll taketheir word for it. After those two hours, I asked, “Does this sound too hokeyand farfetched?” More feedback poured forth. It was glorious and energizing.

Community also provides personal validation. When I tellmost people I’m a writer, they look at me funny. That weekend, when I said, “Doyour characters ever talk to you and take your story in a completely differentdirection?” the reaction was vigorous nodding and cries of “All the time!”instead of looks of concerned distress. Finally, a group that understood:having your characters “talk” to you is a natural part of writing and not areason to call the folks with the funny jackets.

So it may be true that writing is solitary in that I’m the only one who can put the words on the screen. But Ino longer think of myself as a “lone wolf.” I’m part of a pack. I may huntalone, but my pack will be there when I need them – with ideas, moral support,or a shake to bring me back to reality.

That’s not solitary at all.

Mary grew up devouring Agatha Christie novels and dreaming of being a published author. Years later, the dream has come half-true. A technical writer by day, Mary recently completed her first novel and hopes to write many more. She lives in Verona with her husband and two children.

The Circle of Life

2011-11-08T00:01:00.002-05:00

By K.M. Humphreys

I’ve heard about a lot of deaths over the last fewweeks. One co-workers mother-in-law diedin a car accident. Another co-worker’sfriend’s great-niece was hit by a car. Another co-worker’s friend’s mother passed away. There were two that hit a little closer tohome. First, about a week and a halfago, my friend e-mailed me that her husband’s cousin’s daughter (his secondcousin?) died from a brain tumor. Shewas only twelve. I had met her severalyears ago as we were both in my friend’s wedding. Then, last Tuesday, my friend texted me thather father had passed away. She askedfor the name of a good florist. I gaveher the name of the florist who did the flowers for my wedding. I told her to let me know if there wasanything I could do, to let me know.

Thursday evening was the first viewing for my friendsfather. The viewing was from 4-7 and myhusband and I got there a little after six. There were a lot of people there, and by the looks of the guest book, ithad been a steady stream of visitors. Westayed for about half an hour and left a little before 7. I took off Friday so I could be there for myfriend all day on Friday. Friday therewas a viewing from 10-1, and then a small service at the funeral home. There was then a luncheon at a localrestaurant. I got to the funeral home alittle after ten, and there were only two other people there besides my friendand her family. I gave my friend a hugand kept her company until more visitors showed up, and then I stepped back andlet her talk to everyone. I played withher three year old daughter who was so innocent as to what was going on. She was having a grand time running up anddown the hall and playing peek-a-boo. She would sometimes go into the children’s room and play in there. Despite the sadness everybody felt, it was ajoy to have this little girl be there. She made people smile, despite the sadness in their hearts.

Now I turn to this week. My husband and I are heading out to San Diego to visit my sister and herfamily to help celebrate my nephew’s first birthday. He is such a lively kidand has so much energy and happiness in him. It will definitely be a different week from last week.

My sister-in-law is due any day with her first child. Her actual due date is today. My sister-in-law thought she was going intolabor the same day my friend told me of her father’s passing. The circle of life would be startingagain. In death, there is life. Shedidn’t have the baby last week, but he should be born at any time. He will also be a joyful kid.

There will always be death and new life. The world is constantly going through thisprocess. The seasons follow a similar patternof brand new life in spring and death or dormant during the winter months. The circle of life will never end, it isconstantly going and will bring happiness and joy in the newness of life afterthe sadness of death.

When the Movie Ruins the Book

2011-11-07T05:00:00.004-05:00

by C.L. Phillips

True confession. I think casting Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher in the upcoming movie of one of Lee Child's books is a sin against nature, art, and all things holy. Okay, maybe I'm overstating my case.

But after reading To Kill a Mockingbird (for the first time ever) and then watching the movie with Gregory Peck, I realized how rare it is for a movie to be as gifted as a book. Sure the Harry Potter movies were enjoyable, but I'd take the books any day of the week. My imagination can outstrip the average man's film camera.

So when it comes to movie adaptations, which ones were a crime? Inquiring minds want to know.

I'm betting One for the Money makes the list. Wait, that movie's not out yet. :)

In a galaxy far, far away...

2011-11-04T03:55:00.071-04:00

by Jennie Bentley

If you have to die, February is the best month for it.

Some of you, who have been around for a while, might recallthat sentence. It was the opening of the stories in the famous February Smackdown of 2010. I said Icouldn’t write anything short, and Wilfred Bereswill’s answer was to challengeme to write a 200 word piece of flash fiction. A complete story in 200 words. He told me he was doing me afavor by making it 200; it really ought to be just half that.

My story was 200 words. Exactly. You can go HERE and count them if you want.Mine's entry #2. And yes, I had a bit of a time cutting until I got down that low. And the story wasn't complete. Nowhere even close.

At any rate, what happened is Will’s fault. That’s my storyand I’m sticking to it.

See, six months after I wrote that story, I decided to take anonline class on writing suspense with the fabulous Heather Graham. Our firstassignment was to write a scene starting with the words The blood dripped onthe floor.

Now, that particular sentence isn’t one I’d normally choose.I’m actually more likely to pick Will’s opening line. And that may be thereason why, when I started to work on the assignment, Quinn Conlan popped backinto my head. He was the only character I’d ever come up with who fit into astory that started with the words The blood dripped on the floor.

During the course of the class, we also came up with adetailed character sketch and an outline for a book. A book I really liked, ina genre no one seemed interested in, variously called science fiction romanceor futuristic romance or perhaps romantic space opera.

I didn’t do much with the manuscript for the next year. Myagent didn’t care for the outline and my editor at Penguin wasn’t interested.But between other books, I managed to write 50 pages of the story. And then,over the summer, a little outfit called Entangled Publishing came to myattention, mainly because my friend and yours, Misa Ramirez, is the marketingdirector there.

They were looking for science fiction romance. They were publishing science fiction romance. Iasked how science fiction romance was selling and was told it was selling well.“Why do you ask?” Misa said.

So I told her about my story. The one Heather Graham liked,but everyone else thought would be a hard sell.

“Send it to me,” Misa said.

So I did. And she read it. And asked if she could show it toone of the editors. Who liked it, and asked if I could put together a formalproposal for the series.

(Yes, it had turned into a series. I told you I can’t writeanything short.)

The rest, as they say, is history. EntangledPublishing offered to publish Quinn’s story. And the three stories followingit. Here's the official announcement from Publisher's Marketplace:

Sci-fi/Fantasy: NYT bestselling author Jennie Bentley writing as Jenna Bennett's FORTUNE'S HERO, in which a galactic smuggler will stop at nothing to get his crew out of prison, his ship out of impound, and everyone out of orbit, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled, in a four-book deal, for publication in Summer 2012 (World).

You can check out a short excerpt – which no longer startswith the words The blood dripped on the floor – on my brand new website. There’s also a short – very short – synopsis or teaser. The concept has changed just a little from February of 2010, but for all intents and purposes, Quinn's still the same.

So there you have it. The story of my futuristic sciencefiction space opera romance thingy, that started life in the Smackdown of 2010.

And the moral of the story? I guess it is that you should never give up, since good things come to those who wait!

Miami Road Trip 2011

2011-11-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

By Paula Matter

Two weeks ago I drove down to Miami making several stops along the way to visit friends and family. I got home Tuesday afternoon. I planned on writing my blog entry Wednesday to upload today.

So much for plans. I woke up Wednesday morning with a killer headache, congestion and coughing and feeling like hell. Even worse is realizing after two weeks of not feeling like this, it's often how I wake up when I'm home. I'm thinking I may be allergic to my house.

So, please forgive me for just uploading some photos of my trip.

Sunrise at Captiva Island

Green Cove Springs

Venetian Pool

Spent many summer days swimming here at Venetian Pool

Green Cove Springs pier

Green Cove Springs

Captiva Island sunrise

Western Mysteries and the Texas Book Festival

2011-11-02T05:00:00.004-04:00

Austin might be famous for the South-by-Southwest Conference, but the Texas Book Festival is no slouch. Last week, I listened to Phillipa Gregory, the Book Doctors, and many others, but my favorite session brought together three mystery writer,s each with a series set in the Great American West. C.M. Wendleboe, Craig Johnson, and Margaret Coel shared stories about their characters, writing process, and why they do what they do.

As a long-time Tony Hillerman fan, I've read many mysteries set in the West. Nothing beats sitting on the back porch with a Western mystery, eating a chopped beef BBQ sandwich, washing it down with a Shiner Bock while trying like hell to keep the sauce out of the keys on the Kindle. Maybe there is a place for paper books, after all.

Each author's personality came out as they spoke of their work, why they write the characters the way they do, and the price they pay for living as storytellers.

The big takeaway? Each author confessed they write "why done it?" not "who done it?" When asked if they write by inspiration or outline, Craig and Margaret gave detailed reasons as to why outlining is the only way to go. Think of it as road map, they each said. And both said they did things to their main heroes in the first novel they would have never done if they'd only realized they were writing a series.

Note to self. An outline for the book is insufficient. Must write an outline for the SERIES. Duh. Sounds so simple, doesn't it?

Hear that noise? It's my shredder, consuming a flawed outline. I'm back to the drawing board, only this time, I have a tool that matches my ambition.

Who's Your Monster?

2011-11-01T06:00:00.005-04:00

By Martha Reed

I live in Aspinwall, a very compressed neighborhood. Ourhouses are bumped up right next to each other. Because of that, we get a lot ofTrick or Treaters, and I do mean a lot. We attract kids from four boroughs. Itsno exaggeration to say that on Halloween my street looks like Mardi Gras outthere. The kids have figured it out. They know they can haul out about fifteenpounds worth of candy apiece in under two hours. You have to give the littlemonsters credit, they did the math.

When I bought my house, my neighbors warned me about thesituation. They advised me to buy 250 pieces of candy. That first year I didn’tbelieve them, and I had to SOS my sister up the street to send some candy downwhile I frantically dug through the bottom of my purse looking for pennies tohold the sugar zombies off until the backup arrived.

Another reason we attract so much attention is that myneighbor, Joel Keiffer, is Mr. Pumpkin. You may have heard of him, he’s gettingfamous for buying a 1,000 pound pumpkin and displaying it on his porch. Thiseffort costs him money as well as time; his porch collapsed a couple of yearsago but he keeps at it. This year, though, he’s outdone himself with a pumpkincarved like the Cheshire cat. (See below). I have to say it is pretty awesome.

The trick is that this year Joel’s decided to take donationsfor charity. That attracted media attention, and WTAE ran a feature on Joel and his pumpkin andgave out his address in Aspinwall. Ruh-roh. You know Pittsburghers; they’re agenerous bunch. Forget Mardi Gras. This year I'm expecting to see people from four counties. Just to be safe, I’d better go buy some extra candy, and I'll post the results here. Wish me luck!

WHAT SCARES YOU???

2011-10-31T01:07:00.001-04:00

by Gina Sestak

What scares you? Really scares you? Do you spend your nights alone, crafting terrifying stories in a room lit only by your computer screen? Or do you, like me, sometimes need to grab the cat and sit outside until the menacing vibes inside the house are gone? Are you a coward when it comes to ghosts? I know I am.

So why do I watch scary movies like this one?

Ghosts aren't the only frightening things that come around this time of year. The flocking of our feathered friends may well portend disaster, too.

Then there are the myriad dead and undead.

If you watch closely, you may see me as a zombie extra in the mall portion of this movie, Dawn of the Dead. I was thinner then, but since we filmed outside in the dead of winter (no pun intended), that is hard to tell because I was wearing 5 sets of clothes. Between takes we zombies would all huddle around the lights, trying not to freeze.

Sometimes the scary things are aliens, able to take on any form in an instant.

And sometimes, the scary things come out of games . . .

I saw this film, Ra.One, yesterday afternoon at Loew's Waterfront and it is awesome. Thrills, stunts, special effects, tragedy, and humor, all wrapped around the touching story of a game-designer father trying to win his gamer son's respect. It's lots of fun to watch, so catch it while you can!