Building a fictional world

I can't always write about things I know, tempting as that may be. So I've been spending a lot of time during the past two days on background research for a new book. This one will be set in the south of England and involve details about certain businesses and relationships among the aristocracy I know nothing about.


I haven't done this kind of research since my postgrad days, and it's amazing how quickly I can get sucked into another time and place. It's far too easy to type in key words and click from one lead to another until my monitor screen is covered with several layers of maps and articles and lists and I've nearly lost track of what it was I was after in the first place.

Hmm. Sort of like my writing process: a mess.

Tonight I decided it was time to walk away from the computer and stroll into my neighborhood bookstore for some heavy-duty reading on a couple of relevant topics. Homework. It's been a while since I faced that, too.

I recently began a reader's letter by quoting the familiar phrase "write what you know." Now I'm following some different advice: write about what you want to know.

What is it you want to know? If you could write about anything, what would it be? What kind of research would you like to sink into?

A toast to some special people

Congratulations to my agent, Jessica Faust, and to Jacky Sach, one of her partners at BookEnds literary agency. Today they're celebrating the anniversary of the sale of their first book, and Jessica is sharing her memories.

Most writers dream of "The Call," that never-to-be-forgotten contact with a purchasing editor or an agent with good news, that amazing moment when a writer becomes an author. I never get tired of hearing or reading these stories. Each one makes me smile.

Next month, I'll get to read lots of them. During December, the members of the Wet Noodle Posse will be reminiscing and sharing their "Call" stories. Be sure to stop by daily for a tale with a happy ending.

What successes do you mark with personal anniversaries? What special, life-changing moments remain vivid in your memory?

Shop 'til you drop

I love to shop, even when I don't intend to buy anything. And it's good for me, since all that wandering while I browse is a low-impact form of aerobic exercise.

However, just as I'm not a devoted fan of sweat-inducing workouts, I don't consider myself to be a particularly dedicated bargain hunter. No midnight or predawn sales for me. No thumbing through coupons or trekking across town to track down the best deals. Stumbling across the right item--at the right price--seems to be my meal-planning, wardrobe-building, gift-buying method.

Come to think of it, that's how I write my stories: wandering aimlessly, waiting for happy accidents, letting ideas and events take me by surprise.

How about you? Are you a list maker? A coupon clipper? A sales-savvy shopper? Or are you an I-know-it-when-I-see-it gift-buyer? What was one of your best buys ever?

Family fun

Tonight, after another family holiday dinner, we'll open a board game or two and indulge in some lively competition.

Games were part of the holiday fun when I was young. My parents taught us several card games, but our favorite was Hearts. Sometimes we'd play with two decks to add some complications.

Now we've shifted to board games, and the most popular are Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, and Apples to Apples. Lots of teasing and groaning and laughing--we love to play!

Are games part of your family fun time? If so, which are your favorites?

So much to be thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I wish each of you time with your loved ones and thoughts of blessings this weekend.

We're visiting relatives today. Yes, once again we've been spared the all-day cooking marathon. It's nearly a game for us, and one we play every year: avoid the turkey-in-the-oven scene at all costs. Score so far: 29-1.

One year we waited for an invitation to travel or contribute to potluck or eat out with friends or relatives...and none came. In a panic, I raced to the grocery store at the last minute and scrounged for whatever was left in the aisles. And then I had to research how to make a turkey dinner. I was lucky--I found a television show about cooking turkey, and I watched the entire thing, taking notes. My little story has a happy ending: no one starved.

I'm so thankful this year--and every year--for my family. We're a larger group now, with more in-laws and a new generation. More faces around the table, more love to share.

What are you thankful for?

An apple today

This time of year brings out the apple lover in me. Or perhaps I should be more specific: the apple lover who has a great deal of appreciation for the sugar, cinnamon, and caramel involved in some of my favorite apple recipes.

I found a terrific source of some new apple recipes: the U.S. Apple Association's site. Pork tenderloin stuffed with apples. Sweet potatoes and cider gratin. Maple cider punch. Peach baked apples. Yummm.

What is your favorite apple recipe?

Opinions, please

Everyone has an opinion or two about their favorite--or least favorite--books, and all those preferences are completely subjective. But some people's opinions are published for everyone else to see.

One of the most daunting aspects of writing is reviews. I debate whether to request them, I cringe as I address the envelopes and slip my advance reader copies inside, and I reach for the antacids when I get the word that a new review has been posted. What's the verdict? And even scarier--what's the rationale?

Feedback on my stories always fascinates me. Sometimes it seems my favorite parts of my books don't resonate with my readers, while other scenes--scenes I nearly cut--deliver the greatest enjoyment. Of course, my opinions about what I'm producing are completely subjective, too.

What are you reading right now? What is the scene about? Is it one you're enjoying? Why or why not?

Another great year

Today's my birthday, and it's been a great one so far. The sun was shining, I got a lot of work accomplished, and I enjoyed a takeout pizza dinner at my desk. Life these days is a pleasant jumble--enough projects to be interesting without overwhelming me. Kind of like the toppings on my pizza--enough tastes and textures to provide some variety without overdoing it.

I've never been the kind of person who thrives on order and routine; I like a dash of chaos to liven things up. And I happen to think some of the best things in life are accidents.

How about you? Do you tend to plan your schedule or jump into the middle of things? Do you prefer your days loaded with calm or edging toward hectic?

The grass is always greener

Like many writers, I begin to look forward to the next project while I'm limping toward the end of the current one. It's human nature, I suppose, to think there's something more interesting up ahead.


Lately I've been getting ideas for the next two projects in bursts of unrelated bits: sudden glimpses of characters, snatches of dialogue, vivid images of scenes. At this point, I may not know how these stories will shape up, but the pieces in my imagination are far more interesting than the pages I'm going over for the umpteenth time.

Maybe it's the possibilities and potentials in these new stories that are distracting me from the work I have to do now. Maybe it's the excitement of that first-draft development that's tempting me to ditch the revisions and dash off a couple of fresh, new scenes. Whatever the reason, the story grass definitely seems greener on the other side of the fence.

Are you often tempted to start a new project when you're in the middle of another? Are you sometimes tempted to take a detour when you're heading down the home stretch?

My yellow-brick road

I spent last weekend at one of my favorite conferences: the Emerald City Writers' Conference in Bellevue, Washington, sponsored by the Greater Seattle Chapter of Romance Writers of America.


Everyone marks personal anniversaries or milestones, and this conference is one of mine. It was the first major event I attended the year I got truly serious about my writing--the year I first won a contest and got a request from an editor who wanted to read one of my stories. It was my first opportunity to establish connections with other writers, to make friends in a business where we tend to work alone.

I remember sitting in workshops that first year, soaking up all the amazing information and advice so many generous authors were willing to share. I remember returning in following years, nervously pitching my story ideas to agents and editors and promising myself I'd soon sell a book. And I remember my fifth anniversary at Emerald City--the first year I was one of the published authors presenting workshops of my own.

What are some of your personal anniversaries? How do you mark your milestones or measure your progress?