Self Improvement
Hubby is doing a bit of a Spring clean at the moment. In his travels he came across an old OLD manuscript of mine, one I sent in to Harlequin in 1997, as I recall. I had no idea I'd kept the draft copy and couldn't resist having a read. I'm happy to say it was terrible.
A strange thing to be happy about, perhaps, but to me seeing how bad was the writing of this novel I'd penned ten years ago showed how much I've improved in the interim between then and now. Still, I surprised myself to discover the occasional snappy line or well written paragraph (at least in my humble opinion), in 'Kissing Kate' (God that title! Ugh! Wasn't it a musical or something?). In amongst the too frequent exclaimation points (eg. 'But I'm not interested in a relationship! You egotistical man!'), the inexplicable bursts of temper (my heroine seemed to have a permanent case of PMS. Which perhaps would explain her tendency to yell everything she said), the cliched plot devices (I actually had that poor girl faint into his arms at one point), and the unwitting plagarism (I had the hide to steal and paraphrase that line from Gone with the Wind when Rhett remarks over Scarlett's tendency to cry and her disproportionate dearth of hankerchiefs), was the occasional moment where I saw the beginings of my voice emerging. I didn't recognise it at the time of course. I was trying to write a tortured hero (I suppose I'd read that they were popular), but he kept coming out with cheeky comments that weren't in line with the character I was trying to create, a rich, morose type who was riddled with guilt because he felt responisble for the death of his brother. Basically he was a smart-ass whom I never let out of the tightly structured plan I had to make him a dour Mr Rochester type. How little did I know, and how much I thought I knew. They must have gotten a laugh over at Harlequin out of that ms - I shudder thinking of who quicky it must have been cast aside.
But like I said, I'm glad the manuscript was terrible. It's all about improvement. Now, most of my heroes are smart-asses. For that matter, so are my heroines. They say there's a little of the writer in every character...
Sami
A strange thing to be happy about, perhaps, but to me seeing how bad was the writing of this novel I'd penned ten years ago showed how much I've improved in the interim between then and now. Still, I surprised myself to discover the occasional snappy line or well written paragraph (at least in my humble opinion), in 'Kissing Kate' (God that title! Ugh! Wasn't it a musical or something?). In amongst the too frequent exclaimation points (eg. 'But I'm not interested in a relationship! You egotistical man!'), the inexplicable bursts of temper (my heroine seemed to have a permanent case of PMS. Which perhaps would explain her tendency to yell everything she said), the cliched plot devices (I actually had that poor girl faint into his arms at one point), and the unwitting plagarism (I had the hide to steal and paraphrase that line from Gone with the Wind when Rhett remarks over Scarlett's tendency to cry and her disproportionate dearth of hankerchiefs), was the occasional moment where I saw the beginings of my voice emerging. I didn't recognise it at the time of course. I was trying to write a tortured hero (I suppose I'd read that they were popular), but he kept coming out with cheeky comments that weren't in line with the character I was trying to create, a rich, morose type who was riddled with guilt because he felt responisble for the death of his brother. Basically he was a smart-ass whom I never let out of the tightly structured plan I had to make him a dour Mr Rochester type. How little did I know, and how much I thought I knew. They must have gotten a laugh over at Harlequin out of that ms - I shudder thinking of who quicky it must have been cast aside.
But like I said, I'm glad the manuscript was terrible. It's all about improvement. Now, most of my heroes are smart-asses. For that matter, so are my heroines. They say there's a little of the writer in every character...
Sami
You've been writing for over ten years? I am impressed.
Always nice to revisit the first manuscript, and give yourself a pat on the back because you have come so far!
Did the Sami who wrote about Katie have any idea what you would be writing now, I wonder?
Jess
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All my heroines in those days were virgins because I thought that's what they had to be. How times have changed...
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Hi Sami, I read something old I've written regularly to remind me that I have improved, it's also a really good laugh. I think being able to laugh at ourselves is a great thing and reading one of those pieces is guaranteed to give me a laugh.
Happy writing.
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Too true Rachel
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Hi Sami,
I too have a few old manuscripts that I visited only a few weeks ago. I have to say they will never be released from the dust mites.
I cannot believe I sent one to Harlequin, no wonder I got a rejection. lol
Btw, I didn't know you were a smart ass.
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Sami I loved your little walk back to a time before when, you're such a crack up. So are we to assume that you had bad PMS 10 year ago?
I found a novel I hand wrote, God, I don't know how long ago, well there were three really, written in next exercise books. Stuffed them in a box and forgot all about them and writing until five or so year ago. Sigh, all that time wasted. Heavens I could have had a room full of exercise books.
So here I am on a very rainy Saturday morning (it's 1.30am and the insomnia is having a party), I don't have a migraine for a change. So I thought I would catch up with some of you girls. I've been to visit Caitlyn and Diane, and now I'm here. Have to say Caitlyn's novel she is working on sound very interesting. I had a look in Borders the other week for your and Cait's books but couldn't find them. My aim this year is to read at least one of each of the authors books from the loop. So Miss Sami, where can I get your book, other then on-line. I have a thing about books shops, LOVE them.
Well I'm off, storm rolling in and I HATE storms. Time to go to bed, and cuddle hubby.
Hugs
Sandie
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I hope you got to sleep eventually Sandie - there's nothing worse than lying awake watching the clock. I'm in the process of contacting bookshops at the moment to encourage them to stock my book. It will probably be available in romance specialist stores - I'm not sure what standards Borders use to decide which small print books to publish. I suspect it might be based on sales but it's that catch 22. How do you make big sales if the big chain stores don't stock your book? Argh. I'll be sure and post the information on Australian stockists here when I know. And it never hurts to ask at the counter - it might encourage these stores to stock more Australian titles if people are asking for them.
And as for the PMS... I believe I was in the midst of organising my wedding at the time I wrote that ms. Worse than a permenant case of PMS I'd say.
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