Writing Things

Mysteries vs. Thrillers vs. Whatever the Heck I’m Writing

/ candicemarleyconner / 2 Comments

I wrote a YA novel I thought was a sort of coming-of-age mystery. The protagonist, Bea Pearl, has lost her brother, her memory, and subsequently, a good bit of herself. The small Southern town she lives in thinks her brother is dead, and her crazy for thinking he’s not. The mystery unravels as Bea Pearl sets out to find out what happened that day her brother disappeared. Though with no memory, she has a hard time trusting what’s real.

Query Hook for my YA mystery now out on a R&R | How to Write A YA Mystery

This was my query hook that initially intrigued my agent and a New York editor. It has come a loooong way since then!

Or that’s what I thought I was doing. Turns out it was leaning a bit too much on the magical realism side and not enough on the mystery. I thought, well, everything is super mysterious (I didn’t even know what happened to the brother in the first draft) so that makes it a mystery, right?

Nope and nope. The super-helpful editor who requested a revise & resubmit suggested my magical realistic beginning needed to have a similar tone to my more thriller-ish ending. I didn’t even know what the difference between a mystery and a thriller was. Up ’til now it was just something I read and knew, but I didn’t know the differences–what made each genre unique.

For those at home curious (which I assume is why you’re here), I went to Nathan Bransford’s always-helpful blog. He wrote a great post here on the differences and includes a link to BookEnds Literary’s more in-depth breakdown.

I wondered if there were any specific rules to writing mysteries for a young adult and stumbled across this Writer’s Digest post on Writing Tenacious Teen Sleuths (anything that refers to Veronica Mars is sound advice). The eight tips they mention helped me streamline my thought process AND my plot.

My agent kept pushing me to further get out of my protag’s head and into the action, so I thought reading YA mysteries would help me in a leading-by-example sense. I could unravel how their mystery plots unfold organically and see if mine following the tips did as well. (This took a few read-throughs as it was hard not to just fall into the story.)

Reading example novels of YA mysteries & thrillers to better my own manuscript.

Reading is my favorite kind of research

The books I studied were:

Carol Goodman’s BYLTHEWOOD because it’s considered a mystery but has a lot of supernatural aspects, like mine has the magical realism.

Kimberly Giarratano’s GRUNDGE GODS AND GRAVEYARDS, the Writer’s Digest suggestion from the above post. And another mystery with supernatural aspects, this time ghosts.

Kristen Lippert-Martin’s TABULA RASA, a YA Thriller so I could better understand my pacing further into my own manuscript.

So this is how I worked through it, what has helped you define your story’s genre? And if you have any tips on writing mysteries, or suggestions to further my library, please leave a comment!

 

Writing Goals: A Look Back on 2016

/ candicemarleyconner / 4 Comments

I began the year with a goal. setting-goals-tony-robbins-quoteBeing on submission was nerve-wracking and I needed smaller creative outlets so I wouldn’t drive myself (or my agent, critique partners, and beta readers) crazy. So I challenged myself to get published at least once a month for the entire year. It’s tricky as a goal, because as a former Mobile Writers’ Guild president once cautioned us, a goal should be something YOU can control. But I could control the opening up to inspiration, the butt-to-chair writing time, the search for publications, and the strength and confidence to put myself and my words out there. I did better than I thought I would, although rejection never got any easier and was sometimes hard to bounce back from.

I submitted fifteen poems, six short stories, and eleven personal essays. On the first day of the new year I received an e-mail that my personal essay, The Fairy House, would be published online by Mothers Always Write.

Setting writing goals is how I coped with being on submission. Check out my blog post to see what is working for me, maybe it can inspire you too!

I was ecstatic. It was the first personal essay I had ever written, and I found the challenge cathartic. I felt like it would make me a better writer and a better mother. More truthful with myself.

Then in February, Mothers Always Write wanted to publish my poem, Lake Geneva. The Fairy House fit their acceptance theme slated for March and was published then. In April, I was beyond excited when Mamalode published my Top Ten Reasons Why Playgroup Moms Make Awesome Friends. Babybug Magazine printed my poem, Gardening, that I had actually signed the contract with back in 2013. Then, I–or really my secret identity, the Saltwater Scribe–was invited to be a part of the author/illustrator group, The Inscribables, and they published my post, Being Creative is as Awesome as Surfing on Dolphins.

Mothers Always Write published another one of my essays, Earless Bunnies in May, and The Good Mother Project allowed me to share my Mother’s Day gift to my mom with their readers when they published my poem, Dear Momma.

Short stories are hard for me to write so I was giddy when the Scarlet Leaf Review published Weak in June. Then Haiku Journal published a haiku of mine mentioned in this previous blog post.

In July, I had my first reprint when The Good Mother Project asked to republish Earless Bunnies, and then again when they republished my Top Ten list in August. In September, they published my poem to my daughter, You Walked Away from Me, as I struggled to be okay with the fact that she was now all growny in kindergarten.

I had a YA short story accepted for publication in October, but the editor decided to push the publication date back. So I’m still hopeful, though I couldn’t make my goal. November was full of rejections, but more positively–revisions on my YA manuscript that’s out on R&R (an editor-requested revise and resubmission). I also have a poem and short story accepted for publication later on next year and a personal essay that’s made it to a final round selection that I’m extremely hopeful for.

I read twenty-two books this year, critiqued four manuscripts, and beta read too many to keep count. I met some awesome authors at book signings. I was part of a 4-H Authors and Illustrator’s Panel, a facilitator at a Young Author’s Writers Conference, a writing contest mentor for FicFest, completed my fourth manuscript, a middle grade magical realism, revised (and revised again) my YA mystery, began my fifth novel, a YA Southern Gothic named Amalee, and am co-writing an adult psychological thriller with two other creative mamas. So throughout the rejections, I’d say a lot of awesome things happened writing-wise for me in 2016.

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What positive things happened to you writing-wise this year? Did you read a book that changed your perspective? Did you write the book that will change your life?

 

 

The Autumn Reading Tag

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Autumn lasts only a couple weeks here on the Gulf Coast but maybe that’s why we love it so much. We can drink coffee outside, have a toddy around the grill as we eat jalapeno poppers, wear leggings that reach our ankles, all without sweating! The crisp air is so fleeting, most of our trees are oaks or evergreens so if we want to see a color change we have to go north, or transplant a maple so we can experience a green leaf turning red. I’m not even going to comment on the pumpkin-spice-everything epidemic that began as soon as temperatures dipped into the low 80s.841222_10100312904658863_333803395_o So when writer and book recommender-extraordinaire (seriously, she’s never steered me wrong on a book rec. If you read middle grade, you should follow her blog.) Laura Noakes posted about an Autumn Reading Tag (created by Amy Jane Smith), I couldn’t wait to participate.

Are there any books you plan on reading over the autumn season?

Thirty-eight books are stacked on my desk, waiting to be read. pkqpiry3 It’s glorious. Of those, I plan on reading GRUNGE GODS AND GRAVEYARDS by Kimberly G. Giarratano, a YA mystery recommended by Writer’s Digest. Ghosts and ’90s grunge music? Sounds like the best of my high school memories. Perfect for an All Hallows Eve read.

I also plan on reading HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD because like Laura said, nothing says fall and winter (especially Christmas!) quite like Harry Potter. And my kids are finally getting into the movies which warms my muggle heart (though my youngest is terrified of Dobby).

Cooler months for some reason allow for nonfiction more than any other season for me, so I’d also like to read A PRIMATE’S MEMOIR by Robert Sapolsky.

September brings back school memories: what book did you most enjoy studying? And what were your favorite and least favorite subjects?

I’ve been exposed to so many good books in school, though I must say my absolute favorite to study was A WRINKLE IN TIME. I didn’t even know books like that existed before then! Favorite subjects: English and zoology, least favorite: any math (hence my degree in English!). Absolute worst was Math in Society. Compounded interest confounded me.

October means Halloween: Do you enjoy scary books and films?

Much to my husband’s chagrin, I can’t handle scary films. I didn’t sleep for a week after watching The Ring. Saw? Nope, I know my limit. Bookwise, I can handle a little scarier–psychologically speaking, not gore. I was on a Dean Koontz kick in high school. Now, I’m worried the wights might be more than I can handle in the movie-version of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, though of course I read the book.

With November, it’s time for bonfire nights. What’s the most exciting book you’ve read that’s kept you gripped?

1425754_10100335642292463_1970888259_nI cheated. This bonfire, or Circle of Love as my husband’s family calls it, was actually in North Carolina.

Oooh, this is hard so I’ll break it up by age group:                                                                                                                                                                                  MG: Wrinkle in Time series, including all the companion ones like AN ACCEPTABLE TIME    YA: I devoured Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series, as in, read a 600 page book in two days, also Laini Taylor’s Smoke & Bone trilogy. Adult: my guilty pleasure is Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series (not a fan of HBO’s True Blood. Deviated away from the books too much for me.)

What book is your favorite cozy comfort read?

As much as I like to own books, I don’t usually reread them in their entirety. Mainly, I like being able to dog-ear passages that speak to me and randomly reread those (yes, I’m a dog-earer. Throw your stones!) That said, I have reread Harry Potter and my favorite cozy read is probably Frank L Baum’s OZ series.

Curled up with a good book, what is your hot drink of choice?

1557453_10101061863763813_1615716691172101697_n Mmmm… Hot Caramel Macchiato. It’s just usually too hot to drink it.

Coffee. Unless it’s late at night, then some honey lavender tea.

Any plans you’re looking forward to in the next few months?

All the Halloween Things!

I appreciate any occasion to dress up. Last year I was Elphaba from Gregory Maguire’s WICKED and the Queen of Hearts.

It’s my favorite holiday, though this year will be the first our family costumes aren’t themed. Kiddos have their own opinions now, so we’ll be Alice and the Mad Hatter, a cowgirl, and Marshall from Paw Patrol.

Then in November, my birthday (!), my daughter’s in December, and then Christmas and all the family and friend festivities that come along with it. I’m also hoping to have revisions on my YA mystery turned in, and it would be The Best if I get good news on any of my manuscripts currently out on submission.

Even though today reached 82 degrees, football’s on and the air conditioner is turned up high. It’s officially Fall. This was a fun post to do so you’re welcome to play along too. Just make sure you tag me so I can read your responses!

I’m tagging Margie Brimer at The Write Niche, MeLeesa Swann, and Carrie Dalby, the Wonderwegian.

 

 

 

 

Autograph Your Book

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As a writer, you’ve worked on a glorious assemblage of words that can tower up to 200,000 in the case of one of my critique partners (it’ll probably end up as a trilogy, don’t worry). The longest amount of words I’ve strung together so far is 70,000. Then, once you have every word exactly how you want it, deeply imbued with meaning, and loadbearing-ness, and imagery, you have to summarize it into a one page synopsis, then a paragraph in a query letter, then a two sentence hook, and maybe a 140 character tweet if you participate in twitter contests such as #pitmad.

I thought of something else while I was in the shower–too early for my right brain to be awake and tell my left brain and me how silly we are–what about the authors who summarize their grand literary conglomeration into an autograph?

A couple well-known author autographs in my collection, like Maggie Stiefvater and Rick Riordan, are just their names–and I feel honored to have them on my bookshelves. Many that I have say something along the lines of “good luck with your writing”, which is awesome because it means I had a chance to talk with them in person about the craft of writing.autograph

But some authors take their book itself and connect it to the readers.

I imagine JK Rowling’s is pretty easy. All she would need to write is “Always.”

Here are some of my favorites:2qdeqfyx

“Here’s to finding our edge but never going over it!” -Lena Roy, author of Edges.

This one is great because, as the title implies, there are so many edges in this book: the literal ones of the canyons in the Moab desert, and the figurative ones the main characters must find-Luke with grieving for his dead mom and alcoholic dad, and Ava with tiptoeing the edge of sobriety as she tries to regain control of her life.

autograph2“What’s the one thing you want most?” -Stephanie Lawton, author of Want.

The main theme centers around what the characters, Juli and Isaac, want whether it be a prestigious music career, or something off-limits, juxtaposed with society’s (especially Old Mobile) traditions and familial responsibilities.

autograph1

“Stay true to yourself” -Joyce Sterling Scarbrough, author of True Blue Forever.

This novel (and now a trilogy!) is about the ever-changing friendship and rivalry between Jeana, Mickey, Billy Joe, and Wade and staying true to each other.

autograph3“Never give up on your dreams.” -Robin Bridges, author of The Gathering Storm.

Her protagonist, Katiya, holds fast to her dream of becoming a doctor in 1888 Russian royal society which gets her through all the craziness that being a necromancer brings, namely, zombies and vampires.

What would mine be?

Yes, I know it’s way too early to be thinking about this though I thought it would be a fun exercise and maybe help me with query hooks. One of my manuscripts is a YA mystery about a girl who’s brother is missing. My main character, Bea Pearl, copes with memory loss, questioning reality and wondering if her dreams might actually be memories. So my autograph message for her book might be something along the lines of Mrs. Scarbrough’s and Mrs. Bridges’ with “believe in your dreams”.

Another manuscript I have out on submission is an upper middle grade fairytale retelling of Melusine, the two-tailed water spirit on your Starbucks cup. It’s about a girl, Mellie, who is banished and cursed by her mother. It has an ecological theme so I’d want to incorporate that, maybe something along the lines of “It’s not easy being green (-tailed!)” Haha, that’s horrible but I have time to come up with something better.

I’d love to know what your autograph message is (or will be), how you connect your story to your readers. You’re welcome to leave a link in comments if you have a book out, or share what you’ll write once your writing dreams come true.

Thanks for reading!