Anyway, this year I am going to make myself write at least twenty pages a week, which for me, an OCD editor, is a lot. Right now I'm in panic mode, having already asked for and received a deadline extension. I'm trying to spit out 25 pages a week. With the holidays, my six-week promotional tour for LIVER LET DIE, the launch of MORTAL DECEPTION, and some personal stuff in my life, I have fallen woefully behind. It's hard to write funny stuff when your life is happening and your heart is hurting.
So, I'm counting on you guys to kick my butt every week to make sure I get that goal met.
One other big thing I want to do in 2012 is to read. That is the one area that I have really neglected since I signed a contract and faced deadlines. I just can't seem to find the time, but the biggest reason is that I can't have someone else's characters invading my head instead of my own. A few months ago I was contacted by a publicist at Berkley who wanted to know if I would be interested in previewing an upcoming book.
Free book--hell, yes!
Since then I have had three others from Berkley and one from Medallion Press send me books. Did I mention I barely have time to write my own??
But I decided if I am going to continue previewing these books, then I need to start REVIEWING these books!! So, today is the first book review of NOW WRITE! Mysteries by Sherry Ellis and Laurie Lamson (Laurie took over the editing after her aunt, Sherry, passed away before this book could be published.) So here goes.
NOW WRITE! Mysteries "is an essential handbook of suspense, crime, thriller and other mystery exercises covering topics from research and “detective work” to creating a compelling detective character and keeping a series going."
This was an awesome book both for seasoned as well as beginning mystery authors. Getting advice from some of the most successful mystery writers in the business was eye-opening. I know I must have some skills in mystery writing since I have a contract, but I found a lot of the advice to be things I didn't really think about. It will make writing my next cozy a lot easier. And I especially loved the exercises at the end of each chapter.
In other words, NOW WRITE! Mysteries is a keeper for me--one that I will refer to many times in my writing career.
So, have any of you read it? Do you want to after my review? If so, you can order it here. Then make it one of your resolutions.
8 comments:
Liz: Great topic! We should continue your lead of reviewing books on this site. Great, great. I didn't know about this book. Now you've added to my TBR pile. Sheesh, my husband designs skyscrapers for a living, but I think my TBR pile is in true competition. Thanks for bringing this to our attention!!!
Liz, I feel like I rarely get to read anymore, and I want to get more use out of my brand-new Nook! I feel guilty sometimes, though, since I feel like I should be writing instead of reading. But today I think I'm going to read. It's my day off. What better way to spend it? :)
Here's to a great 2012 for all of us!
I thought that when I retired, actually forced into it, I'd have more time to read and write. I read more when I was working then now.
This looks like a great reference book that I'm definitely going to add to my collection.
Now, get back to writing.
Cassy, I'm going to try and review one book a month. I, for one, love reading what other people think about a book.
As for movies, I've seen Girl with A Dragon Tattoo and Mission Impossible 4 in the past week. Loved both of them but GWADT was my favorite. It's a perfect mystery.
Yay, Donna, on the new NOOK.I love my ereader (kindle and an ipad.)
Hope you had a great day off.
For me, it isn't even about all the time I put into may own writing. It's more about keeping all the other characters out of my head. One of these days, we'll go back to reading, Lindsay, and I have a HUGE TBR pile to dig into.
Liz, sorry I'm late! I'm a procrastinator too, and I'm determined to get my writing schedule in order this year. I'm tired of being in panic mode as well. Good luck to us both!
Oh, your review of NOW WRITE! does make me want to buy it. Like you, I can't seem to find the time to read. Another thing I want to fix this year.
Just ordered the book from Amazon
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