Okay but SENSUAL CHAOS could totally be the name of a punk song (IS it the name of a punk song??) which would make it a completely appropriate title for your definitely-still-alive book.
I can relate to the authorly impulse to have characters say or do the simple logical thing that will deflate the tension. Over time I’ve developed a sense of when a story needs something other than what I’ve given it, and having a CP or editor who will tell me when a scene is flagging helps with course correction too. I’ve also done the decision-tree thing when I’m stuck, or worked backward from the ending (of a scene, chapter, the book) to figure out what could or needs to happen in order to get there.
And I mean…was it Rick Rubin that broke up Skinny Puppy, or was it heroin?
“I just don’t get why he doesn’t buy her a drink or something. If they’re into each other.” Oh your dear sweet friend. I laughed out loud at this. That would be the end of love stories.
An "eat-your-heart-out Justin" bonus scene?? [insert gif of Richard Kind saying "I'm listening" here]
This edition of the newsletter is such a good reminder that, yes, life is a series of choices and sometimes we make the wrong one, but one can always course correct. Sometimes easier than others, but very vew things are unfixable!
That's a great point! One of the best pieces of workplace advice I got from my very first boss was essentially: "if you fuck up, tell me. there's almost nothing I can't fix, I just have to know about it."
Love hearing about the dead ends that inevitably happen during the writing process. In my most recent WIP, the initial drafts were straddling romance and WF/book club fiction and I had to make a choice about which way to go, which led to all kinds of changes throughout the book, including getting rid of almost every interaction and internal thought of the FMC's terrible ex-husband who like Justin, DID NOT NEED TO BE PART OF THIS LOVE STORY lol. Sometimes the best way to show that a main character has moved on is to, well, move on.
Also, this line made me cackle: (Justin’s in Chris’ autograph line; Daphne’s in Chris’ DMs; they are not the same). It reminds me of Sabrina Carpenter's Good Graces: Break my heart, and I swear I'm movin' on/With your favorite athlete. It's SUCH a burn
oooh those genre considerations do make this kind of thing so tough! because it's like there are two versions of the book -- one not necessarily any better than the other, just different. I love that Sabrina song and now you've just given me the lyric I'll use for whenever I post this scene to my newsletter :)
That's exactly it! There were two versions of the same story, and it required increasing and decreasing different elements to get to each version. I agonized over it. Wrote two different versions of the pitch and logline. Thought about the comps and which version would stand out better in the market. And in the end, I decided it was more distinctive as a romance. (Here's hoping I was correct)
Another great newsletter. Yes, I know we need conflict to generate grist for the story mill, but how many times have I mentally yelled at the mc JUST TELL HER HOW YOU FEEL! Which is entirely hypocritical of me, since I've dug my own grave multiple times in just this way :-/ But what made me spit take my coffee was the jabroni getting page time! Sensual Chaos? at age 16? I'm in awe! Now that you have some clout, maybe resubmit it? Or is it full of anachronisms now? To keep the peace, I once had to sing a song a bandmate proudly wrote in which he says "my phone is ringing off the wall" and I just... dude, that's not a thing anymore, ya know?
The anachronisms are the least of my worries with that manuscript lol it should probably never see the light of day! It's so funny to think of what expressions like that are becoming outdated.
You ultimately made the correct choice on all three of these calls! I was surprised to never see Justin pop up at any point, but Daphne seemed so over the relationship by the time that the book started, so it felt unnecessary to include him. And the phone sex scene is a really sneaky way to sneak some heat into the first half of the book that I greatly appreciate!
My husband and I have watched the first 5 seasons of Peaky Blinders; it's a show that we like based on the caliber of the actors involved, but never are particularly excited to watch, which is not a feeling we've had about any other show and very weird! We are always entertained whenever Tom Hardy pops up, though.
I just finished "The Art of Catching Feelings" two days ago, so I really dug this look into how it could have been different and how those decision points can alter the story. In fact, after "discovering" your work at TBCC less than a month ago I've read 3 of your books (only the newest one left to go) and I'm hooked for sure.
Okay but SENSUAL CHAOS could totally be the name of a punk song (IS it the name of a punk song??) which would make it a completely appropriate title for your definitely-still-alive book.
I can relate to the authorly impulse to have characters say or do the simple logical thing that will deflate the tension. Over time I’ve developed a sense of when a story needs something other than what I’ve given it, and having a CP or editor who will tell me when a scene is flagging helps with course correction too. I’ve also done the decision-tree thing when I’m stuck, or worked backward from the ending (of a scene, chapter, the book) to figure out what could or needs to happen in order to get there.
And I mean…was it Rick Rubin that broke up Skinny Puppy, or was it heroin?
lol I mean there were a lot of factors with Skinny Puppy but my husband at least thinks Rick deserves some of the blame
Hahaha I'm sure he does!
“I just don’t get why he doesn’t buy her a drink or something. If they’re into each other.” Oh your dear sweet friend. I laughed out loud at this. That would be the end of love stories.
sweet summer child lol
An "eat-your-heart-out Justin" bonus scene?? [insert gif of Richard Kind saying "I'm listening" here]
This edition of the newsletter is such a good reminder that, yes, life is a series of choices and sometimes we make the wrong one, but one can always course correct. Sometimes easier than others, but very vew things are unfixable!
That's a great point! One of the best pieces of workplace advice I got from my very first boss was essentially: "if you fuck up, tell me. there's almost nothing I can't fix, I just have to know about it."
Love hearing about the dead ends that inevitably happen during the writing process. In my most recent WIP, the initial drafts were straddling romance and WF/book club fiction and I had to make a choice about which way to go, which led to all kinds of changes throughout the book, including getting rid of almost every interaction and internal thought of the FMC's terrible ex-husband who like Justin, DID NOT NEED TO BE PART OF THIS LOVE STORY lol. Sometimes the best way to show that a main character has moved on is to, well, move on.
Also, this line made me cackle: (Justin’s in Chris’ autograph line; Daphne’s in Chris’ DMs; they are not the same). It reminds me of Sabrina Carpenter's Good Graces: Break my heart, and I swear I'm movin' on/With your favorite athlete. It's SUCH a burn
oooh those genre considerations do make this kind of thing so tough! because it's like there are two versions of the book -- one not necessarily any better than the other, just different. I love that Sabrina song and now you've just given me the lyric I'll use for whenever I post this scene to my newsletter :)
That's exactly it! There were two versions of the same story, and it required increasing and decreasing different elements to get to each version. I agonized over it. Wrote two different versions of the pitch and logline. Thought about the comps and which version would stand out better in the market. And in the end, I decided it was more distinctive as a romance. (Here's hoping I was correct)
I trust your instincts!!!
Another great newsletter. Yes, I know we need conflict to generate grist for the story mill, but how many times have I mentally yelled at the mc JUST TELL HER HOW YOU FEEL! Which is entirely hypocritical of me, since I've dug my own grave multiple times in just this way :-/ But what made me spit take my coffee was the jabroni getting page time! Sensual Chaos? at age 16? I'm in awe! Now that you have some clout, maybe resubmit it? Or is it full of anachronisms now? To keep the peace, I once had to sing a song a bandmate proudly wrote in which he says "my phone is ringing off the wall" and I just... dude, that's not a thing anymore, ya know?
The anachronisms are the least of my worries with that manuscript lol it should probably never see the light of day! It's so funny to think of what expressions like that are becoming outdated.
You ultimately made the correct choice on all three of these calls! I was surprised to never see Justin pop up at any point, but Daphne seemed so over the relationship by the time that the book started, so it felt unnecessary to include him. And the phone sex scene is a really sneaky way to sneak some heat into the first half of the book that I greatly appreciate!
My husband and I have watched the first 5 seasons of Peaky Blinders; it's a show that we like based on the caliber of the actors involved, but never are particularly excited to watch, which is not a feeling we've had about any other show and very weird! We are always entertained whenever Tom Hardy pops up, though.
I just finished "The Art of Catching Feelings" two days ago, so I really dug this look into how it could have been different and how those decision points can alter the story. In fact, after "discovering" your work at TBCC less than a month ago I've read 3 of your books (only the newest one left to go) and I'm hooked for sure.