share.triangle.com - Shame on a hot day - Comments

A writing board

VladsCross — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:38:47 -0400

Absolutely I'm interested! Can't say that I've ever been involved in such a group. However, if there is one thing that life has taught me a million times over in the past few years, "knowledge is power". Let me know where to go and I'll make the time.

Greg

Writing a novel........a challenge or a joy and both.

michellerb — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:38:08 -0400

Greg,

What is my novel about? I call it a suspense novel. The day an agent signed me, which remarkably was two chapters shy of it being complete, he declared it a ROMANTIC suspense.

I remember that phone call vividly, I said, "oh.....well....okay.....I guess."

The romantic part is very minimal. This is a story about a rogue sheriff set back in the 1950's of a small Alabama town.

My agent said, "Romance is selling now."

He requested some tweaks in the novel, I made those changes.

One thing I've learned, when you get an agent, you listen. It took Stephen King five years to get his first agent. But to get to that point......you have to write. How do you start?

There are a lot of people that want to be writers. Can they write, not necessarily so. But you, your journal entry used emotion, I could feel it.

You want to write in a more satire type of manner, so do it. I am working on a second novel and also a satirical memoir. Just as a coincidental aside, or is it, I was homeless as a teenager. One would never know it now. I live in a 3,100 square foot house and drive a 2006 Mercedes. That is my satirical memoir though. My agent is asking for it too early though, not ready to give it up.

Those homeless people we see on the streets.....while I never held up a sign for money, I'm not far removed from them.

But to write, you have to start writing. Write down your dreams. Might sound corny, I woke up one morning with my entire novel played out in my head.

Maybe we should start a writing group on this site? If you are game, I'll get one started.

I have lots of tips I discovered, some I found through my agent. If you are interested in participating in a writing board, let me know.

Michelle

Your comments

VladsCross — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:40:33 -0400

Hi Michelle,

I appreciate you taking a moment to comment on the blog entry. I'm sure that the food in the bag was indeed a better investment than cash would have been.

Tell me, what is you novel about? I've tried to force myself to write a storyline but can't get past the opening paragraph or so. I think that I'm just better suited to satire etc.

It was great to hear from you and I wish you all the best.

Greg Baker

My children

michellerb — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 08:04:39 -0400

A few years ago, out here in Wake Forest, there used to be a homeless man that would hang out at the entrance to a shopping center. My son was six at the time and he would stare at this man with just pure disbelief that someone was homeless.

I told him, "Stop staring. It's impolite."

My son asked, "Well, aren't you going to give him some money?"

"No, not sure what he will do with that money, but we will do something better."

On our way out of the shopping center after our shopping trip, we gave him a bag with two bananas, two apples, and two oranges. Money might have been his true want, but I doubt the couple of dollars I would given him would have added up to much in the scheme of things.

Michelle

Shame on a hot day

VladsCross — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:28:05 -0400

What you are about to read is one of my journal entries from August of 2001. I was thumbing through it the other day and deemed this one worthy of the public forum. As I was…

What you are about to read is one of my journal entries from August of 2001. I was thumbing through it the other day and deemed this one worthy of the public forum.

As I was walking out of Borders book store today, on my way back to the office from lunch. I observed a gentleman that appeared to be in his mid fifties sitting in a wheel chair. In his lap he held a large homemade sign that read “Homeless Veteran, Please Help if you can.” It was murderously hot outside with a reported heat index of 110 degrees. I climbed into my car, turned the A/C to max and just stared at the guy.

What you are about to read is one of my journal entries from August of 2001. I was thumbing through it the other day and deemed this one worthy of the public forum.