Tag Archives: WIP

The Next Big Thing

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My literary friend and writer, M.L. Swift (aka Mike) asked if I would participate in a blog hop called The Next Big Thing, where I’d answer ten questions about one of the novels I’m writing.

The theory behind this being my manuscript could possibly be The Next Big Thing in the literary world and beyond. Okay.

Anyhoo, considering I hardly ever talk about writing on this blog, I figured this would be an opportunity to expose readers to a behind-the-scenes look at one of my manuscripts, or as we writers call it, my WIP—Work in Progress. (Yesterday’s post gave an excerpt of this WIP.)

 


And if you haven’t had a chance to do so, stop by M.L. Swift’s blog to get a taste of his flair on words. The guy is truly talented.

Here we go:

1.     What is the working title of your book?

A Little Bruised

2.   Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was brainstorming a new idea for a novel one day and the voices in my head wanted to explore the relationship between a widowed woman and her dead husband’s mistress. I wanted to find out if these two women could possibly develop an unshakeable and deeply rooted friendship.

3.   What genre does your book fall under?

Women’s Contemporary Fiction.

4.   Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Well I haven’t thought that far yet. The main character, Nyla, is a mixture of women I know, and so is the secondary character, Vivian. So if I had to choose actresses off the top of my head to fit these personalities, I’d say Angela Bassett and Sanaa Lathan, respectively.

 

Angela Bassett

Sanaa Lathan

5.   What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

The death of Nyla’s husband comes as a shock to everyone except Nyla, though what’s more shocking to Nyla is the brutally honest, deeply flawed and terribly devoted friendship she develops with her dead husband’s mistress in the aftermath of his death.

6.   If you plan to publish, will you self-publish or publish traditionally? 

I’ve been trying to get traditionally published for a few years now, and the gatekeepers won’t seem to open their doors for little ‘ol me, so I’m now exploring ALL my options.

7.   How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It generally takes me six months to a year to write a manuscript. Including edits and rewrites I get from my critique group during the first draft process. Having my critique group every step of the way during the first draft makes my second draft a lot less painful.

8.   What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Elizabeth Berg is one of my favorite authors, so I would compare the tone of it to any of her books.

9.   Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Nothing in particular inspired me, it’s just an idea that popped into my head one day.

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Considering the genre of this novel is Women’s Fiction, it touches on all the things women like to chew on, absorb, and be transformed by. It delivers the good, the bad, and the ugly women have to go through in order to get to where they’re going.

 

And now the final step of this blog hop is to select other bloggers and have them answer the exact same questions above about their WIPs. The three people I think could definitely become The Next Big Thing are:

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Thanks, ML, for the tag, and I look forward to reading the answers of these ladies I just tagged.

 Photo by Adamr

You Got The Look

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I decided to participate in an open call from Julie Luek’s blog where you show an excerpt of your Work In Progress (WIP). I thought this would be a perfect lead in for the blog post I’m doing tomorrow (12/5) called “The Next Big Thing.” More on that tomorrow. For now, let’s highlight “U Got The Look.”

Here’s how it works.

  1. Do a search in your current WIP for the word “look” or any form of the word.
  2. Copy and post the paragraphs surrounding the word “look.”

 __________________________________________________________

WIP Title:  A Little Bruised

Excerpt:

They want canadian viagra professional their men to be a nightmare for so many people. There cialis viagra on line is no need for prescription for these pills. This internal anti-aging strategy is known as Beauty From Within. prices cheapest levitra Extenze is one of the few products that has gained confidence from quite lots viagra online from canada of people from throughout the world for curing male sexual dysfunction.          Nathan is in the family room watching sports on TV. My handbag and car keys are on the foyer table next to the flower arrangement I sent myself yesterday for our twenty-third wedding anniversary. I grab my keys, my handbag, and open the front door. I pause in the doorway to look back over my shoulder, at the life I lived here. Then silently, almost invisibly, I walk out the door.

         I have no idea where I’m going. All I feel is the overwhelming burden of where I’ve been. The toll and heaviness of an undesired life. So for now, a hotel will have to do. One where no one can find me, and has big, fluffy pillows to hold my tears and muffle my screams. Tomorrow, when Nathan’s at work, I’ll go back for a few personal things. All I have now are the clothes on my back—clothes which are hanging wearily from my marriage-torn body.

         The truth of the matter is, I’m a murderer. I’ve killed the one person who could’ve saved me—myself. I’ve traveled down this lifeless road for far too long, and now I’m stuck in blandness. I miss the flavor of life. The pleasure and joy of actually feeling feelings, instead of faking feelings. Faking joy, faking happiness. I’m living life without the spice of life and it’s taking its toll.

         Nathan will be calling me when it becomes the middle of the night and I haven’t returned home. He’ll wonder where I am with a slight bit of concern. Or perhaps he’ll sleep like a corpse through the night and never give my absence a second thought. Either way, I’ve turned off my cell phone. His concern or lack of concern is no longer an issue for me.

____________________________________________________________



Thanks, Julie, for opening this meme up to all interested parties. It’s the perfect way to give readers a brief excerpt of my WIP in preparation for tomorrow’s blog topic.

Also to my regular blog readers, I realize you’re getting three, yes THREE blog posts in one week. And, no, I’m not on crack. Things will be back to normal next week.