Heart

I’ve learned something from the last three books I’ve read. The people who know me are going to all laugh at me, but it’s a new revelation for me, so lay off, okay?

I’ve discovered that what I like to write are books about relationships. I like to study two people or more revolving around each other like planets. Books can be about world building and unique environments. Books can be about action and plot. My books also have these things. But mostly, my books have a relational heart.

I like to read and write about how people bounce around in each other’s orbits, how the tugs and pulls of one affect the actions of another. I want everything in my stories to revolve around the relationship. From there I’ll bring in what it takes to make that relationship work.

I want to spend my literary career writing about Frodo and Sam. About Schmendrick and the Unicorn. About Kavalier and Clay. About Kate and Cecy. About the Count of Monte Cristo, Mercedes, and the 3 guys who set them up. And everything else sort of falls out from around the heart.

I notice that this is not what all books are about. I’ve read some very successful books that weren’t recently, and I just couldn’t do them. As a reader, a book without a relational heart turns me into ADD lass. I can only do plot and worlds and even pretty writing so long without a heart, regardless of genre. That’s probably my new question to ask before I pick up a book to read. What kinds of relationships does this book have that will keep me interested?

The next set of questions I have inevitably lead me to what does this mean for me as a writer? Lots of different kinds of books sell. Where does a relationship writer go? Especially one who isn’t naturally inclined toward romance.

Two questions then, for all of you:

First, what characterizes your writing, do you think?
Secondly, what are your favorite books, or who are your favorite writers who focus on relationships?

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

The End of the Queries

And then, there was a big happy dance!

I’ve sent out the LAST of the queries for Substance of Shadows. I have done all that a writer tamago can do in regard to that particular book for the next two months. That’s the amount of time we give ourselves to hear from the agents I sent to today. If we have to after that time frame has elapsed, well, we learn about slush.

Here are the final contestants.

Eddie Schneider of JABberwocky
Jill Grinberg of Jill Grinberg
Jodi Reamer of Writer’s House
George Nicholson of Sterling Lord Literistic
Taryn Fagerness of Sandra Dijkstra

So, starting with Nephele Tempest back in September, we’ve spent a mere nine months canvassing likely and less likely agents. We still have a partial and a full unaccounted for, as well as 21 left for feedback.

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So, here at the Tamago, we plan to finish our Neville Longbottom paper, get a costume presentation ready, and maybe sew a costume. All other activity ceases on August 1st, as we begin writing Hulk Hercules. Later, I will share my canny writing plan. Yes, it does sound more mysterious than it is.

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Woohoos are in order. I did it. You can too. Never say die. Finish your book, and get it out there!

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.