what's new?
Today, in the shower (where else?) I finally realized something I'd been pondering since August 2004. (Gawd, I'm slow.) See, I'd sent an agent my mainstream novel DARE and she responded that she didn't think she could sell it, but she might be persuaded to look at a revision--make it a mystery (somebody gets murdered during a show) or a romance (daredevil stud falls in love with the managers daughter, who takes over the show and...) I wrote a romance outline, got to page 126 and stopped. DAREDEVIL KISS will never be finished (at least not by me). Today, I figured out why (I'm slow). DK is about romance. The mystery would be about a mystery. Neither is about the daredevil show, which is the book I wrote that she couldn't (wouldn't) sell. If I'da wanted to write a mystery, I woulda. (Did: KILL THE DOVE.) See, I tell students (and myself) you should write the book that only you can write. Yeha, practice, do pastice to study, but eventually let out the book that's in you--and only in you and nobody else. Why should I read your version of somebody else's book? I'm the only one who could write DARE. Not many people had the experiences I had, and are writers--and want to write that book. Ditto PORT CHICAGO ISN'T THERE ANYMORE--BUT WE STILL CALL IT HOME. Nobody but me could have written that book--I have history, motivation and the skill. So I'm slowly--sllllowly--sneaking up on understanding why so much genre literature leaves me cold. Mysteries are about something mysterious. Been there. Romances are about something romantic. Done that. What's new? I want to read something written by somebody who is writing the book nobody else but then can write. See?