Karyn
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| 05-04-2011 7:21 PM |
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| Join LA Larkin for a great session of writing fun and encouragement - right here from 8pm! |
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Karyn Markwell |
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Karyn
Posts:334
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| 05-04-2011 7:22 PM |
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Hi, Racers
Welcome!
Our special guest author is LA Larkin, author of The Genesis Flaw. You can read more about her at www.lalarkin.com
Please note that the usual housekeeping rules apply:
- Please "Add Reply", not "Add Topic" so that we all stay in the same thread
- Refresh your screen regularly to see new comments
- Work in your own document offline, but feel free to share your favourite paragraph or two with us after the Race :)
Log back here at around 7.45pm EST (Brisbane time) for an 8pm start to chat, write, and have some fun!
Karyn |
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Karyn Markwell |
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Louisa
Posts:20
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| 05-04-2011 7:32 PM |
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| Hi. I'm thriller author L.A. Larkin and am looking forward to meeting you online this evening. I hope I can help you too. I would like to share some thoughts I have on writing strong opening chapters. This is critical, not only to get the attention of a publisher, but also to hook potential readers in the bookshop, when they are deciding whether or not to purchase your novel. I'm also keen to hear your queries on characterisation. And whilst I'm a crime/thriller author I read widely. In fact, one of my good friends is Adele Parks, internationally acclaimed romantic comedy author and I love her work. So don't be put off if you're not writing my genre as I hope to add vale whatever your genre. See you later! |
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Karyn
Posts:334
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| 05-04-2011 7:37 PM |
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Hi, Louisa
It's so great to have you here tonight and your insights into opening chapters sounds excellent.
What do you plan to work on during tonight's Race? I'm a postgrad publishing student so tonight I'll be working on my dissertation - unless I get inspired and pick up a creative project.
Karyn |
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Karyn Markwell |
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Peter
Posts:448
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| 05-04-2011 7:39 PM |
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G'day Louisa, Karyn, et al.
I used to be a regular here, but daylight saving made it a bit late for me (yes, I'm an interstate imposter).
Louisa, I'll be interested in your thoughts on strong opening chapters, since I've been criticised for starting slowly. I've totally changed the opening of my WIP (a YA novel), but I'm still not happy with it.
And similarly, I need help with characterisation! A few reviewers have said that they disliked my protagonist, and didn't care whether he prevailed or not. I gather I made his need for development a bit too significant! |
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http://writer.catplace.net |
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bill (guest)
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| 05-04-2011 7:40 PM |
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hi l.a. and karyn
looking forward to tonights discussion.
i'm working on polishing my fantasty manuscipt before sending it to my agent. happy to here tips on how to make opening chapter better and stronger.
bill |
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Karyn
Posts:334
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| 05-04-2011 7:43 PM |
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Hi, Peter
Welcome to tonight's Race - it's great to have you on board and eager to draw from Louisa's expertise!
Do you plan to work on your YA manuscript tonight?
Karyn
PS: interstate Racers are always welcome! :) |
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Karyn Markwell |
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Louisa
Posts:20
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| 05-04-2011 7:43 PM |
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| I’m going to be working on my speech to the Sydney Northern Beaches division of The Fellowship of Australian Writers, which is on Saturday. The topic is ‘Write what you’re passionate about’ and I firmly believe this is essential. If you don’t love what you’re writing, then it’s very hard to keep focused and to keep writing. I hope my talk will inspire anyone who has a passion to tell a story. My first thriller, The Genesis Flaw, was a story I just had to tell, as it touches on topics I feel very passionately about: not growing genetically modified foods in Australia and the terrifying power of global corporations. My next thriller, set in Antarctica, to be released in 2012 and called Thirst, is a climate change catastrophe thriller, and yes, you guessed it! I’m very worried about the future impacts of climate change. It’s my passion for these topics as well as my love of thrillers, which drive me to write almost every day. |
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Peter
Posts:448
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| 05-04-2011 7:45 PM |
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| Since I'm not an evening person, I think I'll fiddle with the outline for the sequel to my first novel. Since the latter is unpublished, working on a sequel is probably somewhere between optimistic and silly! :) |
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http://writer.catplace.net |
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Louisa
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| 05-04-2011 7:47 PM |
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Hi Peter
Picking up on your comment on characterisation, yes it is very hard to get the balance between a central character that grows during the novel, but one which is sympathetic enough at the start that readers want to follow that person on their journey. Can I ask what your character's weakness is? |
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Karyn
Posts:334
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| 05-04-2011 7:47 PM |
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That's awesome, Louisa. I can hardly think of a better reason for the one you've just given for choosing to write in a specific genre.
Your novels must be heavily research-based; can you tell us anything about your process there?
Karyn |
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Karyn Markwell |
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Peter
Posts:448
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| 05-04-2011 7:47 PM |
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| oooo, my YA novel is about climate change! My protagonist gets into a situation where he can tell the PM what to do—and he insists on strict emission control targets! |
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http://writer.catplace.net |
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Peter
Posts:448
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| 05-04-2011 7:51 PM |
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| My character's weakness is know-it-all-ness. Early on, I show him rudely putting down people with whom he disagrees, especially climate change doubters. Through the course of the novel, he learns to respect other people's opinions and sees that things aren't always as simple as he thinks. (But he continues to believe in climate change :) ). |
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http://writer.catplace.net |
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Louisa
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| 05-04-2011 7:51 PM |
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Hi Bill and welcome. I don't know if you are a thriller fan and have had the chance to read The Genesis Flaw but I can probably talk best about opening chapters if I use my own one as an example:
"He kicked the leather chair away and instantly the rope snapped tight. He hadn’t thought of the pain when he’d threaded the rope through the light fitting and tested it could bear his one hundred and ten kilos. His throat crushed, he couldn’t call out even if he’d wanted to. His lungs burned and the veins in his face felt close to bursting. His brown eyes bulged as if in surprise. Which, of course, it wasn’t. He had to die: it was his only option."
I wanted an arresting and striking visual image in the very first sentence. I wanted the emotion to come across: the pain and fear of suffocating to death by hanging. I wanted above all to raise a question: why does this man think he has to die? What has he done that is so terrible? And that question will be answered later in the story. It's all about a strong hook, I believe.
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Karyn
Posts:334
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| 05-04-2011 7:53 PM |
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| OK, Racers, we'll be kicking off tonight's Race in just under 10 minutes. Now's the time to make that cuppa and raid the biscuit tin. |
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Karyn Markwell |
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Peter
Posts:448
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| 05-04-2011 7:54 PM |
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| My original opening scene had my protagonist getting into trouble in school for being outspoken. When reviewers criticised that as boring, I rewrote the start to feature dangerous driving. That's gone over a bit better. |
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http://writer.catplace.net |
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bill (guest)
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| 05-04-2011 7:55 PM |
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| yes i like thriller but find it difficult to write action. so maybe if i start with a moral dilemma or something to draw in the reader then it will be a hook. |
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Louisa
Posts:20
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| 05-04-2011 7:57 PM |
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| Hi Peter, Great to see another author creating a story with climate change as a theme and good on you for targeting YA, as they are our future. Hmmm, a know it all... I assume that's why nobody will listen to him? Does he garner symapthy when he's knocked back and criticised? I guess it's all about how much you portray him as a know it all and how you balance this out with endearing characteristics. Perhas he's a loving family man or protects someone being abused. That sort of thing... |
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Karyn
Posts:334
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| 05-04-2011 8:00 PM |
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OK, Racers, it's 8pm.
Time to start writing -
NOW!
Keep checking back in with your questions and updates. Let's keep this fascinating conversation going while we work. :) |
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Karyn Markwell |
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Peter
Posts:448
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| 05-04-2011 8:00 PM |
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| Yes, I've tried to give him some positives, such as generosity. A great idea that a fellow writer gave me just recently was to make him more aware of his weakness, and a bit resentful towards it. So, for example, now whenever he instinctively calls someone an idiot he kicks himself for so doing. I hope that will help! |
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http://writer.catplace.net |
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