|
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
<< Back Home
|
 |
|
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Writing Tips and Tidbits From RWA D.C.: Janet Evanovich's Jelly Donuts & Reduction Sauce
So here it is...the launch of my blog series "Writing Tips and Tidbits From RWA D.C."!
For those of you who don't know, Romance Writers of America (RWA) held its annual national conference in Washington D.C. July 15th thru 18th. Over 3,000 of the romance publishing industry's best were there - everyone from best-selling authors to editors and agents to publicists to librarians and booksellers to big-time media people. For more info on the event itself and to preview next year's 30th such event in Nashville TN, go to www.rwanational.org!
I couldn't imagine a better way to start this blog series than with a few fun and fabulous tips from Janet Evanovich's Opening Session.
Janet spoke to us Thursday, July 16th while standing...that's right...standing on her broken foot! What a gal! She'd fallen off a stage during one of her book tour stops just a few days before but went "on with the show"...now that's one tough woman!!!
Janet cut-up with, cried and cussed with all of us as she told us about her climb from the slush piles to the bestselling star she is today. Did you know her Stephanie Plum series is now 15-years-old? Now you do!
Janet's chat with us was thrilling, but I really think she hit home with my carb-lovin' muses when she related writing to Jelly Donuts and Reduction Sauce! Here's the scoop:
"We're all like big fat jelly donuts," Janet said when enlightening us with her take on our process as writers.
The jelly, she explained, is our creativity. It's our job, as writers, to squeeze out that jelly from each of our own holes. Whatever it is that pulls our trains, that's the hole from which we squirt-out our creative jelly!
Fun stuff...don't you think?!
Janet told us she doesn't believe in writer's block, rather she thinks of writer's block as fear that she overcomes by "showing up for work every day". She said she writes slow. Very slow. She thinks longer and more than she writes, which brought us to another jewel of writing wisdom - Evanovich style.
Janet said, "I'm a Reduction Sauce Writer. I put all the crap in the pot, boil it down, then get the three or four sentences of 'essence' that makes it easy for my readers."
"I just put my ass in my chair," she said, "then analyze my style and formula. What do readers like about Janet Evanovich?"
She advised us to know who we are to our readers and to Never, NEVER save anything or hold back for the next book. Find a way to use it now, she cautioned, then "just pray other things come later too!"
Following an ornery, soul-filled giggle, Janet thought only a moment before answering an Actor's Studio-style final question...How would she liked to be greeted at the Pearly Gates?
Janet's answer? "Hello, Bitch!"
LOL!!!
Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott
P.S. My next writing tip and tidbit from RWA D.C. will focus on Linda Howard, The Keeper of the Nuts!Labels: Writing Tips and Tidbits From RWA D.C.
1 Comments:
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
-
|
|
Thanks D.D. I wasn't able to attend the conference this year but Nashville FOR SURE!!! I did watch some of the DC youtube video with Janet and she was great. She makes it seem so down to earth for us, even though she's a huge STAR!!!