runaway thoughts
1. From the Knight Agency Blog, an editor’s comment on that most important quality in any submission:
Probably most important would be the voice. I can work with an author on the plot to certain extent, but I can’t invent a new voice for an author. So as an editor, I look for a great tone and voice to really draw me into the story. That’s also the number one reason I would pass–I just don’t like the sound of the writing. It’s clunky, or it’s harsh, or it’s unrealistic. As as an editor, I don’t expect a novel to be perfect–or I wouldn’t have a job!–but there are things I can’t fix. Voice and tone are the two biggest.
What I take away from that? We don’t need no stinkin’ plots. (Subtext, people, it’s all about subtext.)
2. Did anyone else watch Hit Me Baby One More Time last night and see Wang Chung sing Nelly’s Hot In Herre? Like the locust movie, I couldn’t turn away, but I did cover my eyes a few times, like if I didn’t watch it wouldn’t be so bad.
3. Last night’s conversation immediately following the Wang Chung debacle:
Me: You know, the runaway bride’s getting a movie deal. She’ll probably get a book deal too. *insert not so muttered curses here*
The Husband: Why don’t you become the runaway mom?
Anyone with me? We could do an entire series.
Steph T.
June 17th, 2005 at 10:10 am
I think as of today, she has the book deal, too.
June 17th, 2005 at 10:10 am
Heck, Steph, I’ve been threatening to run away for years. My husband keeps denying me permission. HA! Like I need permission to run away. I am still planning to change my name, though, and I won’t tell a soul what my new name is. When my kids holler “Momma” I won’t answer because that’s not my name. When my husband’s yelling for Lynn, I don’t have to answer because that’s not my name. I’ll just sit in my own world, happy and unhollered for.
So you’re watching that trainwreck they call “Hit Me Baby”? OMG. I complain about that show every week, yet I can’t look away. First, let me complain that they’re doing the artists a tremendous disservice with the way the show’s set up. They really should have those poor singers/bands divided by genre, or at least era, because in my personal opinion, Vanilla Ice and Arrested Development were *not* the best performers their weeks.
And now, I find that one of my favorite bands (Night Ranger) was supposed to be on the show next week but had to pull out because they couldn’t find a “modern” song to do that NBC could get clearance to use.
June 17th, 2005 at 10:13 am
June 17th, 2005 at 10:39 am
I knew it, Linda - I just knew it…
Bonnie - I agree. All those resources wasted looking for her when there are people in need of real help.
Lynn (and Linda will appreciate this) - I used to tell my students all the time that I was changing my name b/c I couldn’t stand hearing it called anymore. They’d tell me they’d just say, hey lady, then.
And yes - I can’t stop watching that show - I agree - it’s very confusing and I find that the sound quality was also really poor. My husband insists that they’re lip synching too - I can’t tell. I thought the Knack did a much better job than Vanilla Ice (did you happed to catch that VH1 special on him - the remaking when he refused to remake himiself?)
Oh - I loved Night Ranger - Sister Christian, right?
June 17th, 2005 at 10:54 am
And Runaway Bride is getting $50,000 to sit down with Katie Couric in her own primetime special.
Thanks a lot - now I’ll be singing Sister Christian all day….
June 17th, 2005 at 10:58 am
But Emily - it’s so much better than singing, ‘everybody Wang Chung tonight’…
June 17th, 2005 at 12:08 pm
Okay, that editor is either completely different from all the ones who have rejected my MS or someone, somewhere, is lying to me. They’ve all praised my voice to high heaven but rejected it based on the plot.
June 17th, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Sign. Me. Up.
June 17th, 2005 at 12:58 pm
What Amy said.
June 17th, 2005 at 2:24 pm
Cool! I’m not alone in my Hit Me Baby addiction.
I’ve been watching more to see how much everyone’s changed since the 80s. Of course that doesn’t work for those from the 90s, but I have less interest in them.
And I agree, Arrested Development and Vanilla Ice were NOT the best on their nights. But I’d to take out whoever dressed Tiffany on her night and have them strangled. Lord. What WERE they thinking???
Seemed like last night was the best of the lot. Looks like Glass Tiger is supposed to be on next week. I loved them!!!
Ahem.
Voice. Plots (or the lack thereof). This is good. I need this editor because I sure don’t have a plot. I don’t even have a love interest for my heroine which is pretty unusual for me. I usually have that mapped out at least.
June 17th, 2005 at 3:59 pm
Now I have “it’s getting hot in here” going through my head to the tune of “everybody wang chung tonight”
ARG! You mean bitch ran off cuz she got cold feet, got ARRESTED and bitch gets a movie deal?
I’m. So. In.
“Moms on the Lamb” blogging from Super Secret Internet Cafes around the World. It’ll be a freakin’ best seller.
Steph don’t you have some work to do?
June 17th, 2005 at 4:11 pm
I’ve noticed this when I judge contests. If the author’s voice is strong, I’ll enjoy it regardless of any technical inaccuracies.
June 17th, 2005 at 5:30 pm
Oh no! I’ve got to HURRY and run away before someone else does it first!!! ::zoom::
June 17th, 2005 at 6:18 pm
What Hollywood genius thinks this version is going to be better than the Julia Roberts/Richard Gere version?
Boooooooring.
June 17th, 2005 at 6:40 pm
Emma - you’re thisclose I tell you. It’s all about the voice.
Amy & Jill - you’re signed up as part of the series with Cece - but we’ve got to catch Suzanne first…
Cece - work? That’s crazy talk…(but yeah - sorry about the Wang Chung tune - I’m still humming it to Sister Christian lyrics)
Tori - I loved Glass Tiger - and wasn’t it scary how the Wang Chung guy looked exactly the same?
Michelle - same here. In fact, most of the authors I love break all the rules. It’s all their narrative energy that does it for me.
*waves hi to Kristen* I’m with ya - at least let a romance writer write it - we’d come up with an awesome plot with a HEA for everyone.
June 17th, 2005 at 6:53 pm
Sorry I so didn’t enjoy the Roberts/Gere version.
michelle….I tend to score in contests like that too. I can forgive a lot if the writer has a great voice.
plot. schmot.v:wink:
June 17th, 2005 at 7:02 pm
Hmmm - now who’s avoiding work…I’m totally telling Jaq about this.:LOL:
June 17th, 2005 at 8:48 pm
Yup! Sister Christian! (And that’s the song they were going to be doing on the show.)
I totally agree about The Knack v. Vanilla Ice. But I might be biased, I’ve never able to stomach Vanilla Ice.
Tori — Agree about Arrested Development, too. And did Tiffany look pregnant, or is it just me? Glass Tiger? WOOHOO! Loved them!
(I’m NOT gonna hum Wang Chung. I’m NOT gonna hum Wang Chung. Oh, damn. I’m humming Wang Chung.)
June 17th, 2005 at 9:45 pm
First, I would happily run away. We could lose ourselves in Vegas and become renegade black jack dealers. Martinis for everyone.
Second, what show are you guys talking about? I’ve never seen it but it has my name written all over it.
June 17th, 2005 at 9:54 pm
Me too, Lynn - and I hate that song!
Rene - you’re on. I could go for Vegas right about now.:thumbsup: Oh - and the show is called Hit Me Baby One More Time - features all the one-hit wonders of the 1980’s competing to see if they still have it. It was on twice this week - I’m not sure when it’s on again and of course, I forget the channel too - maybe Lynn remembers…
June 17th, 2005 at 11:42 pm
It’s on NBC.
Wang Chung is done. Now I’m humming Glass Tiger’s “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone”.
June 18th, 2005 at 7:59 am
Oh don’t even get me started on Jennifer Willbanks. In times like this, I turn to Nancy Grace, who has a voice for all of the disenchanted on this one, in my opinion, hehehe. She’s MAD! I love watching her, because she can publicly express the level of anger I am experiencing over this. It sickens me…. now you gotta wonder if the “husband” is/was in on it too, ie/ was it a big scheme for them to make $$? I will not watch any of it. AS for HIT ME, I have only seen one episode, but actually really enjoyed it, being a child of the 80s (eew, did I just admit that?)
June 18th, 2005 at 9:47 am
Thanks, ladies. The show repeats on Bravo so I set up ye olde Tivo to record the season.
June 18th, 2005 at 10:15 am
Jessie the 80’s totally rocked! In a techno sort of way LOL
June 18th, 2005 at 10:19 am
I’m with you. I could run away right now!
(That smilie looks a little hysterical, don’t you think?)
I can’t believe that nutjob woman is getting paid for being an idiot.
Terri Schaivo’s husband is now shopping a book deal around, too. What a shock.
June 18th, 2005 at 9:02 pm
Find your own voice? Yeah, riiiight!
How can you find your voice when you have to constantly squash it with “the rules”? 