Scrabble…A Writer’s Game

Do you like playing with language? Maybe you have a competitive streak and like word games you can play with friends? Ever wonder how many words contain Qs, Xs, or Zs?

If so, then you probably love Scrabble. I’ve found that most writer’s across the board (no pun intended) love playing this game. There are a lot of variations of Scrabble I like to play as well, some of which involve the players not even using the board. But I still like playing the regular way too…you’ve got to love those triple-word scores!

So how many of you enjoy a good game of Scrabble? What are some of the craziest words you’ve gotten away with on the Scrabble board? Do you feel playing Scrabble helps your writing?

Insecure Writer’s Day

I’ve been fortunate enough to have plenty of literary agents read over my manuscript, and although I got plenty of enthusiasm back I didn’t get any “yes, we’ll sign you” answers. In fact, I got several, “we’d be willing to look at this again once you make some large scale changes.” Which sounds okay, I suppose, but puts me in something of a creative limbo.

Some of these suggested changes call for me to eliminate my multiple points-of-view in my story, de-emphasize my male characters, and cut out portions I found interesting while adding segments that don’t really appeal to me as the core of my story. It’s got me doubting myself, since much of what made the story really thrilling for me apparently is what agents don’t consider sellable. It’s put me in a bit of a funk with my manuscript, so I’ve taken a break from it to write other stories in the meantime.    

How do you balance what you find interesting versus what other people like in a story? When do you stick to your guns on a point, and when do you compromise? How do you clear your head and get back to just being you again when putting your creativity onto the page?  

How Do You Feel About Multiple POVs?

I won’t deny it. I love books with multiple points-of-view. Not only do I love reading such books, I like to write stories with multiple POVs.

However, I’ve noticed that a sizable majority of agents I’ve spoken to over the past year tend to shy away from multiple POV books, particularly for first time authors. Now, this is only what I’ve encountered in my own experiences so I could be off. Ironically enough, I’ve found that most readers I talk to love multiple POVs, so it astonishes me somewhat to hear so many different agents remarking how they prefer to sign books written from a single perspective.

How do you feel about multiple POVs in a story? Why do you prefer to write/read one way or the other? Have you found some agents more willing than others to consider manuscripts written with multiple points-of-view? 

Opening Day!

Ready for another season of hot dogs and garlic fries? Can’t wait to see the best pitchers, fielders, and hitters in the world compete? Me too.

Major League Baseball kicked off opening day yesterday in Japan, in an effort to promote camaraderie between North American and Japanese baseball amidst the ever growing popularity of the sport. My team, the Giants, won’t start their first game until next week, but I must admit I breathe a little easier and walk with a little more spring in my step once baseball season begins. So many, many great games to look forward to in the coming months.

So how are you getting pumped up for the season? Maybe you’re not as into baseball as me, but I bet you’ve got some baseball literature or movies you’re into. After all, who doesn’t love The Sandlot?

First-Person or Third-Person…Benefits and Drawbacks

First-person perspective or third? Which do you prefer to read? Which do you prefer to write?  

I’ve always considered myself a mostly third-person type of writer, but lately I’ve been experimenting a lot more with first-person in my short-stories and am enjoying it. Third-person has many great sweeping qualities, but first-person allows a lot of great introspection into a character’s mind. Depending on the style, third-person narratives can distance us a bit more from the characters, but at the same time first-person plots can get overwhelmed with the word “I” if an author isn’t careful.

Honestly, I think most people will read either so long as it’s good. So what makes you write one way or another in your own work? What qualities of the third-person and first-person styles sway you the most?

Writing in Multiple Genres

Do you like to read multiple genres? Who doesn’t? But do you know any published authors who write multiple genres?

Inevitably agents and publishers emphasize that an author should stick to one genre. However, as artists, writers often chafe under any restrictions to their art. Oftentimes, well established authors will write under a pseudonym when they publish in other genres, although their fans may know it’s them anyways. I often try to balance historical fiction in my novels, with contemporary themes in my short-stories, but I admit I really love toying with just about any genre.

So what genres do you like to write? How do you balance one type of writing with another in your great scheme? What makes you devote yourself to one genre over another?