JUNE 2006
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
After a quick review and a bit of polish to this Diary, I sent an email to about 50 people (some friends, some family, some merely acquaintances, but NONE are writers) and asked them to critique it in its “beta” version. With the feedback I get from them, I can hopefully make this monologue interesting enough to stir up a buzz. (The last thing I want to do is turn you OFF.)
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Finally met with the radio GM today. Despite broadcasting to Palm Beach, the station’s way up north, so it was a three-hour drive, round-trip. But I’m so glad I went. Not only did I get a lot of info and a tour, I met the radio guys I listen to all the time—Hi, Love Docs! (Who says this business doesn’t have perks?) The book doesn’t delve too deep into the radio industry, but I need the flavor, because my main character devoted so much of himself to his career, it cost him his marriage. For him to be believable, there’s gotta be radio-related detail in the story. Once the info I got today settles, I’ll start writing my two missing chapters (22 and 23), probably next week. And then it’s done. Well, at least the first draft will be done.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
I’ve been busy for the past few days, but not working on new CKR material. Instead, based on the feedback I’ve gotten so far (and it’s not much, but it’s something), I’ve gone through all the Diary entries here, did some editing, and added the BOOK NOTES and CHAPTER CLIP sections. I’ve also been reading other writers’ blogs and getting an idea of what’s out there already. I hesitated doing it, because I’m always afraid I’ll absorb something I shouldn’t, which can mess with my style and pacing, among other things, but I wanted to be sure I wasn’t doing something that was already being done. Or figure out a way to do it better. I also wanted assurance that I could “swim with the big dogs.” There’s a monstrous amount of competition out there for a new writer, so there’s huge pressure to get things right. Plus, the thought is always in the back of my mind that Kid Rock’s manager (or producer or barber or pet psychic) could read this blog before I’m ready and develop an immediate opinion that could make or break the success of this novel. No pressure there.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Worked on the remaining unfinished chapters (22 and 23) last week, so the first draft is a scene or two away from being complete.
BOOK NOTES:
Let this be a lesson to you that the last chapters of a book are not always the last chapters written.
CHAPTER CLIP:
That was the fattest line of bullshit he’d fed himself in quite a while.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Finally got a positive response from the Pens where CKR is concerned. They like the re-engineered first two chapters and they agree the set-up for Chap 3 is much better. I’m psyched. Of course they had suggestions for improvements, but they always do.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
One of the Pens who didn’t get a chance to critique Chap 2 last week gave me his suggestions tonight and he sparked a great idea with respect to the wall clock in Ted’s apartment. One of the many things Joel’s good at is symbolism. I also think I’ve solved the problem I was having with Jimmy. I wasn’t getting to know him as a character, and I realized on the drive home from the Pens’ meeting tonight that one of the reasons I was struggling was because I had his musical preferences wrong. Jimmy wouldn’t listen to gangsta rap and buzz music, he’d listen to something more subtle and unexpected. Phil Collins. The Carpenters. Maybe John Denver. It’s amazing how the smallest character trait can change a personality.
(to be continued...)
No comments:
Post a Comment