Pen, Spoon & Dagger

Do you read the book or watch the move first?  Come on, you know it's an either-or question. I figure there are two types of people in the world. Actually there are three, but I don't count those who never pick up a book and actually read it.  Of the remaining, some read a book and, if they like it, go to see the movie when it comes out...maybe.  Others rush to the local MulitPlex and only read the book if a) the movie was really good or b) the movie was really bad and they're curious to find out if the book is any better. I fall securely in the first camp.  I'm a writer ergo I read.  I rarely go to the movies. I don't want my sense of time, place and character influenced by a casting manager, set designer or film director.  I hate seeing a movie where the characters look and sound nothing like what I'd imagined while reading the novel. I'm still trying to process the myriad of Miss Marples's I've seen paraded across the screen: fat, skinny, tall, ...

When you hear about writers' retreats, do you picture sunny beaches, cabana boys, and pina coladas, or do you see a room full of people feverishly scribbling notes and engaging in heated discussions? If you picked the first choice, you're WRONG. I just returned from the Seascape Mystery Writers Retreat , and let me tell you, we worked our [insert word of your choice] off.  I'm not saying we didn't have have great time, but it was no  lay-in-the-sun vacation.  We worked on our manuscripts, discovered our strengths and weaknesses, and commiserated on the uphill battle of getting published..  We honed our skills at plotting, creating suspense, and developing characters.  And we did it from 9 AM to 9 PM.  Along the way, we made new friends, found hidden talents and laughed a whole lot.  Hallie Ephron, Roberta Isleib, and S.W. Hubbard generously shared their talent, wisdom, and knowledge with us.  We learned how to pump up suspense, how to develo...

Total word count for last 2 days:  too embarrassed to post. It's been pouring rain here in the Northeast for the last 2 days and I've spent more time in the basement vacuuming up water (no sump pump) than writing. I did sit down with my laptop 2 nights ago, but I couldn't seem to get motivated.  I've got some serious plot issues that have me stymied.  I've also been rethinking my protagonist, wondering if I should change her background/personality.  These are major hurdles, at least for this writer. I tried free writing.  I don't know how that works for others, but it doesn't seem to do the trick for me.  I can write.  Give me a topic and I'll give you 1,000 words whether I know anything about the topic or not -- that's one of the things that got me through college.  My problem is relating the free writing back to my own manuscript.  Just doesn't seem to happen.. Monday night I decided to free write about a super power - a theme sugge...