Writerly Wednesday: Research

I love writerly research.

Whether I'm Google mapping street addresses for a better sense of place, digging into ancient history, or learning a new skill, my research notes help to flush out the details in my manuscript, giving my work a level of authenticity that can't be achieved with simple guesswork.

One of my mentors, NYT Bestselling author James Rollins, taught me one of the keys to good writing: specificity. (I can write it, but it's sure a tongue twister to say!)

Most times, I rely on the Internet. It's not possible to travel all over the world - especially when I like to write internationally-inspired stories. But the world wide web is good for everything from looking up a street address to scrolling through pictures of that street for a suitable setting.

When Wikipedia steers me wrong, I head to the library, where I stock up on books related to my research topic. And then, I buy one or two "bibles" - the key texts that give the most authentic background material.

But every once in a while, I need to get a bit more intimate with a subject.

Which led me to buy a recurve bow. No, I'm not going all Hunger Games, but my character in Heartless carries her bow, Chester, everywhere she goes. I couldn't quite understand the challenges of that without experimenting myself. But I also needed to know more about archery - the difficulty in hitting a small target, the feel of the arrow firing from the bow, the strength required to pull back the string.

So, I started taking lessons, bought myself a recurve, and set up a target in the backyard using hay bales and, erm, zombie print-outs. Consider it research for a couple of books.

While I typically like to complete most of the research at the start of any new project, I'm excited to infuse these archery details now, after finishing the first draft of the book. The scenes are really starting to come to life.

And at close range, I'm not a bad shot.

No head, no undead, right?

Learning archery was the right move for this book, but I'm about to start an exciting new project and I've already begun a list of the research required before I actually put pen to paper. I won't need to learn how to shoot another weapon (though, I enjoyed an excursion to the gun range last year), but I will get to face some of my fears...and learn about a whole new exotic location. I can hardly wait.

- Dawn

TV Tuesday: 666 Park Avenue

At the Drake Building, the setting for ABC's new drama 666 Park Avenue, all of your dreams and desires can come true - wealth, sex, love, even revenge. But be careful what you wish for, because the price you pay...could be your soul.

Cue: audience "oohs" and "ahhs"

666 Park Avenue is billed as a horror, but only in the lightest sense. It's certainly not going to test any TV boundaries like FX's brilliantly creeptastic American Horror Story, and at times the attempts at "scary" come off as more campy.

I'm really picky about my "camp" and two episodes into this series has me straddling the fence. Despite a fairly solid main cast, including Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams, the supporting characters often make dumb choices, lending an overall tone of disbelief to the show.

Still, I can see the appeal. 666 Park Avenue is a soap opera with supernatural undertones, a show filled with Melrose Place-esque juicy gossip, beautiful people and drama. The plot isn't complicated - or rather, doesn't appear overly complicated based on what I've seen so far, and if you can overlook the lack of genuine creep factor, it's 40-ish minutes of mindless fun. Providing you have time for that kind of guilty pleasure.

Tell me, is 666 Park Avenue in your address book or are you going to bypass this Manhattan block?

- Dawn

Diverse aMUSEment

I love the diversity of Johnny Depp.

Determined not to be pigeon-holed as a pretty boy - despite his startling good looks - Johnny has taken on some of the most challenging, unique, and brilliant acting roles of the last two decades, proving he is much, much, much more than a pretty face.

While there are similarities in many of the roles Johnny has taken on, there's a big difference between his character in Secret Window vs Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, for instance. But they also have one thing in common - Johnny is amazing in both movies.

Diversity. 

I'm striving for that in my own career. Not just in mediums - journalism, screenwriting, short stories and novels - but in genres, as well.

In just a few short thousand words, I'll finish my paranormal-ish suspense/romance (talk about diverse!), and then will move on to my second thriller novel, a comedy-inspired screenplay, a paranormal young adult, the third educational canola book, and a semi-secret horror project that literally haunts my dreams. (Hey, it's the month of Halloween...scary is allowed.)

Yeah, I know, diverse. But I think that's what inspires me.

A little like Johnny Depp does. Which is what makes him the perfect Monday Muse Avatar. Don't you think?

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends and family. Have a fabulous week!

- Dawn

The Book In My Bag This Week: Carnival of Souls, Melissa Marr

Thriller Thursday: Book 17 - Kill You Twice

Chances aren't great I'm going to hit the 100 Books in 2012 goal - not even close. I don't know what's up with me lately, but I've been seriously slacking on reading - I've even delved into one book and then moved on to another novel before finishing the one I've started.

Until Kill You Twice.

In my humble opinion, Chelsea Cain is one of the best thriller writers in the world, and her Archie Sheridan/Gretchen/Susan series never fails to thrill.

Or inspire a healthy dose of writerly envy.

Kill You Twice is the fourth book in a series that follows the always captivating, sometimes gory ongoing story of tortured cop Archie Sheridan, and his unorthodox relationship with the mesmerizing murderess, Gretchen.

Yeah, I'm a little obsessed with Gretchen.

Like each of the characters in all of Chelsea Cain's books, Gretchen is beautiful and flawed, compelling - and most of all, memorable. From the first book, Heartsick, I found myself reeled in by Cain's brilliant writing style, not only from a technical standpoint, but from her ability to make me feel, to make me fall in love...with a serial killer.

Kind of in a Dexter sort of way.

It would be impossible to disclose the details of this plot without giving spoilers on the previous books, so here's the basics: Archie is still flawed, Susan still dyes her hair in neon, the new mystery is creepy, the descriptions are gory, and Gretchen is...perfect.

Read this book. No, really.

- Dawn

PS - This series was optioned for development of a TV show slated for FX. I can't WAIT to see who they cast for Archie and Gretchen!

Writerly Wednesday: Conflict

I'm not good with conflict in my personal life. In fact, I'll pretty much do just about anything to avoid it.

Even if it means not standing up for myself. In 90% of instances, I'd rather walk away from a situation than fight or debate my point of view - even when I'm not to blame. Or perhaps, especially when I'm not to blame. Call it a character flaw or an act of cowardice, but it is what it is - conflict is not my BFF.

Which is why it doesn't come as a big shock to realize my current manuscript lacks...conflict. Pretty much the kiss of death for authors, right?

Oh sure, I've figured out how to craft those clever cliffhanger endings, my sentences are so tight adverbs have to lose their "ly" endings to squeeze in, and I know my characters better than I know myself. Truth.

But when it comes to the natural (and then ramped up fictionalized) conflict that is inherent in all human relationships, I struggle. A treasured beta reader for HEARTLESS, my editor, and a number of writerly and non-writerly friends have showered the book with praise. There's just this one little caveat - Where's the conflict?

Good question!

As I finish up the first draft of the book this week (so close!), I'll be thinking about the revisions process and ways I can ramp up the conflict. In the meantime, maybe my characters will teach me how not to become a doormat in my personal life :-/

So...what are your strategies for dealing with conflict? On the page, of course.

- Dawn

TV Tuesday: Revolution

As a super fan of the TV show Supernatural, I've been patiently waiting for Eric Kripke and JJ Abrams' new series, Revolution. I'm three episodes in, and I admit, I haven't quite made up my mind about it yet.

The premise is intriguing - set 15 years after a global blackout, a world without electricity. No iPhones, no vehicles, no light after sunset.

I'm a fan of Billy Burke, so I'm happy to see him as a leading guy, and with my new Breaking Bad obsession, I'm thrilled actor Giancarlo Esposito is back on TV in another edgy role. Perhaps relieved is a better word, since the generic characters - Burke included - lacked some of the grit I'd hoped for. After all, Kripke did create the Winchester boys.

The pilot had a Hunger Games-esque vibe, so strong in fact, I'd actually begun casting Katniss, Gabe and Peeta. I'm rethinking the boys after the third episode but Katniss is a lock.

Actress Tracy Spiridakos (Go Canada!) plays a wicked crossbow shooter named Charlie Matheson.   After her brother is kidnapped and her father murdered, she leads a small group of survivors on a quest to find...help? Her uncle? Electricity? The real motive is still a bit unclear, and while there's no question Charlie is beautiful, and skilled, she's kind of all over the map and her character hasn't yet resonated with me.

That said, the visuals are stunning - and symbolic. A broken ferris wheel in the middle of a field, overgrown with weeds and wild flowers. A main street turned into a car graveyard. Wrigley Field, an empty stadium, barren and lonely. Each episode is peppered with reminders of a former life - old photographs stored on a battery-dead iPhone, abandoned airplanes now used as shelters, looters seeking the last of the canned goods. It's not going to compete with the cinematography of shows like Game of Thrones but then, not many can.

While I'm not blown away, I am intrigued enough to keep Revolution on my PVR list. I'm not willing to exchange it in place of The Voice for Monday night real-time viewing (yes, I do like my talent reality shows), but it provides great background noise when I'm making dinner or catching up on social media.

For sci-fi fans who are still looking for something to replace Lost, Revolution might be the key - but for me, this post-apocalyptic world needs to get a little dirtier if it's going to compete against my very full slate of fall TV shows.

Are you watching Revolution? I'd love your take.

- Dawn

In My DVD Player: Breaking Bad

Muse of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy is on my TV show hitlist - and let's be honest, a lot of it has to do with Charlie Hunnam.

Nope, I've never seen him act (though I hear he's amazing on the show as JAX), and I really have no idea what the show is about - but I was late to the Breaking Bad party and the same people who turned me on to that show are talking about Sons of Anarchy. 

 Who am I to argue? Especially when the show clearly boasts some impressive eye candy talent.

I'm (just) 3,000 words (or two chapters) shy of finishing Heartless (minus a whole book rewrite, of course) which means two things: Finishing season 4 of Breaking Bad as reward, and the promise of a new project in the horizon. Maybe Sons of Anarchy will be my new series, as well.

I know, it's a Muse Avatar stretch - but I'm betting with the promise of Charlie ahead, I'll have no problem polishing off those last 3,000 words. And THAT is muse-worthy.

Have a great week!

- Dawn

The Book In My Bag Today: Carnival of Souls, Melissa Marr