tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post4619258711546096214..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Querying for memoirJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37173955156895350122017-08-13T08:56:34.639-04:002017-08-13T08:56:34.639-04:00FWIW....the weekend Wall Street Journal Review sec...FWIW....the weekend Wall Street Journal Review section has, in the "personal choice" feature, "on books that blur the line between memoir and novel."mythical one-eyed peace officerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394431562567253451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60597619812652225412017-08-12T20:06:09.582-04:002017-08-12T20:06:09.582-04:00In Whip Smart, Melissa Febos left several question...In Whip Smart, Melissa Febos left several questions unanswered and was, intentionally or unintentionally, I can't say, less than honest with herself about the choices she made. Hers was a story that demanded raw, brutal honesty... undiluted. I felt her story was lacking. <br /><br />I would be interested in reading your friend's memoir as the subject of dominatri intrigues me, but the telling of any story must be honest above all else. If a reader feels the author is "sparing" themselves, they are not going to be favorable of the book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3346235019418807802017-08-12T08:22:45.945-04:002017-08-12T08:22:45.945-04:00
Haha Colin<br />Haha ColinCecilia Ortiz Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10799056302050264129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31518742608108015332017-08-11T19:25:00.164-04:002017-08-11T19:25:00.164-04:00I have to say, steamy scenes in novels are not my ...I have to say, steamy scenes in novels are not my favorite. And not because of any prudish sensibilities I might have. No... you see...well... You know how you can develop characters' voices by listening to others talk, so they don't all sound like you? And you know how you can pick up mannerisms for your characters that are not your own by observing those around you? Well... when was the last time you sat watching a couple make out so you can get tips for your kissing scene? Or worse... well, let's not go there. I just can't imagine how an author can write a steamy scene without it being somewhat autobiographical, hence my discomfort. Sure, you can get ideas from TV and movies, but--especially with things like <i>that</i>--if you write based on Hollywood, you end up with something that sounds like Hollywood, not real life. So I don't know how else an author would write steamy stuff without being shunned as a perv, or getting arrested, other than drawing from personal experience. And... I'd rather not know, thanks. Talk about being pulled out of a story! :-\<br /><br />Anyway, all that to say, <b>Cecilia</b>... please don't be offended if I give that book a pass. ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60821743237959848422017-08-11T18:52:25.543-04:002017-08-11T18:52:25.543-04:00Cecilia, the perfect writing prompt: "My porn...<b>Cecilia</b>, the perfect writing prompt: "My porn vocabulary is very limited."<br />*snicker*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03581361783795436259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30293590163583176262017-08-11T18:26:22.951-04:002017-08-11T18:26:22.951-04:00I'm out of my league on this, but why not take...I'm out of my league on this, but why not take what is really a memoir and write it as a novel. Or let it serve as the framework for a novel. Pat Conroy did okay doing that.Joseph S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07437663031050410028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31122611109370203872017-08-11T15:56:03.468-04:002017-08-11T15:56:03.468-04:00Timely. Again.Timely. Again.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041316285692964293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58162900631386139012017-08-11T14:51:21.581-04:002017-08-11T14:51:21.581-04:00Very useful advice as I jump back into the memoir ...Very useful advice as I jump back into the memoir I'm ghostwriting at the moment. Somehow the posts on this blog always feel timely to what I'm working on.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28922874077340303032017-08-11T14:46:07.365-04:002017-08-11T14:46:07.365-04:00Thank you for posting this. SO MANY who write memo...Thank you for posting this. SO MANY who write memoirs needs to read these words of wisdom!Ardenwolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14053900506482830292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56191255378892348972017-08-11T14:12:31.370-04:002017-08-11T14:12:31.370-04:00Melanie,
Oh, but this is one dominatrix you wil...Melanie, <br /><br />Oh, but this is one dominatrix you will like. She is also part of a group that fights to protect the wild horses of the Canadian prairies. <br /><br />About them X-rated scenes, don't worry. I don't think she will make me write super graphic scenes (Sorry, Mark!). She knows that my porn vocabulary is very limited. <br /><br />Cecilia Ortiz Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00336485056322219624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6960016090557207512017-08-11T13:20:03.390-04:002017-08-11T13:20:03.390-04:00Kitty,
I live with Ove. (OO-veh!)
He is 90, grew u...Kitty,<br />I live with Ove. (OO-veh!)<br />He is 90, grew up in the north of Sweden, loves cats and children, and will judge you by the car you drive.<br />I gave him the book for Christmas.Sharyn Ekberghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11987304898246173619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60073136427566247492017-08-11T13:17:13.376-04:002017-08-11T13:17:13.376-04:00Steve,
Ray Bradbury grew up in Waukegan, Illinois....Steve,<br />Ray Bradbury grew up in Waukegan, Illinois.<br />Get to work. Read Dandelion Wine.Sharyn Ekberghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11987304898246173619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72987145961460799612017-08-11T12:53:43.195-04:002017-08-11T12:53:43.195-04:00BJ, I love George Burns. Must get my hands on this...<b>BJ,</b> I love George Burns. Must get my hands on this book.Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58561805955617624572017-08-11T12:44:15.510-04:002017-08-11T12:44:15.510-04:00A memoir? Moi? Nah. I'm just not that into me....A memoir? Moi? Nah. I'm just not that into me...<br /><br />Now George Burns was into Gracie Allen. He wrote a memoir about their life together - Gracie: A Love Story. I don't know if he had a ghostwriter, but his voice is there, all through it. He talks honestly about his regrets - maybe he pushed her too hard, maybe he wasn't the perfect husband for a perfect woman. He never remarried in the 30+ years after she died.<br /><br />Some were talking (OT) the other day about real love stories. For those who like them, read this book. Like George, it's not perfect, but it's full of love. :)<br />BJ Muntainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977414826388000094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83461958438216985492017-08-11T12:39:18.572-04:002017-08-11T12:39:18.572-04:00Janet, sorry to veer off topic here, but you use b...<b>Janet</b>, sorry to veer off topic here, but you use blogger. Did you try to post a picture today and couldn't? I tried to post something on my blog and couldn't post a picture.Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09868642232827730189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-20559403462367240392017-08-11T12:36:55.217-04:002017-08-11T12:36:55.217-04:00Wait. What? My sweet little Cecilia writing scenes...Wait. What? My sweet little <b>Cecilia</b> writing scenes rated X...! Say it isn't so. <br /><br />Back on topic: I don't believe memoirs have to be about "earth shattering/life changing" or epic "walk on the moon" events. Some of my favorite titles are simple and eloquent stories about a regular Jane or Joe. <br /><br />One example of a ka-gillion I could offer: THE THREAD THAT RUNS SO TRUE by Jesse Stuart. "A mountain school teacher tells his story." I loved this book... <br /><br />And COTTON FIELD OF DREAMS by Janis F. Kearney. Or LETTERS FROM SIDE LAKE by Peter M. Leschak (Two of my heart books). CITY LIMITS by Terry Teachout. I'll stop... my point being, nothing epic happens in any of these memoirs. They're stories about regular lives. But, to me, they are told very, very well and worthy of being read. Melanie Sue Bowleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820711791019410116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54755149695267232352017-08-11T12:31:12.814-04:002017-08-11T12:31:12.814-04:00Congratulations, Linda!
Congratulations, Linda!<br />Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50657774186819539592017-08-11T12:19:55.010-04:002017-08-11T12:19:55.010-04:00You remind me of something Max Guunther said in WR...You remind me of something Max Guunther said in WRITING AND SELLING A NON-FICTION BOOK. This is from memory and I notice the book is still in print so there may have been a new edition since the one I read. But as I remember, he said everyone wants to write about the person he or she considers to be the center of the universe, and to forget it unless your name is Billy Hayes and the book details your harrowing escape with your life from a notorious Turkish prison and the name of your book (and the movie made from it) is MIDNIGHT EXPRESS.<br /><br />Of course Casanova did well with his story of his escape from the Inquisition prison in eighteenth century Venice. Before putting it into writing he polished it telling it to a million people, including the reigning pope, whose prisoner Casanova was.<br /><br />MY LIFE: IT WAS BORING AS HELL GROWING UP IN PODUNK, IOWA migh be hard to sell.<br />Steve Stubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421775912951050610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56091943412353337632017-08-11T11:49:42.923-04:002017-08-11T11:49:42.923-04:00A couple of years ago I read two very different me...A couple of years ago I read two very different memoirs. Both well-written, traditionally published best-sellers, but at the end of each I was left unsatisfied because there was no denouement. Each story ended rather vaguely, as if the author just wandered away. In real life, when you have a 'life-changing experience' it usually doesn't neatly wrap itself up in a telling moment, and I suppose there's no way to get around that.<br /><br />Both books were best-sellers, though, so I have to assume other people aren't as fussy about their endings as I am.Adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08790958029798438793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79839404679810840352017-08-11T11:38:12.549-04:002017-08-11T11:38:12.549-04:00Mark,
You betcha, buddy!
LOLMark, <br /><br />You betcha, buddy! <br /><br />LOLCecilia Ortiz Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00336485056322219624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78956516785569837712017-08-11T11:31:59.706-04:002017-08-11T11:31:59.706-04:00Cecilia, please let us know when that one comes ou...Cecilia, please let us know when that one comes out :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546056344286926982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58127702350335998352017-08-11T11:25:39.965-04:002017-08-11T11:25:39.965-04:00Yehhhh! LINDA.
Hot huh.Yehhhh! LINDA.<br />Hot huh.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3418610997619279092017-08-11T11:19:23.158-04:002017-08-11T11:19:23.158-04:00Thank you, Colin, I sure will! Release date is May...Thank you, Colin, I sure will! Release date is May 1st, 2018, but not sure about pre-ordering yet. :)Linda Straderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13651163529711298130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66016672051140612682017-08-11T11:06:07.299-04:002017-08-11T11:06:07.299-04:00Linda: Be sure to let us know when SUMMERS OF FIRE...<b>Linda</b>: Be sure to let us know when SUMMERS OF FIRE is available to pre-order. I'd like to add it to the Published Works list in the <a href="http://www.colindsmith.com/TreasureChest" rel="nofollow">Treasure Chest</a>. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-3187605349359736972017-08-11T10:47:42.249-04:002017-08-11T10:47:42.249-04:00Thank you Karen McCoy and Melanie Sue Bowles!Thank you Karen McCoy and Melanie Sue Bowles!Linda Straderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13651163529711298130noreply@blogger.com