Wednesday, December 19, 2012

new adult wip

One of the things I like most about writing is its unpredictability. What other vocation allows, and, indeed, encourages, prurient exploration in the pursuit of production? Say you wake up one day and decide to write a novel set in the red light district of Vancouver, BC. Road trip! Or, suppose your character is undergoing brain surgery--cozy up to a surgeon, and tell him you're writing a thriller, and, BAM! You're in the OR.

I hope I'm never implicated in a homicide--one peek at my Google history this last week and I'd be locked up for a very long time. Why, you ask? Well. Just for the hell of it, I'm writing a crime novel. Novelette, really. Call me a casualty of the GONE GIRL Zeitgeist, mix that up with a fascination for noir classics and, just for the hell of it, throw in a little "new adult" à la Lena Dunham, and, et voilà! It's my new WIP.

Who knew I'd be wrapping my mind around a college-focused whodunnit? And during the holiday season no less. 

Anyone out there starting something new before the calendar-prescribed season of the clean slate?


Monday, December 03, 2012

Prizes! Tips from my hot writing group!

Okay kids. Thursday I'm launching my inaugural Dialogue Boot Camp via LitReactor, one of the most awesome writing communities ever!

So, I'm bringing the big guns to this class. You will not be disappointed. Not only am I gonna pack it with lectures that will give you insight into what makes dialogue sing, but there will be deconstruction. Evisceration. Good times aplenty!

In five days, you'll have some mad skills. Some understanding of authority, voice, and the intersection of the two.

And not only that.

The starters in my workshop, those folks you always see in the New York Times? Yeah, them. They've ponied up some tips that will be unveiled in day five. Worth it just for those, eh?

But, that is not all.

The Den Mom, aka, me, will critique three prompt-driven assignments (decided in a lottery). And as an added bonus: Three more students will be selected at random at the end of class to have their work critiqued by me—anything they want, up to 10 pages. We're talking detailed, line-by-line critique.

And one additional crazy bonus (get your credit card ready), three lucky random winners will be the first kids on their block to receive a personalized and signed copy of Monica Drake's forthcoming, buzzfest-guaranteed novel, The Stud Book in spring of 2013.

Sign up now! Don't delay, class starts bright and early this Thursday!


Sunday, December 02, 2012

fantasy dinner party

Here's who's on my guest list:
Beatrix Potter
Leonard Cohen
Bill Clinton
Chip Kelly
Julia Child
Sofia Coppola
Bruce Springsteen
and, of course, The Empress

Alternate: Tonya Harding

Who's on your list?