Maggie Marr

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2010-03-31T13:57:00.001-07:00

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We Have A Script!

2010-03-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

Kind of.

As most of you have surmised writing a screenplay is a process. And as I wrote earlier part of Mike's and my process is to pass the script back and forth until we have a solid draft.

We have a solid draft. 91 pages of a solid draft.

I've passed the script back to Mike and now he will take another pass doing clean up. He'll pass the script back to me and I will take one final read...more clean up. And then we will send the script to the producers for their weekend read (1).

But we aren't finished. Not. Even. Close.

The producers will read. Discuss amongst themselves. Find flaws. Weak parts. Have questions. They will write down all of these things, knocking our script and potentially shredding it to pieces. Mike and I will then pick up the scattered and battered bits of script left over once the producers are finished and then recraft based on their notes. Each time, in theory, this process is meant to make the script better. And sometimes it does. At the very least the process points to areas that need to be reworked and tightened.

So we have a script. Let the fun begin.

xoMaggie

(1) Weekend Read: The EVER important read that takes place on the weekend. Everyone in entertainment has to read a ton of material. Since most entertainment execs work a 14 hour day, reading is often relegated to the weekend. Thus, as a writer you want to turn projects in to Producers in time for the weekend read aka Wed. Thurs. or Fri. Hopefully then you wait 3 days for a response instead of 7 (if you turn in a project on a Monday.)

Patience

2010-03-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

I have a manuscript. A nearly completed manuscript. I also have an editor who wants to read the manuscript. This is not a problem, this, as every writer knows is a blessing. A bountiful, wonderful, most hoped for blessing.

So what am I kvetching about?

I want to send the manuscript NOW. Now, now, now, NOW! And while it is ready-ish. I know the manuscript will be better if I wait just one more week.

Why?

Beta readers. Those beautiful beta readers(1). I have received comments from one Beta reader. (Thank you, thank you, thank you!) But have two more Beta readers to hear from. Granted, I just did ask my third Beta reader yesterday if she'd mind taking a quick look. And of course being the ever lovely person she is, she said yes. But it takes time to read. And make notes. And people have lives.

So while the impatient part of me just wants to send, send, SEND! The realistic and rational part of me realizes that with each Beta reader I get some good input and information about a manuscript that I've read so many times I could recite the dialogue in my sleep. Therefore...I wait. I wait for my Beta readers to report back. And as I wait I continue to read, make notes, and then once all the Beta readers notes are in, I will revise one final time.

The impatient part of me screams and kicks as I write this. But the rational part nods.

Damn, I hate being rational.

xoMaggie

(1) Beta reader: The most trusted of author friends that you allow to read your work first often before editors, agents, and even family. They provide you with notes, guidance, and often times good wishes so that you may persevere toward another rewrite/revision and a better book.

Oh Screenplay, why do you taunt me so?

2010-03-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

So dear readers, you may or may not remember the very LENGTHY film treatment my writing partner, forever after called MM male (or until he tells me I can use his name on my blog) and I wrote for our producers. Well now I am in the process of co-writing the script. I say co-writing because MM male and I write screenplays together. And no MM male is not just some weird male version of me, he is an actual person who is a guy, who just happens to share my initials. In the early stages it is our process to pass the script back and forth until we have a full draft. And I am currently up to bat. Have been for a...uh...while now. And although the process is going along swimmingly, due in part (I hate to admit to the German (1)) to the LENGTHY treatment. I still find myself starting, and stopping, and doubting, and rewriting, and swearing, and gnashing my teeth, and pulling my hair...because I just want the darn thing to be right.

What is right?

Good question.

Glad you asked.

How the heck do I know? If I could capture the definition of right there wouldn't be nearly as much starting, stopping, doubting, rewriting, swearing, gnashing of teeth and requisite hair pulling.

But then, what fun would there be in that?

xoMaggie

(1) The German: One of our managers who just so happens to be from Germany and is the sadistic operator of the dreaded Orange Highlighter about which I often tweet, blog, and curse. (The pen, I curse about the pen, not The German. Not ever. I promise.)

Winging It by Jenny Gardiner

2010-03-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

Another GCC'er with a new book and this time non-fiction. Jenny Gardiner's latest book Winging It just came out. Here is the cover:

Also, here is a little bit about Grayce

Tell us about WINGING IT: A MEMOIR OF CARING FOR A VENGEFUL PARROT WHO'S DETERMINED TO KILL ME and the inspiration behind it.

This time around my book is a memoir, titled WINGING IT: A MEMOIR OF CARING FOR A VENGEFUL PARROT WHO'S DETERMINED TO KILL ME (Gallery Books). Think of it as David Sedaris meets Marley & Me, with a deadly beak. It's about an African gray parrot with an attitude who arrived as a surprise Christmas gift the year we had our new baby. Life has never been the same.

The idea grew over many years. We got this parrot as a gift--my brother-in-law came back from Africa one Christmas with parrots for the family, and we ended up with the ornery one. And over the years, stories about her have become so legendary, she is such an entertaining thing (when she's not being vicious). I have written about her for my newspaper column before and people were so interested in her. At dinner parties, she becomes the focus of everyone's interest--we've had her now for almost 2 decades and people are always so entertained by her and stories about her, so I thought it would be fun to do a book. My sort of funny backstory is YEARS ago, I was sitting in a bat mitzvah, and I get really antsy when I'm a captive audience, especially when everything isn't in a language I can remotely understand. So when I was sitting there for like 3-1/2 arduous hours (it was a high holiday so they had a huge service with it), I pulled out a notebook and pen and HANDWROTE four chapters of what would eventually become this book...

Tell us about your writing process. Do you outline or are you more organic?

I love that you call that organic. It sounds so much more deliberate and literary that way ;-). Yes I am very much an organic--i.e. seat-of-the-pants--writer. I have ideas, I sort of "noodle" them in my head for a while sometimes before I commit them to the page, but I do like to just sit down and type.

What is a typical writing day like for you?

There really is no typical day for me. I've got 3 kids, so I'm at the mercy of their schedules first. Ideally I am up before dawn and at the gym and home before 7, then get the kids off to school, then come home to write. In reality there are often so many things going on that it's not that simple. Long ago I adapted to that writing lifestyle and take my laptop with me whenever I know I'll have even an idle 10 minutes.

Do you have a vice that you’ve given up, but long to continue?

Currently I've given up Mint M&Ms for Lent. And while I know I can go back to them (while the limited supply lasts!) in a few weeks, I'm disinclined to because it was a habit I needed to break. I did that last year with Peanut M&Ms and it seemed to stick. Though I think I just end up trading one bad habit for another.

How do you promote your books? Are you going on tour for this book? Any upcoming signings?

With my first novel, Sleeping with Ward Cleaver, I actually won a publishing contract in the American Title III contest (sort of an American Idol for books). And I won that by surviving a 6-month period of online voting. What was wonderful about that was it really gave me a leg-up on marketing--particularly online marketing--a product that at the time wasn't even a tangible book one could buy. But I guess you'd call me an "early adapter" LOL to capitalizing on the internet as a marketing tool. So I do try to maximize my online presence as much as possible, especially because with a family it's hard to technically "tour" when book comes out. I do do plenty of appearances and signings, try to do as many book festivals as I can afford, and do whatever media appearances as possible.

I'm appearing on a panel and signing at the Virginia Festival of the Book, in fact, March 21. I've got a signing at Fountain Books in Richmond, VA, on April 8, and at the Barnes & Noble, Tyson's Corner, VA, on April 16. I'm also at the PennWriters Conference in Lancaster, PA in mid-May. We're setting up other events still.

For you, what is the most difficult part of being an author?

The time it takes to market and publicize oneself. I don't mind marketing and publicizing, but I'd way rather be just focusing on writing books, and rue the day that this became so much more the onus of the author. I understand why it is that way, but wasn't it a beautiful thing in this country when those with an area of expertise were able to take care of that end of things, rather than nowadays when it seems that everyone is expected to do everything themselves? There was a time when people didn't pump their own gas--remember that? And you hired someone to come fix things, rather than trying to patch it together yourself. Ah, but I digress...

What do you love about being an author?

I love to write. I love to be able to make up a story that ends up being something with which others find entertainment/comfort/diversion. I love that as a writer I have the ability to touch other people, maybe bolster their sagging spirits even.

What's one piece of writing advice you've found valuable on your journey to publication?

Believe in yourself. This business can be demoralizing--it's all so subjective, so you have to trust in your gut that you're a good writer with a good product, one that just hasn't found the right editor yet. If you allow yourself to be dragged down by rejection, you'll only end up marinating in a gray fug of gloom half the time.

What’s next for you?

Writing, writing writing. I've got a proposal to put together for my next non-fiction book, I've got an agent and editor awaiting a book I'm writing right now, and so many other ideas I'd love to start writing.

Thank you Jenny. Now, readers, go buy the book!
xo
Maggie

RWA-Women's Fiction Inaugural Workshop

2010-03-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to announce the inaugural workshop for the RWA-Women's Fiction Chapter. Direct Your Book! Theatrical Techniques to a Blockbuster Novel by Leanna Renee Hieber. And although RWA-Women's Fiction would love to have YOU as a member, you need not be a member to participate in this fabulous workshop!

Best selling, award winning, multi-published author Leanna Renee Hieber will teach her unique hybrid approach in writing novels. Leanna uses this remarkable theatrical background to crack open a whole new way to think about your fiction. She utilizes techniques inherent to actors, directors and other theatre professionals in the creation and telling of stories and teaches you to use these techniques to bolster story structure and characterization. As an author, think about what it takes to step into the role of actor, director, cinematographer, etc. and feel the lightbulbs go off as you troubleshoot your way towards an engaging, character-rich, one-of-a-kind hit novel.

I am very excited to participate in this workshop because one of the gifts of writing is that as a writer I have always something to learn. Writers are life-long learners. Each time we sit at the keyboard we discover something new about our story, whether it be a plot twist or a character quirk there is always something unexpected popping onto the screen of our computers.

There is also the craft and business of writing. I know from a cursory glance over my past books that my knowledge of craft has changed over the years. This knowledge is often hardwon and sometimes self taught. The result of trial and error, rewrite after rewrite, constant critique and a keen editorial eye that grows more astute with each word written. However as a life long learner I am always looking for ways to facilitate the next step in my writing whether it be deeper characterization, stronger POV or a tighter plot. And, in part, this is the brilliance of RWA-WF. We, as a group, are able to participate in workshops, critiques (soon), meetings, and panels to help us learn our craft and the business of writing.

I hope you will join me March 26, 27, 28 & 29 as Leanna teaches her workshop Direct Your Book! Theatrical Techniques to a Blockbuster Novel. This workshop is sure to bring many insights to all writers of all levels.

The final day to register is March 20th and EVERYONE is welcome. You need not be a member of RWA or RWA-WF to participate in this fabulous workshop. The price of the workshop is $20 for RWA-WF members and $25 for all non-members. Details on how to register are at the bottom of the article here.

The workshop will be a yahoo loop. You will be notified with an invitation to join the loop prior to the workshop date. RWA-WF reserves the right to cancel this workshop should fewer than 20 participants sign up for this workshop. Upon a cancellation of this workshop by RWA-WF all registered participants will receive a full refund. Please contact Maggie Marr at maggiemarr AT mac DOT net for more information.

You need to post!

2010-03-02T18:51:00.001-08:00

How is it Tuesday already and I haven't posted since last Wednesday? I'm not sure.

I could blame it on the kids. I could blame it on my dear friend Ally and her challenge to me that I write 2k a day for 25 days. I could blame it on the impending arrival of my Mom and MIL. I could even blame it on my self imposed deadline to finish this draft of The Billionaire's Proud Mistress and the newest screenplay by the end of March. But while I'd like to blame my lackadaisical blog writing on any or all of those things...I simply can't.

I mean take for example my agent: Kristin Nelson. She works nearly as hard as I do (please know I write that with a grin and wink there are very few people that work harder than Kristin and I'm certainly not one) and she manages to post daily on her very famous, very witty, and very informative blog Pub Rants.

For goodness sake if Kristin can post daily, why can't I?

Hmm. Good question. So along with every other quest I seem to be on this year... (write more, complain less...exercise more, eat less...go out more, stay at home less...I see a theme emerging) I am going to attempt a minimum of three posts a week.

Three.

There. I've written it. Now back to that word challenge....

xomm

I Just Can't Choose

2010-02-24T19:44:00.000-08:00

A bounty of riches! The women of the GCC (Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit) just keep cranking out the successes! The latest is Megan Crane aka Caitlin Crews. Megan/Caitlin has not one but two books out this week. And she offered up both to her fellow GCC'ers stating we could pick which book to highlight. But I'm just not good at choices...onion rings or fries? I'll have both. Red wine or white...a glass of each. Chocolate or...well chocolate...okay that one is easy. So I've decided to mention both books.

The first book is Pure Princess Bartered Bride a classic romance that she's just written for the Harlequin Presents Line under her nom de plume Caitlin Crews.

Check out the cover:

and the second book is Everyone Else's Girl:

Amazing really, two books publishing in the same week! Megan stopped by to answer some questions:

Which comes easier for you - beginnings or endings?

Definitely beginnings. I like to launch myself into the beginning and write until I hit a wall, then go back and figure out what I'm doing.

Favorite thing about being a writer?

I get to make up stories in my head, and then tell them, and make my living that way. It’s more than a dream come true. And I don’t, in fact, need algebra, as I told my math teacher in high school long ago!

Least favorite thing about being a writer?

The blank page is usually filled with all my doubts and fears, and that’s not a whole lot of fun to sift through to get to the words I need to write. And you can never really take a vacation, because the work is always in your head. And I become a little bit of a crazy person as a deadline approaches. But I wouldn’t give any of it up.

What is one thing you’ve learned about the publishing industry since getting your first book deal?

There is writing, and then there is publishing, and there is only one part of that I can control: the writing.

What is your advice for those who looking to get their novel published?

Just write. No one can tell your story the way you can, and no one will get to read it until you write it.

What's your favorite food?

Chocolate. Seriously. I'm a complete addict. I like it dark, rich, and life-altering.

Do you have a muse, good luck charm, writing vice?

I am pretty sure my extremely fat and ill-behaved cats feel that they are both muses and charms; they are not. I don't really have either, I don't think. I have written all my books (I'm on number 15!) on the same desk, which I'm a little superstitious about it these days. It's currently located in the office I share with my husband, overlooking a pretty sweep of trees and mountains and the Hollywood sign here in Los Angeles. It's filled with books and pictures, and somehow, helps the words come.

How many drafts until the final draft?

I am one of those desperately linear writers, who can't go forward if I know what's behind me is a big mess. So I usually write the day's words, then set it aside to pick up and read the next morning. I revise it before starting the next day's writing. So when I have a full draft, it's usually pretty tight, and then I go over that at least once or twice. So... three?

What's your writing process/writing environment like?

I'm pretty fierce about my daily word quotas, which are really the only way I can write as much as I do. (I wrote five books last year and will write at least four this year.) I usually write 2,000 words a day--although at a certain point last fall I had to write 3000 a day to hit a particular deadline, and I found that dizzyingly difficult. The internet is my greatest time-waster. I'm starting to use Mac Freedom to turn it off for stretches here and there, because I can't be trusted--and I will often look up to see that hours have passed and there I am reading Jezebel and hitting refresh on Twitter... Not good.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever gotten about writing?

Just do it. Just write. Everything else is smoke and mirrors.

What's next for you?

I am currently working on my fifteenth novel, a romance, which should be out sometime next year!

Excellent job Megan! Now go buy one, or better yet, both of her books!

A Challenge

2010-02-22T11:29:00.001-08:00

There is nothing like a challenge to get me revved up. And this week I've got two challenges that actually work together.

So a good friend of mine has challenged me to write 2,000 words a day for 25 days.

I'm in. All in. Except for Sundays, even God took off Sundays (or Saturdays depending on which ecclesiastical historian you believe.)

Luckily for me, this challenge also coincides with the LARA (Los Angeles Romance Writers of America) SPEW (Stop Procrastinating Everyone Write) challenge.

Now, for my needs, I am modifying the challenge...a bit. My latest Work In Progress demands a little different approach. Usually I write an entire first draft, just spew it onto the page and then go back and rewrite. But with this project I've found my process is more akin to Lois Lowry's process. I am actually editing as I go along. So some days I get 2,000 or even 3,000 words down and some days I may get 5 - 10 pages edited with actually very few new words. So to accomodate this process I am setting my goals as follows:

For the next 25 days (except Sundays) I will either write 2,000 words a day or I will write for 4 hours a day.

This new goal also accommodates my screenwriting needs. Because we have a NEW screenplay that we are working on. Right now the writing partner is taking his pass but when he emails it to me...well it's my turn. And word count? Just doesn't work the same way with screenplays. Screenplays, once you have the scenes worked out (and believe me with a 19 page single-spaced outline we have the scenes worked out) are more like a constant editing process.

So who's with me?! Any writers out there who need to jumpstart their latest WIP? Set a fire under their tushy?

Let's go, go, go!

xoMaggie

Sins of the Mother

2010-02-19T16:42:00.000-08:00

Great news for the GCC all week long! Do you remember Orange Mint and Honey, the fabulous book by Carleen Brice? This Sunday, 8 pm eastern time, Orange Mint and Honey premieres on Lifetime Movie Network as Sins of The Mother! That's right, Carleen's book is now a TV movie!

Sins of the Mother is getting great reviews:

“…With great acting all around, including Mimi Rogers as Nona’s sponsor, this adaptation of Carleen Brice’s novel, Orange Mint and Honey is one dramatic powerhouse of a TV movie. It’d be a sin to miss it!“—NATIONAL ENQUIRER, Best Bets on TV

"As a reformed alcoholic mother trying to reconnect with her tightly wound, emotionally stunted daughter, Jill Scott (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency) delivers a performance that makes you forget you knew her as a singer first." — ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“The magnificent Jill Scott shines as a former mess of a mother struggling to make amends to the daughter she abused…“—TV GUIDE, Hot List

So please tune in to Lifetime Movie Network on Sunday, February 21st at 8 pm Eastern Time.

Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan

2010-02-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

Another GCC author with a new book out. This one is near and dear to my heart as I love Hank and I love her series. So here is the cover for Drive Time, the latest in the Charlotte McNally series.

Hank was kind enough to answer my questions about her latest book and her writing process.

Tell us about Drive Time.

Drive Time is about secrets. TV reporter Charlie McNally’s working on a story about a dangerous scheme that could absolutely happen…and let me just say, if you own a car, or rent a car, you’ll never look at your vehicle the same way after reading Drive Time. In fact, after writing the book, I now get a bit creeped out when I go into a parking garage. That’s all I‘ll say.

Charlie’s also drawn into another frightening situation—this one at the prep school where her fiancé is an English professor. When Charlie learns a secret that might put her step-daughter-to-be in danger, and might also be an blockbuster investigative story—how does she balance her loyalty to her husband-to-be—with her need to protect the public?

So this is a tough one for Charlie. And she must make many life-changing decisions. Just when she begins to think she might be able to have it all—a terrific career and a new husband and a new life--revenge, extortion and murder may bring it all to a crashing halt.

How did the character of Charlotte ‘Charlie’ McNally come about?

What a great question. I have NO idea. She was born when I got a weird spam in my email. It was what looked like lines from a play by Shakespeare. I thought--why would someone send a spam like that? And it crossed my mind--maybe it's a secret message.

I still get goose bumps telling you about it. And I knew, after all those years of wanting to write a mystery, that was my plot. And that turned out to be the Agatha-winning PRIME TIME. But Charlie? Well, I knew I had a good story, but who would tell it? A television reporter, of course. And she just instantly popped into my head. Named, fully formed. I knew her perfectly.

The other characters were more difficult to get to know. But now, Charlie surprises me a lot! And I love when that happens.

You’ve got four books under your belt, you’ve won an Agatha, and been compared to Lisa Scottoline. Will there come a time when you say goodbye to journalism to focus full time on your fiction?

Ain't that the question! I still smile in delight every time I see my Agatha teapot. And when the starred review in Library Journal for DRIVE TIME compared me to Lisa Scottoline, well, I burst into tears. But I still love my job in TV. So--you could ask me that question every day, and every day I'd have a different answer. And I guess the bottom line is: who knows?

Any plans to write a non Charlotte McNally novel?

Yup. Absolutely. It's in the works. You heard it here first.

Any other genre you want to tackle?

Yup. :-) It’s in the works. You heard it here first.

Your husband’s a criminal defense attorney. Does he read your work or give you any tips or even ideas for plots?

He’s the most patient man on the planet. Yes, he's really the only person who reads my pages while they’re in process. When I first started writing PRIME TIME, I'd give hi my five pages or so a day, and I'd hear him laughing and I was so delighted! And he would tell me every day how terrific it was. Then, about fifty pages in, I went in for my daily pat on the back. And he had a funny look on his face. "Honey?" he asked. "Is something going to happen soon?" So I knew I had some work to do.

Ideas for plots? Ah, no, not really. I'm always running ideas by him, to see if he thinks they’re plausible and believable. And sometimes he'll come up with just the perfect little thing I need to pull something together. But we think very differently. He’s much more--wedded to reality.

You’ve won accolades from some of the top writers in the business including some of my favorite authors like Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton. Any tips you can offer for writing top notch mysteries and creating a great character like Charlie?

Well, thank you! Yes, it’s great, and Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton are my idols. (They’re also wonderfully generous, and truly authentic. I have three little talismans on my desk that Sue Grafton gave me, and I look at them every day.)

Tips? Well, I read an interview with the poet Anne Sexton some time ago--and she was asked, "What, truly, can a creative writing teacher give her students?" And her answer was:" Courage." I think that's so wonderful. And I think my advice would be similar--just don’t be afraid. Fear is a waste of time. Write your book. One page at a time. You can do it.

Any mistakes you’ve made along the way, have you learned anything from them?

Hah. That’s another long blog for another day. Mistakes? Ah, on a huge level, people always yell at me for working all the time. ALL the time. Is that a mistake? None of this would have happened without that. Would I change it? I have to say no. So is that a mistake? I'm not sure. On a tiny level, I should have put together a mailing list of bookstores. Still haven’t done that. Wish I had.

What’s next for you?

Exactly what I'm trying to figure out. DRIVE TIME came out February 1, with fantastic blurbs from the much-missed and iconic Robert B. Parker and Suzanne Brockmann and Margaret Maron and Carla Neggers and a rave starred review from Library Journal. So I'm hoping people love it. (And I'll be visiting lots of places across the US--hope some of our readers come visit!) And then...we’ll see. I can't tell you how excited I am.

I'm excited too Hank! I can't wait to read the latest book in the series. Okay, everyone go get those books!

Hollywood Couch & Water Tour

2010-02-17T16:18:00.001-08:00

Another day...another production company meeting. Today we met with the producers of this well loved series:

and also this fabulously popular series:

The company creates AMAZING intellectual property in all three mediums; film, television and books. They have an immense library of material that they want adapted. And I have to say...Mike and Maggie would be wildly happy to help.

xoMaggie

Catch of A Lifetime by Judi Fennell

2010-02-09T08:18:00.000-08:00

Fellow GCC member, Judi Fennell, has a new book out: Catch of A Lifetime. Book three in the series, Catch of A Lifetime, is garnering rave reviews! This fabulous book can be read alone or in part of the series too.

Judi stopped by to answer some questions about her process and her latest book; Catch of a Lifetime.

What pulled you into this story, and as a writer made you think I have to write this?

My first story, In Over Her Head was a Top 5 finalist in the Gather.com/Pocket Books First Chapters Romance Contest and I wanted to show the final judges that I had more than that one book in me, so I came up with the subsequent two books in the series. What made me choose Angel instead of Mariana, her older sister, was that I felt she had more of a story to tell at that point. Now, Mariana is poking me in the shoulder, demanding hers be told.

Tell us about your writing process. Do you outline or are you more organic?

I tried plotting, especially with my new series, coming out in 2011 about genies. I had to build the world before I wrote the first book, so I gave a lot of thought to at least the first book. And because an important element of book 1 (I Dream of Genies, January 2011) is the focus of book 2 (Genie Knows Best), I really had to know what I was talking about. But my editor's great in that, for the middle of the book, my synopsis read, "Cue the Indiana Jones music." Yep. I knew something was going to happen, but not exactly what. She trusts me enough to go with that. And I have to say, writing that "music" part was a lot of fun.

With Catch o a Lifetime, I thought I knew where the story was going, so I had some of it plotted out, but, inevitably, when I started writing what I thought was going to happen, it didn't work out. That part actually got scrapped and what happened wasn't something I had ever seen happening. I do love it, though. So I've tried plotting, but in the end, my story and characters go whatever way they please, with me just trying to hang on for the ride.

What is a typical writing day like for you?

There's no typical day for me. I'm a wife, mother, president of my local chapter, employee, friend, volunteer, etc. It's a juggling act to keep all the balls in the air and sometimes they might get dropped, but I try to pick them up as fast as I can and get them dancing. My husband is incredibly supportive and the man can do laundry, cook a great meal, yardwork and clean like nobody's business. He's my Prince Charming.

Do you have a vice that youve given up, but long to continue?

Eating hoagies at 2 am. :) Yep, I used to do that in college and it never showed. Talk about a huge adjustment after I had kids and my metabolism went on hiatus!!! I miss those days.

For you, what is the most difficult part of being an author?

Sitting. Seriously, it's painful. But pain is a great motivator, I've found. I now go to the gym three times a week for an hour and a half and while sweating is definitely NOT on my list of favorite things to do, I do feel better afterward. Still can't eat those hoagies at 2 am, though...

What do you love about being an author?

I love being able to tell my stories. I love having people telling me they were entertained by my screwy sense of humor. I love hanging out with other authors because they "get" the people talking in your head.

Whats next for you?

The genie series releases in January 2011, so I'm busy working on those. I Dream of Genies is in to my editor and Genie Knows Best and Leave It To Genie are in the first draft stage.

Thank you Judi! Happy Release! Now, everyone, go buy the book!!

Red Light, Green Light, GO!

2010-02-07T15:20:00.000-08:00

treat*ment [noun] the presentation or discussion of a subject.

In Hollywood 'the treatment' refers to a document written by screenwriters so that executives might have an overview of a screenplay's story, structure, and characters prior to the screenwriters going to draft. The treatment is an attempt by executives to correct, advise, change, and or doctor the screenplay prior to the writers writing and becoming so very enamored with every word they write and their characters speak so that the screenwriters never want to change a single comma thus leaving the executives with whatever drivel the screenplay writer drips out of their fingertips onto the page.

Ah, the treatment. Mike and I have been working on a new one for...a while. And somehow this little bitty treatment, 'really, guys we only need a couple of pages.' Has turned into a monster at 17 pages SINGLE spaced. Single. Now any writer knows that 17 pages single spaced...is well...it's about 40 pages double. Wow. But we've nailed it. Finally. Or pretty much. There are of course more notes. (See post from January 27 regarding notes.) But notes are to be expected. Always. But now, after oh...one, two, three, four....okay five passes, it seems everyone is onboard with this treatment; three producers and two writers.

So now: Green Light, GO!

The fun part begins. We start to write. The script. The real thing. With the scenes, and the characters and the romance and the funny bits (oh please let the bits be funny) and the drama....and the funny bits...I mentioned the funny bits right? And once we have a draft, a really solid draft we turn it in to the producers. And guess what?

Same dance different tune. More notes. More rewrites. But if we do it right? It won't just be a Green Light to write...but a Green Light to make a movie.

xoMaggie

The Next Three Chapters of Billionaire

2010-01-29T08:22:00.001-08:00

And with one big 'woosh' from my Mac Mail the first three chapters of The Billionaire's Proud Mistress are gone. Off to London. To the wonderful editor that chose me as runner up for the Harlequin Presents Writing Contest.

And now the nail biting begins. As I prepared to press the send button my heart palpitated, my stomach lurched and my palms...well they got a teensy-weensy sweaty. Why? Because this is Harlequin. The big boy (or big girl) in romance and Harlequin Presents is the creme de la creme of category/classic romance.

Why romance? Because I love, love. In film I write romantic comedies, in television I write about women and their relationships and even my first two books had large romance elements to them. Plus I am so fond of the HEA - Happily Ever After. Life is so very tragic on it own. And please don't get me wrong, I love a good tear jerker, or literary novel or women's fiction, but I also love the stability and security that a really well written romance provides me, as a reader.

So now I wait. And cross my fingers. And continue working on the rest of the book. And the next script. And the notes from the director.

xoMaggie

Hollywood Couch & Water Tour

2010-01-27T21:38:00.000-08:00

So more news from the Hollywood trenches. An update, if you will.

The script that we wrote, and is beloved by all that read it, is alive and kicking. In fact, one of my most favorite directors in all the world is interested in directing. (And no, I will not say their name as I am outrageously superstitious and don't want to jinx myself.) But as the director loves the project, we (Mike and me) are sitting down with the wonderful director tomorrow. For breakfast. And notes.

The director has notes. Everyone has notes. To be a professional writer in Hollywood is to realize there WILL ALWAYS BE NOTES. And it is our job, as professionals, to take them, incorporate them, and make the script better. Not to say that all notes are created equal.

They're not.

But most notes have at least a little bit of somethin' behind them. Meaning if you dig deep enough a note that appears nutty can actually point you in the direction of even a tiny crack in the script that needs a fix.

Then next week...more meetings. Many more meetings. And a treatment. For a new script.

I'll keep you posted.

xoMaggie

The Billionaire's Proud Mistress

2010-01-13T17:25:00.000-08:00

The opening chapter in my classic romance, The Billionaire's Proud Mistress is up at iheartpresents. This is the chapter that caught the eye of the Harlequin Editors and snagged me the runners up slot in the Harlequin Presents Writing Competition. For which I am EXCEEDINGLY thankful and not just a little shocked! I am hard at work implementing Bryony's notes and fingers crossed The Billionaire's Proud Mistress will be available soon.
xo
Maggie

Yeah, yeah, I'll Take Care of It

2010-01-13T07:09:00.001-08:00

Oh my sad tale of woe continues. I dropped off my little baby on December 31 expecting a 7 - 10 day wait. 'A little longer than usual' my genius said 'because of the holidays.' I could understand that. So when he asked 'should we ship your computer to the store or your home once it's fixed' I thought why not save a trip ship it to my house.

'Is this your address?' he asked and then rattled off my OLD address.

'No, we've moved.' I gave him the NEW address and toddled away looking longingly over my shoulder as he took my computer to the back room.

I arrived home and checked out my receipt and I noticed that at the top is my OLD adress. I immediately picked up the phone and called my Apple store. I tell them the problem and a guy quickly takes down my address and says 'yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it.'

Now there are some sentences in the English language that instill confidence that a task will be completed such as : Right Away! or Yes, madame I shall do that post haste.' But 'yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it' is not one of the sentences that instills such confidence. But I trusted that this fellow would do as he said.

So I waited.

On the 6th of January (7 days later) I decided to check on the status of my computer. I call the store where I am put on hold for a very very long time. A woman returns sounding a bit out of breath. 'Miss Marr, you need to call apple care since you chose to have your computer sent to your home.' Okay. So I call Apple Care they tell me that there is no status update other than the technicians ordered the part to make the repair. I then say, what address do you have to ship my computer to? He recites the OLD address. I give him the new one and cross my fingers. He tells me I need to call my Apple Store and update my address with them.

Been there, done that.

But I dutifully called AGAIN. I asked my Apple Store what address they had and they recite back to me my OLD address. I then asked them AGAIN to change my address.

I've reached Panic Level Yellow. My old address is an empty house because the buyer will not be moving in until February. But it is close to our NEW address so I asked my husband to check for Fed Ex tags at the house.

I called on the 10th because I am now SURE my computer will be sent to the wrong house. But the Apple Care tech informed me that no it hasn't shipped. On the 11th my Apple Care tech forwarded me a link where I can check on the status. I finally look at the link late on the 11th. There is a Fed Ex number! Yippee! The computer has been shipped. Where is it, when will it be here. I click the link.

Oh. My. Goodness.

My little baby was shipped on the 4th! Of January. After I called the Apple Store to update my address and got the 'yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it' guy and before I called Apple Care.

Guess who didn't take care of it.

Fed Ex tried to deliver my computer to my old address since the 6th. I call the Apple Store. I call Apple Care. If only the guy who had said 'yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it,' had actually taken care of it.

Today my computer is in Fort Worth. Friday it is supposed to be here in my hot little hands. We'll see.

PS Fed Ex put NO door tags on the house, we checked. Big Business failed all the way around.

xoMaggie

Technical Difficulties or Please Don't Take My Computer Away!

2010-01-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

Writers are inordinately attached to their computers.

If there were a fire and I had to choose between my children and the computer... Well of course I'd choose the kids. But if the choice were my husband and my little baby Mac on a bad day I'd grab the laptop bag and throw my man a fire extinguisher. (I am quite sure my MIL will not see the humor in the above.)

But truly. I am ATTACHED to this little machine. I spend more time communicating with this box of metal than with any other thing on the planet. It contains my most intimate details (and I don't mean naughty pics) but my stories. All of them. In all stages. My manuscripts, my scripts, my pilots, my treatments, my one liners that may become stories or scripts or pilots. Aaah. I love my little computer so.

Until Wednesday the 30th.

Just as I was about to head to the airport to return home from holiday my screen went black. Black. As in deader than a doornail black. Of course I wantedt to blame the children since they are 3 and 6 and are NEVER to touch Mommy's computer which means they ALWAYS want to touch Mommy's computer. Especially the 3 year old. She is our terror. The one that I already spend sleepless nights wondering what she'll be like when she's sixteen. Then I wanted to blame the husband. But he saw that hit coming and told me with his wicked smile that it wasn't his fault and I better keep right on moving down the list.

But there was no one else on the list. It couldn't have been me that harmed my precious little lovebug made of metal. And it wasn't. The darn graphics card bit the dust. And according to my Genius at the Genius Bar (who had some very sexy/swanky ink on his arms--gotta love a man who can really pull off a tattoo.) My computer fell within the 'range' of a group of computers that have graphics card failure.

Huh?

We have to take it for 7 to 10 days.

Gulp.

You back up right?

Gulp. Uh. Gulp. Sometimes?

Your data should be okay but I can't guarantee it.

Here come the tears. I can feel the tears. They are taking my baby away and she might not be okay? I might not be okay? My STORIES might not be okay?

Now I am on a friend's old computer. You know the one you never use once you get the killer new one but keep around 'just in case.' I am the 'just in case' right now. But of course I don't trust this little baby the way I trust mine. It's like driving someone else's car. You're not sure about that squeeky noise. Or how the breaks feel. Or if the steering is always this tight. Plus, this baby has some miles on her. Don't get me wrong I am THANKFUL I can now go through email. (Uh 290 in three days took me 3 hours.) But I don't trust this little lady with my most intimate thoughts.

Looks like I'll keep on writing those new chapters out long hand. At least until my baby gets back home.

Hollywood Couch & Water Tour

2009-12-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

As many of you know I write books and I write screenplays. And as a screenplay writer I get to embark on the amazing fun of the Hollywood Couch & Water Tour.

What is the Hollywood Couch & Water Tour you ask?

Well let me explain. My writing partner and I wrote a lovely little screenplay. We received some truly rave reviews and based on that screenplay now we go and meet all the execs that loved our writing. Where do we sit? The couch. What do we drink? Water. Hence the name Hollywood Couch & Water Tour.

Last week was meeting #25. We met with Laurence Mark Productions. They are an amazing production company. They made this movie:

One of my favorites and one of the movies we studied while writing our script.

Laurence Mark Productions recently produced this film:

Another one of my faves.

At the meeting we riffed on films. Television. What makes a good story vs. what makes a great story. We even pitched them a couple ideas as well as the screenplay we are working on now.

Next stop on the Hollywood Couch & Water Tour is January 6 2010...stay tuned.

The Writing is Never Easy

2009-12-13T17:55:00.001-08:00

Writing is not easy. Not as a business. Not as a creative endeavor. But for me, writing can be filled with joy.

For the past year I've worked on a contemporary romance. And I love this book. I continue to love the book even though I struggle to write and then rewrite the manuscript each and every day. Perhaps that is why my entry to the Harlequin Presents Contest was so effervescent. Now please, do not mistake effervescence with ease. They are two separate words.

Every story, every chapter, every storyboard, every outline, every sentence, every word takes work. However, it was with great joy that I discovered as I worked on my entry that two amazing characters came forth. Ease? No. As I've said. Writing is never easy. But joyful? Yes. I believe the joy came from the intensity of the attraction these characters felt for each other. And the tight word count in which I, as an author had to convey this intensity. There is something, I found through this entry, thrilling about needing to convey as much as possible about the chemistry between two people in so few words. But yes, the characters and their story came fast. But does that mean I didn't work on the pages?

No.

I am an author. And every author works. We work on craft. Just because a story comes fast doesn't mean it's not rewritten, tinkered with, rewritten again. We should all know, based on one of my favorite authors, just because there is speed in the writing doesn't mean there isn't work. Not that I will ever be nearly as talented nor as prolific as the great Nora. A girl can dream.

I end with this... There is no greater gift given to an author than a story to convey. Who knows where the stories come from? I don't ask. I merely write the words.

xoMaggie

Classic Romance Something New

2009-12-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

So... A few months ago a good friend of mine (Ally Carter) said, "Maggie, I think you should write a category romance."
"A what?" I replied.
"A category romance," said Ally. "You know from Harlequin." And although I often read romance because I am all about the love and the Happily Ever After, I am embarassed to say I hadn't read a category romance in years. But because Ally is a little bit psychic (don't tell her I told you..actually she probably already knows) and because she's sold a BILLION books I decided I'd listen to my dear writer friend. I got on line and ordered a couple of these little treats.

Oh. My. Goodness.

They are like mini-milky way chocolate bars! Fast, addictive and sweet! The books are four dollars, I can read them in a few hours, and they are REALLY GOOD! Before I knew it I had consumed a whole bag...wait...that was the chocolate...I had read a whole dozen.

Then, because I am a writer...I started thinking about characters. Two characters. Then I started surfing and I found a contest! Not just any contest but a big contest...at Harlequin. I was in the midst of my 5th rewrite (which felt like my 20th rewrite) on my contemporary romance and I wanted the freedom the joy of writing new characters. So I did. I sat down and let these two fabulous characters spring to life. Wrote a one page synopsis and shipped it off to the UK with barely a moment to spare.

Flash forward four weeks. And I get a phone call. A phone call with a 44 prefix. Now I have friends in London but usually they don't call at 8:15 am.... This phone call was the lovely Joanne Grant! Telling me that although I wasn't the bride, I got to be a bridesmaid in a flashy little dress. I was a runner up!! Out of 544 amazing entries! Wow! Talk about thrilled, excited, astounded! What fun to dash off this lovely little chapter (that practically wrote itself) and then become a finalist! I get the honor of a critique by Bryony Green, an amazing editor. And every writer loves working with amazing editors!

I am humbled. And honored. And thrilled. Thank you Joanne. Thank you Bryony. Thank you Harlequin. And thank you to my good friend, the psychic, Ally.

xoMaggie Marr

Rewrites

2009-12-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

As I plow through yet another rewrite of my current manuscript...is this 5 or is it 6? I can no longer remember I am both enchanted and disheartened by the process. Enchanted in that I always have something new to learn in every draft. Whether it be about a character, a plot layer, or my craft this job provides me with a steep learning curve each time I sit down to write.

And the disheartened bit?

Well I often wonder, as most writers do, whether the writing is good enough. Whether the writing will ever be good enough to tell this story. And that constant wondering (aka fear) although it acts as a magnet to get my butt in the chair can also be a drain on my psyche. When faced with the idea of yet another rewrite that potentially could change an entire book I initially become paralyzed.

I liken this moment of paralysis to standing at the foot of Mt. Everest after sumiting five times in the last twelve months, taking a deep breath and beginning to climb yet again. And although with each climb I know the perils of the mountain a little better I can only prepare so well. Storms whip up. Blizzards. Ice fields. Equipment fails. Oy what writer hasn't fought with their computer or word processing software at some point? And still I climb on, upward into thinner and thinner air.

Why?

Because I love the feeling of the words rushing by, I love the sound of all the voices in my head, and most of all, if I'm completely honest, I love the view from the top. Looking down at all the consonants and vowels I've formed in millions of ways to make thousands of words and hundreds of sentences. All the tippity tappity sounds of my fingertips on the keyboard and hours of work culminate in one book. One book written by me. And really, I guess, that finish, the mountain of pages that lie before me after each and every rewrite, my view of the world, is well worth the climb.

xoMaggie

Love In Translation by Wendy Tokunaga

2009-12-06T19:56:00.000-08:00

Wendy Tokunaga's latest book Love In Translation was just released. Wendy agreed to stop by and answer some of my questions about her process and her latest book.

What inspired Love in Translation?

Many things. LOVE IN TRANSLATION is my cockeyed valentine to Japan, which is a place I’ve both loved and loathed, a place that has fueled both fascination and frustration. And it is also a place that has had a huge impact on my life and writing. I also wanted to explore what it means to be a gaijin (foreigner) in Japan and the benefits and downsides of that status and what happens when a gaijin sings in Japanese. I also am fascinated by the concept of the homestay, (something I never experienced), and how that would impact someone as an adult who grew up in foster homes and who never experienced a real family.

What do you consider the heart of your story?

My stories seem to have several “hearts,” or at least I see them that way. In LOVE IN TRANSLATION it’s how Celeste Duncan, a woman without a family, finds one in a foreign culture. It’s also about the power of music on the soul and heart and the meaning of finding your own voice, both in the singing sense and the identity sense.

What comes most naturally for you to write, dialogue? plot? character? What’s the hardest?

Easiest for me is plot and that’s what I try to spend time sorting that out on the first draft. I also like to “talk out” my plot to friends and keep refining it that way. The most difficult is slowing down and spending time on description. I don’t care for long passages of description, but you must have some. So I try and strike a happy medium, but it isn’t easy for me.

What has brought the greatest joy since you were published? The greatest angst?

I’d say the greatest joy is having readers who appreciate your writing. And the greatest angst is in working hard to keep those readers and gain more.

What do you love about being an author?

There’s so much that I enjoy. First, it’s great to be paid for something you love to do. But I also find it inspiring to help other writers. I enjoy telling my story of woe on my road to publication and let others know that they don’t need any special connections to the publishing world in order to get published. I like to promote the message that you should never give up. And if you work hard, keep at it and be flexible, your publishing dream may come true. I also like helping other writers make their work the best it can be.

What’s one piece of writing advice you’ve found valuable on your journey to publication?

That often you won’t discover the real story you’re trying to tell until the revision process.

How do you promote your books? Are you going on tour for this book? Any upcoming signings?

I do a lot of my own promotion for my books, much of it online. I’m on MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, have blogs, a website, etc., etc. It’s fun, but it can be overwhelming sometimes. I actually was dreaming in Tweets the other night and I often spend way too much time thinking about what my Facebook status should be. I generally do readings and signings in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have events coming up for promotion of LOVE IN TRANSLATION in early December in San Francisco, Half Moon Bay and Corte Madera, which are all listed on my website. And I may be doing some more in January. At some of the events I’ll be performing “The Wishing Star (Nozomi no Hoshi)” the “theme song” from LOVE IN TRANSLATION, which is the fictional song portrayed in the book brought to real life. I also really like appearing at writers conferences and I’ll be at the San Francisco Writers Conference in mid-February. I’ll also be teaching a class called Your Novel: The Road to Publication at Books Inc. Opera Plaza in San Francisco in January.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a novel that is a different departure for me: it has very little to do with Japan!

Good Review

2009-11-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

Every writer likes a good review and Secrets of The Hollywood Girls Club got one at ChickLit+

Enjoy!

xoMaggie