Last year, I heard from my agent that there was an editor interested in working with me on a mystery they wanted written.
I was to come up with the characters and plot. They’d like the series set in the South and to incorporate quilting.
Of course I jumped on it. I’m no quilter, but quilting is a big part of Southern heritage. I’ve appreciated it as an art form and as a vehicle for telling stories. And the South is my chosen setting—what I know the best.
This was all I knew about what the editor wanted: the setting and the subplot.
I started reading as many novels as I could that used quilting as a subplot or hook.
After reading quite a few of these books, I came up with what I thought the editor wanted.
I wrote an outline for the first book. The characters were quieter than the characters I usually wrote. They minded their manners a little more. They were a bit more serious. There wasn’t any of the loud laughter or slapstick humor that my characters are frequently fond of. I hushed them up and told them to behave.
But there was this one character, a ferocious old lady who demanded inclusion in the book.
I reluctantly included her, knowing she had a lot more in common with my Myrtles, Lulus, and Evelyns than the new characters in the new book. I killed her halfway through the book.
I submitted the outline to my agent and she sent it to the editor at Penguin/NAL.
I heard back from my agent after about a month. The editor liked it, but wanted livelier, more colorful, quirky characters. They waned more characters like the ferocious old lady…in fact, they wanted the ferocious old lady, herself.
So I raised her from the dead. :) And I knew what I should have known before I ever started sketching out the outline for that book—they wanted me to write the way I usually wrote. They wanted me to write my specialty—humorous Southern mysteries full of quirky Southerners.
Got it!
What gets me is why I’d think otherwise. If someone is contacting me, they’re looking for what I usually write. It makes sense. If I’m calling a plumber, I’m not asking him to fix my electrical problems. I won’t ask the appliance repair guy to do my interior painting. They probably do know how to do those other things—they’re handy people, in a general sense. But it’s not their specialty.
Can I write other styles and genres? Sure I can. Does it come as easily? No. I don’t know about y’all, but for me there are some things that just come naturally to me—that are second nature for me to write.
What’s your writing strength? Are you capitalizing on it by writing a story that plays to it?
Eliazabeth – What a great story! And I agree completely that you have real writing strength in creating colourful, quirky characters in a Southern setting. I’m so glad that the Penguin people saw that. What a good reminder to focus on what we write best.
I have yet to find my writing strength.
I did find it interesting that you decided to change your usual style, for someone else. They in turn wanted you-your style.
I adore the quilts I see from the USA. Patience and love sewn into each one. What lovely research it must have been for you.
Hi Elizabeth .. it’s interesting how we change ourselves to fit others – when they’re looking for us in the first place & don’t want a replacement! Delighted with your success .. cheers Hilary
I think this is something a lot of us forget. We often believe that if something is easy and natural it can’t be good or what others want or whatever. Sometimes we just have to go with it and trust.
Happy Friday!
Your post was uncanny. I am finished my manuscript and am in the query stage. This morning I thought of one of the characters I killed off then 30 minutes later I was reading your post. I shall re-visit my work. Thanks@
I think we all need to remember that our writing strengths are called our strengths for a reason! Keep writing those ferocious ladies of a certain age, Elizabeth! And (for me) give one of them a yappy dog that she insists on dressing up! (just kidding – of course)
I’m not sure what my strengths are, but I know I have to write in my own style or else the prose sounds stilted and forced.
Congratulations on another new series. I don’t know how you keep up with all your characters
I know what my strengths aren’t, which includes in-depth world building. Probably should shy away from high fantasy.
Excellent point, and one made even more poignant by this true story.
We must adhere to, and be driven by, our strengths, our core “what makes me uniquely me-ness.” Trying to be something else to satisfy someone else’s mold is a recipe for disaster.
My main strength? Realism in the characters. From pretty, nicey-nice, prudish types, to raw, dirty, nasty and evil types–I write ’em like they really are in the REAL world.
I just love that your publisher came back with the request for character traits that you WOULD have written if just let alone to write the way you do best in the first place – poetic justice!
Glynis–I’m sure you’ll find yours! Yes, I was happy to try to change my voice and style…but so funny that they *wanted* my voice and style!
The research has really been a delight! I’ve had such a good time immersing myself in it.
Hilary–A good general lesson for life, isn’t it?
Diane–Maybe it was a sign? Good luck rethinking your death in the book. :)
Margot–Thanks so much! Yes, always better to focus on what we do best.
Jane–Thanks! Yes, stilted and forced is exactly what happened to me when I tried to write using a different voice and style.
Alex–I know what you mean. That wouldn’t be my strength, either.
The Old Silly–So true..trying to be something we’re not is definitely something to avoid, both personally and in our writing. The funny thing is how much better the story is now.
Marvin, your talent for displaying truth and grittiness is something that I think is lacking out there in the literary world (because most of us haven’t seen or experienced it.)
It definitely taught me a lesson! Yes, the editor was like: “Do more like THIS character.” I was totally surprised. And it would have been so much easier for me to have written like that from the beginning and just trusted my voice!
Carol–It’s so true, isn’t it? If it comes easily to us, it couldn’t be a good thing or a desirable thing.
Elspeth–Hmm….yappy dogs that get dressed up. Now you’ve got me thinking! Ha!
Of course they want what you do best – if not they would be reeeally stupid ;O
I am beginning to realize that no matter what I set out to write, humour of some kind tends to sneak in. Silly humour, deadpan humour, dark humour – it seems it must be there, even when I pretend I am writing noir.
Editors; no matter what you ask for, humour will be part of the bargain.
Such a good reminder! I am having trouble with the one I’m trying to write and I think it’s because I’ve made some departures from my normal stuff, too.
Hart–Maybe you can find a way back to your voice with the project. Good luck! :)
Dorte–I love your humor and I think it’s essential for even really intense books…if there’s no let-up in the tension, I think it makes it rough on readers.
Hi Elizabeth… This popped up in my reader today and thought of you with your quilting series: http://romancewritersrevenge.com/2011/03/21/quilting-with-character-flaws/