Casting for That Special Magic
Quartermaster Sin slides down the ratlines from the crows nest, well aware of the dashing picture she creates. As she lands lightly on the rail, she glances over toward the bar, hoping for some quick refreshment. But the bar is empty, no bottles lined up. No bartender. The monkey jibbers at her shoulder, draws her attention to the deck near the bow. There 2nd Chance sits, surrounded by books, charts, sheets of graph paper and scattered highlighters of every color. The barkeep appears frazzled.
- “What’s she about?” Sin glances at Terrio and Marnee, perched on the railing.
- “Don’t know. But it’s a mess.” Terrio sighs. “We be thirsty but she’s hidden the rum away till she’s done.”
- “Send Jack looking for it, he’ll find it. Can’t keep that pirate high and dry. He’ll sniff it out.” Sin chuckled.
- The sound of cursing and crashing comes from below as Lisa and Hal climb up to the deck. Hal shrugs, “She’s good. Can’t find a trace of drink.”
- “She can’t do this! Let’s throw her overboard.” Lisa glares at the bow. “What does she want? Ransom? More blog days?”
- “I asked.” Marnee shudders. “She said something about magic. She casting spells now?”
- “I doubt it, she knows the captain don’t like potions messing up the galley. Santa nearly mutinied last time. Her double boiler was nearly ruined!” Sin sniffed. “Must be some other sort of spell.”
- “It is.” Captain Hellion strolled over, dismissing last Sunday’s hottie to finish cleaning up her cabin. “She’s looking for the magic of creating devoted fans. She’s got all my Harry Potters over there, a pile of Nora’s books, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, a bunch of Mary Janice Davidson, Eloisa…Sin’s Twilight books…” Taking a breath the captain decides not to continue.
“Oh.” Sin snickered. “I get it. But I’m thirsty, enough is enough! And she can’t mess with my books!” With a grin, Sin marches to the bow determined to haul Chance away from the newest dilemma.
Yes, I want that magic. I want the magic of the devoted fans. The delightfully witty, slightly obsessed, totally charmed fans. I want to inspire legions (well, maybe not that many, I don’t want them marching on my driveway or anything!) … OK, I want to inspire a dedicated fan club. I want my blogs quoted and shared, and talked about. I want fans lined up to sign my books. To bid on signed editions on e-bay. I want to be invited to speak at conferences, to be a guest at pirate weddings… Be on the cover of Pirate Magazine…
I want my fans to dress like pirates and attend pirate festivals. I want them to talk like pirates, collect maps of the Caribbean, try out rum recipes, fall in love with sailing…read all my books. Make up buttons of the clever things I write…t-shirts, hats, journals. Sigh, the whole shebang.
So, how did the rest do it? What is the formula? The spell? Please, don’t tell me it’s kids, ala Rowling. Is it wizards, ala Tolkien? The atmosphere and descriptive beauty of Nora? The wit of Davidson? The characters of Eloisa?
All of the above? We all read stories that cause that inner bell to ring true. That sees us line up to buy the new book when it comes out, dress up like hobbits to stand in line at the movies, (or pirates). (Yes, I did both, though I dressed up like an elf.) What happens to see us devote shelf after shelf to the books, read them until they tatter, stalk Mary Janice… (nevermind.)
What do you think? What does it take to inspire this level of involvement? What was it that made your heart sing at a new cover? Or dress like your favorite character? Write fanfic? Write an actual fan letter?! What did these authors do so right? And how do I do it!!?? I’m keepin’ the rum hidden till I get some answers!
Books by the Crew
81 comments:
Hah! Gotcha!
Excuse me dear author If I don't mention your name
For I don't want to fall in the deep water again.
To write something that catches the imagination of a nation requires real magic. Its not something that you can cook up in a cauldron or reach for with a broomstick. You have to have a VISION that resonates with the masses, and enough fire in your belly to convey that vision.
Where the vision comes from is a mystery indeed
For the alchemy of creation is worth far more than gold
I'd give my last condom to know where it is sold
AND The morning tea leaves were no help either! :?
That's "how-to's"
morning.
no coffee yet.
kid gave me pink-eye.
Very interesting. And I have no hot-to's for you. All I can think is that maybe you can't be aware of the adoring throngs when you write a piece. You have to adore the piece yourself, do right by it (meaning, your best) and THEN the throngs will come. If not, keep writing.
A few years back, Christina Dodd was the keynote speaker at RWA National. The recurrent theme in her speech was, "keep walking." Other authors will spurt ahead of you, perhaps stumble and fall by the wayside, but you've got to keep walking. Dodd consistently makes the NYT Bestseller lists because she keeps walking.
I really don't think there's any set formula that can be followed to create a magical reading experience. Obviously, good writing is essential as well as a good story but when I really care about the people in the books then I become invested in their lives, their story and their happiness. Each time I've written, or spoken, to an author about a particular book that I've found to be "magical", the author has confessed that they too "fell in love with the character(s)" or that they "poured their heart and soul into this book". The minute I finished reading an arc of Christina Dodd's SCENT OF DARKNESS, I sent her an email raving about the book and telling her how very much I adored the Wilder family. She told me that she too loved this family and felt this "was the series I was born to write". I think it's that love and passion on the part of the author that comes through loud and clear to the reader and makes the experience magical for both.
Gee, Chance, you don't want much, do you? LOL! You do realize the mutiny that's going to happen when these wenches can't find that rum, right?
I don't have the answer to this question either, but I'd say the best way to find it is to examine the books/series that you mention and find the common factors. One obvious one is the creation of an amazing new world. Whether it's Middle Earth or Hogwarts, these worlds didn't exist in any way until these authors created them. Originality, talent, and lives or entire ways of life at stake is what all of these have.
Now, simple create that. :) Easy-peasy.
That was "simply create that." LOL! I'd never call you simple!
Wow. You're like Franklin and his 13 virtues: "Imitate Jesus and Socrates."
Nothing like aiming high, MM. Nora, Rowling, Tolkien.... That's some hefty company.
I think that Ter's right, that a great world definitely helps. But Nora does it without a new world. She just creates characters that are fabulous, that make us relate and root for them. I think that's what really does it. Create characters (which includes their world) that resonate and people will keep reading.
Very true, Marn. I didn't pull Nora into my equation. Though I have to wonder, do you think the Rowling and Tolkien fans are more fans of the books/series and Nora fans are more fans of Nora?
Good Morning Dear Pirate crew! Never fear, I was privy to 2nd Chances shinanigans and holding the rum hostage so here you go... (smiling, she passes out bottles to everyone.) This should get you by for an hour or so! Well at least until she wakes up and throws me off the ship!
I agree with all of you it is a combination of great characters, a unique setting and yes maybe a sprinkle of magic! Everyone has a story within them, its getting it out and sharing it with others thats the difficult part. I believe it is all in the marketing of ones self at first, building a platform then promoting yourself like crazy, people are just curious by nature, they want to know the details about their authors! So start early, share with them, write from your heart and yes KEEP WALKING!! And for goodness sake Sin stop giving the royal kitties rum in their water dish! Huff.. pirates....
Good morning, Lady Jane! And thank you so much for setting the rum free. I was actually nervous about the impending fireworks.
You are certainly right about that sprinkle of magic. I'm certain that for every story that takes off like the boy wizard or the brave hobbit or the brooding vampire there are others just as fantastic that never get off the ground. I truly believe NO ONE can know what is going to take off like that and NO ONE can predict when it will happen. I do wish there was some special spell or formula, but ultimately, it's all a crap shoot. :)
I don't mean to sound flippant here (at least not more than usual) but these writers wrote the books we all wanted to read (and write). JK Rowling, the Twilight lady...pretty much all these guys, you ask them, they say: I wrote a book I wanted to read, that entertained me.
Which clearly is easier said than done.
Also, I think that desire for rabid fans things--that's a "be careful what you wish for" thing. I want to be published and have people excited about my books as much as the next writer, but I think if JK Rowling and the Twilight woman could go back to being anonymous, they'd probably take it because their fans are freaking nuts. And I can say that because there are at least three fans on this ship alone. (I'm not sure how many of the newbies are HP/Twilight fans.)
But being *I* know there is only four months until the next HP movie is in theaters; and Sin was emailing daily updates of when Twilight was coming out...that sort of devoted fan can be at once flattering and unnerving. I mean, there's gotta be some point where these authors are going: "You know that Edward doesn't exist right?" or "Harry and Hermione can't get together because they're FICTIONAL."
I think a lot of it all has to do with voice. A lot of people become addicted to the style of a voice and it makes the reader want more of that "feeling" they get when they pick up a certain author.
I know what inspired me to write fan fiction at one point was the lack of character growth in a certain series. I wanted something to happen and after 11 books it hadn't really happened to my satisfaction, I took it upon myself to do *something* about it. I hadn't intended to let anyone read it, but *shrug* shit happens.
I can honestly say I've never emailed Stephenie Meyer- no matter how much I'm in love with Edward. I'd dearly love to run into her while I'm in Phoenix; but I don't have much of a chance of that happening. But Hellie is right, Twilight fans are freaking crazy. Like nuts over everything. I think it's the teenager culture of mania the books inspire. I mean, I can get nuts over some Ranger and Edward, but some fans take craziness to another level.
*curtsey* Good mornin' Lady Jane. I trust your trip aboard the ship has been pleasant so far.
*grinning*
Hellie and Sin make a great point. I was shocked when I found out that Rowling got death threats when she failed to put Harry and Hermione together. Death. Threats. Seriously?!
I'll take a nice, moderate fan base who enjoys my books enough to keep reading them and let me know now and then how much they appreciate them. LOL!
I've been pretty lucky so far with my writing. I started out with fan fiction and have my own little fan group built up. I think it helps with my confidence to see someone enjoy something I write, regardless if the characters are mine or not. Writing fan fiction has taught me the art of how to write for myself and taught me how to write to garner attention and how to end chapters. I can't refute that fan fiction hasn't been good to me regardless the stigma attached to it.
I like that comment about Dodd, the one PJ said. About writing the series she was born to write.
I think that's something we should look for. What's the book you were born to write? As PJ said: Passion is everything.
*laughs* You know I took a Historical Research class in college (it's a culminating class for history majors and as an English major I had to get special permission to even be in it); and in the class, Dr. Batterson asked us what we most wanted to write. He said, "I gave you $250,000 to live on for one year and you didn't have to worry about expenses, what would you write about?"
I remember being momentarily confused if $250,000 would be enough to live on (money and math have never been my forte), but finally I said: Scotland. I'd write about Scotland, specifically William Wallace. (I was mad for Braveheart at the time.)
"Are you sure?" he asked, "Because eventually even if you're passionate about it, you're going to sick of it...so it better be something you truly love." *LOL*
I eventually got an A in the class, so William Wallace was my passion--at the time. :)
So maybe that should be the question you should ask: if you had $250,000 and didn't have to worry about money, what would you write about, really?
Awesome blog Chance!
The descriptions and mystery of Ricardo Carlos Manoso aka Ranger in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series inspired me to write. Ranger doesn't share much dialogue, and the books are written in first person from Stepahnie's POV, but Evanovich makes more out of less so perfectly.
You must have a connection with your characters. You must posess a passion to tell their story, and believe in the story you're telling. The character's and the dialogue is what is most important to me. The ability to create the "awe" factor is a beautiful gift.
It will happen for you Chance. Just believe:)
BTW, 118 days until the new HP movie is in theaters.
The new theater clip is really good too: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809791044/trailer
Excellant point Captain Hellion! I love authors who can take us away to places I have never been aka: Scotland or London or where ever that maybe. My thing is when reading Historicals, there seems to be so few based in the US which I find sad, I love American History settings. I love to write my stories based in America, but it is not the norm for Historicals , so am I doomed? I hope not!
SIN! What a marvelous curtsey! Have you been practicing! I am so impressed *g*
Crew! Ah, were all a bunch of lovely mates... *casts a wry eye on Jane-o for breaking the rum out.
I never meant ta hold it fer long. Here ya go, the rum's in a cutter, behind the ship...
And some fabulous answers here. I listed who I listed not for the nut factor fans (Come on, they can be nuts with absolute crap) but fer the sweet ones.
Q? Can't cook it up in a cauldron? Hmmm, know many witches? ;)
J Perry and PJ... (we sure they ain't the same? Those names be very close...)
But I get it. Create the world you love, the characters you were meant to write and just keep writing...just keep writing... (Where did that singing come from...?)
I not be writin' fer the glory...but I be honest that some glory would be sweet.
Oh yeah, J Perry and PJ are two different people. Both lovely, but quite different. LOL!
Terrio, Marnee...easy. Put the blades down...the rum is there, I swear it! See? There's last month's hotties, bringin' it aboard... I'll break out the blender...
I do shoot high, don't I! I haven't read the Twilight stuff, but I see the merchandise everywhere. Not sure I could stomach action figures of my characters. You know they'd give Miranda too much boob and make Reynard too tall... But I'd probably play with them anyway!
*lifts one hand, palm up, then the other... World? Character? A divine marriage of the two.
I adore Nora's descriptive talent. She made me want to visit Ireland...she set a series in Monterey and it was wonderful to read of the places I know. Tho I not be wantin' ta see New York, ala her vision a' the future. Too many nasty ways ta die there!
Lady Jane...how many times do I hafta warn ye 'bout bringin' the kitties aboard? Look, that one can't even walk anymore!
Platform, aye. If nothin' else, I be gettin' readers by sheer curiousity 'bout what that "interesting" woman from RT wrote...
*big grin
Hellion, have you seen comments from those who saw the new HP movie? A lot of them were really unhappy.
I don't have any desire to reach Rowling's level and lose my anonymity. Nora, on the other hand, has the best of both. She has a host of fans, lots of $$$, and she can still move in public places without being trailed by press and crazed fans. Still, I'd be happy with a small, loyal following who sent me an ocassional email saying they liked my books. :)
Cap'n Hel, ya made some good points. I not be lookin' fer the stalkin' sorts a' fans. But ta inspire some silliness in this serious world a' ours. That be a dream I have.
I 'member wanderin' the bookstores, lookin' fer something...different. So, I wrote the series I wanted ta read...and I do read them. Wake up, 'memberin' somethin' I wrote, and pull it up on the laptop ta read again.
I be a simple woman, and I amuse meself if nothin' else!
P'haps one a nice things 'bout the Tolkien fandom...there be no author about ta harrass. Goin' ta Toronto ta sit in a theater wit' other devoted fans, watchin' the extended version of movies 1 & 2, then the premier of 3... Cryin' me eyes out on the trip back ta the hotel...and they all understood why. That's magic.
'Tis the books me siblin's read nearly every year.
Sigh.
Janga, no I didn't see the comments. Lord, what are they complaining about now? *LOL*
Does it take a special fan ta get so...devoted? With a touch of deep imagination ta get so lost in a world?
Or are they just nuts?
Sin?
I never read any of the LOTR books, but when the movies were big, the guy I was dating was really into them. So I watched them and they were good. I remember going to the theater to see the last one with him and it was packed. And he cried during the movie. I'd never seen a guy cry at a movie before. LOL! And this is the only Alpha I've ever dated! LOL!
Aye, Terrio...I don't wan' death threats... Ya sure they be two people? Photos?!
I'm wit' Janga...a nice loyal core a' fans, that e-mail me with excitement over where I be takin' the Moonstone (Miranda and Reynard's ship.)
And I really want the cover of Pirate Magazine. Ya see it? Such a lovely bit of monthly readin'...er, every other monthly readin'!
I know fans quibble, but I thought the LOTR movies were brilliantly well done... Peter Jackson can do my movies should they ever do so well...
Actually, too much sex...don't think Jackson would be willn' ta do it. How would ya film a witch that needs sex ta make magic and not have an X rating?
There be negative comments 'bout the new Harry? How did any see it? Sneaks!
I just watched a couple of the HP trailers and I might actually see this one in the theaters. But my kiddo is going to be out of town when this comes out. I'll have to borrow someone else kid to take. LOL!
Terrio! Why not go alone? I go ta movies all the time alone? Saw Bolt three times, twice, alone. Ya don't hafta share the popcorn that way!
And is this movie the book before the last book or the first half of the last book?
I've gone alone, but for this one I'll admit I don't want to look like one of the crazed fans. Then again, by the time I go it will be a bit after the big premiere weekend (as I'll be at Nationals when this hits theaters) so maybe I will go alone. I love not having anyone next to me asking questions.
Sin - " How about if I just let everyone else decide, and if I can make it that weekend....I'll be there with bells on." - ditto. That's why I started writing too. Characters that just wouldn't freakin get out of my head! For me, that's the goal. Characters that resonate and stick with readers.
Anyone else notice that all the *huge* names were talking all write series? I have to wonder if it's easier to build up that huge readership if you're writing a series where you leave readers hanging, where everything isn't tied up in a neat little bow at the end.
Great blog, chance!
This is book 6, Terri. So it's the whole book in one movie; not the lopped in half 7th book/movie.
Bolts coming out in DVD, BTW... Awesome!
Good point, Hal. Most a' the authors that I find meself devoted to write series. I have the onesters that I follow...but there isn't the same level of 'gotta have it' to a onester.
A series draws ya in, ya know there be more comin' and it makes ya hungry. Like only eating one potato chip...
I got me sis hooked on the Harry Dresden series and she all but cursed me...I gave 'er seven books at once and she saw little sleep 'till she'd read 'em all!
So, as me sis writes, is it all about the timing? If ya miss the chance on the publishing stage, are ya outta luck?
Imagine the editor who first turned down Harry... Were they given another chance? (I honestly don't know... I mean, we all have bad days... Granted, that was a real bad one...;))
Sis mentioned the Dragonriders of Pern...she mainly reads sci/fi/fantasy. A series that certainly got the ball rolling on fantasy again!
All I wants is ta get the ball rollin' and rockin' and sailin' wit' pirates. Again.
Pirates forever!
Sin, sorry. But I be so tired a' vampires...
Jane-o. I saw the post 'bout historicals in places other than Europe. Don't know why it didn't post here! The internet be playin' oddly today. Aye, Sin did a cute curtsi, din't she. But she still let that monkey give yer cats that drink!
Did ya do somethin' nasty on the new computer and yer bein' treated like a spamster?
Waits! I saw it. I jus' be selectively blind this mornin'. Comes a' hidin' the rum. The rest a' the crew has cursed me...
Cap'n? What made ya falls so in love with Harry?
Chance, As a point of clarity could you confirm that you originally posted this blog in captain's quarters (Hellion).
Now that you have corrected it I look like a lunatic...or perhaps bewitched *grin*
This sort of thing would never happen in the British Navy!
I hope the monkey got back safely by the way. Couldn't understand a word he spoke but he's definitely male....he finished off my bottle of vintage scotch!
Chance - about the vampire thing, I think Twilight sort of got in on the end of it instead of created it the way HP started its own thing. So timing likely does have something to do with it. I bet those pubs who turned away Rowlings kick themselves everyday, but there was no way to know how it would take off.
Q - Sorry, I fixed that. :) I'm not sure Chance realized it.
What's not to love about Harry?
I saw the movie first because I thought a kid's book, about sci-fi wizards no less, had to be dumber than a box of hammers. I didn't want to see the movie; I only went because my date suggested it...and paid for it, and I figured he couldn't talk while the movie was on. Win-win.
But from the get-go, I was enchanted. Probably mostly because it was British setting. I have a big love for British themed flicks. The horrible family he has to live with. The over the top horrible life he has to lead: living in a cupboard, obnoxious relatives, horrible school life--and then he finds out he's a wizard and he gets to live in a world where he does fit in.
I've always loved the friendships in the books. Friendships always matter most...and the droll humor at times and the way it's so matter of fact, you truly do believe that wizards could exist and simply live apart from us. I love how JK Rowling makes it look so natural--and yet so extraordianary at the same time.
As Harry says, "I love magic." *LOL*
In one of those trailers I watched this morning, I loved there part where Hermione tells Harry some girl is watching him only because she thinks he's *the chosen one*. When Harry (only half-jokingly) says, "But I am the chosen one" Hermione smacks him with a piece of paper. LOL! I don't think those books would have worked on any level without the friendship of those three main characters. And I haven't even read them!
Thanks for clarifying that Terri.
Helli, I think I agree with pretty well everything you say.
I haven't seen the Harry Potter films but I'm a big Fan of Stephen Fry as narrator in the audio book versions. He really brings the characters to life. He is also brilliant as Jeeves in the P G Wodehouse Berty Wooster Novels.
There is something oddly English about the writing of both Rowling and Wodehouse. The settings obviously, but also the humour and the support for the underdog. And both are magical.
So you obviously need lessons in magic to compete!
STEPHEN FRY reads for the British version of the HP on CD? That's bloody unfair! You guys get all the great readers! I mean I love how Dale did it--he was really really good--but STEPHEN FRY! There's no comparison!
Okay, so the next question is: if I bought a CD from Britain, will it play here? I mean, you can't buy DVDs from overseas because of that region crap...is that the same for CDs?
Helli, Once again I find myself agreeing completely with you! There must be magic in the air *grin*
Not aware of any problem with CDs. If you google 'Stephen Fry narrating Harry Potter' you can find download sites for the audio books.
I have been converting music CDs to MP3 using my PC without problem so if the CDs will play on an ordinary CD player (ie not encrypted) you should be OK.
My wife bought audio tapes of all of the early books and has just ordered CDs for the final book. I can report back when they arrive if you like.
So I had to look up this Stephen Fry person. He plays Booth's therapist on Bones! I love that dude. Oh, he has an awesome voice. I'd listen to every book if it was him reading it. Hell, I'd listen to him read the phone book. LOL!
Terri, I don't think he's done the telephone directory. But if there is a market I'm sure he would *grin*
Ah, his would be the perfect voice for it. I loved it when he played Boothe's therapist.
Thanks, Terrio! I didn't realize I had posted it under the Cap'n banner. Was in a bit of a blather last night and no wonder I bobbled it!
So, Cap'n. The movies led ya ta the book. Interesting! I was working in the bookstore, so the books came first fer me. I 'member recommendin' it ta folks and they jus' looked a' me like I was cracked.
Which is besides the point.
Bein' cracked, that is.
Gots a close friend. We decided had we been in grade school when Harry came out, and Tolkein. I'd be dressed up like Gandalf and she'd be... ahhh...brain freeze. Harry's wizard! That guy!
Mus' admit, I haven't read the last two books. Maybe the last three. Didn't read the one where they killed of big D. Yeah, now I remember his name!
It's like it got popular and I lost interest. I can be contrary like that.
Q! Thanks fer sendin' the monkey back and my apologies ta the queen. 'Bout the missing crown...
Um, DUMBLEDORE?
Epics! That's the word I was looking for. They are both epics and the epics seem to get the biggest followings.
I can't imagine loving any book enough to dress up in a costume. But that's just me and my boring, practical ways. Do you think the enormous followings of Potter and the Hobbits has to do with the many similarities that run through the stories?
The classic hero's journey and all that?
Epics get the biggest followings because they have the biggest geeks.
In my defense for dressing as a character from a book (and never mind that I like costuming and pretending to be someone else), I only dressed as Harry Potter because my father mistook me for Harry Potter on a valentine card. So I thought if he was going to mistake me for a 12 year old boy wizard, I was going to DRESS as a 12 year old boy wizard.
But there are people who dress in Renaissance (surely I spelled that wrong) clothes or the Beau Monde followers who dress in their favorite period clothes every year for their party at Nationals. There's nothing wrong with a little dress up, I just wouldn't think to do it. You know me, I'm no fun.
Then why are epic followers usually made up of mostly geeks? What's the attraction?
Yes, ma'am. Dumbledore. Sorry. Abject apologies and all...
I thinks ya have ta love costuming, Ter. Once ya got that in place, ya look fer reasons ta dress up. It's the littl girl in us? The pretend factor...
I knew I couldn't do one of the character elves. I was just one of the court. Arwen? Ha! Slender I ain't. A hobbit would a' worked, but they weren't me favorite. That were Elrond's home...
Yea! Geekdom! Epics rule!
Though the hero's journey likely has something ta do with it.
Geeks love DETAILS. History, minutae, DETAILS. The whole world-building things is infinite and yet finite.
Plus something about D&D almost always factors in here somewhere.
AND, this might be the most telling of all, heroes of epics are usually people without "power" or were raised by people they didn't fit in with--then suddenly that's all explained. The misfit hero's weirdness is explained--and better yet, it's exalted...and now will be used to save mankind. The ultimate "We used to tease and hate you, but now we NEED you, you brave, underappreciated man" theme. Why wouldn't geeks like that?
"Then why are epic followers usually made up of mostly geeks? What’s the attraction?"
I don't think it's the books, it's that geeks themselves. They be the truly devoted and imaginative...the ones who like to pretend the most. And who celebrate being different.
I 'member being in an elevator at a scifi/fantasy convention. Two hobbits, a klingon, a wizard and me. Oh, and a couple on their honeymoon. Who had no idea what they had stepped into. Guess who looked out of place? ;)
Why wouldn't anyone like that? LOL! Very good observations. And that guy I went to see LOTR with who cried, he was a D&Der. He was mostly normal, but had some odd friends. One did the dress up thing but he belonged to one of those vampire groups. They'd meet for weekends and all pretend to be vampires. I don't know the details and don't want to know.
I always thought I was a geek, but now maybe not. I'm not all that big on details. LOL! How did I never make that connection before? It seems so obvious now.
And that misfit becoming the hero too. So obvious.
So, Chance, create characters that inspire people to dress up, include LOTS of details about a really intricate new world, and make sure your hero is a misfit that turns into the hero. And don't forget to give him some really wise old guy mentor who will eventually be killed.
I think we have it!
See? It's the 'we don't fit in so we'll find someplace that we do fit in and screw you!' mentality.
Not really geek, but don't ya think that's a lot of what is going on with the romance market anymore? For so long we were the ghetto genre. The dirty little secret genre that no one would admit they read... Now, we celebrate our individuality and by and large, the outside world is learning that this is something everyone can take part in. And it's fun!
Like how everyone fell in love with Buffy, even if they didn't think of it as a geeks paradise.
Oh, and the two real aliens were the ones who looked like they didn't belong. :)
Chance - That sounds like a scene from the movie Race to Witch Mountain which I saw last weekend. It was cute, clearly for the kidlets, but it was set in Vegas during a sci/fi convention. Matched your elevator description exactly. LOL!
Ditto on the inspiring people to dress up... got the intricate world (I even have a map of my alternate Caribbean to stave off the reality troops). My hero is a bit of a misfit, who really finds respectability to be a royal pain... But no old wise guy mentor... But she has a wise mentor who eventually dies...? Good enough?
Ter, there be levels of geekdom. Mayhaps ya just not be in the upper echelon of Kingdom Geek... It's OK to be mildly geekish.
I wax and wane in geekdom.
Frodo Lives!
I gots ta see that movie. I love watchin' the Rock with kids...
Yeah, the honeymooners were a bit...like deer in headlights. Bet they didn't leave their room all weekend...but that may not have been our fault, come ta think of it.
I think I hover in middle geekdom. Because I certainly don't qualify as cool. LOL!
What are the romance geeks like? Really? Every genre has it's geeks, one way or the other. They be the ones that dress up in regency era costumes? If'n ya dress like a vampire...is it Buffy or one a' the romance paranormals? And if the two met in an elevator, would they snub each other or recognize kindred souls?
That would make a fun short story, come to think of it!
BTW. Happy first day of Spring to everyone! I think it be wondrously seredipitous that a pagan gets ta blong on the Vernal Equinox. And on Beltane... I gots a good blog planned fer that! (I think I'm on May 1st...)
P'rates, gentle souls who wandered here by mistake and got caught in the riotous discussion... Thank ye fer comin' by. I know the east coasters be winding down... I gots an appointment ta keep, but will be back fer final comments and insults...
Get out and feel the sun on yer face on this sweet spring day...even you, Sin! Ya won't melt inta a pile of goo, I promise.
*rubbing hands together gleefully, hoping that goo spell worked...
We actually have sunshine today! Whoohoo! But the wind is whipping and it's still pretty dang cold. *sigh*
Hope ya found a place protected from the wind and just were able ta stand and feel the sun on yer face fer a moment. Were a grand and glorious day here along the Monterey Bay. Totally satsifying, though we still be hoping fer more rain this weekend. Small chance, but any chance is good right now. Gonna be a dry summer.
Hope we answered yer questions about dressing up. Me sister wasn't sure what it all meant in regards ta the question of how to create a MS that draws fans... But sometimes, it be about the fans in general.
She has some fondness fer a memory a' dressing up as a Hobbit and spending a week out in the woods with the Middle Earth Fair once... Away from the 'real' world.
Ain't that what we're all about? In a nutshell... ya create the world that inspires fans ta dream and they'll see yer dreams come true.
In truth, I don't wanna be JK or Nora. I wouldn't mind a level of fame like Mary Janice Davidson... Without the vampires...
And I promise ta always treat me sweet fans as sweetly as they will treat me!
The nasty ones take a long walk offa short plank.
As many of you know, I am an avid fan of a number of authors. I won't list them here because my fingertips would start hurting.
The first thing that draws me to an author is their writing. When I first started reading romances again, I wrote a couple of authors to tell them how much I enjoyed their books. AND they wrote back. They actually took the time to write back. Now, as a teenager, I wrote to the usual corral of teen stars and not one of them wrote back - nor did their publicists.
But here were women who were on deadline, had jobs, families and the same responsibilities that I do but they took the time to tell me they appreciated me. Fan for life, friends.
Add to that the support and encouragement they have given me in my own writing - I'd take a bullet for them. Because here's the thing. I could be Eve to their Norma. I'm not saying that anything I publish will eclipse their work but still how do they know that. Still, they remain supportive.
That is just pure class.
Now, to go back and read all the posts over a nice cup of coffee.
You make a good point, Santa. A lot of it is in how the author reacts to the fans. You build fans by being a fan of your fans? I do like that! I've written to a few authors and been delighted when I hear back. And Jane-o somehow manages to finagle luncheon invitations out of those contacts! (She must look hungry...)
I be writin' yer advice down in me spell book... "Be respectful and love the fans back..."
Bein' the Friday blogger be nice...I can continue on Saturday if the need be there... ;)
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