The Scene of the Crime: Settings

When the time came to select a setting for my novel, there was only one place I had in mind: Southern California. I’ve lived there my whole life, seen the best of times and the not so great, and longed to re-visit, in the world of fiction, the places I knew…with my imaginary characters. Here was my chance to twist and turn and reshape reality in any way I wanted…to entertain myself, and hopefully my readers.

Since my heroine, Corrie Locke, works in the entertainment industry, Los Angeles was the obvious choice. But in reality, when I first started working in a movie studio, my division was located in Orange County. Guess where my heroine works? In sunny, sophisticated Newport Beach, host to the well-groomed, the cultured, and the fine automobile aficionado; where trouble is unwelcome and found in unexpected places. Corrie visits scenic shopping mall, Fashion Island, and ends up hiding behind a clump of banana trees to avoid discovery during a murder investigation. And she suffers a mishap on the quaint, neighborhood-friendly Balboa Island, while riding the ferry 800 feet across the small bay.

I know where Corrie lives: in breezy Hermosa Beach, in a cozy little bootleg unit, a stone or two throw away from the ocean. Hermosa is another sunny, popular hangout for the young ladder climber. The perfect scene for running into trouble. Which is what Corrie literally does in the first chapter when she takes to the wood chip trail for a late night jog. All she wants is to satisfy her craving for a sandwich… an ice cream sandwich, that is, but she bites off more than she could chew, figuratively speaking.

Setting is like a surrogate character. One that can mold the human characters in unpredictable ways. Corrie encounters danger everywhere, not just on-board a raft posing as a ferry, but also in a celebrity mansion in Malibu, on the streets of Bel Air…and even in her own home. Just my way of having a little fun.

Writers' Conference: Survival

I love writers’ conferences! It’s more thrilling for me than any Disneyland ride. Sweeter than a piece of rich coconut cake laced with sweet custard, headier than a trip to the moon! I get to enjoy the company of other authors and readers; I’m surrounded by piles of books, and an all around splendid group of people. It is a complete and utter pleasure for me. However…it also wears me out. Especially if I’m an active participant, (a part I LOVE to play!).

How to survive with one’s energy and mental state intact? I once observed how golfer Tiger Woods conserved energy during a golf tournament. Playing eighteen holes isn’t easy, no matter your strength or expertise. Between the holes, he walked slowly, deliberately, completely unaware of his surroundings, the onlookers, or other golfers. His sole focus, on the course, appeared to be getting the ball to the hole, while using the least amount of energy.

Conference or any high energy outing tips:

– Taking it slow, and thoughtfully, is a must.

– Carve out quiet time. Find a space to zone out in (preferably alone), to give the mind and body a break. A catnap would be ideal, but for yours truly that’s like turning a somersault from one trapeze to another, mid-air. It ain’t gonna happen. If the mind refuses to go quiet, find a calming diversion. Take advantage of nature if possible and go outdoors. Take a walk away from the festivities and breathe. Breathing long and slow works wonders.

– Don’t forget to eat and drink and be merry! At my most recent stint, I sat behind a table at an author fair…and forgot to eat. I was swooning from hunger and was in no mood for chitchat. I transform into the Incredible Hulk when hungry. Fortunately, for all, my wonderful husband brought me food and water, and all was right again with the world. The burger and fries were possibly the best I’d ever had, and turned me back into my mild mannered self. It’s also vital to stop to enjoy the moment now and then. I paused several times to appreciate where I was. Exactly where I wanted to be. :)

Hollywood Pitching

This coming week, I have the pleasure of being a panelist with the incredibly talented Anne Perry at the Central Coast Writers’ Conference. This is no small miracle! I’m very grateful for the opportunity. Our topic: Turning Your Novel Into A Movie. Hooray!

I’ve had the pleasure of sitting on both sides of the table when it comes to pitches. I’ve heard and delivered. Most recently, I pitched my book to a production company who requested more information. My pitch took all of five minutes (which was the allotted time) and contained a few simple ingredients.

An Internet search on pitching to Hollywood reveals much information on what the pitch should contain, but what I’d like to offer today are a few quick tips to make the pitch memorable and inviting. How to make the person on the other side of the table interested. But first, what not to say:

– You’re going to love this!
– There has never been a story like this before.
– I can’t tell you what it’s about because you might steal my idea.
– This will make you/us rich if you’re willing to play ball!

I’ve heard all of the above from the days of hearing pitches. The acquisitions director or the agent/lawyer really do prefer to reach their own conclusions. Also, know that ideas will not be stolen because ideas are not protected under copyright law. It’s the specific content that’s protected – the words. So if you wrote a story about a boy who discovers he’s a wizard, will you be violating a certain someone’s copyright? Not unless you write the same story or enough of the same story where it looks like you lifted scenes, chapters etc., from the original work. So how to make the production companies interested?

Besides having the correct content for the pitch (which is really a mini story), delivery is vital. Ingredients of a solid delivery:

– Start by building rapport. Do you have something in common with the person who’s hearing the pitch? If so, mention it, assuming that something is of a positive nature. If not, a simple thank you for taking the time to meet will do. Also, genuine compliments are always nice to hear.
– Make your talk pleasant or compelling. If it’s a serious topic, now is the time to display compassion or the right amount of emotion to tug at the listener’s heartstrings (assuming the person sitting across from you has a heart, which sometimes goes MIA in the entertainment industry). If it’s a pleasant topic, remember to insert smiles. You are not just selling the story, but yourself as the author.
– Think of it as a conversation where you’re telling a short, exciting, suspenseful tale; one you know quite well because you wrote it. Make the listener want to know more.
– Display your enthusiasm for the project. Who doesn’t want to work with an author that’s excited about her novel?
– Be sincere. If you’re sincere about your novel, it will not only make an impact, but will make listening a must.