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Dear eWorlders,
Tonight more than 20 members and friends packed the Den to chat with PN
Elrod. We asked a wide variety of questions, and Pat was
not at all shy with her opinions about writing, and especially the people in the business. I've never learned so much about Vampire Detectives and Gone Stupid Agents before in my life! :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5/20/02 Opening "Chat Log 5/20/02"
SteeIBtrfl: whoooo ooo
SteeIBtrfl: major info dump into my brain
The13thDoctor: no spoilers Steel
PNELROD: He certainly is. Has me spoiled for working with a collaborator.
SteeIBtrfl: trust me - I won'
Kathi Smith 116: steel, did it live up to the hype?
Mod Gonne: Lucas needs to find someone to write dialogue...
SteeIBtrfl: Kathi - I needed to sleep for 3 hours after
PNELROD: Our next one in the series has been out for some time, has just
gone to paperback last month
SteeIBtrfl: it is better much better than the last one
OnlineHost: BornToVector has entered the room.
The13thDoctor: the can he bit at the con went for $500, all for charity
SteeIBtrfl: Barry***
Kathi Smith 116: sleep? that could be from sensory overload or
boredom...lol
OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Paul has entered the room.
SteeIBtrfl: Kathi - was from too much stuff in the flick
SteeIBtrfl: lots to process
PNELROD: His Father's Son blows Keeper out of the water. our next is even
better
BornToVector: Hiya steel kathi Sry Don Paul
BornToVector: everyone else I missed Hi
Kathi Smith 116: hi barry, paul
The13thDoctor: cool
PNELROD: Yeah--i started that tradition--I sold one of his old beer bottles
for 25. at a charity con
HOST WRTR Paul: hello all
PNELROD: he's never had to buy a beer since, this girls buy him one, he
drains it and signs the bottle
Kathi Smith 116: i HATE telemarketers
HOST WRTR Paul: used to be one (now I know why I get people so upset
sometimes) twice, actually
HOST WRTR Muse: Pat, Paul is our fearless leader
PNELROD: If he wasn't a brit the beer intake would have killed hium by now
Kathi Smith 116: lol paul
OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Dee has entered the room.
PNELROD: Hello Paul
Kathi Smith 116: hi donna
HOST WRTR Paul: who's the berr Brit?
The13thDoctor: he had a can of pepsi while auctioning collectibles for
Lamb's farm. when he was done with the regular collectibles, he was also
done with the pepsi. he bit the can, cutting his lip, and auctioned that off
for $500
HOST WRTR Paul: (beer)
HOST WRTR Muse: Pat, Dee is Donna, our second in command after Paul
HOST WRTR Dee: hi all...and Pnelrod
HOST WRTR Dee: glad to meet you.
OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Paul has left the room.
BornToVector: Hey Donna
OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Paul has entered the room.
PNELROD: I believe there are now more Hosts than attendees
PNELROD: hello dee
HOST WRTR Muse: PN Elrod is a bit formal. Would you like to be addressed
as
Pat?
PNELROD: Ewww
HOST WRTR Paul: guy bites cans for money? I know . . . Homer Simpson
OnlineHost: Gfoxygra has entered the room.
PNELROD: PN is fin, nice and short
Gfoxygra: Hello
PNELROD: fine, too.
HOST WRTR Muse: hi, welcome
HOST WRTR Dee: Remember, PN, a Host a Day keeps the Doctor away...
PNELROD: unless you're Catholic?
Kathi Smith 116: what if one of the hosts is a doctor?
HOST WRTR Muse: uh oh, that means that Doc will have to go, and me too!
The13thDoctor: paul, i was talking about Nigel Bennett, one of PN's
collaborators
HOST WRTR Dee: even better, Kathy'
OnlineHost: MTALLPAUL has entered the room.
HOST WRTR Muse: although Doc's only honorary
PNELROD: I'll have to kid him about shedding blood for charity
Kathi Smith 116: brb...try not to say anything profound till i get back
The13thDoctor: <---- observational humanity Muse
PNELROD: "anything profound"
Gfoxygra: LOL, pn
The13thDoctor: it was at the last visions con in chicago
HOST WRTR Muse: come on everyone, let's get PN to be profound while
Kathi's
gone
MTALLPAUL: "Life's a bitch - then you die."
BornToVector: So PN, while Kathi is gone share all the secrets to getting
published with us
OnlineHost: MTALLPAUL has left the room.
PNELROD: I'll be guesting with him and once of my book cover artist in N
Olreans this august
The13thDoctor: Cool
OnlineHost: SHoffer77 has entered the room.
The13thDoctor: afk a mo
PNELROD: Born--write something send it in.
HOST WRTR Dee: we promise not to tell Kathi unless she pays us each a
princely sum.
HOST WRTR Muse: Hey Sarah
SHoffer77: hi all
HOST WRTR Paul: are we doing Protocol or Free-for-all?
BornToVector: Nawlins one of my favorite towns
HOST WRTR Dee: I suggest Protocol
PNELROD: That
HOST WRTR Muse: Actually, Pat has suggested not to use protocol
BornToVector: Gee, why didnt i think of that
PNELROD: That's where nigle 1st talked to me about doing a collaboration
HOST WRTR Dee: That's fine, too...
Gfoxygra: i was on protocol once; it did wonders for me....no, wait, that
was Prozac
HOST WRTR Muse: although I think it helps
HOST WRTR Dee: I'm flexible.
HOST WRTR Muse: roflol, Gfox
HOST WRTR Dee: Pat, if it gets too much, you can request Protocol.
HOST WRTR Muse: PN, SHoffer77 is Sarah, who recomended you
PNELROD: Same convention. The infos on my website.
HOST WRTR Paul: I am logging and Donna is greeting
HOST WRTR Muse: just so you know.
PNELROD: well, we should get started...
PNELROD: Hello sarah.
OnlineHost: TheWordSlayer 2 has entered the room.
SHoffer77: Hi :)
Gfoxygra: somebody is logging this conversation? You mean, I have to watch
what I say in here?
Gfoxygra: darn....
HOST WRTR Muse: always, Gfox!
The13thDoctor: groovy
PNELROD: yeah, and your spelling too. There will be a pop quiz
HOST WRTR Muse: lol
Gfoxygra: my spelling is impecable
Gfoxygra: LOL
HOST WRTR Dee: I'll start with a question: Pat..you are a prolific
writer...does that mean you are a fast writer too?
PNELROD: If I wanna keep up with the rent, yes.
The13thDoctor: thank the seven pillars of booloo for the OED
Gfoxygra: I hope you don't live in california, pn
PNELROD: They have a state income tax, NO way.
OnlineHost: Sterlingvision has entered the room.
Mod Gonne: if you odn't groan when you lift it, your dictionary's too small.
Sterlingvision: hello room
HOST WRTR Dee: lol...was it something you had to work up to, as far.
Gfoxygra: the rent here goes up faster than anywhere I know
PNELROD: next question?
OnlineHost: JsmnStrm has entered the room.
Kathi Smith 116: ok, i'm back, did i miss anything profound?
JsmnStrm: Hi all.
The13thDoctor: which is harder, solo work or collaborations?
PNELROD: yes, we solves world hunger
SteeIBtrfl: Jas****
SteeIBtrfl: Don***
TheWordSlayer 2: evening all
JsmnStrm: Hey steel.
HOST WRTR Muse: How many years have you been writing?
HOST WRTR Muse: and how long did it take for you to get published?
PNELROD: both have good and bad points. I've been very lucky working with
Nigel, since he's not only very talented, but very easy to work with
PNELROD: Muse--alll myyy liiifffe.
SHoffer77: Pat, what made you decide on a vampire as your main character?
PNELROD: Well, I answer that one on my website. He started out as a gaming
character and went to 3-d
PNELROD: site is www.vampwriter.com
PNELROD: I was 1st published in 86, sold a game module to TSR for one of
their magazines. It only took me all my life to get there too.
PNELROD: I can trace Jack's roots to Dark Shadows, though. I adore
Barnabas.
PNELROD: He's in the dedication to my 1st novel
HOST WRTR Dee: Dark Shadows...brings back memories.
HOST WRTR Paul: The dashing mr Collins
HOST WRTR Muse: loved that show!
PNELROD: It's still on Sci fi--they've just started the Adam story line
The13thDoctor: i tried watching that one once on sci-fi channel. i am lost
Kathi Smith 116: i used to dash home from school to see barnabas
HOST WRTR Paul: there was a brief revival, but I never saw that one
PNELROD: It's like wine--an acquired taste
SHoffer77: that was the one I saw Paul
HOST WRTR Muse: me too, Kathi, and hide and watch it, my Mom forbade me!
Kathi Smith 116: it's past its prime, but it was the twin peaks of the
sixties
PNELROD: I did get to meet Frid once at a convention--VERY charming man
HOST WRTR Paul: cool
PNELROD: Next query?
The13thDoctor: in other words, like the comedy "keeping up appearances"
SteeIBtrfl: How much time do you spend online?
PNELROD: I limie myself to an hour a day or i'd never get any work done
OnlineHost: SarahStNy has entered the room.
BornToVector: I am not real familiar with your history PN. Did you ever
have to hold down other jobs while you wrote? If so, how did you find time
to write?
Kathi Smith 116: so we're your hour today? i feel honored!
Kathi Smith 116: hi janice
PNELROD: sorry about the typos, I'm on a different keyboard than I'm used
to
HOST WRTR Dee: what is your writing schedule like...do you set number of
pages or set a certain time?
SarahStNy: hi
PNELROD: Well I was only on for 30 this morning. mail and junk.
SteeIBtrfl: Janice***
PNELROD: I try to do 10 pages a day,
HOST WRTR Muse: Can you give us some insight into how your got your big
break?
Kathi Smith 116: i try to do that too...if i'm lucky i end up with one or
two...lol
HOST WRTR Paul: TEN!? That's more than Jack London! (but he never had to
do
a second draft)
PNELROD: I finished a novel asnd started sending it in. Each time it came
back I'd send it out again.
PNELROD: Jack London had to work with a pencil.
PNELROD: I rewrote my novel at least twice, and the 1st chapter 25 times
JsmnStrm: I can't imagine hand writing a whole novel... :::shivers at the
thought:::
HOST WRTR Dee: Did you work up to the ten pages, or does that just come
naturally to you?
The13thDoctor: hey jas: two words: harry potter
PNELROD: The it got picked off of Ace's slush pile. The Assistant editor
was reading it on her way home and nearly missed her stop. She thought any
book that can do that was worth passing up the food chain
PNELROD: I had to work up--I'm on tight deadlines lately, but it's a good
habit to get into
HOST WRTR Paul: sounds like you did not have an Agent.
JsmnStrm: That's great for the author of Harry Potter. I could never do it.
NO one would be able to read it.
PNELROD: Hell, Ardath Mayhear does 20 pages a day.
Gfoxygra: I could never write a book like War and Peace in longhand
SteeIBtrfl: all of us could actually
SteeIBtrfl: and would have
SteeIBtrfl: if that is what we had
PNELROD: It's a matter of practice to get that fast AND good. You don't
learn piano by playing a hard piece in your 1st class, your work up to it
The13thDoctor: concur, Steel
JsmnStrm: But we have technology, no matter how infuriating it can be.
PNELROD: The writing doesn't matter, it's the practice that matters. You
can't hit a pitch from Nolan Ryan until you've hit 100K OTHER pitches
HOST WRTR Dee: 20 pages...sigh...makes my little bitty 3 pages look so
anemic. LOL
Kathi Smith 116: steel, good point
TheWordSlayer 2: agrees with steel...we don't write 10 pages because we
dont
make ourselves.Priority :)
BornToVector: my goal is to rewrite 5 pages a day and I have trouble
findidng time for that.
PNELROD: So writing every day is the best habit to get into
PNELROD: I used to do 3 pages a day--until they started paying me.
BornToVector: pay helps
PNELROD: Money is a wonderful motivator--sets your priorities straight!
HOST WRTR Dee: everyday...that is my goal. doesn't matter how many pages.
And I'm glad that you mentioned that you built up from 3 to 10...kind of like
building a muscle.
Kathi Smith 116: donna, 3 pages is nothing to sneeze at
HOST WRTR Paul: amen to that! :-)
OnlineHost: JES No Time has entered the room.
SteeIBtrfl: Jes***
The13thDoctor: 13th rule: anything worth doing is worth doing for money
JES No Time: Hi everyone
HOST WRTR Paul: LOL Doc
HOST WRTR Muse: that's so true!
PNELROD: My fastest book at one time was I, Strahd--four months, Didn't
know I'd could do one that fast, but I did, and it was a damn good read
according to PW.
JsmnStrm: Just sitting down and writing a really good paragraph can be an
accomplishement!
HOST WRTR Paul: Hi Jes (and everyone else, while I'm at it) :-)
PNELROD: next question?
HOST WRTR Dee: When you think of when you first started out, and where you
are now today, professionally, what do you think has been the biggest skill
you've picked up as a writer?
Kathi Smith 116: hi jes
PNELROD: Schmoozing with the public.
HOST WRTR Muse: lol, like us?
HOST WRTR Dee: Schmoozing...like at bookstores and stuff, and like us? lol
PNELROD: Letting them know I won't waste their time with my books.
JsmnStrm: what do you mean?
HOST WRTR Dee: so, marketing your writing?
TheWordSlayer 2: Do you ever have trouble sleeping because the story and
characters wont let you?
PNELROD: It's all that, yes. They like me an they check out the books.
I've been told jack Fleming is a lot like me personality-wise, which is a
great compliment
PNELROD: Nope. i had insomnia for a time, but a divorce cured that.
JES No Time: Hi Paul and Kathi
HOST WRTR Dee: lol
TheWordSlayer 2: :)
HOST WRTR Muse: Where do you get your ideas?
HOST WRTR Muse: Are you a what if situation writer like King?
HOST WRTR Muse: or do you have another technique?
PNELROD: It's the practice again. sometimes I'll bee too wasted to write
any more, then i write myself a short note of what to put in tomorrow when my
brain's fresher, then I do it.
PNELROD: Muse--I am going to shoot you. Do NOT move.
HOST WRTR Muse: :::: ducking:::::
The13thDoctor: LOLOL
PNELROD: I've not read King in decades.
PNELROD: But all writers use the What if...?
SteeIBtrfl: :::hands PN some duct tape for Muse:::
SteeIBtrfl: ::we keep it handy::
PNELROD: There is no technique, you just use whatever works best for you.
Writing is a very solitary event.
The13thDoctor: We got rope too.
HOST WRTR Dee: Did you start out selling short stories or jump into novels.
HOST WRTR Muse: Thanks guys, I'm leaving! lol
SteeIBtrfl:
PNELROD: i like a bright sunny room, no noise, no ringing phone. Nigel
likes
the light out, night work, with a glass of wine.
HOST WRTR Muse: hmmm, that sounds like fun!
PNELROD: I did novels 1st, then short stories.
HOST WRTR Dee: glass of wine would put me to sleep by the 2nd
paragraph...lol
OnlineHost: Roy Gugat has entered the room.
HOST WRTR Muse: But what techniques work for you in getting ideas?
PNELROD: Well, he's a Brit, they have the stamina for it.
Kathi Smith 116: i find wine helps when i'm trying to write humor...maybe
that's how writers become lushes...
PNELROD: I just stit down and scribble through until the outline gels.
Gfoxygra: ones with no sense of humor to begin with you mean, kathi?
Gfoxygra: :)
HOST WRTR Dee: so you do an outline? Do you stick to it much?
PNELROD: I'll put ideas of what i want IN the book on index cards, and
string them together in order.
SteeIBtrfl: a clothesline
Sterlingvision: PN, have you ever used a dream you had as a basis for a
novel?
Roy Gugat: I find that my alcohol consumption is way down since I started to
write seriously
HOST WRTR Muse: This is really helpful
PNELROD: When I'm on a tight deadline an outline is essential. You need a
roadmapo so you know where you're going.
SteeIBtrfl: laundry is always unfinished and a nightmare
SteeIBtrfl: that fits
PNELROD: ster--not that i can recall
SteeIBtrfl: PN - do you ever read your competition?
BornToVector: do you ever get to a point where you just dont know where to
go next in a book
PNELROD: There is no competition. Readers will always read a book faster
than we can write them.
PNELROD: Born--nope--that's what the outline is for.
SteeIBtrfl: Do you read other books which have vampires in them?
HOST WRTR Dee: you said you sent out your novels at the beginning of your
career. To publishers? or to Agents?
PNELROD: You always know you'r heading for the big climax, if you don't
know
what that is, you're going to disappoint the reader
OnlineHost: Coco0609 has entered the room.
SteeIBtrfl: Carol***
HOST WRTR Dee: Carol...good to see you.
Coco0609: hi steel nd all
TheWordSlayer 2: Evening Carol : )
PNELROD: Both, dee--I got so damn mad at one agent who said "You're a good
writer, but it's unpublishable, " I rewrote it all over again
HOST WRTR Dee: really? and you got that particular book published after the
rewrite?
PNELROD: steel--rarely, I like Fred |Saberhagen's stuff,. but hardly any of
the tohers, though many of us are good buds.
PNELROD: Dee-took 2 more tries. I was really po'd with that guy. He
wanted
an easy sale is all.
PNELROD: My 1st was a mixed genre, and they didn't know how to market it
HOST WRTR Muse: Steel writes some vampira, by the way.
Gfoxygra: what do agents know anyway? Those who can write will, those who
can't become agents
PNELROD: Now they have vamp P.I.s all over the place, I could SO sue
"angel!"
HOST WRTR Dee: lol
PNELROD: Gfox--not really. i've got a very good agent.
HOST WRTR Dee: how about a vamp PI who is a dentist?
PNELROD: Try Buffy for that one.
HOST WRTR Dee: lol
HOST WRTR Muse: lol
HOST WRTR Dee: Have you considered other genres to try out? If so, what
tweaks your interest?
PNELROD: My vamp just bought himself a night club, and it's still a passel
of trouble
JsmnStrm: Jump on Joss Wheaton.. Go for it , I dare you! :)
PNELROD: I've turned in a number of short satories in fantasy, mystery and
romance, and just finished my 1st fantasy novel, "Myhr's Adventure in Hell."
JsmnStrm: tee hee hee
HOST WRTR Dee: I love that title.
SteeIBtrfl: cool
PNELROD: I'm going to start the next book in that series before summer's
out.
PNELROD: I'ts all on the website, includeing photo's of Myhr.
The13thDoctor: i've had many adventures in hell. i worked retail for 11
years
JsmnStrm: lol doc
HOST WRTR Dee: lol
PNELROD: rhymes with "purr"
PNELROD: Coming from Baen in spring of 2003
HOST WRTR Dee: You sound as if you enjoy writing...
JsmnStrm: What is the time between a finished manuscript and a release date?
PNELROD: Ray Bradbury said "Marry someone you love and do what you love,
you
can't go wrong" I got half of that anyway.
OnlineHost: Dcudlbug has entered the room.
PNELROD: Jsm--about 18 months
SteeIBtrfl: Cuddles***
HOST WRTR Muse: PN, as you know we're a critique group for all genres of
fiction. Can you tell us what distinguishes fantasy from other genres? What
your audience is, and what things those of us who don't write fantasy should
look for when we
HOST WRTR Dee: half a loaf is better than none.
HOST WRTR Muse: critique those who do?
HOST WRTR Dee: hi dennis
PNELROD: Muse. No.
PNELROD:
HOST WRTR Muse: roflol
HOST WRTR Muse: :::: ducking again::::
Dcudlbug: Hi, all. Don't let me interrupt.
PNELROD: I never analyse the stuff I just write it!
OnlineHost: Bard522 has entered the room.
PNELROD: It's like asking a soap actor what his character will be doing
next.
SteeIBtrfl: Fantasy suspends rational assumptions. Science Fiction
extends rational assumptions.
HOST WRTR Muse: But what makes your market different?
OnlineHost: oldamerico has entered the room.
PNELROD: You don't worry asbout the damn market, you just write what
pleases
you and let the book sell itself
HOST WRTR Paul: good definitions Steel
OnlineHost: Coco0609 has left the room.
PNELROD: My market isn't different. I have an audience, they just happen
to
like the same stuff I do.
SteeIBtrfl: thank you
PNELROD: I write what i like and let my agent do the rest
JsmnStrm: how did you find your agent?
JsmnStrm: (You didn't already answer that did you? If so, I'm sorry.)
TheWordSlayer 2: I agree PNELROD.......... Write what you like and write it
well.
PNELROD: I asked a friend whop her agent was. He took me on, then he got
stupid, so I fired him and found another agent through another friend
PNELROD: This was over a 6 year period
JsmnStrm: Do agents go stupid regularly?
OnlineHost: Typosarus has entered the room.
PNELROD: This one did. I couldn't deal with a man who annoyed so many
people on publisher's row!
OnlineHost: Typosarus has left the room.
Gfoxygra: I'm currently writing a short story called "A Water Apocalypse
Thus Ruled Out" but first I have to talk to God some more to see what His cut
is
Roy Gugat: Jsmn -- just the human ones
PNELROD: Finding an agent is like finding a good date, you have to shop
around.
Gfoxygra: :)
TheWordSlayer 2: What is the best way to check out an agent or publisher?
PNELROD: I made some calls, talked with another writer, then had a meeting
at a convention, my new agent si SO much better.
PNELROD: go to their websites
OnlineHost: oldamerico has left the room.
Gfoxygra: ouch, pn, you mean I have to resort to dating again?
Gfoxygra: i gave up dating during Lent
PNELROD: see who they represent. If the writers do stuff similar to you'rs
then you have a chance of interesting them
Gfoxygra: 5 years ago
TheWordSlayer 2: thank you : )
PNELROD: so if you do alternate histories, then see about finding who Harry
Turtledove's agent is.
Dcudlbug: At my age the only dating I do is carbon-dating
JsmnStrm: lolol
Kathi Smith 116: dennis, nice residue
PNELROD: chaNCES ARE THEY MIGHT LIKE YOUR STUFF TOO
Roy Gugat: Bug -- you dated her, too?
PNELROD: damn keyboard...
Dcudlbug: They count the rings in my ear lobes.
Kathi Smith 116: try these
PNELROD: you do need to find an agent who is excited about your writing. If
they're lukewarm, get another
Gfoxygra: all the strategies and marketing involving writing make me really
tired
PNELROD: If they don't return your calls, fire em
JsmnStrm: That's actually, the best advice I've ever heard about agents.
Dcudlbug: No, no, no. I get a new ear ring every decade.
PNELROD: you have to learn this stuff, though. Writing is a profession
like
any other and what you don't know can cost you OR bite you in the ass.
SteeIBtrfl: PN - do you work with specific editors - would you move your
work to follow a good editor?
Kathi Smith 116: oh...earrings...lol
The13thDoctor: <---- doesnt use an ergonomic keyboard.
PNELROD: Steel--I've not had to do that. My editor at Ace has been there
forever, ditto for Baen
SteeIBtrfl: <---- always uses ergo keyboards
SteeIBtrfl: PN - would you move with them?
JsmnStrm: Folks, I'm outta here. I can barely sit in this chair any more
tonight. Darn baby! :)
Gfoxygra: If I have to learn it, I may as well become my own agent
Mod Gonne: keyboard? wuzzat?
SteeIBtrfl: some writers say a good editor is like a great marriage
OnlineHost: JsmnStrm has left the room.
HOST WRTR Dee: night Jasmine. take care of yourself.
Roy Gugat: <=== uses no keyboard at all
PNELROD: I've had "words" with |TSR editors, but thankfully THAT's done
with..They've still not found the bodies, either
PNELROD: steel and lose my backlist??? nope
JES No Time: Night Jaz
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PNELROD: I've got 9 books with Ace, I move and they have no reason to keep
them in print
SteeIBtrfl: :::nods:::
PNELROD: I tend to grind up editors, but I'm always willing to listen.
PNELROD: they're resiliant
OnlineHost: SHoffer77 has left the room.
The13thDoctor: PN, i see them dahmer barrels and kitty litter came in handy.
OnlineHost: SnowyNight has left the room.
BornToVector: thanks for letting us pick your brain, PN. I'm off to bed.
good night all
SteeIBtrfl: PN - do you research your locations - ever travel?
PNELROD: Another reason to have a good agent, mine runs interfereance for
me
PNELROD: doc--nope it was a wood chipper and a catfish pond...
OnlineHost: BornToVector has left the room.
PNELROD: Steel I try to travel. I'm using Toronto a lot in my next book,
ditto for Chicago. when I can't travel I use the library to make up for it
SteeIBtrfl: :::nods:::
SteeIBtrfl: I was always jealous of Anne Rice for travelling
SteeIBtrfl: to research locations
SteeIBtrfl: what a dream
PNELROD: there's no substitute for actually BEING in a place though
PNELROD: Don't be.
HOST WRTR Dee: do you also do research online, too...for backgrounds?
Roy Gugat: I am going to Idaho this summer to research a site for an
upcoming novel
The13thDoctor: Chicago is a good town
PNELROD: Who was that nut of a poet who never left her house?
Mod Gonne: mmm...travel
SteeIBtrfl: PN - I don't
Mod Gonne: Dickenson
SteeIBtrfl: do that much now
PNELROD: dee--yes
SteeIBtrfl: LOL
Dcudlbug: I'd get so involved with the travelling that I'd forget about the
writing.
SteeIBtrfl: I WANT to see those castles in Scotland
SteeIBtrfl: durn
PNELROD: you can sing all opf her poems to the tune of the Yellow Rose of
Texas
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OnlineHost: Librettist01 has left the room.
Mod Gonne: Lucky, I guess, that I've seen what I'm writing about
SteeIBtrfl: thankfully I don't write poems
Kathi Smith 116: you do that too? wow, i thought i was the only one
SteeIBtrfl: I have saved the world from piles of true drek
Roy Gugat: Steel -- go, but keep records for tax deductions
PNELROD: But you can use where you live as a location. I did a hit man
story set in Dallas's deep Ellum, and one of the clubs there.
Kathi Smith 116: steel, you and me both
PNELROD: It went over well. You have to just LOOK at where you are and
pretend to be outside it.
HOST WRTR Muse: See, when you said no state tax, I knew it was either TX
or
FL. LOL
HOST WRTR Muse: But Deep Ellum is just made for vampira
SteeIBtrfl: I do that already PN - SF is a great town to be near
Kathi Smith 116: stories can be set anywhere, it's not the location you're
really writing about, but the people
SteeIBtrfl: tons of good stuff so far as locations go
PNELROD: Yeah, but the gothic themes are a bit stale for me.
SteeIBtrfl: PN are you writing urban decay now?
PNELROD: I'm working on a script where the vampire's on a subway with a
gallon of cow blood he's taking home and sitting across from him are some
goths.
OnlineHost: Gfoxygra has left the room.
SteeIBtrfl: I would like to see a vampire who is a clean freak
PNELROD: they have NO clue he's the real deal.
SteeIBtrfl:
SteeIBtrfl: dress in white
Mod Gonne: hmm...I had a friend who tried to buy some pig's blood once...
Mod Gonne: not a successful endeavor
HOST WRTR Dee: a good "what if" situation if I ever saw one.
PNELROD: It'll be a pretty funny visual when I'm done
Mod Gonne: apparently, you have to be 21 here...
PNELROD: What happend Mod?
SteeIBtrfl: Mod - Carrie repercussions LOL
PNELROD: ROTF!!!
HOST WRTR Muse: It sounds great, PN
SteeIBtrfl: I think they used pigs blood in the movie
PNELROD: Where did he go to buy it?
HOST WRTR Dee: so, why did he want pig's blood?
Mod Gonne: They carded him for a bucket of pig's blood at the butchers.
Blood pudding
HOST WRTR Dee: ah...the proverbial blood pudding
SteeIBtrfl: ::whispers::: all Brits are closet vampires
HOST WRTR Muse: If you really want a visual, how about your vampire at
Billy
Bobs?
The13thDoctor: LOLOL
Kathi Smith 116: never open a closet in britain
SteeIBtrfl: LOL
PNELROD: steel--it would be an artificial make-up blood. Real blood on a
film set gets rank pretty fast, and brings flies.
PNELROD: Muse--did that in HIS FATHER'S SON with Nigel
HOST WRTR Muse: oh, I have got to read that one!
SteeIBtrfl: PN - I meant what the actors said
SteeIBtrfl: I think they said it was pigs blood
HOST WRTR Dee: note to Kathi...a closet in Britain is not same as closet in
America. Trust me, you won't open it.
HOST WRTR Muse: <---- lived in Dallas
PNELROD: We caloled it Bubba Rob's and made it a topless place though.
HOST WRTR Muse: with our without the in door rodeo?
Kathi Smith 116: <--spent a night in dallas
PNELROD: No rodeo, but we had a belly dancer
SteeIBtrfl: a jordan Dee???
SteeIBtrfl:
HOST WRTR Dee: lol..water closet.
Kathi Smith 116: breb
Kathi Smith 116: er...that should be brb
PNELROD: I based her aon a friend of mine I lost to cancer, wish I could
have told her she'd be in one of my books
SteeIBtrfl: PN - Anne McCaffrey does that too
HOST WRTR Paul: breb to you too. Do't ask me what that means in
Slobovian
Dcudlbug: I used to be a belly dancer. My belly got so big nobody could
tell when I was dancing!!!
SteeIBtrfl: writes about the friends she has lost
HOST WRTR Dee: I bet she knows...and appreciates it.
PNELROD: we're nealy out of time if there's another group coming in--any
last ??s
SteeIBtrfl: no one coming
SteeIBtrfl: just us
HOST WRTR Paul: no other group
SteeIBtrfl:
HOST WRTR Paul: too late back east
PNELROD: ok, I can field a few more then
HOST WRTR Paul: but we do tend to wear out everyone's keyboards ;-)
HOST WRTR Dee: we keep you prisoner all night....now that could be something
your vampire PI could investigate, lol
OnlineHost: Dcudlbug has left the room.
The13thDoctor: the closest i ever came to having a vampire in any of my
stories was a reanimated cadaver crashing through a locked door, killing the
IS secretary with the lab badge
HOST WRTR Dee: the disappearance of his author
SteeIBtrfl: PN - do you have trouble typing out what you write longhand?
SteeIBtrfl: do you tend to get bogged down ?
HOST WRTR Dee: you write longhand? wow...
TheWordSlayer 2: We will let you go just before SUNRISE! :)
PNELROD: Jack's got a separate life from me. He'd deadl with it.
SteeIBtrfl: she did say she uses a pencil
PNELROD: Much of my long hand stuff tends to be notes, snatches of
dialogue.
I refine it on the keyboard.
SteeIBtrfl: :::nods:::
HOST WRTR Dee: shall we tell her now, that we are a room full of vampires
nere? The writer vampire club.
PNELROD: Steel--i said jack London used a pencil
SteeIBtrfl: I never met him
PNELROD: I write longhand when I hang at the local coffee shop to get out
of
the hosue
HOST WRTR Dee: Velcome....
PNELROD: I work 20 years at this to end up being "ambiance"
SteeIBtrfl: he used to hang around where I live actually
SteeIBtrfl: little shacky places
HOST WRTR Muse: What do you think of "gothics"
HOST WRTR Muse: really?
HOST WRTR Paul: went by Wolf House on the way back from Santa Rosa. Also
shopped at the Jack London Book Store in Glen Ellen.
HOST WRTR Muse: or should I be cool and say goth
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SteeIBtrfl: modern primitives
PNELROD: I was once VERY flattered when another writer compared one of my
stories to Jack London, then I got one of his collectiosn to see for myself.
HOST WRTR Paul: my dad has been a fan since before I was born
PNELROD: But I was only ever writing in the voice of the main characters
HOST WRTR Paul: my grandma was a little girl not far from where he lived
in
Oakland
SteeIBtrfl: I ain't that old Paul LOL
SteeIBtrfl: yet
OnlineHost: Tokugawa1220 has left the room.
PNELROD: Writing is like acting to me, over my desk I have a sign that
reads
"Get into character" that makes the work VERY easy
SteeIBtrfl: PN - do you dress up like Anne Rice does?
HOST WRTR Muse: so do you dress goth at home or at bookstores?
HOST WRTR Paul: Sounds like a very good idea, Pat
PNELROD: it's all part of the Practice Thing
PNELROD: steel--I don't shjop at omar the tent makers yet, so why should I?
SteeIBtrfl: LOL
PNELROD: Right now I'm wearing jeans, an a tropical print shirt with
parrots
on it.
SteeIBtrfl: might be forced to belly dance in there
Kathi Smith 116: when i 'get into' my characters, it can be hard to come
out
of it...i'm irrational for a bit afterwords
SteeIBtrfl: I wouldn't shop there either
PNELROD: socks...underwear....or is that TMI
The13thDoctor: LOLOL
SteeIBtrfl: what color underwear?
SteeIBtrfl:
The13thDoctor: Steel!
SteeIBtrfl: :::giggles:::
PNELROD: Thge closest I got to goth was playing Magenta during a showing of
Rocky
TheWordSlayer 2: no all writers should be discriptive: )
PNELROD: steel-- I will answer that ONLY if you look like Mel Gibson.
SteeIBtrfl: Hey - I can sell the info to the Enquirer
SteeIBtrfl:
PNELROD: My roomie can talk goth, but I don't car for the music and most of
them don't read much, so they don't know who I am anyway
SteeIBtrfl: PN - I look exactly like Mel Gibson
The13thDoctor: and ruin your rep?
SteeIBtrfl: in fact - Mel is my twin
PNELROD: I prefer swing music or the Beatles
The13thDoctor: I listen to classical when i write
PNELROD: to me much of the techno stuff is based on the breathing exersises
they give to women in labor
SteeIBtrfl: geesh - no one believes me :::stumps off in stillettos:::
Kathi Smith 116: steel, that must be where he got the idea for 'what women
want'
SteeIBtrfl: :::twinkles:::
SteeIBtrfl: I loved the shaving scene
TheWordSlayer 2: I like to listen to James Taylor when i write.
SteeIBtrfl: NADs for men
SteeIBtrfl: yehah
Kathi Smith 116: i'm going to try that on hubby's back
Kathi Smith 116: maybe his ears too
SteeIBtrfl: tie him down first
PNELROD: writing queries? anything I can disillusion you about some more?
SteeIBtrfl: PN - you have been wonderful
Roy Gugat: please
HOST WRTR Muse: yes please
SteeIBtrfl: thank you for standing up to our mischief
PNELROD: I try.
Roy Gugat: I do not understand queerires
SteeIBtrfl: it was lovely to have you as a visiting author
Sterlingvision: I have a quick question
HOST WRTR Dee: Pat, I second the thanks for your willingness to join us.
PNELROD: well, it's not as though we "shared unity"....
HOST WRTR Muse: Actually any advice on Queries?
HOST WRTR Dee: I need to take off...take care all.
PNELROD: ster--GA
HOST WRTR Paul: Thanks, PN :-D
Sterlingvision: Does a writer just send a copy of his/her manuscript to a
publisher or agent or do you need to send a query first?
TheWordSlayer 2: thank Pat.you were great : )
PNELROD: They each have different requirements. Read Writer's market or
visit their website for that infor
HOST WRTR Muse: Yes, thanks for coming on such short notice Pat
OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Dee has left the room.
Sterlingvision: thanx
PNELROD: Many houses will not look at an unsolicited MS, ditto for agents.
query 1st
Sterlingvision: It was a great evening, I really enjoyed it
PNELROD: Yeah, I haven't watched Angel yet....
Kathi Smith 116: usually they ask for a cover letter and three chapters, i
believe
TheWordSlayer 2: Pat i have never read any of your books.but after tonight
i
will go get one. I enjoyed your honesty.
Sterlingvision: Thanks again PNELROD
TheWordSlayer 2: thank you.
PNELROD: that's standard letter and 50 pages + outline
The13thDoctor: thanks PN
PNELROD: than'd word--try my website for more info. The FAQ section has
some fun stuff
PNELROD: www.vampwriter.com
PNELROD: and a pic of me as Magenta
The13thDoctor: paul please make sure it winds up in the log
HOST WRTR Muse: LOL
SteeIBtrfl: Doc - the guidelines are noted in the books
PNELROD: and "the Blues Sister Elrod"
TheWordSlayer 2: I will check it out.Thank you very much for spening this
time with us.
The13thDoctor: LOL Hey I love the blues brothers
OnlineHost: Wndrmr has entered the room.
PNELROD: My pleasure. I'm glad you all laughed at the jokes!
SteeIBtrfl: PN - thank you for your time - it is getting late on this end
so
I am heading off
Kathi Smith 116: great talk, pat...very informative. thank you
SteeIBtrfl: nighters everyone****
PNELROD: I still have to shoot Muse though for asking wher I get all my
ideas....
TheWordSlayer 2: night Steel , sleep well
OnlineHost: SteeIBtrfl has left the room.
Sterlingvision: well all see you next week, nite
OnlineHost: Sterlingvision has left the room.
TheWordSlayer 2: lol
PNELROD: Be vewy vewy qwiet...I'm hunting Muses... he he he he he
HOST WRTR Muse: gee, and I was going to tell everyone to APPLAUDE
TheWordSlayer 2: :)
Kathi Smith 116: she's not hiding behind me, really she's not
Kathi Smith 116: that's just a figment of your imagination
HOST WRTR Muse: thanks for coming, PN, we really appreciated it!
HOST WRTR Muse: and Kathi, stop moving!
TheWordSlayer 2: muse's Inspire people.we just never know how our muse will
insire us LOL
The13thDoctor: kill da wabbit! kill da wabbit
PNELROD: ;-) Ok, I know when to make an exit, thanks all..... POOF!
OnlineHost: PNELROD has left the room.
HOST WRTR Muse: lol, well, I guess it's time to turn off the log
TheWordSlayer 2: this was a really good session! I am glad i made it
Roy Gugat: sorry I missed the first half
Roy Gugat: I'll be tuned in for the log
Kathi Smith 116: i enjoyed it, thanks for setting it up, muse
TheWordSlayer 2: No Prob Roy it will all be in the log :)
Kathi Smith 116: taking off now. see you all next week
OnlineHost: Kathi Smith 116 has left the room.
HOST WRTR Muse: bye Kathi
OnlineHost: Roy Gugat has left the room.
TheWordSlayer 2: night yall, sleep well
HOST WRTR Muse: well good session everyone
HOST WRTR Muse: Don, glad to see you here
OnlineHost: TheWordSlayer 2 has left the room.
OnlineHost: Bard522 has left the room.
HOST WRTR Muse: bye
OnlineHost: The13thDoctor has left the room.
SarahStNy: nite
OnlineHost: SarahStNy has left the room.
OnlineHost: JES No Time has left the room.
5/20/02 8:21:37 PM Closing "Chat Log 5/20/02"
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