Author: Writer guy

In Her Shoes

Writer guy

Less secure men avoid chick-lit flicks like In Her Shoes. A word to the less secure dudes: films marketed at females draw them like sales. You sir, can be the only man in theater. Odds don’t get much better than that.

I’m a quasi-chick lit fan. Any genre that move books in big quantities is worth my consideration. This commitment has led me down roads both dark and terrible, such as the Vampire Chronicles.

In Her Shoes is the tale of two sisters, joined by love and hate. Basically, first they hate each other, then they love each other. Along the way they stop talking. Exciting? Not really. Gripping? Like the klemph. Believable? Yes. The credibility factor, combined with the performances, deliver this movie from the bargain bin. Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette seem like real sisters, one drama from a knife fight. Or a hug.

What works about this movie:
1) Performances. Toni Collette at a career best. Even better work than the creepy mom in Sixth Sense.
2) Plot. A few glitches here and there, but any oversights are forgiven.
3) Cast. The actors fit the characters.
4) Direction. The director nursed laughs at the right moments.

Verdict: Girls, test your man’s security and demand a date with this film. Guys, you’ve been warned. DVD purchase, or matinee ( for the Girls Club Squad ).

In with the good air

Writer guy

If every writing session went like yesterday, the book would write itself. A personal record of 1800 words. Output like that verges on Stephen King territory.

In keeping with submission guidelines mentioned on dozens of agent websites, the manuscript required some format adjustments. For those planning on submitting work to agents the near universally – because there is always an exception – accepted format standards are:

1) A 12 point font, usually Times New Roman.
2) 1 inch margins on all sides.
3) Double spaced text.
4) The title, author name and page number atop each page.

The manuscript covered items 2 through 4 but not 1.

My favorite font is Courier New 10 point. It’s proportional and supports roughly 350 words per page – at least within narrative tracts. Dialog snippets vary, as they involve more white space. Such word per page dimensions mirror those found in published fiction. Courier New 10 point gives a real-time estimate of the bound page count. All the more reason to use it, in my opinion.

Of the twenty agent sites checked, however, all said Times New Roman was the way. No mention of Courier New anywhere.

So long, Courier New. Hello, Times New Roman.

With the agents to contact list complete, and the synopsis up to date, the next stop is a query letter revisit.

Not now, Kato!

Writer guy

A bizarre week leads into an even stranger weekend.

The manuscript progresses slowly for the right reasons, i.e. lots of book sales, late seventies Honda style quality assurance controls. What lives on the page is tight. At this point in the story, every scene ends with a cliffhanger. Finding the best moment for a cut away is almost as challenging as writing the entire chapter.

The Wife has some sweet pictures of her Honduras trip for sharing. As soon as everything is burned on CD’s, I’ll post a small, enticing selection. You too can experience the waters of Roatan without risking the sting of sea wasps.

Oh, signs of new life on TV abound.