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Writer's Access File Drawer #3

Ref 40. Hi, Meg. Wondered which of your novels would be easy to find in bookstores right now.

Ref 41. Hi im writing from Switzerland. How can I get access to agents in Hollywood?

Ref 42. Response to Ref 40. Thank you for asking. As most of my novels have been paperback originals and the shelf-life of the average paperback novel is approximately one month, you probably can't find one right now in a regular bookstore. You might check used bookstores. My previous books have ranged from romantic supsense to romance to paranormal fiction, and were mostly published by Worldwide, Pinnacle and Harlequin. Available right now is my book How to Write YOUR Novel, which you can only order direct from The Writer Magazine, 617-423-3157. However, if you can hang in there until about June 20th you ought to be able to find Dying To Sing, first in my Charlie Plato Mystery series, pub. by Kensington Pub. Corp. It's a hardcover so should be around for a while. If you can't find it, ask your bookstore to order it. ISBN 1-57566-052-0

Cheers! Meg

Ref 43. Response to Ref 41: I'm afraid I can't help much here. I'm a novelist and don't know anything about Hollywood agents. Your best bet would be to clock on screenwriting on the box at the bottom of the first page of this site and ask one of the hosts in that section. Sorry. I really hate when I don't know the answer! I'm sure someone in screenwriting can give you the information. Good luck, Meg.

Ref 44. I have written a story that begs for a scriptwriter. At 60, I don't
need to learn another craft. How and where does one turn to submit
a work for a script treatment. Thanx Clark

Ref 45. I have read your book on writing twice. You have been more than an inspiration. Thank you for your writing style, I actually was able to easily comprehend your writings and suggestions. Hopefully you will be reading the suspense thriller next year!!!! Diane H.

Ref 48. Response to ref 44: I don't know of anywhere you can submit a story and have it done over as a script treatment. You might try to screenwriting section of the Hollywood Network, but I doubt you'll get a different answer. Perhaps you should try to publish your story as a story. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Meg

Ref 49. Response to Ref 45: Thank you, Diane H. I'm glad you found the book helpful. That's 25 years of my writing life in that book. I look forward to seeing your novel in the bookstores. Let me know how it goes! Good luck, Meg

Ref 50. How do you get started on writing a book?

Ref 51.
Response to Ref. 50 This is a tough question. I'm not sure if you mean how do I get started, or how should a new writer get started. I'm going to take the question as being how should a new writer get started. I also don't know if you mean a non-fiction book or a novel. So I'm taking it that it's a novel you want to know about. If this isn't what you want, let me know. I have to add that I can't give a full and complete answer. Half of my how to write book deals with this very question and it took me months to write. But here's the condensed version okay? Remembering this is only my opinion. Writers differ.

It's most important not to start the actual writing of a book too soon. Most books start with a small idea. Let it grow in your mind. Make notes of any ideas that come to you and seem to connect with the original idea. Think about the ideas. Once you get a feel for the ideas, ask yourself what kind of book this is going to be--a mystery, romance, science fiction--whatever. Usually it's best to start out with the kind of book you most like to read. Think about your idea in connection with these genres. If it's to be a mystery, you'll need a victim, a sleuth of some kind, a method of murder. If it's a romance, you'll need a hero, a heroine, a setting, a story your hero and heroine can interact with. and so on. As you explore these areas, make notes of everything that comes to you. Don't worry about where they'll fit in the story, just write them down. You'll probably need to do some research. Most books need researching. You need to know the occupations of your characters, the setting of the book, police procedure if it's a mystery and so on. Do as much reading and note taking as is necessary so you really know what you are writing about. As you research you will find that your storyline will begin to come clear to you. Write down whatever comes. As your storyline grows, your characters will develop, as your characters develop your storyline will grow. When you feel you have enough written down to make a novel, then try to make a synopsis of the whole thing. It will guide you through the actual writing of the novel.

Some writers say they just start writing and keep going without doing all of the above, but I think they must do it all in their heads before they begin. I can't work that way--I would get very confused and never finish. After 30 novels, I find this is the method that works for me. Give it a try. If it doesn't work for you, try a different way. There are many books on writing in your local library. Check them out and study them. Learn about developing characters and showing them in action. Learn about point of view. And so on. Writing a book is not easy. It doesn't just flow. It's mostly a case of trial and error, of writing and rewriting and rewriting and rewriting again.

Good luck, Meg

Ref 52. Hi Meg..I have been brewing an idea for a novel based upon
conversations in a chat room. I find chat rooms quite interesting
and would like to further develop this concept into a novel.
Any suggestions regarding how to get this project onto paper
and out of my mind! I am very creative when it comes to writing,
and have been in so many chat sessions and seen personalities
develop that I feel this could become a really great book.
All about how people can interact in chat rooms...while unable
to do so in real life. Any ideas you have regarding this would
be much appreciated....Thanks....Anne

Ref 53. AS retired Story Analyst I feel I know what has current commercial value and I have a Treatment that I would like to sell for a motion picture. Where do I find an agent?

Ref 54. Response to Ref 52. Anne I think the best I can do for you is to suggest you read my response to ref 50, right above yours. If you follow the suggestions there then I think you can put your chat room idea to work. One problem you are going to have, as I'm sure you are aware, is that people will not be seeing one another. Perhaps you will need to let the reader "see" your main characters, so they don't seem to be just "virtual" people. The reader has to become engaged with your characters in fiction for it to work. Also, I wouldn't have too many characters, or it could get confusing. I think you will need to show your main characters in real life part of the time. Do remember that would makes a novel work is character identification and conflict. Having only the interaction in chat rooms might be boring, unless you also show the characters in real life. Other than this, I'd suggest again that you check my response to ref 50 above. Good luck, Meg

Ref 55. Response to ref 53: I'm afraid you've gone outside my frame of reference. Sorry. I suggest you scroll down to the bottom of this page, click on Screenwriting in the box and scroll down to the Ask A Pro section and post your question there. Good luck, Meg

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