TMT Summer Writing Group - Week Ten

If you read this blog at all, it's obvious Kellee and I do a lot of reading. There are definitely people who do read more than us, but I think we rock at reading. When I think over all the reading I have done in my life, I think of books I loved and books I hated (yes...hate is a strong word, but, really, there are books that I absolutely abhorred). Of the books I really loved, there are some that stand out to me as books I can identify with as a writer. All of them I can appreciate as a reader and a writer, but I'm talking specifically of the books I feel like the author wrote about me. There are just some books I have read and thought, "This is totally me!" This author is writing about me!

Obviously, the author is not writing about me, but so much of what we read we identify with, albeit differently depending on who we are. It's undeniable that we, as people in general, do share experiences and feelings, and that's how books can be cherished by so many people - and worldwide even, but there are a few books that completely speak to each of us. With these books in mind, that's where my current WIP started. I know what I love about books I have read and I have them in mind as I write my own. 

It seems like every Friday, when I share my writing for Friday Feedback on Gae's blog, I remind/announce/warn everyone my WIP is mega-girly. I don't mean it as an apology, but I've gotten comments from people telling me it's soooo girly...finally, I've decided to tell people ahead of time.

The point of this post is really two-fold. First, it's important that you recognize the books that speak to you as a place to start a WIP. Write what you know and what resonates with you - don't try too hard, just write what feels right. Second, when it comes time to talk to others about your writing, it's a good idea to be able to share what books or authors similar to your work.

I'm not at the stage of writing a query letter just yet (a letter to a literary agent or publisher that asks them to consider your book), but I have seen people talking about finding an agent and what exactly goes into a letter - and what absolutely does not. Part of a query letter is to give a quick synopsis of your book and tell the genre or what books it is similar to. I'm not sure if this is the case for everyone, but since I have already identified with those books that I love and jive with, I know exactly whose books I would compare mine to. If you haven't thought about this before, now is the time!

I think it would be fun to share some of my inspiration for my WIP and to hear what author(s) or book(s) you would say your work is similar to. This is just for fun, but I think it helps to have this in mind as your write and also as you get ready (hopefully sooner than later) to write a query letter or just talk to people about your book!

My current work in progress is similar to books by Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella, and Lauren Myracle (at least according to me...). In my opinion, all of these ladies are awesome at writing realistic fiction about strong girl characters who are managing life and love in their own charismatic and hilarious ways. Here are some of my favorites by each of these authors:

Meg Cabot

The Princess Diaries (series)

All-American Girl

Queen of Babble

Sophie Kinsella (adult)

Confessions of a Shopaholic (series)

Undomestic Goddess

I've Got Your Number

Lauren Myracle

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks

Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One (Winnie Perry series)

  

If you haven't read these books but enjoy (or think you might enjoy) (or know someone who would enjoy) uber-mega-girly stories, I recommend all of them.  Just pick one and start - they are all amazing!

My rules for the TMT Summer Writing Group:

1. We respect each other and the types of writing we do.

2. We only criticize each other constructively.

3. We are positive and encourage each other at all times.

4. We recognize and maintain this as a safe environment.

**I reserve every right to put the smackdown

on anyone who messes with our positive energy.**

Today, in the comments section:
What book(s) or author(s) are similar to you and your current work-in-progress?

How did you do this week? Did you meet your weekly goal(s)?

What was the pit of your week? (The hardest part, the not-fun part?)

What was the peak of your week? (The bet part, the most-fun part?)

What are you looking forward to and planning for the week ahead?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week of writing!