Have you ever tried to take up a new sport? Master a new skill? Do you remember how frustrated you got? I’ll use learning to cast a fly rod, just as an example. I took lessons when I started, and at first, I just focused on trying to keep the line in the air…rod moves from ten to two position (think of a clock) and timing is critical to keeping more and more line feeding out and in the air (hopefully without hitting yourself in the back of the head with a fly!). All that seemed hard enough, but then I had to actually aim at something in the water and be able to hit it, without slapping the water and scaring the fish! Seemed impossible in the beginning.
Being a neophyte in writing feels a bit like that; how do I remember all the things I need to at the same time? Everything feels awkward, and just…. not comfortable. I’ll learn a new skill - say plotting. I end up focusing on that so much that my characters become flat and uninteresting! What’s really frustrating is that, at first, I don’t realize what’s happened – just that I suddenly have lost interest in the story, and can’t make myself sit down and write. I spent a month flogging myself, accusing myself of being lazy and questioning my ability to become a professional writer. A month wasted.
Well, maybe not wasted totally, because I now understand what was wrong, and maybe next time I’ll recognize it more quickly. This road to being a good writer is a long and convoluted one, much more so than I realized when I began.
It’s like giving birth – if you truly knew what you were getting yourself into, would you do it? I think it depends on when you’re asked…when they put the baby in your arms for the first time? Of course! In the middle of labor? Maybe not so much….
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Harlequin Editor Interview
Presenting...Marsha Zinberg, Harlequin Executive Editor
Having worked for many years at Harlequin enabled me to persuade some fellow workers to share their story. I'm delighted to present Marsha Zinberg, Executive Editor, Feature and Custom Publishing at Harlequin.
Her extensive knowledge of Harlequin authors and titles is based in part on her tenure—she's celebrating her 25th anniversary with the company in July.
She began as an assistant editor with Superromance and from there worked her way up the ladder to Senior Editor of Superromance, a position she held for 7 years, before becoming Senior Editor and Editorial Co-ordinator of Special Projects.
But I should let her tell you about what she does in her own words—I know I will never get it all straight!
"I am responsible for limited continuity projects, all backlist programs: Reader's Choice, The New York Times Bestselling collection, The Diamond Collection in honor of Harlequin’s sixtieth anniversary, etc., the Anthology program, the NASCAR program and the More Than Words program. I also handle all Direct-to-Consumer only projects.
"What I love about the diversity of the programs I manage is the opportunity it affords me to acquaint myself with rising stars and new voices within the company. I'm able to offer them—as well as authors with whom I’m more familiar—projects that are outside the familiar series world. These projects, because they are unusual or sometimes innovative, allow authors to really flex their writing muscles and grow in new and surprising ways!
"I am always on the lookout for authors with particular knowledge of the NASCAR world and the ability to craft a romance that fits comfortably in that world. At present, we are producing NASCAR stories that are shaped by a bible, but authors able and willing to write this specific type of story are people I would be happy to be in contact with.
"In addition, I like to pepper our anthology program, which features novellas, with new voices, because these stories are often seen as ‘classics with a fresh twist.’ It’s often an author’s home editor who brings these up-and-comers to my attention.
“I treasure the associations I’ve developed within the writing community….some of which go back more than twenty years. They’ve certainly enriched my life and enhanced my store of knowledge—whether of geography, esoteric occupations or interpersonal relationships! And I feel fortunate that I am in a profession in which I can continue to learn no matter how ‘routine’ the assignment may initially appear.
Thank you,
Marsha
With the number of titles Harlequin publishes in series, the strength and creativity of the author base and the increased flexibility and scope of the formats available, the publishing and reissue opportunities have continued to grow over the years.
I have been in this business so long I remember the days when no one could understand why anyone would ever reissue a series romance, much less publish titles outside of the series program!
We've come a long way, Baby....
And when it became clear that those little one-off ideas had become an ongoing part of Harlequin's business, Marsha stepped up to coordinate and build that program.
Marsha shared that when she's not on the job, she spends as much time as possible with her large extended family, and her two grandsons, who are 2 ½ years and 3 1/2 months old, respectively. And she’s very excited about an acquisition contracted for the end of July: a new granddaughter! There’s also volunteer work, flower arranging, gardening, theatre and decorating to keep her busy. I might add very busy!
Of course, Marsha is always reading something, and she added that she never underestimates, either in art or in life, the advantages of a well-constructed, complex plot and excellent characterization.
Thank you, Marsha, for sharing!
And thank you for enabling me to share my post from
http://isabelswift.blogspot.comwith your readers!
Isabel Swift
Having worked for many years at Harlequin enabled me to persuade some fellow workers to share their story. I'm delighted to present Marsha Zinberg, Executive Editor, Feature and Custom Publishing at Harlequin.
Her extensive knowledge of Harlequin authors and titles is based in part on her tenure—she's celebrating her 25th anniversary with the company in July.
She began as an assistant editor with Superromance and from there worked her way up the ladder to Senior Editor of Superromance, a position she held for 7 years, before becoming Senior Editor and Editorial Co-ordinator of Special Projects.
But I should let her tell you about what she does in her own words—I know I will never get it all straight!
"I am responsible for limited continuity projects, all backlist programs: Reader's Choice, The New York Times Bestselling collection, The Diamond Collection in honor of Harlequin’s sixtieth anniversary, etc., the Anthology program, the NASCAR program and the More Than Words program. I also handle all Direct-to-Consumer only projects.
"What I love about the diversity of the programs I manage is the opportunity it affords me to acquaint myself with rising stars and new voices within the company. I'm able to offer them—as well as authors with whom I’m more familiar—projects that are outside the familiar series world. These projects, because they are unusual or sometimes innovative, allow authors to really flex their writing muscles and grow in new and surprising ways!
"I am always on the lookout for authors with particular knowledge of the NASCAR world and the ability to craft a romance that fits comfortably in that world. At present, we are producing NASCAR stories that are shaped by a bible, but authors able and willing to write this specific type of story are people I would be happy to be in contact with.
"In addition, I like to pepper our anthology program, which features novellas, with new voices, because these stories are often seen as ‘classics with a fresh twist.’ It’s often an author’s home editor who brings these up-and-comers to my attention.
“I treasure the associations I’ve developed within the writing community….some of which go back more than twenty years. They’ve certainly enriched my life and enhanced my store of knowledge—whether of geography, esoteric occupations or interpersonal relationships! And I feel fortunate that I am in a profession in which I can continue to learn no matter how ‘routine’ the assignment may initially appear.
Thank you,
Marsha
With the number of titles Harlequin publishes in series, the strength and creativity of the author base and the increased flexibility and scope of the formats available, the publishing and reissue opportunities have continued to grow over the years.
I have been in this business so long I remember the days when no one could understand why anyone would ever reissue a series romance, much less publish titles outside of the series program!
We've come a long way, Baby....
And when it became clear that those little one-off ideas had become an ongoing part of Harlequin's business, Marsha stepped up to coordinate and build that program.
Marsha shared that when she's not on the job, she spends as much time as possible with her large extended family, and her two grandsons, who are 2 ½ years and 3 1/2 months old, respectively. And she’s very excited about an acquisition contracted for the end of July: a new granddaughter! There’s also volunteer work, flower arranging, gardening, theatre and decorating to keep her busy. I might add very busy!
Of course, Marsha is always reading something, and she added that she never underestimates, either in art or in life, the advantages of a well-constructed, complex plot and excellent characterization.
Thank you, Marsha, for sharing!
And thank you for enabling me to share my post from
http://isabelswift.blogspot.comwith your readers!
Isabel Swift
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