Am I too old for Chick Lit??

I recently read a Chick Lit book, which shall remain nameless, and found it a little difficult to relate to. I must say that experience left me a little freaked out. Chick Lit is MY genre. I read it. I write it. I get this genre---or so I thought. I know what you’re thinking---It must be the writing. But no. The author aptly wrote the novel.

The author hit all of the points of a Chick Lit novel. A Chick Lit novel is typically written from the point of view of a twenty something to a very early thirty something woman. The main character was a 25 year old female. Chick Lit typically involves the search for the perfect man, a promotion or new job—all while either looking fabulous doing it or painstakingly tipping the scales (think Bridget Jones' Diary and Confessions of a Shopaholic). The main character in this novel wanted the promotion and while not specifically pursing a man wouldn’t turn down a good one; all while being very aware of her weight. The author met the criteria for the quintessential Chick Lit novel and wrote it well enough.

I just couldn’t connect with the desire for the promotion or a man. I pursued both at one point in my life but now I feel accomplished in both of those areas. At this point in my life, I could not help but think the main character does not have any children depending on her. Priorities tend to change after children. I kept thinking if your family is okay then you can rebuild. You’re okay. If the job did not pan out for the main character she could always find another one. She’s in her twenties. In my twenties I had a billion jobs. Well, I had a lot. I’m 32 now so I sneak in just under the wire of the typical age for the main character. However, with the gnawing feeling that the stakes just weren’t high enough I find myself asking “am I too old for Chick Lit”? And I need an answer before I give my husband my Christmas list—of books he would never otherwise get me on his own.

Not to mention, I entered a contest to re-name MY genre and was selected as a semi-finalist. *insert look of disbelief here* No really. I was. Here’s the link: http://aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com/2010/11/we-have-our-semi-finalists.html. However, to become a finalist and win the critique, among other things, I have to write a paragraph explaining why my name best suits the genre. Yes, for the genre I’m not even sure I’m suited for. Umm.

So what do you think? Have you ever read/enjoyed Chick Lit? If so, did you outgrow it or are you 80 years old still reading it?

Off I go to think about whether I’m too old for Chick Lit and why my name should be chosen for its new moniker.

Giveaways, Contests & Prizes Oh My

I find myself jumping from website to website for the latest contests, prizes and giveaways related to writing. This week, I compiled the things I found here to share with my fellow writers.

1. On http://www.aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com/, Gabriela Lessa in conjunction with ChickLitShortys is hosting a contest to rename the ChickLit genre. So if you enjoy writing or reading Chick Lit here's your chance give the genre a new and much needed moniker. Not only do you get to rename the genre but if your name is chosen you win books, an Amazon gift card, a guest spot on the blog. And best of all a 10-page critique. SQUEE!!!

2. Lisa Desrochers is giving away signed copies of the Young Adult novels, Firelight and Personal Demons, if you enter her contest at http://www.lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/ by November 3rd at midnight. Readers need I say more than--free books. Writers, it helps to read the genre you write in and there's no better reading than well-written FREE books.

3. If you are looking for a critique partner and/or beta reader and have a Twitter account, tweet your genre and what you're looking for with the hashtag 'betamatch'. This hashtag is being used to match writers with beta readers and/or critique partners.

4. Nanowrimo--the contest in which you write 50, 000 words in 30 days, started yesterday. I'm sure if you'd like to join in the fun and haven't yet, you still can at http://www.nanowrimo.org/. You just have a lot of catching up to do.

5. Literary agent Nathan Bransford provides a first page critique every Friday. At http://www.nathanbransford.blogspot.com/, you can upload the first page of your novel to the forums section. He critiques one random page every Friday. So eventually you'll get an awesome free critique of your writing by an expert in the field.

6. WriteOnCon, the first ever free online kidlit writer's conference, is hosting another live chat on November 15. Visit http://www.writeoncon.com/ for more information.

7. The IndieBookIBC is hosting a free social media workshop for writers via webinar on November 9th. Visit http://www.indiebookcollective.com/ for information.

Do you have others to add to the list? Please share anything I haven't mentioned and help out your fellow writers.

'For Colored Girls' by Ntozake Shange Review

Ntozake Shange wrote For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, the self proclaimed choreopoem, in 1975. It tells the story of several women of color whose stories run the gamut from the trials of date rape to the tribulations of virginity, and everything in between from physical abuse to infidelity.

This choreopoem/play becomes a movie in theatres next month. Tyler Perry directs. Oprah Winfrey produces.

Having now read the play, I can see why Tyler Perry directs the film. It is written in the same vein as Tyler Perry’s own movies and plays. Shange wrote the predecessor to what would become Tyler Perry’s now infamous plays and films. And yet For Colored Girls, the play, manages to transcend thirty five years on the shelf with its use of language to set the place, time and culture as well as its ability to make its audience smile and contemplate.

The language is strong in For Colored Girls, with use of the n word and the antiquated use of ‘colored’. That fact alone can make a person think this choreopoem has no relevance to today’s woman. However, in this instance the language gives tone. It gives shape, color and size to the struggle of a generation to understand and love themselves when not much else in the world told them they should. That same language sets the time, place and culture thirty five years ago.

In addition to its use of language, the choreopoem also possesses moments that put a smile on my face and reflection in my heart. I can not help but smile at the verse “if Jesus cdnt play a horn like shepp/waznt no need for colored folks to bear no cross at all”. The text tells me that this particular character rather enjoyed ‘shepp’ playing the horn because in her mind there was no point in going to Heaven if that music wasn’t there. The play ends on the most beautiful note of contemplation—“this is for colored girls who have considered suicide/but are movin to the ends of their own rainbows”. It ends with a glimmer of hope or as I like to call it the proverbial ‘white picket fence’, even if the fence needs a few coats of paint.

The play sets out with the intent of giving a voice to the story of women of color. Inadvertently, “For Colored Girls" casts a spotlight on today's need for a “For Gay Teens who have considered suicide when the rainbow is Enuf” play, among a number of others.

With all of its pros, the play’s title can be off-putting but it deserves a read because it tells the story of not only women of color but women in general. The stories cut across racial, ethnic and color lines. “For Colored Girls” deserves 4 & 3/4 stars out of 5.

5 Reasons to Write & Actually Finish Your Novel

Writers get a lot of rejection. From rejection letters to writing partner critiques, a writer's life is plagued with it. Understandably, a writer can find themselves believing that their writing is no good, no one will read the novel when it’s done, or a billion other untruths. Those outer, and sometimes inner, thoughts can drive a writer to stop midstream, not complete the book and give up on writing altogether. The writer's life is so plagued with rejection, in fact, that I have decided to counteract some of it. My solution? Five reasons that, despite the hills you may climb or insecurities you may feel, you should write your novel anyway.

1. Your family and friends will love your novel unconditionally. That’s why they get the prestigious title of family and friends.

2. If you love your novel, it can never be a waste of time; even if it never sells. If you love your characters and story it is well worth the journey of writing the book. If you enjoy writing the novel for one, two or three years of your life then the entertainment you provide yourself alone makes the time well spent.

3. It’s more productive than watching television. The average American spends approximately 153 hours watching television a month—writing a novel is a much better use of your time and brain. *winks* I say that as a reality television addict.

4. Twilight. Every time someone criticizes Stephenie Meyer’s writing, an angel gets its wings----and she sells another copy of her trilogy. You don’t have to be Stephenie Meyer but her story goes to show that if it seems like someone isn’t getting your story then maybe 10 million other people will. Above all, don't quit writing or believe that you can't write.

5. You are entitled to a shitty first draft. So write it already. Good, bad or ugly.

As a writer, it can seem like the competition is too stiff or your writing is not as good as someone else’s, but I just found five reasons that you should push those thoughts into some deep crevice in the back of your mind and finish your novel anyway. There’s no time like Nanowrimo!

P.S. If anyone cares, this is where I found the information on how much television Americans watch.

http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/americans-watching-more-tv-than-ever/

Review: "Personal Demons" by Lisa Desrochers

Personal Demons is the debut Young Adult novel written by Lisa Desrochers. It follows Frannie Cavanaugh who’s blessed with a gift—maybe curse--that both Heaven and Hell can use. She chooses between Heaven and Hell in the form of Luc and Gabe all while navigating high school. Along the way, she learns about herself--her past, present and future come to light. Personal Demons captures and holds the attention of its audience because of the characters, supreme writing and unexpected ending.

Frannie Cavanaugh, the main character, is not perfect and we fall in love with her for it. If she were, her decision would be an easy one. There’s an old adage--Men want a whore in the bedroom and an angel in public. Well it applies to women too. And Luc and Gabe epitomize this adage. Luc is hot and dangerous and not having him in your bed would seem like a sentence in Hell, but you want to raise children with Gabe.

These awesome characters unite with their plot through the writing. The symbolism is rampant and used to give the sense of time, place and character. It goes beyond the fact that Luc represents Hell and Gabe Heaven. Ginger represents lust. And if you’ve ever heard the saying that you can smell fear, after reading Personal Demons you’ll know it smells like grapefruit.

Throw in the fantastically unexpected ending and Personal Demons becomes a book that you can’t put down. I found myself hoping half way through this novel that a ‘white picket fence’ lay somewhere in the future. Even though Personal Demons' 'white picket fence' hardly comes in the traditional form, it did not disappoint.

I truly enjoyed reading Personal Demons for its characters, unexpected ending and fantastic writing of a new and unique world where souls have a taste and a demon can make you run towards Hell instead of away. Personal Demons gets 5 out of 5 stars.

Summer Reading: Had me a Blast

2 Young Adult
The Duff by Kody Keplinger
Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

1 Horror
The Passage by Justin Cronin

3 Crime Fiction
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The Girl who played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

I consider myself a fan of women’s fiction, although by looking at the list I made above you’d never believe it. This is a list of the books I purchased this summer—some read, some not---and there isn’t a women’s fiction or chicklit novel on it. The list is shockingly short to begin with---I enjoyed a lot of surf and sun this summer—but the loyalty to my genre is shocking to me.

I received one women’s fiction book this summer, Good-bye to All That by Margo Candela. But I won it in a contest and not for fabulous writing either. I merely entered my name and address into a contest and the book came in the mail. Ummmm.

So I ask you do you have a favorite genre? If so, do you stick to it or will you read anything with a good story?

Better yet, what books did you buy this summer? Did they cross genres or did you stick steadfastly with YOUR genre?

P.S. I read more books than what is listed above, like Plain Jane by Cristyn West, but those books were given to me free of charge specifically for the purpose of reviewing them. These are the books in which dollars and cents were exchanged.

A few thoughts on "The Duff" by Kody Keplinger

Let me start by saying I have not read Young Adult (YA) since I was a young adult. I would not have even considered myself a fan of the genre—I’m more of a woman’s fiction girl---until The Duff. I am now officially an adult who enjoys YA.

To truly understand the Duff’s appeal, you would first have to read Julie A Lindsey’s blog, Don’t Be A Geezer @ http://blog.juliealindsey.com/julie-lindsey/dont-be-a-geezer/, then read The Duff. The Duff is the debut Young Adult novel by Kody Keplinger.

It follows Bianca Piper who finds herself in the midst of a family crisis at a time when she thought she had love, high school and her family all figured out. When she finds out nothing is as it seems, she enlists a very enticing distraction as a way to deal with her problems. The appeal in The Duff lies in its characters, voice and plot.

The characters in The Duff share the story of many American homes. Bianca could be any teenage girl in any town in America. Everything she says and does rings true, but she is not how adults think teenagers act. She’s not the popular cheerleader who looks at being a teenager as the best years of her life—the way older people inaccurately remember their teen years. She is the real thing without being a stereotype. She is the quintessential teenager but smarter and more self-aware.

Bianca may be the main character but Wesley Rush, her arch nemesis, almost steals the show. His self-confidence and devastatingly good looks makes the story believable. If his character had been the slightest bit different you would never believe the outcome.

And contrary to what we’ve heard about Young Adult books lately, Bianca’s parents are alive and well regardless of how wrapped in their own lives they are. Her parents and friends are the glue that holds this story together—believable and just as confused as she is at times, sometimes even more.

The only thing more on point than the characters is the voice. The voice speaks loud and is distinctly today’s young adult. Bianca’s attitude drips of sarcasm and teenage wit. The thing that might shock adults is the nonchalant attitude toward sex but that’s when you remind yourself that you are reading YA--that is today’s Young Adult world.

Following the plot I found myself hoping for Bianca’s happy ending in love. I remember fantasizing in high school about the star quarterback picking little ‘ol me out of the crowd and seeing what a jewel I was. The Duff makes every girl’s dream come true—particularly if she has ever considered herself a DUFF.

It would be easy to write this novel off because it takes place in high school if it has been a while since you’ve been in high school. However, that would be an error because appearance does not cease to matter after high school. If you can relate to being the DUFF in high school then you can relate to this novel; it doesn’t matter if you are in high school or it has been two years or twenty since you roamed the halls. We can all remember being panic stricken over what to wear or how to act--typically aiming for the ‘I don’t care’ attitude and failing miserably.

I give The Duff 5 out of 5 stars for its characters, which jump right off the page and into your high school or Alma mater, voice and the plot. If you loved Sixteen Candles, Bridget Jones’ Diary or Easy A, you’ll love The Duff.