I was a little mad at myself last night. Through no fault of my own (and I won't elaborate...) I barely got a couple of paragraphs written yesterday, in the novel. Before I went to bed, I made sure to write something, just so it was done, even though I had to work this morning.
I read Rework this week. Yes, it's about business, but I felt like it applied a lot to me as a writer, especially in the context of writing a novel. I've gotten a nice little chunk of the story done, and I've cut things here and there.
I guess a novel is like a business, sort of.
I think a lot of small businesses fail because they dont understand their customers. Case in point, there's a small restaurant where I live, in two locations, one downtown. It's been there for years. We got the cake for my brother's Eagle Scout reception from there. They do cakes and such, but a huge seller is their lunch box. This consists of an entree (sandwich, chicken, chicken pie, etc.) chips, another side, and a dessert. They are literally two doors down from a bank that employs hundreds of people. This place doesn't even have a dining area, but the food is awesome, quick, and affordable.
We've also had a French cafe, a fancy Mexican restaurant, and a bed & breakfast try their hand at success in the same area.
They all failed.
Where I live, no one goes downtown for the experience. Most of the people there are working. After dark, people go home to the other side of town or wherever they live in the county. The Mexican place failed despite the attraction of live music. The bed & breakfast closed because a) this isn't New England and b) it had a great view of an old hotel that probably has hourly rates. I'm willing to bet that the French place didn't quite understand its customer base or possibly priced itself out of the running. It may have been that rent was too high and the food was too special (because for real, my town will stiff you on downtown rent.)
Know who you're targeting for your writing. Mostly it's subconscious, but readers like to have that "they get me!" moment when they read. No, they won't say it out loud, but they also probably won't put your book down after five pages.
Anyway. I highly recommend Rework.
Showing posts with label small towns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small towns. Show all posts
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Fun With Felony Arrests
Fried Slice: Fun with Felony Arrests!
Since the election of a new sheriff in 2010, our local newspaper, the Wilson Times, has been listing felony arrests at least once a week. This includes names, pictures, and the offense for which an individual was arrested. It's always pretty interesting to read. Most of the offenses are for stuff like, obtaining property under false pretense, or possession of a substance. And yeah, it's never three or four pictures. There's a real crime problem in my hometown, and I'm grateful for the new sheriff taking care of it. He's doing a great job of cleaning up our little wretched hive of scum and villainy.*
But it's the pictures that always get me.
They're not particularly sad, or tragic. Usually one of two facial expressions appears.
First there's annoyance.
And understandably so. These individuals were hoping not to get
caught, and they did. Innocent until proven guilty, of course, but
basically, a simple concept.
Then there's the ones who have a mixture of embarrassment and shame.
Also understandable. Things might have moved too fast in life, and before they knew it, they're in deep water and they never meant to be. Oops, right? YOu've probably seen faces like that if your local paper does like ours.
But, as with anything, there's always the inexplicable third group. It's a fringe that I personally will never understand in any instance it occurs.
Once in a while, among the sullen faces in the felony arrests section, there's some clown with this face.
I really don't get this one. People with this face are apparently convinced that they are indeed getting their portrait done. There's no hint of sarcasm in their expressions. They're just thrilled to have been arrested. Just happy to be here, they say, 'cause life is gooooooood my friend.
Ah, the idyllic South. Nice, ain't it?
*Yep, went there. Don't judge.
Since the election of a new sheriff in 2010, our local newspaper, the Wilson Times, has been listing felony arrests at least once a week. This includes names, pictures, and the offense for which an individual was arrested. It's always pretty interesting to read. Most of the offenses are for stuff like, obtaining property under false pretense, or possession of a substance. And yeah, it's never three or four pictures. There's a real crime problem in my hometown, and I'm grateful for the new sheriff taking care of it. He's doing a great job of cleaning up our little wretched hive of scum and villainy.*
But it's the pictures that always get me.
They're not particularly sad, or tragic. Usually one of two facial expressions appears.
First there's annoyance.
Then there's the ones who have a mixture of embarrassment and shame.
Also understandable. Things might have moved too fast in life, and before they knew it, they're in deep water and they never meant to be. Oops, right? YOu've probably seen faces like that if your local paper does like ours.
But, as with anything, there's always the inexplicable third group. It's a fringe that I personally will never understand in any instance it occurs.
Once in a while, among the sullen faces in the felony arrests section, there's some clown with this face.
I really don't get this one. People with this face are apparently convinced that they are indeed getting their portrait done. There's no hint of sarcasm in their expressions. They're just thrilled to have been arrested. Just happy to be here, they say, 'cause life is gooooooood my friend.
Ah, the idyllic South. Nice, ain't it?
*Yep, went there. Don't judge.
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