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Caitlin Wahrer's avatar

I cannot tell you how much I loved this piece. I giggled aloud many times and kept feeling this surge of inspiration to work! To write! To feel at peace with the RE-write! To send a threatening email to PattyAnn!!

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Andromeda Romano-Lax's avatar

I cut a paragraph where I mused we need a Misery (Stephen King) rewrite/remake, but instead of the writer tied up, it's the one-star Goodreads reviewer. And they're made to do a better job explaining why they give so many one star reviews. Or maybe they have to write a book! TBD!

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Caitlin Wahrer's avatar

HAHAHA!!!! Or, the reviewer has tied up the writer and is explaining why their book was so bad and all the ways it should be re-written. The opportunities are endless!!

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Kristin Offiler's avatar

Such a great post, Andromeda! If I wasn’t already writing suspense, this would’ve convinced me to give it a try. And yay for the B&N event! So exciting! I’m so glad it’s virtual so I can join in.

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Andromeda Romano-Lax's avatar

Thanks Kristin!

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Annie Wilson's avatar

This is why I launched my crime novel "The Spring" here on Substack as a serial! It's given me space to play with the overall manuscript, learn my characters' wants, and figure out the story as the crime gets solved. Most of all, it gives me a huge kick with every chapter — even if I have a small amount of readers right now.

https://anniewilson.substack.com/p/the-spring-start-here

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Andromeda Romano-Lax's avatar

Good for you! That’s a great way to create accountability!

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Deborah L Williams's avatar

swear to god sometimes I feel like you're writing right to me (wait...you mean it's NOT all about me? phtooey).... clear character wants? careful plotting? hahahahaa uh-oh. I read so much suspense type stuff that you'd think I'd be a better writer of that stuff ... maybe I need to read more as a writer. Hmm. And there was a weird death in the mice-epidemic book, just saying. Also the mice were grosssssss and also: that year of rest & relaxation I just couldn't even.

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Andromeda Romano-Lax's avatar

I am writing this directly to you, Deborah!!!!! We are a one reader newsletter. It’s WORTH it!

Also: yes, there was a death. But there was no curiosity about the why-how etc. Frankly, it felt underused to me. I didn’t really care about it as a crime, but maybe worth musing about more in terms of a life worth living, sacrifices made in search of spiritual growth etc. But even less explored was the life our protagonist left behind. I wanted more despair on the page. As well as the stinky mice.

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