Baby Names

If you’re tired of hearing about Will Steal for Shoes (and frankly, we know you’re not), let us tell you more about our new manuscript project, code name: HSOTI. We gave you a tiny hint a couple of posts back, but for the most part it’s still top-secret. At least as secret as the more big-mouthed of the Lisas can keep it. Anyway, here’s the skinny about starting a new project from scratch; the good, the bad and the utterly disgraceful:

Point #1

Coming up with a vague plot is easy. Coming up with a solid beginning, middle and end is not. Lisa2B’s first instinct was to go in a direction as far, far away as possible from the last project. But the more she and LisaA1 discussed it, why mess with success? (Not that we technically have any yet, but why quibble over semantics?) In other words, we know where our strong suits lie, even if one of us can’t remember the last time she actually wore a power suit of any type. We have a feel for certain story lines and characters; to change it up too much for the sake of change alone could prove unwise. So we ditched the b*tchy new wife idea and stuck with the middle-age heroine.

Point #2

We get the pleasure (and labor pains) of choosing character names. This is yet another example of where writing with a partner has more pros than cons. (*The biggest con btw: one of us may be secretly plotting to do away with the other over projected meager advance earnings and royalties.) Two heads are always better than one, so when we agree on names, settings, locations, etc., we’re confident slavishly devoted readers will appreciate our choices. When we agree on times and dates it’s a total crap shoot, we’re both lousy with numbers.

Point #3

We don’t always see eye to eye. LisaA1 refuses to write things she believes are unrealistic (she would say “stupid”). Lisa2B has fewer qualms. Lisa2B will do anything for a laugh. LisaA1 is frequently embarrassed. There is much reigning-in, testing out and heated debate with the oft overheard, “big patootie” and “fun sucker.” “Show me,” and “prove it” are other popular refrains.

In the end (and the end is the most important part, after a killer beginning and a strong middle) it’s still a thrill to create something from nothing. Although for the sake of the world at large I think we’re all in agreement it’s a good thing our fictional “baby” is all we’re dealing with here. Hey, we warned you mental pictures could get ugly.

Please Be Kind, Rewind

We are off topic, yet again. Something about husbands, housework or hot flashes. Can we really ever be off topic when these are the mainstays upon which we write?

“You know we’ve only managed to get in about twelve hours of editing this week,” Lisa contends.
“Seriously?” I say, with incredulity and more than a little despondency.
“Well, maybe fifteen hours.”
Was she serious? “Seems like forty.”
“I know.”

We resume editing. The last few pages are grueling; uncharted territory compared to the early stuff we’ve gone over with a fine tooth comb. Then comes the moment when it is apparent we might actually finish. Yet again.

It’s one thing to type “The End” to a story (figuratively, of course, it would throw off the word count otherwise). It’s another thing to say, “It’s ready for show and tell.” It’s ready for the big show. It’s ready for prime time.

Actually, “it’s” Will Steal for Shoes and it’s ready for round one of critiquing. By a couple of carefully hand-selected people who shall remain anonymous. We don’t want you thinking the fate of our literary lives is in your hands – no pressure. Noooo pressure whatsoever.

Sure, it’s a big hairy deal to us, but we know we’re far from done. (Come to think of it, we haven’t even celebrated yet. Hmm, I wonder what this means?) Maybe because we know in our hearts it’s not finished until it’s published, and even then people had better buy it. And read it. And like us, darn it all. This is not a threat, but it may be a veiled warning. And don’t even think about changing that blog channel, missy.

P.S. Husband of my dreams and complaints arrives home with congratulatory dark chocolate. Let the celebration begin! (I’ll save you some, Lis…maybe.)

The Thrill of It All

Despite a shared love for the works of the late Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., the Lisas have vastly different reading tastes. So it goes.

One of this Lisa’s top authors, Trisha Ashley, has a new book,  Chocolate Wishes, coming out in March 2010. I can hardly wait. Ms. Ashley’s books are filled with a quirky charm and humor I find enchanting. My very favorite of her books so far is Every Woman for Herself, and I would recommend starting with that one– if you haven’t already discovered her for yourself.

I become bizzarely excited when a fave author publishes something. I was so thrilled to get my hands on my brand new copy of Lois McMaster Bujold’s, A Civil Camapign, I kissed it in public. Yes, I got some odd looks, but didn’t care. I hugged it tightly to my maidenly bosom, only releasing from my embrace because I had to in order to open the book and actually read it.

Despite my passion for fiction, I have read almost nothing except non-fiction since I started seriously writing. I have made exceptions for authors I truly love. I did read Trisha Ashley’s short story from the anthology, Loves Me, Loves Me Not, but have yet to delve into other works in this collection.

I did this because I felt the need to concentrate only on my own fiction. And while it did remove a great many distractions, I have missed losing myself in someone else’s universe.  Lisa and I are editing our WIP right now and we feel we need a joint ruling on each final change. So we read it out over the phone, one of us making the changes as we go along. This means we can only work on it when we both have the time. Tonight no work will happen, because I’m the only Lisa available.  Since I can’t write, I could read. But, for the first time ever, I would rather be in the world of my own creation than someone else’s universe.  I think this must be a milestone of some kind. Similar to  when a student of a language begins to dream in that tongue.

Of course, when Chocolate Wishes makes its way across the Atlantic to my impatiently waiting self, I plan to don my jammies, climb into bed and close the door to all interruptions while I read it from cover to cover. Old habits die hard.

Back on Trax

Thank heaven for little girls and little boys going back to school. Not that Lisa B doesn’t give some slack to Lisa A for her offspring issues, but Christmas vacation really threw us off track. (To be fair, there was that brief stint in Florida by Lisa B, but as there were no children involved it can hardly count as a serious distraction.)

But have no fear! We are back in business and making up for lost time. As we tirelessly edit and re-edit our manuscript we never cease to be surprised at how genuinely talented we actually are and how completely smitten our readers will with our lovely book – books, in fact. We are more than toying with the idea of expanding our originally “finished” children’s book Traxter Baxter: The Curse of the Snithisser, alongside editing Will Steal for Shoes. In fact, as of this week the plan is to begin a thorough outline of the revisions and additions to the Traxter plot line. Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday are designated “Shoe” days, while Tuesdays may officially become Traxter Baxter days. Ah, but what about Thursdays you ask?

Thursdays may well become the research and outline day for TOP SECRET PROJECT: HSOTI – the acronym title of our next chick/hen lit book. Anyone care to guess what HSOTI might stand for? (Those privileged few who have bothered to pay attention at all are now officially sworn to secrecy.) One hint…hockey wives.
And lest you think we take weekends off, we are scrambling to plan Writers’ Weekend Winter Wetreat – oops, Retreat – for February ‘10 (see Retreat! Retreat!). It is certain to be bigger and better and possibly boozier than Fall ‘09 and guts will surely spill (over). Stay along for the ride!

Two Lazy Lisas

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Yes, it’s the Holiday Season and the Lisas should have a blog post for every good girl and good little boy. If only Santa would bring his reindeer around to pull them out of the Black Hole of Inertia…

We are objects at rest. Nothing has happened since the last post. And we mean nothing. No work on the WIP, virtually no housework (you don’t want to see our floors), no holiday baking, and only a surprisingly small amount of Inter-Lisa telephone conversations. Why is this? Well, one Lisa is still in FL and the lack of a computer did truly help the other Lisa re-discover how fond she is of doing nothing. She embraces it. She marks it as her own.

Recently, a Lisa read an interesting column entitled How Stephenie Meyer Cramps My Style in Publisher’s Weekly. A literary agent, Stephen Barbara, discusses the tips he has always given to aspiring writers: Read lots, write lots, edit until you’re practically insane, and be prepared for rejection. Stephenie Meyer’s success did not follow this path. Stephenie wrote her first block-buster novel quickly, sent it off, and had it published right away! She is a force of nature! She has made hundreds of thousands of dollars!

I cast aside the thin disguise of Lisaness and boldly, and greedily, exclaim in the first person: I too want to find an easy path to fame and fortune! In fact, I had better, as I am too lazy to even continue typing this very wee little bloggie. Instead I am going to go to bed early (yes I know it is only 4:40 p.m.) and hope that visions of book contracts dance in my head.

Blog-Bogged With a Dash of Egg Nog

        It’s been a slow week for the Lisas. One of us has computer woes and the other is on vacation. Guess which Lisa is happier?

         Vacation Lisa, you say? Not so fast.

        For reasons of national security (or let’s just say personal security), vacationing Lisa is a mixed bag of emos – or possibly just an old bag. Whereas computerless Lisa has rediscovered the joys of simplicity. Her next move: to end hunger and achieve world peace. Or at least to bake Christmas cookies and achieve a piece of pie.

        There is editing afoot, Sherlock! But when and where?

        And why do all the best movies have to come out on Christmas Day? Just to add guilt to an already guilt-heaped holiday?
For the answer to these and many more burning questions, ask google – we’re busy shopping and writing. Mostly shopping. 

        And that’s a wrap.

We Have a Winner!

Our contest has ended and the winner of the hand-knit Cup Cozy is….drum roll….Bria (clap, clap clap)

She guessed a word count of 76,238 on our feature length novel, Will Steal for Shoes. The actual word count (at the time of the contest start) was 76,204, so Bria was uncannily close.

Your favorite Lisa is convinced other authors have been channeling her thoughts lately, perhaps Bria is one of these people…Lisa is considering wearing a stylish tinfoil hat to block these mind-reader types.

Anyway, congratulations to our winner (your prize will deliver via carrier pigeon) and thank you to those who continue to follow our blog. The holidays may cause minor “blog bog,” when it comes to our ongoing editing process, however, we will press forward, even if it kills a particular Lisa.

Is it THE END for the Lisas?

Word up people: The Lisas are finished, kaput, done for.

Done writing that is! Woot! Give it up for The Lisas! We finally penned the long-awaited words “The End” on our work in progress (WIP) now completed manuscript.

Well, sort of. There are of course a million and one re-writes, changes and edits still to be done, but nobody can deny that we have a genuine novel, for better or for worse. So while the word count will continue to change as we “tweak” and polish and wrestle – no Jello wrestling (you’re welcome), we offer you, our loyal blog fans, a contest opportunity complete with a marvelous prize.

Hand-knit Cup Cozy

Just tell us what you think our “final” word count is, as of Nov. 19, 2009 9:14 a.m., and whoever comes closest will be shipped this hand-knit, reusable, eco-friendly Cup Cozy to help you handle your favorite hot or cold beverage in style. This prize is an homage to our Will Steal For Shoes protagonist, Mary, who is a certified java junkie.

We will even give you a big hint, the “final” word count is somewhere between 55,000 and 85,000 words. To enter this contest simply make your guess in the comment section of this post and make sure your email address is included or attached so that if you are the winner we can contact you for a mailing address to send out the Cup Cozy. The contest will end and a winner will be announced on December 1, 2009, so please stay tuned!

Mistresses of All We Survey

Take our fun and informative survey! Learn more about the Lisas and their epic work. You know you want to!

If you don’t like the answers we’ve provided, feel free to make up your own.

Next week: a contest! We haven’t figured it all out yet. But there will be a prize, so stay tuned.

Solitary Confinement ( or We’re Having Fun …Yet)

L.A.: Writing is a solitary act. Even when writing with a partner as I do. And for many years, it was something I did alone and kept to myself. I don’t think there were more than a dozen people who knew of my literary attempts. Sharing this information about myself is still a bit unnerving to me. I sometimes think it would have been less exposing if I had decided to moon the people driving on I-94. The motorists on I-94 should all be grateful I decided to reveal my inner self instead.

B.O.L.: Due to a happy fortune cookie accident, I inherited a rare form of synesthesia. I have a never ending supply of (mostly amazing) story lines that wiggle around in my lemon Jell-O flavor brain. Lemon and lime alternate as flavors of the day, along with some cranberry concoction that makes an occasional appearance around the holidays – well worth the wait. Please try not to let my juicy brain distract you, although it’s understandable to be jealous. Anyway, I merrily jiggle on about my delightful, as always fat-free ideas to anyone who will listen. Lisa has no clue how many people to whom I blathered to about our first project, Traxter Baxter: The Curse of the Snithisser, not to mention the countless others I have assured Will Steal for Shoes is already on its way to the best seller list. Heck, I have no idea how many people I’ve accosted either, but trust me, plenty. *disclaimer: no Jell-O was harmed in the actual making of my brain.

LA: A lot of people want to become authors. Many of us have an unpublished manuscript hiding in a sock drawer or on an old floppy disk somewhere. Not many people succeed at becoming published authors. This means our blog could be trumpeting a huge personal failure to the world–should they care to look.

B.O.L.: I am totally unconcerned. I’ve maintained all along that I have “fear of success” issues. Fortunately, both of us will be thrilled to finish a manuscript, let alone get published. Of equal encouragement, I have no doubt that we will be published. I’m willing to pimp Lisa out if that’s what it takes to make it happen. She will thank me in the end. Perhaps that is a poor choice of words.

LA: What I do with my end is my own business. I will not thank the BOL (Body Odor Lisa? Big Old Lisa? Bouncy Oozy Lisa? Boozy Ogre Lisa?)  should she pimp me out, even if she just means as a pen for hire. I do thank all the people out there who have given us words of encouragement. You have made this blog worthwhile from day one.

BOL:  Be On the Lookout  (I’ll also answer to Boogers On Lemons, just for Halloween.) And no, it wasn’t your pen I was planning to peddle, but there’s always that too. I’ve seen your pen, it’s a beaut.

L.A.: I don’t think it’s my pen you have in mind.

So much for an attempt at a moody/angsty/heartfelt blog. Although I’m sure even Butt Off Lisa thanks you all.