My stories are like that, except with two steps added "It's her fault." and "She needs to die."

Amy, I love you. Seriously. For the compliment, oh hell yes, but also because you did just clarify something for me: if the characters are real and their journey is real, the themes can be automatic, and in fact, will be there, as part of a very organic process. Because I think writing fiction is organic. At least, it is for me.

I had that big open discussion in livejournal recently, about the difference between a literary writer and a commercial one. I don't understand what makes a writer one or the other, and I got a lot of superb input on the result end of the question - ita and Betsy both made me jump, they were so spot on - but there's still nothing on the writing end to clarify it for me.

I am, apparently, a literary writer. But hoity-toity? I don't think I am.

And man, if that was a writing teacher, remind me to get his or her name so that I can make a note to never ever ever EVER read anything of theirs.

Firstly, congrats on the completed manuscript, Deb!

Secondly, looking at your word count...I think I'm a little fucked. Vampire People looks like it'll come in at a bit over 30,000 words, about 76 manuscript pages. Seems I'm short, both in stature and pages.

Seems I'm short, both in stature and pages.

NO. Yours is non-fiction. Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary: non-fiction is not onlynot in the same ballpark, it's in a different galaxy.

The only non-fiction books out there that could hope to get away with 85K words are autobiographies/biographies, or minute-by-minute true life war coverage books.

Seriously. Yours sounds just about right.

BTW, a sneaky evil thought crossed my mind. If they want one more essay, you could always add one about your crazy invisible net family friends who are writers, cheering you on and talking you through the maze...

Heh. I like that. Not that's it's my book. I think it's great, though.

That's my entire list of acknowledgements, right there.

My agent bought me the weekend, which is great. And also means I can put Vampire People to bed this weekend and break out the champagne I've been saving.

End then, hopefully, I'll have to deal with some edits if the editor at ECW makes an offer. I hope.

if the characters are real and their journey is real, the themes can be automatic, and in fact, will be there, as part of a very organic process.

My thing is, I usually don't know what the themes are until I've written a good deal of the book, or brainstormed it a hell of a lot. I didn't figure out till just recently that the book I'm working on now has a lot to do with honesty, for instance.

My agent bought me the weekend, which is great. And also means I can put Vampire People to bed this weekend and break out the champagne I've been saving.

Go, Allyson! You can do it.

I'm always surprised to discover themes in my stuff. I never think "What do I want the theme of this to be?" I just tend to write things about loyalty, betrayal, the consequences of choice, and standing by what you believe in for good or ill. It's where the juciest plots lie.

Go, Allyson! Nail the vampires book down, and let it fly.

connie, it's also where most people founder on the rocks, and, well, there you go. A writer with any dexterity at all can take those themes and produce a damned good book. If you're Michael Chabon, you take those themes and produce Kavalier & Klay.

I'm always surprised to discover themes in my stuff. I never think "What do I want the theme of this to be?" I just tend to write things about loyalty, betrayal, the consequences of choice, and standing by what you believe in for good or ill. It's where the juciest plots lie.

Very much, yes. I've also found that extended metaphors will sometimes sneak into my work without my noticing. That's fun.