Pretend you're writing the back cover/flap copy for the book. What does the reader NEED to know to get interested?

Then fill it out a little. Cover your main arcs and plot points (because in this case, you do have to give away stuff you wouldn't on the cover), but think about what the most important and emotional pieces are.

Also, try telling the story aloud, the way you would to someone who asked you. Make notes as you do.

And never get down to details as intricate as dialogue. Ever.

And never get down to details as intricate as dialogue. Ever.

Word. And sometimes, that's really hard. I very nearly succumbed in this one.

Getting down to dialogue isn't a problem. Where I get sucked down is trying to tie together the plot points so it doesn't seem disjointed, then it becomes a list of things that happen without really conveying the story. It's tough.

I decided to start over completely for the fifth time, at least I think it's getting better.

I'm pondering new projects to play with and my mind keeps coming back to playing with some variation of Dorian Gray. I've always been fascinated by the story and it seems like it could be extremely relevant given our society's obsession with beauty at all costs.

What do y'all think?

I say yes! I could never pull it off in a billion years, but that is one of many reasons you are a novelist and I am not.

I haven't read it, but I say go for it! It's one of those stories that hasn't been done to death, so strike!

Suppose you stayed beautiful by having an avatar age in cyberspace and then there's a cascading blackout....

Are you thinking YA, Barb?

I think it'll work best if you already have a character in mind to hang the story on.

Suppose you stayed beautiful by having an avatar age in cyberspace and then there's a cascading blackout....

I like it! Or the reverse, where you start showing some of the damage of your avatar, and you don't dare stop playing the game or you'll starve/die/etc. (that sounds damned familiar, it must have been done)

Are you thinking YA, Barb?

Dunno, Amy-- it certainly could lend itself to YA, however, if I really want to play up the hedonistic aspect of it, which is one of the things I adore about the original, I think I'd have to take it adult.

Like I said, I'm still in very early stages of playing with the idea-- just waiting for Adrienne to get back to me on the ghost story proposal & the 60s story (for which, I suspect, the news might not be good... just a feeling I have). I'd really, really like to sell an adult novel. Eventually. Someday.