In this podcast, Carly and CeCe critique and discuss a listener's query letter and pages, offering feedback on plot, character setup, and word choices. They also analyze the debut novel 'The Christmas Orphans Club,' praising the author's ability to subvert expectations and craft engaging humor. The hosts explore developing non-POV characters and the importance of striking the right balance of humor in writing. The episode ends with discussions about future projects.
The need for the level of external plot to match the level of interiority in writing a novel.
The importance of incorporating the internet and cell phones naturally into the narrative.
The impact of engaging with the community and sharing the writing journey with readers on the success of a book.
Deep dives
Setting and Characters
The podcast episode introduces the setting of an important event in Manhattan where Kelsey, the protagonist, is hoping for a promotion. It also establishes the character dynamics, particularly between Kelsey and her demanding boss, Violet. Kelsey's interior thoughts reveal her growing anxiety and her struggle to maintain composure. The five-page segment ends with Kelsey's surprise at encountering her coworker on the boat, hinting at a potential disruption to her plans.
The Query Letter and Feedback
The episode features the author, Jessica Stone, sharing her query letter for her upmarket women's fiction novel. The feedback from Carly and CC focuses on the strengths and areas for improvement in the query letter. Carly appreciates the title and the potential of the story but suggests adding more description and specificity. CC highlights the engaging plot setup but advises providing more justification for the protagonist's realization about her dreams. They also discuss the use of comp titles and the inclusion of social media handles in the query letter.
Discussion on Structure and Themes
The discussion delves into the overall structure of the novel, emphasizing the friendship story as the central theme. Carly and CC praise the exploration of lifelong friendships and the challenges faced as the characters transition into their thirties. They also touch upon incorporating the internet and cell phones naturally into the narrative. The conversation concludes with a focus on the emotional satisfaction and balance achieved between the friendship and romance plotlines in the book.
Creating a Captivating Opening
The podcast episode starts with a humorous and unexpected introduction, subverting the expectation of a traditional Christmas story. It begins by describing chaos in Manhattan on Christmas Eve, which immediately sets a lively and engaging tone. The host praises the opening for its ability to introduce a secret and maintain intrigue by not revealing it to the reader right away. The episode explores the challenge of deciding when to disclose the secret and how to balance reader curiosity with narrative tension.
Building a Supportive Community
The podcast dives into the author's experience of promoting her debut novel within the supportive community she built through her podcast. The host highlights the impact of the author's open sharing about her writing process and the support she received from her internet friends. It emphasizes the connection between the author's podcast audience and the success of her book, illustrating the importance of engaging with the community and the joy of sharing the journey with readers.
In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by listener, Jessica, while they critique and discuss her query letter and pages. They discuss the need for the level of external plot to match the level of interiority; specificity to create an 'atmosphere' around your novel; how women's fiction readers feel about swearing in a novel; and creating a sense of believability and plausibility in your work.
After which, Carly interviews Becca Freeman, author of The Christmas Orphans Club. During the segment, the two discuss the origins of Becca’s prologue and her reasoning behind having one; she discusses her use of contextual cues in writing a historical setting and explains her choice of an 'A' plot; fitting friendship stories into commercial fiction genres; the integration of cellphones and the internet into a novel; and Becca’s own experience podcasting.
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