There is Only One Genre: Mystery

I’ve heard it said that all novels are mysteries, in a broad sense.

And I can see some of the reasoning. If an engaging novel is about change from page one to the end of the book, and if an engaging novel requires obstacles to overcome, then how those happen to an unsuspecting character do constitute a kind of mystery.

None of us knows what is coming next. Even when we think we know, there are surprises, sometimes presaged by clues. Sometimes not. In real life. But in novels, the surprises and changes and obstacles are always set up by the author. Out of the blue doesn’t happen in novels as it might in real life.

My online dictionary lists three examples in its first definition:

•something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain

• the condition or quality of being secret, strange, or difficult to explain

• a person or thing whose identity or nature is puzzling or unknown

See how that does fit, that all novels are mysteries?

Not traditional mysteries where a crime has occurred, necessarily, but a puzzle to unravel. A problem to be resolved. A secret to be uncovered. Explanations to reveal. Characters to understand.

So writers, no matter what genre you thought you wrote, welcome to my world, mystery writer.

Agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments. And if you disagree, convince me, if you can!

Did you find this intriguing? Let your social media outlets know about the post.

Facebook: Sharon Arthur Moore posits that all novels are actually mysteries, ultimately. Read her argument see if you agree. http://bit.ly/2k3PI5x

Twitter: #Writers, forget what you thought you knew. There is only one genre, mystery. http://bit.ly/2k3PI5x

No Rest for the NaNos

This week is the All-American Gorge Fest known by some as Thanksgiving. Most of you will be slaving away over preparations for The Feast. NaNos, however, get no rest. Must. Crank. Out. Words.

Oh, sure, we’ll join the family to gulp down the turkey and gravy. You gotta be polite to family and friends. I suggested making a Turkey Dinner Shake so I could keep writing, but my family nixed it. They want me, for some odd reason, to join them at the table this Thursday. It could take hours to eat the menu my future daughter-in-law has planned. What was she thinking? Well, she’s new to the family, so I cut her some slack.

But what is a NaNo to do? Get up earlier. Put in seat time before called to cooking duty. And record your pathetic word count for the day. (Gotta get the badge for updating the word count 30 days in a row!)

You tell yourself that you’ll make up the deficit. That low word counts for thirteen days (in my case) won’t be a big deal. All you have to do is write like crazy once these family obligations cease.

That’s what you tell yourself because you blew through your banked words long since. And you have to tell yourself something, or you’d quit.

Given that you might be lying to yourself, and that you’ll never recover from the mounting word count deficit, you really ought to give in.

Relax. Play games. Laugh a lot. Enjoy Thanksgiving. NaNo isn’t really LIFE. Really. Right?

Funny? Please share on your social media outlets.

Facebook: Ready for a little humor with that turkey, NaNoWriMos? Relax. The world won’t end if we take a day break. http://bit.ly/2zNbNZV

Twitter: Ready for a little humor with that turkey, #NaNoWriMos? Relax. The world won’t end if we take a day break. http://bit.ly/2zNbNZV

It's a Wrap, Er, That is, a RAP

I told you I’d keep you apprised vis-à-vis the search for a new publisher. Well, it’s happened in a miraculous sort of way. Long story that began more than a year ago. Maybe we can get into it over a root beer someday.

But for now, I am pleased to announce that as of November 7^th, I signed with Red Adept Publishing (RAP) to publish my culinary mystery. This small press in North Carolina has over sixty authors and has published more than 100 books in five years. Several authors have made the USA Today best sellers list.

Impressive, yes?

I’ll keep you up with publishing plans as they progress. But I am so excited to be part of this vibrant group of authors and the amazing owner/publisher.

One of the things owner/publisher Lynn McNamee asked us to consider doing is a newsletter to our fans. Would you consider subscribing to a monthly newsletter with content that ranges from mystery information (my books, mystery reviews, etc.) to food (recipes, cooking tips, etc.)? Here is the picture for the top of the newsletter. What do you think?

She also suggested producing some Facetime videos. I’m learning how to do that, too. Great opportunities appear when change happen. 

What content would you like to see in videos and a newsletter? I am open to your ideas! After all, it's for you!

Keeping the Pace

On another of my blogs, I wrote about PlotOber and planning the fifth in my culinary mystery series so the writing of it in November for National Novel Writing Month will go more smoothly.

Well, I’m into November, one-fifth of the way through today, and by the end of the day I need to have logged a minimum of 10,002 words to be on track to finish November 30^th with 50,000 words.

I’ll make it. Last night I recorded a word total of 8356, slightly over the 8335 that I needed. Pretty darn good, with weeklong company, if you ask me.

I started strong, as I always do. That story has been percolating for months and I focused the thoughts by using two magic elements: my Plotober massive planning elements and by brainstorming with my two critique groups. My crit partners have AMAZING minds! Have I said how lucky I am to have them part of my writer’s life?

Here’s a peek at my time tracker to-date. The far right column is the minimum total number of words I need to have written to keep on track for NaNoWriMo. I got a strong start, “banking” words, so to speak for when I couldn’t write much.

Note, for example in the second column, that I had three days when I couldn’t make my minimum 1667 words for those days. Company. You gotta love ‘em, but there is a toll. My cushion of banked words let me enjoy my time with her.

Falling behind is inevitable, if my past years are predictive. But it is not fatal. I will just need to write more words on other days to catch up. She leaves today, so this afternoon maybe I can bank some more for the other days I’ll not write much if anything.

Have I mentioned that we are traveling for Thanksgiving this year? Again.

Each year I have about ten days of limited productivity due to company and travel. So I just have to write harder on those days that aren’t committed to fun, food, and family. I’ve got this!

2017 NaNoWriMo Time Tracker

TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD

Book 5 “Dinner is Served”

Date	Daily Words/Pages Total	Running Total	Minimum Running Total
Nov. 1	2228/7	2228	1667
Nov. 2	2886/19	5114	3334
Nov. 3	1563/25	6677	5001
Nov. 4	725/28	7402	6668
Nov. 5	954/32	8356	8335
Nov. 6			10,002