Both Plundered Booty and myself sag in the middle.
The consensus is the first 70-80 pages are strong and draw readers in. The last 60 - 70 tie everything together and result in a satisfying ending. But right there in the middle is a big old, unappealing beer gut.
So now I've been reading the novel myself with that info in hand, and I agree. But acknowledging the problem is but the first step. A couple of nights I dreamed about Plundered Booty, the book that is, and by morning I felt inspired that I can indeed fix the novel. The process has already began and I'm excited by the promise that I can complete the transformation by July 1st and have a much better and more marketable novel at that time.
I also have a July 1st deadline to work on that other bloated midsection. the one circling my waist. A month ago I placed a weight loss bet with my friend Arlene. If she loses a higher percentage of weight by July 1 I have to wear a pink Barry Fanilow shirt and take her to see Barry Manilow when our group of friends goes to Vegas in October.
When, not if but when, I win. I am going to make her buy my ticket and go see the new risque version of Little Bo Peep at the Planet Hollywood Casino. The show is called Peep and my guess is Arlene's husband, Rob is pulling for me to out lose his wife because what man wouldn't rather see a Vegas show called Peep, rather than hear the cheesy warbling of Barry Manilow. Is it just me or does Barry Manilow look like the dorky brother of Wayne Gretzky?
THE CROONER ------------------>
THE GREAT ONE ---------------->
And a month in I am 12 pounds down. My goal is to lose 18 more before July 1. Arlene almost conceded yesterday by saying, "At least Rob will enjoy Peep."
So here's to tighter and more appealing midsections.
Good luck in fixing all your sags! I'm rooting for you.
ReplyDelete(Secretly, I'm pulling for Arlene to win just to see you in the Barry Manilow shirt - I think you would look lovely in pink!)
It's huge you've identified the problem, so good for you! Best as you rewrite, Travis.
ReplyDeleteSame with the weight loss, too. You're doing great!
Well, gee, I wish I could cheer for you going to see Peep, but I just can't. But I think tightening both midsections is a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's wonderful you got such helpful feedback, so you know where to go with your manuscript!
*raises glass*
ReplyDeleteHere's to eliminating saggy middles!!
Enjoy Peep. :P
12 lbs. is impressive, and while I think the Manilow shirt would be a hoot, I hope you win.
ReplyDeleteExciting about the book, really. Something fixable, and "good" rejections.
Go-go-go-go-go!!!!!
Go Go Go! I'm pulling for you on the weight loss and the Booty!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the weight loss. As for the story, we all have those times. A fresh take on it may make all the difference in fixing the lull in the middle.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on both fronts...er..middles. As you say, owning up to a problem is the first step. The fact that you're eagerly plunging in to fix the problem is great. As for the weight loss, good job so far and hope you win. That's a hell of a bet, and I for one wouldn't want to be going to a Barry show in pink.
ReplyDeleteEven though I usually root for the female to win in a contest like this and I can't condone the Peep show, the thought of seeing Barry Manilow is just so not appealing and I can't do that to you Travis. So I'm pulling for you.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the MS too! I've had mine with a professional editor and am waiting for the revision letter. Will see what she says.
I had heard that Barry Manilow isn't actually a human but a terminator that got loose after a joke program was installed in its CPU that told the robot to "kill" the audiences at Vegas with its singing.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, he doesn't look very much alive in the photograph. Maybe it's a Weekend at Bernies deal with lip syncing.
As for Plundered Booty, I think your prescription sounds on target. Humor carries a long ways but other aspects can lift the load of the middle. (All that being said without having seen the middle but knowing the end.)
You can do it! Barry Manilow sounds like fun for you. Pink totally goes with your cheeks. ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the slimdown.
ReplyDeleteI remember discovering that my assigned sophomore college roommate was an avid member of the BMIFC (Barry Manilow International Fan Club). She was willing to hang the hugest posted in the back of the closet though, which was thoughtful.
I know that my first completed MS had that saggy middle problem, for sure. An agent who'd requested the full said she lost interest on 168, and I zoomed to that page only to find that's where I had a villain whipping out a gun on the heroes. If I didn't make THAT sound exciting, well the rest was downhill from there.
Good luck with your tweaking. That's why they they call the MS middle "the muddle."
So excited that Plundered Booty is getting lipo! What a process huh? You're still ahead of me...still clutching your coattail and babbling incoherently...purging the passive voice gave me a serious condition...still in recovery!
ReplyDeleteVery torn on the mid section dilemma..I want you to succeed in all of your endeavors...but would pay good money to see in Fanilow mode!
Ah, the mid-section. I am pathetically ab-obsessed and strongly recommend Pilates and a low carb diet to keep you out of Barry Manifold's torture chamber.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 12 lbs!
Good luck with your sweetly titled novel as well.
That is so funny, Travis! I must work on both my sagging middles, too. And gosh, if someone threatened me with Barry Manilow, I think I'd be sufficiently motivated to get rid of them. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the re-work of both sagging middles. But I have to admit, I'm a Barry Manilow fan, so I wouldn't mind going to see him.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the weight loss. As for the novel, how lucky are you that agents gave you feedback you could use. Wow! Now, you can fix it up and WILL get published. *shaking your hand* Well done.
ReplyDeleteLynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com
gopher it, travis, like michelle, sez
ReplyDeleteyou prolly look good in a pink froufrou blouse... but not til ye fix that sag :O lol
[i'm working on mine]
glad you have a handle on the other middle, too... keep us posted :)
Good luck with both missions. And yes, I can see the resemblance between Gretzky and Manilow -- add a couple of decades, distort with plastic surgery, and slather with fake tan.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck in downsizing. Sometimes the hardest part is letting go of prose you have worked on for many months.
ReplyDeleteyou're right! They do look a like! And hey, Barry had some pretty good songs.
ReplyDelete"I write the songs that make the young girls sing!!!!"
Um, Peep? I damn sure wouldn't go there!
You are admirably hardworking!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy "Peep."
Aloha
What? Pink isn't your color?
ReplyDeleteMiddle sags are hard to fix, the literary and tummy types. Good luck on both accounts!
Middles are hard - more power to you! But if you end up looking like either Jerry or Helen from the Biggest Loser this season, we'll need to buy you some wings!
ReplyDeleteHi! Good luck with the hunt for an agent and the battle of the "bulge". Got something like that going on here too.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Skeeter
Even if you win you should wear the shirt.You may find that the peepees (us) like it; even if the showgirls don't.
ReplyDeleteLOL Travis!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you lose that gut. For your sagging middle, I bet you could fix that just by adding some sort of thread that rises and rises, then ties up at the middle? Maybe?
LOL Good luck!
I have no doubt you'll fix both mid sections appealingly!!!
ReplyDeleteBarry Manilow is pretty scary to look at, but I do like some of his cheesy songs! (Reminds me of being a kid!)
Good luck getting rid of both sagging middles. Sounds like you've got an awesome start on both goals. Congratulations. =o)
ReplyDeleteHey buddy I'm pulling for you! On both guts...or something like that.
ReplyDeleteI hit a point were I decided I was not continuing to buy bigger pants and belts. I got back down to my old football playing weight (211), but things aren't arranged the way they were back then. So I guess I need to keep dropping. Even all the working out I do doesn't have the desired instant impact.
Oh well, I guess we put it on over time, so it comes off the same way.
Good luck on the bet. I wouldn't wish Fairy Manilow on any man!
My wife loves him.
I hate how fast men lose weight, damn it.
ReplyDeleteI mean, good luck and all, but GRRRRR.
Good luck with your middles. I would love to see you in a pink shirt, but not if it means you stop losing weight. I don't mind Manilow in small doses, but don't think I could sit through a show.
ReplyDeleteGee Travis, it is a slow day and I just happened to stop by. Did I forget to tell you that those pink shirts only come in a size medium?!? You are going to look soooo fine!!! Can't wait to sing along with Barry! AHHH! The motivation, I'm off to the treadmill.
ReplyDeleteArlene
Great job on the weight loss AND on realizing how to fix the sagging middle!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on both counts!!!
ReplyDeleteI need a tighter, more appealing midsection too. But just physically. My books never suffer from that, strangely enough...
ReplyDeleteJust shoot me if I'd have to go see Barry Fanilow - yuck! I'm pulling for you to win, although I'm not so sure Peeps is a good choice either.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the sag issues. I look forward to reading your book WHEN it is published.
Oh and thanks for leaving the bloggy notes on my blog. You are right, Travis is a really good name.
I love when you get dreams that helpp you figure out what you need to do. How awesome that you remembered it. Good luck on the novel AND I the weight thing.... although I'd like to see you in a Pink Barry Manilow shirt
ReplyDeleteHow great that you've figured out how to make your novel marketable!! I think you should be a good sport and wear the Barry Manilow t-shirt no matter what. :)
ReplyDelete