Paige Hawthorne: Blog

I cheerfully admit to paying homage to some of my favorite authors by poaching plot lines, characters, settings, situations.

But I am not one of those bubbleheads who is only as smart as the last person she talked with.

Yet. Yet, I sometimes find that my thinking, my actual thought process, is influenced by whichever book I am currently reading. And this borrowed ambiance - - British accent, anyone? - - sometimes spills over into my writing.

Example?

I'm revisiting "Friends, Lovers, Chocolate" by Alexander McCall Smith. So here I am, incorporating the philosophical musings of Isabel Dalhousie into the thought patterns of Winter Jennings. And trying to find ways to slide words like 'eleemosynary' into the dialogue.

Now I don't think this is fatal, flaw-wise. Although when the Winter series is turned into a movie, it could make Central Casting's task more difficult. I need to make Winter more … Winter. Fuck.

Paige

Let's apply an impassive moniker to this little post. Let's call it … an alert. A notice to the few remaining readers still around that my next story - - "Winter's Dilemma" - - will be appearing here one day soon.

Or, perhaps 'soon' is a bit optimistic. Because "Dilemma" is in the malevolent hands of the editorial staff. (Staff not to be confused with … well, you know.)

These cheerful butchers, insatiate with their previous hacks, chops, gores, have demanded one final go at what remains of the corpus. So be it. Whatever is left should see the dark of night … sometime.

Paige

Several readers have asked about my writing style. 'Unique' has been mentioned, as has 'retarded'.

I'm in marketing and have been writing internal memos and client proposals for the past three-plus years. I've tried to take a creative approach to make my business plans stand out. Internally and from the competition too.

My somewhat divergent voice, different in the world of buttoned-down, has garnered mixed reviews. But my boss encouraged me, "Stay creative, but don't fuck up too much."

So … SOL. Still more style than substance but I'm working on it. Yeah, yeah, that and a quarter … something about a shave and a haircut? Is rum involved?

Paige

Thank you for showing us that you're capable of less than masterful writing. Your book, "No Middle Name" contains some examples of the types of mistakes I make. And probably other amateurs do as well.

In these short stories, there's a rush to reach a climax. Make that conclusion. Too much excitement in too short a time. The villains aren't fleshed out. Even Reacher is hurried into an idealized form.

Of course your weakest page is superior to my best one. But, sad to say, your short stories don't compare with your novels.

In fact, now that I think about it, take the time to consider your body of work, I'm having some reservations. I wonder if you'll ever achieve much literary success.

Paige

Psychotherapeutically, I'm probably considered an Odd Duck in several US cities. When I'm traveling on business, ideas for my little Winter stories pop into my head from time to time.

Up comes my cell, dictation time.

"I'm glad I switched from a two inch barrel to four. Better holster balance."

"My son was sporting major wood."

"What about the arsenic in "A Rose for Emily?"

Bars, airport lobbies, restaurants. Strange looks, anyone?

Paige