Framework, Fiction and a Java Chip Frappucino

Structure & Framework for Fiction Writers: How do you format your novel?

     There seems to be limitless ways to format one’s work of fiction; whether you choose to set up your chapters from A to Z, as in The ABCs of Love by Sarah Salway, with Letters from one’s Credit Card Company in between each chapter as in the Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella or the story may revolve around the Stages of Grief as Lolly Winston did in her debut novel, Good Grief (Mlynowski, S. &; Jacobs, F. Once one book takes off with a certain format, many follow suit and although there may be many variations of one type of format, what was once considered creative and innovative, may all of a sudden appear redundant and outdated. In fact, the very first book I ever read in a similar fashion (predating emails) was Go Ask Alice by Anonymous. This classic story tells the true and perilous story of a drug addict via excerpts from the pages of one woman’s diary. As mentioned, since its release in 1971, there have been countless others like it. For instance, Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding was the first “modern” chick lit novel I read that was written in purely email/letter format. Since then, I have seen many more books written like this. To name a few, there was Love, Rosie (aka Chasing Rainbows) by Cecelia Ahern, Holly’s Inbox by Holly Denham (which it has since been revealed that Ms. Denham is actually a Mr. – but that is a topic for another day – pseudonyms, ghost writers and such); Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers, The Guy Next Door by Meg Cabot; and Wanderlust by Chris Dyer. I’m sure there are many, many more. I love to see the differences in addition to the unique ways authors set up their books and I wonder how they decide what the best format for their story is? Is it based on plot? Characters? Setting? Once a certain format has been done to death, how does an author decide it’s time to move on to a new set up? For instance, seeing as how the diary/email template has been popular throughout the past 50 years, changing slightly with technology, I wonder if the “blog formatted” book will be the next step in this type of framework.

Other authors who I’ve noticed use unique formatting techniques in various novels:


     Emily Giffin in Heart of the Matter – Chapters alternate from the perspectives of two main characters, Tess and Val; Similarly, her two-book series, Something Borrowed and Something Blue, as a whole, each book chronicles the same incident but told from the alternate perspectives of two best friends – the first from Rachel’s view and the second, from Darcy’s eyes.

 
     **Something Borrowed is currently being filmed in NYC with stars, Kate Hudson, Colin Farrell, and Ginnifer Goodwin.



     Meg Cabot in Queen of Babble Series – Chapters begin with a “fashion history” framework; In the first book, chapters are separated by segments on the history of women’s fashion. Books 2 (QOB…In the Big City) and 3 (...Gets Hitched) have similar intermediary sections. For instance, QOB…In the Big City, has interesting tidbits regarding “vintage” and “worldly” wedding dresses in between its chapters.

     **I also just came across an article that says Queen of Babble was supposed to be opted for a movie starring Kristen Bell as Lizzie Nichols. Unfortunately, this post was from a few years ago, and it’s possible this screenplay got lost in the shuffle of novels to be made into Hollywood scripts.

     I also just started listening to All-American Girl by Meg Cabot and in more chapters than not, she separates the end of one from the next with a “Top Ten” List. For example, at the end of Chapter 13, she lists the “Top Ten Ways You Know You Made the In Crowd”. I will be on the look out for the second book in the Series to see if she organizes it in a similar way.

     Another series that has become one of my most beloved includes Kyra Davis' Sophie Katz' Chick Lit Mysteries: Sex, Murder and a Double Latte; Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights; Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate; Lust, Loathing and a Little Lipgloss; Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress. I love how her series is about a mystery author who constantly gets involved in a real-life mysery/murder of her own. In accord with the running theme of framework, I also admire the consistency with which Ms. Davis uses her character's latest book release as an Introduction to each chapter. For example, in the third book, Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate, each chapter beigns with a quote from Sophie's latest novel, C'est La Mor. I also find it interesting, creative and clever how she has been able to not only set up each chapter with an overall framework by integrating a quote from the main character's own work of fiction, but almost always, I have found that the quote is relevant to the chapter that follows. Well done, Ms. Davis! While I may not have my own niche yet as far as formatting goes, I, like Sophie Katz, find absolute bliss working on the intricacies of my novel while sipping on a Java Chip Frappucino!

     As you can see, there are many different ways to unify your novel. What drives your book’s format? Is it something you think about before you start writing? After you’ve written the whole book or just few chapters? Do you write from A-Z? Do you have a prologue? An epilogue? Do you have any interesting nuances that make your books stand out from the rest of the books on a shelf? Do the covers all look similar, as in Lindsey Kelk's I Heart series with Angela Clark (Cartoon woman looking into the scenery of the city of the book's title, luggage in tow). Do you use intellectual/hsitorical or philosophical quotes to begin each chapter? 

I’d love to hear your ideas for new (or existing) formats.

Cathy's Chick Lit Holiday

I have loved Chick Lit since before I even knew it had its own label for the genre (or what I otherwise referred to as Women’s Fiction, for the majority of my life). Like with most things in my life, I go through phases of activity, intensity and duration of time spent and variation on the “genre that is keeping my interest at the moment” in relation to reading. When I lived in Boston, post-grad from college, Chick Lit was all the rage. I devoured the nail polish-color covered books one after another on my train ride to and from work. I could not get enough of them! I have always loved them for their quick, easy reading, humor, wit, charm and above all, their relatable content on everything from relationships to food , weddings to vampires and friendships to murder. Introduced to a select few authors, whether by word of mouth , visual awareness or at my local library, I found my favorite authors, who include, to this day, Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes and Candace Busnhnell. I have only recently (I don’t know what took me so long!!) added to this list, the woman I consider to be the queen of relationships in story telling, Emily Giffin.

I am constantly seeking to add to my list of favorite women writers, especially, since at this point I have read 99% of these three authors books (with only a few Marian Keyes books left to read…and maybe reread, since my memory just isn’t what it used to be) and as such, I have spent the better part of year trying to identify who I want to consider to add to my “Top Ten” list of female authors. So far, I can safely say that Lauren Weisberger, Kristin Harmel, Laura Caldwell, Carol Snow, Gemma Townley, Jen Lancaster, Madeleine Wickham (real name for Sophie Kinsella), Sarah Mlynowski and Kyra Davis are (relative) newbies to me and fantastic authors. I also have a list of authors that either I haven’t read enough of their books or they don’t’ have many books published for me to even check out. This includes books I enjoyed, like the Queen of Babble series by Meg Cabot, Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern, Brenda Janowitz’ Brooke Miller series, Kristin Gore’s Sammy’s series, The Bachelorette by Karen McCullah Lutz, Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston and Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson. It will be interesting to see if these authors move into my favorite list after reading another novel or two.

One author that I have been oddly surprised to find that I don’t have much appeal for (mostly of her established mainstream status and media following) is the duo Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. I have not read The Nanny Diaries but the movie was “okay” enough. I dragged my feet through the audio version of The Nanny Returns and about ¾ of Citizen Girl. I almost tried to listen to Dedication but couldn’t bear to within the first 10 minutes. I don’t mean to speak bad of any author, especially someone (or I should say two women) so highly acclaimed for their novel writing (maybe it’s just me and something I’m missing) but I just haven’t found a book by this pair that has made me want to run out and read another book by them. On the other hand, there is another author, who, thus far, I can go either way on: Plum Sykes. Her debut novel, Bergdorf Blondes was so hyped up that I ran out to get it right away but unfortunately, I was disappointed in it. However, this past winter, I picked up the audio version of her second novel, The Divorcee, and by about the halfway mark, I was hooked! I hope she puts out another novel because this seems like a woman who’s writing and story-telling improves with time and age.

In the Fall of 2009, I saw the release of one of my favorite authors’, Sophie Kinsella's Remember Me at the local drugstore and I had to pick it up. I don’t know why, but before that moment, I really hadn’t given much though to Chick Lit since 2005 or so. I mean, I still read from time to time, but it was more pure fiction type novels. Also, I went through a phase where I read strictly spiritual, growth, Buddhist and “find your own path” type books. Then, I hopped on the fantasy/paranormal band wagon and read (most of) the Harry Potter and Twilight Series. But reading Remember Me was different. Not only was it quick, fast, funny and lighthearted but it sparked in me something, more than a sense of enjoyment and pleasure, which I always get when I read a really good chick lit novel and it made me smile. Like my very own chick lit holiday or someting. From there I was off and running…

Since becoming (excessively) involved in the Chick Lit genre, once again, joining various book clubs on Goodreads and becoming a reviewer for the Chick Lit Club, my TBR list has become astronomically long! In fact, I saw a list recently on Goodreads that prompted me to write this blog. It was a poll of members’ “Can’t Wait List of 2010”. Readers’ choices for 2010 releases were ranked in ascending order based on the number of votes they received. I decided to create my own “Can’t Wait” List for 2010. It seems that every single one of my favorite authors has something new coming out this year. Some of the releases have already past (two, of which I read (Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin and The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell), others are sequels I’ve been dying to read the latest installment and still others, are authors’ I have been in anticipation of reading for sometime. If only there was more time in the day, in the week, in the month or even in the year to read all these books…and without further ado…

My “Can’t Wait” List for 2010

I Heart Hollywood by Lindsey Kelk 1/7/10

The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes 1/21/10

Chelsea, Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler 3/9/10

Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow 4/6/10

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell 4/27/10

Gimme A Call by Sarah Mlynowski 4/27/10

Spotlight by Ilana Fox 4/29/10

My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict’s Attempt to Discover if Being a Dumb Ass is Not the New Black; or A Culture-Up Manifesto by Jen Lancaster 5/4/10

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin 5/11/10

Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress by Kyra Davis 6/1/10

An Ideal Wife by Gemma Townley 6/22/10

Thin, Rich, Pretty by Beth Harbison 7/6/10

I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk 7/8/10

Deeply, Desperately by Heather Webber 8/3/10

Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger 8/17/10

Mini-Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella 8/24/10

One Dream Come True: Chick Lit Audio Book Reviews by Me

As you already know if you read my blog, one of my greatest loves of all is the Chick Lit or Women's Fiction genre. Since about 2000 or 2001 I have been reading these "candy covered books" full of stories of everything related to women's lives, tackling topics of love, passion and betrayal to weddings, babies and motherhood and even the hardships of moving to a new city, death and grief. To be fair, this is only a minute sampling of subjects that you will find upon opening one of these books.

One of my first experiences to finding out about these books was at a job I had in Boston. I worked at a Trade Show Company amongst many other women and we had a large book shelf where we swapped books with each other. A few of the women I befriended received books at least once a month, some even more frequently, from one of Harlequin Publisher's affiliates, Red Dress Ink, which solely produced books of the Chick Lit genre. I had instant access to new titles and authors and living in the city, the library provided a whole world of books that I'd learned of from these women. On my train ride to and from my apartment in Somerville everyday, I read and read and read. I probably read two to three books a week...and my love for Chick Lit grew.

Years later, since leaving that job and the city (and Red Dress Ink has since retired its production of books), I have actively sought out resources on the web more than ever. I began with my local library's website to see what books were available at the library close to my current place of work. To my pleasant surprise, in this age of ever-advancing technology that I live in, I came across a new online library called Overdrive Media. Ever since discovering this awesome site, full of e-books and audio books, I have been checking out books on my library card to the max! and listening to audio books in my car, while I cook, make dinner and anywhere else I can plug in my iPod.

Around the same time, I also became active on Goodreads, a wonderful social networking Web site that acts as a virtual book club and and a whole lot more. You can find any book or author ever published, including plot summaries and author bios, win free books in daily giveaways, start your own group (on any topic you want) and find friends who share common interests. This is only the beginning of it, too. If interested, you will have to scope it out for yourself.

I joined the Chick Lit Book Club and soon was asked to become co-leader of the group with the fabulous woman who started it all. I soon found many women (and even a few men) who shared my passion for reading, writing and Chick Lit in general. One day, while talking a lot about shared interests and dreams of penning our own Chick Lit novel, a fellow Book Club member suggested I create another group called the Chick Lit Writers group. I was elated to find people as eager as I was about the subject and activity of writing and even more excited that they specifically wanted to write Chick Lit.

Other than these two sites, I know have a long list of sites I go to that I consider to be real gems for all things related to chick lit. One of my all time Favorite Chick Lit websites is the Chick Lit Club. It originates in Australia and has everything you could ever possibly want to now about the genre, from author bios and interviews, to book reviews, plot summaries, top ten lists, books-made-into-movies news and so much more! Recently, I mentioned this site on one of the Chick Lit Writers discussion boards and one of our members mentioned to me that she had seen on the Site's contact page that its Founder and is always seeking out new contributors, reviewers and women, in general, from around the globe who are passionate about Chick Lit. Additionally, another woman who participates in the Chick Lit Club had shared with me some of her freelance work on various women's Web sites and magazines. It was really inspiring to see that such opportunities to write existed for women like myself. I was eager to seek out a similar opportunity to get my foot in the door into the world of writing (especially one that included a Web site that I fully supported). As an avid chick lit reader and aspiring writer, I jumped at the opportunity to contact the Chick Lit Club's leader to see if I might be granted permission to try my hand at writing for her Web site.

I noticed the Chick Lit Club had an overwhelming number of regular book reviewers from everywhere, but especially women from the U.S. In fact at the time, the site was trying to increase its diversity of women by adding a reviewer from India. I thought for sure I would never get the chance to write for this site as just another American woman who loved to read Chick Lit...so I began to brainstorm....how can I be different from the other women reviewers from the United States on this site? How can I contribute in a unique way to benefit both the Chick Lit Club and myself? And that's when I came up with my proposal to the site's creator....

Luckily, the Chick Lit Club's creator accepted my request!! And ever since, the Chick Lit Club Presents Audio Books by Cathy Herbert. Please click on the link to check out my exclusive page where I have been reviewing unabridged audio books. I listen to all the latest and classic Chick Lit books and rate them from 1-10. Click Here For Reviews on How I Hear It: http://www.chicklitclub.com/audio-books.html

Currently reviewed on the Site:

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin; Narrated by Christine Marshall (2006)

Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, or, Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster, Narrated by Jaime Heinlein (2006)

L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad; Narrated by Lauren Conrad (2009)

Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights by Kyra Davis; Narrated by Gabra Zackman (2006)

Sex, Murder and a Double Latte by Kyra Davis; Narrated by Gabra Zackman (2005)

Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison; Narrated by Orlagh Cassidy (2007)

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger; Narrated by Bernadette Dunne (2002)

The First Assistant: A Continuing Tale From Behind the Hollywood Curtain by Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare (2006)

Thyme Out/Second Thyme Around by Katie Fforde; Narrated by Davina Porter (1999)

And Many More To Come...

Note: I also review regular books at the Chick Lit Club, as often as I find the time to submit them. Because I am so focused on my exclusive audio book page, I have mostly been submitting those reviews, but who knows. As time goes by, and my review writing gets caught up tot he current book I'm listening to, I will probably spend my time more equally reviewing both new and classic paperback and audio books. Hopefully, this is a start of many new opportunities and writing prospects to come but for now, what more could a girl like me who loves to read and write Chick Lit ask for?