LOTTERY by Patricia Wood

I was asked about doing this thread and I think it is a terrific idea. Any and all questions / comments are welcome. Many have asked me about querying Lottery, about how I revised and edited it and the journey still others have been curious about the characters and plot and how I came up with the premise.
Ask away!

I incorporated a certain amount of my academic research along with my teaching experience but ultimately it was my dramatic personality that evoked the character. I became the character. I figured out eating preferences, likes and dislikes in dress, in comfort level. What hurt his feelings. What he looked like. Favorite phrases. I think characterization is critical to an authentic experience for the reader.
I think the main difference between drafts were the narrative portions-- most became expanded into real time scenes. For the last edits with my editor I went through each chapter and determined how each drove the plot forward. If there was no reason for a scene whether for plot or characterization -- it was cut.
My first draft was not bad actually. That was the one that Paul Theroux read- When he finished it he predicted it would be my first book published.
He was right.

The premise and basic plot evolved through understanding my characters and what they might do. Planning comes into the picture when examining the plot arc.
Things like proclivity for bodily functions are a part of making the characters whole and real.
I think this is often a missing part in characterization. No one has diarrhea, they don't get sick unless they are dying, no one farts, etc.
I spend a lot of time around marinas, fishermen and fuel docks -- I get LOTS of ideas on how to make characters real.

I had the pleasure of reading Lottery a couple months ago tongue). I read it in one sitting, pretty much walking from one room to the other with the book in hand. The reason I mention that is because it's one of those stories you remember long after you finish it. I still find myself occasionally thinking of things in the book, and whenever I happen to see a mentioned here, I think of digging back out the ARC. (Gonna buy a copy next month, though.)

Final thought: One of the most masterful things you did was letting on to the reader what everyone around Perry was really doing through his naive thoughts and ideas, without Perry ever figuring it out himself.

Argh! My B&N won't have it until August! GRRRRR....

The bookstores that have it early are the independents. If you call around it is likely you can find it. If you want it early email me ([email protected]) and I can put you in touch with a bookseller that is selling it already.
RE: Deadly - I experimented with a lot of effects that would give the atmosphere I wanted. It was trial and error mostly.
Like most of us I have written my whole life but actually started FINISHING my novels over the last 3 years. LOTTERY is my third novel and took five months from the very first words to offer of representation.
The editing (polishing) before submission took four months and the editing after the sale only took a month and a half. I credit my agent for helping me get it whipped into shape so that Putnam was confident they could publish in less than a year. (Keep in mind they bought it Dec 6, 2006 and it is on the shelf now - 8 months - which is blazingly fast).

BestSellers Independent bookstore in Honolulu has Lottery and is selling it.
You might call them and see if you can have one sent to you.
1001 Bishop Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
808-528-2389
email [email protected]

I did sign some stock for them so it is possible to get a signed one sent. I will be doing a regular book signing at the store on August 2 at noon (downtown Honolulu).

Look at my post- email Brian at [email protected] and ask him about ordering

Right now there are too many distractions to be disciplined!
Hopefully things will calm down when LOTTERY is released!

Orion, I just pre-ordered The Lottery. I can't wait to read it...and I will have plenty of questions!

Justin

So, have we all read Lottery now? I read it about a month ago, it was a delight. Can we discuss 'spoilers' now???

I was looking for threads on "lottery" and can't find a more "appropriate" thread to put this in, but... I was at the North Point Barnes & Noble:
http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/storedetail.do?store=1955
last night, and didn't see "Lottery" in the usual 'new fiction' section, but it was in a nearby section called "Our Associates' Recommendations" or some such - each selection has a short handwritten note of two or three lines describing it. I thought that was neat, and Patricia would want to know...

I just finished it - I bought it yesterday and finished it about an hour ago. Fan-freakin-tastic!

OK guys I'm here! I'll check in and if you have questions for me I'm game!
Have you all done your amazon reviews? LOL

Orion,

I have a few questions.

Did you already have an agent before you queried Lottery? If not, how did you sign on with that agent? Can you describe the process of acquiring him/her?

Without getting into specifics numbers, what kind of advance did you obtain? Was it HUGE? Average? Enough to live on?

Do you still enjoy going back and reading through your favorite parts of Lottery now that it's finished? Does it "look" different now that it's published?

Thanks!

allen

OK here goes. I will be brutally honest as most of this can be found out on Publishers Marketplace (advances are not a secret) if you know where to look.
1. LOTTERY got me my agent. I was taken directly out of the slush pile. I emailed a query letter and first 5 pages and I got a request for a FULL in 40 minutes. It wasn't until my agent offered that she realized my father won the Lottery and I was in a PhD program in disability. Dorian went by my short hook and the first five pages (they have not really differed from the draft to the final manuscript so you might take a look) I looked for agents who like quirky and represented a wider range of authors. I spent time reading the deals on PM to get an idea of who represented what and how many deals they made. It was also good practice for hook writing.
2. WMA is brilliant and Dorian is amazing. My advance was over a quarter of a million dollars - for north american rights (this is when having that agent is CRUCIAL). After that sale the foreign rights have been selling (12 other countries and counting) which has pushed the advance further until it is almost a half million. Remember my book has to earn out in all those countries AND in the US.(I'm not complaining but I'm still writing and my life style has NOT changed). Keep in mind with all the taxes and the SLOW payments - it is nice. It goes into the bank but it would not be enough for my husband to completely quit his job or for me to stop writing and relax.
3. I still go back and read parts as I have talks and readings and discussions with book clubs. LOTTERY is so familiar to me it is a part of me. I have never understood authors who say they don't go back and read their books. I am proud of LOTTERY- many sections are those I remember and re read- I miss these characters and it's been hard to move on to my next novel. I have only just recently created a character I am falling in love with as I did keith and perry. With that I can move on...
Thanks for asking. I hope it helps.
BTW my entire agent story process is in the early posts of my blog.