To recoup my sanity after finishing The Kite Runner (which I found incredibly disturbing, though probably an essential read, though incredibly disturbing) I'm reading The Devil Wears Prada. It's a big, fun, fluffy party of a novel. The writing, I think, is less than inspiring, but the story has a great arc and some tension and I'm really enjoying it.
I'm even wondering if I should apply some techniques from Lauren Weisberger's repertoire to my manuscript, which the blasted agents keep saying is "quiet". Which I take to mean subtle. Which I take to mean, not exciting enough.
I've created an antagonist, who is also a woman, who is supposed to be annoying and controlling to my protagonist, Meredith. Trouble is, I think her brand of evil is too understated. Perhaps I need to ratchet her up a notch, like Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada.
Not that I would ever expect my novel to sell like that one. But I can see why it was such a success. And I would just like mine to sell.
I wonder how much work it would take to tweak my antagonist, Leola, so she was a bit more over the top...
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