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Wynelda-Ann Shelton

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

Originally, I was going to write this month's column about a new book. "Shopaholic Ties the Knot," Sophie Kinsella's third book, further chronicles the exploits of Becky Bloomwood. I planned to write about how an author can keep a series fresh.

It was a good plan. Originally, I was told the book would be released on February 11. Plenty of time to read the book and then write my column, I thought to myself. But alas, you know what they say about the best laid plans. The latest check of the bookstores shows it to be available on March 3.

Instead, I went back to "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan." It's my favorite book, and I decided to find out why. Why does it make me laugh? Why do I keep coming back to it time and time again? I read the book just about once a month, yet I've never set down to see why I read it so often.

One of the main reasons I go back is the voice of the character. Told in first person, the reader gets full-on Becky Bloomwood. She's a fun character with whom I can identify: loves to shop, can't necessarily afford it, and has the most outrageous imagination. Case in point: when justifying the purchase of a fencing mask (she doesn't fence), Becky has this to say for herself:

"And then--this is my secret little plan--when I've got my gold badge, or whatever it is, I'll write to Catherine Zeta-Jones. Because she must need a stunt double, musn't she? And shouldn't it be me? In fact, she'd probably prefer someone British..." (page 8)

Her excuses only get better. And the creativity that serves as her downfall is also her greatest strength.

Besides identifying with the main character, I picked up on one other thing after re-reading the book with a writer's eye. The entire book is told in present tense. I missed that in all my previous readings.

I never challenged the school of thought that goes something like, "Never tell a story in present tense as it exhausts and/or confuses the reader." Now, however, I can see that if well done, it can do wonders for pacing.

Inspired, I decided to go back and re-write something I already started. In changing it from past to present tense, a whole new voice emerged. Sassier, wittier. The challenge is enough to excite me about writing again. This past weekend I wrote 2,000 words. And while to some it may not seem like much, for someone with the dreaded block, it is heaven.

If you're feeling at loose ends with your writing, try re-reading a favorite with new eyes. You just might find the spark you need to set your words on fire.