Spotlight Profile
August 2002
Daryl began her career as an actress doing commercials, television and movies. She toured the United States in musicals. Then she turned her attention to creating a series--remember Out of This World--about a half human-half Antarean (alien species) teenage girl who had the ability to stop time and fix situations. After creating a hit television series that ran for four years, she went on to films and novels. She’s won several screen writing awards and now has taken on the challenge of being president of the Guppies, a special interest group of Sisters in Crime.
Welcome to the Spotlight, Daryl.
IC
Daryl, you’ve had a long and interesting career. How long have you been writing?
Daryl
About fifteen years.
IC
Are you published?
Daryl
I had a murder mystery/short story published called "Dolores is Dead." I’m hoping for more.
IC
Are you married? Do you have children?
Daryl
I’ve been married 19 years to a wonderful man who runs a regional television division of ESPN. My son is 16; he loves to act and sing and he just started driving. Agh!
IC
Do you work outside of the home? If so, how do you find balance?
Daryl
Fortunately, I don't have to work outside the home any more. My husband's work is thriving. I
do spend a lot of time at my son's school and heading up a golf organization and acting in local
theater.
The way I find balance in the rest of my life is to write each morning that has been designated to writing, which usually is about five days out of the week. I also take my writing wherever I go: doctor's offices, carpool line (last year), etc.
IC
What are your hobbies and interests outside of writing?
Daryl
I golf, swim, garden, and read. I love all of them and devote a lot of time to each.
IC
Have you had to give up anything to pursue your goal as a writer?
Daryl
Nothing but an active social life. I’ve been blessed. I turn into a hermit when I get on the
computer.
IC
What’s your typical day like?
Daryl
I walk my dogs, eat breakfast, exercise hard for 30 minutes, open up email, organize my desk, and then write for two hours. It could be rewriting, outlining, or new pages. I grab a snack, make a few phone calls, and get back to writing. My dream day is when I'm rewriting and have set the whole day aside for writing, with no interruptions except for bathroom breaks and meals. Then it's eight to ten hours straight of concentration. I'm exhausted afterward, but I love it!
IC
What do you write? Cozies? Police procedurals?
Daryl
Amateur sleuths, mostly. However, my first book involved a female cop who transferred from New York to LA. It's in the drawer, yet I like her and the plot a lot and wish to rewrite the novel.
My second involves a golf magazine journalist set in the world of pro golf.
My current one involves a female process server in Lake Tahoe, so she's familiar with PI work, but not specifically in tune with police procedures.
IC
How do you handle your inner voice?
Daryl
I've got an A-type personality sitting on my shoulder at all times. She can be quite cruel and
extremely negative. I try to put her in perspective of what really matters in the world. My inner
voice performs well when I've said a prayer and asked God to inspire me and push my negative
voice out of the way. I seem to get a good deal of writing done on those days. Some good, some
bad.
IC
Did being an actress help you become a better writer? If so, in what ways?
Daryl
Yes. I was rejected more as an actor than as a writer, and I've had a lot as a writer. I can't even begin to tell you how thick my rejection file is. But the rejections in acting came on a daily basis for something as trite as my hair was the wrong color or I reminded a director of his ex-wife (truly happened). Rejection gave me the ability to see past the present and know it's not "me." Sometimes it's just the market, the timing.
Perseverance is my middle name.
IC
Do you ever find yourself acting out scenes to see if they work?
Daryl
I hear dialogue. I get a lot of feedback that my dialogue is tight and appropriate. I love character and try to "act out" the characters as I write. That's why reading a book out loud is very helpful. You can hear if dialogue is awkward. Now, understand it doesn't always work. That's why critique groups are extremely helpful!
IC
What kind of roles did you play?
Daryl
Strong women. In my most recent theater experiences, I played a sex-driven woman intent on murdering her husband...a comedy. I also played a prostitute in Piaf, a musical about the legendary French chanteuse, a woman nightclub singer.
IC
Your series, Out of This World, ran for four years. What made you give up writing sitcoms?
Daryl
I wasn't able to write them. It's a long story. I created the series, but then a snag came with the producer, and all I got were residuals from the show. Because of the snag, I wasn't taken seriously as a sitcom writer, only a creator, and knocking my head against the wall for every pitch session became a real headache. I preferred writing long-form at home and creating new characters every time I wrote. I really enjoyed that and ultimately gave up pitching sitcoms.
IC
You must have a knack for humor. Does that knack show up in your writing today? If so, how do you express humor in your writing?
Daryl
I try to have some humor in my mysteries, but I don't write humorous novels. I tried my hand, recently, at a humorous short story. I have to admit it is the piece my sister likes best of
everything I've written. I was inspired to try my hand by a writer that writes about a hairdresser and she cracked me up. More often than not, I have my character wisecrack, which is not the same as humor.
I do write romantic comedies, and that is where I use my humor. I love humorous situations between men and women, entrances and exits, pratfalls, and sass. I'm still pursuing selling my romantic comedies. I think there is a dearth of good films that appeal to women on the market.
IC
In your opinion, what makes humor work in a novel?
Daryl
The character has to be likable yet flawed. I think situations separate from the murder itself can use humor. Family life, dealings with parents and siblings, coworkers. All of these can have fun and funny things going on.
However, I don't think humor works in a dramatic situation. Around the murder site, victim's family (etc.), I don't appreciate humor. I'm not an Evanovich fan for that reason. She seems to take her work and life much too lightly. I think self-deprecating humor is appreciated. We all do it (to ourselves) on a daily basis.
IC
How did you get into writing for television?
Daryl
I was an actress. I wanted some control over what I might act. I was hoping to write myself a series and get a career boost.
IC
How is writing for television different than writing a short story or novel?
Daryl
The producers have control over TV. It's all about the dollar and the star. As you can see, they want something unique every season, then if it's too unique it gets lambasted. It's a hard business, but lucrative if you can make the leap. I would say, however, that it is most lucrative for men in their 20s and 30s. Women have a tough climb in the television industry.
IC
Do you use any techniques from your screen writing days in your writing now? If so, what are
they?
Daryl
Plotting. And character arc. Trying to look at those two things when starting the outline for a novel is imperative. My screen writing consultant got me to see how important the two things weave together. I'm not sure I'm achieving it yet with my novels, but I do get it when writing a screenplay. The three-act structure is so important. The twists at the act-breaks are vital.
IC
What techniques do you use for developing your plots and characters?
Daryl
I spend a lot of time writing out character backgrounds and making outlines. I create four columns, one for day and time, one for characters in scene, one for intent of scene and one for
clues and red herrings (set ups and payoffs). I read a lot of books on writing to inspire me to write better and rethink my characters. I try to make sure that my character has a REAL
REASON for getting involved in the murder.
IC
How do you get in the mood to write?
Daryl
I light candles, put on music chosen to reflect the mood of the scene I’m writing. I reread yesterday’s material and go from there.
IC
Which is the most difficult part of writing for you? The initial idea? Plotting? Characterization? Setting?
Daryl
The most difficult is plotting. It's hard to get those ideas on paper and not give up the killer too early or not make the reasons for the protagonist too inane. I love when I'm done with plotting and start writing and the story begins to change--when the characters take it in another direction--I love that.
IC
How did you decide you wanted to pursue a writing career?
Daryl
I read all the Nancy Drew books when I was young and started writing short mysteries. Always mysteries. Then came time to hear from my teachers that I stunk. It's amazing how a teacher's critique can imprint on a young person's brain. For years, I stowed my writing away and concentrated on acting. I love to act and made a living at it when I lived in Los Angeles. It's hard to make a living in North Carolina acting, so I now do it for fun and concentrate entirely on writing. I'm thrilled to learn that I can write (critiques, editors, and some agents have confirmed it) and my teachers were wrong. But it took years of battling old tapes in my head. It also required a variety of editors and writing books to help me develop style and voice in my writing.
IC
Who or what was the greatest influence in your career?
Daryl
My husband constantly supports my choice to write. My son is a born cheerleader for what I choose to do. But the greatest influence would be all the people who have told me I "couldn't." I hate that word.
IC
At what point did you start calling yourself a writer?
Daryl
I considered myself a writer when I couldn't wake up in the morning without thinking of writing. When I couldn't help but put pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard). When the ideas running rampant in my head had to find their way onto a page. It wasn't the completion of a project so much as the inspiration to complete a project. And with the acceptance that I am a writer, I am able to complete projects. Writing is what I do. It's what I'll always do, published or not.
IC
What's the most valuable piece of advice you've ever received?
Daryl
Write with passion. If you bring your passion to your art, you'll be successful. Now that doesn't necessarily mean you'll sell your work, but your life will be successful and you will be fulfilled if you're doing what you're meant to do.
IC
Do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share?
Daryl
"Climb high, climb far; your goal the sky, your aim the stars."
IC
Daryl, how do you define success?
Daryl
Life is successful when you’re surrounded with love and able to do the creative thing you love to
do. If the art gets sold, it’s just icing on the cake.
IC
Thank you Daryl for stepping into the spotlight.
This interview was conducted during the month of July 2002 for SinC-IC
by Ellen Westphal.
E-mail Daryl
E-mail Ellen
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