Mind v. Body

Sometimes (okay, a LOT of times these days) I'm up until 1 or 2 in the morning working on my edits. I enjoy it so much--the quiet (kids asleep and no one calling) and the opportunity to really bury myself in the story.

Of course, once I'm done for the night I have to follow it up with a light book or movie--something to help my brain wind down from its writing high. This usually works. Sometimes it doesn't.

Two nights ago, I finished my chapters around 1:30 then pulled out "Cold Comfort Farm" (fabulous light reading!!!) for half an hour. When my eyes were swollen with sleep, I gave up and headed upstairs. Fell into bed just after 2 AM and turned off the light. SO ready to sleep.

And then it hit me.

Chapters 10 and 11 were all wrong. Really wrong. I mean, throw out half of it and insert a totally new and incredibly VITAL scene. Out with the dull and unnecessary blah. The new scene would be intense, thrilling, and I knew exactly how it would play out. How did I not see this before? HOW?

And why did it have to hit me at 2 in the morning?

You can guess what happened. I know you can. Oh yes. I laid awake for anther half hour--eyes wide open again--planning, outlining, working out little details. At 2:30 I had a choice: get up and write the wretched scene (and give up an entire night's sleep, of course) or put it away and do it right the next day.

I weighed the options: sleep and sanity v. the realization of an epiphany. The eternal conflict--Body v. Mind.

Who won? Well, both, in the end, but at that critical moment--Body. I went to sleep and survived the next day. I did not, in fact, get a chance to write the new scene until today. Poor Mind had to wait two days to make its magic.

I think it was worth it, however. See, sometimes an idea that seems Life-altering and Brilliant at 2 AM turns out to be Blah and Foolish just a few hours of sleep later. In hindsight, retreat was definitely the right choice and I'm glad I did.

Don't be fooled. My 2 AM idea was every bit as amazing as I'd hoped. EVERY BIT. But it might not have been and sitting on it for two days confirmed it for me. Also, having a fresh brain made the writing that much easier and the resulting chapter that much better.

Yay, Inspiration! I love you! I couldn't get by without you!
Now, go buy a watch.

Better than Ever!

You know, with each rewrite I lose at least one of my favorite scenes--but I replace it with one I like even better, so it's hard to complain. Actually, 'lose' is the wrong word. I keep a copy of every draft, just for reference, so I keep everything. I just don't use it all right now.

Some of those scenes will be pushed to later books in the same series. Some will make it into other, more relevant books or stories. Some will never be used at all, but I enjoyed writing them and I'm happy knowing they served their purpose--to help me survive yet another rewrite.

Seriously, the newest draft (nearly halfway through it now) is truly better than ever. Almost unrecognizable as the same book, but better--MUCH better. Oddly enough, I don't know if it's any better written, but the story is tighter and more thrilling. The characters have a distinct arc and flavor. Their issues are relevant and they make me laugh or cry or get mad just as they are supposed to. I worry about them and try to help them when I can, but they're off on their own again, running the story their own way.

Lucky for me, they seem to be keeping to the outline so far.

I'll tell you something. To my great surprise, I'm really enjoying this rewrite. Some chapters don't need much adjusting and some have been tossed and written from scratch. I don't know which is more fun!

The hardest part of any rewrite--I mean the hardest, HARDEST part--is starting it. It's that moment where you stare down at your manuscript and think, 'this is going to take forever! I'm never going to finish this!' That attitude will cripple you for sure.

I find the best way to get past this is to start. The next step is to set realistic goals. You are not going to rewrite a 350 page book in one day, or even one week. Not WELL anyway. You might check it for spelling in that time, I guess, but you're not going to tear it apart and put it back together coherently. You shouldn't try.

I like to set the goal at a chapter or two a day. Sometimes I can get three or four done and sometimes I can't get past a page or two. Sometimes I just need a break--I take one night off a week and spend it with my husband and kids. Or a real break--two or three days to outline and think--then it's back to the keyboard. In no time, you'll look down and realize you're a third of the way through or halfway done or flat out finished!

It's a heady rush, but don't get ahead of yourself. When you've finished your overhaul, best thing you can do is to pass it on to a trusted reader or two. You can and will make mistakes, leave gaping holes, and forget important details. Your readers will catch these and then you're good for a while.

Until the next time your agent hands it back, ready for another make-over.
[Don't worry, Stan, I'm SO okay with it if you do. In fact, I'm expecting it (; ]

Just keep your chin up, writers! Success stories only come to those who are too darn stubborn to give up, even when the pile of drafts and rejections gets taller than they are. Or so I've heard--I'm still working toward my own success story.

New Outline

I had to do it. I didn't want to. I thought I could just write this book and it would come. Well, I finished those 100 pages and realized I had it wrong. Rewrote, deleted, and ended up with 77 pages. Worth it because the 77 are better than the 100.

At that point I looked it over and realized I HAD to know exactly where I was going with each character or the story would ramble in all kinds of weird directions. Not good.

So, I took today and outlined. I used a different technique this time and I really think it was worth the time.

First I outlined the general "events" in the plot. I included who was in each scene and as much detail as I thought was important.

Next, I mapped out all the different plot threads I wanted to include. Basically, I listed each character and where they were going, their relationships, and what mattered to them. Threads that make up the tapestry.

Finally, I combed through the "events" outline, adding each "thread" one at a time. It took time, but the level of detail is great. Now I know my characters better and I get the big picture.

I think I'll probably still have to remove a few scenes, but that's where the writing process comes in. I'm curious to see what my characters think of my plan.

I'll find out tomorrow. It's not that late, but I'm so done for the night and I am going to bed.

Getting there

Well, so far, so good!

I've gotten through the first hundred pages and it's got a lot of "page-turning" quality and my heroine has a whole new set of issues. Sounds funny, doesn't it, that I want her to have issues? But it makes her someone you worry about and root for. You want her to figure it all out and be safe.

I am struggling a little pulling the themes together, but I plan to read through it a few times, so hopefully the wrinkles will iron themselves out. I find that pushing ahead works out the kinks better than outlining or worrying.

Enough for now--back to work!

Good Book v. Great Book

Are you ready for this?

Once again, I am rewriting the book. Not tossing it out and starting over, no, but pretty darn close.

Here's the scoop. My fabulous agent Stan read the manuscript and what it came down to is that The Wielder is a Good book. He likes it, but it's not quite a Great book. We talked for a while about what makes a great book and I quickly saw what he meant.

You see, a Good book has likable characters, a fun plot, decent writing, and a satisfying end. All of these are present in the book as it stands. Cool.

A Great book is something else entirely. It has themes, deep and meaningful conflict (internal and external), perfect pacing, amazing characters, and a cracker-jack ending that leaves the read demanding the sequel RIGHT NOW!

oops.

After a few days kicking myself while I was down, I got back up and started reading up on theme, conflict, etc. I brainstormed, talked to myself, got to know my characters on a whole new level, and emerged a week or two later with a complete outline and a solid grasp of what I wanted for my darling book.

I'm making pretty drastic changes to the plot. Good guys are now bad, bad guys start off good, lots more chasing, fires, excitement--you know, fun stuff. Still, the bones remain the same. The heroine is still her sparkling, quirky little self.

Argh! Editing is NOT my favorite part of this job! Yet, I love the creative process and I do like seeing the book emerge better than ever. Well, like it or not, I've got to get this done so I'm out of here for now.

See ya when I come up for air again!

Slow but Sure

You may notice I don't post entries very often. The sad reason for this is that a writer's life (at least the writing aspect of it) moves at a snail's pace. The truth is, I don't have a ton to update about.

It goes something like this: I write and edit (anywhere between ten minutes and two hours a day). I read (as often as possible--so fun!). I send copies of my work to my friendly readers and, eventually, my agent. Then I wait.

Oh, yes. That's the fun part. The waiting.

Still, I have other projects, ideas, outlines--that sort of thing. I keep busy, but for the individual project time drags.

So, my plan is to try to update this blog more often with little writing thoughts and tidbits.

For example...

I get a kick out of where I find inspiration. I got my latest idea from watching a little boy roar at a couple of little girls at the park the other day! Random. (And no, I'm not telling what the idea is--that's for my future readers to find out! Ha!)

I've gotten ideas from parties I've attended, an odd man I met at my old job, my original home town, and even my experiences as a retail salesperson. I'm inspired by people I know, people I don't know (but see everywhere around me), and people I'd like to know because I imagine them they might be interesting. A failed recipe, a silly phrase my toddler comes out with, a pretty paperweight--anything and everything will work.

Not all of my ideas pan out. Some just want to be outlined, not written. Some (oh horror) have already been done too many times. Some fade away in a few hours, but some stick and flow from my fingers effortlessly.

I didn't used to get ideas this quickly, but finishing your first novel changes the way you think. Suddenly, I see stories everywhere.

I love my job!

A Better Beginning

Once again, I have been tackling the most difficult chapter in any novel. Yes, the dreaded First Chapter. Mine has been written, rewritten, tossed out, written again, tossed out again, and so on. Such is the life of an author. (Though not yet a novelist, having completed a manuscript I think I can consider myself an author.)

Yes, I know. I just spent four months tossing out half of my manuscript and rewriting the entire plot. The book is so much better now and I love it, but I was not in love with that blasted first chapter. It felt rushed, crowded with information, and it just didn't match the rest of the book. And the worst part? Burned out on editing, I had no idea how to fix it.

Enter my brother. My truly brilliant brother read the chapter and knew immediately what I needed--a Call to Action. Meaning: a character, leading a nice, normal life, is suddenly thrust into a strange and life-altering situation. Interesting.

He said the main character was interesting and her situation was mysterious--very good, but who was she before the mysterious events took place? Why should the reader care that she is in danger? Where was she before her Call to Action? He suggested that I write yet another first chapter, this time to introduce the character and hint subtly at the mysterious events to come.

Another First Chapter!!?? NO!!!

I rebelled for approximately six days. Then I gave in. Sometimes you just have to know when to admit someone else is more right than you. Rats!

And so I did it. My darling heroine walks on the stage a little earlier than planned and, wonder of wonders, she dazzles! I love the new first chapter! Hooray for the Call to Action. Hooray for my brother.

The result? My poor, long-suffering agent has to read yet another seven pages before he decides if he likes the result. Sorry, Stan!

Or am I? Shoot, it's a fun story! Let's try this again: Have fun, Stan!

I did.