What makes a Writer?

This morning I woke up very early. 

I had an idea for a brilliant piece of dialogue. 

But, it was gorgeous outside and the sun was shining...


All I wanted to do was get up, read the paper, drink copious amounts of coffee then go outside and play.

 But, if I went outside to play I would probably forget my brilliant piece of dialogue.

So, on this gorgeous, sunny day, I hunched over my computer and tapped out my word count.



ONLY then...did I put on my hiking boots and go out to play.

We're cutting a trail through the forest and down to the river. 

 It's gonna be awesome when it's done.









Yup! I think it's official. Today I am a writer!

Spring has Sprung!

I imagine a real writer would be locked away inside with the curtains pulled, toiling away on the computer - pumping out the daily word count no matter what.

But, I'm Canadian.

March is usually cold, slushy and miserable. But, over the past week the temperature has soared. The pile of snow in my yard that two weeks ago was over my head melted within a few days and although it was kind of mucky for awhile I am not complaining.

I know this is probably not a good thing (global warming and all that) but I just can't help this feeling of joy.

Sorry, Elizabeth George. I'm taking the day off.

The Cake is Done!

After struggling for some time with the inciting incident and the first few chapters of the book, I am thrilled to say that I think I have finally settled on the perfect recipe. (Perhaps not perfect - but definitely edible)

It all makes sense now and the best part is that the changes I made will not significantly impact most of the other chapters I've completed.

I still have the final act to write but I am clear on where I am headed.

After that comes the fun part - icing the cake. Adding pretty descriptions, richer settings, spicier dialogue, etc.

Phew!

I like my cake.

It's good.

Can't wait for the icing.

I Have an EDITOR!

FINALLY!  My agent has paired me with a professional editor in order to tighten up the storyline a bit and allow the protagonist, Signy Shepherd, to shine even brighter.

I am thrilled.

When I was editing Blown Red it felt like performing surgery while using an episode of House as my guide. I was lacking the skills to take a critical look at what should go and what should stay.

Despite my best efforts I felt stymied by my lack of experience.














Today, Anne McDermid set me up with a 'real' editor and from the sounds of her first email she is professional, supportive and best of all, funny!

I am very excited to work with her. She says the job will be complete by the end of May, at which point the book can go to the publishers and I will feel like I have done my very best.

Best of all, I think that working with a professional writer will help my second book as well.

I intend to soak up everything she teaches me and to be up to my knees in good words!!

A Revelation

Holy Frack...!

I came to an unfortunate (fortunate?) conclusion today...

 I have been writing not ONE book but TWO!

 

I have crammed two separate stories into one and as a result lost the power in both. 

I have no option but return to the drawing board.


Despite the obvious gnashing of teeth and 
ripping of garments...

 


I am undeterred. 

The revised storyline is tighter and more compelling. 

And the bonus is that the next book is well on its way.

From the ashes something new and better rises...

Plot Redux

50,000 words into the new book and I realized with some horror that a) the inciting incident doesn't really work and b) there is too long a gap between tense action scenes.

It is really the doctor's wife, Lisa Smiles asking for help that sets everything in motion. Grace's kidnapping, Signy's flight and the return of the Tracker would not happen if Lisa does not shown up at the shelter in need of assistance. That must be the inciting incident and it fits well with the overarching question of whether Signy will choose to save Lisa. 

With a lot of thought and a few tweaks I took the two main story lines (Signy hides the girl) and (Grace is kidnapped by Dr. Solomon Smiles) and juxtaposed them instead of allowing them to flow linearly. That way the action that occurs in both story lines happens at the same time - taking the reader on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs instead of a long slow train ride punctuated by the odd burst of tense activity.

I HOPE this works better now.

This novel writing business is NOT easy! It is like putting together a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle where every time you snap one piece into place it disrupts another on the other side of the board and you have to start all over. It is in turn frustrating and exhilarating.  

I often feel like I am being chased by demented puzzle pieces and I can't quite figure out which one is safe and which ones will lead to a storyline disaster.

Life or Death?

With Life back to normal I was able to concentrate on the plot for awhile. I read my latest scenes to my Number One critic and he thinks the plot is thickening nicely.

Sadly, one of my main characters, the inestimable Grace Holder, has found herself in very hot water indeed.

It's kind of strange and oddly powerful to hold the fate of so many characters in one's hot, little hands. Happiness or tragedy? Love or Loss? Life or Death? It is all up to ME!!

Mwahahahahahaha......!!!

Procrastination

Fell off the rails BIG TIME this week.  No word counts, no plot worries, no writing AT ALL.

It was one of those weeks where everything else seemed to take priority.

I had places to go and people to see. VERY important places! EXTREMELY important people!!

When I got there I did a lot of WAITING...

Although I made up for it with a little DANCING...

But NO writing. Heavy sigh....I'll bet Elizabeth George never had a week like this....