Author Jean Davis

Friday, April 20, 2018

A to Z - All Thing Writing: Rewriting

Welcome to the Blogging A to Z Challenge, where, this month, I'll be focusing on all things writing. This may be a random jumping around of topics within my theme, but hopefully something somewhere will be useful to someone. (V is for vague - see that last sentence.) Check out all the participants here . Now, lets get on with today's letter.

R is for Rewriting

This is the stage where the magic happens. You've written the end on your first draft. You've read it over and made some notes. Maybe you've done that post-draft outline I mentioned earlier this month or you have your original outline to refer to. Now its time to hit the ground running and clean up this mess.

Rewriting is crucial step if you've picked up an old draft with the intent to finish it or have added a bunch of scenes to a previously 'finished' piece.

My favorite method of rewriting works like this:

1. Save a copy of the first draft as draft two. This preserves all your precious original words for posterity. While I do this to make myself feel better, like I have a safety net if I screw something up along the way, I've never resorted to going back to the first draft again. Nevertheless, it frees up your conscience for rewriting.

2. If the draft doesn't totally suck, (like this is your fifth or sixth novel and you've got this writing thing down somewhat AND the first draft wasn't a bear to write), you might choose to carefully read over every line scene by scene, consider what needs to be changed while consulting your notes and outline and proceed through the book.

2A. Or, as is often the case for me, there are a lot of changes that need to be made. To prevent writing a frankennovel (created when too many bits and pieces are frantically sewn together) I rewrite the entire thing. Yes, every word. Starting at the top of the document, paragraph one, I write the new paragraph one below it, delete the old on and proceed to the next paragraph. You're probably thinking this sounds like a hell of a lot of work. Really, it's not. You're not having to think so much about putting a whole draft together now. It's about making what you already have, better.

What should you be looking for while rewriting?

• Word choice - can you say things clearer or without so many words?

• Voice - the frame of mind in which you started the book and where it ended are probably different. Now that you know the ending and all the leads up to it, you can go through make it cohesive.

• Description - if you didn't add much of that the first time around, now's the time. There's also the possibility that you only discovered what some of the setting, characters, and gizmos were in the middle or end of the book and they need to be added into the beginning.

• Plot fixes - this includes adding scenes to properly foreshadow events or introduce characters, ironing out scenes, cutting subplots that didn't end up being needed, etc.

Keep in mind that this isn't a pass where you should be super focused on typos and micro edits. This step is about getting the story itself into shape. Edits after this stage will add polish.

Do you rewrite or skip right to editing?

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Prefer paperback? The print book goes live on April 20. Reviews are always appreciated.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

A to Z - All Things Writing: Questions Make The Best Critiques

Q is for Questions Make The Best Critiques

I've been trading critiques for ten years or so and I can easily say that my favorite ones have asked me questions. Sure they tell me what they like and what they don't, and I'm always open to suggestions if someone has a better way to convey something, but it's the questions that are golden.

I know what I mean. I can see the story in my head and hear the character speak. I know why they're doing what they're doing. But is that on the page? Is it deep enough? Is it clear enough? Logical to anyone other than me? Not always.

So if anyone ever asks you to critique or beta read for them, do them a favor and ask questions. Obviously, questioning everything would get on the writer's nerves in no time, but if you're wondering something, ask. Even if it's something that you find out is explained two chapter later. I'd like to know when you start to wonder about it. Is it in the best interest of the story to keep that information from the reader for two more chapters or do I need to drop a little more info earlier on?

Why is the character doing this? I would think they would act this way: ____
What does this place look like?
Remind the writer to use senses. What does that old woman smell like?
Did the writer through some unexplained gizmo into the story? Am I supposed to know how this thing works?

There are so many possible questions. Don't hesitate to be inquisitive. And writers, don't answer the person asking. Put the answers in the story.

Some of my favorite parts of books I've written came from answering questions asked by critique partners and editors. Think of it as your chance to ask the writer instead of yelling at the tv, "Why are those kids going into the dark woods in the deserted summer camp to make out?"

One question can spark a whole train of inspiration. Never be afraid to ask.

Prefer paperback? The print book goes live on April 20. Reviews are always appreciated.

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

A to Z - All Things Writing : Plotters and Pantsers

P is for Plotters and Pantsers

If you get a bunch of writers together in the same room or forum, you'll soon learn that there are two main camps. There are pantsers and plotters. Building off of yesterdays outlining post, this seemed an appropriate direction to wander.

Plotters, are those organized writers who spends weeks or months or even longer in preparation before ever committing a word to the actual story. They outline, research, and create character sheets. Plotters might even break the whole book down by scene and know what happens and who will be in it. I've met a couple of people who do just that. Once they get to writing, it's just a matter of filling in the scene and checking it off. This sounds like the perfect method for those who like to jump around while writing that first draft because everything is still relatively organized.

A plotter would know their character, Gary's every quirk, his detailed physical description, that he failed math in the fourth grade, that he has a rash on his left elbow and prefers blondes because they remind him of the hot lady that used to live next door when he was twelve.

Pantsers like to just sit down and marvel at the words that flow from their fingers. Their stories seem to have a life of their own, twisting and turning in unexpected directions from day to day. You might often hear a pantser saying something like their character isn't speaking to them or they aren't behaving. If you're a plotter, this may sound like a bit of nonsense or outright insanity. Sorry, it's just how we write. We're often surprised by where our story is going and where it ends up.

A panster would say: Wow, when this story started I had no idea Gary was gay and that he was allergic to olives and that's what would spur him into discovering the cure for feline baldness!

Then there are the plantsers, the hybrid writers who plan a little and wing the rest.

Which one are you?

Prefer paperback? The print book goes live on April 20. Reviews are always appreciated.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

A to Z - All Things Writing: Outlines

O is for Outlines

Some writers live for outlines others despise them as creative cages. I'm not an outline fan. I prefer to surprised and excited about where the story goes as I figure out it. It makes it easier for me to write in an engaging fashion if I'm interested in where the story is going just as much as the reader will be. That's just how my creative process works.

Outliners are more organized. Their rewriting process is probably a less extensive than mine because they knew where their story was going from the start. I tend to have to go back and add details or whole characters and scenes to properly set up later events.

You can outline to any degree. Again, there's not right or wrong way to do it. It could be as little as a short paragraph or a couple bullet points per chapter all the way to mapping out every scene.

So should you outline or not? There's no right or wrong answer. You'll have to find what works best for your writing process. If you've never tried an outline, give it a whirl. You might be converted to a plotter. If you write an outline and you find you've lost all will to write because the story lost it's creative magic, then outlining isn't for you.

Personally, I prefer the after-outline method as part of my rewriting/first edit process. Because I don't do one before I start the story, it is very helpful to do one after I have the rough draft in hand. I already have the words on the page, so I no longer feel hampered by having to stick with a plan. The after method gives me a good idea of where changes need to me made to make the plot flow better and to make the characters more active and add more tension. This outline is also the starting point for my synopsis, which we'll cover on S day.

Do you outline?

Prefer paperback? The print book goes live on April 20. Reviews are always appreciated.

Monday, April 16, 2018

A to Z - All Things Writing: NaNoWriMo

N is for National Novel Writing Month

Or NaNoWriMo for short, because it's easier to say (or not, depending on who is trying to pronounce it). This is a worldwide challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, specifically in November. Sound intriguing? You can sign up here. While this challenge is totally free, the month-long event is put on by a non-profit organization that shares the love of writing with classrooms all around the world, so donations are encouraged.

If you've been around my blog before, you've probably heard me wax on about the wonders of NaNoWriMo. Fair warning, I'm going to do it again.

Things that are awesome about writing 50,000 words in 30 days:

You can join a region. A region is comprised of writers all around you who are also participating in this challenge. If you're looking to connect with other writers in your area for marking / accountability / support / learning how to write / guidance / advice / to find beta readers / a writers group / and pretty much anything else, this is an excellent place to start. Within your region, events will be held throughout November. These are put on by a local volunteer (aka an ML - of which I am one). Most often, these events will be in in person, but are sometimes online in a chat room. Don't scare yourself out of going to events. Are you an introverted socially awkward person who would rather stay home and not talk to new people? You'll fit right in. Go. Meet your people. Seriously. Go.

Setting goals for yourself is one thing, but being part of a group writing with the same goal, makes accountability even easier. You get nifty graphs, a progress bar, and virtual badges for meeting word goals. There are even pep talks from famous authors if you need further encouragement.

There are forums to meet more people and share ideas. I highly recommend checking these out before November strikes. Find the threads that you'll find the most helpful and/or encouraging and stick with those. The forums are like the interwebs: giant and time sucking. You should be writing first and socializing second. The forums stay up long after NaNo is over so you can hang out with people after the writing is over too.

You will find time to write. 1,667 words is your daily goal. That may sound like a crazy amount of words, but it's really not. You'd be amazed how many words you can pump out in a 10 minute word war (aka word sprint). Who knew writing could be a competitive sport? It can be, even hanging out in the chat room isn't your thing and you're only competing with yourself. Yes, there is now a word sprint tool to use when you're writing alone. This is the perfect way to spend a month finding when works best for you to write and establishing a writing habit.

You will find that you can actually write the rough draft of a novel in 30 days. It won't be easy, but it's not impossible either. I've done it 11 out of 12 times. I was building a house the one year, so I was happy that I found time to write at all.

If you've never finished a piece of long-form writing before, you'll get that elation of a goal met. It's an awesome feeling, and even more so, because you get to share it with other writers who are writing right along side you, facing the same challenges of sick kids, errands, keeping up the house, needy pets and still finding time to spend with their significant others.

Things that are also awesome, but to keep in mind:

50,000 words is not a full novel in most cases, but it's a good start.

This is a very rough draft and because you're cranking it out in 30 days it will contain a lot of suck, but also a lot of word treasures.

Everyone writes at a different pace. One person's 10 minute word sprint of 700 words is another person's 200 word major accomplishment. You might be at 40,000 words on day 28 while someone else pounded out 50K back on day 2. Don't compare yourself to everyone else. We write a different speeds. Some people fix every typo along the way, others turn their text color off or use an unreadable font and are blissfully uncaring until December. Others take vacation or are home for thanksgiving break and have entire days to write while you are cramming in six 10 minutes sprints between running kids to sports, making meals, keeping up your house, working full time, and potty training your new puppy who doesn't sleep through the night. Your goal. Your challenge. Being competitive and motivated is good, but don't stress about how everyone else is doing.

Too busy in November? Check out Camp NaNo - a smaller scale event with your own word goal that happens twice a year. Oh look, there's one happening right now!

Have you done NaNoWriMo before?

Prefer paperback? The print book goes live on April 20. Reviews are always appreciated.