Clipping Document

This is me carefully editing my manuscript

For those of you waiting for the next Caitlyn Jamison Mystery to be published, the good news is I am more than halfway through the second draft. The not so good news is that there is still much work to be done!

Editing a manuscript is a difficult, time consuming, and tedious job. Did I mention it is a necessary one? Reading a manuscript in a slow and careful manner allows the author to get into the flow of the book, the characters, and the plot lines. The author will find which characters need to be developed more, and what plot lines need further development. I also find many words and sentences that are not pulling their weight – I make my words work and those that don’t – Gone!

As I make my way through the second edit, I realized that the initial character for the genealogy subplot was not developed so that the reader could connect with her, and maybe even sympathize with her plight.

Actually she was. Early on in the book’s development I had written a chapter describing Edda van der Molen, putting her in time and place. But as the book’s other characters and plot lines were developed I felt the chapter featuring Edda was not what I wanted.

But it was a chapter and I hated the thought of deleting all that writing. I decided to put this chapter into a “clipping document.” The document would serve as a holding place for sentences, paragraphs, even chapters that for one reason or another didn’t work anymore. Why waste them? As I worked my way through the book, I have dipped into my clipping document and pulled out words and sentences that I tweaked enough to fit perfectly into the story line.

As for Edda, I had clipped her chapter into a separate document (thank goodness; easy to find), and labeled it “Edda.” When I realized I needed to flesh out Edda more, I copied and pasted the clipping into the manuscript and edited it down to give the details I needed.

Consequently, my advice to writers: When your creative writing doesn’t work, don’t throw it out – save it in a “Clipping Document,” (properly labeled). You never know when that piece of writing just might be the ticket for soup!

Connecting with Your Audience

Island Branch Library, Holmes Beach, Florida

Presenting at the Island Branch Library Friends Travel and Lecture series was a magical time for me. I was billed as a first time author and would share stories of writing and self-publishing. Since I am a “first time self-published author,” I expected a low attendance. But in fact, about 50 people filled the library’s meeting room to hear what I had to say.

I told the audience that the first thing I do when starting a book is to turn to the back cover and read about the author. I want to know where they live, family, hobbies, pets. I’m looking for a connection. And so that’s how I started my talk, first sharing the story as to how I came to be on Anna Maria Island in the mid-1950s. And telling them how happy it makes me that the 5^th generation of our family now comes to the Island each year.

I then went on to share my work background – working in the Cornell office of Dr. Carl Sagan, just post Cosmos and during the development of the scientific paper on multiple nuclear explosions, from which the term Nuclear Winter was coined. From there I explored my work experience in the president’s office of Ithaca College. I explained I now realize that these positions served as my writing/editing preparation. I was constantly exposed to proper use of the English language, and constantly expected to strive for excellence and attention to detail.

So what happened to prompt me to write a book? The audience was hooked as I lead them through the turning point in my life and how plot lines and characters came about. I entertained them with stories as to how the characters change the story. The author isn't really in control.

I also spent time on why I self-published (there were many questions about self-publishing), and walked them through the process. One slide I showed simply stated if anyone is writing and even thinking about publishing – DO YOUR HOMEWORK about publishing options.. I told them that was the only slide they needed to remember from the presentation.

I think we connected so well because I was honest with them. My only goal was to finish a manuscript. I never projected any further than that. The road to publishing was one step at a time. I was at their level, a novice, afraid, and made mistakes along the way, but I dusted myself off and persevered, with eye only on the finish line.  I gave them a few laughs, which delighted me. I tend to be very serious (read: scared) during these presentations as they are way out of my comfort level. But that is all part of the growth that I strive to achieve.

At the end of my talk one woman raised her hand. “I don’t have a question. I just want to say that you inspired me so much. I’m going home and start writing.” I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.

Bottom line is my presentation at the Island Library was an exciting event for me and I hope I inspired a number of those present.

Let Your Readers In

The latest issue of Writer’s Digest has a wonderful article on Archer Mayor. He’s a medical examiner, but technically he states his title is “Death Investigator.” Mr. Mayor writes police procedurals and because of his background and experience, he has a lot of ideas from which to draw.

Mr. Mayor said while leading a writing workshop he wondered, “What makes a happy reader?” His answer is allowing the reader in. Develop your plot and characters so that readers are pulled into the story – the story becomes their own.

He said, “You don’t want them to even know you are in the room.”

This statement hit home. While waiting for my second author presentation, those gathered early started to discuss my book with me. But before I knew, they were talking amongst themselves about the characters – like I wasn’t even in the room. It was a strange feeling, but I took it as a huge compliment. As Elizabeth George says, when people are talking about your book, they are talking about the characters. And that was what was happening. I had let my readers in. My characters were very real to these readers.

I am rereading the article on Archer Mayor, titled “The Corpse Stops Here,” because this author provides great advice and food for thought for my writing life.

Lulu Titlescorer

I recently became aware of the Titlescorer feature on Lulu’s website. Lulu is a self-publishing website that allows authors of all genres to create, print and sell their books. I knew about them, but didn’t know that one of the features they offer for anyone is a non-scientific (but fun) title scorer. When you put in your title, it tells you the calculated success rate. Their website states:

The Lulu Titlescorer has been developed exclusively for Lulu by statisticians who studied the titles of 50 years' worth of top bestsellers and identified which title attributes separated the bestsellers from the rest. We commissioned a research team to analyse the title of every novel to have topped the hardback fiction section of the New York Times Bestseller List during the half-century from 1955 to 2004 and then compare them with the titles of a control group of less successful novels by the same authors. The team, lead by British statistician Dr. Atai Winkler, then used the data gathered from a total of some 700 titles to create this "Lulu Titlescorer" a program able to predict the chances that any given title would produce a New York Times No. 1 bestseller. The fruit of this work is presented here, in the form of the Lulu Titlescorer: a program that you can use to gauge the chances that your own title will deliver you a New York Times No. 1 bestseller.

Even so, this is not an exact science. Far from it. In fact, Dr. Winkler advises that the Lulu Titlescorer should, in practice, always be combined with use of your own low-tech judgment.

It is not an exact science, but let’s admit that the concept is fun.

I put in the working title of my next book and it scored only 10.2%. I put in a couple more ideas and they, too, came in at 10.2%. I came up with a title that sort of fit, and that came up at 26.3%. So I have been brainstorming to come up with a better title. Until early this morning when I went back to Titlescorer to put in another suggested title and I took note of the three drop down filters that I hadn’t paid too much attention to before.

This morning I did pay attention, selecting exactly what the first word was (noun, verb, adjective, etc) and exactly what the second word was. When I put in my working title, all of a sudden it rated 26.3%.

Having said that, the first thing I did before considering a title was run it by Amazon to see if/how many books had the same title. When I started my second book, I wanted the title to be Unintended Consequences. I put that in Amazon and whoa – so many books already had that title, and so I decided not to consider it.

Have fun playing with Titlescorer, but remember Lulu’s advice – this should be combined with your own judgment.

Writing is therapeutic

I’ve been thinking about voice – again, and what makes my work different from the zillions of other mystery books that have been – are being – written? It comes down to voice. Only I have “my” thoughts, “my” feelings, “my” take on life. And that’s how An Unexpected Death, my first Caitlyn Jamison mystery came about. It wasn’t because I wanted to be a writer!  It was because I was upset and frustrated with what was happening in our country. I needed to express myself. But how?

Writing is therapeutic became my mantra. It helps us make sense of situations. And that’s how the story began. What was discovered after the fact was through the writing process my voice appeared. I was able to share my thoughts and feelings through my characters. And readers, I subsequently learned, love the characters.

Writer Meg Rosoff states, “…In our voice, your readers should be able to hear the contents of your mind, your heart, your soul.” That is each writer’s challenge. Be true to yourself.

Writing is an art

My blog silence over the past month is due entirely to the fact I have been spending hours editing the first draft of my second Caitlyn Jamison mystery. Right now it is over 83,000 words filling 230 pages. That’s a lot of words to read, mull over, and decide – is each word, each sentence, necessary to move the story forward? Does each word, each sentence best describe what I want to convey? Are there better words, better sentences I could use? That is why we edit multiple drafts.

I look at writing a novel similar to an artist developing a painting. The first draft of a manuscript is like the artist’s first outline sketch. An artist then applies layers of color, layers of detail until the painting is complete. So, too, does a writer layer in “color,” and detail in the form of description, setting, action, and character development until the story comes to life and is complete.

As I work through my first draft, I consider have I provided enough layers of character and setting description to bring readers into the story.  That is something I ponder at the end of each day. And at the end of each day, thoughts come to me about what could be added that could better describe a character, setting, or move the plot along.  I keep my writing journal close at hand and jot down those random thoughts as they come – then consider them at the next day of editing.

Of course I worry. I worry about whether the picture I am painting will satisfy my readers. I think about them a lot. They let me know they are still out there waiting. In the last week I have had four people ask about how the next book is coming and to make sure that I am continuing with the same characters.

My challenge is to “paint” a picture of the characters and setting that will get readers back into the characters and setting, as well as providing them with a story line they will enjoy.

Themes

I just finished reading Writing with Quiet Hands by Paula Munier. It is a wonderful book that I can recommend to all writers.  It was towards the end that Ms. Munier provided me with an aha moment. She talked about the importance of carrying the theme through the book, and about using metaphors for that theme.   

I had never thought about it that way. I credit beginners luck for the fact that I successfully accomplished keeping the plot theme seamless in my first book, and I suspect beginners luck continues in my second.

I just printed out the first rough draft of my second Caitlyn Jamison mystery and now ask myself – what is the theme of this book? What message do I want the reader to take away? Have I been consistent with metaphors? Is the interwoven subplot consistent? Does it need to be?

And further, has my protagonist driven the story or has the story driven or overtaken her? I think the second is closer to the truth, so some rewriting, redirecting is in order.

This second go-around has provided insights that I didn’t have in the first book. I realize now that my books are character driven. The plot line I envisioned at the start of the process has changed drastically over the development of the book. That’s because the characters I created developed their own personalities and passions.

I allowed my characters freedom to explore their world, and in doing so they drove the plot line and I am very thankful they stayed true to the theme.

I have much work ahead of me to tighten the manuscript and make sure my protagonist is front and center. And time to think about answering the above questions. What exactly do I want my readers to take away from this second book?