Know thy characters

So I just finished the novel I've been cowriting with Caleb Warnock. He invited me on board his project for two reasons.
One: He's insanely busy being a bestselling author an all.
Two: He was having major trouble with his main character- a female.

As I delved into the meat of his manuscript, the problem became clear. He didn't know his main character. The voices of every other POV character and side character rang true. But for some reason, Hallie's voice was stilted and awkward. I believe my exact words were that she sounded like an 80 year old tea maven. So my job was to rewrite her point of view so she could be heard.

It took some work, but I did it by following one of my ten writing commandments: Know thy character.

It's the same process I use in any story I write. Before I go spinning yarns into chapters, I sit down and have a chat with each character. Even though the little details will likely never make it into the book, I want to know this character's whole life story. I want to know their first memory. If clowns scare them. If they have any odd or quirky habits. Who beat them up in high school. Or maybe they were the one doing the bullying.

This serves a two-fold purpose. Characters are memorable when they are interesting and have depth and feelings. And secondly, if I know my character, it is easier to correctly portray their thoughts and reactions. The rest of the story often writes itself because I can see what they will do, just like a movie in my head.  

So now that I am done with Hallie's story, I am off to start a new one. My new main character is Bertha Jenkins. She's adopted, sat on a bully in third grade, her house has a roof the dips down in the middle, and she may or may not have gotten married on elephant-back in India. (she's still working out the legalities) She enjoys religion hopping and is currently working her way through Taoism.

I'm sure there's more, and Bertha will have to tell me all about it.

The LIST

So right now I'm chained to my computer. I can literally feel it chafing against my ankle. It's either that, or tweaked from running.
 The reason I am stuck here is a little thing called a deadline. As in my Work in Progress needs to be submitted to my editor by Tuesday. I started 2 weeks ago. Sound crazy?

It's actually someone else's book that was finished, but needed a whole lot of work. But his life is crazy and he needed some help to meet the deadline set by his publisher- which coincidentally is my publisher. So he asked me to co-author it with him. It needed some voicing fixes, plot fixes, and  brand spanking new ending. I am currently in the middle of said ending.

But while I am plotting of how to get Cynhtia (my character) out of the mess I stuck her in, in the back of my mind is the LIST.

There seems to be so much to do and not enough time to do it.  I need to meet my deadline, but I worry that the mountain of laundry might tip over and smother my 2 1/2 yr old. I've got three blogs to keep up with. Mormon Mommy Writers and Finished being Fat both have Saturday updates due. The kids are crying to go the park. Oh, and my marathon training says Saturday is a 14 mile day.

And that's the shortened list. The longer list includes all the things I need to do before the years up. I'm going back to college. My father in law is getting remarried. All the edits and marketing work for the two books coming out in early 2013. The June marathon and 3 other half marathons I signed up for.

By this point in my worrying, I'm having chest pains. The underside of my blanket is starting to look really good.

The point of this post is to remind myself that I can only worry about one thing, one mile, one race, and one chapter at a time. Anything else is counter productive. I need to make a plan, then trust that plan will work as I follow through. I'll let you know when I manage to stop sweating the details.

En-Title-ment Issues

Here's a word of advice for you aspiring authors. Do not get attached to your title. Because there is a decent chance you won't get to keep it. What I mean is, you are working hard on your manuscript and it grows on you. Either like a fungus or a baby. Depends on how well its going at the time.  So you give it a name or a title in your head and you fall in love. Then you submit it to agents or publishers and someone picks it up. Then their marketing team gets a hold of it. That's when you and your beloved title might break up.

 

It is the marketing team's job to make your book the most attractive package it can. That means a stellar title and cover. But hey, I thought my title was pretty catchy. Maybe to me it was, but the team seemed to differ. Right here is where you can be in trouble. If you are very attached to your newborn book, it can be hard to accept any other name than the one you've blessed it with.

This is my current dilemna. I had named my manuscript the Philosophy of Finishing. Cedar Fort said, "Ehh" to that name. They batted around a few options for the next two weeks, but nothing else sounded good to me. Then they picked a title and subtitle that I was not fond of.  I was wondering "Oh no, did my book die? Will anyone want to pick it up." I argued back and they put it to a vote on FaceBook.  We have yet to see the results.

At this point I think I need to trust in the experts. Its true that no one will love and know your book like you do. But your marketing team should hopeful have years of experience knowing exactly how to reach your audience and bookstore buyers. I'm hoping mine does at least. So at this point I'm going to let go and let the experts. I will post soon with the results of the survey. Cross your fingers that it's something good.

But in the meantime, for your work in progress, realize that it's the publisher that sets the title not you. And it's in their best interest to makeup a good one. After all they are investing in you and your book. They need it to sell too. :)

The Value of Critique Groups

Today I want to talk about the best two parts of my weekend-- the PEG Live Critique Workshop and The Lorax. Specifically that everyone needs to see that movie, and all writers should participate in some kind of critique group.


So this Saturday I went to a Critique Workshop. It was in the American Fork Library, hosted by Precision Editing Group. Otherwise known as the awesome supergroup of the following ladies:  (left to right) Luann Staheli, Heather Moore,  Julie Wright, Annette Lyon, Josi Kilpack
http://www.precisioneditinggroup.com/

I'm not gonna lie. I had a little bit of a fan geek moment when put in the same room as the superauthors. They are all beautiful talented amazing women and award winning authors. Basically they're what I want to be when I grow up. (although I'm pretty sure a few of them are younger than me)


There were about 20 or so of us students. I had no idea what to expect. I had brought the first two chapters of my fiction work in progress. (more details to come) I wasn't sure what other kinds of writers would be there. Imagine my surprise to come across M.L. Forman. He's the author of one of my fave new series Adventurers Wanted. I geeked out again. My brain and tongue froze and I'm sure I said something really stupid. He was there as a student. Not an instructor. He sells like a gagillion books and he needs help too?
Talk about humbling.


And then the red pen comes out. Having been a musician first, I have had my fair share of constructive criticism. I'll give you a hint, the more you get ... doesn't get easier.  It's still heart palpitating nerves and chattering teeth for me.  Getting peer reviews and feedback can be scary. You're vulnerable. Here you are, handing over some precious piece of your soul over to someone else to literally rip apart.  What if they think I suck? What if they don't like me? What if they take one look at what I've written and secretly scoff and wonder how on earth I managed to get published?


This is where the other part of the weekend comes it: The Lorax. Great movie. It loved it. I love one line in particular and want to share it because it applies perfectly.


   "It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become."

If we never allow our manuscripts to be deconstructed a bit, they will remain as seeds -- never growing to their full potential.  I can take each slash of red pen, bleeding on my white paper, as an injury or mark against my abilities as a writer. Or I can see each stroke as proof that my book can become even stronger and better than I ever thought it could be.


Yes, it can be scary. It might sound better to tuck your life's work in a drawer so it will never have to face the harsh light of day. Heck I feel that way about my kids sometimes. But in both cases, without the light, there is no opportunity for growth. 


 So find a lorax, or a group you can share with. Form a critique group or see if you can join one already in progress. Talk to your writer buds on Facebook. Do it by email if no one lives close to you. But don't keep your writing to yourself because of fear that it's not perfect as it is. Grab insight from others so you can catch a glimpse of what it can become.

Pricklepants

What's a Pricklepants?

This is. Or more accurately This is our new pet Princess Caleb Pricklepants. (Long story short. Since I am not having any more kids, I promised Caleb Warnock I would name my next pet after him in undying gratitude for his mentorship)

This is also a Pricklepants. Namely me.

This week I have been overwhelmed with all the new changes in life both good and bad. Husband losing job... bad.  Getting contract signed...good.  Being denied health care...bad.  List goes on.

Needless to say my emotions were worse the California Screamin' at Disneyland. Up, down and sideways. Every time somebody said anything to me the least bit negative, my quills went up. I went in to full defensive pricklepants mode. I was finding offense in the dumbest things. So and so didn't like or comment on my facebook post. This person didn't want to sit with me.

The more things added up the more my emotions got out of control.  I tried to bottle them in, but there is a reason that teakettles have release valves. Last night my teapot boileth over. I was in the writing critique group and it wasn't going well. My grammar sucked, my dialogue tags sucked. My scene had no point. It was too much and I lost it.

Had I been smart, I would have released the steam earlier... in private. But as usual I was being stubborn "Big girls don't cry" and all that. So instead of releasing steam, I dumped out the whole scalding pot. Afterwards I found myself empty and vulnerable- all my quill defense removed. Would anyone still like me? Would they think I was a crybaby, or a drama queen? Maybe I was that really annoying friend that everyone tolerates.

So I spent last night and today in misery. Until I picked up my new friend Princess Pricklepants. He (yes he's a boy, but my daughter insists he's still a princess) is prickly, yes, but he is also snuggly and just cute. I think he is well on his way to becoming a treasured and much loved member of the family. Despite all his pokeys.

It made me think and hope. Maybe my friends and family find ways to love me and find me a valued member of their lives, despite my prickliness.

Cedar Fort Says YES!! to the Philosophy of Finishing

I have been checking my email every five minutes waiting to hear from an insurance broker to get health insurance now that we are unemployed. I saw an email that I didn't know. I opened it assuming it was yet another agent rejection. I hadn't been expecting a letter from the publishers because their sites all state it takes 4 months to hear back.

I opened the email with the care of a bomb squad officer, finger poised on the delete button. The word Congratulations jumped out at me. What the...

Cedar Fort Inc. wants to publish my book. There was only one thing to do at a time like this... cry.

I started crying and held my phone out to my mother in the chair next to me. She let out a whoop of excitement. I was still crying by the time Jarom got there 15 minutes later. His face clearly said "Now what?" After I stammered out that he was married to a soon to be published author, he squeezed my guts tighter than any corset ever could.

Four months ago today, I decided to write a book. It seems like the journey has been a rollercoaster that went on forever, but in reality I think that it's been really fast.  Talking to some new author friends of mine, I understand it can take up to a year or more before your writing sees the light of day.

I am so lucky. I couldn't have done it without lots and lots of help. My husband is my rock and my earplugs that help me tune out the world. When everyone else was telling me how unlikely it was that I would get published, Jarom stood by me and kept the voices at bay.

I also know that I probably had some divine intervention. Or at the very least a guardian angel sitting on the acquisition editor's shoulder.

A year and a half ago I was contemplating whether or not someone could die from self loathing. And if so, was that considered suicide? I stopped trying to do anything because in my heart I felt I wasn't good enough. If I wasn't as good as so and so, well then I was a failure. Better to just give up.

Today I am going to be a published author. The change didn't come from losing weight, though it is nice not to be fat anymore. It came from learning the simple truth that I needed to stop quitting on everything in my life...including myself. Becoming a finisher has changed my life or maybe gave me a better one. That's why I wrote this book.  Not because I wanted to be rich and famous. (Because I have no delusions about that, especially after I realized only major authors get advances. The rest of us get royalties, so I would need to sell a bagillion books to make any money)

I really believe in the Koolaid I'm drinking. I want to help others overcome the failures of their past and realize that to be successful, you only have to finish what you start. With each new accomplishment the past starts to fade away and you realize, "Yes I can!" Because you have proof piling up with each new thing you finish that you can show that little negative voice in the back of your head. I don't have to be the better than everyone else to be successful in life. That's where the Philosophy of Finishing came from, when I realized that not everyone can win the race, but everyone can finish it.

So long post I know. But I just had to share my "testimony" so to speak. I know there is lots of hard work ahead. I'm supposed to come up with my own marketing plan to sell this book. ugh. Unfamiliar territory again. But with the help of new friends and lots of Google searches, I'll figure it out. Here's to the continuing Journey.

Rejection sucks

Today has been bar none one of the worst days of my life. Over the last two weeks I have sent out my manuscript and been waiting to hear from the publishing companies.  In the meantime the agent rejection letters keep coming 2-3 every few days.  Most are form "Dear Author" emails. Some are personalized and say something like this: While your writing is entertaining and nice, I think I would have a hard time selling your book. Basically, while you have some great accomplishments, you're nobody.  Call us when you're famous. 


I got through those thinking number one that they are right. They only make money by selling my book to a big publishing house and I am nobody special.  But that's what is so awesome about my book. I am nobody special. If I can turn from a life of quitting and couch potato-ness to a finishing marathon machine, well anyone can. But still I get their point, but it hurts anyway.
Secondly, I kept the little fire of hope burning that the Liv Blumer agent would get back to me and tell me they loved the first 50 pages and wanted the rest. I did research on the agency and they are one of the good ones. They only take a very ecclectic list of projects. I just needed one yes through the nos right?

Well today I got the Self Addressed Stamped Envelope that I included with the first 50 pages. My heart sank though the concrete to the center of the earth. Inside the envelope was a little notecard saying "Dear Sir or Madame"  Really? Not even a personalized no? After I spent $5 to Priority mail those pages.  Had they even read them?

I called my husband to get a phone hug.
"I'm super sad, I need some love."
"Probably not as much as me" he replied.
"What you lose your job or something?" I joked.
"Yep."

My stomach joined my heart under the concrete.

Part of my book is pushing on when your get that figurative thud of your life hitting bottom. It's time to test that again it seems. I sure hope the Lord knows what he's doing. I know he'll look out for us. We will survive. We will persevere. This could be an opportunity. Maybe he will get a better job. Maybe I will put the book on Kindle myself. Either way I know we'll make it.  Doesn't mean I can't take a day to wallow though