Authors have different ways to approach that first draft. Some work from a brief outline of bulletpoints, others from a detailed outline of plots points and dialogue. Still others rely on a freeform, improvisational outline with a highlight or two and no ending in sight.
I prefer the first of these. I know my beginning, my ending, and key points in the middle, but always feel free to write what comes to mind in the course of the story. Usually that works for me. It's like improv--structure and direction, but no defined product.
I bring this up now because I recently hit a wall in writing that way. Was working on a short story, complete with known opening and closing, but letting it flow in the middle. Couldn't figure out why it wasn't working for me. I liked some of the scenes, the way they played out, the way the flowed into each other, although I was having trouble placing the key scene, the one that explains the title. I returned to my outline to see exactly where I should put it and then realized that not only had I failed to place that scene, I completely forgot to add the scene detailing the main character's motivation. Well, I quickly figured out where to put the title scene, but recognized that I had to completely rewrite the motivation scene. I had hinted at it, had started in the wrong place and exited too early, and never developed it fully.
That's why we have rewrites.
It's also why we have outlines.
It's OK to vary from an outline, sometimes sharply. It's even OK to revamp them completely if they're not working. But if you have one, at least look at it once in awhile. I never even had that nagging feeling that I'd missed something--I'd just missed something! And made a lot more work for myself in the process.
After more than two dozen short stories, a novel, 15 or so children stories, and more than a thousand print and online pieces, you'd think I'd know better. Well, here's hoping I don't make that mistake again...
On the other hand...this post had no outline or ending. Stream-of-consciousness all the way. See paragraph one, style three. Sometimes I should just kick myself. Then again, always feel free to vary your routine. Experiment a bit. Or a lot. Eventually something will work...
Monday, December 28, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
My Adirondack Book
In the spirit of the holidays, I am contributing this only slightly holiday-themed post. Actually, I'm making good on an earlier suggestion, following the Chronicle Book Fair, which could just as easily be called Adirondack Book Fair and Other Self-Published Items. The three keys to Adirondack books: nature (as in, this is the most beautiful place on earth), the French & Indian Wars, and murder (lots of murder and mystery in these mountains...). So here it is, in keeping with the spirit of For Our Sins and Adirondack lore, it's Jesus in the Adirondacks.
Jesus Christ is a bearded and shaggy mountain man, an off-the-grid naturalist in a small community of like-minded souls. Chief among them is Peter, a geologist with a penchant for fishing. Together they must battle Herod, a big-city industrialist (Booooo!) who plans to single-handedly destroy the Adirondacks with his strip-mining operation looking for garnets (apparently the most valuable stone ever). Our hero's petition is ignored because Herod's in cahoots with Pilate, the corrupt governor and paper-pushing bureaucrat (Booooo!).
Jesus turns to good friend, Lazarus, a legal eagle who defends campgrounds, fresh air, and water rights. His efforts to get an injunction against Herod comes to a sudden end when he is (drum roll...) murdered! All eyes turn to Jesus when Pilate claims Jesus and Lazarus have been arguing. Jesus goes on the run, hiding deep in the mountains when turncoat Judas turns him over to the police. Pilate throws Jesus in jail on trumped-up charges and then washes his hands of the whole thing in Lake George. The people are disillusioned with Jesus and turn to a new environmental hero, Barabbas, who is secretly a corporate shill for Herod. When all seems lost, a paroled Jesus brings Lazarus back from the dead, where he testifies that the person who had him murdered was (drum roll...) Herod! But it's too late. The trial was just a diversion to let Herod start strip mining. A desperate Jesus races across Tupper Lake on foot to stop the bulldozers. Jesus reminds Herod that only faith and not hydraulic pumps can move mountains. He ties himself to a tree when Pilate orders him nailed to it. Before his men can act, God intervenes, breaks all the equipment and launches a torrential downpour (followed by frogs, locusts, and the ice storm of the century) because it turns out -- He loves the Adirondacks! It's His favorite spot on earth. He has a summer place in North Creek.
With his plans foiled and facing murder charges, Herod comes up with another scheme inspired by the rain -- turning the Adirondacks into a giant lake catering to tourists. But that's for the sequel -- The Ark of the Adirondacks.
Next time: A more serious, and less sacrilegious, post on writing. Thanks for reading, and Merry Christmas!
Jesus Christ is a bearded and shaggy mountain man, an off-the-grid naturalist in a small community of like-minded souls. Chief among them is Peter, a geologist with a penchant for fishing. Together they must battle Herod, a big-city industrialist (Booooo!) who plans to single-handedly destroy the Adirondacks with his strip-mining operation looking for garnets (apparently the most valuable stone ever). Our hero's petition is ignored because Herod's in cahoots with Pilate, the corrupt governor and paper-pushing bureaucrat (Booooo!).
Jesus turns to good friend, Lazarus, a legal eagle who defends campgrounds, fresh air, and water rights. His efforts to get an injunction against Herod comes to a sudden end when he is (drum roll...) murdered! All eyes turn to Jesus when Pilate claims Jesus and Lazarus have been arguing. Jesus goes on the run, hiding deep in the mountains when turncoat Judas turns him over to the police. Pilate throws Jesus in jail on trumped-up charges and then washes his hands of the whole thing in Lake George. The people are disillusioned with Jesus and turn to a new environmental hero, Barabbas, who is secretly a corporate shill for Herod. When all seems lost, a paroled Jesus brings Lazarus back from the dead, where he testifies that the person who had him murdered was (drum roll...) Herod! But it's too late. The trial was just a diversion to let Herod start strip mining. A desperate Jesus races across Tupper Lake on foot to stop the bulldozers. Jesus reminds Herod that only faith and not hydraulic pumps can move mountains. He ties himself to a tree when Pilate orders him nailed to it. Before his men can act, God intervenes, breaks all the equipment and launches a torrential downpour (followed by frogs, locusts, and the ice storm of the century) because it turns out -- He loves the Adirondacks! It's His favorite spot on earth. He has a summer place in North Creek.
With his plans foiled and facing murder charges, Herod comes up with another scheme inspired by the rain -- turning the Adirondacks into a giant lake catering to tourists. But that's for the sequel -- The Ark of the Adirondacks.
Next time: A more serious, and less sacrilegious, post on writing. Thanks for reading, and Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Third Thursday Recap
It was a spirited meeting, which welcomed yet two more new members -- Katie Kuhn and Billy Neery, and the return of 2/3 of the previous months newcomers -- Ann Marie and Cynthia (see previous post for predictions...). The group is once again growing, putting previous worries about membership aside. I only am impressed with the way the membership interacts, perhaps returning to, and perhaps exceeding, the proficiency and insightfulness of two years ago. We retain a number of veterans -- Kay, Zack, Brian, Joe, and me, with two newly seasoned members in Michelle and Sandy. All in all, a good bunch, with different interests, backgrounds, and talents.
So onward. We read the first three pages of Zack's sci-fi piece, of which he has 11o already written. I'm sure his submissions will come fast and furious and I only hope we as readers can keep up. Despite questions about the piece, it is a solid start. Sandy submitted a Thanksgiving essay that shows promise, perhaps even as two essays. Given some meat (sorry!), it will be a full-fledged essay with more depth than her rushing-to-meet-deadline submission allowed. Joe then read aloud another section for his memoir, I think in some ways proving my point about how reading a piece changes the way it is accepted. Still, on-the-fly suggestions were made and hopefully prove useful. Joe has so many wonderful memories about a bygone era, it's hard to keep track of them all.
The GFWG is plowing ahead with its new meeting schedule come next month. Some kinks and bugs were worked out at the last night's get together. Hopefully any to come will be solved with the same consensus and efficiency.
Next meeting -- three weeks, January 7th, 7pm, at Crandall Library. I am very excited by this change and believe that we, as a group, are up to this new, blistering pace!
So onward. We read the first three pages of Zack's sci-fi piece, of which he has 11o already written. I'm sure his submissions will come fast and furious and I only hope we as readers can keep up. Despite questions about the piece, it is a solid start. Sandy submitted a Thanksgiving essay that shows promise, perhaps even as two essays. Given some meat (sorry!), it will be a full-fledged essay with more depth than her rushing-to-meet-deadline submission allowed. Joe then read aloud another section for his memoir, I think in some ways proving my point about how reading a piece changes the way it is accepted. Still, on-the-fly suggestions were made and hopefully prove useful. Joe has so many wonderful memories about a bygone era, it's hard to keep track of them all.
The GFWG is plowing ahead with its new meeting schedule come next month. Some kinks and bugs were worked out at the last night's get together. Hopefully any to come will be solved with the same consensus and efficiency.
Next meeting -- three weeks, January 7th, 7pm, at Crandall Library. I am very excited by this change and believe that we, as a group, are up to this new, blistering pace!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Third Thursday Time
Tomorrow means another evening meeting for the GFWG. I always thought having the meetings at LARAC was cool -- a community organization devoted to the arts, but being at Crandall Library, tucked away among the books upstairs, is far more inspiring and proper.
This week's agenda includes a new novel start from Zack, The Dead Machine. As always, the man knows how to set up a story. We also have a late entry from Sandy, an essay on the last big holiday just past. Two short entries, a total of 5 pages between, so a bit disappointing, a bit light, considering Zack often turns in 15 or 20 just on his own. Still, it does mean we can give our full attention to those two pieces. We can actually delve into them word by word if we choose. Which is exactly how they should be written, so why not?
Hopefully our contributions this month go up. We'll see which of our newbies from last month return. Basic attrition is 2/3, but I'm guessing it won't be so bad this month. In fact, I'd put money on it. I'd put up the $1 meeting fee, but uh... we're free now.
This is our last once-a-month meeting before going bimonthly in January. Another deadline; another reason to write. A poor reason, perhaps, when the drive should come from inside, but I hope people take an added meeting seriously and double their efforts. Wouldn't that be something!
This week's agenda includes a new novel start from Zack, The Dead Machine. As always, the man knows how to set up a story. We also have a late entry from Sandy, an essay on the last big holiday just past. Two short entries, a total of 5 pages between, so a bit disappointing, a bit light, considering Zack often turns in 15 or 20 just on his own. Still, it does mean we can give our full attention to those two pieces. We can actually delve into them word by word if we choose. Which is exactly how they should be written, so why not?
Hopefully our contributions this month go up. We'll see which of our newbies from last month return. Basic attrition is 2/3, but I'm guessing it won't be so bad this month. In fact, I'd put money on it. I'd put up the $1 meeting fee, but uh... we're free now.
This is our last once-a-month meeting before going bimonthly in January. Another deadline; another reason to write. A poor reason, perhaps, when the drive should come from inside, but I hope people take an added meeting seriously and double their efforts. Wouldn't that be something!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Three P's of Reading Aloud
At every pm meeting, authors read from their works before opening the floor to critiques. It is a long-standing practice for the GFWG and serves two purposes. Kay has long argued, and rightfully so, that it helps some authors overcome stage fright, that is, of reading in public. Authors are often called on to this, and the GFWG has, from time to time, put on public readings of our work. No idea when the next one will be, but it's always a fun event.
The other purpose, and it's far more subtle and I fear often missed, is that it reveals poor writing. Work meant for the written page frequently sounds different. Someone often says, "I didn't like it when I read it, but it sounded perfectly natural when you read it out loud." That's because the author has made the mistake of writing as s/he speaks. He has written for the ear and not the eye. Having written the story as he would speak it, right down ro the phrasing, is a problem masked by public readings. What the eye catches, the ear ignores.
In other words, don't read your work out loud when you're creating it or editing it. The vast majority of stories will never be read that way, and stories that work well in print will almost always sound good when written. There are three exceptions to this rule, the Three P's.
Picture Books -- these are read by adults to children. That said, the author will read the work as intended. If writing one of these, have someone who's never glanced at the ms read it out loud and see if it still sounds natural, because that's how parents will read it to their children the first few times until they get the rhythms down.
Plays -- plays are also meant to be spoken, and should be read aloud to capture pacing, voice, and emotion. If you're a playwright or actor with theater friends willing to try a dry run, get them, otherwise you may be on your own. Still, it's OK to read plays out loud.
Poetry -- IF intended to be read publicly, at open mics and jams and the like. Poetry is in a separate category because it is intended to be read quietly as well as openly. It's OK for poets to read their work aloud as they write and edit.
But novelists and short story writers -- DON'T DO IT!!! Make sure the written word works. The spoken word will follow.
Attend a GFWG meeting. We'll make sure you get to read it out loud!
The other purpose, and it's far more subtle and I fear often missed, is that it reveals poor writing. Work meant for the written page frequently sounds different. Someone often says, "I didn't like it when I read it, but it sounded perfectly natural when you read it out loud." That's because the author has made the mistake of writing as s/he speaks. He has written for the ear and not the eye. Having written the story as he would speak it, right down ro the phrasing, is a problem masked by public readings. What the eye catches, the ear ignores.
In other words, don't read your work out loud when you're creating it or editing it. The vast majority of stories will never be read that way, and stories that work well in print will almost always sound good when written. There are three exceptions to this rule, the Three P's.
Picture Books -- these are read by adults to children. That said, the author will read the work as intended. If writing one of these, have someone who's never glanced at the ms read it out loud and see if it still sounds natural, because that's how parents will read it to their children the first few times until they get the rhythms down.
Plays -- plays are also meant to be spoken, and should be read aloud to capture pacing, voice, and emotion. If you're a playwright or actor with theater friends willing to try a dry run, get them, otherwise you may be on your own. Still, it's OK to read plays out loud.
Poetry -- IF intended to be read publicly, at open mics and jams and the like. Poetry is in a separate category because it is intended to be read quietly as well as openly. It's OK for poets to read their work aloud as they write and edit.
But novelists and short story writers -- DON'T DO IT!!! Make sure the written word works. The spoken word will follow.
Attend a GFWG meeting. We'll make sure you get to read it out loud!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Don't Let Comments Drive You Nuts
To open with a cliche and probably end with one, too -- too many cooks spoil the broth. I have a picture book that has finally reached the point of being reviewed too many times, by me and others. That is to say, it has received so many rewrite suggestions that to accept them all would keep it from resembling in anyway the ms with which I started. I realized this while tearing apart yet one more scene to fit what is going on in the picture book world: as few words as possible, let the pictures tell the story. After reviewing my changes, I realized I no longer even liked the ms and couldn't stand to read it. I went back to basics and found a way to combine pictures with words that made the scene fresh for me, while combining what the industry wants and what the world seems to abhor and engender all the same -- kids who can't read. I am thoroughly convinced that Oscar Wilde could not sell a children's book today and Green Eggs & Ham would have been nothing more than Sam I Am shoving eggs in everyone's face without words to accompany his rude, if enthusiastic, behavior. Shel Silverstein would have been told to lighten up, and the Brothers Grimm told, "For once, guys, could you pleeeease give us a happy ending!"
To venture just a bit further off topic before returning like the prodigal son (cliche!), a picture book receiving rave reviews is The Wave by Suzy Lee. Just don't try to read it. The author submitted it with words; the editor took them all out when she realized the story could be told without any. She then, of course, continues to rave about Suzy Lee's ability as a writer. "You're great -- as long as you don't actually write anything!" I've even heard Lee referred to as author-illustrator. Um, except with The Wave, is she an author? It definitely tells a story, but could be flip-book or printed video game for all the words it contains.
There is a rule within the GFWG, and writing in general, that the final changes are up to the writer. Make of our critiques what you will. Choose among them, cherry picking good from bad, pulp from pit. That is only true until the author submits it to a publisher. Then so much, even that which is eventually run by the author for approval, is left up to editors and the editors' editor.
That said, back to my book. I think it's where I like it. Thank God for Marileta (Mara-leeta)Robinson, a recently retired sr. editor from Highlights magazine and an award-winning author who gave my ms one last look-see. Good to have friends with such experience in the business. The book is going out to Balzer+Bray tomorrow. I picked them with purpose. Okay, they have Mo Willems. Still, with any luck, in six months, I'll know something. Publishing moves at a rate where I think each book is made from a little acorn turned mighty oak. Which is what every authors hopes his book becomes...
And you wondered what cliche I'd find to end this ramble. Ha!
(Actually, so did I...)
To venture just a bit further off topic before returning like the prodigal son (cliche!), a picture book receiving rave reviews is The Wave by Suzy Lee. Just don't try to read it. The author submitted it with words; the editor took them all out when she realized the story could be told without any. She then, of course, continues to rave about Suzy Lee's ability as a writer. "You're great -- as long as you don't actually write anything!" I've even heard Lee referred to as author-illustrator. Um, except with The Wave, is she an author? It definitely tells a story, but could be flip-book or printed video game for all the words it contains.
There is a rule within the GFWG, and writing in general, that the final changes are up to the writer. Make of our critiques what you will. Choose among them, cherry picking good from bad, pulp from pit. That is only true until the author submits it to a publisher. Then so much, even that which is eventually run by the author for approval, is left up to editors and the editors' editor.
That said, back to my book. I think it's where I like it. Thank God for Marileta (Mara-leeta)Robinson, a recently retired sr. editor from Highlights magazine and an award-winning author who gave my ms one last look-see. Good to have friends with such experience in the business. The book is going out to Balzer+Bray tomorrow. I picked them with purpose. Okay, they have Mo Willems. Still, with any luck, in six months, I'll know something. Publishing moves at a rate where I think each book is made from a little acorn turned mighty oak. Which is what every authors hopes his book becomes...
And you wondered what cliche I'd find to end this ramble. Ha!
(Actually, so did I...)
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