What's Next

I started the editing process on "Seer, Tyro, Fiend" this morning. The first pass is always the toughest as I see so many things I want to change. In the first three chapters, I'm already looking toward the organization aspect, of making sure that there is a hook at the end of each chapter. I know I pay way too much attention to chapter length, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, I do this to be mindful of not letting things get too choppy and avoid ruining the pace, especially so early into the story. Long way to go on this one...

Since one story has been completed, I needed to start thinking about my next project. As I lay in bed last night, I found myself thinking about ideas I've had for another Jack Watson book. One inspiration came while my husband and I went through some old files of his. I made a joking reference to a line in a movie ("Burn After Reading") about secret files, and he told me about how some businesses prevent the dissemination of proprietary data. Voila! I had a case for Jack to investigate. Off goes the imagination to develop the idea and create a plot.

This morning, I spent a few minutes typing the ideas into the first document of a new folder on my computer (each book has a folder of its own). I know I also have some in the small notebook I keep in my purse. The ideas are scattered bits and pieces mostly, sometimes with questions. One big issue to be addressed is the antagonist. I have envisioned a stalker who will also have a point of view, dropping hints to the reader along the way. But the stalker needs development, a persona, a goal and motivation for his/her actions. I haven't even decided which gender the stalker is or who will be the one stalked. I want to keep the target ambiguous, a part of the suspense, as the other three point of view characters each suspect someone else with different motives.

The plot thickens, as they say, but therein lies the fun.

We Have A First Draft

Finished writing the first draft of "Seer, Tyro, Fiend" yesterday. I'm already looking toward the editing process. First step, making a sort of outline to determine what happens where. Also, I need to go back to check for anachronisms and discontinuity stuff because of things I changed. For example, the layout of Stefanie's studio was revised toward the end, so I must make sure all earlier references still mesh with the final concept.

I also have a pretty good cover design. Like "Dabblers," it has a scene through a window at the top and then something else germane to the story at the bottom, all on a black background with room in the middle for the title and my name.

Also starting to give more thought to my next project. Another Jack Watson entry?

Busy Morning

In addition to a load of laundry and trips to two stores, I dove into the Big Scene for "Seer, Tyro, Fiend." I find I have to go back to earlier chapters and make adjustments to passages that describe Stefanie's studio. Since the crucial conversation she is engaged in with the "Fiend" of the title requires tying up clues and facts from throughout the book, I have to go back and check what was said and sometimes change that.

These dramatic moments can be tough to write. I know what I have to reveal, but I worry about pacing. We're on a build-up to action here, and there's no room for descriptions or thoughts which slow the pace. I stopped about midway through the scene to go do errands, but I kept thinking about it as I drove to the stores and back. I realized that some of the revelations I had just written could really wait for the wrap-up chapter to come.

I can hardly wait to get back on it after lunch. At this rate, I might even have the first draft done by afternoon.

Scattered

Well, it's finally here. The big scene. The one I've been orchestrating for what seems like weeks. Oddly (or not) I find myself doing all sorts of other things instead of diving in.

Playing with cover art is one example. I have one layout done, but I also had a number of other ideas. A search for images on Google brought me to a dynamite picture I would love to be able to use, and in an unprecedented move, I sent an email to the website's administrator to ask permission. Haven't heard back yet. If the answer is no, or a too-high price is required, then I'll just go with what I have. It mirrors the look of the "Dabblers" cover, and I can fashion the blurb to have it make sense. I like to do that. There should be something in the blurb to suggest what that cover is about. I've read books by others where the cover art winds up making no sense at all. Doesn't seem fair. The thing that first drew my eye to the book has nothing to do with the story. Even if the story turns out to be excellent, I still feel duped.

Yesterday, I wrote up a plan for offering a limited editing service. I want it to be simple and affordable for the newbie writer, but I also want to protect myself legally. I believe the plan I made does this reasonably well. Heaven knows I've seen such offers in other places where that wasn't done. I still need to work out a few details before I'm ready too hang out the shingle.

On the promotional front, I have someone willing to review "Dabblers." Just hope the reviewer likes it. It would be so great to have a quote for the print edition.

It's All Coming Together

While I was without a computer this morning, I still accomplished a lot. Did some work on the cover for "Seer, Tyro, Fiend" which is going to be a bit tricky. I need to construct a picture to be seen through a window, similar to the "Dabblers" cover. It would be great if I could find just the right picture to use, but I try to be extra careful to work only with downloaded images that indicate they care free for any use other than resale as is. So I played with a likely candidate, although I might wind up searching for something that requires less fiddling with.

From an old printed proofreading copy of "Dabblers," I retrieved my description of the layout of the Greenleaf Emporium since a lot of the action in "Seer" takes place in the loft above the store. What's in the draft of "Seer" may need to be tweaked slightly so that everything is positioned correctly. For this, I did a sketch of the layout on paper. Certain features of the space need to be in certain places or else the scene I have in mind would face physical impossibilities. For example, the stairs that go up to Stefanie's studio are just inside the main entrance to the shop below. From the first book, I noted where I had indicated the main entrance is, and I had to be sure to put the stairs upward in a place that made sense in relation to where they end in the loft. Since artists like northerly light, I had to make sure there was a window on the north face of the loft, and that will require a couple of corrections to a scene where Stefanie adjusts some blinds before she starts to work.

I may need to do a "storyboard" for the big scene. It's not much; just the basic layout with circles to represent people and arrows to show how they move from place to place. Now that I have the layout of the loft, I am figuring out who is where and how they get there. I often wind up doing sketches for these action-filled confrontations so I don't create those physical impossibilities. Then the trick is to describe everything either in earlier chapters so the reader has a good vision of the layout or in quick strokes during the scene. Those quick strokes can be tricky: they have a way of slowing the pace and also sometimes seem contrived, lacking only a voice-over to indicate the author forgot to explain all this earlier. For me, nothing ruins the excitement of a scene in a story quite like having to page back to an earlier chapter to figure out what's what.

The Home Stretch, Sort of

Blog hits have been surging lately, much to my surprise. Don't know what I'm doing right, so best not to change anything. There's an old saying about a bird in the hand . . .

"Seer, Tyro, Fiend" progressing faster now. Yesterday's scene included a major revelation, and today's chapter brings in a crucial character. It's Saturday morning in the book at this point, and the whole thing may just wrap up by Saturday night, or at least until the final "loose-ends" wrap-up chapter. While there's always a sense of satisfaction (and maybe sadness) at completing the first draft, there's much more work to be done before the manuscript is publishing ready. By the time I get done reading, tweaking, adding, subtracting, proofing, correcting, looking for overused words, checking formatting (i.e., paragraphs end with a line return, etc.) which makes for a cleaner galley, proofing again, I'll be so sick of the darned thing I can't stand it anymore. I will also be itching to get started on the next book, but I know I must be careful and not call this one done just so I can move on.

Nailed It

While a lot of the weekend was devoted to getting ready for and entertaining company, I hit the ground running this morning with a head full of ideas for "Seer, Tyro, Fiend." First, I figured out how to complete a pivotal scene which changes the nature of events. Second, I now have a more solid idea about the big confrontation. I know where it will be, who will be there, and the general sequence of actions. Third, I have a  cover concept, a new one, and I went in search of images that would work for it. Once again, execution will be the key, but I think I've got something that is doable, intriguing for the would-be reader, and follows a similar theme as "Dabblers."

As I plan the big scene, where yet another bombshell will be dropped, I found I had to go back to the "Dabblers" manuscript and determine things about the layout of the Greenleaf Emporium which also houses Stefanie's artist studio. That's where the scene takes place as it turns out. Luckily, nothing I envisioned was in contradiction to my descriptions in "Dabblers."

Another interesting development is that, while driving around this morning doing some errands, I suddenly had an inspiration for a Windsong Lake Vol. 3. It wasn't much, but I mapped out some things that I'll need to do research on beforehand, because I'm thinking it will take place in England although I've never been there. But my husband has been there, as well as two dear friends of ours, and I think I'll be able to tap them for enough of the "feel" of the place.

Yet, I still owe the Jack Watson series and Vol. 3, and maybe that should come first.