Writing Craft
January 24, 2007 | Uncategorized
Yesterday I treated one of my old stories like a new one. That means it got a fresh new notebook, the characters got biographies(complete with backstories), new pictures,a new GMC worksheet, and a shiny new plot. Is this a detailed plot? Nah, there’s little point in a detailed plot at this stage.
Everyone works differently, I need a short outline and a couple of pages of synopsis to get going – along with the notebook, pictures, biographies, and most critically, a handle on their goals, motivations, and conflicts.
Since I’m writing romance the critical question is what has to happen for this hero and this heroine to fall in love? The answer needs to be simply stated because it is the book premise.
This was a long day of writing for me and they were characters I already know well. If I’d truly been starting from scratch this process could take a week or more.
Every story is different. This is a first for me. I’m reinventing a book that was written and submitted before. My heroine needs depth and humanity and a good dose of likability. My hero is a cliche and needs to become unique and heroic. The conflict between them is tired and needs to be rethought.
When I read over that advice, my tender writer’s heart quelled. That sounds like everything to me. Why bother with revisions?
Since I was in the midst of another project I couldn’t tackle another story right. So I set it aside, which turned out to be a good move.
A few weeks later I was ready to make a game plan. There’s still a story there. One that was good enough to get a request in the first place. One that I simply failed to tell well enough.
Now I’m grateful for all the work I did in between submitting the ultimately rejected story and now. I’m rewriting it. If I can’t get it flow on paper after a two week try then it’s time to scrap it.
For today those characters live in my head and they deserve to be together. It’s my job to make that happen.
After all my imagining and plotting I sat down with a new craft book. It’s already bristling with sticky notes.
When both Hunter and Tru bond with Amber their mating triangle threatens everything they hold dear.
Determined to help rescue the princess, Cassandra agrees to act as the dragons’ sex slave, but can she guard her heart from the dominant males?
Camille, a plump, sweet-natured breeder, is caught in New Eden’s endless war with Baldor. Her mates, Jaxon and Aegis, need cunning and courage to rescue her. They need a miracle to capture her heart.
Werewolf-whisper Daniel is the only one who can heal Scarlet’s broken werewolf connection. If he succeeds then the pack’s needs will eclipse his claim on her heart. But if he fails, they'll both die.
A Scarlet Past, the story of Scarlet's parents is available on Amazon or Barnes and Noble for just 99 cents!
A lonely woman finds passion with a dominant much younger lover, when she tries to leave she learns her new master plays for keeps.
The Enyo Chronicles includes both Dalia's Choice and Joon's Tempation.
Three different stories, three dangerous men, and three women who deserve them.
One dangerous warrior woman plus two rogue demon males equals a love to threaten an empire.
Getting paid to watch Eduardo is Desiree’s dream assignment, but when he reaches out to her, crossing the line, everything changes.
Deep in her secret heart, she lusts for a sexy pirate who’d be her master and commander in the bedroom. But, this man may be too dangerous
One woman, two men, three wounded hearts--though already mated their love is still forbidden.
A reluctant reporter and a lone wolf undercover cop work to catch an extortionist, finding love requires the most dangerous risk of all.
Street-smart cop plays princess to catch deadly terrorists. Now,the only man she trusts is the one she can't resist.
What Sam doesn’t know may kill him--the love of his life is his worst nightmare--his enemy’s daughter.r.
January 24th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Boy, Evanne, that does sound like a lot, huh? But I still maintain the editor saw enough in your writing to want to take the time and give you that feedback. They don’t always do that. Your plan sound like a good one to me, and if you don’t end up revising the story, just remember that the knowledge can always be applied to the next one.
But I’ve got faith in you. You’re a smart woman with a talent for putting words on the page. You only need a little guidance to take it all the way, and it sounds like that’s what you’ve got. So go for it!
January 24th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Lori,
Thanks so much for the encouragement. The revision cave was already looking dark and scary.:)
January 25th, 2007 at 3:30 am
That is a lot of advice, but hey–it’s specific about what to work on. Think of all the form letters that go out and how many people have NO idea where they went wrong. Lori is right, you can definitely use that info for your next set of characters if the rewrite doesn’t work out.
January 25th, 2007 at 3:46 am
Hi Melissa,
You’re right! Plus I always liked what Dee says, each word we write is one word closer to selling. Even if the revisions prove too cumbersome, I’m learning, so it’s not a waste of time.
January 25th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Since the characters are alive in you, I say go ahead and revise, even though it’s going to be much like first draft writing without as much excitement.
I suppose it prepares you for a published authors life. :)
(testing here. Let’s see how it goes. lol)
January 26th, 2007 at 12:25 am
Sheila,
Thanks for the reality check – so far it’s about twice as fast as writing fresh – you’re right it’s a test.