My Writing Process: Looking Through The Eyes of a Pantser

I'm working on the second book in my newest series. As I wrote the first book, I saw the possibilities for the continuing story. An interesting character and situation grabbed my attention. Ideas began forming and taking shape. As I started, everything seemed fuzzy and I wasn't sure how they'd work out.

I'm still not sure!

You see, I'm what is called, "a pantser." I don't have elaborate outlines, character sheets, or plot points. Instead the story plays out as I write and ask myself:

1.  What if my character's greatest desire is out of his/her reach?

2.  How does he/she overcome the obstacles thrown at them?

3.  And, of course, "God, where do I go from here?"

While I may not have the whole story embedded in my brain, I do have more than an inkling of what I want to communicate. The blurb for the first book is:

"A runaway preacher and a runaway boy discover there's no place like home."

As a writer, there are several things I keep in mind:

1.  No backstory for the first 30 pages or so.

2.  Raise story questions in the reader's mind.

3.  What is the character's goal and what is trying to stop him/her from achieving it?

4.  When is the "big reveal - the story climax?"

5.  What is the takeaway for the reader?

Whether you plot every line or fly by the seat of your pants, writing a novel is:

1.  Exciting

2.  Exhilerating

3.  Exhausting.

Writers:  Whether fiction or non-fiction, what does your writing process look like?

Readers:  What do you consider is the most important element in a story?

Photo Credit:  Shamseer Sureash Kermar

Learning Styles

When I started Occupational Therapy for my hand/wrist several months ago, one of the questions asked during the intake session was, "What is your learning style?" Several examples were given and I chose, "demonstration."

My therapist showed me pictures of the exercises needed to restore my function and demonstrated them. She used terms like, "Bend your fingers at the second knuckle, not the first one."  "How do you hold a key? Now, press your thumb into the therapy clay to simulate that movement." Her instructions, descriptions, and demonstrations helped me understand and perform the exercises.

I thought about my learning style for writing. Cramming long blocks of text into my head didn't cut it for me. A lot of words confuse me. Visuals help, but are not sufficient for me to "get it." Examples and descriptions put pictures to the words.

So, what works? My editor, Deirdre Lockhart, of Brilliant Cut Editing, figured it out. Here are a few examples of her instructions:

1. Excerpt: He doubted either of these women ever heard of disco music or bell-bottom pants. Editor's comment: " Adorable line, but...if he is 46, in 2016, then he was born in 1970. His prime "dating" years would have been late 80s-90s. Definitely no bell-bottoms, scarcely any disco. He only remembers those as something snickered at in old shows - unless you are referring to the 70s resurgence of the early 2000s."

Revision: "He doubted either of these women ever heard of "Walk Like an Egyptian" or velour shirts." Editor's comment in next edit: "Great and perfectly timed revision, Susan."

2.  Excerpt:  "They rode in silence, but the tension remained." Editor's comment: "How does he feel this? What does he see to show him Dan feels it too? Show."

Revision:  "They rode in silence, but Dan's mouth slashed across his face in a straight line. Maybe he could give it one more shot."

3.  Excerpt: "Lindsey seemed to relax." Editor's comment: "How can he tell? A soft smile? Little color returning to her pallid checks? What? Show. Share!"

Revision:  "Lindsey shrugged, and she resumed jogging."

My editor used examples and descriptive language to communicate the changes she wanted. This worked well for me.

Disclaimer:  I did not receive any payment for this endorsement. I've used this service and highly recommend it.

Writers and Readers: What's your learning style? Written instructions? Demonstration? Pictures? Other? Please share.

Photo Credit:  Holger Selover-Stephan

Are You A Character Control Freak?

Why is it that when I go to bed my brain decides to pump out all kinds of ideas for writing? Is it just me or does this happen to you as well?

A few weeks ago, I'm drifting off to sleep. My mind is tossing around ideas for an upcoming Author Event at Horsham Library, in Horsham, PA. on November 12th. Out of the blue, I get this thought about being a control freak with my characters.

Sleep did not happen right away. I gave up and turned on the light, pulled out my trusty journal, and started writing. Now that I've told you how this blog post exploded onto the page, you probably want to know what on earth it means to be a control freak with your characters.

1.  Yours truly decides to write a sequel to The Moses Conspiracy. (At that point, I still didn't know it would become a trilogy.) I mull over my idea and assign the original cast starring roles.

2.  My head is aching, and I can't get it right. "Come on, you guys, do something interesting, so I can write it down."

3.  Ellie and John fold their arms and remain silent. I face them much like a gunslinger at the OK Corral. "You are the stars of this story, and I'm the Director." (God uses some strange methods to get my attention.)

4.  I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder and hear a whisper in my ear. "This is MY story." I shrug the thought away. "Be quiet. You'll have a part, but Ellie and John get top billing."

5.  Now, no one is cooperating. It's three against one. I cave in. "Okay, okay, I'll give it a try." Jim Kenneman, my shoulder tapper, grins, and soon my fingers are flying over the computer keyboard.

And that is how The Scent of Fear was born. When feisty Kendra Marshall showed up for the next book, I knew better than to argue with HER!

Writers:  Do you force your characters to fit into a story or do you allow them some measure of freedom? Please share how you keep things humming along.

Readers: Have you ever thought of writing a book? Please share. (I hope I haven't discouraged you from undertaking the project.)

Photo Credit:  David DiBiase

My Upside Down Day

Everywhere I go I hear the same refrain: How do I find time to write?

When I'm on a book project, every moment I can squeak in counts. At times, I rebel and take a mental health day or work on my neglected chores. My latest WIP is coming down the home stretch. It will need editing and the keen eyes of my critique partners and early readers. From there, it gets shipped off to my agent.

Do I get to rest after that? Umm, no. Out of the Mist, the third book of The Moses Trilogy, needs another read through and some tweaking. My other books are being prepared for re-issue, and the launch will require a great deal of work.

The second book in the new series is hopping up and down in my head as we speak. So, another novel is on the horizon and ready to gallop into my life.

Most of the current book was written in the evening. 1,000 words takes about two hours to produce. That time of day is not my optimum writing time, but I couldn't figure out a way to fit it in during the morning. 

To complicate matters, the Lord's been on my case to spend more time with Him when I get up. Although I talk with him during the day, those uninterrupted moments were too short. He definitely has first dibs on my mornings.

Guess what? I turned my day upside down. My average pre-craziness time now looks like this:

5:00 A.M. - 5:30 A.M. - Bible reading and prayer

5:30 A.M. -  7:00 A.M. - Getting ready for work, breakfast, morning chores, and online time. (This might seem like a lot of time, but it goes SO fast.)

7:00 A.M. - 7:30 A.M. - Write!

Bedtime comes earlier - 9:30 P.M. - or I can't get up at 5:00 A.M.

Being able to write when I'm the most refreshed and alert has increased my productivity and quality. I can knock out 300-400 words in a half hour. The remaining word count is finished in the evening. It's such a boost to have that much completed before my day officially begins. I can even get a few things done and maybe relax.

Writers:  When is your best time to write? Please share how you manage to get your word count in for the day?

Readers: What does your daily schedule look like? Do you get up extra early to accomplish something before the daily race begins?

Photo Credit:  Duchessa

 

Reality Check

A few weeks ago, I completed the first draft of my latest novel, Out of the Mist!

After the initial jubilation, the next phase hit me between the eyes. Ah yes, EDITING. It's where I find all those nasty little gremlins that typed, "job" instead of "jog," and "there" instead of "their."

I already know that my memory failed me on one of the character names. Poor Josiah became Jared. Thank God, for Search and Replace in Word.

Several scenes are already screaming at me for re-writes. Some I could condense, while others need more detail. There are a few questions I forgot to answer and another name change issue.

Seat-of-the-Pants writing is the way to go for me, but does present some difficulties. I'm sure plotters would have all their characters lined up in a neat row with their histories, their likes and dislikes, and, of course, their names. I've never been good at that sort of thing, so I have to do a bit more editing than the average writer.

I've printed out my pages, sent an email copy to a critique partner, and I'm ready to dive in. Now, the real work begins.

Writers:  What is the toughest aspect of editing for you? How do you handle it?

Readers:  Can you guess how long it takes me to write 1,000 words (on average)?


Photo Credit: sri grafix

I

We All Have to Eat...

Photo Credit: mikehome

and so do our characters. I noticed the folks in both The Moses Conspiracy and The Scent of Fear have a serious taste for apple pie. They are virtually gourmets on the subject. Whoopie pies and apple strudel come in a close second and third.

While Ellie Zimmerman tries hard to balance the sweets with healthy meals, her husband rebels when salad is mentioned.

Photo Credit: lori5000

John Zimmerman is a meat and potatoes kind of guy, and loves his wife's apple pie.

Writers and Readers:  What kind of menus do you design for your characters/family? Do your characters eat the way you eat? Please share. 

Blending My Words

I sometimes make sweet and sour meatballs. Three of the ingredients, pineapple juice, BBQ sauce, and cranberry sauce, require mixing to achieve the right consistency. If I don't mash the jellied cranberry sauce into small enough chunks, it won't merge with the other flavors.

As I work on my book, I blend words together. Does this sentence stir my heart or intrigue my mind? If I add a bit more dialogue, will it improve the flow of the story? Is there enough setting detail to ground the reader or so much that it stops the action?

I allow the plot to simmer. My heart and mind travel down different paths to see where they will lead. This direction will add tension, while another resolves a problem. I return to season my tale with the fresh insights I've gained.

Writers: What are some of the ways you "cook" your stories?

Readers: What makes a book go from good to awesome for you?

Photo Credit: Duchessa

Entertainment, Enlightenment, Enrichment

I've written both non-fiction and fiction. A recent conversation with a reader had me scratching my head. The person dismissed my novel saying, "I just can't get past the fact it's something someone made up."

Really?

Most authors have a theme in mind. Their stories illustrate principles such as forgiveness, mercy, the consequences of bad behavior, the blessings of wisdom, and many others. Fiction, whether meant for entertainment, enlightenment, and/or enrichment, will put forth the author's views about life.

We're in good company.

When the prophet came to David and told him a story about a man with a cherished lamb and how someone stole it, the king was enraged. The prophet used a fictional story to drive home his point that David had sinned with Bathsheba.

Jesus illustrated many of His sermons with parables. They were stories with a message.

Hmm, it seems to me that fiction is a vehicle to promote truth and ideas just as non-fiction. It's a different method but a valid one nonetheless.

Writers and Readers: What's your opinion on the subject? Agree or disagree and why?

Photo Credit:  ugaldew

What Do Readers Want?

Authors are usually also avid readers. If we analyze what we like in a book and apply it to our writing, we'll produce something that will put our work at the top of readers' TBR piles.

As readers, we want the author to:

1)  Grab our attention. Is this story interesting? Do we want to see what happens next?

2)  Make us care. Are the characters people we'd want to know in real life? Do we relate to their dilemmas?

3)  Move the story along. Setting and backstory have their place, but action propels the story forward.

4)  Engage us in the process. This is especially important in the Mystery/Suspense genre. Get the wheels turning in the reader's head.

5)  Give us a satisfying ending. Even in a series book, the author can tie up one or more storylines, while leaving a cliffhanger for the next book. Please, dear author, don't push me off the cliff. I loved Gone With The Wind - until the end. I felt cheated and angry  that it left me dangling.

I know I'm fully engaged when I can't get the story out of my head even when I'm not actually reading it. The ultimate sign a story is good: When I'm concerned about the characters and catch myself praying for them. LOL!

Writers & Readers: What are the key elements to a great story for you as a reader?

Photo Credit:  svilen001

When I Was a Kid

When I was a kid, I walked 3 miles to school...just kidding! People often ask me how I got started writing, so I thought I'd talk about that today and give some tips on how to encourage your children's interest in the subject.

My academic career got off to a rough start. One of my first teachers slapped a "slow learner" label on me and sent me on that track. Fortunately, my third grade teacher didn't buy into the tag, and I was moved into a more advanced class.

It wasn't until the fifth grade that a teacher, Mrs. Dowd, recognized my potential and did some intense work with me. She helped me exceed my reading grade level, and I was never behind from that time forward. Reading became an exciting adventure, and seeing me with my nose stuck in a book became a normal occurrence.

The jump from reader to writer was a natural progression. Throughout the years, I dabbled in the craft and wrote skits, pieces for children's Christmas programs, Sunday School Curriculum, and Bible Studies. My late husband urged me to seek publication, which led to publishing credits in the non-fiction market. In 2005, I took a leap of faith into the fiction area. The rest, as they say, is history.

I wish the resources available today would have been around when I was a kid. The Internet provides many opportunities for youngsters interested in writing. Here are a few ideas to nurture their budding talent:

1) Find books that match their interests, and keep them well supplied with reading material. I was interested in ballerinas, nurses, and series books. My mother took me to the library often and purchased books for gifts.

2)  You can find online writing courses for children. My fellow Helping Hands Press author, Karen E. Lange, teaches several of these on various levels.

3)  The Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference offers a writing track for teens called, "Teens Write." You can check out the conference here.

Even if your child doesn't become a writer, the experience will help them with their other studies. Who knows? They might become the next Francine Rivers or Ted Dekker.

Writers:  Do you see signs your kids may want to follow in your footsteps? How do you aid them in their writing journey?

Readers: Please share how you encourage the youngsters in your life to read.

The Big Reveal

When I have time to watch television, one of my favorite shows is Home Makeover. They select a family or a person with a desperate need for a more functional space. Each family member is interviewed, and then the workers set out to make their dreams come true.

Part of the fun includes sending the family off on a vacation. The host contacts them a few times and feeds them small progress reports. The many special surprises and meaningful touches on the house are reserved for the big reveal at the end of the show.

These folks know how to tell a compelling story. Our stories can achieve the same effect by:

1)  Raising questions in the reader's mind.

2)  Resisting the urge to tell the character's history in the first 30-60 pages.

3)  Revealing backstory in bite-sized pieces rather than expecting the reader to swallow the character's motivations like an entire steak.

By the end of our book, the reader will be looking forward to "the big reveal" and anticipating our next adventure.

Writers:  How do you keep the reader engaged in your story world?

Readers:  What keeps you turning the pages?

Photo Credit:  sundesigns

Stay Hydrated

The summer heat takes a toll on my flowers and veggies. If I'm not diligent to water them, I find droopy plants. The New Guinea Impatiens are particularly sensitive to dry conditions. So, every morning, I fill my watering can and give them a generous drink.

If it's particularly hot, I'll repeat the process in the early evening. They cannot produce the blooms I love or the veggies I crave without proper nourishment.

Writing is a lot like gardening. If I want the words to flow, there must be resources to sustain the process. Here are some of the things I do to keep my writing garden watered:

1)  I pay attention to my relationship with the Lord and with others. This requires spending quality time and giving of myself.

2)  All writing and no living sucks the life out of my creativity. I give myself permission to rest and have fun.

3)  I write Christian Speculative Fiction. It's important for me to read about new developments that will affect our future. This often gives me ideas for plots and characters.

These simple things help prevent the dreaded writer's block and keep my writing garden producing stories and devotionals for readers.

Writers:  How do you nurture your creativity?

Readers: How do you stay motivated with your work and hobbies?

Photo Credit:  techny57

Transforming Your First Draft

Getting a story down on paper makes my heart sing. Alas, editing is equivalent to cleaning the basement. So, how do I wade through the dirty work? Here are the steps I took with my work in progress, The Scent of Fear:

1)  I read each chapter, correcting any spelling/grammar/punctuation issues. While these issues don't normally give me a problem, I've been known to reverse letters in dyslexic fashion. This occurs if I'm: A) tired or B) the creative side is flowing so fast that my brain gets confused.

2)  Tripping over a sentence while I'm reading alerts me to a trouble spot. I'll go back and read it out loud within the context of several other paragraphs. This may require substituting a word or re-writing an entire section.

3)  One problem I've identified is more of a memory thing. Have you ever forgotten the name or physical characteristic of a minor character and had to hunt it down? What a waste of time and effort! When I work on Book 3, Lost and Found, I'm going to start a spreadsheet with these pesky, but important, details.

4)  Like the old dresser I thought I'd refinish and use someday, extraneous phrases and scenes are difficult to cut. One of the rules of clutter control: If I haven't used it in a year throw it out, sell it, or give it away. If words don't pull their weight in the story, out they go.

5)  I re-read the chapter after I've made changes. Has it improved or did I make an even bigger mess? On occasion, I've had to retrieve some items from the trash.

Writers:  How do you transform your basement first draft into a livable, cozy book?

Readers: What are some of the techniques you use to control clutter?

Photo Credit: JR3

Formula or Heart?

Formulas have their place. They're valuable in mathematics. Recipes are formulas of another kind. If you want people to eat your cakes, pies, and cookies, following a recipe is a good idea.

What about writing books? Is there a formula for producing something publishable? People can learn how to write. Get the grammar, punctuation, and spelling down. Practice various techniques to achieve a desired effect. Yet this isn't the be all, end all of authorship.

I've read some novels over the years that are technically almost perfect but left me empty. Where's the heart, the author's passion for their story?

While I have many thoughts on this subject, I don't pretend to have all the answers. I depend on the Ultimate Writer (God) to inspire and give me the ability to share via the written word. I'm not saying that He dictates and I write. No, I'm very involved in the process. Yet without this vital step, my words lack the life-changing heart I seek as a reader and a writer.

There's a place for the nuts and bolts of writing, but it should never replace heart.

Writers:  What do you think? Have you ever written something, and it seems to fall flat? How do you keep techniques from replacing your passion for a subject/story?

Readers: What makes a book special to you?

Photo Credit: wito

Design a Novel Setting

When it comes to reading and writing, I need to see the characters, the setting, and the action. I want to readers feel like they're part of the story rather than watching it from the outside.

Strong visuals play an important role in achieving this type of involvement. Here are some of the ways I design novel settings:

1.  Visit botanical gardens - Yes, folks, I smell the roses, and take in their colors, shapes, and how they blend with other flowers. This gives me a general sense of how gardeners create pleasing vignettes, including water features, birdbaths, etc. Rather than take notes, I prefer photos to refresh my memory.

2.  Site Visits - My novel, The Moses Conspiracy, starts off in Washington, D.C., but most of the action takes place in Bird-in-Hand, PA. I chose those two settings for several reasons.

     A. I've been to both places more than once.
     B. Bird-in-Hand, PA is a popular tourist destination. As such, they would experience
          more freedom than non-tourist zones in 2025.
     C. I was able to show interaction between non-Amish and Amish characters.

3.  Photography Websites - I soak up photos on http://www.sxc.hu and http://123rf.com. A simple picture can not only help with my setting, but also trigger ideas for an action scene.

4.  Social Media - I'm new to Pinterest, but already I'm collecting ideas for settings and clothing styles.

Writers: How do you think outside the box when it comes to setting?

Readers: What kind of settings do you like in books? Historical? Contemporary? Please share.

Photo Credit:  iammi-z