Once you outline (Don't let it becomes boring), start to fill in the spaces.
Write what is real to you--that is, get into the scene and describe what you see or feel as if you were right there. Writing is a lot like acting. In acting you have to be present to your character. I find that when I don't like what I've written it's because I haven't even been close to the scene I am describing. Easy? No. Not at all. Try it. You have to feel the place you are describing, smell it, see the details, hear the sounds. So Rule #5 is: Be present in the scene you're describing. Like Alice, drop into the world you are describing.
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One of the big questions authors have is should I outline my book or not?
My thought: Yes and No. That's pretty confusing. And yes, I'm confused. I never outlined my first three books (none of them released as yet--hopefully the first will be this fall). And maybe it shows. Or maybe not. I have outlined book 4. So far I feel more comfortable with how the book is developing. The value of outlining--I now think--is that it makes the writing process easier. But not as interesting! Since I already know the path I am taking. So what is Rule # 4? Rule 4 is to outline--but not too much. In my mind outlining in too much detail takes the mystery out of the mystery. I would love your thoughts on this crazy and bothersome topic. In the meantime, all the best as you write! Connie A writer once said the way to write a book is to write one page a day. And at the end of 250 days you will have written a short novel. Isn't that the way life is: One day at a time. The trick is to write in the same way: One page at a time.
So Rule #3: Write a page every day whether you feel like it or not...And to hell with writer's block. And you will have that novel that you always said you would write at the end of it all. And keep it a secret! Nobody will ever believe you did it one page at a time! After all, how long could that take? Connie I just finished rewriting my first novel--again--for the third time. It took me 6 months to completely redo it. I started writing Cooper's Moon in late 1995. How many years ago is that?! This is 2016 (June) and I have just finished my final--dear God I hope it's my final--rewrite.
I plan on releasing it in late summer, 2016. Finally! Anyway. You get the idea. Writing is a job that takes patience. This was my first novel--not my last. I had written two other novels after Cooper's Moon. . I also rewrote those novels several times as well. The moral of this story--don't fall in love with the first thing you write. 1. So Rule One in Writing is: Don't fall in love with what you wrote, BUT don't throw it away either. It might take several rewrites but the sentences and paragraphs and ultimately the story that you created will finally begin to take shape. You are probably wondering why I rewrote. Was I that diligent? That perceptive? That aware of my own writing deficiencies? Nope. I had the benefit of the critical eyes of my agent (Tris Coburn of Coburn Literary Management) as well as the patient and honest feedback (sometimes more than I wanted) from my wife, Karyn. She's used to editing. Her role as managing editor of a national magazine helped her deliver the bad news to me on more than one occasion.. Tris and Karyn were both merciless--yet kind--in telling me I had a lot of work to do. 2. Rule Two is: Get an unbiased (maybe even heartless) critic to read what you wrote. You will love what you have written--always! We authors always do. The unbiased--maybe heartless-- critic will give us the real story. Without that kind of feedback you will be venturing out into the maze of uploaded books (maybe as many as 300,000 a year) with no idea of how good (or bad) your book really is. And....you don't want your readers to be your first critics. They can be unforgiving. Believe me. Rules 3 and 4 later. Stay in touch. Connie Need some advice.
It's a new day for me. I am currently without an agent--for the first time in five years. By the way, my thanks to my friend and agent, Tris Coburn, for all of his support over these past years and for his hard work in getting a new author published. It's a big challenge in this new era in publishing with Amazon emerging as the new Elephant in the Living Room. And thanks also, Tris, for you continued support as I look for a new agent or toward self-publishing. So here is my dilemma--to try to get a new agent, or to self-publish. Or maybe both. Let me know your thoughts. I need some help. Thanks. totally redoing Coopers Moon first novel for publication...hopefully early spring!
I've always wondered about the pain that a mother experiences in childbirth. As a man, that's one experience I will never have--unless I come up with a miraculous birth. Maybe the closest I'll ever get to that experience is giving birth to a novel. Let me defend that crazy position:
* First, when you write a novel, you are creating a new life--new characters who live out a story, and grow older as the novel progresses--especially if it is part of a series. * Secondly, it's painful to create. I've rewritten A Cold Copper Moon three times already. Each time I consume another bunch of months. Wow! Believe me that hurts. But, as in child birth--so I understand--it's a happy pain. * And finally, when the novel is finally published, it's shown to the world of readers like a new-born baby. Maybe I should hand out cigars when my agent finally lands a publisher. I'll buy the cigars, Tris. By the way, my agent is Tristram Coburn of Tristram C. Coburn, Literary Management. I know it's hard work trying to find a publisher for a new author. But thanks for all you do, Tris. Maybe this baby will finally be delivered! More later, Connie We all have a story to tell. We can tell it in a short story--or we can write a novel. Either way, the process begins with a story. If there's one in you--as there is in each of us--there is a way to get it out.
The first step is to find that story. One that you need--want--to tell. It's important to need to tell it because that need will drive you to tell it. Then, tell the story quickly--on paper--in a couple of pages. That will be your guide, your driving force, in telling it. Thirdly, write that first chapter--or prologue--or page. The important thing is to get started. That first page is the most important one--not because of what you have said but because you have started. Finally, write a page every day. Religiously. And in 250 days you will have your first novel. Sounds simple? It really is. Good luck and happy writing. Let me know how you're doing. Connie By the way--I understand that Dan Brown (Angels and Demons, DaVinci Code) writes from early morning til midday. When he's writing full time. Personally, I can't write more than two hours or so without getting burned out--it's too draining.
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