Write Bart!

A while back I posted about a fellow author critiquing my novel The Purification. His input and other consistent feedback pushed me to redefine two main characters, one being my antagonist. The result of further development led to a change in plot and a completely different ending to the story. Based on feedback, the new direction is a real improvement. What my beta readers liked before, they now love.

So another lesson has been learned as I journey through fiction writing. Granted some people will say that I’ve been writing fiction for years since my career has been in advertising. That opinion aside, writing a novel has been an experience that goes far beyond expressing my creative muse. I now read novels with much more appreciation, even those that I think are marginal. A novel is a Swiss watch. Every little movement has a purpose and affects all the other little gadgets that make time tick by.

But more impressive is how real fictional characters become. When one has a reader say how much they hate a character or chastise you for not killing someone who they believe clearly deserves it, you realize you may be on your way to becoming an author of fiction.

When I determined that the feedback I had received about The Purification was correct and I still had work to do, I felt a bit frustrated. That is, until I realized that it wasn’t imperfection that needed attention but an unfinished journey. Now that I am on what feels like the last leg of that quest, I realize that I one day will wish I still were in the fray of telling the story. My time to manipulate my characters will be over. They will be who they are and like children who have grown into adulthood, have to do they best they can without my interference.

Ah, but there is always a series.

Writing fiction has been a humbling journey. It began with a belief that since I have written award-winning advertising for decades, writing fiction would be an easy transition. I believed I would avoid pitfalls in authorship because I had made and overcome many mistakes in writing advertising. I know if you are an author reading this you are now chuckling at such naïveté.

I’m learning a craft that is similar to building a Swiss watch and you don’t do that well overnight.

But I am not dissuaded. I’m going to pick my way through and continue to hone because I want the work to be right, not just read. It is not about being published or self-published, it is about putting my best effort in front of a reader that deserves nothing less.

I’m a huge Michael Crichton fan. Not just because of his writing, but also his prolific and varied successes. They are a great example of the necessity of using both sides of the brain when it comes to writing fiction.

That’s what I’ve learned best from my efforts in fiction writing. It is not something easily done and it cannot be done without using analytical and abstract thinking.

I owe a great debt to those who have helped me on this journey. They encouraged me to keep on trying. They have stated a belief that I have what it takes to succeed as a fiction author.

My latest helper is Ken Wheaton. Ken wrote a delightfully funny novel, The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival. Though well pummeled by his critique, he picked me up and dusted me off saying, “You can do this.”

So this is my opportunity to thank one more person that is helping me succeed. Thank you, Ken. I won’t let you down.

Okay, it's been way to long since my post but hopefully you have been seeing my other efforts on behalf of my novel, "The Purification." I launched a Facebook page for the novel, which gained dozens of friends within a couple of weeks. My posts there include: character profiles, short excerpts and general status information. I invite you to join and if you have a page, I'm happy to return the favor.

On the writing front, I had a review from my editor, Lucia Zimmitti, recently. She did her usual great job of making me feel good about my efforts while challenging me to make some improvements. All in all, there isn't a great deal left to do and then comes the decision on whether to query or go the digital route.

This isn't an easy decision for me and it's getting harder because even published authors are saying that self-publishing an eBook makes more sense. The role of agents and publishers is changing dramatically and their cut of the revenue will continue to be scrutinized because of what's happening. Some worry that with so many going directly to digital publishing the quality of the writing will suffer. As a professional marketer, I can assure you this will not be the case. There is no better judge than the consumer. And based on most of the work traditionally published those at the wheel now aren't exactly raising the bar.

But I do understand and appreciate the refinements that are available from the publishing industry and feel that should be given a legitimate shot. My first foray was pretty successful though I didn't land an agent. With a refined manuscript, I'm anxious to see how the fish are biting.
I'll let you know how it goes.

I haven’t been writing as much on the blog lately. Not out of disinterest, but because I’ve been swallowed by my real job and rewriting my manuscript for The Purification. What began as a minor edit turned into a major over haul. It wasn’t my plan. The characters insisted. Specifically my hero, Doctor Peter Thomason. He had a lot more story to tell and I wasn’t allowing him to tell it.

A funny thing happened when I finished. I liked my hero a lot more. In fact, all of my characters are more interesting because of their reaction to his deepening character. And my critique group's reaction tells me I did the right thing.

The lesson I learned from this endeavor is that you shouldn’t be afraid to rip the work apart, even when you believe you’ve got it honed to a fine sheen. It takes more time than you want, but it is worth every tick of the clock.

I also discovered another thing about writing. I can’t treat it like a race. I need deadlines, so I set them to achieve my goals. But if the work isn’t ready, you have to set a new one. When the ink hits the paper, you don’t get a redo.

I’ve been reworking a manuscript for several weeks and it has been a bit of a roller coaster. There have been thrills in seeing something I felt was well done become better. But there also have been moments where I felt a little sick to my stomach. Some things I thought were well done are not, and the struggle to right the wrong has been difficult.

I consult my critique group and a trusted reader, but it is I that must find the solution. Writing isn’t math. Someone can’t look over your shoulder and show you that the decimal point is in the wrong place. That said there are some analytics to writing that definitely help.

Wandering through Borders Books with a 40% off coupon in hand, I found Larry Brooks’ book, Story Engineering, and read a few pages. It revealed that a lack of engineering was why I had been struggling with a particularly difficult area of my rewrite.

Story Engineering both encouraged and motivated me. I found that most of the engineering Mr. Brooks insisted be present I had accomplished. It also revealed to me how to push through and finish my manuscript.

Self-help books are a little scary. An aspiring writer can spend all of his or her time learning how to write rather than doing the one thing that is most effective: writing. Books like Story Engineering are effective for occasional reference. It is organized as a step-by-step guide, but you can also read it by particular need. If you are a beginner in fiction writing, I highly recommend you add Story Engineering to your bookshelf.

You labor over your work for countless hours. You examine it objectively, harshly, and then relentlessly correct, rewrite, proof and polish. You don’t stop until it’s perfect. Then you send it out the world like a kindergartener’s first day at school. Your heart is in your throat but you know you’ve done what needed to be done. There’s only one thing missing: perspective.

In reading self-help books on writing I found the subject of perspective one that did not apply. After all, I have been writing ads for years. I had learned how to step back and see where the flaws were. As Will Rogers said, “Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects.” I was ignorant. Ironically, I didn’t have perspective about where I was as a fiction writer.

The advice of putting one’s writing away so that perspective could take root was sound. I’m revisiting my manuscript and with perspective now in place, I see that the writer I am was not in that manuscript. Not that the work is worthless, but it had flaws that only perspective could bring to light. No amount of advice from others can help as much as perspective.  In fact, it’s hard to apply sound advice until you gain some objectivity.

My latest lesson learned: allow the time for perspective to grow before sending your labor of love into the cold, cruel world. If you do so, not only will you be able to better prepare it for success. You will enrich your story in ways you never dreamed.

I recently hired a professional editor to critique my manuscript. This was a difficult decision because it’s not a nominal investment. And I knew that if I didn’t trust the editor, the critique would not have my confidence.

I decided to use Lucia Zimmitti after hearing her speak at a Southwest Writers meeting and taking advantage of a free five-page critique. I didn’t hire her immediately though. I researched others that performed similar services. The more research I did, the more I realized Lucia was the right choice because she exuded a personal interest. I wasn’t disappointed. She gave me some great insight to areas of weakness in my manuscript and she did so with reasoning that went beyond personal opinion. She also delivered her critique with positive reinforcement. Though I was challenged by the reality that I needed more work on my manuscript, she invigorated me.

I recommend getting professional help earlier than later. I’m not too deep in the process of querying my manuscript, but I wished I had sent it to Lucia before I sent my first query. Writing fiction with the goal of being published is new to me and I’m learning as I go. After having some quick success in requests for a partial or full manuscript, the hook never set. I knew something wasn’t right, but from what little feedback I was getting, I couldn’t be sure of what exactly needed to be done. The one thing that I realized was that my work was close. Agents were intrigued by my story and after reading a few pages showed enthusiasm for more. But the publishing world is in an awful state. Good isn’t good enough for a newcomer. I’m prepared to play in that world by doing what’s necessary.

If you do decide to get professional help, do your homework. Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting for your money. And when you do commit to someone, use his or her input to help make your dream of being a published author come true.

Many thanks to friends that made this site so spectacular. The imagery is from photographer, Steve Bonini. The digital illustration is by Scott Klingsoehr. Music is by Huma-Huma and chapter excerpts are narrated by a fantastic actor, Jeff Witzke.  Jomotion constructed the site. The site’s graphic design was by the mysterious Bruce Johno and yours truly.

Save myself, all of these artists are among the best in their respected industries. I owe each a great debt of gratitude. If you visit their respective sites you will see why they were selected to be a part of its production.

Thanks again, gang!