Writing is rewriting and "chaos"

Part of the writing process is relearning lessons over and over. Usually different lessons with each book. The lesson I’m sharing with you today is "writing is rewriting," because I have my seam ripper in hand to fix what I stitched together incorrectly this week.

Because I'm a pantser (I write by the seat of my pants), I often don't know exactly where my story is going at any given time. I know my plot, I know what I'm writing toward, but I don't necessarily see the stepping stones along the way. One of the tricks of the trade is that each chapter should end with a "hook" that will pull readers into the next chapter. The saying is that trouble is interesting, so often an author will write their characters into a corner and then have to find a way to extricate them. I did that. The problem is the trouble I wrote requires a major plot point, and I already have one of those. Now I have two plots competing for page time instead of a plot and a subplot. Enter the seam ripper. Now I need to tear apart those references and soften them into a subplot, a blind stitch, to continue the sewing metaphor, that holds the story together without calling attention to itself.

In line with the "trouble is interesting" guideline, I've been reading author threads recently talking about how difficult it is to write trouble in these turbulent times. While we live in times of chaos - every day is a new affront to the rule of law - I find I'd rather look for smooth sailing and peace. People say they use writing to escape the troubles of every day life, and I completely agree with that, but that applies to every day troubles, not a constant state of chaos. I've definitely had a much more difficult time focusing on the writing this year, hence the need for a rewrite to fix a runaway thread. With that being said, I do like how this new story is coming together, and the farther into it I get, the more I can't wait to see how it turns out! 😉 Spoiler alert - I know how it turns out, but life is about the journey, not the destination, right?

So back to rewriting this story into something you'll all love!

Tarot for Authors

Some books fight you every step of the way. Last time this happened, I was writing the Mist series and was struggling with my antagonist. Shout out to my esteemed editor, Kelly Lynne Schaub, who recommended a book to me that she referred to as Tarot for authors. It's called The Writer's Brainstorming Kit: Thinking in New Directions. It helps authors get out of their heads and think outside the box by breaking down the parts of your story.

• Role/Pursuit
• Trait
• Goal
• Motivation
• Internal Conflict
• External Conflict
• Growth/Realization
• The Ordinary World
• Trigger Event
• Change of Plans
• Black Moment
• Resolution

For each of these bullet points, the book provides "thinking points." If you buy the hardcover book, it comes with a deck of cards. Each card gives you a theme. Each theme breaks down five things to consider for each of these bullet points. If you use the eBook version, the book associates each theme with a regular deck of cards, broken down by suit - Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs. It then cross references the card with the options that come on the "tarot" cards in the hardcover book/kit.

The beauty of the book is that you can apply the tarot to one part of the process or the entire project. Need to map out your story? Shuffle the cards and apply one to each of the bullet points. Need to refine a character? Use one of the cards most closely associated with how you want to present your character and it suggests the steps that character can go through from "role" to "resolution." Need to build your plot? Pick a theme and follow the bullet points for ideas. Need to send your plot a new direction? Pull a card and read the "trigger event" for possibilities. Don't like your options? Mix and match. Think outside the box. The suggestions are meant to get you to think, not a limit or a boundary for what you are writing. 

After thirty-some-odd books, I've covered a lot of ground in my books, and it's easy to get stuck in a rut, or to inadvertently revert to an old character. While I've been making progress in this book, I've felt disconnected from one of my characters. She felt too much like another of my characters (or a couple of my other characters) while I was striving for something different. So I stopped. Re-evaluated. Decided I had to do a character sketch, maybe even a character interview to dig deeper into who this person is and why she is the way she is.

There are many resources out there, but this is one I keep coming back to. It isn't a how-to, it's a "let me help you think." Everyone has their own style, their own process. Anyone who tells you their way is the right way is lying to you. This book gives you what you need while still allowing you to do it your way.

The Joy of Writing

I'm what you might call a pantser when I write. I write by the seat of my pants, and I prefer it that way. I discover things the same time my characters do, and that entertains me. Oftentimes, I discover my subconscious has laid the groundwork and I just need to follow the plot, in a manner of speaking. I've only "known" my way to the plot for a couple of my stories, and honestly, it made them harder to write. Regardless, I still enjoyed the process.

With the book I'm working on now, I can't say I know the plot (I do, but I don't know all the steps to get to it) but it feels very much how all the "writing books" tell you to write. "Then this has to happen, then that has to happen." For me, that takes all the fun out of it. Every author has their own process. I'm not inclined to "Insert requisite sex scene here," or "insert black moment here." No. It has to happen naturally. Organically. It has to flow with the writing and not stop the action because I've reached a certain point. One of my favorite writing moments was in THE DEMON FROM THE CRYPT when I wrote who Elspeth's vision narrator is. I didn't know until the day I wrote it, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I found out the same time Elspeth did. The woman who did the audiobook narration shot me a message when she reached that point in the story. "Did you know it was him all along?" Nope. Not knowing allowed me to feel all the emotion at the same time Elle did. 

The joy of writing. Or is it the joy of pantsing?

I don't know everything that's going to happen in my current work in progress. I know the main plot, I know the subplot. I know how things should be structured. I have a lot of rewriting to do next time I get bogged down on structure to work on characterizations (I have a terrible habit of not putting things I see in my head to paper, which means going back later so readers can see the same things). 

My point in all of this is that although there are "rules" to writing, I've found that following a boilerplate or an outline diminishes the discovery process. Yes, books need to have structure, and mine do. But writing from a standpoint of "this has to come next" crushes my creative spirit. I can generally "feel my way," and on those occasions I stumble, I can go back and fix it. Add what's missing. Supply the structure that needs to be there. I know how all of this is supposed to work, but interrupting my flow to pay attention to structure is counterproductive. I've read more than my fair share of books where the author clearly stopped the story to "insert required scene here" and I don't mind telling you there is at least one author I no longer read for that very reason. 

Books need structure. I get that, but they need to flow seamlessly. I hate that I find myself thinking in terms of structure instead of flow while I'm writing this one. By the time the first draft is done, I'm sure I'll have satisfied both requirements - structure and flow. Just need to keep soldiering on.

Choose me

I had someone comment to me once that exhibiting art, be it painting or music or prose, is like a call for attention. For me, it's more like letting the characters who live inside my head out to tell their stories. With that being said...

I was the fourth of four girls. A counselor told me once as the youngest, I probably felt like "I didn't get an invitation to the party." I was too little to do what the big girls were doing, and my voice was often lost or discounted as a result of being last. Rather than calling attention to myself, I tended to blend into the woodwork. My parents had guests to dinner one night and commented on what a good child I was.  "Little children should be seen and not heard." To that end, I resorted to writing as a way to express myself.

As an author, I'm in a crowded field, as most artists are. I, along with my thousands of competitors, are all looking for ways to differentiate myself in that crowd. While I strive to write memorable characters that stand out, I don't have much personal experience. I grew up trying not to call attention to myself and was often pushed to the background. It took me years to "come into my own" and speak up when I had something to say. If I'm honest, I still have to work hard at that. Calling attention to myself doesn't come easily, but writing is something I'm good at. The people who've read my books say so. Reading is subjective by nature, so no, my words won't resonate with everyone. All I'm asking is for a chance to be heard. Read. Seen. In a jungle of books that are readily available, I've done my best to raise my hand. To stand out while being true to myself. 

We are living through difficult times. People aren't buying books the way they used to. AI is threatening authors' livelihoods (my work is all human generated!). Artificial intelligence is no substitute for real, human intelligence. Training AI using my intellectual property does not give the artificially generated product the same heart. (Getting off my soapbox now.)

This is me saying "choose me." Give my books a read. Get them from the library. Subscribe to audiobook platforms and give them a listen. I had an email from one of my Epitaph series narrators asking if I had any work for her this year because:

'I think this generation of folks who should Never write are putting out books so fast with no content, just sex and gore that it just kills the spirit of the reader.  Your stories have a beginning, a middle and an ending that makes you feel good - that is seriously lacking nowadays.  I love your stories-- they make me feel all warm and fuzzy :)"

Thank you, Karen Frantz. Emails like this encourage me not to give up. To keep giving voice to those characters who want page time.

Today, I'm asking you to read my books. If you liked them, tell two friends about them. Ask them to tell two friends. Give a struggling author a leg up. I strive to give you a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If I'm missing the mark, I'd like to know that, too. I love hearing from my readers--even if that means I haven't come through the way you'd hoped. 

via GIPHY

Check out my collection at: https://www.karlabrandenburg.com/all-books

Dogs? or Cats?

In the ongoing battle of dogs versus cats, allow me to present my grand dogs. I am currently without pets in my own home, but recently got to visit all of them, so I had to share. Kind of like baby pictures, you know.

I am firmly on team "cats," for the record. With that being said, I enjoy spending time with these dogs, even when they get a little over excited. Dogs are affectionate and loving and all they want is for you to pay attention to them. They also need you in attendance when they go outside - and they have to go outside. When they get bored, they tend to chew on things.

Cats? They don't need attention. Well, except in the middle of the night when suddenly they're nudging your hand for a pet. Or they're hungry and making sure you know it. But you don't have to take them for walks, or go outside in the middle of the night (along with whatever other wildlife is wandering around the yard that might lead to you being up far longer than you expected). Cats are still loving and affectionate. Sometimes. I had a neighbor once who said they were "sneaky" and that's why she didn't like them. The Big Guy complains that they are messy. Well, that might be true, too. Some of the time. To be fair, they chew on things sometimes, too, and don't forget the razors on their paws.

Both need you to clean up after them, whether it's scooping in the yard or from the litter box. The Big Guy complains that cats puke. They do. Sometimes. So do dogs. Then again, The Big Guy never claimed to like dogs much, either. 

Both cats and dogs are good at sensing moods. Sad? They'll both appear to comfort you, although cats aren't officially trained to that purpose the way dogs are. Still, having a furry, purring body on your lap is very soothing. They're also good at reading the people around you. In this instance, dogs probably win because they can intimidate the bad guys, whereas cats will just disappear. Not good protectors, those cats. 

I've invited cats to be part of my books, particularly in the Mist series. When you're writing supernatural stuff, cats are a natural fit. I suppose I should add a dog now and then. Haven't done that yet. Then again, sometimes I see pets as distractions when I'm reading a book. While they can tell you a lot about the characters, they also need care and attention, and the characters need to expend their care and attention other places in fiction. Usually. 

What about you? Are you a fan of cats? Dogs? How do you feel about them in the books you read?

The Social Media Problem

As an author, I like to connect with my readers. One of the best ways to do that is via social media.

META

Once upon a time, someone developed a website for people to connect and they called it Facebook. It was remarkable in that so many people wanted to find people they'd lost touch with. Then the powers that be decided they could make more money if they went public and sold ads and whatnot. Now, what started out as a "water cooler" or public meeting place has turned into META, a giant that no longer seeks to connect people, but is now trying to influence the world. And now we're all suckered in. META has pirated books to train AI, they've stolen our personal data and sold it to marketers to make more money. How badly do we want to stay connected? I've reached a lot of readers through Facebook, and for that I'm grateful. I have also tried other social media outlets, but Facebook by far has been the most far-reaching. As I watch it turn into something opportunistic instead of a friendly space to connect, I'm reconsidering my options, especially after what happened to Twitter. 

You can connect with me at Facebook, Instagram, or Threads.

X

I used to be on Twitter, largely due to a book I read by one of my favorite authors. It was extremely helpful, especially in getting news 'real time.' Now it's full of users who are angry and spew hateful things. I don't need that kind of negativity in my life, so I closed my account over there some time ago. 

BLUESKY

I joined this site shortly after leaving X. It seems to be more like what Twitter used to be, although I don't use it the way I should. They have a wonderful subsection of users for bookish people called BookSky. Working to improve my visibility over there. Connect at BlueSky

SUBSTACK 

True confession, I joined this one when Kristan Higgins invited me. I used it actively for a while, then wasn't sure I needed "one more social media outlet." The original footprint invited subscribers to underwrite with a paid subscription. I never agreed with that concept (if you want to pay me, BUY MY BOOKS). While that option remains, it isn't being pushed quite as hard. With META becoming less attractive, I'm taking a second look at Substack. Connect at Substack.

They all have their pros and cons, and for someone who often feels socially inept, they offer ways for me to connect with readers (and yes, family and friends). I wish I had a personal assistant who could navigate all the avenues for me to allow me to concentrate on what I do best - write books - but I don't make enough to pay "staff." So here I am, asking you. What do you think about social media and connecting with people and their work?

Conquering Slumps or "Writer's Block"

In addition to being exciting, writing comes with its share of down times. 

Many authors struggle with depression. Most notably, The Bloggess, Jenny Lawson, regularly talks about her bouts of depression and how she deals with it. Stephen King is another example. Most authors go through dark periods, myself included. Let me say right off the bat, if you’re struggling with depression, it’s okay to get help. When I hit my lowest point, I did, and it helped tremendously. My goal today is to provide some ideas for how to kickstart your brain when it wanders down those dark alleyways, before it reaches critical mass, a very high-level approach to get past the doldrums rather than a ladder to climb out of despair. As with all things, your mileage may vary.

During the course of writing a book, there are inevitably those times where writer's angst kicks in. The “I suck” feeling. The imposter syndrome where I'm sure nobody wants to read my drivel – including me. When the creative juices seem to dry up, or when sales slack off. The problem with those days is they can creep into other aspects of your life, like The Fog (Creature Features movie, for those of you who might not remember it) until you can’t see your hand in front of your face. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

So what do you do when the fog starts rolling in?

• Exercise.
• Yoga.
• Phone a friend.
• Get outside and look at the world around you. Really look at it, at all the beautiful things hiding in plain sight (#OutAndAbout).
• Volunteer. Nothing reminds you how small your problems are like seeing how good you have it when compared to someone who isn’t as fortunate.
• Go the Jiminy Cricket route and “Give a Little Whistle.” Or sing a song (#MyLifeIsAMusical).
• Learn something new.
• Listen to music that relaxes you.
• And one thing very author-specific: Read a book. I’ve found this can inspire you, either to be as good as your favorite author, or better than someone who might not write as well as you do. (This one is last because it doesn’t always work the way you expect!)

In the end, falling into writers angst is a frame of mind. Maybe the writing does suck, but the important thing is not to let it pull you into a black hole. We all have bad days--some worse than others--and we will continue to experience disappointments. The key is to overcome them. 

On those days I doubt my ability, I remind myself why I write (because I love creating new and different worlds to escape to) and ultimately, putting in the effort shines like the sun on the encroaching fog. It helps to have a couple of awards (and five-star reviews!) to provide some validation. Even if I'm only writing for myself, it brings me joy. 

How do you overcome self-doubt?

via GIPHY