Truth is Stranger than Fiction

In every novel I write, there is one sentence of reality, a snippet of those odd events that happen in real life that no one believes. Often, during the critique process, one of my partners will say something like "that would never happen." But it did.

Let me say for the record that my novels are NOT representations of real life, nor do they portray actual people, alive or dead. That doesn't mean real people don't inspire them. Most recently, I had a conversation with my crit partners telling me that "real men don't have those kinds of conversations." And they're right. But then a funny thing happened.

I was sitting in Panera with my DH, eating breakfast right before we went to the fresh market, and we overheard a group of four young men having a conversation. A very "girlie" conversation. I looked at my husband, and he looked at me, and I said "men don't talk like that."  He laughed and he agreed. The conversation was about one young man trying to decide if he should ask his girlfriend to marry him, if he was leading her on by asking her not to move away when he wasn't sure he wanted to take the next step. That might be something one man would ask another man (or more likely a woman friend) in a dark corner of a bar in a voice where no one could overhear, but not something you air to three of your friends for the rest of the world to overhear and solicit opinions.  That's something women do. One of the men did say something several minutes later which cleared it all up in my mind. (For the record, they were all hetero - or at least I assume so based on the conversation.)

Truth is stranger than fiction.  Things happen in real life that don't translate to stories. People read them and roll their eyes and say "That would never happen." And yet these things do happen.

Here are a couple of "real life" moments that I snuck into my stories (and again, there's usually only one sentence in each book).

• A guy "stuck" on a date that he can't get out of - "Some other guy would be really lucky to have you."
• Upon being introduced to your boyfriend's mother - "It was nice to have known you, dear."
• A tennis player who throws his racket into a chain link fence in a fit of rage. 

As for the "girlie boys" conversation, no I won't be including that in a book, because it does strain belief. I couldn't believe it when I heard it! 

So you want to know how the new book is coming? I'm still working on editing, vetting it through my crit group. I'm in that "I suck as a writer" mode (that happens when you're editing - you realize that you aren't perfect and take it to the extreme opposite direction). I have some comments this morning that I have to look at a second time because in this mood, a simple comment like "this doesn't work for me" is like a poison dart in the neck. That's what it's supposed to say. I don't care if it doesn't work for you! {deep breaths} Those comments are often spot on (although not always). So I need to consider if the comments are valid or someone else's interpretation. You've probably heard that writing/reading is a very subjective thing. I'm very lucky to have excellent critique partners, and even if I choose not to incorporate their suggestions, their input is extremely valuable. They make me a better writer. So time to suck it up and get back to those edits.  Rekindling goes to the editor July 20. I had a ton of fun writing it, and even though I'm struggling to fine-tune it, I'm still enjoying the story.

Nose to the Grindstone - Getting a book ready for the editor

Just my luck. The weather is turning into summer finally and I'm still finishing up Rekindling.

I took a week off of this book to do some copyediting. The funny part of that story is that I'd only expected the copyediting to take a couple of days. It was much more in-depth than I'd expected. I took this detour, however, to give myself some distance from the current work in progress so that I could come back to it with a fresh eye. That part of the plan worked.

I'm doing my final story edits for Rekindling. Working with my critique group. Making sure it all follows (which raises my point du jour - I thought everyone knew what a one-inch punch was. Clearly, I'm mistaken! Funny how we take certain phrases and idioms for granted . . .  but I digress). The next step, once the story edits are done, is copyediting. Again.  This is what I'm good at, but editing your own work is tough, folks.

You may have seen some of those memes where a phrase is upside down, or backward, or the vowels are missing or some letters are misplaced. The purpose of the meme is to see if you can read what it says anyway. Yep. I can. And that is the reason it's too hard to edit your own work.  You know what its supposed to say. Nevertheless, I have to take the first cut. What does that mean? Here are the top three things I look for during this phase.

1.  Cut overused words.  One of my big offenders is the word "back." Another popular one is "just." I have a list that I work my way through. There is software out there that will help with this process, but for me, it's like working a crossword puzzle. You do it for the mental exercise.

2.  Check for passive voice. This sneaks in when you least expect it, and there are several different checks for this. One is by looking for verbs ending with "ing." They don't all indicate passive voice, but it's worth the second look. Another is by adding in extra words that distance you from what the character is feeling. "Felt. Wondered. Thought." Most times, you can show those things in a more active voice.

3.  Cliches. They're so much a part of our language that sometimes you forget how overused they are. Again, there are usually better ways to describe something. Something more original.

Typos fall into this part of the editing, too. Anything that slips through this process is caught in the final proofreading stage. You may think you've made all the corrections, that you've corrected everything that's wrong, but until you've read through the thing one last time, you haven't finished the job. I ALWAYS find mistakes in the final proofreading stage. Double words when I thought I'd deleted one. Deleted words when I got overzealous. And those pesky typos. Hey. We're human. It happens.

After I've gone through all of this, then I send it to my editor, and she starts the process all over again. Everything I missed/forgot/overlooked/pushed through anyway, she ferrets out. The end result is usually a much stronger, more readable story.

Between work and editing, I spent most of last week with my butt glued to the chair in front of my computer. Nose to the grindstone. I finished my editing project, and then I took a couple of days to catch up on "life." Played with babies. Cleaned the house. Did some gardening and even made some homemade strawberry jam.

This week I'm back to work on Rekindling. It's "oh, so close" but still requires lots of fine-tuning and copyediting. And so I'm back to work at it.

Hasta.

Technology for Authors

I'm excited to announce that the Romance Writers of America has developed an app for romance readers.

The app is called "Novel Engagement," and it will help you find your favorite author, a book by keyword (topic) and it will alert you when your favorite author releases a new book!  (ahem, Rekindling is currently expected in October due to scheduling issues). If you have an iOS or Android device, it is scheduled to go live today.

They're still fine-tuning things over there, but it appears to be functional.

In this day and age of instant technology and self-service, I am amazed at the things people come up with! Some of us struggle with technology, and while I am pretty computer friendly on the whole, there are days as I get older that I have a hard time keeping up with the constant changes. On the plus side, these changes create job opportunities for other techies who are willing to help out.

In other news, I'm working on a re-edit of some old work. While Rekindling is completed, it needs fine-tuning. To give myself a fresh perspective, I'm taking a couple of days of "time out" (working on the re-edit) and then it will be full speed ahead on the new release. Rekindling is on my editor's schedule for the end of July.

Here's the preliminary elevator pitch/blurb to whet your appetite:

An angry young man returns to his home town, hoping to win back his first love. Instead he has to protect her from the danger that follows him.

After nine years away, Brody Parkhill returns to his home town to consult with the owner of an outdated building for its possible sale. He discovers that the building is leased to a crisis center, and his friends from high school are deeply engrained in its operation. An uncomfortable situation grows worse when his boss sees Brody’s personal connections at the center as a conflict of interest and fires Brody. Now he’s left to face emotions he’d hoped to leave behind in the town he fought so hard to escape.

The last person Cinda Cooper expected to see after a night out was her best friend from high school, Brody Parkhill, the one who was supposed to help her escape her troubled home life. The one she hasn’t seen or heard from for nine years. A series of crimes following his arrival make her wonder if the angry young man he used to be has matured into someone dangerous.

Chapters and Plot Points

While I'm editing Rekindling, I've been bandying around different things.

I have two very good friends who I've tapped to do a beta read of the story. Too often, I leave out very important details that I can see very clearly in my head and that never make it to the page. And they pointed some of those things out to me. One of those points is that they'd like to see more backstory on some of these characters since they have so much history together (they are high school friends, nine years after graduation). So I thought to myself, "what better way to show the past than with a prologue?" And proceeded to write one. Which I hated, and tried again. And still hated. And then sent to one of those friends and said "tell me what you think." Guess what? She hated it too. And the main reason is that this book is Cinda and Brody's story. Not the rest of the gang of friends. AND most of what the prologue covered had been woven in throughout the story (like it's supposed to be).

No more prologue, but there will be additional snippets of backstory.

Another point that they both mentioned (and I'm not writing JUST for them, but when two people bring up the same points, it bears consideration) - The ROMANCE part. One of the ladies said "I would have liked to see Cinda and Brody get together sooner." Translation - get them into the bedroom. One of the things I often wonder about is whether that bedroom door should remain open or closed. I will tell you that I write one of "those" scenes in every novel. It just happens. And then I usually cut it. I get it out of my system. Some of them make it through to the final cut. For some of the stories, "those scenes" are part of the plot. Being aware of some readers' sensibilities, I will admit that I shy away from passing them through to the final version. If the story is strong enough, you don't need "those" scenes. I'm surprised at the number of romance readers who now expect those scenes.

So here's my thinking. I've read some novels in the past couple of years that might have been better labeled soft porn. Historicals where the heroine couldn't wait to lose her virginity, and thus, her reputation. I'm sorry, but if I'm reading a historical, I'm expecting my heroine to live to the standards of her time. For a strong-willed, strong-minded one to jump up every now and then is one thing, but I know one author who took it upon herself to make ALL of her heroines this way. I had to cross her off my reading list, because although I might enjoy a bit of spice in my reading, there are certain genres where it doesn't work for me. You need to put in a bit of angst along with the strong will. There are plenty of authors who can make it work, and I do enjoy them. But back to me . . .

I've given Cinda and Brody their night of passion. Given their strong personalities, it's a bit rowdy, although they are in a bedroom (not all of my characters are that lucky - taking advantage of a beach or a kitchen table . . . but I digress). So the next question that comes to mind - should that bedroom door be open or closed? Do readers want to see all the flying body parts on the page or is it better left to the imagination? Certainly Cinda and Brody are making enough noise that Cinda's best friend can give the reader a pretty clear picture of what she's overheard.  A very brief, very informal poll tells me readers want to see it ON the page. So for now, that's where it is, while I continue to edit.

Is the sex a plot point? Yah, you betcha. One of Cinda's issues is that Brody left. Without her. Nine years ago. And now he's back. So rather than wander through the entire book being mad at him, they make their peace (and make love). But now they have this new issue to deal with. So the book will be stronger for removing a stale conflict that was being overplayed and adding the new dimension of "now what?" Best friends, taking that next step. Is it going to change the dynamic of their friendship?

Okay, I've rambled on long enough. Edits are calling to me. Feel free to weigh in and add your voice to the informal poll. Sex on the page or off? And as far as the prologue? It's already written into the story, where it belongs. Can I add more? Yep. Woven into the story. Where it belongs.

Maintaining Focus while Editing

Yes, that title is an oxymoron.

One of the things I've learned during my writing journey is that, like a sport or a talent or anything else, the more you practice, the better you get. It is NOT like riding a bike. You can get back on and ride, but you have to relearn the skills you've let go. When I was young, I learned to play the oboe. We're talking grade school. A few years ago, DH decided I should have a chance to play again and bought me one for Christmas. We're talking MANY years between then and now. On the plus side, I was able to play a scale. With the assistance of my primers (yes, I still have my "learning to play" books), it was easy to relearn all that I'd forgotten over the years, but while I once played well, even relearning the right notes, I wouldn't subject anyone to the caterwauling that came out of that instrument now.

As many of you know I have a day job. The one that pays the bills. During the first quarter of the year, the day job demands almost all (and often ALL) of my attention. That leaves precious little time to focus on the writing, although I make an added effort to dip my fingers into it so that I don't completely lose everything I've worked so hard to learn. With the work demand ebbing, I've been diving head-first back into my writing.

As the queen of analogies, I'm going to pull out another one. Teachers talk about how much kids lose over the summer months, and that the first month after summer break, teachers work to bring students back to a teachable point. I feel that way! Knowing how this works, I'd struggled to make sure Rekindling was finished so that the hardest part was over.

Who am I kidding? Creating the story is the easy part. The fun part. It's the editing that's the hard part. And that's right where I am now.

Maybe it isn't my lack of focus or the required time away to pay the bills. Maybe I'm just avoiding the hard stuff. Editing is ALWAYS a chore, but an essential chore.

Digressing once more. I stopped before I jumped full into editing to revisit Living Canvas. Since Rekindling sort of follows on from that one, I wanted to make sure I got the copyediting issues straight. (Found at least one inconsistency that I had to correct!) During this process, I realized something, not for the first time. While in the throes of writing, I cannot read it objectively. It's just not possible. That's where I am in Rekindling. Going back to Living Canvas, I was able to find errors I missed the first go round (yes, they've been corrected and a fresh version is available for new readers). I'm no longer INSIDE the story. The point here is that I KNOW there are things in Rekindling that I have to fix, but it is a struggle to find them because the story is playing in my head like a movie, the same way you replay a movie after you walk out of the theater. The initial reaction is to enjoy the experience. It isn't until a day or two later that the odd things jump out at you and you get more critical.

I'm procrastinating, and yet, while editing, it is better to take it slow. To read a couple of chapters at a time rather than buzz through the whole thing so you don't get caught up in the story all over again.

Like a kid back after summer break, I'm struggling to focus on the task at hand. Like a professional, I push forward anyway. I'm proud of this story, the way it plays in my head. I'm working hard to make sure that story comes across on the page. No one else can see into my imagination to do it for me, so I need to press on. And I am. Even if every time I look out the window I stop to watch the dogs next door, or a squirrel hopping from tree to tree, or a cat crawl through the fence.

Speech Patterns

I work for a company where we have acronyms for everything. I recently spent time with some very good friends (who I also happen to work with) and had to smile every time one of them talked in acronyms. You know those cell phone advertisements with Malcolm MacDowell and James Earl Jones where they talk like "kids" and things are "adorbs" etc.? Lots of abbreviations in her speech. I love her to death and I find her speech shorthand "adorbs."

On that same subject, my father-in-law used to have filler words. We'd sit and talk and when he couldn't find the right word, he'd insert the word "outfit." It was an all-encompassing noun filler for people and places and things. I remember sitting at the kitchen table, preparing to work on one of my books and my husband had changed the password on the laptop. Before I could get up to ask him for it, my father-in-law sat down with me and started talking. I wished I could have logged on to record the conversation. His speech patterns were fraught with dialect and the occasional "outfit." I've often thought he would make a very colorful character in one of my novels, but I'll never be able to capture his conversation accurately. It was a unique pattern that is difficult to recreate, and that was probably one of the last coherent conversations we had before he passed on.

Colloquialisms and idioms can be limited to geographical areas and sometimes get lost in translation. When using them in novels, these figures of speech can cause confusion to the reader unless presented perfectly in contest or explained. Which brings me to my morning radio show (I guess I'm still fighting random free association, three weeks after busy season), where they have "Melissa, the joke explainer." She doesn't mean to do it, but in trying to understand it herself, she dissects a joke and explains it, which makes it no longer funny or relevant.

So why this topic today? In my current work, Rekindling, I have a passage that goes like this:

“I never expected you to be the type to drink yourself silly,” she said quietly.

He shook his head, his eyes locked on hers. “Not.”

My critique partner pointed it out to me as confusing and wondered if it was a colloquialism. For my part, I read it as a question asked and answered. A man of few words. Because I greatly respect my critique partner, I'm going back to make sure it makes sense and to see if I need to draw on Melissa, the joke explainer, to make it clear. There's a fine line between showing your character's personality and explaining their personality. Sometimes its necessary to do both, and sometimes you have to let them speak for themselves.

Back to editing. Lots of work yet to do.

Happy Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

Oh wait. This is where I tell you I'm a cookie-holic. Chocolate chip cookies, to be precise. So maybe I shouldn't celebrate, although I will admit that on my drive to work this morning, I stopped at McDonald's and bought two chocolate chip cookies. Warm, soft, not-yet-set chocolate cookies. And ate them while I was driving. Which made a mess. But they gave me napkins. Which didn't stop me from getting chocolate on myself . . .

Did I mention I'm a cookie-holic?

I won't have anymore cookies today. Promise. So you'd better go out and celebrate chocolate chip cookie day for me.