Writing the Second Book with Guest Blogger Shannon Vannatter

In early 2009, after 9 1/2 years of rejections, requests, and disappointments, I got my first contract with Heartsong Presents. I’d made it. My euphoria lasted until my editor asked one simple question.

JoAnne: “Can this be a series?”
Me: “Okay.”

Never mind that White Roses was never supposed to be a series. I scrambled for ideas and wrote a one page synopsis for two more books within a month’s time. The first pre-book synopsis this seat of the pants writer had ever written.

JoAnne approved the series and set dates to sign contracts. Euphoria again—for about a week. Then realization dawned—by jukies, I had to write the second book. These four words struck fear and writer’s block in my newly contracted soul. It had taken me eight years to mold White Roses into a publishable book and I only had eight months to write book two.

So what’s a newly contracted, under deadline, blocked writer to do? I went to a writers’ workshop. Kaye Dacus was the teacher and mentioned that she’s a seat of the pants writer. After class, I told her I’m a pantser and writing my pre-book synopses and facing my first deadline had blocked me. She gave wonderful advice: Put the synopsis away and work on something else until it’s out of your head, then write the book.

It worked. The words started flowing. As I wrote, the pieces of the puzzle came together, new directions took shape, but I still tried to pack everything from the synopsis in. In the end, I threw everything in, but the kitchen sink. Then just as I thought things were coming together, I got the content edit on book one, with a mere month to make the requested changes. The first content edit was like pulling all my hair out, then trying to put it back in and make it look nice. Somehow, I did it and got back to work on book two.

The day before my very first deadline, I turned in the biggest mess of a book. White Doves ended up needing two content edits. My brilliant content editor painstakingly suggested storylines to keep, cut, and pull.

I survived and Heartsong published the book. In hindsight, of course things are clearer. I came up with a few tips that would have helped with book two and did help with book three:

1. Pray.
A. Turn this book over to God.
B. What message does God want in this book?
C. For peace during the process.

2. Get creative juices flowing.
A. Pray.
B. Take a walk.
C. Turn the TV & radio off.
D. Brainstorm with a writing friend.
E. Read headlines or watch the news.

3. Get past fear and writers’ block.
A. Pray.
B. Put your synopsis away.
C. Write anyway.
D. Brainstorm with a writing friend.

4. Don’t follow the synopsis.
A. If your story takes another direction, go with it.
B. If you like the new direction, check with your editor.
C. If your editor approves, find threads to pull from the synopsis.

5. Take a break.
A. Don’t allow yourself to write for a week.
B. Work on a different writing project.
C. Critique others’ work.

6. The story is flowing and wham, you get the content edit for book one.
A. Read it and put it away for one or two days.
B. Tackle one task at a time and work your way down the list.
C. Check each item off as you achieve each change.
D. If the requested change affects the entire manuscript, work on each thread individually.

7. Trust your editors.
A. Editors expect newly contracted writers to turn in substandard work.
B. Your editor will help you make the book work.
C. It will be okay, and book three will be easier.

The good news:
In the end, my editors helped me mold the book into a cohesive work of fiction. Readers like the book. Book three wrote itself and took less edits than book one or two. I still want to write.

To get your name in the drawing for a copy of White Doves, Shannon's second book, leave a comment about writing the second book tips, getting past block tips, and not pulling your hair out tips.

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Central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife. Her debut three book series is set in Romance and Rose Bud, AR and published by Heartsong Presents, a division of Barbour Publishing. Heartsong book club members voted Vannatter # 3 favorite new author, White Roses #1 and White Doves #8 in the contemporary category of the 18th annual Heartsong Presents Awards. The Arkansas Democrat Three Rivers Edition voted Vannatter one of 20 to Watch in 2011. Vannatter is currently working on her new Texas rodeo series for Heartsong.
WHITE ROSES-heartsongpresents.com May 2010/Stores Nov 2010
WHITE DOVES-heartsongpresents.com Oct 2010/Stores Apr 2011
WHITE PEARLS- heartsongpresents.com Jan 2011/Stores July 2011

http://www.shannonvannatter.com/
http://www.shannonvannatter.com/blog
http://www.inkspirationalmessages.com/