Why Am I Here?

A couple of weeks ago, my son had surgery and after almost eighteen hours without something to eat, he wanted food fast…not fast food necessarily…but good food fast. We spotted a Raising Cane’s, and he said he’d eaten there, and that he’d enjoyed it, so we headed that way.

In this age of being everything to everybody, I was surprised to find nothing but chicken tenders on their menu. Yes, they sold a few side items, Texas toast, cole slaw, etc, but their main focus is chicken. But then I realized what a brilliant marketing strategy. They know what they do well—fried chicken tenders—so why mess with a good thing? Their chicken was delicious, so, yes, this is one instance where less is definitely more!

As freelancers, we can take a lesson from Raising Cane’s. We’re pulled in so many directions: writing, marketing, social media, taking care of the business side of writing, just to name a handful of tasks. Especially in the early years of our careers, we wear all the hats, in addition to holding down a public job and raising a family in many cases.

The one thing I’ve learned (am still learning) since leaving Unpubbed Island is that I need to focus on the dream, the one thing that got me into this crazy, exciting business in the first place.

So what’s the answer? Better yet, what’s the question?

Why am I here? How did I get here? What am I doing here?

I’m here because I’m a writer.

I must focus on my craft and creating a good story. Focusing for me means devoting the most creative times of my day to brainstorming, plotting, writing, editing, immersing myself in my story, and guarding that time very carefully. Write a good story and the rest will follow.

Yes, the checkbook must be balanced, the website updated, the books mailed out. The marketing has to be done, the blog tour scheduled, the contract reviewed, the phone answered. There are a ton of things demanding an author's attention: blogging, tweeting, sending out a newsletter, hosting a book signing, or speaking every other weekend, attending conferences. But if we don't focus on the one thing that brought us to this place -- story -- none of these others things will be needed nor necessary.

I don’t want to get so caught up in the multitude of things screaming for my attention every day that I forget to focus on what brought me here.

I’m here because I’m a writer.

Keep your focus and keep writing!

Today's giveaway is a $10 gift card to Raising Cane's *Subtitution will be made if the winner doesn't have a Raising Cane in their area.

Check out all the prizes here

Every comment enters you in this week's overall prize and also in the BIG BIRTHDAY BASH GRAND PRIZE for the month--an iPAD MINI!!!! Good luck, everyone!

A Pantser Turned Plotter Learns to Love Revising

A Pantser Turned Plotter Learns to Love Revising

Missy Tippens

I believe I’m a born pantser (for those who are new to the term, that means someone who jumps in and starts writing by the “seat of the pants”). The first few books I wrote, I did very little planning.  After about two manuscripts, I learned about GMC from Deb Dixon and did a chart before beginning. I thought some about my characters. I knew their backgrounds, even wrote a little bit of a journal in each character’s point of view (POV). But I didn’t automatically plot. I didn’t naturally feel the need to plan scenes or plot points.

But after the first couple of manuscripts got critiqued in my critique group, I realized how much work would be involved to fix those manuscripts. And I did NOT want to do that. I dreaded it. I avoided it. I sometimes went for months at a time without writing, partly because all the fun of discovery was gone. But, mainly, because the task seemed so overwhelming.

Photo credit: Crestock/creatista

So I finally decided two things:

1)   I would not get something critiqued until I had written at least half of the first draft, preferably the full first draft.

2)   I would become a plotter.

From that moment, I became The Chart Queen. I love my charts! I love all the different methods I use for planning. And I also found doing this has helped me write a synopsis as a selling tool (it’s tough to write one before you’ve written the book). Using all these tools helped make the first drafts better. I didn’t have so many big picture issues to fix. I could focus on cleaning up manuscripts, fine tuning them.

But I still dreaded that part. Once I completed a manuscript, I was sick of it. I didn’t want to go back and keep re-working it. I couldn’t believe it when people told me they dreaded the first draft and loved revising once it was done.

WHAT IN THE WORLD??!! Who wouldn’t love the fun first draft? Who could ever enjoy revising??

Well, 6 books after leaving the island, I finally find myself looking forward to revising that first draft. Yes, Missy Tippens has just said the unthinkable.

I’m excited because now I get to go back and make it better. I get to play with ideas I’ve had during the writing and get go back to work them in (things that will make my theme stronger, things that will show character growth better, scenes that will show stronger characters acting toward their goals).

If I can learn to love revising, you can too. Here are some suggestions:

Photo credit: Crestock/ElinaManninen

**First and foremost: Think of revising as time to put the icing on the cake. Time to perfect your story. I’ve found a change of attitude can work wonders. You are no longer allowed to think of revising as TORTURE. :) Think of it as your best writing tool. (Again, if I can do this, anyone can.)

**Work through your choice of plotting charts/programs/books. You’ll come up with new ideas to add and enhance. If you’re a plotter, you may do this before you start. I suggest doing it again afterward to add depth. If you’re a pantser, you’ll probably only do this after you finish. I’ve also found this helpful while writing the draft.

On my current manuscript, I got stuck about a third of the way into the story. I found I had already written what, according to my synopsis, was supposed to be the mid-point. I was bored with the story and couldn’t figure out why. About that time, I heard someone recommend James Scott Bell’s Knockout Novel program (click here to check it out), so I bought it and took a week to work through it. I LOVED it. I found a new direction to go with the story (added a new character and plotline) and also found many ways to add to the scenes I already had written or planned (that enhanced theme and characterization). I came up with concrete ideas that were easy to incorporate into the story. Now that I’m re-reading my completed manuscript, I’m going back to make sure I’ve added everything.

Photo credit: iStock_0000116782

**Put on your editor hat. Become Super Editor!

This has been one of the hardest lessons for me since I left the island. I was stuck in Author World, the world of creativity, discovery, fun. But when it comes to revising, you need to set that aside and read your story objectively. Try to read it as if it’s the first time you’ve seen it. I know this is difficult, but if you can set it aside for a few days or even weeks, it’ll make the job much easier.

Even if you don’t have time to set the manuscript aside, try to read it like a fresh reader. And be tough on yourself. No mercy. Ask:

 

Is this exciting? Is it un-put-downable? Or am I falling asleep? (That is not a joke! I’ve fallen asleep reading my draft before. Hard to admit but true.)

     

Do I care about these characters, really care? Or could I shut the book and not give them another thought? Worse, do I want to smack them for being TSTL (too stupid to live)?

     

Does the story feel as if it’s moving toward some big bang of a conclusion? Am I worried about how it will turn out? Or do I feel as if I’m gently walking through town without a care in the world, enjoying cute scene after cute scene (recognize episodic writing?)?

    

Is the conflict escalating? Or are the hero and heroine rehashing the same things scene after scene? (Sticky notes help here! Mark the progression of the conflict as you read, noting how it has changed. Do this for external, internal and romantic conflict.)

Is each scene set clearly and am I anchored? Can I envision the details of the setting and the characters—without them being over-done?

Does the story feel as if it’s gone full circle? Is the ending satisfying? Did the characters resolve the story the best way possible for these particular characters (facing their worst fear)? Does the ending fit with the theme/premise to make it shine?

So… Change the attitude, enhance your story by revisiting/working through your favorite how-to programs or books, and ask the tough Super Editor questions. Then you’ll be on the way to making your book the best it can be.

Don’t forget to visit the giveaway page for details on our birthday celebration! Easy peasy commenting gives you entries for the iPad mini and the weekly prizes. Here's this week:

Click photo for details.

And I’m offering another prize today! I’ve had so much fun doing the phone chats that I’ve decided to offer a Mentoring Package that will include phone chat, email and first-chapter critique. Details will be given to the winner. You must let me know if you want to be entered by stating so in the comments. I'm looking forward to working with one of you!

So the big question now… Are you ready to love revising? :)

****

Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, is the author of six books for Love Inspired and nominated for a Romance Writers of America 2013 RITA^®  Award. Her most recent from Love Inspired, Georgia Sweethearts was an April 2013 release. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com, @MissyTippens on Twitter and 

http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers.

Guest Blogger Mia Ross with the Top Three Things She's Learned Since Leaving the Island!

Happy Birthday, Seekerville! It's Mia Ross, stopping by with streamers and party hats to help with your celebration. It feels like you've been around forever, connecting authors with readers, with a large helping of writerly advice thrown in for flavor. I'm not an original Seeker, but Ruthy invited me here years ago, assuring me I'd find some kindred spirits on Unpubbed Island. Boy, was she right!

As my contribution to the party, she asked me to share some of the things I've learned since leaving the island 2 years ago. There are s-o-o many, but here's a countdown of my top 3.

3. When an editor starts working with you on your book, it's not your book anymore.

This hint might seem obvious, but we're talking about your baby, the project you've spent months or years polishing. So it can be tough to hear things like, "We need to pick up the pace," or, "Take out the first 3 chapters and start with the funeral." Yup, heard 'em both on my first Love Inspired book, and it wasn't easy, let me tell you. Neither were the other 10 pages in that revision letter. I found myself wondering what Melissa Endlich saw in this story that was such a mess. We went back and forth twice before I got that first contract, but I learned a lot, so the next revision letter was only 4 pages. Definite progress!

2.  Ignore the noise.

Actually, this was the motto for the rebuilding Houston Astros baseball team this season, but I recently adopted it for myself. When I start feeling overwhelmed, it's never my writing that does me in--it's everything else. When you're an author, your product has two parts: the books and you. That means you're responsible for things like websites and media postings, and if you pay too much attention to reviews and how many people mention you on Twitter, your writing will suffer and you'll go nuts. Find a level of connectedness that works for you and stick with it. Keeping your emotions on an even keel helps you not just professionally but personally as well.  

1.  Life first.

For me, this means family first. Kids only grow up once, and I want to enjoy those years because once they're gone, you can't get them back. Also, I still have my original husband, and I'd like to keep it that way ;) When I realized I was at the bottom of my own priority list, I revised it so it went like this: family, me, work, writing. That approach to life suits both my professional needs and my personal philosophy, so it's a much more comfortable situation for me.

Okay, now it's your turn. We learn a lot throughout our lives, and I know lots of you must have other lessons to add. They can be writing-related or not, your choice. Post your favorite and you'll be entered in the drawing for one of 3 copies of Rocky Coast Romance, the first book in my new Holiday Harbor series for Love Inspired. Have a great day!

I love great stories. I enjoy reading about fascinating people, long-ago times, and exotic places. But only for a little while, because my reality is pretty sweet. Married to my college sweetheart, I’m the proud mom of two amazing kids whose schedules keep me hopping. Busy as I am, I can't imagine trading my life for anyone else's--and I have a pretty good imagination. You can visit me online at www.miaross.com.