How do you boil eggs?
I thought I knew. Then I did
a Google search.
Some folks cover eggs with
cold water, bring the water to a boil and then promptly turn off the heat.
Others drop eggs into boiling water and cook for varying lengths of times. Some
salt the water. Others add baking soda or vinegar.
Seems everyone has their own
method. The same holds true for creating a story.
Browse through the
Seekerville archives and you’ll find information on plotting, on creating detailed scene outlines, on using Scrivener or the Plot Doctor or any
of the other tools available for purchase or online. Not interested in plotting
or planning? Then write by the seat of your pants.
Some use a daily word count
to create a manuscript. Others write a fast first draft that requires heavy
revisions, while others rewrite as they go and end up with polished pages that
are ready to submit.
My last few books have been
difficult to piece together. Perhaps it’s because I’m searching for new and unique
plots and creative ways to put my hero and heroine in danger. Perhaps it’s
because I know more about crafting a story and am aware of holes and weaknesses
at the onset.
Whatever the reason, my recent
struggle has made me pause at times and question whether the well is dry and
will ever fill again.
My frustration is compounded
when I read comments from authors who giggle with glee as they create page
after page of story seemingly without effort. They skip playfully through their
pages like a child on the playground and eagerly anticipate their daily romp at
the keyboard.
I, on the other hand, often
pull out my hair coming up with fresh plots and red herrings and dangerous
situations for my hero and heroine. Having
them fall in love while running for their lives is another hurdle to conquer,
along with the need to keep them constantly in danger.
Are you still with me?
As I’ve mentioned in
previous blogs, I start with a detailed synopsis that outlines the story. The
first three chapters are written methodically with lots of revising and
tightening, adding and deleting until I’m satisfied that I’ve provided enough
information but not too much. My goal is to give the reader a clear picture of
where the story is headed so they can join me on the journey.
I use my AlphaSmart to get
words on the page. That stream of consciousness writing, of sorts, moves me
along quickly. I rely on my synopsis to direct my focus, but the actual telling
of the tale comes in a rapid visual flow that I transcribe into text on my
small word processor.
The middle section is a
labor-intensive process of filling each 24-page AlphaSmart file with escalating
danger. I end up with a first draft that requires extensive rewrites.
For the last two stories, I’ve
reached a spot—usually as my deadline loomed—when I realized how much I love to
write. Each time it came as a shock after my extended period of questioning
whether I should or could ever craft another tale.
What I stumbled upon was my
Writing Sweet Spot, the part of the process that brings joy to my heart and
keeps me focused on writing.
My Sweet Spot is in the turn
of phrase, the rewrites, the tightening and deleting. It includes adding
emotion and action tags and subtle nuances that enhance the conflict and give
meaning to the story.
I stumbled upon my Sweet
Spot, but you can find yours by breaking down the writing process and
evaluating each step in the journey from conception to submission. Use the
5-star review method to grade your progress.
«««««
Conception. Start with the
initial spark of an idea and fan it into a story that lights your fire! This
step can also include a general overview of the plot and characters.
Stars: «««««
First three chapters. Introduce
your hero and heroine, and foreshadow the conflict, both internal and external.
Give your reader an idea of the type of story you’ve written and what they can
expect as the plot unfolds. Stars: «««««
Create the story outline or
synopsis. Whether a detailed scene by scene outline or synopsis or a shorter
overview, this phase provides the frame upon which you’ll build your story.
Stars: «««««
The middle. Take the hero
and heroine through a series of escalating problems, which entail danger in a
suspense, attraction in a romance and/or self-realization in a character driven
tale. Stars: «««««
Black Moment. All the forward
progress seems for naught as the hero and heroine face a huge obstacle that appears
insurmountable. Stars: «««««
Climax. Weave the threads
together into a powerful fight to survive in a suspense or a last ditch effort for
good to overcome evil or for love to conquer all so the story concludes with a
satisfying ending and a happily ever after.
Stars: «««««
Rewrites. Tweak the pages to
make them shine. Stars: «««««
Final Copy. The last look at
the finished manuscript before you hit SEND. Stars: «««««
Some of the Seekers shared
their Sweet Spots…
Mary Connealy: I love
writing. I love everything about writing from the blank page to the start of a
new book, to the revisions, to the catalogue copy and covers and galley edits.
But picking a sweet
spot....I'd have to say to me, it's having an action scene all written, then
bringing it to life, making it move. I usually dread writing those scenes the
first time because I just know I can't do it right the first time, but then
reworking it, cutting out anything that stops forward motion, upping the
tension, adding humor or sass or intensity, I can feel it as it gets better,
stronger. And no matter how many passes I make on a scene like that I can
almost always improve it, because they're very complex, so I don't mind going
over and over it because that's what makes it shine.
My sweet spot, revisions on
action scenes.
Pam Hillman: I'm not sure
I've found my sweet spot yet, but the one place that I feel like I have a story
"licked" is when I have all the major plot points ironed out...not
just plotted in my head or in a synopsis, but actually written down in the
manuscript. Because sometimes the cool idea doesn't translate well to the
actual page. :)
A couple of weeks ago, while
working on This Land is Our Land for
Barbour, I was struggling with a couple of plot twists that were important for
my own peace of mind and that would make the reader keep turning pages. For
several days I worked, re-read, edited, plotted and planned, and when I finally
got those two areas worked out, it felt like the whole manuscript fell into
place, like carefully place dominoes.
And you know that old saying
about not seeing the forest for the trees? The more I write under deadline, the
more I realize that I need to work toward getting those plot points firmly in
place before I worry overmuch about the minor details like pet words, sentence
structure, word choice, etc.
So, if I have a sweet spot,
it's that. When I know the plot points of the story from beginning to end are
solid and can hold the rest of the canvas up like carefully planted "tent
poles", then it's su-weet, indeed.
Julie Lessman: Well, my
physical “sweet spot” is down on my lower deck where I and my laptop spend most
of our days, eight months of the year, rain or shine, spring-summer-fall. But
as far as the actual writing process, the most addictive part for me—the thing
that gives me that sweet adrenalin rush—is finding the perfect word to convey
on paper what I see in my mind. I have an online thesaurus called OneLook Reverse Dictionary that is
hands-down the best writer’s resource I’ve ever seen. Strange as it may sound,
my heart literally jumps in my chest almost every time I use it, filling me
with a rush of giddiness at the challenge of finding just the right word. But …
when I’ve hit that writing wall where even my beloved thesaurus fails to
skitter my pulse, I find that 20 minutes on the treadmill works wonders to
loosen the logjam, causing the streams of passion and creativity to flow once
again.
Missy Tippens: The part of
writing a story that makes my heart sing is when I'm barreling toward the black
moment. It's like everything I've been working toward is about to happen. Which
probably sounds terrible since it's a crisis! :) But I think it's because I
know the characters are ready to face this problem and will overcome. I know
they'll earn their happy ending--which is also very fun to write. So my
favorite part of a story is writing from the black moment to the happily ever
after.
Janet Dean: My favorite part
of writing the book is writing the first chapter! I get excited with my new
hero and heroine, the new conflict, the back story that just seems to fall into
place. I feel eager and optimistic, sure this will be my best book ever. The
proposal phase goes pretty well, too, but by the middle I’m sagging as much as
my story. Lots of writers love writing the ending, but I find it intimidating
because I’m rarely satisfied. I want the HEA to feel bigger than life, to sing.
Though revisions are fun and playing with words and finding ways to up the
emotion is fun, I never feel the book is as great as I’d thought it would be
when I penned that first chapter.
What’s your Sweet Spot?
Share a comment to be
entered in a drawing for one of my books, winner’s choice, and a surprise gift.
I’ve boiled eggs for the
breakfast buffet. My method?
Place eggs in pan and cover with
water. Gently boil for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Fill pan with cool water.
Along with dozens of hard
boiled eggs, I’m serving fresh fruit, an assortment of pastries and bagels, and
grits. The coffee’s hot. Thanks, Helen. Tea and soda are
available also. Fill your mug and your plate and let’s talk about Sweet Spots
and the writing process.
Wishing you abundant
blessings,
Debby Giusti
.jpg)
THE AGENT’S SECRET PAST
By Debby Giusti
THREAT
FROM HER AMISH PAST
Eight
years ago, a drifter destroyed Becca Miller's ties to her Amish community—and
murdered her family. Now a special agent with Fort Rickman's criminal
investigation department, Becca knows her past has caught up with her and
doesn't want to relive it. She's convinced that the killer, who supposedly died
years ago, is very much alive and after her. Special agent Colby Voss agrees to
help her investigate. Yet the closer they get to the truth, the closer the
killer gets to silencing her permanently.
Click here to buy.
