Thanks for asking me to do a guest blog about the writing
process. My latest book release, IF IT’S MONDAY, IT MUST BE MURDER! is available from Gypsy Shadow Publishing.
IF
IT’S MONDAY, IT MUST BE MURDER!
Murder mystery from Gypsy Shadow Publishing!
Mel, a former cop
shot in the back now lives in constant pain. When her best friend's daughter is
missing, Mel is asked to help find her. When the girl is found dead at the bottom
of a tall building, the cops believe she jumped. Did she? Or was it murder?
Able to “sign” it on www.kindlegraph.com
Released on 9-25-22
I wanted to write about the writing process. I know that
some of you who are writers or who want to be writers may be wondering how to
get started writing. The answer is simple: Write. Many people talk about what
they want to write about or talk about wanting to be a writer but few actually
do it. Take ten minutes out of your day and start writing. If you can’t think
of anything to write about do a stream-of-consciousness writing, this is where
you write down anything that comes to your mind without thinking. Or try your
hand at fan fiction first. Write an episode of your favourite TV show or write
a story about your favourite fictional or TV character. Above all, write. After
you finish writing, show your work to someone you trust who will give you
honest feedback (not your cat) about what needs to be done to improve it. Many
writers take a creative writing class for this purpose. Find a critique group
either online or in person and workshop your ideas/words. When I first started
writing I wanted to write Young Adult but I couldn’t find a critique group in
my area, so I started one. At first there were only two of us but eventually we
grew to be six, which is a good size for a critique group. The six of us met
once a week and workshopped one story from a member. It helped me to develop my
first novel, WITCH HUNTER.
Here is my process:
Step 1: Ideas: Where Do They Come From?
Sometimes ideas fly into your brain with no conscious
thought process behind them and others need a little nudging. I keep an idea
file with snatches of conversation, pictures I like, news stories that interest
me, whatever catches my attention at that moment. If I am stuck for an idea, I
go to the file for inspiration. I did this much more at the beginning but I
still have it as a back up if I need it.
Step 2: Marinate Your Idea (not your chicken, although you
can do that, too)
This step can take days, weeks or months to happen. Once I
have an idea, I let it sit before I start writing. I may write down the idea
especially if I am working on something else but I don’t start it just yet. How
do I know when an idea is an actual story? Yeah, beats me.
Step 3: Writing the First Draft
Once I decide to write my story, I write it in a few
days/weeks. I don’t worry too much about timelines/scenes or word count. I get
the story down, it has a beginning, middle and end. Once the first draft is
done, again I let it sit before revising/editing. This is assuming it is a
viable story, if it isn’t I start over.
Step 4: First Edit
I read through the first draft with a critical eye, does the
story make sense? Do the characters? I look at plot first then I look at each
scene or chapter individually. If it makes sense then I do a line-by-line edit
to correct grammar, take out passive words like was, were, have, had; look at
number of times I used a certain word and try to find others that best fit the
scene. I also look at dialogue making sure it’s how people talk. I look at each
chapter and ask myself: “Is this needed here? Or is it fluff?” I also make sure
the beginning chapter is where I want the story to begin.
Step 5: Second Edit
This edit is done more in depth. Here is where I make sure
the Point-of-View (POV) is consistent throughout along with the setting. I cut
out any clichés unless it’s a character trait to use them and make sure I am
not using too many adverbs.
Step 6: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
This step is where I can get sick of looking at the story.
And I may set it aside for a few days before tackling it again. I usually take
one item and go through for example just looking at the main character, or just
looking at setting. To me this is the most grueling step.
Step 7: Final Edit
In this edit I go through the story again trying to read it
with fresh eyes, I will often use a different font/size. I use a narrative
voice on my computer to listen to the story (I use Natural Reader but there are
others out there). I do tend to edit online but I know some writers prefer to
print out the pages before editing.
At this point I send the first few chapters to beta readers.
Once I get the story back I will edit again (if I need to). The one consistent
comment I used to get from my beta readers is that my readers have trouble
connecting to my main character (MC), so now when I write I am aware of my
tendency to “hold back” and not let the reader see the emotions driving my MC.
Step 8: The Finish Line
After I finish the final edit (I say that in my head that
this is the final one but it rarely is, LOL) I read it through again. By now
the story should be concise, clean, and ready to go. If not, I start over!
So, there you have it. Some writers prefer to do a detailed
plot line, storyboard or outline. I prefer not to work with an outline until the
end when I plot it all out from beginning to end.
Be sure to check out the rest of my books on
Amazon/Kindle/Nook/Smashwords. Feel free to follow me on Twitter and Facebook
page and be sure to check out my website, it has the latest book news.
Take care,
Kathleen A.
Find Kathleen on Twitter: @kathleea
Website: www.gaelicfairie.webs.com
Email: gaelicfairie@gmail.com
Facebook: Witch Hunter https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Witch-Hunter/142372955812353
Guest blogger every Wednesday on www.downtownya.blogspot.com
