Category: Behind the Scenes/Book3

Hey Donald! You’re Draining Me, Not the Swamp (Behind the Scenes #5)


It’s News Squib Saturday, but I’m going Behind the Scenes today to explain why I haven’t been able to steam ahead with the first draft of Book3. I blame Twitter, TV — & Trump. 

It’s been only three weeks since Donald Trump spoke about “American carnage” in his inauguration speech, but the mood of despair and dysfunction which he stirred up continues to linger and makes it difficult to focus on fiction. Editor, author, and blogger, Nathan Bransford summed it up best for me when he wrote : “There’s a lot I’ve been intending to blog about recently […] But then I read the news or go on my social feeds and writing seems like the last thing on anyone’s mind. And, in a way, the things I want to write about feel so trivial in comparison to the news of the day.” Continue reading “Hey Donald! You’re Draining Me, Not the Swamp (Behind the Scenes #5)”

I. Need. To. Do. What ??? (Behind the Scenes #4)

I’m going Behind the Scenes today  to recall some of the major “highlights” of being a writer in 2016. As you’ll see, none of them have anything to do with the actual writing of my new thriller.

I’m not totally sure, but I think Ernest Hemingway would consider himself fortunate for dying before it became a requirement for every author to have a website, and to blog, and to post regularly on social media sites like Facebook.

Returning to fiction writing (after twenty years away) has been quite an eyeopener. You must have a website, they said. An agent won’t even glance at your manuscript if you don’t have a website. Oh, and way before anyone accepts your book for publication, you’ll need to build an audience by blogging on the website, and posting on social media. Continue reading “I. Need. To. Do. What ??? (Behind the Scenes #4)”

When Your Characters Take Control of Your Novel (Behind the Scenes#3)

Crumple Paper, Notebook And Pen With Cup Of CoffeeBehind the Scenes is a series of occasional posts about my efforts to write a new thriller (working title, Book 3) and about the challenges, setbacks — and perks — of returning to a writing life. Today, the second of two parts from Robert McKee’s Story seminar: How and Why Your Characters Take Control of Your Novel — And What It Really Means 

If you talk to (or read the blogs of) enough authors, pretty soon you’ll find one or two, or a dozen who will swear that their characters make the decisions as to the plotting of their novels. I never believed in this type of literary hijacking – until it happened to me, and I was able to weave in an entire subplot into Book 3 as a result.

But it wasn’t until story guru, Robert Mckee explained the phenomenon that I understood what had happened. Continue reading “When Your Characters Take Control of Your Novel (Behind the Scenes#3)”

What Makes A Good Story? (Behind the Scenes#2)

Crumple Paper, Notebook And Pen With Cup Of CoffeeBehind the Scenes is a series of occasional posts about my efforts to write a new thriller (working title, Book 3) and about the challenges, setbacks — and perks — of returning to a writing life. Today, the first of two parts: What I Learned In 3 Days with Story Guru, Robert McKee 

Plotting is my very favorite part of the creative process.  I scribble. I doodle. I get to play God for a little while: I push the characters around, and have things happen to them, and have them do things to others. I jot down key bits of dialog. Usually, I know how it’s going to end for the main characters. I do all this with pen and paper.

Blank Screen

But there comes a time when I have to go to my desktop and keyboard to start writing chapter by chapter, pecking away letter by letter. Faced with a blank screen, I usually do what all, most, many writers do. I procrastinate. This time was no different. I rearranged the spices in my spice cabinet; I checked the expiration dates on all the condiments in the refrigerator; I made a very, very detailed schedule for writing. And, then I picked up all my notes and jottings, and wondered if I even had a good story?

“Only one way to find out,” I told my husband one day last April. “Gotta book myself into one of those three-day writers’ seminars.”  I cleared my throat nervously. “It costs $865. But, you know, the guy’s brilliant.” Continue reading “What Makes A Good Story? (Behind the Scenes#2)”

Trying for a Third (Behind the Scenes #1)

Behind the Scenes is a series of occasional posts about my efforts to write a new thriller (working title, Book 3)  and about the challenges, setbacks — and perks — of returning to a writing life. (Note: I’m not always sitting at my laptop.)   

 

Crumple Paper, Notebook And Pen With Cup Of CoffeeIt’s been about twenty years since my first two. Now, I’m at a time in my life when I could be enjoying leisurely days of playing tennis and golf, reading and relaxing in the sun, and taking long vacations.  But, I’ve decided to try for a third.

No, obviously, not a baby. I mean a third book. Continue reading “Trying for a Third (Behind the Scenes #1)”