Building Partnerships

Building strong partnerships in your writer’s life is important. You need a support team. Other writers understand and will help you celebrate the wins and commiserate during the bumpy times.

Find a writer’s group. That is the best thing I did for my writing career. I instantly had a wonderful peer group that shared opportunities, events, and advice.

My first traditionally published mystery credit was from a Sisters in Crime chapter anthology. I met other writers, booksellers, librarians, and a whole bunch of mystery fans from the events that we hosted.

Other writers, especially those in the mystery community, are so generous with their time and advice. They have helped me with blurbs and all kinds of publishing and craft questions.

I have found my critique groups and partners, not to mention folks who plan book events and conference meetups.

Look for writing groups, especially with local chapters. They’ll help you stay plugged into what’s going on in your area. My agent and publishers also have virtual meetings to help their authors network. And if you want to meet people, volunteer to assist with one of their committees or projects.

Writing is often a lonely job. You need a peer group that understands the journey you’re on.

How Planning Can Help You Avoid Plot Holes

There is no one correct writing style. Find what works for you. Here are some things that helped me a long my novel-writing journey.

Before I Start Writing:

• I am a plotter or a planner. I do an outline for each chapter before I start writing the book. It’s usually in paragraph (narrative) form instead of the way your fourth-grade teacher taught you. When I start writing, I make notes all over it.

• I find that I can write much faster, and the story is much more organized if I map it out. When I tried to “pants” it, it took my years to finish the book.

• I mark the funny scenes, red herrings, key mystery points, and romantic elements in different colors, so I can visually see where they are in the story.

The Outline

• This helps me know what happens in each chapter.

• It also causes me to make sure all open items get resolved before the end of the story.

• By thinking through the contents of each chapter, I don’t usually get stuck on a story point that bogs down the writing.

• I still have a day gig, so I write in small chunks in the morning and at lunch. The outlines helps me start and stop a session without having to play too much catch up.

• By the time I start to write, I know the killer, victim, and the motive. I’ve also thought through the motives and means of the other characters.

• The outline helps me see where my story is plausible or just off base.

I usually follow my outlines, but there are time when the characters get their own ideas, and things go off script. The outline also helps me when I have to write the synopsis or marketing materials for the book.

Avoiding Too Much Backstory

I started my writing career as a technical writer for software and processes, and everything had to be explained in detail like a recipe. That was a habit I had to break when I started writing fiction. I put in way too much description, especially about how to do mundane things.

Readers needed to know your characters, but they have don’t have to experience every moment or hear about decades of history.

Here’s what I’ve learned about backstory through the years.

• Sprinkle it in your story. Reveal bits of characterization through dialog and what your protagonist experiences.

• Avoid sounding like a travel brochure or a marketing campaign when you’re describing something.

• When you’re talking about characters or setting, don’t stop the action or the momentum of the story.

• Avoid describing something in minute detail unless it’s important to the story later.

• I do a lot of research ahead of my writing, and I have to fight the urge to add every little detail. Research is important, and you learn so many neat things. Don’t waste what you found. Figure out a way to use it in a newsletter article or a blog post. Readers like to know about behind the scenes things or how you research your work.

• I have to know my main characters before I write. I always create almost a biography for them. I keep it in my character list, so I can refer to it later when I need it. It has things like eye/hair color, birthdate, graduation year, friends, pets, and favorites. There is way more information in there than ever makes it to the book. This helps if you write a series that has reoccurring characters.

Quick Motivators - For When You Don't Feel Like Writing

It’s July! Happy Summer! The weather is warmer, it is vacation time, and I have the urge to go outside and do something. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep your writing routine on track. Here are few ideas that might help.

• Get up earlier than normal to start your writing session. Sometimes, it helps if you finish earlier in the day, and there’s still time to do something else.

• Or flip your day, so you’re inside writing during the hottest part of the afternoon.

• Editing/revising is the hardest part for me. I really have to focus (and stay focused) to make sure all the changes are made. I usually reward myself with a social media break, a walk outside, or a quick research break after I hit a milestone in the process.

• If I really can’t concentrate, I put on my noise-cancelling headphones and listen to relaxing music. I have playlists for every mood (and writing task).

• I always keep a few, small pieces of chocolate on my desk for writing sessions. It’s a nice pick-me-up.

• Take an exercise break when you need to get up and stretch. There are plenty of chair yoga and chair stretch videos online to get your endorphins going.

• And don’t forget to celebrate when you hit your milestones or make your goals.

What would you add to my list?

The Long and Short of It...

I primarily write cozy mystery novels, but I started my writing career in the short story world. My first traditionally published work was “Washed up” in the first Virginia is for Mysteries anthology. I just finished a crime story that was a little darker for an upcoming musically themed anthology. I’m at the point in the writing process that includes a hundred revisions and edits before I send that one to the editor.

https://www.amazon.com/Virginia-Mysteries-Sisters-Crime/dp/1938467647

I like both formats. If you’ve never considered writing a short story, here are some things to think about…

• Since I write cozy mysteries that have expectations about characters, violence, and language, I get to experiment more with the short stories. Mine tend to be a little darker than my novels.

• You’re writing in a smaller space, so it takes less time to write than a book. You see a first draft much sooner.

• You’re writing in a smaller space, and that means every word counts. Most short stories range in the 4k to 6k word count limits. There can’t be extra explanations, a ton of characters, or long sections of dialog.

• You need to be able to tell your story with a shorter timetable. I think sometimes, it’s harder to write a complete story in a compacted space.

• Short story anthologies have gained in popularity in the mystery community, and there are quite a few outlets for publishing opportunities. Check out the Short Mystery Fiction Society. It’s a great group of short story writers who put out lots of calls for short stories.

• If you’re on the East Coast, check out ShortCon. The next one is in June. It’s a great opportunity to network with other writers and attend amazing panels and workshops.

If you’re looking for a new outlet or you’re interested in trying your hand at a mystery, consider a short story.

What I Learned about Writing and Life from Dogs

Disney and Riley are the Jack Russell Terriers who live at our house and keep us on our toes. They have two settings, warp speed or napping.

Here's what I've learned from them...

• Live in the moment. Today is what's important. The past and future don't matter that much.

• Play hard. Life can't be all work. Everything is a game to a Jack.

• Nap when you need to. You need to recharge every once in a while. You need to take care of yourself.

• Don't waste a beautiful day inside. Go outside and have fun.

• Know when it's time to cuddle on the couch with a good book.

• Bark if you need to, but not too much.

• Wag and make friends. Relationships are important.

• Don’t obsess too much about the things you can’t control. Those squirrels will never stay out of our yard. And people will continue to walk in our cul de sac. Okay, so the Jacks may need a little work on this one.

What is something your pet has taught you?

Why The First Draft is Just the Beginning...

When I talk to groups of new writers, I’m asked often about editing and revising, and they’re often surprised when I mention the number of rounds of revisions before the manuscript is ready for my agent and editors.

I love typing, “The End” on that last page, but it really is just the beginning. I print off a paper copy and do multiple (sometimes as many as 8 or 9 read-throughs). I’m looking for different things each time. Here’s what I always check…

• Are there plotholes? Does something not make sense? Did I make sure all the clues/red herrings were addressed? Are there multiple motives? Are you sure the protagonist isn’t too perfect? Is the technology and the actions plausible?

• Is the dialog pertinent? Get rid of the chitchat. Does the dialog all sound the same? Is the chatter boring? Can readers tell who is speaking? Are there enough dialog tags? Are there too many dialog tags? Did I use slang or regional sayings that most readers won’t recognize?

• Is there enough description of settings and characters? Is there too much description? Is there too much backstory?

• Are there continuity mistakes? Did your character eat lunch two times in the same chapter? Are all the details consistent throughout the manuscript? Did you change a character name in ALL the places? Is the timing of events in the right sequence?

• Check the grammar and punctuation. Do all the quotes have a beginning and end punctuation? Did autocorrect substitute any weird or wrong words.

• Do you have words and phrases that you overuse? I have a list of my biggest offenders, and I always search for these.

• Are all the chapter endings neat wrap-ups? Make sure you build suspense and cause your readers to stay up past their bedtimes. Neat wrapped up chapters make good stopping points.

What would you add to my list?

Where Do You Write?

I can write just about anywhere. I’m a plotter, so I do a pretty detailed outline of each mystery before I start the first draft. When I’m in first draft mode, I usually write at my desk. I have daily writing goals that help me stay on track. By having an outline, I can usually put down the manuscript and pick it back up without having to spend hours trying to get back to where I was. I also compose at the keyboard. It wasn’t productive to handwrite pages and then retype them.

I like to write at my desk. My monitor faces the woods, so I can watch the sunrise, squirrels, hawks, and other birds in the woods. I usually revise/edit/proofread on hard copies. I print out the chapters, and I can take them anywhere. My favorite spots are my sunroom and my deck on a warm day.

I need to have plenty of chocolate and caffeine when I’m in writing mode. And music. I always have some kind of music streaming in the background. It’s usually instrumental, jazz, or one of the calming stations when I’m writing. I like rock and the faster stuff when I’m editing. Music is fine when I’m writing. I just can’t have a TV on anywhere nearby. I also had to buy a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for the days the neighbor’s lawn service breaks out the leaf blowers.

What are your must-haves for your writing sessions? Do you have a specific habit or ritual to get you in writing mode?