As a hopeful writer, I get many questions
like: “How much more do you have to
finish your book?” And, “When will it be done?” “Are you half through
yet?” “I like the teasers I’ve read…can
you hurry up and finish it!
I get it, but I had no idea what a
journey I began a couple of years ago, when I retired and decided to write a
fiction novel. Let me give you a glimpse of why it is taking me a LONG time,
and why the next one (if ever) would be considerably quicker.
All I had ever written was sermons. Over two
thousand of them. That is vastly
different from fiction (snicker, snicker…in some cases, not so much
different). I had not had any writing
classes. No training. No experience and frankly, I didn’t know what most writers
don’t even realize they know. I had to learn
it. I’m still learning it, and I’m not Mensa material. So, it takes some time to, as I like to say,
“build my wagon while I’m riding in it.”
I have
availed myself of 6-8 online MasterClasses from some of the best writers of
fiction today. These are video classes with a syllabus to follow the lectures.
These are on all aspects of writing fiction.
Very helpful…and time consuming. Each class is 8 to 15 videos. I have
read books on point of view, plot, fiction in general, and numerous articles. I
have done numerous exercises suggested in some of these books, and they have
been helpful. I have also purchased and
read several novels just to see “how they did it.” Examples: To Kill A Mockingbird, The Joy Luck Club, and
reviewed others I’ve already read…for writing style. The research is daunting.
I have spent months of research to make sure my “made up” story is plausible. I have picked up many pointers.
I also have the help of a writer’s
group (about 4 of us who meet occasionally to go over our stuff and share
ideas, etc. I have a writing coach…my
long time friend and retired high school English, literature, writing
teacher…Beta Thompson Noel. Spending
time with her and her husband, Mike in Oklahoma City has been extremely
helpful. She is really smart, but I try not to make a big deal out of that. She
throws little suggestions and comments at me that I’m sure most writers know,
but they are gold nuggets to me. Another
friend, Sarah Bunn, has helped me organize my many chapters into a chronological
order that can work and keep me on track. Others have read a chapter here and
there to give me insight and feedback. My question is: if you read this…would you put it down or want
to read more? Bonnie has read most, of
not all of it so far. She reads tons of books, so I figure if she would read
it, its got to be OK. She has been very
encouraging.
So, you can
see, though the book is taking some time, I have not been sitting around doing
nothing. If I knew it was going to be this involved, I’m not sure I would have
had the courage to start.
However…NOW…I’d shoot myself before I’d quit. Too much work behind me.
Oh…I
forgot…THE STORY. That takes time,
too. The “think time” is incredible. To create and get into the lives of each
character and make sure they have a unique voice. My characters are REAL to me
at this point. I know them inside and out.
I also have to try and make the story jive with all the times, dates,
places etc…it all has to fit or readers will pick that up instantly.
C.J. Box
(writer of the Joe Pickett, Wyoming Game Warden series) writes 1000 words a day
to crank out two novels a year. In case
you haven’t figured it out, that would be about 3 pages of most books. You have
to know this stuff. That doesn’t seem
like a mammoth amount, but I struggle some days to write ONE GOOD PARAGRAPH. The
trick is, KEEP WRITING…every day write something. Put it down.
Keep going.
Other than
all this, and much more…its easy! Oh, did
I mention, that I also had the COVID-19 virus along the way. So the next time someone says to you, “you
should write a book,” look them directly
in the eye and swear profusely at them.
If that doesn’t shut them up…shoot them.
If you get thrown into prison, you might just have time to write a book.