Writing and Publishing News

Do you ever change your mind? When you’re writing a novel, do you change names of your characters, place names and such in mid-stream? If you’re like most novelists, you love some of the names you choose—they work. Other times, you get stuck on the name each time you bring that character into the story. It just doesn’t feel right. Or you determine that you’ve given two characters similar names. Now that’s a way to confuse your readers—name friends Jan, Jen, and Jean, for example, and you’ll leave your readers guessing. Name their husbands or lovers Jim, Tim, and John and their mothers Joan, Jane, and Jo and you’ve really created a challenge for readers.

This is another lesson in always, always keeping your reader in mind as you’re writing the book.

If you decide to change a character’s name for whatever reason, make sure you make the change throughout the manuscript. I can’t tell you how many novels have come to me for editing with character name and name-change mistakes. Here are a few examples:

• The author changes the name, but neglects to make the change throughout. You’ll be reading along about Sally’s dilemma, when all of a sudden someone named Susan enters the story without warning. Yup, the author changed Sally’s name from Susan and doesn’t make the change throughout.
• The author misspells a character’s name. This is another problem I see occasionally in the manuscripts I edit. A baby in my series is named Lilliana. With each story I write, I question the spelling and always look it up in my character log to make sure it is Lilliana and not Lilianna or Lillianna, for example. (We refer to her as Lily, but her grandmother likes to use her given name.)
• The author neglects to use the search tool to double check the spelling of names and to make sure he did not leave in an instance of Bill, when the character is now Joe.

If you are writing novels and you don’t believe the details matter, you could be dabbling in the wrong field. Details rule in novel-writing. Even though you’re writing fiction, your readers crave truth, reality, accuracy, and authenticity. Even a fantasy must ring true to readers. Sure, you can use your wild imagination, but if you maintain that the creature can only fly or was born with no wings, then you’d better stay true to your facts. If you want to change a fact, make sure there is a legitimate transition.

For those of you who have enjoyed my Klepto Cat Mystery series, I hope you’ve read all 8 on your Kindle. If you prefer holding a book in your hands, you might be pleased to know that The Colony Cat Caper—book 5—is now in print. http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2

Let me evaluate your novel or nonfiction book, contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com. Learn more about me and my work here: http://www.patriciafry.com

I’m often asked how I come up with ideas for my books and articles. When I was writing nonfiction, it was easy. I spent a lot of time out among my potential readers and I knew what sort of information, support, and resources they needed and wanted. I met them at writers events and book festivals. I followed their message boards. I read the books and articles they read and knew what was missing. I listened and I learned. I wrote for my audience.

No matter what type of writing you do, you write to be read. So it is always important that you keep your audience in mind when you choose a topic and as you compile and/or write your book.

I’m writing a lot of fiction now and my methods for coming up with story ideas are a little different. I still want to be read, so I still must write for the reader. But it is up to me—as the author—to devise/contrive a story that my audience will want to read.

I write cozy mysteries involving cats. It’s my job to entertain, delight and maybe challenge and touch my readers. The story can take place anywhere and I can follow just about any theme, but I’d darn well better be able to make readers feel something. While some of my readers enjoy the antics of the cats I write about, others are interested in the mystery aspect. Readers want to love or hate your characters. They want an emotional experience. Some are addicted to the mystery aspects. Most who read cozy mysteries want a fast, uncomplicated, relaxing read. Some who read cozies with cats, want a very real experience with the cats in the story. And readers can be ruthless in their critique of books within their favorite genres. They have expectations and you’d better meet them. On the other hand, some readers resent cookie-cutter books.

So here I am telling you authors to write for your particular audience, and then I reveal the truth—that not all of your readers are looking for exactly the same experience. This does present a challenge for authors. It boils down to the old and true adage: You can’t please all the people all the time, as is proven in the ratings and rankings our books get at Amazon and GoodReads, etc.

So what is an author to do? Only the best that he or she can within the limitations and the boundlessness of their chosen genre.

I started out to talk about creativity this morning, but ended up going a different direction. I’ll blog about my creative process later in the week.

If you’re writing your first book, you might resent my even suggesting this. You’ll be happy if you can make it through the stress of creating one coherent, meaningful, interesting, readable novel. And I’m suggesting you write another one—maybe several other ones? What am I thinking?

Well, I’m thinking about your future and your pocketbook. Many authors today are settling into more comfortable lifestyles because of the proceeds from their mystery, crime, adventure, children’s, etc. book series. Think about it, if readers like your first book—if they enjoyed the story, found the characters engaging, like your writing style and the theme of the book—they will undoubtedly buy your next book and the one after that and so on.

If you have a good idea, why not capitalize on it? If you’re promoting one book on a certain theme or in a certain genre, why not promote several? You’re in the zone, anyway. You know how to promote books of this type.

Should you write a series? If you have strong characters, a good story idea, and you can tell that story well, I urge you to consider planning a series. Publishers like them and readers like them. And these are definitely the people you want to impress.

There are as many writing techniques as there are writers. I used to write stories in longhand and type them out on a manual typewriter. Even when I finally bought a word processor, I couldn’t think into it. I still did my writing on a steno pad (or spiral-bound tablet). Eventually, I succumbed to the charms of the computer, however, and can now create using one.

But I still do a lot of work away from the office. I’m currently working on a new book for my mystery series and realize that the story is developing during my daily walks.

I’ve been walking regularly for forty years. I started out walking in order to strengthen my back muscles after an injury and a year-long recovery. I’ve used my walks for aerobic exercise, meditation, contemplation, stress-relief, and problem-solving. I’ve also used walking to enhance my writing, to come up with writing themes, to work through a story challenge, etc.

Yesterday, just before I set out to walk, I’d completed a scene in my most recent Klepto Cat Mystery. I wasn’t sure where to take the story at that point. So I spent my forty-minute walk planning the next scene. When I returned home, all I had to do was start writing.

If you’re curious about what I write, check out my Klepto Cat Mysteries at amazon.com. There are five of them now. All of them are formatted for Kindle. Three are in print. http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2

If you need help understanding more about the publishing industry, book marketing, or public speaking in order to promote your book, check out my books, Publish Your Book, Promote Your Book, and Talk Up Your Book, by Patricia Fry. Purchase the print, Kindle, or audio versions.

How do you go about discovering or creating the plot for your novels? Do you have a plot in mind before you start writing? Does the storyline miraculously develop as you’re writing? Does your plot change numerous times before you’re finished writing? In my world, it’s a mix of all three.

Yesterday, I finally fleshed out the basic plot for my latest cozy mystery (number 6). I had one in mind, but it needed struts—you know, something solid to build from. After working on this book for a couple of weeks, not knowing for sure where the plot would take the reader, I got up at 2 yesterday morning and had it figured out before lunch. (I took two naps yesterday afternoon.)

Does the story work now? Not quite. There are still many questions that need to be addressed, issues that are out of place, inconsistencies, improbabilities… But these are the things I’ll conquer in the next several go-arounds.

Is Cheryl’s character believable? Would Savannah actually react that way in this situation? Should I give Michael more to do in this story? And what about Rags (the cat)? Do I include him enough to satisfy and delight my readers who choose my books because of the cat action? Is it time for another wedding? Have I caused readers to care enough about this couple for a wedding announcement to matter to them? Is the activity around the crime tame enough for a cozy, but gnarly enough to generate excitement—to evoke emotion?

Those of you who write fiction already feel that sense of responsibility to their readers. Those who don’t might be surprised at how seriously novelists take their stories and how much we focus on the end reader. Do you know who helps us to write a better story—to stay true to our readers? It’s the reviewers. Any novelist worth her (or his) words will listen to peer and professional reviewers.

Sure, some comments are downright ridiculous (“You used too many single-syllable words,” “The dog’s name is stupid…”). It’s our job to weed through comments by mean-spirited people and those who got up on the wrong side of the bed the day they read your book. But the author who does not pay some attention to comments from reviewers is the author who might not experience the level of success they desire.

I’m Patricia Fry. I write nonfiction books for authors and a series of cozies with cats called the Klepto Cat Mysteries. All five of my mysteries are on Kindle at $2.99 and three of them are also available in print. That’s Catnapped, Cat-Eye Witness and  Sleight of Paw.

I would love hearing how you work out the plots for your stories.

I’ve been gone this week. I didn’t do any writing. Didn’t keep up with my blog. I didn’t even do any book promotion. I just played and chilled and thought.

It’s good to get away from business—even when your business is your passion and you love what you do. Not only is it healthy to change gears once in a while physically, it’s wise to step back and look at your business from a different perspective. I like to ask myself, “Hey, Patricia, how’s it going?” “Are you still enjoying the work?” “Is there anything else you’d rather be doing?” “If you were to change something about your life, what would it be?”

Usually when I ask these questions while traveling/vacationing, I’ll say, “Need to get away more often.” But when I get home, I decide that I’m in a pretty good place both personally and professionally. Can you say that?

Are you currently working on a writing project or just thinking about doing it? Do you have as much time to write as you want? What are your goals with your writing work? Do you dream of writing for a living? Is it the process of writing that you love or are you more focused on the big picture—the top ranking at amazon.com, publication by a major, etc.? Are you writing from the heart or in order to prove something or get something off your chest? Is what you’re writing actually publish-worthy? Or is it something you should finish and then trash?

Wherever you are with your writing project and whatever your aspirations as a writer, it’s wise to do an occasional reality check. Take some time to review your situation, your goals, the steps you’re taking toward your goals and the cost. Ahhh, yes, the cost. What are you losing or at risk of losing if you pursue your writing goals?

On the other hand, what are you losing by refusing to sacrifice in order to pursue those goals? Yes, sacrifice. If you have a strong desire to write, but you are spending practically 0 time actually writing, consider what you can give up in order to get that smidgeon of time in which to write?

Don’t let life push you around. Don’t get caught up in shoulds without examining them occasionally to find out if they are still legitimate. Or are they simply excuses you use in order to keep you from your dreams?

I’d love to hear from those of you who typically take time away from your writing work to reflect. How does this help you? Or are you still complaining that you have no time to write because you’re stuck in a lifestyle that truly doesn’t support your dreams?