Writing Process Not Always Smooth Sailing

Posted on June 5, 2012 by ltownsdin

I’d thought when I sent my mystery off to be professionally critiqued that my next step was publication, with perhaps a few tweaks to get it just right. Let me first say that I’m grateful for the insightful commentary I received; however, the scope of some of the suggestions deflated me at first.

The editor’s comments were on target because they resonated with the warning bells in the back of my head that told me I’d gotten off course. I’d already sailed pretty far out into the story, so I stayed the course, even with the warning bells and reached my destination—a pretty good book, but not as good as it could be.

More work to be done

Now I have the correct coordinates—to keep with my nautical analogy—and know which way to go, but it’s going to take some work. I have to go against the current and start revising from where I first went astray, and keep correcting until I get to that amazing magnificent destination I hoped for all along: A well-done mystery, satisfying for readers and for me.

Today is the day I stop whining and hope the wind fills my sails with great ideas and good writing ahead.

Creativity is Messy Business

Posted on May 29, 2012 by ltownsdin

Not to take anything away from the people and companies helping us organize our spaces, but in my experience, too much organization is death to creativity.

The professional organizer suggests we clear the desktop, file all papers, categorize, minimize and eradicate clutter.

That works well in every other space in my home. My bathroom towels are folded, toiletries put away. My bed is made, clothes hung in the closet. No dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. No newspapers strewn around the family room.

Yes, I feel serene when my writing space is neat. What I don’t feel is creative. When projects are tucked into their folders, lists consolidated, scraps of sticky notes tossed, and inspiring items I like to touch and look at hidden away, my mind is as blank as my desk.

Everything’s in play

Documents containing writing drafts, research, inspiration, editing tips, projects, and so on fill my computer desktop. My ideas cross-pollinate other projects. I swear they get together while I’m sleeping and generate even more connections. They jog my creativity like magic orbs bouncing around my mind, easy to grab onto. They contain snippets from blogs I follow or information on upcoming contests or conferences, and drafts of dialogue for the mystery I’m working on. Everything’s in play. But once they’re properly filed on the C drive my thread is severed. I’m at a loss about where to begin.

A disorderly mind is better than a blank mind

Here’s an example of how it works for me. I read the book, Steal like an Artist by Austin Kleon. Inspired, I went to my art workspace in the garage and started playing with words and pictures I’d gathered from magazines. That led to redoing my bulletin board to incorporate energizing ocean scenes. That gave me an idea for a new collage booklet using favorite lines from poetic fiction I’ve written in my writing group. I tossed around some images and papers and gathered colored pens and other supplies. Then an idea for my blog came to me so I left that mess and went back to my office, pulled out my yellow tablet and started writing.

Your thoughts?

The wonderful blogs I follow allow me to connect and communicate with so many creative people. I’d love to hear about your creative process.

Postcard Fiction #5

Posted on May 22, 2012 by ltownsdin

Surprise

Over the years, she willy-nilly tossed seeds, plants and bulbs into pots and flower beds.

Each spring she felt a thrill of anticipation followed by surprise and delight.

She more or less lived her entire life that way, even when the elements delivered a sucker-punch.

Photo by Artistry by Adele

Postcard Fiction #2 Miss Communications

Posted on March 20, 2012 by ltownsdin

Choosing wrong words

She sends a text, attempting

To bolster, encourage.

A mistake

To assume a problem

Where there was none.

She falters

But no offense is taken.

Released from the pressure,

Of manager of the universe,

She takes a walk on the river.

Mystery Writer Critique Group

Posted on March 13, 2012 by ltownsdin

Last Saturday, seven mystery writers from my Capitol Crimes chapter of Sisters in Crime met at Temple Coffee on S St. in downtown Sacramento to figure out the who, why, what, where and how of beginning a mystery writer critique group.

On that breezy spring morning with the daffodils bobbing, I felt ready for something new. Several among our group had been in critique groups in the past and for others, like me, this was a first. Over coffee and Chai tea we got to know each other a little better and talked about the upcoming Left Coast Crime conference this month, our books, published and yet to be, and the critique group.

We didn’t want it to be rigid and rule-bound or too unstructured. Commitment was important. We passed out critique group guidelines.

We gave ourselves several tasks to complete for our next meeting to help us learn more about what we wanted from the group. That prompted me to do some ruminating.

Why do I want to belong to a critique group?

Writer friends. Until recently, I have worked in organizations as a writer/editor/communications person. My friends in that environment were wonderful people, but not aspiring fiction writers. Now, I’d like to enlarge my circle with friends who have my same interests. Being in a group that talks about writing for two or three hours at a stretch sounds like heaven to me.

You Rock and You Suck. I need to connect with the real world in my writing and not only my internal world. One inner voice tells me I’m great and its evil twin tells me everyone is writing mystery novels and they are all more likely to get published than mine, and so on.

What my rational self knows is that neither of these voices speaks the truth. I write because I love it. Even rewriting and editing. I also want others to like what I write and that’s why I’m joining a critique group. Otherwise, it’s just me and my inner twins: You Rock and You Suck. I need a reality check.