Publishing Series: #8 How Do You Know When You Are Done?

How do you know when a piece of writing is finished?

Good question!

Sometimes you don't. The best advice at this stage of the writing process is to get your writing in front of other people that you respect for their writing talent and that you trust. In most cases this is some sort of writers' group.

I've belonged to a writers' group for about 15 years. The membership has changed over the years -- people drift out as life gets complicated and sometimes drift back in when they enter a period of time to dedicate to writing. Our core group of writers, however, has pretty much remained the same. They are a great group of talented, intelligent, creative people.

We meet once a month and bring a piece of writing to share -- something that we need help with or need to see a response to. Before we read our piece to the group, we try to tell them what we need them to look for. We provide a copy of the piece for each member and they mark up their copy while we read it aloud to them. Constructive criticism runs the gamut from spelling and punctuation errors to word choice and development suggestions.

At one meeting, I brought one of the last chapters of Relic before it was published. After I read, the group was upset. The character of the county historian had been mean to the two young girls in the story, they said. He needed his "comeuppance" -- their word, not mine. All the way home that night, I cursed them out! How could I fit this in? How could I make it happen? By the time I got home, I had figured it out. And to this day, I think it is one of the best parts of the story!

The writers' group has been invaluable in my journey as a writer. Find one near you, or reach out to your local library or indie bookstore and see if there is interest to start one!

Next Up: So You Think You're Done...

Publishing Series: #7 Revising by Choosing the Right Word

Every word matters.

Believe it or not, writers sometimes agonize about which word to choose. So how do they decide?

First of all, a writer needs to realize that words are defined by both their denotation and their connotation. The denotation is the dictionary definition, but the connotation is the emotion and feeling that goes along with the word. It is the difference between the word "jog" and "flee". Both entail some kind of running, but jogging sounds fun. Fleeing sounds like a person is running from something dangerous. There is a connotation difference.

Every word an author chooses has to add to the tone of the piece, and connotation helps with that.  If nothing else, know if the word you are choosing has a positive or a negative connotation.   If you are writing a battle scene, you don't want words with positive connotations -- unless your character is winning! 

Some people use a thesaurus to help them choose the right word. Sometimes I do. But you can't just choose any word from the list of synonyms. Know the definition of the word, and certainly make sure you know its connotation so that you can decide if it is adding to the piece's overall tone.

Next Up: How Do You Know When You are Done?

Just Got the News!

I am excited to hear that Indie Author Day will again be held November 5 at the Buffalo and Erie County Central Library in downtown Buffalo! 

It's always an informative convention-style event that is free for independent authors and offers a way to connect to the library and the writing community. This year it will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the library's auditorium. Registration is necessary and closes the day before the event.

Last year there were some great speakers -- a publisher and a writer who talked about historical research. Those are the two I remember the most, although I think there were a couple more.

If you are a writer or an aspiring writer, I highly encourage you to attend!

Publishing Series: #6 Revising by Adding Description

Description is a tricky beast.

How does a writer decide what to describe and what not to describe? How does a writer know what details to include? 

First, look at events through the eyes of your character. They wouldn't notice everything, only things that were important to them at that moment. The details, then, would help move the plot along. Remember, too, that details aren't always what is seen. Pulling in smells and sounds really bring the setting alive, but again, they need to be important to the action happening at that moment.

Individual word choice at this point can also help bring the story to life. A character could walk, but it is better to choose a more descriptive word. Picture it like a movie in your head. Think about how that character is walking at that moment in the story. Does he stride? Trapse? Skulk? Trot? Determine how their state of mind is materializing through the character's movements. Consider other body movements as well. Where are their eyes looking? What are they doing with their arms? 

And remember, too much description can weigh a reader down.

Next Up: Choosing the Right Word