The Personal Essay: what NOT to do

1. Don’t vent on the page. Using an essay to express a moralistic stand and/or to rant about a controversial issue or family situation will likely lose a reader the moment she or he gets the gist of your agenda. Instead, share how your experience made you feel, allowing readers to form their own opinion. You may, indirectly, sway a reader’s viewpoint.

2. Don’t overlook the minor in life. One doesn’t have to pull a child from a burning building to have a story worth telling. Take day-to-day life experiences, major or minor, and present a universal meaning through the telling. Whether it’s a decade-old story about the day you lost your favorite cookbook or something “bigger,” the goal is to make readers feel, to think about everyday life differently, or to motivate them to act. No matter the event, the story should include personal transformation, allowing you and your reader to see the world differently. 

3. Don’t forget the point. It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering, but there should be a point to a personal essay. If your family takes a vacation, what’s the point of the retelling beyond enjoyment? Was it the first time three generations vacationed together? Was the trip a lifelong dream of the 90-year-old grandparent? Did being sequestered in a hotel room for two days during a hurricane lead to family bonding? There should be a life-changing point in there somewhere. Don’t write about a pleasant slice of life with no meaning. 

4. Don’t take the joke too far. Being able to laugh at yourself is incredibly popular in personal essay writing. Funny sells. However, writing a funny personal essay still must serve a purpose and, again, have a point. If you’re going to clown around, be sure the serious side of your story still shines through, giving your reader a take-away. If you make fun of yourself, you (and your reader) must learn something in the process.

5. Don’t start too late. Early drafts often come with “set-up” sentences of superfluous throat-clearing that could be eliminated without hurting the piece. Every story needs a beginning, but don’t waste valuable space getting to the hook. After writing your first draft, try reading your story from the fourth sentence on. If the story’s point did not change, get rid of the early throat-clearing. 

6. Don’t overwrite. Essayists can benefit from an old marketing rule: K.I.S.S. — Keep It Simple, Silly. Editors looking for “slice of Americana” stories typically want to hear a simple story with a simple point, but told in a thought-provoking way. Flowery writing, intended to show you are a “real” writer with a weighty vocabulary and lofty ideas, may put distance between you and the “everyday (wo)man” reading the story. Revise … and revise again, eliminating unnecessary words or phrases. Essay column writing for a newspaper or magazine almost always requires editing to a certain word count. Short is sweet as long as your edits do not change the flavor and feel of the writing. 

7. Don’t use lazy, passive language. Circle or highlight all adverbs/adjectives. Are there words or phrases used multiple times? Is each adverb/adjective the strongest choice for that sentence? Change or delete, as needed. Use the same exercise for verbs. Are there repeats? Did you use action verbs or passive “be” verbs (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been)? When possible, go for the action.

8. Don’t avoid dialogue. An essay is about your personal experience and perception of events. Sprinkling a couple of direct quotes into an essay can help the reader feel they are there with you during your slice of life moment. Using dialogue may be more effective than telling the reader, through exposition, what transpired. Worried your memories are hazy? Quotes don’t have to be exact … only exactly how you remember them. 

9. Don’t censor yourself. Let go. Keeping it safe and only scratching the surface may mean you are not yet ready to write that particular story. To write essays, you must be vulnerable and allow others to see your truth ... your hopes, fears, and regrets. If you feel yourself holding back, maybe you need more distance from the experience before you can take the leap and write about it openly and honestly. 

10. Don’t assume your story is unique. Everyday life experiences happen to most people. We get up. We take a shower. We go to work. Impactful, life-altering experiences — hitting menopause, going through a divorce, fighting breast cancer, losing a spouse or parent, and so on — do saturate the essay market. These events are not as unique to the general reader as one might think. When writing about these experiences, be sure you can present what makes it your own story, not one of many. What makes it unique? 

11. Don’t ignore directions. When submitting an essay for publication, check the publication’s website for exact submission requirements. Many publications ask for 700-800 words. Others may take less or much, much more. Publications plan months in advance. Note the publication calendar indicating deadlines for holiday pieces or specific themes. FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES.

12. Don’t expect the editor to edit. Be sure to present your cleanest submission possible. Submitting an error-free, grammatically fine-tuned piece presents you as a professional and may help you get that byline and/or additional future work. Editors have a lot on their plates. Don’t make more work for them by expecting them to clean up your grammar. Submit your absolute best work and give them an attractive reason to say “yes.”
 
13. Don’t take rejection personally. It requires bravery and a thick skin to publicly share your personal feelings and experiences. In doing so, you invite a reader or publisher to reject you through your story. Ultimately, it’s his or her choice, and reading a writer’s work can be a very subjective affair. Don’t take an unfavorable response personally. It’s your story. Regardless of public opinion, through the telling, you have, hopefully, learned something about yourself and maybe even slayed some personal demons. That’s what makes personal essay writing worth it.

​Good luck, and write on!

#essaywriting #personalessays #amwriting #WritingCommunity #WIP #WritingTips #WriterTip #MotivationMonday #MondayMotivation ​

​The Post-it Revision Process: 7 stages of editing that first draft
 
First drafts can be messy. Anyone who just finished #NaNoWriMo in November knows what I'm talking about. There are a gazillion ways to go about revising a novel first draft, but my favorite tool during revisions is always the handy-dandy Post-it® note. 
 
Armed with a slew of multi-colored blocks of sticky goodness, I follow these basic steps, done in the order presented, to wrangle the monster and push forward to something resembling a second draft. If you are a “visual learner” or “hands-on” type of person, my Post-it Revision Process may work well for you, too.
 
Note: These initial steps do NOT cover the fine line editing that a final draft requires.
 
The Post-it Revision Process: 7 stages of editing that first draft

1. Format. Using industry standards, digitally format manuscript. Include 1” margins on all sides, basic 12-pt. font such as Times New Roman, automatic page numbers in header, double-spaced lines, .5 indent for first lines of each paragraph, etc. Check with writersdigest.com, for details. 

2. Set chapters. Even if not 100% sure in what order they will end up, try to determine chapters. Give each a working title (if not planning to use titles in the finished product, use working titles as instant visual of what the chap is about) and "insert" a hard page break after each chapter. This makes the first read through much easier to view, and will show weaknesses in structure and scene length.

3. Print hard copy. Go "old school" and print out a copy. There are many benefits to using hard copy during the editing process, as the next revision steps will attest. Additionally, the first draft hard copy is physical “proof” you wrote the manuscript (be sure to include draft date/your name on cover page). After first draft edits, the hard copy can be stored in a sealed envelope (include a copy of digital file on USB thumb drive, for good measure) and filed away for future reference. As an added precaution, save a backup to the cloud or email yourself/friend/spouse the file, providing a date stamp. 

4. Post-it. Read through the first draft. Have handy a pen and at least SIX different colored Post-it notes (include red and green, to use for pacing). While reading first draft, make notes in margins and use Post-its to physically color-code the following initial edits:

• Plot — Plot/story structure issues should be a first priority in the editing process, as they can impact everything from that point on.
• Research — Content that is based in reality (city, person, profession, cultural factors, etc.) and needs further research.
• Character — Character concerns, such as stereotyping, ineffective or inconsistent voice/dialogue, name choice (too close to another character's name, not right for the time period, etc.), and so on.
• Pacing — Novels have natural highs and lows. Note each scene as red (slow place) and green (fast pace). Too many red or green notes too close together may indicate pacing issue.
• Page/Paragraph Formatting — General formatting issues such as lack of chapter headings, inconsistent paragraph indention, blank page after a chapter, etc. are more an annoyance than a serious problem, in a first draft. However, if it bothers you (as it does me), by all means note it and deal with it. Just keep in mind that this is a first draft, and there may be many others after it. Every new draft will have the potential to create new formatting issues. Future formatting edits will be necessary. The more you catch early on, though, the cleaner the final draft will be by the time you get to it.

5. Create Mini Chap Synopses. During the first read through, write down a 1-2 sentence paragraph about what happens in each chapter. This can be done on individual note cards, Post-its or white board. Additionally, note characters introduced/present in each chapter and number of pages in each chapter. 
 
6. Manually Rearrange. Rearrange chapters/scenes to help plot, pacing, or character intro. Tinker with this draft harmlessly by manually shuffling hard copy pages/chapters or rearranging mini-synopses until you like the changes. 

7. Digitally REVISE. Before starting digital revisions, save first draft under new file name, keeping original first draft file. Using NEW file, revise plot and research edits first, including digitally moving chapters/scenes. Once plot and research issues have been dealt with, work through rest of Post-it notes, by color, focusing on specific issues one at a time. 

CONGRATS! Once you have completed each phase of the editing process, you can consider yourself the proud owner of DRAFT #2.

Which is a whole other type of messy.

#editing #amediting #amwriting #WIP #SCBWI #NaNoWriMo #NaNoWriMo2020

NaNoWriMo: Ready? Set. Go! 
For the third year in a row, I'm taking the challenge. National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo, starts November 1, and I'm prepping for my 2020 project, a women's fiction set on Lake Erie (because that's my jam) with plenty of family drama (write what you know?) and quirky characters (careful, or you'll end up in my novel).

The goal? To write 50,000 words—essentially a short novel—in a month, something I managed in both 2018 and 2019. NaNoWriMo was a game-changer for me. I ultimately cleaned up my messy, ugly first draft of "Sutton's Choice" (2018). The final product—many drafts later and now 80,000 words—is in the query trenches, and my 2019 project is in the editing phase.

I'm stoked. On Nov. 1, I'll start something quite new. And how about you? Want to join me?

Why is it worth the time? 

1. To get the story down. In 2018 and 2019, I did not have time to second-guess every word. To meet the goal, I had to quickly lay the roots of the story and worry about the nuances later. This stopped my natural tendency to overanalyze my grammar and ideas, and it allowed me to write more freely/naturally.

2. To have a goal with concrete deadlines. I love a challenge, and NaNoWriMo is definitely that. I work best when I have a deadline. Since I take due dates seriously, not following through would have been a fail for me.

3. To create accountability. "Announcing" on my website and on Facebook that I was participating in NaNoWriMo nudged me to follow through. By going public in 2018 and 2019, and keeping my readers apprised of my word count progress, I was compelled to prove (to myself and everyone) that I could finish. I'm hoping to prove the same in 2020!

4. To feel a part of something. Writing can be a lonely sport. NaNoWriMo is like a month-long writing workshop at which you can ask anyone anything, at anytime, via the Internet and Facebook NaNoWriMo groups, and get multiple answers to your questions PLUS amazing peer encouragement. NaNoWriMo is a wonderful support system.

5. To provide a rhythm to writing. NaNoWriMo made me a more efficient writer. Knowing I had only 30 days, I wrote daily (regardless of how difficult the subject matter or how easily I could have invented excuses to delay a tricky chapter if I "wasn't feeling it"). I allowed myself to back up and edit just 1-2 pages each day, so I'd get my editing fix in without taking hours away from my writing time. This also allowed me to quickly regain the rhythm of the story and plow full steam ahead with something new each day. 

6. To finish. Messy or not, complete or not, I managed a "first draft" (twice). Though NaNoWriMo 2018 and 2019 produced rough, rough, rough first drafts, the results were still something of which I am very proud. Only with a finished first draft could I reasonably begin edits on a publishable final draft. 

NaNoWriMo is not for everyone, but for those who can look past the messy first draft, and see the nugget of gold beneath, the process is totally worth the time and effort.

Ready? Set. Go! Good luck and happy writing, my NaNoWriMo friends.

#WritingCommunity ​#NaNoNites #AmPrepping #Writer #NaNoNoWriMo2020 #WIP #MotivationMonday #MondayMotivations #WednesdayWisdom #WritingTip #WriteTip #SCBWI #fiction #amquerying #NaNoWriMo

On November 1, the brave of heart pour forth all the lovely characters, settings, fantastical creatures, possibly post-apocalyptic plots ('cause, well, reasons), and/or personal doubts and writerly insecurities stored up for months.

Our NaNoWriMo goal? 50,000 words and a complete novel draft in the month of November.
​
Sounds crazy, yes, but it CAN be done. I've successfully managed it two years in a row with my women's fiction projects, "Sutton's Choice," 2018, and "Sutton's Second Chance," 2019. I've just recently pushed "Sutton's Choice," fully edited and now complete at 80,000 words, out of the nest and into the query trenches. I've never felt more productive than in the past two Novembers. The NaNoWriMo process has, definitely, upped my writing game. I LOVE the deadline and structure of preparing for this process.

Here are a few tips for getting started. 

The very basic basics of preparing for NaNoWriMo 2020:

1. Create an account. Without a NaNoWriMo account, you won't really feel bound to pursue your goal. It takes only a few minutes to sign up, and it's free. Even if you choose not to follow through, the website is brimming with writing tips. 

2. Set it up. Where do you want this to take place? Time of year? Whether it's a little town you've been to many times before or someplace completely fictional, write down the basics of your setting. City? Region? State? Planet? If it helps, sketch a map of the surroundings. If the setting is real, create a folder on your laptop to stash helpful links to pull facts from later, as you need them. An easy resource is the area's Visitors Bureau website, which may provide historical information and photographs.

3. Get to know your characters. Listen to the voices in your head. Create mini character profiles. Give each character his or her own page in your notebook and add potential names, appearance, age, occupation, any connection you'd like them to have to other characters, interesting mannerisms, speech patterns, how they dress, etc. This is tons of fun and can be added to before, during, and after NaNoWriMo. Through character profiles you can also get potential ideas for conflict, if you don't already have a plot in mind.

4. Create a SHORT plot synopsis. Once you've got some interesting characters to play with and a place to let them play, jot down potential "What if?" scenarios that allow your characters to interact. Which scenario interests you most? Which would be easiest to write without a lot of research (Writing within one's knowledge base may help reduce stress). Which plot idea creates the most conflict? Once you hone in on a potential plot, attempt to write a short 1-2 paragraph synopsis. Like the back cover of your favorite book, it should not be too long but with enough details to draw in a reader. 

5. Glimpse the beginning, middle, and end. Whether a planner-type who takes all of October to fully prep for the big event—spread sheets, blocked off calendar, play list, 30-page synopsis, and a brand new coffee mug—or a "pantser" flying by the seat of one's drawers, try to have a general idea of how you want your story to begin, what specific actions/plot points might happen midway through the story, and some sense of what happens to end the story. In other words, what is point A and point B and what possible pitfalls will your characters see/experience when traveling down that path? 

That's it, really. With the above steps, you've got a base. I can guarantee, those characters are likely to take a few wild turns, and they might even send you down a completely unexpected rabbit hole, but at least you'll have some sense of where you'd like to go. That's all you need to participate in NaNoWriMo 2020.

Frankly, it's all I had last year and the year before, so just do it. Let the creativity flow!

For more tips, check out my other NaNoWriMo posts in October/November 2018 & 2019. 

Good luck and write on, NaNoWriMo folks!

#amwriting #NaNoWriMo #NaNoWriMo2020 #writingtips 

Usually, my posts are geared toward improving the craft of writing, catching grammar mistakes, overcoming writing procrastination (something I've battled this past month), etc.

Today? Today, I go back to basics — ABCs and 123s.

What came first? I'd like to say ABCs. Without basic literacy—the ability to read or write—it would be nearly impossible for a child to understand a math problem. Without basic literacy, children would struggle with every other subject in elementary school. As an adult, he or she may not be able to order food from a menu, get a driver's license, be eligible for college, sign a check, know how much a shirt costs at Target ... or even know if their own child is dyslexic.

Certainly, they would not be able to read a great American classic. And that's a shame.

When I lived in the Pittsburgh area for over 20 years, I spent a good bit of my time advocating for early childhood literacy. I ran a couple of district-wide fundraisers to bring thousands of dollars worth of books into Penn-Trafford School District's five elementary schools and served as library aide for one elementary library for about five years, prior to becoming a news reporter for a community paper. I ran the library, autonomously, four days a week, every week, for kiddos in Kindergarten through fifth grade. We rhymed with Dr. Seuss, climbed a magic treehouse, got tangled up in Charlotte's web, and even hopped aboard the Hogwarts Express. 

It was, decidedly, one of the most rewarding times of my life.

I am most proud of my past efforts to get non-readers interested in reading. Library mascot Buddy the Bookworm and I challenged the students to read 4,000 books, as a school, in my first year in the library. By the time I "retired," those students were reading more than 10,000 titles annually, schoolwide. I spent an entire day on the roof of the library, bundled up with umbrella in hand, as classes stood in the bus loop, between raindrops, to hear me recite "The Cat in the Hat" as my "punishment" for all that reading.

The memory brings tears to my eyes. 

Those kids taught me what hard work means, and, hopefully, I taught them the value of a good book.

That lesson must be taught as young as a parent can possibly teach it—from birth, if at all possible. That is why I am very excited to support the statewide Ohio Governor's Imagination Library (OGIL), in coordination with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which can be found worldwide. 

As a Port Clinton Rotarian, I recently served in a publicity capacity on the Ottawa County, OH, Imagination Library steering committee, helping to bring United Way's OGIL program to area children. I highly encourage anyone with a child—birth to age five—to register to receive FREE monthly books, because early literacy is the key to later success.

Start your child's reading journey!
A passion project of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine, OGIL provides children from birth up to age five, regardless of family income, with a new book each month at NO COST to the parent or provider. Studies have shown that improving early literacy leads to better education and training, improved employment outcomes, less poverty, and reduced crime. The books, which are mailed directly to each child, are selected by a panel of early childhood literacy experts.

To enroll a child in Ohio Governor's Imagination Library in Ottawa County, OH, visit https://www.unitedwaytoledo.org/take-action/united-way-in-ottawa-county/ and click on the “Register Now” tab.

Anyone interested in supporting this cause may contact United Way in Ottawa County, 419-734-6654, info@unitedwayottawacounty.org. OGIL matches all community funds raised, dollar for dollar. Every $1.05 donated provides one new book for a child.

READ early and read often!

#ImaginationLibrary #AmReading #BooksForKids #DollyParton #UnitedWay

Querying a literary agent is scary. 

There's so much to think about BEFORE you bravely send that first fiction submission. But, with a bit of patience and planning, querying can be a manageable, less terrifying (maybe enjoyable?) experience.

Hints for the brave:

1. Be prepared. Do not send a query before your fiction manuscript is fully drafted, edited, and proofed. I've heard so many stories of writers sending out queries (or getting a like during #PitMad) before a manuscript is ready. This creates a panic if an agent requests more. Though a  manuscript may not be perfect, it should be as polished as you can make it. Assuming an agent or editor will "clean up" the missing commas or misspelled words is a recipe for rejection.

2. Know what might be asked of you next. When requesting a full or partial, some agents may also ask for a synopsis, comp authors or titles, or even a marketing plan. Don't be blindsided by these requests. Before submitting, write a 1-2 page synopsis (yes, I hate writing them, too, but it's got to be done). Also, have some sense of who your target market is, what authors you may be compared to, specific titles your book could sit beside on the shelf, etc.

3. Do your research. Always consider the agent's agency website to be the most reliable source of information about how to submit. Regardless of what an agent may say about submissions anywhere else (Publishers Marketplace, a magazine interview, etc.), it is completely safe to indicate in your query "Per the submission guidelines posted on Totally Awesome Agency's website, I am submitting blah, blah, blah." No one will fault you, if you follow the agency website guidelines.

4. Visit the Manuscript Wishlist website. This super helpful website includes the current "wishlists" of agents and editors. Not all agents utilize the site, but it's a great way to search specifically for those who are looking for what you are submitting. Many agents update these listings more frequently and show more of their personality and literature tastes on this site than they do on their actual agency sites. 

5. Make a wishlist of your own. Not all agents are created equal. You should want an agent as much as he or she wants you, so be sure to compile a list of the agents you are considering and even rank them. An agent that I think is a "perfect" fit (offers a helpful writing blog, represents bestsellers in my genre, seeks a story about complicated families, was an only child, enjoys baseball, likes dogs, or whatever) goes to the top of my list. If an agent sounds like a good fit, but I don't know enough to tell for sure, I put the name further down. If an agent doesn't divulge much about interests but represents my genre, he or she goes to the bottom of the list. Those at the bottom may actually be a fantastic option, but, until I can dig up more information, I just don't know.

6. Create a master spreadsheet. Taking your agent list, create a spreadsheet to include basics such as agent name (last, first), rank, agency name, agency contact info/web/address, agent contact email, submission requirements (query + 5 pages, synopsis, etc.), submission email or online form, submission date, response date, request for F/P, notes. Because I like to write for a variety of ages, I also include checkboxes for what an agent represents (PB, M, YA, NA, A). Feel free to use this PDF or customize this Excel doc for your own needs. 

7. Consider creating a Submissions Only email. Some writers create a "Submissions Only" email address, used strictly for sending and receiving queries/responses, so the chance of a "request for full" from an agent doesn't get lost in a glut of spam, client communications, and Barnes & Noble ads.

8. Be strategic with the first batch. When submitting a new project, I usually start small (about half a dozen). I choose 2 agents from my highest ranked, 2 from my middle ranked, and 2 from my lowest ranked. This gives me a nice cross-section. I also choose agents who have slightly different submission guidelines. Of the half dozen, I select at least a couple who only want a query letter (no sample), so I can gauge if my query, alone, is working. The rest of my queries go to a strategic mix of agents who ask for 5 sample pages, 10 pages, or, sometimes, 20 pages (early on, I prefer submitting fewer sample pages). Again, my goal is to see what gets someone's attention, so I can adapt my strategy or even edit my manuscript, if need be.

9. Stay organized and document results. Print out your master spreadsheet and color code agents (I use sticky notes I can move around — yellow indicates outstanding submissions, green indicates request for F/P, red indicates rejection). Be sure to document submission dates and response dates, as soon as they go out or come in. When an agent sends me a final rejection, I print it and file it.

10. Look forward to the rejections. Rejections are not something to dread. They can give you a great deal of information (particularly if you're lucky enough to get a personal response vs. a form letter). Rejections allow you to move on to the next agent on your list. Again, the goal is to find an agent who wants you as much as you want them. Getting a rejection means you weren't a perfect fit. I try to replace every rejection I receive with a new submission, so there is always something out. Know who you will send to next and be prepared for the long haul. It could take 2 queries or 200 before a particular project gets picked up (or put in a drawer for another time). Even if it's a "no," learn something from the process.

Yes, querying a literary agent is scary. But news—ANY news—is a step forward. You can't get a publishing deal without putting yourself, and your work, out there.

Be brave ... and query on!

​As always, thanks for the artwork, Michelle Haas.

#amquerying #WIP #fiction #WednesdayWisdom #WritingCommunity

1. Staying in a Professional Lane — A plumber fixes leaky pipes. A roofer replaces shingles. A professional writer can fill a communications void far better than a non-writer with no training. Just as one would have a medical doctor set a broken bone, one should hire a writer for a writing project. A writer writes. That's what they do.
2. Positive First Impressions — nothing has more weight than a customer's first impression. If that first impression includes a typo in the first paragraph on the landing page of the company website, the first impression (a poor one) could be the difference between a sale and a pass. Professionally generated communications provide a positive first impression and may also encourage the media/public to trust the source and look forward to future communications. 
3. Consistent Messaging — Professionally generated materials used in local news outlets, social media, and/or a website should present a consistent message and singular view of an organization’s brand. A writing professional may analyze existing materials to identify how a company is lacking in brand messaging and to offer solutions to patch those holes.
4. Proactive Approach — a professional can put the organization’s best foot forward in a positive, timely manner during a crisis and/or a time of celebration. The organization leads the dissemination of information via the professional, allowing for a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach. 
5. Time — time is money and far too precious. Allowing a professional writer to take on communications responsibilities frees up valuable time for a business owner or organization leader to do what he or she does best. 
6. Cost — freelance writers/editors are fairly reasonable, when you look at the big picture. They may be hired for one-time projects or periodical needs (such as monthly press releases and blog posts). Writers often don't require an on-site work space or expect medical insurance, and hourly rates vary so widely, there is a freelancer for every budget.

I've been writing for small businesses, large corporations, non-profit organizations, and private entities for a very, very long time. Over the years, I've seen just about every kind of client, but my favorite (with whom I am overly loyal, give my lowest rates, and continue to work with time and again) is the client who works as hard as I do at his or her own respective job and who recognizes my professionalism in my own writerly lane. Just as my client is an expert in his or her field, I am an expert in mine. 

Why hire a writing professional?

​Because you wouldn't hire a plumber to put shingles on your roof.

**as always, thanks for the artwork, Michelle Haas.

#amwriting #freelance #Writer #WritingCommunity #businesswriting #WriteStuff #PowerOfPages #WIP 

Is it done yet? 

The question seems ridiculous, really. 

When speaking about his or her own work, you'd think a writer would know the answer to those four little words strung together. They make up an important, terrifying sentence, with so much weight and worry attached.

Is it done yet?

No idea.

Probably.

At least for now.

Maybe. Maybe not. Probably not.

I've read many blogs on the subject of knowing when your manuscript is complete and ready for submission. Most of them state the obvious. When you've got nothing more to say, you're done. When you've got nothing more to say and have proofed it...you're done. When you've got nothing more to say, have proofed it, and have had a professional editor proof it...you're done.

That's all well and good, but I could look at a professionally edited, already published, "bought and paid for" news article, blog, manuscript, or other personal work from years ago, and would likely still find something to change about my own writing, in that moment. When it comes to the written word, my mind doesn't embrace absolutes. I don't shut off the valve of creativity the moment I write "the end." I continue to tinker with my work in my head for days, months, even years later. At any moment, I might change my mind. I might pick a different ending. I might tweak a sentence, or two, or 200.

And it's okay to be that unsure. It's my work, and I get to decide whether to leave it alone or change it...again.

Maybe I'm feeling a bit feisty and want to go for that snarky tone, because someone just ticked me off.

Or, maybe I'm feeling nostalgic and want to add a flutter of a memory.

Or, maybe I'm feeling silly and mysterious. Maybe I'm feeling dour and prophetic. Maybe I'm feeling tired or euphoric.

All those maybes could change my own perception of my work. 

The point I'm trying to make is that it's okay if a writer doesn't feel confident in "the end." Frankly, the ending might change tomorrow, when a writer suddenly has a moment of clarity. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not remotely a wishy-washy person—not in my writing and certainly not in my life. I submit work under deadline on a weekly basis, confident in the knowledge that I have submitted my best work possible, in that moment. I wouldn't do it any other way. That doesn't mean it can't be (or won't be) improved upon by myself or an editor or a client. Sometimes, my work goes untouched by an editor's red pen, and it's "done"—perfect, even—in my client's eyes. Sometimes, I wish I'd had more time with that same piece, because I know I could do better. But that would be for me. I've learned, over the years, those are the projects I have to let go. If the client is happy, then I need to move on. I need to be done, too.

Is it done yet?

Probably not, but it's as done as it's going to be, until I have a good reason to change my mind about it.

We all want perfection. And most of us don't see that perfection in our own work.

A writer, particularly one who may be new to writing or doesn't have a lot of confidence in his or her ability to come to a "perfect" conclusion, should never feel guilty or novice for finding it hard to find "the end." If you are questioning yourself, you're not a bad writer or alone in that indecision. You're just like everyone else. Your mind is still working...churning out those other artistic choices. 

Is it done yet?

Sure, if that's what you want to call it.

My manuscript is done, too. 

Until I change my mind.

***

As always, thanks to Michelle Haas for the cool artwork.

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Building realistic, colorful characters might be my favorite part of the fiction writing process. There is a tiny piece of me in every character I create. SOME people (my husband) would say I am quite a colorful character myself. That's okay; what makes me colorful is also what makes me interesting—what makes me realistic.

Creating characters your fiction readers will wish to support and cheer on for 300+ pages is crucial. Let's discuss. 

TIPS for writing realistic, colorful characters:

1. Unless your character is named Bo Derek, she's not a perfect "10" (I'm dating myself, I know). We might want gorgeous hair, a stellar bod, a genius IQ, tons of $$$, and a winning personality, but perfect people don't exist in real life. Even a real person, who may seem perfect at first glance, will have a fault or insecurity lurking just below the flawless surface. Faults and insecurities are what make a character real and relatable. Identify such. Expose such. Use such.

2. A protagonist needs redeeming qualities. You've heard the phrase "gruff but lovable?" Make sure your protagonist isn't so fraught with faults and insecurities that he or she is unlikeable. A character must change from the beginning to the end of a story (character arc is a thing), but you don't want a character to be such a mess readers don't want to take that journey. If the protagonist has a foul mouth and prickly demeanor, create a balance. Have him or her do something to let the true character shine through. Adopt a side-kick from the local animal shelter? Maybe. Slip a $20 tip on the counter for the single mother bartender? Sure. You get the idea. 

3. Antagonists can have shades of good. Taking tips #1 & #2 one step further, realize that no character should be black or white, bad or good. Quoting one of my favorite musicals, "Ogres are like onions." Everyone has layers (even Shrek, who was definitely not the antagonist, despite many of the storybook characters originally thinking he was a big, bad, scary green dude). Unless a character is pure evil, he or she can have some good. That's what makes him human, interesting, relatable, and unpredictable.

4. Speaking of unpredictable, avoid stereotypes. Dumb jock. Brainy introvert. Vain beauty queen. Assumptions are made about certain people groups, even though there are just as many vain jocks, dumb introverts, and brainy beauty queens (see what I did there?). The point is to avoid stereotypes. Take your first idea of a character and spin the dial to something a few degrees left or right of what a reader expects. Change it up, and your character becomes much, much more interesting.

5. Actions speak louder than words. It's a trite phrase, but it's true. It is with the actions or reactions of characters that readers really get to know them. If your protagonist insists she hates music when asked to join the choir, but she sings solo in the shower every morning, we gain a clue to her true personality and some of those pesky insecurities. When writing fiction, be sure to use your character's actions to your advantage and as a way to add layers to the character and story.

6. Do your research. If you're writing for or about teens, you better have access to teens. Go to the mall. Watch your own children interact with their friends. Ask a teen to beta read your work. The same can be said of any specialized group of people you may be writing for or about, whether a beautician, widower, teacher, CEO, farmer, alcoholic, etc. Do whatever you can to familiarize yourself with and understand that character in a real-world setting, because you can't write what you don't know.

7. Know a character's language. Wooden or unnatural dialogue can quickly create a disconnect. Each character should have very distinctive patterns of speech, so it is obvious, even without a tag, that the dialogue came from a particular character. Example: in my working manuscript, I have a retired baseball player who calls his daughter "kid" and uses coaching lingo. I don't use this tactic in every bit of dialogue, but I've sprinkled it in enough that it's become synonymous with that character.

8. Don't allow a secondary character to steal the show. Everyone loves a larger-than-life character, but be careful a secondary character doesn't become a distraction and/or unbelievable caricature. Like in theater, the character who stumbles onstage in a crazy outfit, throws out a one-liner with exaggerated facial expressions and body movements, and just as quickly stumbles back off the stage can be great for a brief laugh and moment in the spotlight. However, if that same character is hamming it up in a group scene while the main character is doing a major life monologue, it can detract from readers getting to know something about the protagonist. 
​
Anyway you write it, a character who is realistic and colorful can build a connection with his or her readers. YOUR readers. 

Good luck and write on!

As always, thanks for the artwork, Michelle Haas.

#CharacterDevelopment #WIP #Writer #MondayMotivation #WednesdayWisdom #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AmEditing 

1. Get up. Get showered. Get dressed. As a writer who works from home 365 days a year, not just during a world crisis, I've learned that a normal going-to-the-office start to my day makes me infinitely more productive. Doing the basics (putting on pants ... any pants) helps me feel like a human, lifts my spirits, and gets me motivated.

2. Claim a space. Create your own private corner in which to work, even if it's in a spare closet of an unused bedroom. Avoid trying to work in common areas potentially needed by "co-workers" for television viewing, eating, sleeping, etc. Assume someone, at any time, may invade such areas (during filming of TikTok video featuring family dog lip-synching "Don't Stand So Close to Me").

3. Create a schedule. It's important to set a schedule for yourself, even if it's a loose list of manageable goals (alphabetizing query rejection letters). Without a plan, you're more likely to get distracted by the news or laundry or the third 1000-piece puzzle you've started on the kitchen table in the past two weeks.

4. But be flexible. Just as you should set a schedule, recognize that your co-workers are seeing a significant change in their own daily routine, as well, and may need some of your time (to build the blanket fort in the living room using the couch, two chairs, and every pillow and bedspread in the house). Remote workers with children may need to stretch the business day out, with family time built in every couple hours, as needed.

5. Communicate schedule to co-workers. Be they your 8-year-old daughter, elderly mother, or temporarily-out-of-work hubby, make sure your Corona roommates understand when you are working. Give them boundaries (crime scene tape across office door) and make it clear when you are unavailable (to play Mario Cart for the 30th time in 24 hours).

6. Take breaks and move. Take frequent breaks to clear your head and stretch. A home office should have a proper office chair, but many of the thrown together Corona home offices offer not-so-ergonomically-correct furniture. Save the back and get up and move (to Dance, Dance, Revolution with toddler) or take a quick run (to the corner mart for more toilet paper).

7. Eat meals with co-workers. Don't be tempted to breeze through lunch with just a yogurt at your desk. Whether you set aside the computer long enough to eat (the 25th box of Mac 'n Cheese) with your child or you Zoom a real co-worker with whom you'd normally share lunch (Wine Wednesday), it's good for both body and mind to take a noonday break and re-fuel. 

8. Leave work at the office. When you've had enough, turn off the computer and shut down your home office properly, so you can fully flip the switch and engage with your co-workers/roommates. You need that (happy hour while bing-watching "Modern Family") and so do they.

9. Enjoy a day off. When almost all of your hours in a week are spent in the same space, it can be hard to fully disengage from the home office. Don't forget to take a day off—FULLY—and engage in non-work-related activities in your home (family fashion show with old prom dresses/bridesmaid gowns).

Best of luck finding the joy and humor in your home, sweet home office!

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