How would you like to face this mess every day?

I’m in the revision process (on a page like this, the “rewriting process” is a more accurate term.) Every day, I go through a few chapters and scribble all over them, as you can see here. Then I start typing the changes into the document. It’s arduous, though as usual, I must add it’s not as arduous as fighting fires or teaching junior high. Still, with deadline looming (and a few other stressors in my life, which I won’t go into here. . . Good stressors, for the most part), a page like this one really gives me the willies.

Here’s a tidbit about this book and how I’m writing it: It has two points of view–sisters Maya and Rebecca, who are both doctors. I’m alternating Maya’s first person POV with Rebecca’s third person POV, but that confusion I’ll save for another post. What I’d like to discuss here is the fact that their stories are wildly different from one another. Therein lies the challenge. Rebecca is working with hurricane evacuees in the closed environment of an airport. Maya is trapped in the backwoods with strangers. I found it impossible to work on their stories simultaneously–that is, shifting back and forth from a Maya chapter to a Rebecca chapter, etc. So, as I’ve done with other books that have a similar structure, I wrote all Maya’s chapters first. Then, all of Rebecca’s.  Once I completed the rough draft of their chapters, I worked out the timeline to make sure what was happening to Maya matched the date of what was happening to Rebecca in the next chapter. (Ha! Easier said than done).  Now as I revise, I’m doing the same thing all over again. I’ve revised all of Maya’s chapters and am now working on Rebecca’s. Then I’ll once again be sure they flow well together. I will probably have to turn the book in at that point, although I know it will need more polishing, but it will be time to see what revisions my editor wants. After that, I can make it pretty. Right now, it’s kinda ugly.  But I love the story. Love it! I usually hate what I’m writing around this time in the process, so I’m not sure if loving it is a good sign or not. We’ll see!

I just noticed it’s already 7PM, so I’m going to grab a slice of pizza, take one of Rebecca’s chapters out to the porch, and make a mess of it as I did with Maya’s above. Wish me luck!

P.S. Remember, your comments on any of my blog posts give you a chance to win the cute tote bag in my current contest!

I’ve got plenty!

We’re closing in on 2009, and I think it’s going to be a good one for me, and I hope for all of you as well.

I know many people pooh-pooh New Year’s resolutions, but I love them. I love that “fresh start” each year. So I’m going public with mine, in the hope that will help me stick to them. Here we go.

In addition to maintaining my weight loss (18 pounds in ‘08!), getting to the Y at least three times a week, and making time to stay spiritually centered, I have a book to write! Yep, after all the angst of the past couple of months, my publisher has approved my new proposal — well, I still have some changes to make, but it’s almost there. All I’ll say right now is that it’s about two estranged sisters. I plan to keep you abreast of the writing, as I did in my “creating a story” posts that began back in October. Without giving anything away, of course.

As a matter of fact, I have three books to write. My new contract is for three books, nine months apart. Yikes! I won’t be taking any non-working vacations for the next twenty-seven months, that’s for sure. I’m looking forward to the challenge, though.

How am I attacking Book One? I’ve created a schedule that looks something like this: between now and January 5th, I’ll re-write the proposal/synopsis, adding new layers to the story, changing the locale (right now it’s a foreign locale, and my publisher wants at least the bulk of the story in the US). Then for the rest of January, I’ll do my basic research and fully outline the story. That will mean lots of colored notecards on the dining room table. This will be a dangerous time, as “research” and “outlining”, as opposed to actually writing, are amorphous tasks that can get away from me unless I exercise more discipline than I usually have.

Beginning in February, I’ll write fifty pages a week. This should allow me to produce three drafts. The first will be a total mess. The second, much better. And the third, nearly perfect. In between drafts, I’ll take a week for review and any needed research. 

In the midst of all this, I’ll have a new book, Secrets She Left Behind, to promote in June, and other promotional duties throughout the year. I need to do a major update on my website: I hope to add some video interviews (of myself) and descriptions of my older, currently out-of-print books which will be reissued in ‘09. But if I can stick to my schedule, I should have a complete book in good shape by my deadline, August 1. Wish me luck on that!

Unfortunately, I’m losing my fantastic editor at my publishing house. I’ve worked with her for years and she is dynamite, but she’s about to have a baby. This must be the only business in which, when someone calls to tell you she’s pregnant, your first reaction is “Oh, $#^%!” She’ll be a fantastic mom. And I know my new editor is sure will be another winner, since my publisher is full of them. Change is always a little scary, though.

So, that’s my agenda for 2009. What resolutions have you made?  

Yesterday I opened an email from my editor and learned her response to the synopsis:

I have two words for you–Love. It.

Those of you who’ve followed my synopsis-writing journey know how overjoyed I am to get this news! The book is tentatively titled The Midwife’s Confession (thus the picture on the left. Adorable, no?) and the focus will be on four women, all pushing forty, who have been best friends since college. I believe it will be due in August ‘09 or thereabouts, so there’s no time to rest. I’ll occasionally let you in on my progress.

The first thing I’ll do is start breaking the story down into scenes. As soon as I hit ”save” on this post, I’ll  get out my color-coded index cards (a different color for each point-of-view character) and start jotting down scenes–as well as the character’s emotional response to what’s going on.

I’ll also make decisions on structure, figuring out, for example, how to reveal certain things about one character who is, well, no longer among the living. And I’ll get started on the research. I’m considering setting the story in Wilmington, North Carolina, which is on the Cape Fear River and close to a number of beaches. It’s also the most active film-making site outside of Los Angeles and New York. I’ve never been to Wilmington and look forward to discovering an area that’s new to me. 

The one unfortunate note in all of this is that my fabulous editor, Miranda, will not be working with me on this book. She’s going on maternity leave in January, and since she’s Canadian, she gets a full year! I’m sure my new editor will be wonderful, but Miranda is a hard act to follow.

Now, where did I stash those notecards?

Originally, we were trying to work the word “after” into the title to keep the book linked to Before the Storm, since it’s a sequel, but the right titles simply weren’t coming to us. I’m very happy with this new title. It fits the book perfectly and better reflects the drama and tension that exists in the story.

Thanks so much to all of you who helped!