It’s a good thing I’m writing this latest novel for spec and not on contract. If I had a deadline, I might turn gray overnight. Oh, wait, I am gray. Okay, bad analogy. That’s fine. The novel is still a hot mess no matter what color my hair may currently be.
I love this book, and the characters. It’s tentatively titled No Return. Here’s the blurb: The North Maine woods keeps its secrets close. When Sassy Romano inherits the Tremayne Lodge and Artist Colony, she knows it has been vacant for the past five years. She isn’t prepared to find it occupied by a body in the pottery studio, or that her childhood home is now the epicenter of a crime wave. Someone is using her properties as half-way houses for illegal immigrants and the narcotics trade. A lot has changed since she’s been away. The deeper she pries into local secrets, the more she realizes they are rooted in her past. And the past can be deadly.
Sounds straightforward. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. I know who, what, where, and when. I even know who dun it. That’s epic for me. Often my villain isn’t revealed until sometime into the second (or third) draft. This time, I’ve nailed that sucker. So, what’s the problem?
This is the first book in a new series. That’s a blessing and a curse. It’s fun to create new worlds and meet new imaginary friends and foes. It’s great to explore and take inspiration from new locations. The north Maine woods are made for mystery. It would take a lifetime or two to explore it all. That’s yeast to the creative spirit. The problem, then, is not the setting, or the characters, it’s the story.
The hardest and the most enjoyable part of writing comes after the explosion of words on the page. I’m a “discovery writer.” That’s a nice way to say I travel back roads and paths without a roadmap. I write it as it comes, sometimes multiple chapters at one sitting. Sometimes a few words or sentences. Then I string them all together, stir twice, and see what perks. What usually floats to the top is…a hot mess. That’s where I am now.
I’m deep in the editing process. I spend time sussing out each chapter’s purpose, fixing plot holes, and making sure the foundation supports the overall structure. Multicolored highlights, red ink, and sticky notes cover my pages. In short, right now I’m in the weeds of writing. I know the story is there, but darned if I can make it out.
In another few weeks, all of this will be behind me. I’ll have taken this hot mess and transformed it into a well-ordered story. In the meantime, though, will someone pass the wine?
Writers, do you have a hot mess stage for your works in progress?
I might have a hot mess right now too. I have been without a PRINTER for over a month and my regular “way” – to write, print, work longhand on those printed pages, print again and work longhand on those printed pages – has been disrupted. So I think I am doing what you describe on 7 DAYS A DEE ROMMEL MYSTERY- writing scenes I THINK will all string together – that I need – but when I arrive home from travels this weekend and I print out IT ALL – will the connections make sense? Who knows. While reading the top of your post – I was wondering about deciding it will be a SERIES can come too early. Stand alone are great I think and I wonder if having SERIES in our heads makes some things more complicated as we write the first book – ???
Glad that you will be returning to printer land soon. I bet you discover it all works well when you do get it printed.
You may be right about stand alone v. series. It does put more pressure on the first book drafting. Ultimately, each book of a series needs to stand alone.
Kathy here. First to Jule–I depend on printing each version and editing by hand, too. Lots of arrows, cross outs and asterisks (did I spell that right?) and then a bit more editing when I type in the changes. Kait: you are not alone in the hot mess department, but somehow it all works out eventually. My best trick was forcing myself to take a long break (at least a few weeks) between revisions and work on a totally different project. If I could stay away long enough, it became easier to spot the places that needed fixing.
Thanks, Kathy! It does all work out in the end. Long breaks sound ideal – I think I’ll need one after I get the second draft in order!
NO RETURN sounds great! Luckily, as writers, we can return and fix our hot messes. LOL.
Thanks, Matt! We are lucky – and even luckier that no one sees the hot mess stage but we writers!
Wow! It’s good to know I’m not the only person lost in the forest at the moment. Isn’t it a wonderful feeling when you find the trail and it all makes sense? Hope that happens for you soon.
Thanks, Susan!
I’m still in the “I have no idea where this is going” stage of my latest. Know I should have a clearer understanding of where it is going and why, but I’m having too much fun seeing where the story wants to go. This is far from my usual practice but I’ve found that every book has its own character and rhythm. I seem to be doing half the plotting in that half awake time before sleep and before waking. Good luck with your hot mess!
Kate
Thanks, Kate. Good to know I’m not alone.
Currently revising Thor’s Wingman’ based upon feedback from my critique group. It’s gonna be a grind, but then I’m part sandpaper.
Great analogy!
Good for you for persisting, Kait. Muddle through, and trust in the revision process. We all believe in you!
Thanks, Brenda!