Look Who Popped Up!

Or, Notes on Six Weeks of Silence

I’m slightly shocked to realize the last time I sent out a Substack to you wonderful readers before my holiday break, we hadn’t even had Christmas! We were thinking about gifts! Then New Years passed, and Valentines Day is coming up fast!

Suddenly, daffodils poking their bright green shoots out of the snow. At my desk, nothing that ground-shattering happened. I set the draft of “Sweet, Bittersweet,” aside—and immediately began a new novel, one I’m calling “A Place of Civility.”

And just as fast, I stopped.

After meeting with my all-star mentor Donna, it became clear that I didn’t know the story or character well enough to start writing. I did outline the plot somewhat, but it was such a mess of arrows and scribbles that I even try to transcribe it.

That should have been a sign that I wasn’t ready to write.

Also, I heard some mind-altering input from the always-positive book coach Camille Pagan. During a webinar, Camille said that she much prefers drafting to revising, so she’s very thoughtful about drawing up outlines for her wonderful novels.

That rang true for me too—I’d much rather write than fix my writing. So I’m going to alter my mid because of what Camille said—I’ll outline more before picking up the proverbial pen.

Work-wise, I began to hone the opening of “Sweet, Bittersweet.” Doing that, I saw how the storyline shifted a bit after I wrote those first pages. Aha. Going back to fix them wouldn’t take so much fixin’ if I’d had a clearer idea from the start.

It’s about balance though, I bet. “Sweet, Bittersweet” came to me hot and fast, and if I’d slowed down long enough to question her motives, I might not have gotten it written. Perfectionist me might still be standing around outlining the perfect draft….

Instead, it’s done, and “all” I have to do is make the snake swallow its tail, have the beginning point more directly toward the ending. And “Sweet, Bittersweet” will be ready to query. It’s probably not too soon to start crossing those fingers…

Next week, I’ll share some thoughts on the best book I read on break. It’s called “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World.” Cal Newport wrote the book with philosophers in mind, but his advice sure resonated with this writer.

More on that next week. For now, thanks for hanging in there during my time away, and for following me on my journey into print.

Things are happening! Maybe just not always this obviously…