Merry day after Christmas! I’m taking another day to celebrate with my family. If you can stretch things into three or four days – why not? I hope that all of you who celebrate are enjoying the season.
The joke? There are no snow angels for us. It is 70 degrees warm although it really is winter.
–SueBE
Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates.
Me: If I clean off the top of this cabinet, the kitten won’t even know the nativity is up here.
Her: What’s this fluffy mossy stuff on the roof? It must be a snack.
Hope everyone has a day of LOVELY surprises.
–SueBE
I planned to work the two days before Christmas. One editor had told me revision requests would be coming “shortly.” That meant that I should have had them about two weeks ago. It is a short project so I knew it wouldn’t take long to accomplish. Monday he told me I wouldn’t get them until after Christmas and that is only if they decide that they want revisions.
I never mind being told that a project is acceptable as is.
Also on Monday, I was given a project by another editor. This is another longer book, 15,000 words, but the deadline for chapter one and the outline are the end of January.
Sure, I could work on one of my classes. I’m eager to see what comes up next in my middle grade novel, and I’m learning a lot in my class for yoga teachers. And there was probably a time that I could be pushing myself but that is not today.
I’ve been given time off so I’m baking! We host Christmas dinner and dessert is always home made ice cream and cookies. This is the one time of year that I always make peppermint ice cream. My grandfather was the one who introduced me to this treat, and my son requests it each and every year.
Making homemade ice cream is messy. I’ll need to heat the base and then let it cool. Then I have to set up the freezer. I always manage to convince myself that this time it will NOT be messy. That’s kind of like how I manage to convince myself that drafting this next manuscript will be super easy and straight forward. It has gotten easier than it was when I was a newbie but I almost always hit a point where I’m questioning the process. “Does this work? Do I need to start again?”
Since writing requires a lot of energy, I’m more than willing to take some time and cook, take walks, and just be. Hope you are enjoying Christmas Eve and these final hours leading up to Christmas.
–SueBE
Now that I finished drafting my to-be-self-published book about research, I’m going to have to do a full revision. Revision is a lot like doing a complex math problem. You have to honor the order of operations. If you don’t remember, that’s the order you have to tackle the various steps to get the correct answer. It is like doing a complex puzzle.
Rewriting is much the same. Before I double check my spelling or punctuation, I need to tackle any major issues. And I’m not talking about sentence structure. This is my nonfiction order of operations.
Within the manuscript as a whole and within each chapter, I first make certain information is presented in the correct order. As you may have heard it explained, you have to build the scaffolding that will allow your reader to understand the final concept.
In this case, my reader will need a solid grasp on why they need to do research to write and exactly what research is. Then I can show them how to research. Sometimes when I begin my rewrite, I realize I’ve discussed something in more than one place. I have to decide where it makes sense to keep it.
In one recent manuscript, I had to keep it in two different places. But I also had to make sure the reader understood why it was in two places and what specifics to include in each place.
I used to do this as two separate drafts but now I check my word count and then correct that as I work information density and if each paragraph is connected to its neighbors. This means that I may be working to add 100 words while making sure I have transitions in place. This is also where I cut out anything that feels repetitive.
I am simultaneously making sure that I have enough examples to help my readers build that scaffold. Since I tend to write lean, there are often things that I need to add. It may be another example. It may be an explanation. Or it could be a transition. I want to deliver as much information as possible so I pack it in.
When I am writing for young readers, I next check the reading level. This is not an issue with this particular book.
My reading level is generally fairly close when I write for tweens. I may have to bump it up or pull it down by just a little. If it needs to go up, I make sure that I use compound sentences. I look long and hard at my word choice and substitute multisyllable words that paint a more exacting picture. But I also keep my father’s saying in mind. “Don’t use a $10 word where a 5 cent word will do.
Sometimes the reading level is too high. This is generally only a problem when I write for elementary aged readers. This is when I break longer sentences in two. I also replace multisyllable words with shorter words.
Then I print out the manuscript.
Last but not least, I edit a hard copy. I cut wordy bits. I check punctuation. When I sit down at my desk to enter the changes, I read for flow. Sometimes I read aloud to myself. Sometimes I use Speak to read the manuscript aloud. It is an irritating robot-like voice but I hear mistakes that I don’t see.
But this is why order of operations is important. If you check readability before you are finished making your other changes, you may create a smooth manuscript only to tear it up again. Start with the big fixes and work your way down to the smallest.
And I still need a title and a cover. Work, work, fun work!
–SueBE
On Friday, I blogged that I didn’t think I would finish my Write Till Christmas manuscript by Christmas. But after that post when up, I got a wild hair.
I worked on the manuscript on and off all day long. In the end, I finished about 1/3 of the manuscript for a completed rough draft.
That’s one third in terms of the page count. It is 5164 words. It is also Chapters 17 through 28.
I want to reiterate. I was not writing this from scratch. I was starting with the material that I use to teach my WOW! Women on Writing Course, Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults. You can find out more about the course here.
Although I started with the material that I use to teach the course, I also went deeper into some of the resources that you can use as primary sources. This means that I told people how to find these materials and also what precautions to use in utilizing them. These chapters include information on photo research, working with maps, and how to find historic newspapers. I also spent time on how much research is enough and whether or not three sources actually mean a fact is accurate.
In total, I have 72 manuscript pages which include 17,126 words. I tend to write short and have already run the first 20 pages of the manuscript past my critique group. They have already suggested several things for me to expand. By the time they see the entire manuscript, I’m sure I’ll have even more that I need to work on. When I’m done roughing this and doing some revision, I’m going to ask the members of my accountability group to read it. There will be more for me the change at that point.
Of course, I also still need to come up with a firm title. And a cover. I actually really like doing cover designs and have several artists and designers I consult with. What oh what should I do . . .
–SueBE
#goals
It was almost the end of October before I got started on my Write Till Christmas project. My writing friend Kelly Sgroi started this program two years ago. The purpose of Write Till Christmas is to help you add to the word count of a project you’ve been meaning to get to all year.
Last year, I worked on an early middle grade project. This time around, I knew my fiction idea wasn’t even nearly ready to go. So instead I started working on the next book I plan to self-publish. This one is on researching for your writing.
It should have been easy to get started. My book is based on the lessons I wrote for my WOW! Women on Writing Class. That said, I wanted to expand on the material so that the book is a more worthy of being a book. Does that make sense to anyone but me? I’ve combed through blog posts and other writings to see what I might add. There are chapters on using newspapers and photo archives to do research.
As of the time that I’m writing this, I am on page 47. That’s an 8 1/2 x 11 page but the trim size of the finished book will be smaller.
By the time we reach Christmas, I may not have a completed manuscript, but I think I’ll have it done by New Years Day. And that’s okay. It’s going to be rough but I can work with rough. My critique group has been giving me some really good feedback.
Am I working on this every day. Nope. I can’t say that I am. If I was, I know that I would be able to finish it. But whatever I accomplish will be quite a bit more than I would have done without the program because . . . let’s be real . . . all I had were my lessons. I hadn’t even started converting them into a book.
–SueBE
Yesterday I spent some more time working through the exercises in my middle grade and young adult novel course. The exercises focused on the obstacles that my character faces.
There are numerous obstacles that a character can face. Often the obstacle is an antagonist, another character. Other times it is a societal norm that stands in the way. Sometimes if it a force beyond human control like nature or time. Other times it is a flaw within the character.
When I started working on these exercises, I hadn’t made up my mind. Should I pick one set of obstacles or go with more than one? I decided to work through the exercises and see where that led me.
The first one was pretty easy. I already know that my protagonist is having a hard time getting along with the other kids on the ship. She’s made and resentful about being there and acting out. And she’s really smart – a fact she is more than willing to point out when she’s mad. But then I came up with one kid in particular she doesn’t get on with. He is the son of someone her father has issues with.
Wait? What? Where did that come from? By the time I was done with the exercises I had two more characters by name.
A similar thing happened when I was working through societal norms. I already knew that my character would do something specific that was against this rules. It is her own tiny rebellion about having to be on the ship. But this particular obstacle and the trouble it brings her is going to help her make a friend. Who I also know by name!
I am generally someone who is not a big fan of writing exercises. I frequently draw a blank when confronted by an exercise and just don’t get anywhere. But these are proving very useful and definitely helping me to develop my story. I can’t wait to get to the next set!
–SueBE
When I am working with a new writer on their query, it can be hard to tell what to include. They want to shine. They want to be the superstar! And that makes sense. We’ve all been told that our work needs to shine to be chosen.
And to an extent that is correct. When you are trying to market a book with a query letter, your work has to have an edge to put it above what else the editor sees in the slush pile. What is it that will make the editor want to buy this piece vs the piece that they read the day before?
Sometimes it is because the piece is more marketable. They know who will want to buy a book on this topic. They know how to get it out into the world once they have produced a finished product.
And sometimes the answer is you the writer. This doesn’t mean that you need to be the sparkly, super star. Although that probably wouldn’t hurt.
Even better is to be the reliable writer. What does this mean?
One – you turn things in on time. When you tell an editor you will have something ready by the first of the month, you do. This doesn’t mean that you have to agree to a ridiculous deadline. But it does mean that you will do all you can to meet the agreed on deadline.
Two – you listen. When your editor comes back to you with a revision request, you listen to what they are telling you. Often, the revisions that I am asked to do will help my manuscript better fit into the series. I’m being asked to eliminate overlap or add material that no one else has covered.
Three – you don’t make changes without thought. It is important to listen to why you are being asked to change something, because sometimes you have a better idea. Maybe the proposed change is too far outside your own voice or style.
Four – but you are willing to make changes. Professionals are willing to accept the expertise of others. They understand that they are part of a team that wants to make this particular piece the best that it can be.
So how do you show that you are willing to be this person? It depends on who you are and your background. Share your expertise. Show what you have done that requires effort and cooperation. Editors want to work with people who are a pleasure to work with. Be that person.
–SueBE
Find today’s post on my newsletter page (click HERE). I recommend books (A Steeping of Blood and One for the Murphys), YouTube channels, and talk about my own writing. Off to work on Christmas cards.
Ho, ho, ho!
–SueBE
I don’t know about where you live but in the St. Louis Metro area, it was cold. As in 18 degrees as I am writing this on Sunday. What do I want to do? Curl up with a blanket and a good book! I’m turning to the Shelf Awareness Best Books of the Year list to find amazing books that I’ve somehow missed. Here are their selections.
Picture Book
Cat Nap by Brian Lies (Greenwillow Books)
Everybelly by Thao Lam (Groundwood Books)
The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi, illus. by Monica Arnaldo (Kokila)
Island Storm by Brian Floca, illus. by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter Books)
The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole by Cecilia Heikkilä, translated by Polly Lawson (Floris Books)
Middle Grade
Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, illus. by Elena Balbusso (Candlewick)
Higher Ground by Tull Suwannakit (Crocodile Books)
I’m a Dumbo Octopus: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods by Anne Lambelet (Graphic Universe/Lerner)
Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson (Quill Tree Books)
The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri (Levine Querido)
Young Adult
The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting by Natalie C. Parker (Candlewick)
The Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel (Scholastic Press)
The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum (HarperCollins)
Hick: The Trailblazing Journalist Who Captured Eleanor Roosevelt’s Heart by Sarah Miller (Random House Studio)
The Leaving Room by Amber McBride (Feiwel & Friends)
White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History by Ann Bausum (Roaring Brook Press)
I’ve requested the first book in each division. Note: Do not name a picture book Cat Nap. My library has 3 different picture books with that title. Admittedly, the one I find most intriguing is The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting because . . . how? It actually prompted me to add an idea to my ongoing list for 2025.
Shelf Awareness is a publishing industry newsletter. Not a subscriber? Click HERE to see what they offer.
–SueBE
One Writer's Journey 