I have a writing routine. It’s been so screwed up lately, I cling to the idea I have one. But life happens. My sister takes care of my cousin with cerebral palsy, and Jenny’s health has gone awry. I try to help my sister, but there are so many issues lately, I mostly get phone calls of my sister crying, not sure how to help Jenny through all of the new crises.
Between phone calls and going over to sit with Jenny so my sister can leave the house, I’ve been writing. And I’m making progress, but boy, is it slow. I’m past half of the first draft of my straight mystery. I started it as Volunteering For Trouble, but that sounds too much like a cozy, so now I’m calling it Posed In Death, and I hope that sticks. But who knows? I’ve been trying to write one chapter on it a day, but if I get too many calls in one day, things get shaky. BUT, I hit a big turning point chapter, and I had enough time to get it right, so I wrote it. But, I know myself, and I knew it would need a lot more work the second day.
Thank God for second days and rewrites. Writing emotional scenes is hard for me. I’m not a truly emotional person. I’m more goal oriented. I know–just like my books. Gwen Plano over at Story Empire wrote a fascinating blog today about how you can get to know an author by what he/she writes. Accompanying the Writer | Story Empire (wordpress.com) I’m not sure what my writing says about me, but it’s an interesting read.
Anyway, in my story I reached a turning point between Laurel and Nick. They’re both widows, and they’re both lonelier than they realized. So I wrote the scene in one day, and when I looked at it the next day, it took me the ENTIRE day to fill in all of the things I didn’t say. I have friends who fly through emotions in scenes. I can’t do it. One of my friends analyzed handwriting, even did court cases, and she told me to open my a’s and o’s because I close them up, showing that I hold in my emotions. I’ve tried. Believe me, I’ve REALLY tried, but my a’s and o’s are still closed once I don’t focus on them. A bummer. But after listening to Ann, I KNOW that I’m not going to get emotional scenes right the first time I write them.
You learn things about yourself as you write–your strengths and weaknesses. And that’s a good thing. I know I’m good at plotting. I’m practical. I like the cause and effect. I’m not so good at expressing my emotions, but I can eventually get there, if I keep trying. I love analyzing characters, figuring out what drives them, and I’m ferociously loyal–whether that’s a good thing or a bad. And I love nurturing people. My Jazzi series probably shows that. Moe than I realized before I read Gwen’s blog. I’m not sure what my paranormal fiction says about me, but maybe that’s a good thing:).
What do you think? Can you understand the author by what he or she writes? If you read Gwen’s blog, what’s your reaction?
Judi Lynn 
best of luck with balancing it all – as you said, thank god for second days and rewrites –
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You’re juggling a lot. Getting a chapter done in two days is an accomplishment. Take the win.
I’ve been enjoying Gwen’s series very much. It’s eye-opening (for better or worse).
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Have you worked things out with your books? Are you going to be able to publish them? I’ve been watching for them.
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Thanks for asking. I appreciate your interest more than you know.
I’m in a state of flux right now. I just finished a short novel that was supposed to be a giveaway to a completed trilogy. But the trilogy (which I did get the rights to) is kind of a mess and needs some love before I release it. So I have some decisions to make. I could release the short novel as I work on the trilogy or I could hold on to it and use it later as the marketing tool it was designed for, after I get the trilogy into shape. I’m just so disgusted with the whole process right now, I’m kind of frozen. I do need to make a decision soon, though.
You’ll know as soon as I figure out my next move.
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We’re a lot alike. I struggle with emotional sections and need to work on them. I liked Gwen’s post, and thanks for sharing it here.
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One thing you said that really resonated with me, Judi is this: “You learn things about yourself as you write–your strengths and weaknesses.” That is so very true. I thoroughly enjoyed Gwen’s post. It gave me lots to ponder. With everything you are juggling, a chapter in two days is not a lose, it’s a win! Best wishes!
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Thanks, Jan.
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No matter what your story content says about you (lols), your perseverance says everything. Congratulations on your chapter! Gwen’s posts resonate with most of us, and her intuition and compassion show through. Like your paranormal fiction, I do NOT want to know what The Glade might say about me 😂. You’re juggling a lot, Judi, and managing well. Sending love and hugs 💕🙂
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Thanks, Harmony. You’ve had a lot to work through lately, too. Best wishes to you.
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💕
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Thank you, Judi, for sharing my post. I’m so happy you appreciated it. I would have responded sooner, but I’ve been traveling/relocating and unable to do much of anything. You are a blessing. ❤️
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Thanks, Gwen. Happy relocating. Hope you’ve found your new perfect nest.
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NIce mention of Gwen’s post, Judi. Thanks
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Staci, I have total faith you’ll make the trilogy wonderful. You can write anything and make it good. Whatever you decide, the books will be worth the wait.
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I have to agree Judi emotional scenes are hard to write. It usually takes a few times to get deeper into it. I loved Gwen’s insightful post and do believe we see the author within the story, but not necessarily the subject.
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Nice comment, seeing the author in the story, not the subject. Insightful.
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I’m pretty much the opposite of you. I’m a terrible plotter but I love writing emotional/angsty scenes. Those seem to be the ones I do the best with.
Sorry you are juggling so many things right now. That takes a toll, especially when it involves family. I think you’ve made great progress with your writing considering what else you have going on in your life!
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Thanks, Mae. And you DO write great emotional scenes. We’ve had plenty of family drama lately, but I’m going with Mary to look at nursing homes soon. She’s going to have a terrible time sending Jenny to one, but I actually think Jenny will like one that has enough activities. Jenny’s social and loves meeting people. Right now, she’s pretty much stuck in the house because she has too many health problems, but she could meet people in the right nursing facility.
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I hope it all works out, Judi. Sometimes a nursing home is the best alternative.
And thank you for that nice thought about my writing 🙂
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Love your characters, Mae! Didn’t notice plotting problems in your work at all!
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Aww, thanks. Somehow it always sorts itself out by the time I get to the end 🙂
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Judi, I’m more like Mae. I’m terrible at plotting, although I always have a general idea of where I want to go with a story.
I loved what you said about learning things about ourselves as we right. That’s so true. I’ve found, that even if I try not to, a little bit of me always seems to come through certain characters.
Best of luck with your writing. A chapter a day would be a lofty goal for me, but you seem to be managing it well. And yes, thank God for edits and rewrites.
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I wander all over if I don’t plot. I end up throwing away or fixing too much of what I write, or I sag and don’t have enough to even have a soggy middle, so I started plotting. I’m a terrible pantser. Hope you’re making a lot of headway in book 2 in your new series. I really enjoyed your novella to introduce it.
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Umm. Speaking of plotting…. 😉 I need to get with it.
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LOL. Hit those keys, Joan!
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A writer shows exactly who they are by what they put on the page. Hemingway was a brilliant structural writer but his characters were often meh, if not amoral. He was not a person I would ever like to meet. On the other hand, all of the writers who responded to this post would be delightful to meet. Who we are goes into the story. The story babies we are laying out on the Spartan plain are ourselves. That’s why it’s so dang scary to publish. For me, anyway.
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You come off as a pretty cool person…but maybe a little naughty:)
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