Writing a Novel is Like Solitaire

Writing a novel is like playing solitaire. There are many different paths to take. Lots of different directions you can go. And for a while, they all seem like they’re working—the cards are lining up, the plot is moving along. But suddenly, you’re stuck! In older versions of Windows computer solitaire, you’ve got one chance for an undo; one opportunity to erase the last mistake and try again. In VISTA and newer versions, you can undo as many times as you like! Rewriting is our undo for novels. There is always a chance to fix what isn’t working.

The way to win solitaire is to take the steps that lead you to success. Not just the steps that are easy and quick and produce instant results. You don’t have to take a move—even if it’s there. You don’t have to send your draft novel out to agents and editors just because it’s written. In solitaire, if you chose the moves that get the low cards up early, you ‘re more likely to succeed. And you must look ahead several moves to make sure the current move isn’t going to box you in. Thinking your novel through before you take off can save having to undo. Having a full plot outline would be great, but as long as you have a plan, a vision for the finished work, you can take steps in the right direction and save major structure revisions. Pausing with a finished product, stepping back and looking at it again later with fresh eyes will save you time and energy spent on sending out a manuscript that isn’t ready yet.

I think all this can be said about life too. I wish the right paths in life were easy to see. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a free undo! I’d like to go back and undo a few things I’ve done, after knowing the result. Time to start rewriting my life—and my novel!

Leslie Adkins

What makes a story, a story? Flash Fiction has gained a lot of popularity lately. I once took a workshop where we wrote several different kinds of VERY short stories. Here’s one that had to be 69 words:

If you eat breakfast your day will be better. Are you kidding?

Nine-am. I was already exhausted. My son threw up on me. The car quit blocks from daycare.

Would a bagel make it all better?

Shoes – soaked.

Nylons – run.

Shirt – sweat-stained.

I sighed and stepped behind the counter. A customer approached. “How may I help you?”

“Can you direct me to a place with a really good breakfast?”

I like this, but is it a story? There is some character, very little setting, some conflict… Here’s one that had to be the personification of an object:

There was no X marking The Spot, but its color and size called attention to it just the same. The Spot put up with people gawking and their often curious or rude comments. It couldn’t help where it was, right there in the center of the living room. There for all to see.

Right after it appeared, birthed suddenly on a rainy fall day, there was much discussion by the woman of removing it. The Spot cringed and tried to shrink back when someone approached with their “sure fire” remedy for spot removal. Oh, the scrubbing, the spraying, the dousing with water, vinegar, and chemicals!

But The Spot hung on, gripping the carpet fibers, refusing to be removed. Refusing to let her forget. For it knew it had a purpose, a reason for being beyond being an object of discussion for visitors.

For awhile, the woman who owned the home had placed a round rug over the spot. A scratchy, wool thing. But because of its prominent location in the traffic patter, the rug caused more accidents than were acceptable. And she really didn’t need another accident.

More than a year passed and The Spot felt time creeping up on it. Age caused its color to fade and be less noticeable to the occupant. One day, a new woman came in and glared at the spot, her nose scrunched in disgust. “What is that?” the visitor asked.

“Just a spot,” the woman said.

“Is it wine? Did you try to remove it?”

The woman shrugged. “I’ve tried everything.”

“Catsup? Kool-Aid?”

The woman just shook her head.

“We’ll have to negotiate a carpet allowance. It will all have to be replaced,” the visitor proclaimed.

The woman nodded eagerly. She would be happy to sell the home and rid herself of the memories, excise the evidence.

The Spot wished it could wiggle and squirm or cry out—“I have a story to tell!”

But it was still, waiting, hoping someone would look closely. Someone would care enough to wonder about its history—its story to tell.

A story of anger and pain.

And murder.

What really makes a story? Can you really write a story with less than 1,000 words? What do you think?

Amazon Announces ABNA 2010...

For all you aspiring authors out there, get your polishing pens ready...set...go!

Amazon JUST announced their ABNA (Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award) contest for 2010.

Submissions start January 25, 2010!

It's FREE, FREE, FREE to enter.

This year there are two categories (which will be broken out into genres): adult fiction and YA...(yes!!) There will be a winner from EACH.

Go here for more details: http://www.amazon.com/abna
AND here: https://www.createspace.com/abna (createspace handles all the registration portions).

Other significant changes this year include allowing previously self-published novels into the contest.

You'll need an MS between 50-150k, a 5k excerpt and a 300 word pitch...as well as a couple of other nominal items which you can find under the "How to Enter" section.

Good luck to all who enter!!

Do You Feel Lucky... Punk?

Let's go earlier than Dirty Harry. To the Old West, say.

In the first few seconds of the Clint Eastwood flick "Hang 'Em High," we see a beautiful example of a dramatic tool Blake Snyder calls a "save the cat" scene. This connects the viewer emotionally to the main character, and makes us care about and enjoy the story.

This tool can work for screenwriters and novelists. It's simple and quick, and can transform your story from something dull into something undeniably compelling.



I recorded this vid in April 2009, and Blake Snyder passed away in August. I would have met him at Write on the Sound. We miss you, Blake.

NaNoWriMo is upon us...

What kind of writing group blog would this be without mention of the annual novel writing frenzy, NaNoWriMo?

It's November and the weather has just gone down the toilet. Well, except for here in the Seattle area where today, November 1, happens to be quite pleasant and mostly sunny. Go figure.

But everywhere else, the bad weather has driven all type of creative folk indoors and readied them to let loose a torrent of brilliance.

Fifty thousand words in thirty days. HAH!

Hardly sounds like a daunting feat to the seasoned writer...unless of course you lack a plot of any kind, but that's what the pressure of self-competition is for, right?

So here's a word or two of advice to the NaNo Newbies. Before you can graduate into full fledged NaNo Nutcases you should mull over the REALITY of NaNoWriMo.

Fifty THOUSAND words in THIRTY days.

Let's consider the fact that most people around this country and planet (NaNo knows no boundaries) have written things as they progressed from kindergarten through high school. Most of that writing is maybe a few dozen words to a few thousand. From what I recall, most of my essays were under 10 pages, double spaced, which probably adds up to about 2500 words. Add to that, most folks may have dabbled in poetry, angsty journaling, or the occasional short story and you find we've all been a writer of one type or another at some point.

This is good. It means all of us CAN NaNo if we want.

But NaNo IS novelling and novelling is a whole other ball of wax. And it's a big'un.

This isn't meant to scare you off, but it is meant to give you fair warning about prepping as best you can for NaNoWriMo. Even now, on the first day, it's not too late.

I myself am not much of an outline first kind of writer, BUT when it comes to NaNo my personal preferences go out the window. I draft an outline pages long so I can stay on task and complete this self-driven race.

It also helps to connect with others through forums or on-line buddy groups or with just one other dedicated individual in person. That way you have a reference point and a little external nudge. If it turns out you need a lot of nudging, you can get that too. There are plenty of happy task masters and mistresses willing to offer their service.

In short, NaNoWriMo is about complete literary abandon (as they claim). A month to abandon your regular life (but please still go to work if you have a job, feed your kids, pets, whatever and remember to bathe), your insanity, and your inhibitions.

Try something you've always wanted to try before. It may be the first step into a fantastic writing career or it may be the last straw to convince yourself that writing isn't your bag. Either way it will be a memorable experience that you'll be able to regale others with at this year's holiday parties and watch them drop their mouths in awe at the fact that you wrote fifty THOUSAND words in THIRTY days.