#4 - Writing Torture - Editing-Addiction

Rain is coming. Soggy conditions and cold temperatures promote indoor activities, which means I’ll focus on writing and researching for the next couple of days. I’ll also give attention to marketing, social media posts, book-keeping, and we can’t forget, oh joy…editing.

A while back, I read the first of several articles that claim well-known writers publish books with an average of one error for every twelve pages. I'm not supplying an academic citation since this information has circulated so often that it’s now a common claim, but it gives the rest of us hope.

We live in a world where professionals and artists are vulnerable to human error, no matter the level of expertise or quality assurance. Mistakes happen, and the most intelligent people among us aren’t immune to making stupid mistakes – that’s the beauty and the curse inflicted upon humanity.

Developing a story with quality isn’t easy. Writers build characters, places, and life-stories into existence, but it’s editing that breathes vibrant meaning into the words. Magic happens as you tidy literary clutter while adding word-brightening bling through research and other details, so you shouldn't short-change the editing phase. If it's difficult for you, then better your skills through public or private study sessions that can improve your craft, but don’t let an editing-addiction sabotage the progress of your writing.

When I edit, I can drive myself nuts by rewriting the same sentence twenty ways. Setting aside a manuscript to view it with new eyes a few days or weeks down the line is a smart and purposeful editing strategy, but we need to know how to walk away from a manuscript that’s gone through changes after a conclusive edit. If we lack the ability to take our hands off it, then we’ve got a problem. A polished manuscript is ready to share, unless clear issues pop up.

I can edit the crap out of a polished manuscript, whether needed or not. The icing on a writer’s cake is forever blemished, it’ll need one more touch-up before it’s shared. Writers are artists plagued with a terrible sense in perpetuity that their project isn’t complete, but it’s important to know this is common-creative-torture for most artists.

You bang your head against the wall while promising to tackle the next project instead of staying on the same one for too long, then you find yourself staring at the computer screen as the cursor blinks in the same place you’ve re-visited thirty times while denying the next project your creative energy. 

Sometimes we must take our hands off a project, bless it, then back away for the last time. No, I’m not saying to ignore manuscript issues that need attention, and I’m not saying you should pretend glaring mistakes within a published book don’t exist. I'm saying it's good to know the difference between constructive editing that tightens and hones your storyline vs. non-productive editing that makes no solid change. Your time and energy can be better spent elsewhere. 

Once you stop editing and allow a manuscript to morph into a publication, you’ll need to prepare for reader feedback because they’re going to inform you that they’ve found about one error for every twelve pages. Then, the post-publication edits begin, and that process is a different beast all together.  

Regardless of the stage of writing or editing you're now enjoying, I wish you a happy and healthy process!

Lana R. Black

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Enjoy reading; I look forward to getting your feedback: Surviving the Threshold

#3 - Office Design and Delights

We are slow to finish the house we've built, and that's our reality; the two of us have become slugs. I am using the time in between sheetrocking, floating, taping, sanding, texturing, painting, and staring at the walls to plan a great office. Unlike the other offices I've enjoyed, this home-office is getting extra tender love and care.

I'm considering design intent with each piece of furniture I preview so it'll have the right layout. Taking measurements, I'm doing my best to be real about the space as I need it to fulfill a triple-purpose function.

#1 It needs to be an inspirational and organized office that calls to me with practical functionality and a welcoming interior design. I'm still undecided, but light colored furnishings and accessories will give balance to the rest of the wood-laden house. Thinking along these lines....

Sideboard by Easmor - Wayfair

White Desk Chair - Rooms to Go

Martha Stewart - Brilliant Office Organization

#2 The room will double as a place for overnight guests who might experience trouble going up and down the stairs to reach the other guest bedrooms, so it must have a loveseat/pullout sleeper that can accommodate two. The sofa below is a sleeper-sofa from Cindy Crawford's line at Rooms to Go, and I'm in love with it. The tufted seat and inner arms of the sofa don't show well on the photo, but it's a beauty.

Sleeper-Sofa from Cindy Crawford's line at Rooms to Go

Magnolia Writing Desk - Star Furniture

#3 The room's third function is to accommodate the times we wish to watch television or read a book in a cozy space. The great room is a large combo-room with soaring vaulted ceilings, so it'll be nice to have a smaller room where we can retreat and relax. With wood floors and a good-sized light colored plush rug, it'll be a beautiful room.

Youati Ivory/Gray Area Rug - Wayfair

Upstairs, we have two bedrooms and a loft along with a third full-sized bathroom. We also have two bedrooms downstairs, well, one of the bedrooms can serve as a den or office, as our floorplan allows.

I considered using one of the bedrooms upstairs as a permanent office, but had second thoughts about the drudgery of climbing stairs every day, so the future office is downstairs, near the kitchen. It has double doors that open into the great room, giving fantastic visibility into the main part of the house. While writing, I'll have a direct view of what's happening in the great room, and this is good because writing can be a lonely business.

The office has windows that give two totally different views into the forest, to the front and side of the house. They provide beautiful perspectives for inspiration and allow me to see who is coming and going.

For now, I do most of my writing wherever I'm sitting with a laptop, but I also write from a temporary desk because our  house is far from finished. Things stay fluid as we work around the house to finish it, room by room, and the "office" is already finished, except for flooring, shelving, and office furniture. Before our crazy move from the Greater Houston area to the country, I sold or gave away all of my beautiful office furniture, so I'll have to start over in that area. I can't complain, it's a fun task to put thought into a dedicated writing space that has some flexibility.

Since we live in the country and welcome heavy wood surfaces as main design elements, I want my writing room to reflect an alternate-existence that embraces white, light, and bright design without fear of one smudge or dog hair! It's a brave direction, but stepping into that office should invite serenity and joy. I'm counting the weeks until its together.

Feel free to share your office space or little corner of inspiration in the comments.

Until the office is ready, I'm quite content to write from my laptop as I make everywhere and anywhere an office while remembering there are no excuses to delay writing the words you can write today!

Click on the link to read a character-driven story about Shelby, a strong-headed teenager who taps into faith, love, and bravery to confront horrors in her family's new home...Surviving the Threshold. Happy reading!

# 2 Little Horrors and a Wrap-Around Porch

Wrap-around porches have their pros and cons. For us, we enjoy sitting outside for lunch, and I often take my laptop or notebook to the table for peaceful inspiration. The view and the fresh air make it worthwhile.

The cons to a wrap-around porch are few, but wasps, spiders, and other creepy crawlers are part of the outdoor deal, so we must be diligent. Living in the forest also requires keeping the porch clear of clutter so visibility gives us an edge to watch for snakes. Last Spring, we found a copperhead had made its way onto the deck, hiding behind a few boards that sat waiting to play their role in the never-ending construction of our home. That day, we cleared the porch of its neatly stacked boards.

Putting wood protector on the decking.

I must say that the wrap-around porch helps to chase away the blues...it pushes away the cabin-fever that can sneak up in a slow and eroding manner. The cold weather and rainy days force us indoors more often during winter months, so we strive to take advantage of every good-weathered day, so it's a good time to promote Surviving the Threshold (this link will take you to the start of the eBook's Chapter 1).

Maybe it was due to the cold weather, but as a writer, there are times when your own creativity surprises you, and the series I'm now tackling surprised me. A lively conversation among friends a while back prompted a different storyline concept, and I worked it into my writing schedule while also finishing larger projects in the historical fiction and romance combo genre.

My focus remains on character-driven stories, but the inspired departure found me writing a series of stories that explore the life of an everyday teenager as she and her family move to a house where something scary lurks in the odd room at the center of the house. We journey with the main character, Shelby, as she enjoys a regular life, yet everything changes after she's forced to confront an unusual and inexplicable threat in her own home.

The story incorporates a supernatural element, and this is where I encounter humor as I write...cold weather traps me indoors, it gets darker earlier, especially in the forest, and as I sit writing scary scenes, I get spooked. In those moments, after getting skittish and jumping at the slightest noise, I have to laugh at myself. 

It's always a riot to freak yourself out while writing.

I write fiction, but this series follows and expands upon a lesson I learned early in life...so many people have experienced one or more strange incidents in their life, moments that cannot be explained. Often, people do not speak of such occurrences because they have trouble absorbing the details or they question their own eyes and mind, leaving them to wonder if they misread reality. So many people opt to push aside uncomfortable little horrors.

Something as simple as a door closing on its own, a house creaking, or lights blinking can prompt us to wonder if spiritual energy is pulling a few strings behind the scenes. And then, there are those who see unnatural shadows...

While writing, I yearn for a consistent return to bright, sunny days with bearable temperatures so I can enjoy writing outdoors from my wrap-around porch more often.

If you can deal with some scary moments that build Shelby's faith, strength, and character, then check out the book.

An Amazon Kindle is NOT required to read the eBook...you can read it on whatever electronic you're using right now to read it. Most Android, Smart Devices or Apple devices have an ap preloaded for eBooks, but you can go to an Ap Store and get the Kindle ap for FREE. The Kindle ap keeps your eBook collection in a neat library, and there are very cool features that you can utilize as your read, such as bookmarks with one tap of the screen, the ability to take notes on a given page or to highlight passages. Once you order the eBook, Amazon will send it to you, and presto...you're reading within a couple of minutes.

Let me know which parts of the book strike you with the most interest. I'm always eager to hear constructive feedback from my readers. You're the reason I write.

I'll post a blog with a link to the second book in this series, soon.

Let me know what spooky things you've encountered...I read blog comments and look forward to being blog buddies! Until next time...

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And here's another link to Surviving the Threshold, Book 1:
Surviving the Threshold.

# 1 - Write to Write

WRITE TO WRITE

In order to write, you've got to write. I'm the worst at getting distracted by loads of research, extensive character development, timelines, and the like.

Life can get in the way of the need or urge to write...household chores, family obligations, social media addiction, and stress can hinder the flow of creativity, but don't give up. Sit down, prep your blank page, then start writing. Treat yourself like a professional, one who wears comfy clothes in the home-office.

You don't have to write like Hemingway or Grisham - write like you, not them. We might write similar stories, but I guarantee, there's no one else like you, so your perspective and your voice that comes through your writing is unique and new. Don't worry about coming up with a fascinating plot with twists and turns, just write to write. Write what you know, and get comfortable with the process, then you can embellish the story later with wowza elements.

One of the ways I maintain focus for both the active storyline and for incoming ideas is to write the broad story and when inspiration hits or an idea for a future chapter comes or a tiny element should be expanded later as an important part of the story, I scroll to the bottom of the page to add details I'll add later. Along the way, details come to me, and if I can't work them into the story at that point, I'll scroll down and make note of them so I won't forget.

The bottom of my working manuscript/document can grow into a significant supplement, sometimes with dialogue suggestions that end up in another chapter or a different storyline. I cut and paste that bonus material into a new document for story references and crucial details. You can save the supplement, then print it to refer to as you continue writing, making sure you cover your points. In the meantime, you'll be creating a new set of ideas as your story progresses, and the cycle continues. Remember to remove the extraneous material before submitting a manuscript or publishing your story!

In this way, you won't write in a linear fashion because you're writing to write...you're putting down your ideas. some for now and some for later. Go with the flow...nurture your creativity, don't put a plug in new ideas or put it on hold, instead, scroll down and record the extra ideas at the bottom of your document, then keep moving forward.

I also buy a few inexpensive spiral notebooks to keep on hand. When I begin working on a new manuscript, I'll assign one for important notes about the storyline, characters, setting, timeline, and other details that need to be recorded. I might use scotch-tape to stick a few magazine pictures to the pages, then I'll have in front of me a helpful writing tool, with visuals.When writing, I thumb through the pictures then describe the scenes or the people in the pictures in my writing.

This is another way for me to grow the story and enliven characters so I can relay important details to the reader. You can draw a mustache on a picture, or draw in arched eyebrows, a beauty-mark, curls of hair falling on the forehead or whatever sets your character apart. Pictures can definitely help the writing process. The spiral also provides a central location for data related to your current story structure, and you can opt to review the notes at any time. The notebook is especially helpful when I'm doing something that isn't electronic-friendly or for the times I'm burnt out by electronics. The pockets of the spiral can hold chapter print-outs as you edit, and can hold your character description forms that you're completing for each character in the story. The spiral can end up like a mini-story-Encyclopedia...the key to secrets and explanations could be resting within its pages.

Regardless, whether on paper or on the computer, I write to write. The story doesn't develop unless I sit, focus. and write one word, then another and another.

After I write to write, then I eat to eat. Life is grand.

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I love hearing from my readers, and I keep in touch with them, so please give constructive feedback My friends, keep reading and writing...have a wonderful day!

Lana R. Black - Author