February 19, 2009
I’ve been writing a new novel, cooking along just fine…topping 200 pages already, in fact, which is great. However, I’ve reached a point where I need to make a minor course correction. In other words, I need to review what I’ve written, firming up the details in my mind to make sure I’m keeping a consistent tone, hitting all the targets set up in earlier pages, advancing the characters, and moving the plot forward in a way that matches the setup established at the start. I get the feeling I might need to tweak a thing or two and fine tune my plans for upcoming chapters. Nothing major, no full-blown overhauling…but I’ve found such a review and correction can be helpful. All part of the process, at least for me.
Not that my process is necessarily right for you or for anybody else. That’s one of the interesting things about writing: everyone does it differently. It’s good to keep that in mind as you read this blog or any blog or advice about writing. No one has all the answers for you. They might claim to, they might talk a good game, but ultimately, all they can provide is advice based on what worked for them in particular. Maybe it will work for you, maybe it won’t.
These days, there’s so much information readily available about writing and the publishing industry, it boggles the mind. Thanks to the Internet, there’s a lot out there for you to find, much of it good, some of it excellent. But it pays to read multiple opinions, think it over, and look to your common sense for a final approach.
In closing, here’s another travel photo from the archive…a little something with my wife, Wendy, from the Grand Canyon, 2007.
Grand Canyon, Arizona, 2007
Have I mentioned I love to travel? Wish I were going with my brother, Scott, tomorrow; he’s visiting Israel. It’s a business trip, but man…that Holy Land must be awesome. Maybe someday.
See you tomorrow!
