The Case of the Disappearing WIP

Now, I can look back at this particular moment with humor but almost a week ago I was in meltdown mode. I am an obsessive saver of any document I am working on, but not so good at backing up the work. I do email it to myself on occasion, but not as often as I should which is how I found myself in a heart-wrenching predicament last Friday.

I was at a crop retreat last week and spent the first hour each morning working on the edits for Altered to Death. I didn't want to get behind schedule, so I took some time away from scrapbooking to edit. Being in a different environment energized me and I found the words and ideas flowing. As I was finishing writing for the day, the thought entered my head that I should email the document to myself. Just in case. Instead of doing that immediately, I decided to browse the Internet for a bit for a die cut file I needed for a layout. I was debating between two design files when all of a sudden the screen went blank.

First, I was calm. I figured I hadn't plugged in the computer correctly or the cord got loose and the battery died. No problem. I checked the cords and pushed the button to turn the laptop on. Nothing. Double checked cords. Pressed the on button. Blank screen. My stomach did a little flip. The laptop had crashed.

While I hated to lose today's work, it was only one day. I checked my email on my phone. Oh no! The last time I "backed up" the book was over a week ago. A week of changes and additions that were gone forever. The edits are due May 9th. What was I going to do? Could I redo everything by then--if I could even remember everything? I was so angry with myself. Why hadn't I emailed it first?

After berating myself for a few more moments, I did the one thing that might make everything better...I called my computer tech who is my husband. He was golfing but told me he was positive he could fix it once he returned. And if not, he'd be able to get the drive out of the laptop and save my book.

While I felt a little better, I wasn't totally calm until my husband arrived and within a minute had the laptop back up and operational. After thanking my husband, I emailed the book to myself and will schedule my WIP to be updated on Dropbox on a daily basis. I don't want to go through that panic situation again.

Editing: From Suspect to Snitch

I'm still editing away and am able to breath a little easier now. Last week, I was in the middle of my developmental edit and was stuck in a particular place. I wrote words. Deleted words. Outline a change. Added it. Then took it out. Nothing was working but I knew this part of the story had to be changed. The problem was every choice either complicated the plot or gave away the ending. What was I to do? Nothing was working and I didn't want to edit myself into a place where I needed to rewrite the whole beginning. I was at a loss. I was frustrated. So, I made a decision that might not have been wise, due to deadline approaching, an event looming on the horizon, and the restarting of my part-time job at the golf course, but I took the morning off anyway. 

There were some items I wanted to get before my next crop event, and the nearest craft store was thirty-five minutes away so I knew it would be a huge time commitment. But as I was at the point of wanting to scream "I quit" or bang my head on the keyboard, a few hours away would be a good thing for me. So, I grabbed my Joann's coupons and keys and went on my trip.

As I drove away from my house, my computer, and the book, my mind started to clear and the task I left behind didn't seem so daunting. The farther away I got, the more my mind clearer and ideas started to come into my head, including two answers to my dilemma: change of ownership and make him a snitch. When I reached my destination, I sat in the car and emailed myself the hopefully brilliant solutions to the issues I was facing.

When I returned home, I went downstairs and took a look at my developmental report and the outline of changes I had intended to write. What do you know...the few issues I was still having would be solved or smoothed out with these two changes. One of the changes would mean reworking a few scenes and removing another but as it required a new one, no worries on the word count ending up too low. 

The biggest problem I was having was with one suspect. I had tried to find a way to make him more solid without giving away the ending or over complicated the plot with so many twists (or even worse coincidences) that it was not believable. I read back over his scene and discovered the idea I had on my drive was the right answer. The man wasn't a necessary suspect as I had others, stronger ones, and what was needed was a catalyst to narrow down the who could've done it--a snitch. He was no longer a character who didn't have a strong enough motive, and seemed like an add on. He was now necessary and helped move the plot forward rather than bog it down.

The Life of a Book, Stage Two: Developmental Editing

The second stage of the life of my book is the one I enjoy (and scares me) the most--developmental editing. It's the phase where I see the story through someone else's eyes and will know if what was in my head made it onto the page. Before I send off the book, the book has changed some for the original story as I pulled out parts and added in new ones. I do my best to smooth everything out but sometimes what I believe is on the page was still only in my head. It's one of the problems of living with and story so long, it becomes so familiar you can see the words and all the pieces in your head and it makes you certain it's in the book. Or at least for me. 

This is why I consider/label the book to be in draft (aka original story) until after the development edit. I know there will be changes, and sometimes scenes I love must go. One thing I discovered about writing self is that I'd mentally dig in my heels. It was a little heartbreaking to make changes, and I'd pout over all the darlings that must be "killed." It was easier for me to delve into the first stage of edits knowing that everything had the potential to stay or go. 

The first thing I do when I get the notes is let the comments, suggestions, and questions sit in my brain, then I start writing/arguing in a document to hash out what big and little changes need made (this is my favorite part). I love seeing the book grow more than what my brain had originally thought. At times, my muse needs a little nudge and encouragement, and my editor gets me and my muse and knows how to bring out the best in my writing.

Once I've worked at the changes, and email my editor for her opinion about any big changes I'm planning on making, I start incorporating them into the book. The first editing run I focus on any changes to the main and any of the subplots that branch off from the mystery. In Altered, one of those subplot will be taken from the story so in my second editing run, I'm going to give one of the personal/character subplots more screen time to add more depth.

For the third run, I print out the book and read it in one sitting. I usually do this in another location than my office. I find it's helpful to change my environment. In this reading, I'm trying to check the flow and pacing of the book, and ensure all the new scenes work seamlessly with those from the original story.

After that is done, and corrections are made, it's time for another read to catch any grammar mistakes or typos. I'll change the percentage of the view to have less words on the screen and read the book aloud. It helps me locate any typos that slipped by my eyes. Then the next step is sending it back to my editor (most times it's right on my deadline day).

The Life of a Book, Stage One: The Draft aka Original Story

The life of a book can seem easy and uncomplicated. You get this great idea in your head, sit in front of computer, type it all out, make a few changes here and there, catch some typos, catch some more, then send it off. The first draft is either the easiest part in the creation of a book or the hardest.

For me, there is usually a lot of fretting involved in the first draft. Does the main plot and subplot mesh well together, but aren't too matchy-matchy? Does the subplot complicate the main plot unnecessarily take over? Is one of the secondary characters getting too much screen time and taking over? Is my heroine actively protagging or being lead to all the answers?

This is my wrestling stage where I'm trying to be certain everything makes sense. There are times when I find myself arguing with my muse within the manuscript. I'll switch over to all caps when the plot is starting to twist and veer away from my plan for the book. I'll ask myself if the change makes sense, how will this twist fit into the plot, working it all out--and sometimes not. There are times where I'll write forward with the story when I run into a snag, and other times I have to go back and work out the problem before the story can progress.

I've included a picture of one of my comments in Altered to Death when I followed a trial I hadn't anticipated. I knew where it could lead and began to talk it out. And realized...well some great ideas are better off in another book. The muse rabbit trails can lead me to a stronger story, and other times I'll created a tangle of clues and connections, that bogs down the story with nothing substantial to move the plot forward.

Altered to Death is my 10th mystery, and once again who I designated as the murderer isn't the murderer. (I've also written 5 romantic stories but don't have this problem with them.) Sometimes when I discover the real culprit, it's not too big of a switch and I'll see that clues were there all along so it's just tightening up a few places, a tweak here and there, and it's all good. But other times, it changes the mood of the story and the heart of the story.

When that happens, it can create a huge shift and I have to "Humpty Dumpty" the story...break it part and put it back together. Usually, I can put it together with a few places needing clarifying or connecting more solidly to the story. Other times, it fits together I didn't notice some weak spots that even though they are patched, can still break the story apart.

The next phase of the life of a book is for "all the king's horses and men" aka my fabulous editor Erin, to help me "put it together again". And unlike poor Humpty Dumpty, my book does get put back together stronger, better, and no longer still on a wall where it might fall and break.

Stay tuned for the next part of the saga of the life of a book: Developmental Editing.

Editing and Re-Doing: Crafts and Writing

It's really one and the same thing, right?

As a writer, I, at least, never seem to catch the mistakes or odd phrases or stuff at first. Oh, no. Even after the book is sent on to the publisher a thought comes to mind at night and keeps me up. I realize this should be changed. It's minor, but yeah, annoying.

Crafting is the same. You make something and it nags at you that something isn't right... You keep thinking about it, it bugs you... and then you realize what it is. Maybe it's the color, or an empty space, or the shape, or... the list goes on.

Maybe it's being creative that does this. You're never happy with the first few attempts or rewrites (or the first 1o...) You keep changing, manipulating, rereading, rewriting, re-doing...

But then it works. 

I did that recently with a miniature market stall I had made a long time ago. It was well, okay... but in my way of thinking it was way too plain.  It wasn't "me." I like color and lots of "stuff" and Halloween... so it's in the process of being remade. And it's much, much better! It's full of color and I have to say I'm liking the changes.. a lot.

Here's a photo of the "before" colors with some changes in the process. Pretty boring, right? Stay tuned. I'll show a photo of the "after" soon...

And that manuscript? It's with the publisher. And both the publisher and editor will probably hate me for sending one more change.. But I just had to do it. I had to. 

Saying Goodbye to Tai Shan, the Giant Panda

One of great unsung positives about being an author is your ability to set your own schedule. One of the downsides is that you can literally work around the clock. There's no one to tell you your day is over. The work will never, ever totally be done.

But once in a while, you simply have to pry yourself away from your keyboard. Especially if you need a break. There's a point where you can't think clearly...and I'd reached it.

I've been editing Photo, Snap, Shot, the 3rd book in the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series, for days. Now, I don't know about my blog sisters, but for me, editing is a terribly intense time. I do a lot of beating myself up. Every imperfection is achingly clear to me. I go over and over every line, searching for flaws and faults. This book in particular has been worrisome because it's a combination of reality and fiction, and the reality concerns a secret society.

After a week of looking at galleys, and two ten-hour days over the weekend, I needed to walk away for a while and return with new eyes.

Right about then, an email popped up in my inbox. My new friend Marjorie and I had been talking about going to the National Zoo to see Tai Shan, the baby giant panda. Did I want to see Tai Shan before he left for China? If so, would I like to go on Monday?

I emailed Marjorie right back with my answer: YES!

Tai Shan's name means Peaceful Mountain. Marjorie wisely scheduled our visit so we arrived before the crowds. I had a clear view of the little black and white darling. Did you know that a panda is more closely related to a racoon than to a bear? 'Tis true.

Here's a photo of Tai Shan strolling out to munch on bamboo.

Behind him you can see the large Fed Ex crate that was his "container" for when he was flown back to China. The crate weighed 1,300 pounds and took about 200 hours to build. The zookeepers allowed him free access to it so he would feel "at home." Last Thursday, four days after I saw him, Tai Shan was lured by a breakfast of bamboo into his traveling container. He was taken by motorcade to Washington Dulles Airport and loaded onto a Boeing 777 freighter dubbed "FedEx Panda Express" for a 14 1/2 hour flight to Chengdu China.

Crunch! Crunch! I bet he enjoyed all 175 pounds of bamboo they took along for inflight dining. As a special treat, they also packed pears (his favorite) , apples and cooked sweet potatoes.

On the morning that we visited, Marjorie and I could hear Tai Shan chewing on his snack. Even though he looks like a cuddly stuffed animal, pandas have a respectable set of teeth!

I asked a zookeeper how she felt about Tai Shan going home. She said, "It's good for him. He'll get to breed. It's good for all of us, because his offspring will be returned to the wild to help repopulate pandas. And there's a possibility his mama (Mei Xiang) is pregnant, so we have our fingers crossed that we'll have a new baby panda soon." Learn more here http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/01/29/VI2010012904390.html

Since female pandas are only fertile one day a year, that's an iffy proposition. The captive breeding program offers renewed hope for repopulating the pandas. Currently, there are only a couple thousand giant pandas living in the mountainous areas of southwest China. Fortunately, the National Zoo has made significant improvements in their rate of breeding success.

Here's a photo of Tai Shan in his "inside" cage at the Panda House, where he was climbing on a rock. The temp inside the Panda House is kept around 65 to 70 degrees, the same temp of his cabin in the Boeing 777. The whole time we visited, he was a busy, busy guy, lumbering about. I bet he'll be fine in his container, but I'm equally certain that he'll be happier exploring his new home, the Bifengxia Panda Base outside Ya'an.

Here I am, smiling and enjoying my well-earned break. (You can see a video about him and his impact on local well-wishers here: After Marjorie took this photo, we went to the gift shop. I bought two journals made of panda poo. The poo is rinsed, cleaned, ground up and mixed into a pulp to form large sheets of paper. I've decided to turn my journal into a scrapbook featuring all the cool things I'm getting to do in my new home. That will include adventures like visiting the "Peaceful Mountain" before he flew to China.