Valerie Davisson's Blog, page 7

SCORE!

I’ll never forget my first athletic success.

It’s easy. I only have one.

It happened one hot afternoon in July.

We’d just moved to Newport News, VA from Yokohama, Japan. Like every move in our family, this represented a fresh start. In an effort to revive their failing marriage, my parents decided the family needed to start attending church. Dad being Catholic, Mom, a non-denominational Christian, they settled on a milk-toast Methodist church not far from home.

We were late, so sat in the first pew on the left after tiptoeing into the chapel. As we sat in hushed silence, waiting for the minister to arrive, I was fascinated by the back of the old ladies’ nodding heads. They all wore hats, feathers bobbing in the warm, desultory breeze that meandered up the center aisle from the open door.  A bent, older man in white and gold robes took his place behind the podium, gripped the sides, and began droning on about something or other.  My eleven-year-old self soon began nodding off with the old ladies.

After the service, my parents dropped us off at the nondescript beige building next door for Sunday School, then escaped back to our air-conditioned house for a couple of hours of peace and quiet.

I was directed to a classroom down the linoleum-paved hall. Five other kids my age sat in an imperfect circle on folding, metal chairs. A solidly cheerful, middle-aged woman stood at the front of the group, enthusing about Moses, or maybe it was Jacob. I can’t remember. At least there were pictures and a semi-interesting story line. A smiling Jesus reigned supreme on the wall. He looked much nicer than the only other images I’d seen of him, hanging from a cross, in the Catholic school classroom in Japan.

After closing prayer, followed by lemonade and cookies, which I was to learn marked the end of every Sunday School session, the kids all went out back into the field for a game of softball. Everyone took their positions. Some had gloves. A bat and ball materialized.

I had no idea what to do.

Having been raised in Germany, Italy, and Japan, I’d never been to a baseball game, watched one on TV, let alone played this All-American game. Wisely, they put me in right field. I tried to look like I knew what I was doing. For most of the game, that worked. I managed to stay out of the way and mumble encouraging sounds to my team mates. The innings were interminable.

I kept hoping my parents would arrive to rescue me. It was hot, It was dusty, and I just wanted to go home and have Sunday dinner, which was going to be fried chicken, my favorite. Near what I was hoping was the end of the game, someone who clearly did not understand my athletic limitations, put me on second base. Someone handed me their glove. The other team was much better than we were, and soon the bases were loaded. A big, bruiser of a batter was up.

I tried to imitate the baseball stance I’d seen the other outfielders taking, crouched down, hands on knees, ready for anything.

It all happened so fast. The pitcher threw the ball. The batter hit the ball. The ball went high into the air and to my terror, straight at me. Instinctively, I straightened up and reached my glove into the sky-mostly to keep the ball from hitting me in the face when it came crashing down, which it was going to do any second now.

Everyone stood back. I wished someone would come catch that ball. I knew I couldn’t! I closed my eyes just before it hit my glove. Whack! Miraculously, it landed right in the center of my glove. My hand stung like hell, but I managed to hang on to the ball AND my foot was on second base! By my teammates’ reaction, these were good things.

Everyone was jumping and screaming, hugging and crying. It was the BEST! I had no idea what a double out was, but apparently I’d made one!

Now…the point of that story is that sometimes, wonderful, miraculous things happen. Out of the blue. Without planning. Without preparation. But usually, it takes a little effort on our part.

What would you like to achieve in 2017? What ecstatic, joyful event can you visualize?

Treasure Maps, Lucid Dreaming, The Secret, Field of Dreams: Americans are steeped in some very powerful optimism.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”

“Build it and they will come!”

“The Power of Positive Thinking!”

Opening your mind and heart to wonderful possibilities is definitely the first step to achieving things you really want, but may have been afraid to even hope for.  The next steps are not as glamorous, but will be immensely satisfying when you look back at the end of the year and realize you’ve achieved your goal.

There are a ton of goal setting programs out there, but I like Steven Covey’s. I stumbled across his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, years ago. In it, he begins by guiding you through the steps of writing a mission statement for your life: those big, dreamy goals. Next, he has you specifically identify your Roles (writer, mother, teacher, neighbor, family member, volunteer…) and set an annual goal for each of those Roles. What would you like to achieve as a mother this year? As a writer? As a neighbor?

Then, look at just that month and ask yourself what you can do that month to achieve your annual goal in each role. Then do the same thing for each week. It only takes about 5 or 10 minutes a week once you get the hang of it. AWESOME tool. Its power is in scheduling time for those things that are really important, but often get pushed to the back burner by other, more immediate, but less important time wasters. The more you schedule time for the sometimes boring, but important things – the more time you actually free up to work on your important goals.

I only recommend things I’ve actually used and I’ve used his system for over 15 years. I have been able to get over a back injury, a divorce, go back to school, earn a BA and an MA, find meaningful employment, improve my personal relationships, write 4 books, remarry, get healthy, out of debt and save a downpayment for a home.

If your goal is to complete your novel this year, how many words do you have to write this month, this week, today? Do the math and then get to work!

Make 2017 your best year yet!

Keep Your Eyes Open

Keep Your Eyes Open. Characters are Everywhere.

 

New OC Writers Column

Thanks to O. C. Writers for inviting me to do a monthly article about Writers Craft. They are giving me pretty free rein, which I appreciate, so you never know what topics will pop up! If there is something you’d like to explore, let me know.

This opportunity is an offshoot of the Writing Workshops Greta, Joe and I did in Orange County, CA last summer. They’ve asked me to share what I have picked up along the path of my own writer’s journey. I get so much from this group, I appreciate the opportunity to give something back. Hopefully what I’ve learned will be helpful to other writers, also.

This month’s post deals with major time changes in your novel. Don’t Fear the Flashback!

O.C. Writers Network October 2016: How to Deal With Your Past

 

NetGalley 5-Star Review

“The beginning of what is sure to be an amazing series!! Logan was a kick ass heroine! I look forward to reading the rest of the novels included in this series!”  – Megan Heenan

29-year old Megan Heenan of Henderson, Nevada reviews Science Fiction, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance, and Non-Fiction titles for Net Galley, Good Reads, Amazon and other sites.

New 5-Star Review from Canada!

I love it when librarians like my books. See what Ontario librarian, Shannon Terril, has to say about why she enjoyed SHATTERED: Logan Book 1, in her recent review on NetGalley: “There was something so engaging…” Thanks for the 5-stars, Shannon!

There was something so engaging about the central mystery of Shattered that made for an incredibly memorable story, one I would highly recommend to both mystery and general fiction fans. Davisson did a fantastic job of crafting a dynamic main character whose identity is what pushed this story from a four star to close to a five for me. I did find the cover a little old-fashioned looking, and I’m not sure how well this book will stand out on the shelves because of it, but it is still very much worth the read. Logan KcKenna’s life has been completely upturned. In a short period of time she looses so much of what made her happy, and she has a lot of work to do restarting her own personal journey. But when a murder disrupts the new community she has begun to forge for herself, Logan dives right in, unveiling a new side of herself as she works with a well-crafted group of characters in order to uncover “whodunit.”

And the best part is, I already have access to book two! I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

 

 

 

Discovering Scrivener

TECHNOLOGY AND I HAVE A TORTURED HISTORY.  I’m old enough to not only remember the computer revolution of the 70’s, but worked in the messy heart of it in Silicone Valley during those tumultuous years.

I am totally old school. I went from using a Selectric typewriter and going to the library if I wanted to look something up, to becoming a software trainer and course developer. I’m last night’s low-tech Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics in Rio, not Japan’s 2020, high-tech, man-made meteor shower. I have to be dragged over every new, technology hurdle, from Windows to the iPhone.

In short, I’d rather use software than learn it.  I scrupulously cull everything in my life that steals my writing time.

So, when I started hearing people rave about Scrivener online, I smugly assured myself that between Word and Excel, I had it covered. I had separate file folders on my desk for each new book, storing all notes and drafts within each. For big picture thinking, I’d tape up some poster paper on a wall and use Sharpies, index cards, and colored Post-It notes to track plot and characters. Word and Excel were my two best buddies – partners in crime! I could outline, organize, work through drafts and rewrites with my editor and zip the final file off to my publisher.

All was good in my world.

But then….last week…I got a wild hair and Downloaded a Free Trial. My little world was hit by an asteroid and wobbled a bit on its axis. OMG! Where has this program been all my life?

After the download, I took a couple hours to go through the tutorial, and spent another hour watching a free Joseph Michael webinar recommended by JJ Gow of OC Writers. Joseph Michaels is the guru for Learning Scrivener Fast. I now know just enough to be dangerous.

Uploading my existing manuscript from Word, I separated it into chapters and scenes, and away I flew! I can track POV scenes while storyboarding on my cork board. I can outline, compose and rearrange as needed, without having to scroll up and down a long, linear Word doc, cutting and pasting until my eyes blur, hoping I have renumbered my Chapters correctly. Research, Character Backstories, Images, and synopsis are all at my fingertips.

And I love the nitty-gritty data you can pull up, assigning a status to each scene, First Draft to Done, and as many steps as I want to create in-between. I set goals and watch the little green bar fill up the box as I complete each session. You plug in a target for number of words, say 80,000 for a novel. Then, enter the completion date you’re shooting for, how many days a week you want to write, and it will give you a target number of words per session. So awesome! Keeps you motivated!

You can also sort by the status of various scenes. If you only have thirty minutes, go right in to one of those incomplete scenes and get to work. More time writing, less time hunting for your place.

The best is yet to come, or so I’m told. I’m only about half-way through my first draft of Book 3 of my Logan McKenna series, Compiling is when the fun begins. It looks like it will be a snap – to any format I choose: movie, epub, pdf, print. I’m just going to have it compile to a Word doc to send to my  beta readers and editor, but if you are self-publishing, you can do it directly from Scrivener – it gives you a whole slew of minute specifications (non of which I am familiar with) for anyone wanting to customize the way their end product looks.

Just like every other technology hurdle I’ve reluctantly jumped, clearing this one has been worth the risk of a few hours time. I’m not an expert by any means, but I’m up and using it productively in less than four hours. It got me through a road block, thinking in scenes vs linear chapters. I can jump in and write anywhere in the timeline I want, without worrying about messing up my manuscript.

I still use Excel to keep track of my timeline, but everything else works better in Scrivener.

Still reluctant to try yet another new software program? I understand, you’d rather be writing than learning menus and displays. I hear you! A full-time teacher and a mother of a blended family with six kids and three grandkids, I have a tough time finding time to write, let alone learn new software. But for me – this one has been worth it. So far, it’s living up to its promise of saving time in the long run.

So, in the spirit of the Olympics, jump that hurdle, and go for Writing Gold!

 

 

HOW MANY POV’s?

QUESTION: “How many points of view can my novel have?”

ANSWER: “As many as you can handle…well.”

That last word is the kicker. The skilled author of an epic, historic novel could let us get inside 20 different characters’ heads, but most of us aren’t Tolstoy, nor are we writing War and Peace (587,287 words) or even Game of Thrones.

And then, there’s the matter of time. This is something I’m dealing with this morning. I’m vacillating between 3 and 4 POVs in an ~70,000-80,000 word mystery/thriller novel. Am I going to have to use flashbacks and dozens of flips in order to fit everything in – and how much backstory do I really need, anyway?

If you’re dealing with the same issues, here are some useful discussions on the subject:

Good examples:  Stephen King (From a Buick 8) and James Patterson (Alex Cross series)

How Many is Too Many – Writers’ Block Party – Writing Forum/Writer’s Digest.com

How Many Viewpoint Characters Can a Novel Have? – Advanced Fiction Writing/ Randy Ingermanson

Another Writing Forum/Writers Digest Discussion

 

 

 

Mrs. Mommy Booknerd

MRS. MOMMY BOOKNERD’S Showcase and Interview with me. Emily Lewis did a great job featuring the first two books of my Logan McKenna series, SHATTERED and FOREST PARK, then made me really think by asking me some great questions during our interview.

Find out why I would title the story of my life Plan Z, what I’m working on now, and see if some of my favorite childhood books were ones you enjoyed, too.

New Audio Release

Leonor Woodworth did such an excellent job narrating FOREST PARK, we snagged her to read SHATTERED: Logan Book 1. Just released on Amazon and Audible. Check out the sample.

Do I Need an Editor?

DO I NEED AN EDITOR? Good question. Short answer? It depends. Are you self-publishing or looking for an agent? How much help does your manuscript need? (There are many levels of editing-each with different costs)

Before you even think about hiring an editor, do what you can to polish it on your own. Here are some basic steps most authors follow:

Polish your manuscript to the best of your ability. Check for SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar) errors, doesn’t drag anywhere, has great characters and dialogue, and enough description to help people get into the story, but so much they get lost in it, etc. Do your best.
Hand your baby over to your Beta Readers. 3-5 is all you need. Betas are carefully selected readers who are familiar with your genre and can communicate honestly with you. Don’t ask them to line edit – just give you big-picture feedback. What did they love? Where does the story drag or get confusing? How was the dialogue?)
Once you compile the feedback from your Beta Readers, look for patterns. Be confident enough to use their feedback to improve your writing, but don’t try to please everyone. It’s your book.
Let is Sit.  For me, a month or two works – long enough that when you get back to it, it’s with fresh eyes.
Read it all the way through – ALOUD. You’ll pick up on awkward spots you didn’t see before, redundancies, POV issues, dialogue flow. You’ll even laugh at the funny bits (damn, I’m good!) Very valuable part of the polishing process.

Here’s where you have to make a decision. Do I need a professional editor?

If you’re going to self-publish, the answer is a big, resounding YES! End of story. Don’t throw more junk into the Amazon pile. There’s enough there already. Besides, no one can edit their own work well. And take the advice of someone who has cut corners in the past. Don’t. Don’t hire your cousin, a grad student, or someone who says they’ll professionally edit your 85,000-word novel for $200. You’ve spent a year or more of your life writing this. Make sure it’s in good shape before you offer it up to the public.

Anyone can call themselves an editor, so if you decide to hire one, check references and experience. A good editor will not accept just any writer’s work – they’re picky. If they like the sample chapter you send them, they will do a sample edit of one chapter. Then, if you’re both happy, you’ll draw up a contract with deadlines and limits to how many back and forths you get.

If you’re going to query agents in hopes of going the traditional, publishing route, it’s a tougher decision. It may come down to budget. Substantive and Copy Editors average around $1,500 for a 70,000 word novel. If you don’t have the money, you’ll just have to send it off and hope for the best. But the competition’s steep. It doesn’t hurt to have the best, most polished version of your work for an agent to shop around.

That said, many agents say that if your work is in pretty good shape, you can skip this step. A large, traditional publisher will have editors that will probably want you to make changes to match their style and audience anyway. Others say it’s a good idea in this competitive market. It’s like dating. Put your best foot forward.

Here’s what Sara Megibow, of the Nelson Literary Agency, had to say:

Great question! The short answer is – whether or not a writer hires an editor, I do think a manuscript should be 100% complete and ready before querying. Some writers don’t need an editor in order to get their manuscript to submissions level. Other writers need or want that editor before submitting. Either way – it’s up to you. When I review query letters and sample pages for potential representation, I don’t take into consideration whether or not it has been professionally edited. For me, the manuscript is either something I love and think I can sell or it’s not – regardless of how it got to that state. Saying “it’s been professionally edited” in the query letter doesn’t add bonus points to the submission and not having it professionally edited doesn’t add a red flag.

In general, too many submissions come through our slush pile that aren’t ready. In my opinion, an editor could have helped many of these books get to the next level. However, I acknowledge that hiring that person is expensive. If you are going to get an editor, don’t skimp – hire someone with credentials and client referrals in the genre of work that you are writing. If hiring an editor is not a financial option, here are some other suggestions:

Suggestion #1 = Read 3-5 books in your genre, published in the past 2-3 years, preferably by debut authors and published by major publishing houses.

Suggestion #2 = Once your book is done, set it aside for 2-4 weeks and then re-read with fresh eyes before submitting.

Suggestion #3 = Attend a writing conference – especially one run by RWA or SCBWI.