Christine Feehan's Blog - Posts Tagged "writer-s-tips"
How to Start Writing
Part 1 of an 8 part blog series for writers.
DIFFERENT WAYS TO WRITE
Every writer is different, and their process is different. I know people who write scenes, then write transitions between those scenes to create their book. I have no idea how people write scenes and then put them together. They are very gifted to be able to do that. I cannot.
Some people know the ending and start by writing the end. Then they go back to the beginning and write their way toward that end.
Some people plot out and will even write forty pages of plot points, particularly those who have mystery or suspense. They almost have to do that to make sure their clues and red herrings are in place.
Honestly, if I did that, I’d think, “I’ve already read that book, I know that story” and I’d not be interested in writing it.
I start with a blank page and am very linear. I write from page one all the way to the end of the book and it has to go in that order or I feel very chaotic and can’t continue.
Everything to me, as I write, is an adventure.
WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE OR HOW TO START
When a person doesn’t know how to start a book I tell them to just sit down and start writing. If you don’t, it’s never going to happen for you.
If they say that they just can’t do that I tell them they can do some exercises.
WRITING EXERCISES
I tell them to close their eyes and imagine themselves in the sun. Start to ask questions. Where are you? Are you under a tree, or by a lake? Describe that.
Then, how are you feeling? And you go through every one of your senses until you have a scene.
Remember that you’re painting a picture for someone who is reading that book. They have to see it, they have to feel it, and they have to know why you’re there.
You have to answer every question for them in that scene, in words. And if you practice doing that, then eventually those things that are in your head become scenes for you and you can write them down.
There’s a story inside of you and you know what it is. Put your fingers on the keyboard and bring that story to life on the page. One word, one sentence, one paragraph, one page. One step at a time.
BOOKS ON WRITING
Here is a list of books for aspiring writers. I’ve not read them all, but have heard them recommended.
Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life by Elizabeth George
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
The Hero’s Adventure by Joseph Campbell and The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler (these go together and you can get it on audio)
Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques by The Great Courses (on Audio)
Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing and Outstanding Story by KM Weiland
DIFFERENT WAYS TO WRITE
Every writer is different, and their process is different. I know people who write scenes, then write transitions between those scenes to create their book. I have no idea how people write scenes and then put them together. They are very gifted to be able to do that. I cannot.
Some people know the ending and start by writing the end. Then they go back to the beginning and write their way toward that end.
Some people plot out and will even write forty pages of plot points, particularly those who have mystery or suspense. They almost have to do that to make sure their clues and red herrings are in place.
Honestly, if I did that, I’d think, “I’ve already read that book, I know that story” and I’d not be interested in writing it.
I start with a blank page and am very linear. I write from page one all the way to the end of the book and it has to go in that order or I feel very chaotic and can’t continue.
Everything to me, as I write, is an adventure.
WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE OR HOW TO START
When a person doesn’t know how to start a book I tell them to just sit down and start writing. If you don’t, it’s never going to happen for you.
If they say that they just can’t do that I tell them they can do some exercises.
WRITING EXERCISES
I tell them to close their eyes and imagine themselves in the sun. Start to ask questions. Where are you? Are you under a tree, or by a lake? Describe that.
Then, how are you feeling? And you go through every one of your senses until you have a scene.
Remember that you’re painting a picture for someone who is reading that book. They have to see it, they have to feel it, and they have to know why you’re there.
You have to answer every question for them in that scene, in words. And if you practice doing that, then eventually those things that are in your head become scenes for you and you can write them down.
There’s a story inside of you and you know what it is. Put your fingers on the keyboard and bring that story to life on the page. One word, one sentence, one paragraph, one page. One step at a time.
BOOKS ON WRITING
Here is a list of books for aspiring writers. I’ve not read them all, but have heard them recommended.
Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life by Elizabeth George
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
The Hero’s Adventure by Joseph Campbell and The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler (these go together and you can get it on audio)
Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques by The Great Courses (on Audio)
Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing and Outstanding Story by KM Weiland
Book Editing
HOW EDITING IS DONE FOR ME
For me, I have a team who helps. I have a couple of people who, once I complete a chapter and have edited it, I send it to my personal assistant and a close friend. My friend reads mostly for content, but she’ll make notes along the way and perhaps catch a few errors and she sends that back to me. But, my personal assistant will do things like look up details from previous books and insert that in there for me. I write series and I can’t possibly remember what every person’s house looked like and things like that, so she looks it up and lets me know. She also has to look for any and all problems. Then she sends me notes. I get all that back and I go through it and do the edits. Once that’s completed I’ll then start to read the book from page one to the end just reading it like a normal book to make sure I feel that the story itself flows well and I can enjoy it. At this point, if I feel anything is wrong or could be better I’ll make changes to it at this time.
Then, the book goes to my editor. So I have an editor and a copy editor, so two people go over the book again and then they send it back to me. I have my personal assistant, Domini, go through it again and then she brings it to me and we go through it together and that’s where any inconsistencies are picked up. Once that’s done it goes back to my editor, Cindy, and the copy editor once more. And they go through it one more time. We get one final look through it and Domini and I go through that together, send it back and we’re done.
MISTAKES STILL HAPPEN
With all the editing that happens to a book mistakes inevitably get through. I have people write to me and say I need better copy editors, or I should hire them to do the editing, but I do have to say that I have never had one of those letters without finding errors in the letter.
People don’t realize that even the software that’s used for editing or formatting can bring in typos. I mean, there was one that automatically changed Gregori’s name to Oregon. Oregon? How can that happen? That was in the final edits, too! I’ll get the book and see these mistakes and wonder what the heck happened? I go back to that final manuscript that I turned in and that mistake isn’t there, but it’s in the book now. It happens. It does. And you have to learn to be okay with that.
MY OWN MISTAKES
It’s not the typos that get to me. What gets me are the mistakes I make when I’m researching. Like when I’m researching the Amazon River and put it on the wrong continent! That’s a major mistake and if all of us don’t catch it, which we didn’t, that’s a problem, but I get even one letter about that? Nope. Not one person pointed it out, when they will point out a small typo. I found it when I re-read the book and I became unglued and who made the mistake? Me.
Sometimes I’m researching ahead to the next book and I let that information seep into what I’m doing in the current book and that can be a problem. Any mistakes that happen like that are all on me.
FIXING MISTAKES
If we find mistakes we can sometimes get those fixed. It’s all according to circumstances. If I find it in one of my new books that will rollover (go into re-print later or hardback to paperback) I can usually get it fixed.
Not every company will fix mistakes. I’m lucky that the publisher I’m with now will. But, it’s costly to go in and make those changes, so sometimes you just have to live with it.
So it’s important to have so many eyes on that book, editing, making sure everything is consistent and correct, as possible.
For me, I have a team who helps. I have a couple of people who, once I complete a chapter and have edited it, I send it to my personal assistant and a close friend. My friend reads mostly for content, but she’ll make notes along the way and perhaps catch a few errors and she sends that back to me. But, my personal assistant will do things like look up details from previous books and insert that in there for me. I write series and I can’t possibly remember what every person’s house looked like and things like that, so she looks it up and lets me know. She also has to look for any and all problems. Then she sends me notes. I get all that back and I go through it and do the edits. Once that’s completed I’ll then start to read the book from page one to the end just reading it like a normal book to make sure I feel that the story itself flows well and I can enjoy it. At this point, if I feel anything is wrong or could be better I’ll make changes to it at this time.
Then, the book goes to my editor. So I have an editor and a copy editor, so two people go over the book again and then they send it back to me. I have my personal assistant, Domini, go through it again and then she brings it to me and we go through it together and that’s where any inconsistencies are picked up. Once that’s done it goes back to my editor, Cindy, and the copy editor once more. And they go through it one more time. We get one final look through it and Domini and I go through that together, send it back and we’re done.
MISTAKES STILL HAPPEN
With all the editing that happens to a book mistakes inevitably get through. I have people write to me and say I need better copy editors, or I should hire them to do the editing, but I do have to say that I have never had one of those letters without finding errors in the letter.
People don’t realize that even the software that’s used for editing or formatting can bring in typos. I mean, there was one that automatically changed Gregori’s name to Oregon. Oregon? How can that happen? That was in the final edits, too! I’ll get the book and see these mistakes and wonder what the heck happened? I go back to that final manuscript that I turned in and that mistake isn’t there, but it’s in the book now. It happens. It does. And you have to learn to be okay with that.
MY OWN MISTAKES
It’s not the typos that get to me. What gets me are the mistakes I make when I’m researching. Like when I’m researching the Amazon River and put it on the wrong continent! That’s a major mistake and if all of us don’t catch it, which we didn’t, that’s a problem, but I get even one letter about that? Nope. Not one person pointed it out, when they will point out a small typo. I found it when I re-read the book and I became unglued and who made the mistake? Me.
Sometimes I’m researching ahead to the next book and I let that information seep into what I’m doing in the current book and that can be a problem. Any mistakes that happen like that are all on me.
FIXING MISTAKES
If we find mistakes we can sometimes get those fixed. It’s all according to circumstances. If I find it in one of my new books that will rollover (go into re-print later or hardback to paperback) I can usually get it fixed.
Not every company will fix mistakes. I’m lucky that the publisher I’m with now will. But, it’s costly to go in and make those changes, so sometimes you just have to live with it.
So it’s important to have so many eyes on that book, editing, making sure everything is consistent and correct, as possible.
