Writing Worry #35: The endless manuscript
I first had the idea for Safe Word nearly 10 years ago. I was on vacation with my mother and sister in the Dominican Republic at an all inclusive resort. Normally, I'm the type of person who likes to be busy. The idea of sleeping in past 7AM or spending the entire day lounging just runs against my grain. My mother and sister didn't have as much of a problem with the need to be busy as I had.
I worked out at the resorts basic gym. I swam in the ocean. I took Spanish lessons. I did a lot of walking. The things about being bored is that it lets your mind wander. When I joined my mother and sister pool side, I read and started outlining Safe Word.
After vacation was over, I had a partial outline and some character profiles. However, other writing projects needed my attention. I had to finish my trunked dark fantasy series. Then there was Wolf Creek. But the idea of writing a crime story with BDSM elements had taken hold.
So when NaNoWriMo rolled around in 2013 and I needed a new story to start on, I pulled out my partial draft outline.
Flash forward to 2016, where is Safe Word? Shortly after I started submitting queries for Wolf Creek, I began the editing process for Safe Word. I've done several drafts. Added point of view characters. I've re-worked the plot and fleshed out some minor characters. My main female character has had a name change and background change.
In between, I published Wolf Creek (new adult paranormal fantasy) and recently signed a contract for Spar (M/M martial arts erotic romance) - hooray! And still there is much editing to do on Safe Word. I fear it is become the endless manuscript. Normally I like to had off my manuscript to beta readers a year after I start editing. That's the goal anyways.
There are a couple of reasons Safe Word is plaguing me. I love the concept and don't want to sell it short. This is my first foray into writing a novel that has neither explicit sex - although there is a strong BDSM component - nor paranormal creatures. So I am doubting myself. The feedback I've received from workshops and writing groups has been lukewarm at best. No one else seems to find the characters or plot as engaging as I do. Have I missed the mark?
More self-doubt. More professional doubt.
D.B Jackson wrote a blog post recently about the need to submit rather than sit on a finished manuscript. I'm accepting the challenge. By next October, Safe Word will be submitted. I have two more scenes to write and nearly half of the manuscript to edit before I can even contemplate harassing beta readers.
So what's it about?
Dr. Jacob Rile is used to being in control, especially in the bedroom. When two former sexual partners are murdered, Jacob must help Detective Catherine St. Onge find the killer before he becomes the prime suspect.
Whether it's reporting a politically connected detective for discharging his weapon or ignoring her ex-boyfriend warnings about investigating a case she hasn't been assigned, Catherine is determined to make senior detective without anyone’s help. To solve two suspiciously similar homicide cases, she must delve into a world of desires she has denied herself.
To get Catherine into the BDSM club where the murderer is finding victims, Jacob will have to pass her off as his submissive. But is she willing to let her guard down enough to be vulnerable? As Jacob and Catherine struggle to find common ground, a jilted ex-submissive chooses Catherine as her next victim. Can Jacob atone for his past arrogance before someone else dies?
