I admire fiction writers who are able to completely outline their story before they start the task of pulling it together. Such authors usually have character profiles ready for all of their major characters before the first word is written. I think that is probably the correct way to do it. That is how I visualize the great writers of the past going about their work. But I must admit it doesn't work for me. Such an approach tends to make my characters and stories too rigid.      

I start with  several characters of whom I have some knowledge but do not necessarily know well. Sometimes they turn out to be completely different than I thought they were going to be when I started the story. By the time I get through with the book I know them well. Since we set our mystery stories in our home town, I have even, at times, found myself looking for them at places where they are suppose to be. They become my good friends or in some cases my bitter enemies.

As for the story line, I start with just a general idea of the direction in which I want it to go. I then sort of let the story happen. It doesn't always turn out the way I initially thought it would. In our second mystery, I discovered about two thirds way through writing the story that the villain was someone different than I thought when I started. I use a good deal of actual history from our area and I love developing colorful small town characters to add interest to the story line. I have been criticized at times for giving too much attention to landmarks and such, but, of course, local people love that. I was told of one lady in a nursing home who looked forward weekly to having her granddaughter read our books to her, probably because she recognized the places being described. In mystery stories, there must be a number of suspects with clues seemingly pointing toward each. I work to make the plot complicated enough to keep it from becoming boring, but simple enough for the reader not to get lost. As a reader, it is interesting characters that draw me, but it seems to me most writers of cozy mysteries go overboard, getting caught up in their characters, and giving too little attention to the plot.  

I am fortunate to have my wife as my co-author. I have the imagination that enables me to do the stories. Wanda, a long time non-fiction writer, applies the polish that makes the material readable. Normally I write two chapters a week and give those chapters to Wanda for her to work her magic. I then take what she has done and apply it to the manuscript. As any writer knows, the rewrite is a big part of the total effort. The two chapter plan plus the final rewrite gives us sort of a double rewrite.

I am sure any professor of creative writing would have a field day with what I have shared with you. However, it works for us, and I believe the right approach for your writing is what works for you.            

           

I am often stunned by some of the misconceptions people have about people who write books. In today's blog I will attempt to correct some of the commonly mistaken ideas about those who put word to paper.

Misconception #1 - All authors earn lots of money with their writing skills. As I pulled my billfold out of my back pocket to pay for my lunch at a local fast food restaurant, I made a joke about finding enough money to pay for my meal. The clerk laughed and said, "you don't have to worry about that, you're an author. You've got plenty of money." I didn't tell her I had received my quarterly royalty check for my most recent book published by a traditional publisher the previous week. That check was for less than one hundred dollars. The fact is if one is looking for a way to make lots of money, he/she would do well to look in another direction. My wife and I feel good about how well our Davis Morgan mystery series has done over the last couple of years, but if we were dependent on the funds from those sales to support us, we would be in sad shape. It's true there is a small handful of American writers who are making big money, and a few others earning a living with their writing skills, but most of us are doing well to break even.

Misconception #2 - Any author who has completed a well written book will have no problem getting a publishing contract. It's sad, but nevertheless true that quality of writing, while it is important, is no longer the most prominent factor in getting a book published. A long time literary agent once told me that one could put together the best book ever and it still might not be published if he was not presenting it from a solid platform. Perhaps he was slightly over stating the case, but I don't think he is far from being right on target.  Agents and publishers want to sell books, so they are most interested in a writer's potential to sell books. That is why media personalities, mega church pastors and such have little problem getting their books published even when their work may be inferior to that of the  struggling writer who has something to say and has said it well, but still can't get anyone to read his work. Whether we like it or not, platform is usually number one on the concern list of agents and publishers. That, of course, is why social media is so important to writers.

Misconception #3 - The author who gets a contract for his book from a traditional publisher will have no problem getting his work in bookstores all across the country. My publisher uses the  same distributor the larger publishing houses use to get the work of their big name authors on bookstore shelves, but the stores will most often stock the books of the big names. It will usually take a lot of work by the author to assure that his book will be widely available, and if he doesn't apply himself, he probably will only sell a few books to family and friends. That leads us to the next misconception.

Misconception #4 - Once an author's book is published by a traditional publishing house, his responsibility to that project is over. My wife's book, MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR CHILD'S TEACHABLE  MOMENTS, was published by Moody Press back in 1989. It was picked up and distributed by a major ministry and, I believe, sold somewhere between thirty and forty thousand copies. To accomplish that, she did one radio interview and one book signing. That was thirty years ago and the marketing was done almost totally by the publisher. Today the author is almost always left to plan and execute his own marketing plan. The work has just started when the book is published.  

I hope I have given you a brief but realistic view of what it means to be a writer without discouraging your dreams. Despite everything I've said, I love being a writer and I am thankful that at this time in my life I have the freedom to do exactly what I want to do.