NaNoWriMo Who is the Point of View Character?

Help. My POV is all over the map.

'Point of View' is a critical element of keeping your story tight, relevant and readable. 

Your POV character is the heart of your story. We want our readers to identify with our POV character. Right?

My story is progressing well. I’m at 9493 words at the end of Day2. I’m up at 7am and ready to get writing.

 Sounds good. But my thinker is telling me there is a problem.

The problem on Day 3. 

So far, my story has evolved with three main points of view and three secondary ones. The story isn’t about the character I’d thought would be my protagonist. Uncle Lem (the original protagonist) isn't getting a word in edge-ways.

It’s not that I’m writing in omniscient POV. It’s that the characters keep showing up, sitting in a chair in front of me, and telling the story as they see it. 

 It’s like a police parade of interviewing witnesses.

I know that this first draft is simply telling the story to myself. And that much will need ‘fixing’ when I’m finished this and get to draft #2.

But this parade of people is crazy. Or is it? 

The solution.

The good part is that each character has great information and all I have to do is record it.

 Maybe my brain is revealing a new way for me to write a first draft. 

What will happen if I work with it as it is? What if I do let each character tell me what they think is going on? After all, this first draft is not carved in stone.

First drafts are meant to be fluid, malleable, and re-written. It’s important to remember that. 

My decision. 

 

I need to go with the flow and let the characters and story come out no matter what.

 This is not the time to get all ‘author-y’ and try to pound the story into the mold I originally had in mind.

However, if things continue the way they started, I’m going to need a new title. Uncle Lem Fakes a Wife is not going to work if Uncle Lem isn’t even in the bloody book.

Okay folks, I am going with the solution. I’m off to interview my cast of characters.

Happy writing, fellow NaNo-ers.

NaNoWriMo Day 2. Can I keep the pace?

What’s the dream here?

Why are thousands of writers crazy enough to try for 50,000 words in one story, in one month?

Day 1 – I managed over 4,300 words. Not all great words, but words that get the story onto the page. And that’s the goal — get the words down.

I started on page one to actually write the book. But I had a plan.

Later that night, I realized that if I managed a bit more, 5,000 words, and did it every day, I’d have a 50,000-word draft in 10 days.

T.E.N. Days.

If I took all the stories in my head and my files, I could create multiple drafts by the end of this year. Well, about five or six.

Why not?

My thinker is screaming at me.

YOU know why not. You’d drain your creative well. You’d burn out. You might never finish any of them. You can’t keep that pace. You are nuts! Or you would drive yourself nuts.

My stubborn side says. 

Shut up thinker. Don’t tell me I can’t do it! You’re not the boss of me. But wait a sec. I’m stubborn. I tend to do what people tell me I can’t or shouldn’t do. So, if the thinker says no, no, no. Maybe the writer in me will flip it a bird at it and say yes, yes yes.

Even if I took my ideas and assigned one to each month of the year and wrote a draft in the first 10 days of the month. I’d have 12 books ready for re-writing at then end of a year.

Or wrote a draft every second month and edited in the months between. Wow!

It makes me wonder why I don’t turn out more books!

The answer to that question is 'reality'.  

I have a life. I like runaway weekends with my husband. I like to fly off to visit the grandchildren. I like diving into the Internet and learning (useless or useful) things. I like to hang out with the people in my writer’s group and my friends.

To produce at the rate of 50,000 every second month I’d have to become almost a hermit. Wouldn’t I?

But what an adventure to give it a try. To see what I can do when pushed.

Perhaps this is why people join NaNoWriMo.

To see what they are capable of.

Hitting that 50,000 words is a rush! A confirmation that we’re writers. We work with words and stories. We can write! Even if we can only make time that one month a year to really produce a story in one go.

 Or maybe it’s the hum of creative energy created around the world by so many people writing. The feeling of belonging to a community linked to buddies who encourage you. People you cheer on to their goal.

I feel empowered to write. I feel extra friendly with my buddies. I am on top of my writing world.

Are you in NaNoRiMo — officially or off-the-record?

How many words will you write on one story this month?

Whatever you write. Good on ya!

Race for the target!

NaNoRiMo 2019 - What I know to start.

Here I am on the first of November, ready to launch into the challenge of 50,00 words in one month, this month. (Why November? why not a month with 31 days?)

I have followed my own advice and started before I start. (See: Start before you start... how to launch into a new book. )

I have character sketches, I have a rough statement of the story, and limited, sketchy notes for the first eight scenes. My murderer has lived in my head for about fifteen years, so I know them quite well.

I have not determined who is the POV character. There are three, well, at least two options.

Lem Ritcey retired special forces (or whatever they are called in the Canadian Military) is one. However, I don't feel connected to his mind or life. At least not yet, although he has appeared in the first four books as a secondary character.

Second, Mrs. Mary Morrison who is Sam Logan's aunt. (find Sam in book 2 of the Caleb Cove mysteries). I've done character sketches for her over twenty years, so I know her much better. She's a bit of a Mrs. Pollifax type gal.

The third character who might end up with POV is Edie Roberts (from book 4 of the series) Her nephew is the first murder victim in the senior's trailer park. She hires the Caleb Cove Security Agency when the police don't quite believe it's a murder, and when they do investigate they go down the path of drug dealing. And then they begin to suspect her.

Because the witnesses, suspects, and others involved are all seniors, the CCSA decides to put Uncle Lem and Aunt Mary undercover to check things out.

And so the story begins.

Book Signings — are they worth it?

The financial and non-tangible benefits and losses to consider before a book signing. How I did it and what happened.

Another foray into the world of standing by a table with my books and greeting people who walk through the door of Chapters/Indigo is over.

My feet hurt, my face is cracked from smiling, and I sold ten books in five hours. (Whoopee)

A fellow author had a table across from me. Stiff and barely smiling, she sat behind the table the entire five hours. She sold two books to friends who came out to support her. (Ouch)

Signings are often a part of a writer’s marketing plan. How to approach them is the question often asked.

• I have a plan for these signings. I know I’m there for five hours and I’m ready to enjoy the day. (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

•  I greet everyone with a smile and a “good day.”

• I offer comments, “You look like you are having a good day.”(The person in question, smiled, slowed and although they didn’t come and see my books, they did LOOK at them.). Every so many smiles/comments someone comes over to my table.

•  I thank them for stopping by and ask if they like mysteries.

If they say, no, I smile, “my books are not for you — but there are great selections over here” (pointing to a table with stacks of books). The rare person has bought one of mine ‘for a friend.’

If they like mysteries, I briefly tell them about mine. Canadian mysteries set in Nova Scotia, suspense and danger in a “clean read” context. (Some state they’ll recommend them to their grandmother!)

• I thank them for stopping by, for visiting with me, whether they buy or not — mentioning that one perk of these events is getting away from the computer and meeting people.

Facts on the process.

•  Calgary is a big city. People don’t hear about local authors. They are often in a hurry. Under these circumstances, making sales is difficult.
• As an Indie author, I’ve found that for paper books, hand-selling like signings is the way they get sold. However, I sell very few at public signings. At conferences, I’m able to sell a few more especially if I have been one of the presenters.
• Talking to others in my writing community, I find that selling ten books at my store signing, was better than most. (Average # sold — 4 books)

 Was it worth it?

Financially, it was dubious. The books were on consignment and the store took 45% of the sales price. Factoring in what it cost to buy the copies in the first place, I netted $2.35 per copy. Total for five hours of time — $23.50. (And that is not factoring in the time needed to create the story and write the book.)

 In terms of exposure, I know I found one fan. (There may have been others. I have no way of tracking.) A lady was at my first two signings was waiting at the store for me when I came for the third. She’d enjoyed the first two books and wanted to make sure to get the third. That cheered my author’s soul.

 My books remained on ashelf in the store. This met the requirement of getting my books into a big book seller. After the signing, Chapters/Indigo kept my books on consignment in that outlet only. I left them there for about a year. Two more sold.

 Would I do it again?

I look on the events I did in a big store as a learning experience. I have five books out and right now I don’t do book signings in stores. Perhaps I will again in the future. I don’t know. But for now my time is better spent writing and marketing on-line.

Published previously on www.medium.com in September 2019

Why bother with drawing and art?

ART 

Sometimes it is the attention to detail that relaxes me. Absolute concentration on shape and form lets the rest of my brain have a nap.

 

With black and white sketches there is the added vacation from color stimulation. 
The time spent drawing is 'alone time' but in such a different way from writing.

Wonkey Donkey MEG

 Other times I want paint and splashes and whimsical pictures. At those times I head out to 'paint night' for time with other painters.

Cock-a-doodle-do MEG

 

At these times I find myself laughing while I work.  And sometimes I work in yarn making crazy hats for kids.

I always go back to my writing refreshed.

Facing the first page of your novel - have no fear

How to banish the fear of the blank page and the first word

Many articles talk about writers facing a blank page with fear. I suppose the idea is to let us know we all face hurdles when we write.

There is a meme about Humpty dumpty. It’s a title over a crashed Humpty that reads: What if Humpty dumpty were pushed?

What if the fear of starting a new book is a myth?

 

What if that first word is not fearful, but exciting to write?

To turn the fear of starting to excitement for a new story, try these. Start before the first word, before the first sentence, and use tools, not rules to launch your story.

First, to face the blank page without fear, warm up. Athletes warm up before races or sports matches. Writers can warm-up before starting the first draft.

Free-fall writing is warm-up for writers.

• Brainstorming on the page is non-threatening.
• Interviewing your characters on the page is making new friends.
• Designing a setting is creative and with a diagram or mind map is fun.
• Staging a what-if problem for the main character can be diabolically satisfying.

Backed up by a collection of brainstormed ideas, I find starting the first draft easier. I dig into my scribblings and diagrams for details, character traits, and the goal of the protagonist. Therefore, the first draft becomes a re-organizing of what I have freely and joyously set down in previous warm-up writings.

Second, remember that first word or sentence is ‘just for now.’ That which you can change, need not be feared.

• When cleaning the house putting an item in one place “just for now” is not a good idea and can lead to more clutter. However, putting down a first word 'just for now' is perfectly legal and actually a damn good idea.

 Third, rename that surge of adrenalin. The physiology of fear and excitement is the same. 

• Name the surge of adrenalin excitement, not fear, as you put the first word, the first sentence on the blank page. Excitement trumps fear.
  

Retrain your brain to help you. When those first words are on the page, celebrate, punch the air, and congratulate your brain as you WRITE ON.

3 keys to prolific writing

Writers, empower yourself with these three mindsets.

Three basic precepts all writers need to know and remember to be prolific. 

1. First writings do not need to be good - they just need to be written. You cannot edit a blank page.

1. Writing well is learned in the same way swimming strongly is. Get in the water/just write, learn some skills, get some feedback and keep swimming/writing.

1. Golfers golf. They do not have to make it to the PGA to either call themselves golfers or to enjoy the game. Writers write. They do not have to publish a best seller to call themselves writers or to keep writing.

Claim who you are. 

        BE a writer! 

              Just write.