Hi friends,
Always happy to spend my Wednesdays with you. Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to drop by and say hi. Please know how much I appreciate it.
I recently turned in my rough draft of The Crushing Depths—the second book in my Coastal Guardian’s series. It was a long process mainly because I have a very unique (most say crazy, I prefer unique or quirky) writing process. I write my story in drafts. Draft after draft. So, what I turn in as my ‘first draft’ to my publisher is really my tenth draft overall.
I was reading Karen Witemeyer’s post from last week. I know Karen. She’s as awesome and spunky as her books are. It was so cool to hear about her process. She writes one solid, finished chapter a week and then 40 weeks later she has a book to turn in. She edits as she goes. I was amazed. I can’t even wrap my head around the idea of having every chapter in my mind, let alone on paper in perfect order.
I don’t know my characters fully when I start, let alone how anything is going to weave tighter. It’s like those latch hook kits. Do you remember those? When I start writing all the pieces of yarn are everywhere and then instead of following a pattern as I usually don’t have one, I start putting them in piece by piece. Often, I finish the picture, but it doesn’t look right, so I begin again. It takes many attempts, but eventually, the picture comes to life. Part of the fun and the panic for me is in the attempts—learning about the characters, seeing them come to life, being surprised when the story deviates.
However, I absolutely admire and am in awe of Karen’s way. How much time and frustration I’d save along the way if I wrote differently. I’ve got to message Karen and ask if she outlines. I want to do know HOW she does that. Amazing! But, what’s hit home with me this week is the fact God made us all different. He wove storytelling in our hearts and created us all to tell our own stories. None of us are the same so why would I think we could all write the same way. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn and adapt and grow as writers along the way.
I have dear friends who dictate their books, some who outline, some who fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants, some who draft after draft and layer after layer like me. What’s important is reaching the finishing line. Sitting your rear in a chair and finishing the story. Finishing as strong as you can no matter how you begin. As my editors read my story this week, I’m praying that I finished well. I know at this stage there will be lots of revisions for the second stage and I absolutely LOVE revisions as that’s when I get to go in and play and layer the most, but at each stage, I want to finish as well as God has equipped me to do.
My friend and mentor, Dee Henderson, (I know I quote her a lot. She’s a wise woman.) always says to write the story the best that you can at the time, then let it go. Don’t go back and think ‘I could do this better now’ or ‘Maybe I should have changed that.’ You do the best you can at the time with God’s equipping and then you give it to Him. To me, that translates ‘finish well and let God run with it.’
And, then, of course, do something to celebrate finishing! Writing a book or finishing a project is a BIG accomplishment. To celebrate the launch of The Killing Tide in combination with finishing The Crushing Depths, I’m going to… Hmm. I haven’t actually decided yet. Any suggestions?
Question for you:
What is one project you’re working on or recently finished? Did you do anything fun to celebrate when you’re done?
Have a great week!
Dani
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Whenever I start a new job, (and this has happened three times in my career), I will take a small amount of the first paycheck and treat myself to a new item of clothing or shoes, typically to wear and feel smart in the newsroom (I’m a journalist). In this season of being at home with children, the treat for completing a project or arduous task might be Chick Fil A or a milkshake.
Or Starbucks with one of your favorite people <3
Our family usually celebrates finishing something or accomplishing something by eating at a favorite restaurant. We live in the middle of nowhere, so we go for authentic Mexican or steak somewhere we don’t get to often. For smaller treats, the local drive-in makes a fantastic hot fudge malt that I over-indulge in.
Yum. All great ideas! Now I’m craving a hot fudge malt. I had no idea such a wonderful creation existed 🙂
“Finish well and let God run with it.” Love that, Dani! What a perfect balance of obedience and trust. And I had to laugh as you compared your writing style to mine. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished that I could mimic your creativity rushes. Sometimes I feel so slow and plodding, as if I’m digging through thick mud to find one shiny nugget of creativity then holding on for all I’m worth. Ha! You are so right about how God equips us all differently. There are many paths to the destination, but as long as we follow His lead, we’ll get there. I’ll keep plodding my muddy straight line and try not to envy your lovely spiral staircase. 😉
Hi friend,
You’re so sweet. I always feel like such a chaotic writer but lovely spiral staircase sounds so fun. It really is special how God equips us all so uniquely.
“write the story the best that you can at the time, then let it go” YES! I needed this reminder today. I’m always wanting to write the story better than I can at the time — which causes angst. 🙂
So happy it was a good reminder for you today, friend. Love how God uses us to minister to each other. Sending love <3
I think our writing styles are pretty similar. 🙂 I am trying to work out the last few pesky details that get my characters to their “happily ever after.” It’s coming together, slower than I would like, but it always gets there. The last few chapters always seem like they should fly by but instead, they seem to take the longest to get on the page.
I like to celebrate my book’s completion with chocolate and by reading a book of my list of must-reads. And the one waiting in my queue right now is … The Killing Tide, of course. Which is making me a bit desperate to get my writing done. 😛
I’m working on weaving two table runners for my living room. I had a hard time finding the right yarn and now I haven’t had time to get going on it! I will celebrate big-time when they are off the loom!