Hi friends,
Excited to spend my Wednesday 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.
This time of year is a time of transition. The days grow cooler and shorter. The leaves begin to turn and fall. Starbucks brings out their Pumpkin Spice Latte. Yum!
Back to School
This fall is a particular time of transition for me and my family. My oldest grandson, affectionately known as Little Man, started kindergarten.
He was ready. Mom was prepared. Nannie was not, but I braved-up and held it together for them.
His brother, affectionately known as Little Dude, was not happy either. He didn’t want to lose his brother or playmate, but once he saw he got full attention all day and his brother returned every afternoon, he grew a bit happier.
On our nighttime adventure walk this weekend, he told me when he turns five, he’ll go to school like his brother, and then he made sure to tell me, ‘but then I’ll come home to mom.’ Such a cutie! Ready to explore but always wanting to return to his mom. Love that age.
Our walk was filled with the sights and sounds of fall—cool grass dewy beneath our toes, bugs humming and flitting about, acorns on the ground, spiders making webs.
The Crushing Depths First Draft is Complete
On another front, I’m transitioning from finishing my first draft of The Crushing Depths to working on rewrites.
When I started out, I LOVED the first draft. Playing with ideas, seeing the characters come to life, watching the story begin to slowly take shape. But, over the years, I’ve come to love revisions even more.
Working on Revisions
Revisions present me with a story in raw form, with living, breathing characters ready to be fully fleshed out, and a setting ready for layers of description.
That’s where I’m at now, but I have my favorite supplies at hand. My favorite purple gel pen courtesy of the lovely Julie Klassen who got me hooked on those years ago. The printed-out copy of the draft, my revision notes, a stack of sticky notes, a highlighter and a strong cup of coffee. Then I dive in!
Join My New Facebook Group for Readers
One last transition I’ve made is to create a Facebook Group for my readers. Dani’s Suspense Squad is now live. I’d love if you’d join!
Reader Question:
What’s your favorite thing about fall? Do you have any questions about the revision process?
Have a great week!
Dani
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Pumpkin Spice – you’re my kind of girl! Always love your blog posts.
Awww. Thanks, friend <3
Can't wait to see you in a few weeks!
I am curious about your approach to revisions. As a new author, I’m trying to learn how to improve my own writing and process. what are you looking for when you sit with your gel pen, notes and coffee?
Hi Rebecca,
That’s a great question! There are so many things. First, I read through the entire thing as close as I can get in one sitting. I just read and make small notes in the printed-out manuscript (I’m an old-fashioned girl. Still write my first drafts longhand). I also sticky tab pages I know that need changing or things I want to remember or highlight and then I let it sit a few days. I sit down and go back through the notes I made and jot down any more new ideas that have come to me and then I make a plan of attack. I make a list of things I know I want to change–story elements, character tweaks, etc. Then I start at the beginning and work my way through. Once all the major areas are fixed, then I read back though it to make sure it’s what I’m picturing and make a new round of notes as I go. On this round, if the main things I wanted fixed that are ‘big picture’ then I start going through and fixing things like pacing, description, setting, etc. It’s more a layering run through. Then I go through it all one last time, make any last minute changes and send my revised version off to my editors. Hope that helps. There are so many great authors on here, if any of them drop by, I’m hoping they’ll chime in too as we all approach each writing stage so differently. I’m always fascinated by that.
What do you write?
Thank you so much for that description. I appreciate the insights.
I have written a contemporary fiction story about a girl who is struggling to become a jockey and all the difficulties she encounters with the male-dominated sport, her own baggage and faith issues. I also write contemporary fantasy. I’m about 15k words into my first novel in that genre.
Oh fun. I’m glad the answer was helpful! And, congrats on finishing a novel. So many writers start but never finish. That’s a HUGE accomplishment.
Thank you, Dani. This blog and the writers associated with it have been a source of encouragement and information. I appreciate how much you all share of your lives and the writing/publishing process.
I love all things apple, so I’m looking forward to visiting the orchard in the next month! I also love wearing boots, scarves, and sweaters! Hope your fall is wonderful!
Hi Melissa,
Visiting the orchard is SO much fun! I love all the fall activities, especially with the grand babies–corn mazes, pumpkin picking, apple picking, etc.
Thanks. Same to you 🙂
I love fall, but this year I’m just ready for cooler weather more than anything. It’s still in the 90s here and shows no signs of cooling down!
I read your comment above about your layering process for revisions; when do you first see a typed copy, then?
How do you choose where to set a series? I’ve read all of your books and love the settings – and it’s fun to read about Wilmington as it’s not far from me. How do you pick?
Hey Amy,
Fun to see you here 🙂 Thanks for taking time to drop by.
So after each full run draft, I type it in, print it out and read through the hard copy. The first typed copy from my publisher arrives at the galley stage so after revisions have been made they get the revised manuscript, my editor makes the changes and then it’s sent back to me as a hard copy manuscript and I get to run through it again making any changes. Hope that helps 🙂 Great question.
I’ll actually be doing my next blog post (in two weeks) on the full process the book goes through when I hand it off to my publisher.
I pick a setting that I think will ‘fit’ the story. For Alaskan Courage, I knew I wanted an adventurous area so I picked Alaska, for Chesapeake Valor, I though it would be fun to write a series close to home and for Coastal Guardians, I love Wilmington and the surrounding area–we spend a couple weeks down there every year.
I love the cooler weather and the fall colors. I’m so happy you’re doing revisions now. That means the time is closer for THE CRUSHING DEPTH to be released. I used to correct my students’ papers with purple ink. It was much “friendlier” than the traditional red ink.
Hi Vickie,
LOL! Thanks 🙂 I love that you are so excited for The Crushing Depths. That’s so cool. Somehow purple ink does look much friendlier 🙂 I bet you were a great teacher.
Cooler weather. Fall colors. Halloween and Thanksgiving.
I always love writing, but I have not yet learned to love revising. Maybe someday. 😁😏
Hey Dani!
Your grandbabies are so cute! Does this mean Little Man is going to school instead of being home schooled? That will be a big change for everyone! Praying for you all as you go through the transitions!