On Writing Archives - Page 28 of 29

Grinding to a Standstill

January 4, 2013 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Last week as I sat at my computer sipping yet another bladder-challenging-sized mug of tea, I puzzled over why my writing had ground to a standstill. I have an outline. I know how the story ends. I know the characters as well as my own family. So why the listlessness, the disconnect? Grinding to a standstill

Word Jam

Previously when I hit a writing snag, I’d write another scene or define a new character or setting. That almost always worked to loosen the writing log jam. But I’m near the end of the last book in the trilogy so there aren’t new characters or settings to dream up.

I took a break, and the drone of the vacuum helped me figure out what was going on. I didn’t have clear enough directions for getting from where I was in the telling of the story to the end I had in mind. My outline was too rough. It lacked the detail I needed.

(More experienced writers would likely have figured that out sooner.)

Back to the Outline

I went back to the outline, re-read and printed the last few pages. I flipped through the notepad I carry around with me like a security blanket and tumbled ideas around in my head for another day or two. It was the jump-start my imagination needed. As I began filling in the outline, ideas took shape and grew into even better scenes than I’d initially imagined. The outline is now bursting at the seams and I can hardly wait to dig in and write the rest of Emelynn’s story.

God I love writing – why’d it take me so long to discover that part of me?

Photo by Cassie Boca on Unsplash Grinding to a standstill

On Your Mark

November 26, 2012 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

On your mark. Get set. Read . . . or Wait?

Someone told me the other day that they never read the first book in a trilogy until after the final book was published. When I asked why, she said she didn’t want to invest her time in a story that might leave her hanging. Would you read book one of an unfinished trilogy?

It wasn’t the first time I’d heard that sentiment. I’m often asked if my books are standalones or if they leave the reader on a cliff.

Cliff-hangers

I feel confident the answer is no. The first book contains a complete story arc. In fact, I finished the book before I entertained the idea that I could carry on with the characters.

There are unanswered questions at the end of the books, but the unanswered questions aren’t cliff-hangers.

My intention is to leave enough room for readers to draw some of their own conclusions. After all, it’s a fantasy: I want to leave the reader wondering, maybe hoping, that this parallel world exists all around them. It’s a more believable scenario if some questions remain unanswered, just like in our own lives.

Mark Your Calendar

Whether or not you’re one of those readers holding off until I finish writing the trilogy, I’m happy to tell you that the second book, Revelation is complete. The release date is late spring 2013. I’ve already outlined the third book, Redemption, and I’m more than halfway through writing it. I’m aiming for a fall 2013 release date.

So, hold off if you must, but mark it on your calendar—because unless I’m hit by the proverbial bus, (touch wood!) the trilogy will cross the finish line in less than a year.

Update: The trilogy is now complete at seven books. Read about it here. Purchase it here.

Why Write a Trilogy?

September 28, 2012 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Why write a trilogy? The Gift Legacy didn’t start out as a trilogy. When I wrote Awakening, I concentrated on producing one story that was strong enough to call a book. It was a personal project for me—a bucket list accomplishment. Publishing wasn’t even on my radar at that time.

I Missed Writing

But in the lull after I’d sent the draft off to the editor, I realized that I missed writing. I don’t know why that surprised me. After all, I’d been writing almost every day for six months and loving it. It had become a habit. Soon, I found myself back at the computer picking through the story, rewriting, adding bits, and rethinking scenes.

The writing process, and writing fiction in particular, is harsh. With each re-write, perfectly good, but ill-fitting or excessive ideas and scenes are cut. But with computers the cuts are never really gone—just pasted inside another document.

While I was busy incorporating the editor’s input into the next draft, I realized that the document I had titled “discards” could be renamed “ideas for book 2.” That’s when I started toying with the idea of a continuation of the story.

Book 2 Takes Shape

Before I knew it, an outline for a second book took shape. It surprised me and at first I didn’t even tell anyone (friends and family were still reeling from the revelation that I’d written the first one!).

There were huge holes in the second outline, but I knew a good and unique story was there. From that point on I knew The Gift Legacy would be more than one book*. I didn’t know three books were lurking, and perhaps there are more, but what I do know is that I’m not going to stop writing. It’s too much a part of me now.

Tap here to learn more about JP McLean.

Update to Why Write a Trilogy: There are now 7 books in the The Gift Legacy. You can get started with Book 1 here.

Book Promotion

September 7, 2012 By JPMcLean 1 Comment

I’ve been trying on this new straitjacket called Book Promotion, and it doesn’t fit very well. Press releases are bulging out in all the wrong places and my arms are tied up in a frustrating search for comps and target audiences. I have so many questions: How do you write a press release? Where do you send it? How do you find books comparable to your own? Where are your readers hanging out?

These are just a few of the book promotion questions I’ve been asking Google, Goodreads and anyone else who promises an answer. I’m spending more time lost in Internet rabbit warrens than I am writing. And I’ve got to tell you, I much prefer writing fiction than writing press releases.

What’s the point?

But I’ve learned something in the process: researching comps does have a purpose (other than frustrating novice marketers like me).

Case in point, as part of the marketing research, I went through the exercise of identifying the target market for Awakening. Next came brainstorming where this highly discerning market congregates and shops, and then what other books they’re reading.

That’s where the interesting bit came in.

The Gift Trilogy is an urban fantasy. The urban fantasy genre often draws from other genres, like mystery, romance or thriller. My books draw on the thriller genre—which isn’t unusual—what sets them apart is that they don’t have vampires, werewolves or alternate universes. Not that I don’t enjoy those elements – I do (just check out my Goodreads page) – I just didn’t put those elements in my books.

So … maybe the frustrating struggle with the straitjacket was worthwhile. Maybe it helped me identify my books’ “Unique Selling Point.” Apparently that’s very important. And it might not be much, but it’s a start!