Glissando (or, Tips for Writers of Fiction)

        The upcoming romance/erotica story, Glissando: Love, Lust and Longing in a Jazz World, is in the patchwork stage. Most of the chapters have been written and the rough draft has been self-edited several times. (Professional editing and finger-crossing comes later.)

        I estimate I'm at the halfway point of writing the book, which is my first go-round in this genre.

        Stitching together the story in a way that makes sense and keeps the reader moving forward is no easy task. And though I'm not done, I have developed a few writerly mantras that keep ME moving forward. Maybe they'll be helpful to you as well.

1. Don't get hung up on word count

        I should take my own advice. But I'm still learning. So anyway, when you start off, it sure feels good to see the word count pass the 1,000 mark. Then at 10,000 you feel pretty accomplished. But beyond that, while you will certainly keep an eye on it, don't let the numbers at the bottom left of the page guide you. THE STORY IS DONE WHEN YOU HAVE TOLD ALL OF IT.

2. Dig in wherever, whenever you can

        I bring my printed manuscript around with me during the day. Each chapter is on a separate sheet/separate sheets of paper. I can pull one out at any time and edit the hard copy. Therefore: you don't have to have your laptop with you all the time (right now being the dead center of summer for me, I can't leave my baby baking in the trunk of my car). If you work pen to paper anyway, grab a chapter or two - chapters that do NOT go in sequence works for me - and take them when you leave the house.

        Could be that working in short bursts is useful for you. Even a few minutes to work out a certain passage that's giving you trouble, or a phrase you don't like but can't figure out why. The couple of minutes during a coffee break, or when you get to work too early to clock in, or afterwards if you don't feel like going straight home/to the gym/to the store, can be enough.

        We beat ourselves up too much in life, in general. This way you can feel you did something to get closer to publication even if you are taking a day or two break from officially "working on the manuscript." And hell, some days you just won't write. Be okay with that.

3. Listen to how people talk

        This is my favorite one. I love writing dialogue. I can hear my characters talking to each other. Would your character really avoid contractions or is that too stiff? "I will not be joining you today" or "Hey, I won't be joining you today."

        Personally I also love the way we can use action or the character's expression to show the reader that a new person is now talking, rather than us stating the obvious. (Rachel replied, "I don't give two damns" versus Rachel frowned and pulled at her shoelaces. "I couldn't care less.")

4. Get distance

        All the advice you've heard, like put it aside and enjoy your hobbies, go out to the movies, spend time with your spouse or friends or kids, etc. are great for distance.

       But I just discovered another method that keeps you in the writing head and gives you a midway sort of distance that has its own therapeutic benefit. WRITE ABOUT WRITING (yup, like I am doing now).

        When you don't feel like jumping back into your story, this approach keeps things brewing in the background. I'm a firm believer in problem-solving by listening to our own advice. It's in there somewhere, we just tend to ignore it too often.

        Writing about writing helps you analyze what you are actually doing as you craft your fiction. I like this better than just thinking about writing, because I can see my thoughts on paper (on a screen) and it helps keep me on track. An armchair psychologist, I realize anything I come up with as advice to others is really my way of keeping myself straight and true to my personal sense of creativity.

5. Write what's interesting to you, in a style you like to read

        It's easier. Why suffer?

        And also, you are not a Martian. Chances are if you like it, there are other readers who will, too. Have faith.

(By the way, as for the image of the trumpet player above, it's a reference to the anti-hero of the book.)

GOOD LUCK

and please feel free to post your comments/questions.