The subject of this post arises just about every time I start a first draft. It’s like I’ve never written one before. It’s like I have amnesia. But, the truth is, I’ve actually finished a book or two and they’ve been published. So?

These are the stages I go through:

Stage 1. I can’t do this. I don’t want to do this. It’s like sitting in a rowboat without oars, watching a small hole in the bottom grow.

When that happens, grab a life vest (never write a draft without one). A life vest may consist of:

– Taking a short, and I mean SHORT, break, preferably outdoors, maybe skygazing, birdwatching or just casually strolling. Even whistling or singing a jaunty tune can change a mood.

– Reading something by someone you admire or that gives you a lift. Anything that promotes constructive, positive thoughts

Stage 2. Why is it taking me so long? I can’t believe the words don’t just pour out of my fingers by now. Haven’t I learned anything? I have learned at least one thing: that I need to be kinder and more patient with myself when writing the dreaded draft. And I need to unlearn or cast aside the thoughts in Stage 1.

Stage 3. Before I start writing the draft, I tell myself, “I’m glad I created an outline for this installment. It’ll make writing much easier!” Once I start writing, I tell myself, “I’m not using the outline. It’s not fun to know what happens next.” Translation: I prefer to drive myself crazy. What I should be thinking is: flexibility and readiness to change are superstar attributes. They also help the flow of creative juices. Yes, go with the flow.

Stage 4. While writing the draft, I keep thinking back to the opening chapter. It’s too dull. Nothing happens. Then I firmly remind myself: once you finish the WHOLE draft, the welcome mat for revisiting will be awaiting. That’s exactly what I did on Books Two and Five. I went back and created new first chapters. Multiple changes are permitted. No one’ll ever know or care. Here’s a secret: you actually can make that and other changes any time, if it helps you forge ahead.

Stage 5. The dialogue stinks. Everyone sounds the same. My reply: So what? Because, you can…refer to Stage 4, the last three lines.

Wasn’t that simple? Excuse me, I really should get back to writing my first draft.

Writing is hard, but the more you write, and enjoy what you write, the better it gets. (Alice Munro)

As I sit at the cusp of a New Year, rather than resolutions, I’d like to list qualities I’ve been honing, to carry over into 2022. Qualities to help writers write and beyond:

1. Courage: When we summon up our inner courage, we’re able to blot out worry, anxiety, nervousness and a general scattering of the mind. Can we write without courage? No. Can we truly live life without courage?

2. Steadfastness: To complete our writings, we must be steadfast, persistent, consistent. This doesn’t mean we can’t take breaks. A hiatus can be wonderful for clearing the mind of clutter, for freeing ideas and for sparking imagination. When my breaks go too long (two weeks or more), I feel a little empty. I miss the opportunity to tune in and shine my creativity, writing-wise.

3. Self-discipline: When we write or undertake anything of importance in life, we need discipline to spend our time wisely and get the task done, and done right. If I don’t brush my hair for a couple of days, I get knots and they’re not pretty. They can also be painful. So I brush daily. Briefly, sometimes. And I’m happily knot-free!

4. Gentleness: I’ve been known to walk, move, and act too quickly. I’m working on slowing down. It promotes calmness, relaxation, clearer thinking. I’m a better writer and a better human when I’m calm and gentle toward myself and others. Plus, gentleness feels kind of marvelous. Taking time to appreciate nature, animals and other humans. You notice more; the senses become acute and when relaxed, solid writing thoughts emerge.

5. Patience: What does patience look like? Patience can be as simple as a sweet smile instead of an unkind word or expression, a fragrant bloom waiting to see if anyone notices its quiet scent, or a long road awaiting a traveler who’s taking the time to appreciate the unfolding scenery.

These are a few of the qualities I’d like to carry in my pockets at all times. I find them reassuring and life enhancing. How about you?

When I started writing fiction, I’d assumed little-to-no research was necessary. After all, we fiction writers make things up. Research belongs in scholarly, non-fiction pieces. Not so.

In my upcoming, GAMBLING WITH MURDER, #5 in my SoCal Mystery series, I researched everything from the setting to lockpicking. I learned more than I thought I knew about the setting, and now I know how to pick a lock! 

In real life, I don’t live from far the setting.

But I view the locale as a resident, not as a sharp-eyed, super sniffing, noise sensitive, tactilely inclined writer who needs to bring the setting to life for readers. To do that, I paid a visit just to carefully examine details that I’d likely ignore as a casual observer. By details, I mean:

– the sounds;
– the smells;
– the scenery; and
– the surroundings.

The location I selected had been locked up for some time, which meant I couldn’t actually walk the grounds. But I could linger around the perimeter, jotting notes and snapping photos. This is what I noticed with an author’s eyes and mind:

– The many winding brick pathways, filled with shadows and hiding places.

– The abundant and lush plant life, the surrounding structures, and so many different scents! A buffer between the main building and the road contained a small wooded area that I’d never noticed. That area played a part in an incident that occurs in my book, which led me to study neighboring structures. Would people nearby see enough to help find the culprit? 

– The constant roar of the highway, the hum of small planes and the gently splashing waves of a golden sandy beach that disappeared during high tide.

Even when I can’t visit a setting in-person, I have the luxury of viewing almost everything on the Internet, thanks to Google Maps and a multitude of photos.

I researched seniors and gambling, both of which figure big in the book. I spent hours, maybe days researching different topics, just to ensure I viewed the big picture. This means I gathered excess information. You never know what may play a starring role in the story. Research that takes hours may take up a few lines in the book…or play no role at all. But one thing’s for certain: a way to breathe life into a book is through research. To make fiction seem real.

I’m always amazed at how much knowledge I absorb through research. Writing books is, hopefully, making me a little smarter. :) Or a possible future Jeopardy! contestant.