Go with your gut. Or not.

Besides an overhaul of the last 3 chapters (my current ending is unsatisfying, but I was unsure how to fix it. Thanks to beta input and much thought, [I think] I do now.), pretty much the only thing standing in my way of finishing MAGGIE is about 20 items on my final polish checklist.

Unfortunately, I've left these things to the end because I can't make my mind up about them. They are beta suggestions I like, but don't necessarily like for this novel. I can't find fault with them, except... in my gut, I don't feel like they fit my vision of PRODIGAL MAGGIE.

I know I can only overanalyze for so long before it becomes ridiculous. I want to discard the last beta suggestions because I feel they don't fit my vision of the book, but I'm worried about doing so because... what if my gut is tricking me and I really just don't want to make the intricate changes the suggestions call for?

I don't think that's the case, but... I'm confused. And the more I think about it, the more I confuse myself.

Suggestions, bloggy friends? Writing wisdom says go with your gut, but how do you know if your gut is telling the truth?

Books inside of books

Have you ever mentioned a book in your WIP?

What about ruined the ending?

In PRODIGAL MAGGIE, Maggie ruins the ending of an old (published in the 1930's) classic for another character. It's a book that's on pretty much every summer reading list in America.

Now, I'm not of the school that says, "Hey, it's been out xx number of years, it's free game." I've been known to hush people (politely) at HP film premieres so the surprise remains intact for those who only watch the movies.

Maggie ruining the book is not integral to the plot, and I could use another device to accomplish the purpose the scene currently serves.

None of my betas (except Bear) mentioned an issue with this either way (correct me if I'm wrong here, betas), so I'm wondering...

What is your opinion? Is this something I should leave for now, and if my theoretical future agent and/or editor takes umbrage, change it then? Are there legal issues with mentioning (and ruining) the end of a book in another book?

Also, have you entered my 200 followers contest yet? It's fun and easy to enter!

Last chance

I am going over PRODIGAL MAGGIE once more with a fine-tooth comb.

My method is this:

I go through one chapter at a time, in order.  For each chapter, I read through my beta-critiqued manuscripts, incorporating changes as necessary.

Next I read the chapter out loud. This is helpful in many ways, especially in picking up on clumsy sentence structure and inauthentic dialogue.

As I go, if I cannot quite make my mind up about a beta comment, or can't decide if one word or another works in a particular sentence, or there's anything else I need to mull over, I add it (the text in question, the problem I and/or my beta(s) have with it, and the page number) to a file, which also includes overarching changes (such as deciding to spell a last name differently), and words I notice I'm overusing. I will review this list once I've gone through the entire manuscript.

Once I get through all the chapters and review the above file, making decisions on those items, I will print the newly polished manuscript (in a different font, as the wise Holly Dodson advises), and read through one more time.

I'll fix whatever (hopefully) minor things I find, then it will be query time.

How does the final sweep of your work compare to mine? MAGGIE being my first novel, I've never done a final edit before querying, so I'd like to know how others go about it.

It feels like I could tinker forever, but I know I just have to get it out there.

The Twilight Zone Chapter

I almost accidentally titled this post "The Twilight Chapter."

Gah! Must think, Catt!

Every writer encounters a few problem chapters when writing a novel, right? The ones that just won't make sense, won't play nice, don't come easy, and contribute heftily to the 'hate' side of the delicate love-hate relationship between oneself and one's novel.

As my friend/beta Glenna so wisely said (and I hope she doesn't mind my quoting her), "Some chapters begin like mini-stories, some just flow."

And some totally, totally, totally don't.

Like my dreaded Chapter 13, which took months (MONTHS) to get to a point that I didn't want to cry out of sheer frustration every time I opened the Word document.

Or Chapter 37, which was Chapter 36, which was Chapter 35, which was...

Anyway.

Good ol' 3-7 is my Twilight Zone chapter.

It started out simply as a problem chapter, a la 13, but over the last few days it has morphed into something infinitely more bizzare:

I keep getting new pages out of it, splitting them off into another chapter, and still have pages upon pages of, as I so delicately refer to it, "garbage."

Twice this week, I've managed to expand a portion of Chapter 37's original text into enough of a scene that it justifies it's own chapter, somehow still leaving me with almost the same amount of original gar-bahj words.

I'm not sure how it keeps happening, or if I've even explained myself clearly, so forgive me for my Ramblin' Road Runner of a rant if it makes no sense to you.

Regardless, the story is getting better, so that's progress, yeah?

When you think of something already thought of

I recently finished CLOCKWORK ANGEL by Cassandra Clare.

In Clare's MORTAL INSTRUMENTS and INFERNAL DEVICES series, a treaty called the Accords is often mentioned. CLOCKWORK being the first of Clare's work that I had read, I was disappointed to learn of The Accords.

You see, my novel also features a peace treaty of sorts called the Accords.

Obviously, I didn't rip Ms. Clare off (I was inspired by the Camp David Accords, actually), but I wonder if her books being so popular means I need to rename my treaty? I'd prefer not to, but at the same time, I don't want readers unwittingly assuming I stole from one of their favorite authors.

I thought I'd throw this out there, since this is the second accidental similarity I have come across. You see, one of my betas pointed out that my novel and an already-published YA novel share a main character's nickname and last name. It's not like the character is Bella Swan, mind you, (I actually hadn't heard of the book until beta mentioned it) but still...

How do you handle accidental similarities between your WIP and an already-published novel? Do you change it? Bring it up with your agent (if you have one)? Leave it up to your (hopefully eventual) publisher to decide?

Rain rain, don't go away

Despite having (hack hack) bronchitis, I have a feeling today is going to be very productive. It's been raining all week (seriously, it's raining cats and dogs right now) and I'm itching to get these edits done. Don't know what it is, but something about rain really helps me focus.

Plus, my brother will be home for Mid-Tour Leave very soon, which has nothing to do with my productivity, but makes me very, very happy.

Here's to fixing a mug of hot chocolate (extra marshmallows, please), and diving in!

What helps you focus?

When you get to the end

I'm 40 pages from having my novel beta-ready, and I'm struggling.

I'm not happy with the ending I have now, and I'm banging my head against the wall trying to figure it out.

Yup, I kinda feel like this.

So I'm asking you, my bloggy friends - what makes the end of a book good? (Obviously the final showdown between the good guys and the bad guys, but beyond that?)

Any advice for actually finishing the end of a novel? How to wrap up all the loose ends? How to leave enough of an open ending that you retain the possibility of a sequel without leaving so much unanswered that it cannot stand alone?

How? How? How?

Don't send out the YorkiePoo Brigade!

Happy Belated Independence Day!

In case any of you were thinking of sending your YorkiePoo on a mission to rescue me, I just wanted to pop my head out of my editing cave and let you know that a.) Yes, I'm still alive and b.) Yes, I'm still editing.

Thank you to everyone who left positive, encouraging comments on my last post. I've been keeping up with 90% of the blogs I Follow, and I've been popping onto Twitter occasionally, but I haven't been commenting much. I miss the blogging community, but my thought is that there's no point in being a writer/blogger if I never finish my MS.
My deadline to have my MS beta-ready passed a week ago, but I am still working. I've learned a lot by setting this goal, and it has helped me immensely.

Although my original plan was to edit straight through, I ended up working with a beta throughout, so I have been making corrections as I go along, which has actually worked out great! Setting this goal (and not reaching it) has taught me that, while writing is the best. job. ever, I still need room to be, in the wise words of Maggie Stiefvater (and I so cannot find the link to the blog she wrote about this, so if you have it, please leave it in the comments), I must be something other than a writer.

I've worked harder than I've worked in a long time during the last 3 weeks, but once my husband gets home from work, I want to spend time with him, and once the weekend hits, my life is full of family and fun (and okay, chores). I need recharge time.

Rachelle Gardner posted a blog called How to Become a Better Writer: 11 Completely Non-Writing-Related Ideas that I think every writer should read. It's so true and exactly captures how I feel about the writing/recharging thing.

So yes, I didn't reach my goal in the time I allowed. But I learned that, for my pace and temperament, I didn't give myself enough time. I didn't set a realistic goal. I've learned I just can't writewritewrite with no recharge. I know some people gladly do it, but I'm just not built that way. I want to write, do something else, write, do something else, write, do something else.

And to show you a little of what that 'do something else' entails for me, I wanted to share what I worked on yesterday (while watching HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, no less):

I got the idea for this painting from a home renovations magazine. This is what I hope for it to look like when I'm finished:

*Heads back to my editing cave again.*

 See you in a week or two!

How I edit

On Tuesday I posted a piece I wrote for a contest Natalie Whipple hosted a while back. Today I'm posting some edits to show you how my brain works. It's just a small sample (mostly line edits), and the edits on my novel are far more extensive, but this is basically my method.

But first, I wanted to share the lovely 'editing pens' my sister-in-law sent me from Japan:

They are made by Zebra and I love them.

Click the image to make larger:

This is what my novel edits look like:

Sorry so small, but I don't want to give anything away just yet!

Do you hand edit? If not, is there a particular way you edit on the computer? Do you use 'Track Changes' in Word? Tell me about your method. 

Miscellaneous

Wow, that's a word I rarely spell out. Miscellaneous.

First, I'm working on an epically awesome contest. Don't know when exactly it will be held, but it involves signed books. ;)

Second, I'd like to point you in the direction of Jody Hedlund's blog. Jody's debut novel, THE PREACHER'S BRIDE, comes out in October and she regularly posts thoughtful blogging and writing advice. If you are editing, check out today's post in particular: 3 Simple Stages of Self-Editing.

Third, Lydia Kang at The Word is My Oyster presented me with a "Creative Writer" Blogger Award. Thanks, Lydia! Be sure to check out Lydia's blog - she's got a great voice, and her Medical Mondays are always fascinating.

When you are awarded with the "Creative Writer" Blogger Award, you must tell 6 outrageous lies and 1 outrageous truth about yourself:

1. My last name is actually Stevenakis
2. I scored a 1520 on the SATS back when a perfect score was 1600 (oh so long ago in 2003 :P)
3. I am licensed to fly single-engine planes
4. I once got stuck at the top of the Washington Monument
5. Manny Ramirez personally autographed a baseball for me 2 years ago
6. I was born in Baja Mexico
7. I'm allergic to sunlight

So... can you guess which is true?

And now time to pass the award on! Let's hear one truth buried within the lies from:

Abby Annis
Kayeleen Hamblin
Lilah Pierce
Marquita Hockaday
Sarah Enni

Finally, my brother will be in town May 1-15 before he deploys to Afghanistan, so I cannot guarantee I will be active online while he's here. I have at least one exciting guest blog lined up for you, but I'd still welcome offers if anyone would like to cross-post one of their posts or write an original guest post.

Hope everyone's having a great week!