To celebrate the release of Helen's second Harlequin Special Edition, Marriage Under The Mistletoe, she is giving away a copy to one commenter. So over to Helen...
The Inner Editor
by
Helen Lacey
As much as I have tried not to at different stages
in my writing career, I always edit as I write. Even though I am not a plotter
and simply start with Chapter One and get into the story, I still edit myself
page by page. I’ve never been the kind of writer who can do what is often
called ‘dirty draft’ and then go back and fill in dialogue tags or add settings
etc. I can’t write something that says ‘fix this’ in brackets mid-scene and
then return later to flesh it out. Which means sometimes I am working on the
same page for hours, wondering why it’s not working, and then making sure that
it does work before I move on to the next page.
I have tried what I call the ‘sit and surge’
approach, but inevitably have to go back and edit the words and pages that I’ve
done before I hit the save button and close down the computer for that particular writing session. I stopped
trying to force myself to plot my books out in advance a long time ago – but
have found that editing as I go helps me stay within the framework of the story
and keeps my characters true to theme. I do the usual character biographies,
story outline etc, but I have found that if I plot in too much detail I often
lose spontaneity and get easily distracted from the project. Not knowing what is going to happen next
keeps me interested and invested in the characters I am writing about.
Of course, while I’m actually writing the first
draft this approach sometimes doesn’t seem particularly time effective – but I
have found that since I do edit as I write, when it comes to the latter stages
of the manuscript’s development, I can polish and do any editorial revisions
reasonably swiftly. Some books seem easier than others though, and often I’ll
work with critique partners and/or a professional manuscript assessor to really
fine tune any glitches and ensure the story is in the best shape.
But there is no right or wrong way and every
writer has to find the process that suits their writing style. Essentially, the
important thing is to write the best possible book every time.
Helen Around the Web:
Website
Author Page
Marriage Under The Mistletoe:
Strong. Sensible. Dependable. That was Evie Dunn's type.
Certainly not young, fearless gorgeous firefighter Scott Jones. She knew
the wisest course was to keep her distance, but she couldn't resist the allure
of a holiday fling. Now the widowed single mom found herself with an unexpected
post-Christmas gift—she was having Scott's baby!
Scott came to Crystal Point to see his sister tie the knot, not fall for the alluring owner of the town's oceanfront B and B. He knew he was all wrong for Evie, but he would do anything to win her heart and build the family he'd always wanted. All he had to do was persuade Evie to take the biggest risk of her life…on love.
Scott came to Crystal Point to see his sister tie the knot, not fall for the alluring owner of the town's oceanfront B and B. He knew he was all wrong for Evie, but he would do anything to win her heart and build the family he'd always wanted. All he had to do was persuade Evie to take the biggest risk of her life…on love.
Read an Excerpt:
Hi Serena and Helen,
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, Helen, - you do have to do what's best for you - it's taken me a lot of trial and error to find what works!
I'm a dirty draft person (no plotting at all), so the writing happens quickly (and that's the fun part), the rest is hard work. When I try to change my technique, I end up with unfinished stories and unmotivated me. But the joy when you have your story rolling, is why I keep going!
I'm so looking forward to your second book :)
Cath xox
Hi Cath - lovely to see you hear. I get very envious of 'dirty draft ' writers when the words are just flowing out for them:)But as I've discovered, there's no point in forcing myself to do it another way. I just do what works for me x
DeleteAnd that should have been 'here', not 'hear'. LOL
DeleteHi Serena and Helen,
ReplyDeleteYou do what you have to do to get the job done. I can understand your method Helen, as I have the same compulsion. I sit, I write the story as it unfolds in my head and I HAVE to make sure that every 'session' is right before I shut down for the night. My story plays like a movie in my head (often for several days - and nights) then down onto the computer. Sometimes its just a number of small 'scenes', sometimes its a complete act. I've even written chapters completely out of sequence because I know that they are part of my 'story/movie'.I love it when the characters throw up a roadblock and do something that I wasn't expecting and its a case of 'Whoa! Where did that come from. Hey, that could work even better'.
Your book sounds VERY good - I love the idea that age doesn't matter - love is what counts ;-)
Natasha
Hi Natasha - so lovely to meet someone with the same approach. I love the idea that you see it as a movie too. Thanks for stopping by, you are in the draw.
ReplyDeleteHi Helen,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. It is amazing how many different ways we all write. I guess you write the way that is most comfortable for you. I am the opposite to you, I just get the words down on paper and worry about everything else later.
cheers
Margaret
Hi Helen,
ReplyDeleteI'm very excited to have you here today. I've always been a pantser, and in the early days before I knew abut things like deep POV, Scene and Sequel, and Goal, Motivation, Conflict, I would write away happily for hours. I'd even forget to eat! Yes, me! But then I learned a few techniques, and my internal editor kicked in. (Oh how I hate that witch!) Now when I do write, it's not very productive because I am always looking for that perfect word, that unique twist, or that inner emotion that will make a reader turn the page. I am still a pantser when I write, but I think I am a better editor ;-P
Hi Cath,
ReplyDeleteYou need to do whatever works for you. It's easier to go back and edit your work, than having no words to go back and work with.
I'm also looking forward to Helen's second book. I loved Made For Marriage and I know that Marriage Under the Mistletoe will be just as absorbing.
Thanks for stopping by
Hi Natasha,
ReplyDeleteI loved the way you described your technique. It must be great to be able to "see" your book as a movie in your head. As someone who can't *visualize* it sounds quite exciting to me. I think in works not pictures.
Thanks for dropping in.
Hi Margaret,
I know you are a prolific writer and your method seems to work beautifully for you :)
Thanks for saying hi.
Hi Serena and Helen,
ReplyDeleteI can't resist editing anything and everything. Sometimes when I read published books I start editing them in my head too. But the greatest come down for me was when I'd written the first draft of an eighty thousand word novel and my friends and family had plenty of mistakes for me to fix. So it shows that nobody is immune to making mistakes. And I thought I'd made such a perfect draft!
Hi Maria - I know what you mean. Even though I edit as I go, there are still plenty of things for my crit partners, and ultimately my editor to find. Thanks for stopping by today :)
DeleteHi Serena and Helen,
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you Helen for sharing your process, great to know I'm not alone. I've tried to plot but I lose interest.
Cheers,
Margaret
Hi Margaret - a kindred spirit! Lovely to see you here, you're in the draw.
DeleteHi Maria,
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem. It's so much easier to find problems in other people's work. When we look at our own, we know what should be there and expect it to be there. Sometimes it isn't, that's why it's important to have a pair of fresh eyes read through your manuscripts.
Thanks for coming in.
Hi Margaret,
ReplyDeleteI'm also like you. The couple of books that I plotted beforehand are the only books that are unfinished. I felt like I'd already written the book!
Thanks for dropping in.
I don't exactly self edit when I write but I definitely don't plot everything out before I sit down to write. For me, having a so called "bible/outline" before actually write a single page loses the flow of the story. I feel like I'm writing from an outline not from the heart.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and congratulations on the release. I love my SE's from Harlequin.
Marika
Hi Marika - it's great to see how many different approaches work. I have an author friends who plots meticulously and it absolutely works for her. So glad you like SE's ..... me too :)
DeleteHi Helen, Hello Serena!
ReplyDeleteA great post on Inner Editor. In craft books we are told that it's no use editing if you could be deleting the entire scene if it doesn't fit into your manuscript. But editing as you go on writing seems the way we can process our writing in our own mind.
Congratulations on the release of your MARRIAGE UNDER THE MISTLETOE, Helen!
Hi Serena!
Nas
Hi Nas - that's exactly how I see it, as processing the story as I go.
DeleteThanks!
It's not just me! Helen, you could have been describing me! I am actually beginning to think we are not as rare beasties and I used to think, but that we keep quiet because there is so much talk of 'write now and edit later'. Maybe we should form a secret society...
ReplyDeleteHi Imelda - what a great plan! And always great to know we are not alone :)
DeleteHelen, are you sure we weren't separated at birth? I am an endlessly obsessive self-editor. Even after I've sent stuff off I'm still thinking, 'but I could have made it better!'. Congratulations on the release. I love Xmas books and I also love books with B&B settings. This is a def. buy for me!
ReplyDeleteHi Louise - looks like there's a few of us "endless editors" here :) Always glad to know I'm not alone. You're in the draw!
ReplyDeleteHi Marika, Nas, Imelda and Louise,
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to see you all here. Isn't it amazing how many people share similar writing/editing styles.
And my good friend, Nas tells me that Helen Lacey's MARRIAGE UNDER THE MISTLETOE has been nominated for RT REVIEWERS CHOICE AWARD! That's fantastic! WHOO HOO Helen!
Thanks so much Serena - was a lovely surprise to be nominated.
DeleteAnd thank you for having me here! It's been fabulous.
Congratulations Helen! Wishing you all the best!
DeleteSerena, isn't it just thrilling?
Hi Serena and Helen,
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great post, and I felt particular relevant to me at the moment. I have recently returned to writing after a long break, and my writing style seems to have changed.
For the first time, I've been able to cut down on my editing (for NaNoWriMo purposes)and have actually allowed myself to move on with a scene without making it 'perfect'.
I still consider myself a pantser, but I decided to put more effort into plotting prior to commencing NaNo, and found that I felt more secure having a plan... however, while sticking to major plot points, the detailed parts of my plan went out the window by scene three!
It's great to hear how other authors work. Thank you for sharing with us.
Hi Lauren - congratulations of returning to writing after your break. I know what you mean about details going out the window. Good luck with your new project and thanks for stopping by today. :)
DeleteHi Serena and Helen,
ReplyDeleteThe thing I have learned about the craft of writing is there is no right way to do things. We all have to find our process. It can change over time- mine certainly has, even between books! But no one can tell you how to do it. I hate the internal critic/editor but she is a great help when I'm stuck. I think there is a lot that goes on subconsciously with writers. You can beat yourself up about procrastinating but usually it's because you know on a gut level that something is wrong with your WIP.
Thanks for a great blog.
Best wishes and happy writing!
Melanie Milburne
Hi Melanie - you're so about about how much subconscious work goes on in a writers head. Thanks for stopping by today :)
DeleteI'd like to thank Helen for being my guest blogger. It was fun having you here and now for the winner of your fabulous second book - Marriage Under The Mistletoe - Helen has chosen the lovely Imelda!! If you contact me, I'll put you in touch with Helen.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone.