Work With Me Here

I have never collaborated with another writer or even considered doing so.  The idea and opportunity have just never presented themselves. The closest I’ve come to collaborating on fiction is to interview real live folks who are willing to share their experiences to lend authenticity to a story. 

So many people have stories to tell, but unfortunately, most industry professionals will tell you there’s no market for memoirs or autobiographies unless you are a celebrity or in the national news in some way. That doesn’t mean people don’t have amazing experiences to share. 

This creates difficulties of its own.

The biggest difficulty is in presenting that you are using their experiences to bring integrity and depth to the story but you’re not writing about them specifically.  This gets very muddy and awkward when people don’t see this clearly and can’t detach themselves from the facts they are sharing.  No matter how many times you emphatically insist that you are not writing about THEM, they may not see it until they read the finished product (after publication) and may or may not be disappointed.  Or angry.  They may feel disappointed or betrayed because they didn’t understand (or didn’t want to understand) that this wasn’t their story. Sigh.

It may help if you share a little about the character as you go along, the direction you are going and perhaps the outcome, if you know what the outcome will be before you reach the end.  And even then…

Happily, people are generally gratified to be part of the writing and creative process and recover from any disappointment or misunderstanding when they see their names in the acknowledgments.  Hooray for acknowledgments!

We would love to hear if anyone has had experience – good or bad – in interviewing real life folks for fiction or has been interviewed and can give some insight.

The Fellowship Revisited

Well, if it’s September, I must be deep into Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring again.  I don’t know when this habit first started, but every fall when the leaves begin to turn, I get the desire to revisit the shire and all the familiar characters I’ve come to know and love.  Silly, maybe.  It’s like a reunion of sorts.  I don’t always finish the book - sometimes I just want a taste. If the story world weren’t so real, I wouldn’t even have the desire to return there.

On Facebook this week, I saw a post that J.K. Rowling had secretly completed 75% of a new book she’d been working on in the Harry Potter series.  People were ecstatic!  The article explained that she was dissatisfied with her lukewarm reception into adult fiction and was returning to juvenile fiction.  According to Snopes, it was all a big hoax which first debuted on April Fool’s Day.  How disappointing for Harry Potter fans who wanted just a little bit more time with Harry or just one more adventure.

I don’t know about you, but in order for me to become so invested in a place and characters that I revisit them time and again, several things have to take place:

·         The character must be likable and earn my respect

·         The character’s desired outcome must be worthy of my investment

·         The stakes must be so high that it looks doubtful that they will even return alive

·         I am willing to accompany them on this journey, unwilling to let them face it alone

·         The story world must be detailed, grounded and in some way, winsome.  Believable, above all.

·         The story world must provide a brief respite from life as I know it, however briefly, to take my mind off of problems and issues. 

As a child, I remember devouring the Anne of Green Gables series, hungrily seeking the next book in the series when I completed one.  The pastoral setting sounded beautiful - safe - and the characters were so well-defined and held to high standards.  But life in Avonlea wasn't without heartbreak and hard choices.  The characters weren't perfect, but they were able to live uprightly while faced with their choices. The story line wasn't as perilous as those with a quest, but the problems were story worthy on a smaller scale.

Do you have a book or series that you revisit thanks to the extraordinary story world and characters? We’d love to hear!

Unsung Heroes

I have two photos of women of faith in silver frames. One is my husband's grandmother and the other is mine. Both are standing in their tomato gardens.  Both are elderly. My husband’s grandmother is smiling in a sea of tomato plants, her hair tied in a scarf, the hem of her dress brushing her knees and her belt cinched high beneath an ample bosom. My grandmother stands in her jaunty hat, patterned shirtwaist dress and cradling heirloom tomatoes in the crook of her arm. I like to think of her family, present and future, cradled close to her heart. Her faith - their faith - in a loving God whom they served their entire lives was the soil for the seeds that produced vibrant spiritual fruit in the future. Our faith ripened on the sunny window sills of their love.

Neither of these women had easy lives, but they did not become outwardly bitter or jaded by what may have seemed to others as a God who tarried in his promises. I don't think it ever occurred to them to step away from their faith. Perhaps they were more concerned with doing their part than in whether or not God was doing His.

Both were more ‘Marthas’ than ‘Marys.’  Neither were writers, but their lives told stories in doing for others, bestowing kindness and grace and being steadfast.  If they were characters in a book, there would be no need to use the right words or actions to show their love for God.  But it would feel completely natural if they did.

They weren’t perfect – family will admit candidly – but we forgave them anyway.   Making their ways sure-footedly along shifting paths down generations of change, we admired them all the more.  They said, ‘See, it can be done.’ While life isn’t safe, it can be safely navigated.

They held us close to their hearts and sunned us in the Father’s love and were the unsung heroes who beg to be written down.  We all know people who make the difference but will never be the central focus.  Nor would they want to be.  It’s enough that the main character stands on their shoulders.

Do you know an unsung hero who deserves to be written? Who has made such an impact in your life that they could only enrich a story?  We’d love to hear.

Deleted Scenes: Goodbye, Fred!

In a recent post--Does This Novel Seem Crowded to You?--I talked about how to prevent overpopulation in your story. Every character has their job to do. If not, well, goodbye!

When first writing Goodness and Mercy, I created a character to act as antagonist to my protagonist and to give a secondary character a chance at redemption. That character, Fred, is charming with a hint of menace, as you will soon see.

Once I got deeper into the story, I saw that Fred was a complication that muddied the premise. In fact, his presence made the story something very different from my original idea --yes, I was working from an outline--and I didn't want to go there.

No room for sentimentality--goodbye, Fred! Lucy doesn't need a Fake-Ally Opponent. So there!

While some may consider writing the following scene a waste, the process clarified my vision of my story by showing me what I didn't want it to be. And that's a very valuable discovery.

Here's the deleted scene, starring Lucy and Fred.

A flirtatious breeze released a shower of golden cottonwood leaves and played at lifting my skirt. It was all I could do to hold a stack of library books and keep my skirt in place. A truck skidded to a stop on the gravel.

Fred Greaves leaned out the driver's window and smiled his billboard smile. “Did you leave any books at the library?” He shouldered his door open. “Let me help you with those.”

He reached for the books. I stepped back. “I’m fine. It’s not that far, and as long as I’m walking, I’m not reading Nathaniel Hawthorne.”

He looked pained and clenched at his shirt over his heart. “Has Lotti soured you on me already?”

“Ada,” I said and shifted the books.

He laughed. “I thought me and Ada had an understanding.” He mimicked her voice perfectly, “Nothing good comes of idleness, Mr. Greaves.”

I bit my cheeks not to laugh.

He put up his hand. “You’re right not say a word against her.” He gestured at the orchard behind me. “She has spies everywhere. How else can she know everything, unless…do you think she’s a witch?”

Although I ached to agree with him, I didn't dare agree with him. “She’s a good Christian woman.” After all, she attended church regularly and delivered potato casseroles to funerals.

Mr. Greaves motioned and I followed him to the passenger side of the truck. “Come on. Jump in. I don’t bite nearly as hard as those women would suppose. Besides, you’re about to drop your books. The good people of Palisade do not abide the abuse of their library books.”

I climbed into his truck for two reasons. First, two blisters the size of quarters made each step pure misery. This from the new shoes Ada had chosen for me, the kind meant for lumberjacks. Second, Mrs. Greaves said things about Ada I wished I could say straight to her face. Oh, and one more thing. Accepting a ride from Mr. Greaves would put a knot in Ada’s girdle.

“Thank you,” I said as he slammed the door shut and walked back around to the driver's side. I figured Fred to be younger than my father but certainly not a boy and much younger than most of the men I saw around town. The boys hurried off to the war the moment they became eligible. And he sure didn’t look like any of the farmers I’d ever known, not in Wisconsin or Colorado. He still owned all of his fingertips and his fingernails looked nicer than mine. When he smiled, his eyes nearly squinted shut, and I liked that.

Fred caught me watching him and gave me a sideways smile. “Do you want to learn how to drive? I could teach you. Got nothing better to do.”

“I already know how to drive.” I wanted to tell him I’d driven eighty-five miles before the tin lizzy dropped her transmission on the road, but I wasn’t telling anyone that story. Mr. Greaves wouldn't turn a girl in for kidnapping her own brother and sister, but in a town as small as Palisade, one word to the wrong person and everyone would know.

“I’m not surprised,” he said. “You’re an amazing girl. Fact is, you’re more of a woman than a girl, aren't you? I bet there’s a lot of boys giving you a second look over there at the high school. Isn’t that true?”

If I hadn't been loaded down with books, I would have squirmed at his question. Instead, I kept my answer short. “I never noticed," I said, but I had noticed.

“How old are you, Lucy?”

“Sixteen. I’ll be seventeen next February.”

“Now, see, I thought you were older. You carry yourself well.” And he winked.

We sped by our mailbox. “Stop!” I yelled.

The truck fishtailed to a stop and the pile of books slid from my lap. Fred leaned down to gather the books. He smelled of fresh tobacco and aftershave, much nicer than I'd expected of a man who treasured his rubbish pile.

He said, “I was enjoying our conversation so much, I nearly drove right by your house. You’re a very pleasant young lady.” He held my math book to his chest. “You sit right there. Don't move. You’re a lady.” He opened his door and looked back at me over his shoulder. “That’s how you’re to be treated. Stay right there.”

I sat as still as stone until Mr. Greaves opened my door and extended his hand. I'd only seen men do such a thing in movies. I took his hand as I stepped out of the truck. It was strong but soft. My heart fluttered. What was that all about?

He relinquished my math book. “Its the lucky boy who catches your eye, Lucy. Be choosy. You deserve the best. If you ever need anything, I'm usually around. You're always welcome. I keep colas in the icebox.”

This could not be the man Ada had been talking about. “Thanks for the ride, Mr. Greaves.”

“We’re friends now, Lucy. Call me Fred.”

[Author's note: After reading this scene, I wanted to shout, "Lucy! You stupid, stupid girl. Get out of the truck; do not pass go; and never, ever, ever seek Fred out, colas or no." The scene begs for Lucy to do just that and for a totally different story than the story I wrote to be written. You can see why Fred had to go, at least for now.]

Do you save deleted scenes? Have you ever used a deleted scene in another part of the same story or used it in part or as a whole in a new story? I have! Are there other ways to use deleted scenes? Name an author whose deleted scenes you would love to read.

Cooking Up Some Good Writing

What is your favorite thing to do when you're not writing? This question was asked of me once in a blog interview and the answer quite surprised me. It came to me, just like that. I'd be cooking, I said. Comfort foods like chicken pot pies and pork roasts with rosemary and beef stews with cornbread and blackberry cobblers. I never truly realized how much enjoyment I received from cooking until I was caught off-guard. The question for me had always been, what is your favorite thing to do around your full time job, and the answer has always been, to write.

Over New Years, I took stock of things and made lists. One item on my list was to begin a new hobby or resurrect an old one. Cooking naturally came to mind. Not the "what's for dinner, what's in the freezer" kind of cooking. I actually bought a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Yowza.

By now someone is tapping a finger on the keyboard and saying, "I thought this was a blog on writing." It is. But you can't isolate the writing part of yourself and expect to bang out an authentic story. You have to bring your whole self to the process. Everything that makes you tick. If you bury your nose in your manuscript and never come up for fresh air, it will read like so much gray pulp. Those other things that make us tick bring enriching and unexpected insights and originality to our writing. Don't neglect them because you should be writing.

Here are a few things I've learned from my immersion in cooking. Don't get me wrong, I have no illusions of ever becoming a chef. I'm just having fun while learning something new.

• You must read up on techniques before you can tie on the apron, just as you must know the basics before you type up the rough draft or you'll be wasting your time and throwing it out. For example, to saute mushrooms in butter you must add a bit of oil to keep the butter from burning and know when the foam has subsided enough to add the mushrooms. No one wants to throw out expensive butter and mushrooms. What's more discouraging is thinking you have no talent in writing, even when you have the desire, simply because you do not bother to read up on the basics. Every successful author begins with the basics of grammar, story and character development.
  
• You have to understand proper chopping techniques. Learn how to properly grip the knife to make the necessary cut. Be decisive. If you allow your writing to cool off and in a fresh reading realize you have superfluous characters or plot lines, cut them. Too many descriptions? Slice and dice them. Paste them into a plain document and save them if you like. I can almost guarantee that you will never look at them again because the writing will be better for their absence.
  
• You need the best quality tools that you can reasonably afford. I finally invested in a small, basic set of Wusthof knives. The serrated knife slices through a tomato like butter. (smile) The basic tools of the writer are a reliable computer with a program that allows you to type documents, and internet access (for both communication and research). Consider investing in a good writers conference. Start out small and local, if that's all you can afford, and build from there. You will not regret it. Basic books on writing, those which are most highly recommended by writers, are always a good investment.
  
• You must choose the best spices and seasonings for the job. A few chopped garlic cloves simmered in a small amount of good olive oil is better spread on a ciabatta loaf than slathering copious amounts of butter and powdered garlic and dried herbs. In the same way, one truly delicious literary description left dancing on the tongue is better than the predictable, stale visual that easily comes to mind. Also, a little goes a long way. Know how much information about your character or setting is enough and only provide what is necessary to move the story along. Certain seasonings, like saffron, can overpower a dish. Do you have a supporting character who is trying to take over the story, or too many characters when a few would suffice to enhance the plot?
  
• Use the best quality ingredients you can afford. I never understood what chefs meant by 'good' olive oil until I tried olive oil produced by a local grower at the farmer's market. I brought it home and compared it with my grocery story brand. The 'good' stuff tasted mild and, well, like olives, where my store-bought brand was weak and had no real aroma. The good stuff costs a bit more, but it's worth it. Likewise, use your 'good' words, not the easier ones that come to mind prepackaged and don't cost you much. Writing is work, after all. Stick with a passage until its aroma satisfies and is a reflection on your unique writing style.
  

So, I'm saying all of this to point out that writing is just a part of who we are and can't thrive in a vacuum. Sometimes we have to step away from our writing and see it from a different perspective that originates from other aspects of our lives.

What is your favorite thing to do when you're not writing? Can you draw any insights that apply to your writing? We'd love to hear!

A Simple Story of Redemption

Katy began a great discussion with her post about what redemption looks like in fiction. Please bear with me as I share a simple story of redemption on a different level.

Years ago when I was newly engaged, I went shopping with my future mother-in-law to a Green Stamp Redemption Center. She had books filled with reams of stamps that she had dampened and stuck carefully onto the pages. The stamps had been earned at the grocery store, the gas station and other businesses with the 'We give Green Stamps' sign in the window.

Being the saintly woman that she was (and I'm being sincere), she handed me a bundle and told me to pick out something for myself. There were many useful and practical items on display and I spent a long time choosing. Then I saw the bean pot! I could never explain why it appealed to me so strongly, except that it was painted in homey colors with a rooster on the front and it was autumn, after all. I took my choice to the counter to show her and was met with puzzlement. "A bean pot? Well it's...nice." The toasters and electric knives and baking dishes would have been more practical choices, and I realized that I'd passed up an opportunity to show my practicality as a wife for her son. But if Alice was anything, she was gracious.

My bean pot now sits high on a shelf in my kitchen among other retro kitchen-ware. And while shopping one day for '40s dish towels, tablecloths, canisters and pitchers, I came across the same bean pot with a surprising price tag. It turns out that my bean pot is a McCoy and worth more than just sentimental value. It was probably the best choice I could have made. Did I recognize the value in it? Yes, but not as others saw it.

I have a character swimming around in my brain, wading in the gray matter, who is just a bean pot. She is not very heroic, attractive or practical. She doesn't have her life together or truly understand God's love for her. She's made mistakes - some with lasting consequences. But she's likable, I think, in that she stumbles toward redemption trying to make it happen for herself without realizing the cost involved or the futility in her striving. I'm loving that I get to show her how much God wants to redeem her and her situation. Her life won't miraculously blossom - her slate won't be wiped clean - but she will find that her worth is much greater than she knew, greater than the way she lived her life. And she will marvel at the One who recognized her worth in spite of the condemnation she deserved.

From the great host of characters who find redemption in literature, which stands out to you most? We would love to hear!