Musings of a Repentant Pantser

That may sound like the confession of a playground bully, but I'm not talking about actually pantsing anyone, I'm talking about pansting my novel.

Photo via Unsplash

In the world of writers, I'm the type who follows the call of my characters, their quirks and whims, to discover my finale. In other words, I'm a pantser.

It's not the most organized process, but it is fun and unexpected. So far, it's been ideal for a girl who came to writing from an entirely unrelated field.

However, October marked the first month of My First Ever Novel Writing Class, so I was required to switch gears. A few weeks in, I was assigned the task of outlining a novel I'd hardly begun to write with characters I barely knew. I was stumped. I tried. I really tried. But I could only come up with six events. Six. Measly. Events. I don't know if you've read anything lately, but six measly events do not a novel make.

I gave up. My instructor didn't know what my novel was about, right? She hadn't been in the critique group who had heard the first couple pages of Rapunzel. So I outlined the novel I finished in August, a Rumplestiltskin retelling. Since my goals for the novel writing course included rethinking the novel I'd finished as well as plotting out a new novel, I only felt slightly like a great big cheater pants.

Okay, maybe more than slightly.

The next week, my instructor, the amazing Mette Ivie Harrison, assigned a synopsis. Again, I tried. Due to a few exercises along the way,

1. fleshing out my characters more fully,
2. diagramming how the characters interacted with and influenced one another (aka my version of fleshing out events in the plot),
3. returning to original sources to reread the original fairy tale,

I sat down at my computer and followed my characters through to a working synopsis. The process was as amazing as jumping in and writing.

That brings me to today, where I admit that there is something to this outlining thing. I have a better picture of where Novel Four is headed than I ever have before. I've also spent enough time away from Novel Three to have a good perspective about what needs to be tweaked, improved, and added.

Does this mean I have exchanged my proud-to-be-panster status for overly-exuberant plotter status? I enjoy chucking aside outlines and following characters in unexpected directions too much to become a die hard plotter. But I can finally see the benefits of spending more time getting to know my characters and story before actually writing it.

I might even stop mentally mocking the die-hard plotters for spending days and weeks and months organizing and reorganizing before writing. Maybe.

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For more about embarking on the writing journey, read:

Stop Talking. Start Writing.

Reviews: Give 'em to me!

The I-Don't-Suck-As-A-Writer Moment

The Inbetween Land

And if any of you out there are interested in serving as reviewers, I'm offering the eBook version of Midnight Sisters  in exchange for honest reviews. For my philosophy on reviews, please read Reviews: Give 'em to me! Leave me a comment or send me an email if you're interested!

What's In The Works?

Back when Becoming Beauty was on its way to being published, I wrote a good deal of Midnight Sisters. However, self-publishing Midnight Sisters didn't allow me the luxury of doing the same with my third novel. Marketing and promotions fell squarely on my shoulders during the height of kindergarten craziness (January through May). 

For those of you who don't know, kindergartners return from Christmas break refreshed and ready to go. Differences in student ability is never more evident than during the last few month of school. It's my job as the teacher to keep everyone on track and everything running smoothly.

Imagine doing all of that during the same five months Midnight Sisters was released, the Blog Tour ran, a Launch Party was thrown, and about six more Author Events were held all over Northern Utah. 

And oh yes, I guest posted on several other blogs too.

Needless to say, I didn't do much novel writing on my new novel until the school year wrapped up. Since June is when I do most of my summer traveling, I was pleased to hit 20,000 words. For me, 20,000 words means a story has enough momentum to become a novel. In the last two weeks, I've put the pedal down and doubled that number, pulling in at 40,000 words. My plan is to stay focused, draft through July, and finally hit the end.

In the meantime, my Rumpelstiltskin* rewrite has transformed into a conglomeration of several fairy tales. Gilberto (Gil) is a Spanish Rumpelstiltskin blended with my first love, Gilbert Blythe of Anne of Green Gables. Behind him hovers an army of workers he refers to as elves, much like the Elves and the Shoemaker. Also, I couldn't resist setting Crown Prince Henry on the hunt for a wife, a lá Cinderella. That means that our heroine Elyse, who is a cross between the Rumpelstiltskin's miller's daughter and Cinderella, becomes the mystery princess at Prince Henry's wife-hunting ball. Of course, being just as mischievous as Rumpelstiltskin, Gil will choose that moment to appear and throw everything into a tailspin. 

Can you tell my fingers are itching to write that scene?

Sarah E. Boucher, author & educator

And that's why I haven't blogged in weeks. Writing time and writing energy only stretch so far. However, I promise that as I pull into the finish line, I'll share snippets of scenes. Also, as soon as the drafting and editing pace slows, I'm planning to do another feature like the Humor & Inspiration Features of last year or this year's character features Meet the Sisters.

Thanks for taking this journey with me!

*Author's Note: As an educator, I always love sharing new things (even if they're old things) with my audience. So, if you aren't acquainted with the original fairy tales Rumplestilskin, The Elves and The Shoemaker, or Cinderella, follow the links embedded above! Happy reading!

The Writing Retreat

This spring I came to my beloved Writing Group with a plan. I wanted a Summer Writing Retreat.

My thought process was something like:

Ooh, it's going to be amazing! There will be time to work all the kinks out of my manuscript and interact with some of my favorite people! 

Can you tell I've never been to one of these before?

Sometimes it's best to create your own plan instead of following someone's tried and true method. (Plus tried and true sounds boring, while my plan centered around writing, playing, good food, a bit of shopping, and laughter. Lots of laughter.)

So, the ladies and I reserved a hotel near Park City, UT and began to plan. I'm mid-edit on Book Two and my goal was to make it much closer to the end. And hey, getting in several quiet hours of writing was very productive.

To my way of thinking, there have to be some givens in holding/attending a Writing Retreat:

Come to work. Bring your project(s) and have a personal goal in mind. (In case you're wondering, my goal was to make progress on my WIP and not to make everyone crazy.) If you don't think you can engage that long, have a back up plan like blogging, editing, world building, character development, etc.

Be prepared for distractions. My lovely friend Jo Ann Schneider informed me early on that she'd be bringing earplugs. She knows me way too well...but hey, I was quiet and well-behaved for so long! (For the Chatty Patties like me, bring earbuds so you can block out the other humans in the room you desperately need to chat up. For example, I edited to Glee on Netflix for two days.)

Leave time for fun. This may not seem important when you're on a business trip, but when you hit your goal--whether it's a time goal or a word count--you need to hit the town, hit the restaurant, or hey, hit the sack. I don't know about you, but I need a brain break after a long day of intense focusing.

If the above picture doesn't express how well our weekend went, I don't know what will. We had an amazing time! It may not have been the most productive I've ever been--traveling all over for several weeks takes a toll--but I'm proud of the work I did. It's set me firmly on the path to polishing up Book Two for publishing later this year. And we're already thinking of what we want to do next year.

Bear Lake for Writing Retreat 2017, anyone? Don't forget to pack your swimsuits and be ready for a Raspberry Shake break. Because that's totally happening.

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What are your thoughts? What type of Writing Retreats have you attended? Thanks for dropping by!

Hell, High Water, & Deadlines

Stuff happens. And it happens when you have other plans. Like vacationing for the summer. Or writing another book.

Eight years ago, I started teaching at a new school. That first year we survived what I call Hell and High Water. The upstairs flooded. We kept teaching. The power went out for five hours. In the dead of winter. We kept teaching.

Because of the many challenges that have come my way, this summer has felt oddly like that year. Hey, I thought, why don't I apply the stick-to-it-iveness I learned as an educator in public school to my summer writing career? So today, my writerly (and not so writerly) dears, we're chatting about facing Hell, Highwater, and Deadline with grace. (And only a little swearing.)

Hell-o
I've already talked to you about my crazy health issues this summer. People have more hellish problems than what I've faced, but it has certainly thrown off my groove. Just like last year when my dad had a heart attack in the middle of everything. Nothing makes you more nervous than when someone you love is hurting physically, mentally, or emotionally. The trick to overcoming the hellish things that come your way? Take care of yourself and make sure you take time for yourself. 

Hi, water!
Also, I've talked about the changes in my career. It's pretty rough facing all the goodbyes and huge changes, but it's necessary. What I haven't mentioned is that my friends and family are going through some pretty heinous things this year as well. Words like cancer, Hashimoto's disease, court dates, and unemployment keep rolling in like waves endlessly burying me and mine. How do you deal with that? Share the love. Keep close to those you love and hold tight to the beliefs and practices that keep your heart and mind in the right place.

Dead, deady, dead (lines)
Lastly, we've discussed the woes of editing. (Now there's a process that never ends. It's like laundry, but with words.) Last summer, I was vacationing AND editing Becoming Beauty at the same time. I hate deadlines. Self imposed or otherwise, they come right in the middle of all the drama and the good and bad times. They're obnoxious, but without them, little would get done in a timely manner. Here's how I cope with the drama of deadlines:

• Get organized. Schedule in all the things that I need to do and prioritize tasks in order of importance. (Even when you're crazy busy, it's amazing how good it feels to check things off the list.)
• Ask for help. There's nothing wrong with admitting that you can't do it on your own. We all need a healthy support group to bounce ideas off of. (And occasionally laugh like a crazy person with.)

Good luck, my dears! We all deal with a healthy amount of turbulence in life and writing. Take a breathe, eat a cupcake, and jump back in. If it helps, I'm in the same muddled mess.

I'd love to hear your tragedies and triumphs in overcoming them. Leave me a comment!

Ready or Not...

If you're like me, you know what's happening tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and so on until the end of time. On occasion, a twist appears in the road. Sometimes instead of your regular run of the mill twist, there's a loop-the-loop wicked enough to trigger your vomit reflex.

The question is, do you take the curves or do you stay on the well-known path? 

My life has been upside down since 2013. In a good way. Because of the experiences related to publishing Becoming Beauty, I've reevaluated how I see myself. For over ten years I have been The Queen of Kindergarten. My career as the Kindergarten Teacher Extraordinaire has been my entire identity. Not that anyone knew about it, but writing was always just something I did. It had never defined me. Until my name was printed on the cover of Becoming Beauty. Oh so quickly I became Sarah E Boucher, author. 

Accepting that there was more to me than my chosen career as an educator was a huge mental shift. The ups and downs aren't what I'm used to, but the process is amazing. Each day I'm learning more about who I am and who I am becoming. And I love that.  

 We all encounter twists and turns in life. How we respond to them defines us.

In writing: The planned outcome. The perfect resolution. The safe road. But sometimes the best ideas come mid-project when the only option is doing some substantial rewriting. Throwing your heart and soul into a project is what makes life exciting and makes stories magical.

In editing: Passing your work into someone else's hands is an act of faith. The most horrifying thing you may ever do is trust someone to make your best better. No matter what the outcome of that interchange, the process will grow you as a writer. (And hey, nobody said you had to listen to any of their comments...)

In life: There's nothing wrong with being happy with your place in life. There is something terribly wrong with going through the motions and feeling miserable and out of place. Believe me, YOU and I were built for something amazing. Whether big or small, in the limelight or behind the scenes, your life should be beautiful.

The question stands: will you take the curves as they come or will you stay on the well known path? Life is teaching me the importance of questioning the easy choices and embracing the good ones. I have no idea how things will turn out, but it will prove interesting!

Thanks for dropping in!  Good luck finding your happy place!

My First...

2014 was riddled with firsts for this girl! I feel like the learning curve was pretty steep. There were times when I felt like the proverbial cartoon character who runs headlong into a wall and slides to the floor with a screeeeeeee! 

Of course, there were also the times when I felt like the Queen of Everything. Little Miss Oh-So-Popular. Let's be honest, those were the best!

Since it was also my first year with a bonafide website, all of the ups and downs are nicely documented. And since it's an anniversary of sorts, I'm sharing them with you!  Enjoy!

My Year of Firsts:

• The first time I called myself a writer. In public. Out loud. (And yes, people were quite surprised.)
• The first time I became a dot.com. Seriously, I had no idea what I was doing. (Most days I still don't. I just do my best to be genuine and positive--or at least funny--in my online interactions.)
• My first writing conference. I was so scared. And everyone was so lovely. I can't wait to go back this year.
• The first time I worked with professional editors. That was interesting. You never know what will happen when you pass your work onto someone else. In my case, I couldn't have been more happy. They caught a multitude of rookie mistakes, helped define my characters, and basically made me look good! Thanks Cedar Fort!
• My first Geek Fest at Salt Lake Comic Con! Let's just say I found my Mecca... And yes, I discovered that I can rock Geek Chic! (And I'm going back! Doctor Who Panel--what?!)
• The first time I saw Becoming Beauty's cover. Can you say gorgeous? The moment was swoon worthy. I've never enjoyed looking at any boy as much as I have loved looking at my cover. (Okay, maybe Stephen Amell. Or Tom Hiddleston.)
• The first time I could call myself an author because my book had been picked up! Of course, I had to establish an online presence. Inside, I was still freaking out and feeling like an impostor. Outside, I was pasting on a big smile and pretending like I'd done it all before.
• The first time I held my book in my hands. And took my first #BookSelfie. That was surreal, wonderful, and terrible all at once.
• Running my first Blog Tour. Again, so scary. Who knows what people will really say when you ask them what they really think. But they were all so kind, patient, honest, and for the most part complimentary. (And yes, they do it for free! Amazing, amazing people! I'm so happy to have connected with them)
• My first Book Launch Extravaganza. My family and friends basically took over Barnes & Noble. The staff members were so kind! I loved working with them. It was absolutely awesome. And each author event I've done since then has been a reward in itself.

Yes, it's been an amazing year. More than anything, it has been a journey worth taking. While I can't say I've loved every minute, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. After all, a girl only has so many firsts. 

Thanks, my dears, for all you kindness, support, and love. I wouldn't have made it without you! xoxoxo

Flourishes & Flowers

Writing is hard. Crafting the perfect first chapter followed by a compelling (and not mind-numbing) middle and an ending that ties everything up in a nice bow is probably one of the hardest things you'll ever do. Until you start editing and questioning every choice you ever made, that is. 

The process of draft to print is a combination of awful and delightful.

Last week, I received the publication proof for Becoming Beauty. As usual, I let it sit in my inbox for a day, because like a Howler from Harry Potter, one never knows how bad it might be. These days with I want my moooooooommmmm! ringing in my ears, there isn't much peace of mind or creativity left at the end of the day. However, after several chocolate chip cookies, slices of pizza, and a healthy helping of Netflix, I was ready to tackle it.

I've come to expect direction on major and minor changes to my manuscript which (I remind myself) make my story stronger and clearer. Instead, what I found was the result of collaboration between me and the designers, professional editors, and proofreaders at Cedar Fort. Basically, I'm having the most delightful time running through it and savoring each little formatting surprise I find. 

What a great reward for several years of hard work! Something as lovely as I could have hoped for full of flourishes, flowers, and cuteness. How exciting is that? And seeing that all the suggestions and gut instincts I've followed have made the end product much stronger really does make me trust myself and my team more.

Take it from me: your hard work is worth it. Please friends, don't give up. Dump the blood, sweat, tears, sleepless nights, fat pants, bad snacks, and crappy social life into your work. It will pay off in the end. Because after all the hard work, this is fun!

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For more about my journey from draft to print, read Death By Autocorrect or Just a Taste. Thanks for stopping in! And now back to proofreading!