Heather Ames's Blog - Posts Tagged "critiquing"
Making "Indelible" into a Series
When I first presented an earlier version of "Indelible" to the Alameda Writers Group's Fiction SIG (Special Interest Group) it was shorter, far less edgy and had a fish-head prologue that I had been convinced to add by a very large Romance Publisher, to meet their guidelines for a Romantic Suspense. The prologue was added to tone down "frightening" aspects of my opening chapter.
Thanks to the AWG, I removed said prologue, pretty much left the opening the way it had originally been, and revised from there. The framework for the book was always in place. What I added was more meat, more conflict and more thrills for the ride. I also brought Brian Swift's brother, and Kaylen Roberts' boyfriend, Tim Madison, out of the shadows and made him into a flesh and blood character, although he's never actually on-stage.
This book, which my then-agent marketed as a Romantic Suspense, was actually a mainstream Mystery/Suspense with some romantic elements, and could never meet the Romance industry's restrictive guidelines even while hiding behind a curtain pulled by a 3 page intro.
As the months rolled by and the pages of my revised and lengthened manuscript were presented at the SIG, another member of the AWG kept telling me that "Indelible" was the first book in a series.
I kept disagreeing. "Indelible" was a stand-alone. However, as the book progressed and the sub-plots developed, I realized she was correct--this was, indeed, a series. Listening to critique group members in this wonderfully supportive and insightful group led me onto a different path, and the one to publication.
Thanks to the AWG, I removed said prologue, pretty much left the opening the way it had originally been, and revised from there. The framework for the book was always in place. What I added was more meat, more conflict and more thrills for the ride. I also brought Brian Swift's brother, and Kaylen Roberts' boyfriend, Tim Madison, out of the shadows and made him into a flesh and blood character, although he's never actually on-stage.
This book, which my then-agent marketed as a Romantic Suspense, was actually a mainstream Mystery/Suspense with some romantic elements, and could never meet the Romance industry's restrictive guidelines even while hiding behind a curtain pulled by a 3 page intro.
As the months rolled by and the pages of my revised and lengthened manuscript were presented at the SIG, another member of the AWG kept telling me that "Indelible" was the first book in a series.
I kept disagreeing. "Indelible" was a stand-alone. However, as the book progressed and the sub-plots developed, I realized she was correct--this was, indeed, a series. Listening to critique group members in this wonderfully supportive and insightful group led me onto a different path, and the one to publication.
Just
One little word. How often do we all use it during the day? Judging from editing my own manuscript as well as those of fellow writers at all stages in their professional development, way too often. It sneaks in everywhere. "Wait just a minute." "He just wanted that day to be over." "Just a tad more paprika." Do I need to go on? I give myself a mental wake-up now every time I use it, and force myself to yes, justify that usage. But somehow, when I go through the final draft, I see it creeping around, lurking around or just plain sitting there in full view, smirking at me. If I could just figure out a way of changing that, I just would.
