Lessons from Self-editing a Novel

            I recently talked about completing my goal to write a novel. Now I have moved on to the editing stage. Because I am self-editing my novel, the experience has been very different from editing someone else’s writing. I’m sorry to say that I made several avoidable mistakes by not following my own advice. My mistakes have given me a new appreciation for why editors suggest certain habits.

            Every editor stresses the importance of a style guide, including me. It is difficult, if not impossible, to edit without a standard. I now understand that more than ever. I did start with a style guide when I began my project. Only, I made one serious mistake: I didn't update it. What I created at the beginning of my project, does not match what I am now trying to edit. I didn't take the time to write down changes to character names, settings, or spellings. Because I didn’t make those changes to my guide, I have to put in extra work trying to remember which is right. Authors, when an editor tells you to keep a style guide for your book, do it for your and your editor’s sanity! I deeply regret not doing so and have wasted extra time trying to correct everything.

            The second lesson I have learned while editing is to keep a timeline. I feel completely ridiculous for not doing so while I wrote. I know better after all! But here I am, trying to piece together a timeline to correct inconsistencies throughout my story. You can keep track of where your characters are, how the story is progressing, and how plausible events are by keeping a timeline. For instance, my main character goes on a trip. After I created a timeline for myself, I realized what was supposed to be a couple of days had enough scenes to fill a whole week. Something must go for the timeline to be plausible.

            A final lesson I have learned has given me more empathy for authors. Editors understand that it is hard for an author to let go of their words. Only I never realized how hard until it was my own words that needed to go. Your story may be excellent the way it is. But by being open to changing passages, you can make your work even better. As I’m learning to chop out sections that my inner editor knows don’t work, I’m discovering that it opens the window for better possibilities. Even though I’m only halfway done with the first round of edits, I already feel like I have a better story. The plot is completely altered, but it flows better. It doesn’t have as many holes in it and has more plausibility.

            I’m still very happy that I embarked on this literary adventure because not only have I grown as a writer, but now as an editor. While you are writing your story, keep in mind some of these lessons. They can make your writing better and your editor’s job easier. Keeping notes and making proper plans can save you a lot of time later in the process. It is also important to be open to new ways of telling your story because they might make it stronger.

April's Feature Book: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

            Victorian literature is as familiar to me as modern literature. I've been curious how early twentieth-century literature bridged the gap between then and modern works. This month I have done some exploring. I believe nearly everyone is familiar with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This children's book has long been on my must-read list. I heard that there were differences between the book and the 1930s Judy Garland movie, which came as no surprise. What movie hasn't made changes to its source? For this month, I decided to experience the world of Oz firsthand.

            The book read differently than most novels because, after all, it is a children's book. I especially liked the childlike reasoning in this one. It is very black and white. Right is right and most things boil down to common sense. What an average adult might overthink, the characters shrug off as a simple fact. Where an adult might not think twice, the book raises questions that can stop a reader in their tracks. Reading became interesting because my notions of things were turned upside down by the reasoning in the story.

            Another part I adore about children's books is the lack of limits on imagination. The suspense of belief is easier for children; it makes room for so many possibilities. Unique creatures, color, and magic filled the book and brought it to life. What makes it better is the little bit of reality mixed in. It blurs the lines between real and make-believe to the point that it feels possible when you read it.

            The moral of the story is simply making do with what you have. The four friends all had exactly what they wanted the whole time. They only needed to realize that and use it. Dorothy had the means to reach Kansas the whole time in the magical silver shoes she wore. The Scarecrow was brilliant, but never realized how smart he was. The Tin Woodsman had a big compassionate heart despite thinking he had none. The Cowardly Lion had great courage but allowed his fear to make him believe otherwise. There is nothing wrong with desiring something. But it is important to realize that what we have is valuable too. As with the book’s characters, it's simply untapped potential until we discover it.

            I've read that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is symbolic and acts as an allegory. I'll admit, it had a little bit of an allegorical feel to it. If it is supposed to be symbolic though, I didn't catch any of the meanings. I would expect anything symbolic to be straightforward so that a child could see it. The story might very well be allegorical; but for me, it was simply a fun novel to read.

            So, I have to ask the age-old question. Do you think the book or the movie is better? What do you think of the changes the movie makes? Honestly, I like the book better because the plotline seems more straightforward and gives a more definite ending to each character’s story. At the same time, I like the contrast because I can see where the story was changed to better relate with the movie's 1930s audience. The point is the same and just as applicable no matter what year it is.

I Wrote a Novel

            The past week has been taken up by more pressing matters, so I hope you'll forgive me for not having an actual post this week. Instead of writing and editing tips, I'm including you in my celebration. If you’ve been reading some of my other posts, you know that I have been working on a novel project for the past nine months.  Ever since my 5^th-grade creative writing class, I have been developing ideas and trying to write stories. None have been successful—until now.

            This week I finally finished writing a rough draft for a novel. What started as merely a fun personal project, has turned into an exploration of writing. I know I'm not the greatest writer, but this experiment has taught me much and helped me improve. All those experts out there that say you should practice writing are correct. This project has been the best practice for me. Now I have just under 60,000 words down on paper and many lessons to apply to future writings.

            Don't think I'm going to let my project end just yet. What self-respecting editor would leave their writing unedited? I'm now looking forward to the next step of the writing process: editing. For me, the editing stage is so much more fun than writing. Writing is wide open with possibilities, a blank canvas. My mind doesn't appreciate so many options. I like having parameters to work with. Editing provides that because the words are already there. I can take what exists and shape it into something grand. 

           Writing taught me about developing characters, creating descriptions, wording dialogue, and so much more. I am certain that editing will be the same way. Even though it is a familiar territory, I never stop learning. Language evolves and so do the people who use it. There is no end to learning. Each project I take on teaches me something new about editing and how language works. In other words, be ready for some future posts about editing fiction.

Descriptions in Fiction

            Over the last six months, I have learned much from fiction writing. This novel-writing attempt looks like it might be successful. I now have just over 10,000 words. Previously, I talked about what I was learning as I sketched a cast of characters. I am now several scenes into my story and am realizing that there is much to learn about other types of descriptions.

            Describing action is one type that can be difficult. I can think about a scene and see it unfold in my head. It is another matter to put what I am picturing down on paper. I want to describe the action so that the reader can see what I am seeing and be able to enjoy the story. I can say that a character is speaking. But how is he talking? What is his facial expression? His body language? It can completely change the meaning of his words based on what he's doing. For me, the difficulty is capturing every detail I see in my mind. However, I am learning that details are especially important with one of my supporting characters. If I only put down her words without anything else, she doesn't come across as the kindest person. I need her facial expressions, her tone of voice, and her hand gestures to show that she means no harm by her words. She is simply passionate and extroverted.

            Another form of description that I have been wrestling with is the characters' environment. I might be able to see exactly where the characters are and what is going on around them, but the readers can't unless I tell them. I tend to focus on the dialogue when I am writing and forget about the surroundings. The setting is imperative because it affects the characters and what they are doing. For instance, in my opening scene, the main character is annoyed with the crowds around him and what he considers childish behavior. That is only going to make so much sense unless I make it clear that the opening scene occurs at a masquerade ball.

            The main question I have struggled with as I write these descriptions is what counts as enough. Too much description will bog down my story and bore readers. Not enough will make the story vague and confuse readers. How do I find an equilibrium in description writing? As usual, I turn to published authors to discover an answer. Some books like Thomas Hardy's are so filled with descriptions that it can feel like a chore to read the book. The descriptions do make a very detailed and vivid picture but require effort on the reader's part. On the other hand, I've read some books that are so sparse on descriptions that I constantly find myself thinking, "Wait! What? Where did that come from? Has that always been there?"

            Based on the books I have read and studied, I think that going with descriptions through the eyes of the characters is the best way. Allow the reader to see whatever the character sees but not that much more. By doing so, I feel like I’m including what is critical to the character's story without adding in a lot of trivial details that mean nothing to what the character is doing. I imagine at some point I will reach a part where I’ll need to describe something that doesn’t seem important at first, but I’ll make those decisions when I get to them. Time will tell how my descriptions will fare, but I’m hoping I have found a good amount that makes the story come alive for more people than just me.

            In addition to thinking about things through the character's eyes, I have also picked up a few other tricks to help. First, pictures are a lifesaver. Even if I can imagine what a scene or character looks like, a picture can be beneficial. I can study that picture and pick out which details are important enough to include. Going by mental images might not allow the same amount of accurate details. Accuracy is another point. A picture that I can save helps me stay consistent as I return to certain scenes.

            Another thing I find works well is talking. Describing something out loud helps me figure out what works and where I might have holes in my descriptions. Talking it out forces me to fully explain what I can easily gloss over in my head. As I talk, I sometimes compare it with examples from reality to consider what might make it more believable and clearer to the reader. I suppose one could describe scenes to another person who can ask questions, but I have yet to get that brave.

            As your writing descriptions for your fictional story, I hope some of my discoveries will help you out. If you have any tips for writing excellent descriptions, please mention them in the comments. I’m always ready to try out new ideas. Whether this novel experiment works out or not, I have learned a great deal about writing because of it. Writing is a completely different thing from editing. If I didn’t believe that before, I certainly do now. I’m developing a healthy appreciation for the patience, talent, and effort that authors put into their stories.

My 2020 Book Challenge

            The holidays have ended; another year is gone. During the holiday season, I saw many posts on social media talking about how many books that person had read in 2019 along with a picture of an impressive stack of books. That got me thinking. How many books did I read in the past year? I know I read a lot because my shelves witness to that fact, but I've never actually kept track. The more I thought about it, the more curious I became. Thus, it is with much excitement I embark on 2020 intending to find an answer that will satisfy my curiosity.

            Books have always been an essential part of my life. My mom instilled a love for the written word in me at an early age and my face has been in a book ever since. I know from experience that reading can not only open up the fictional world but also enlighten a reader about the real world. Countless times a book has sparked a series of questions for me that results in an alarming amount of knowledge about unusual topics. I want that because with each book I finish my views about the world shift. Each story reveals more to me about people and cultures. They teach me about the effects of different circumstances and events. Books help me understand the world I live in and beyond.

            Because of my love of books, I have an eternal book list. You know what I'm talking about. That book list that you're never going to finish in your lifetime because you add books to it at a faster rate than you can read them. I know that I'm most likely not going to make much of a dent in my list this year, but I am trying to be optimistic as I plan out my reading goals. I’m not going into this experiment with a mere list of what I’ve read. Planning is a must in my world, so I’ve created a goal to pursue and set parameters for achieving it. To start, I am going to count both new books and old ones. Books are like old friends to me. I have to visit them often. While I'm not certain, I think it is safe to say I reread books more often than I read new ones. All genres are going to be acceptable as well as all formats. Collections and novellas are common reads for me because of how much easier they are to fit into a schedule. I want to count them to get a more accurate idea of how much reading I do in a year.

            Having some rules to follow is good, but I need a goal to pursue. For the year 2020, my goal is to read 50 books. A lot of thought went into this number. First, I've considered how much reading I do each day. Every day I read for research and educational purposes as well as the reading that I do for enjoyment. However, I've slowed down considerably from the amount of reading I used to do. I no longer have time to read a book in one day. I'm also taking into consideration that over my holiday break, I've read two novellas and nearly finished a full novel. I believe that fifty books are a challenge without being impossible. Knowing my personality, it's going to become a challenge to see how many books over fifty I can read.

            As much as I love books, I love them even more when reading them with others. This experiment would be so much better if everyone participated. I invite all of you readers to keep track of your book count with me. You can follow the same set of rules that I’m using or come up with your own that better fits the way you read. Set yourself a goal for this year and start turning those pages! As the year progresses, I will occasionally give updates. At the end of the year, we can reveal our results and maybe plan loftier goals for the new year. I have a feeling that this is going to be an adventure-filled year – in my literary world at least.

November's Feature Book: The Europeans

            Last month, I finished reading my first Henry James novel, The Bostonians. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to find another of his works to read. Therefore, this month is all about James' short novel, The Europeans. Once again, I couldn't get enough of the novel. Twelve chapters almost didn't seem like enough to truly do the characters justice. Even so, the characters are detailed and interesting. The plotline is a unique one of comparison between two European siblings and their New Englander cousins. The differences are striking and slightly ironic, which makes the story that much better.

            Descriptions and characters are what drive this novel. Action and settings are minimal. The descriptions of the place and its influence on the people are a major aspect. Colors, sunsets, and tree lines all play a part in expressing the characters' feelings and actions at any one moment. The best aspect is the characters themselves. They are who I intend to focus on. A small family circle is presented to the reader to study. First, there are the Europeans, Eugenia – also known as Madame Munster – and her brother Felix Young. Eugenia is a baroness who is complicated, critical, and scheming. Her brother is her opposite as an eternally joyful artist whose goal in life is to find the silver lining. These siblings stand out against the backdrop of their cousins, the Wentworths and the Actons.

            I wanted so badly to like Eugenia. Much like Robert Acton, I seemed to have been drawn in by the woman’s mysterious persona. Through the novel, I wavered between thinking she was a good woman in a bad situation or an immoral woman using good people. For the sake of both her and her relatives, I wanted it to be the former. However, Eugenia makes more than a few bad choices in the novel. The one that bothers me the most is her lying to Robert. It seemed as if she loved him. In the end, I don't think she truly was. If she were in love, Eugenia wouldn't have treated Robert so poorly or gotten overly involved with her other cousin Clifford Wentworth.

            Unlike Eugenia, her brother Felix is a delight. I realize that many would soon tire of Felix's optimism and sunny disposition, but I rather like it. Despite all the protests Felix made about his being a Bohemian, I think his roots ran much deeper. His uncle, Mr. Wentworth, must have seen something too considering he came very close to asking for his nephew's advice. In an often hateful world, Felix managed to hold on to a measure of innocence. He could still see the beauty in life and thoroughly enjoyed it. Felix didn't have much as a traveling artist and actor, but he seemed more content with life than anyone else in the book.

In sharp contrast to the European siblings are their cousins. First is Eugenia and Felix's uncle, Mr. Wentworth. He was pious and well-respected. He struggled with the knowledge of how his niece and nephew lived and wondered often about the moral aspects. While not a character in the forefront, I believe Mr. Wentworth is an interesting character to study. He had a front-row seat to this comparison of Old World versus New World. Mr. Wentworth wanted earnestly to understand and make a wise decision, but the ideals of the Old World baffled him. I don't find that overly surprising. How would you react to a mere notion of family members suddenly becoming a living reality? All his ideas and imaginings were put to the test. It can be jolting when reality proves one's imaginings to be false. Mr. Wentworth had become used to the way things were. A shake-up of these proportions was a shock. How he reacted is the interesting part. Mr. Wentworth was open to hearing out his niece and nephew. Mr. Wentworth naturally wanted what was best for his newfound family members even if he was uncertain what that would be.

Mr. Wentworth’s three children also give readers plenty to consider. Clifford was Mr. Wentworth's only son and his more troublesome child. Clifford traded the sin of drunkenness for the sin of getting mixed up with married Madame Munster. I won't say that he fell in love because I don't think it is true. Even if Clifford were in love, his behavior said he was too naïve to realize it. There are also Mr. Wentworth's two daughters, Charlotte and Gertrude. Charlotte was very similar to her father. She wavered between dismay and disapproval concerning her cousins. Gertrude, on the other hand, was fascinated by Eugenia and completely dazzled by Felix. She alone amongst her family came to life with the arrival of their visitors.

Finally, there are the Actons, Robert and Lizzie. Robert was the most cosmopolitan of the family. Naturally, he thought he could see straight through Eugenia to her true motives. Madame Munster was a master at weaving a web and Robert was quickly caught in it. Lizzie was impertinent and overly confident. She knew what she thought and, more importantly, what she wanted. Her goal was to marry Clifford and live a successful life as a New England lady. In some ways, I found her annoying. But, I have to respect her drive and strong personality.

           In the end, The Europeans was a lovely short novel that made me smile. The New Englanders tried so hard to hold the traditions passed down from them and uphold a high moral standard, but the Old World had let what was fade into the past. They were somehow more progressive than the New World. I wonder how much of that is true even now. Do we hold to traditions much more tightly than our ancestors? Do we even know why we do the things that we do? I love traditions, but I believe they are useless if we don’t have a reason or meaning behind them. Many of us will be keeping the tradition of having dinner with our families tomorrow for Thanksgiving. Giving our family our time, reflecting on our blessings, and remembering those who came before us are all very good reasons for keeping a tradition. I hope everyone has a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!