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I had a lovely (really!) Friday Five post about how time shifts in the summer, but I think WordPress was having problems for a few days, and that post went…POOF! and vanished. Since I don’t feel like rewriting it, I’ll change gears and tell you about the steps I took this week to get started on a new picture book.

1. Opened up my PiBoIdMo file of prioritized ideas and started scanning it. No, it wasn’t the ideas that I had previously labeled Top 10 that caught my interest, which just shows…something. Instead, a few ideas scattered randomly through the list got my imagination going.
2. Started new files for a few of those ideas and brain-dumped ideas into the files. Closed one and opened another, because I’d get a few thoughts dropped in and then the interest in that particular idea would fade. Until…
3. I saw a character. The basic idea, in terms of what I’d written during PiBoIdMo, was not so great–kind of flat and with a bit too much of that, “Oh, I’ve heard this before” feeling. But I started typing in random thoughts, and suddenly he was there. In my brain. I can see the guy. II know what he looks like, I know his problem, I know the basic sadness he’s feeling, and I have snapshots images of him in contrast with the other characters, in ways that look pretty funny. It’s amazing, really, how the more “good” stuff you dump, the more your brain keeps filling up. Kind of like that tale of the magic porridge pot I loved as a kid.
4. I opened up a Draft 1 file and wrote half a page. I ran out of steam and I didn’t like what I had. It felt, kind of like that original idea, flat and uninteresting. Also, a little off-balance–like all the weight was in the words, which were okay, but the story itself had no steam. Along with that feeling, though, was the sense that what I’d written wasn’t good enough for my new character, that I wasn’t getting anywhere close to how cool and sweet he is. Which just confirmed, for me, that this was a story worth pursuing. Because there’s something there.
5. I pulled out my writing books and started reading. As usual, I knew what I needed…it was back to structure. I needed to get that balance right, needed to think about the KINDS OF STORY PIECES that belong in the beginning, middle, and end. Then I’d be able to start thinking about my specific story pieces. Or, rather, this character’s specific story pieces. And I found my pattern, in How to Write a Children’s Picture Book, Volume 1: Structure, by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock. According to Bine-Stock, it’s everybody’s structure, but as I studied her example, my guy started waving at me and telling me what things to shuffle around and where to put problems and actions and resolutions. His problems and actions and resolutions.
6. I opened Word and wrestled with the Table feature to get that basic structure into a file. I tell you, don’t ask me to work with pen or paper anymore, especially with a plotting template. Bine-Stock uses a basic timeline setup to show what happens in each story, and when. Sure, I could draw that out and fill in my stuff, but then I start scribbling and then I want to erase, and it doesn’t erase completely, and the paper smears and tears, and I’ve got nothing. So I set up my own table template that may not look as pretty, but works with my brain. And I dropped in a few things I already do know about my guy–his problem, the general sort of thematic description of what has to happen in the different acts, and possible ideas for plot twists and what Bine-Stock calls “pinches”—moments of foreshadowing that move the story forward and add a bit of underlying tension. And I saved that file.

That’s where I’m at. The next step? To actually read through the books Bine-Stock uses as examples and get more comfortable with what her structure pieces actually mean, what actions and events other authors have put into those plot points. And keep thinking about my guy. Because he’s the thing that is going to make this story happen.

Eventually.

A little side-note thought about PiBoIdMo. Honestly, as I started going through my list from last November, I was feeling a little discouraged. So many of those ideaswere flat, blah, and so few of them sparked any interest in me at the thought of taking them further. Now, granted, last November was not the easiest month for me, I got bronchitis, my husband and son both got pneumonia, my son ended up in the hospital for two nights with it, and we were all so sick we missed seeing The Muppets in-theater. So…I can see reasons that I wasn’t at my most brilliant, and I still pat myself on the back for getting that idea-per-day accomplished. Still, I’d been thinking that I’d get several pb ideas out of the heap, even if it mean really working to push myself past the flat feeling and dig deeper for interest.

Now I’m starting to think that may not be the way PiBoIdMo works for me, or even for everybody. Maybe it’s more like the rest of life, where the % of positive response you get from a lot of effort is pretty small. You know, send out 100 marketing brochures and get one or two calls. Submit 30 queries and hope for one “Please send the manuscript.” Send out X number of resumes and get a call-back or two for an interview. And, you know, if this is how it all works, I’m cool with it. That pile of “meh” ideas I came up with has suddenly become worthwhile, because out of it, this character showed up for me to think and write about.

I wasn’t sure, the last few months, about whether I’d do PiBoIdMo again next year. Right now, I’m feeling the exact opposite. I’ll be there, and I’ll have my notebook, and I’ll be dropping ideas in. Just so I might get one more like this.

With this writing thing and with so many other Life things, the trickiest part is often convincing ourselves that we can do something, that we have the skills, talent, ability to take on a project or a change and succeed at it.

This week, for various reasons, I’m about seeing the positive in change, the exciting in the challenge. So, for today, a quick post about the things that make you feel like you can be creative, that you can write and write well.

• Praise. Which pretty much means letting other people read your writing. Yes, in a critique group, you’ll be hearing plenty about what you haven’t yet done right. In a good group, however, you should also be hearing about what’s right, what’s good, even what just rocks the world.
• Accomplishment. Finishing a chapter, writing a poem, plotting out a new scene, kicking A on a piece of dialogue. All these are things we need to do and that, when we’re done with them, we need to celebrate. With something as small as a smile or a self-pat on the back, with something as big as a dance around your writing space or a bowl of your favorite ice cream.
• Starting something new. Yes, there’s the fresh brainstorming and creativity that comes with a new writing project, but–for me–it’s something more. It’s the fact that I’m doing something for the second or third or fourth time. This week (and, yes, this is partly what today’s post is about), I’m calling “Done” on my first picture book. (Done, at least, unless and/or until an agent or editor asks me to make more changes, obviously!) And I opened up the picture-book folder on my computer and started another one. Guess what? It feels WAY more doable than the first time around, simply because…itisn’tthe first time. I know what I’ve done before, I know the fears I’ve faced and the writing bumps, and they’re more familiar, just a little more friendly this time around.
• Seeing someone else do it. Again, this is where that critique group comes in handy. Especially one in which you critique multiple drafts for each other. You watch another writer go from that draft about which you gave GOBS of feedback to a draft that is so close to beautiful you find yourself racing through it and barely noting anything. And all of a sudden, you remember that–oh, yeah–this is possible.
• Magic moments. They might be a word or a sentence, beautifully phrased. They might be a character about whom you write a few notes and then find yourself deep in love. They might be a few lines of that great dialogue; they might be a plot twist that you worked your butt off to figure out. The little bits give you belief that you can do the big stuff. And you keep going.

As I write this list, I’m seeing a common thread. All these things that help us along, all these places where you get the reward of knowing we can do it–they all ask the same thing from us. They required that we put in the time. If we don’t show up, guess what? We don’t believe that showing up will help. But if we actually do put that butt in a chair, actually do open a file and start typing…all of a sudden that belief shows up for the ride.

Which, really, makes everything else worth it.

My son’s sophomore year has been a pretty calm one, but as it winds down, I’m remembering how much happens in High School, with approximately 98.88734387% being fit into the last two weeks. The week’s been a bit busy, to say the least, probably in part because there were only four days to it. Still, I tried to remember about slowing down and taking time to enjoy what was going on at the moment. So, from me to you, tips for keeping it calm and happy.

1. Read a good book. Duh. But you knew I was going to list that. For me, in weeks like this, it’s pretty much comfort reads, so I’ve been back to the bookshelves for the kids’ books I grew up with. Of course, I missed the Bookmobile on its last trip through the mountains, so next week I’ll be revving up to new reads again.
2. Sit with your family and friends. Even if it’s only for a few minutes. Spend that little time together, check in on the phone or for a walk, touch base.
3. Get sushi. It always helps. Add a little more wasabi to the soy sauce just to clear out those sinuses and shake yourself up a bit.
4.  Another obvious one. Try and make some time for the writing, or whatever it is that feeds your brain. Yes, you’ll be a little frustrated at how little you might get to, but you won’t feel like you totally lost contact with your WIP. The longer we stay away, the longer it is to get back, I think.
5. When you’re at a point where the to-do list is out of reach, say…oh, a Thursday night jazz concert in the park, LET-IT-GO. This is always a tough one for me, but I’m working on it. Last night, I sat and listened to the middle school jazz kids, my son’s HS jazz band, and a local Big Band (smaller than both of the others!!). We were outside, the weather was beautiful, and I was separated from all the things I needed to get done. I tapped my feet, snapped my fingers, and–on some of the slower songs–stretched out my legs, leaned back, closed my eyes, and just let the music flow over me. Awesome.

Basically, take a moment…

Since I’ve subjected all of you to lots of raving, whining, dissecting, and moaning about Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, I figure it’s only fair to announce here, today, that…I FINISHED THE BOOK!!!

I have to admit, I want a little crazy today to get through the last bit. I looked in my computer files, and I only had three worksheets left!!! And I had something like four hours ahead of me, with no other claims on my time. (Not to mention all those extra seconds I gained by deciding I’d better get back on the less-sugar-kick today and not making all those trips back and forth to the chocolate stash.)

Then, of course, I looked at the actual workbook, and saw that I had something like seven chapters left, and some of those had multiple worksheets. (Anyone else seeing a striking resemblance to the last week of school here, when the teachers suddenly decide to schedule all that surprise work for the kids?) For some absolutely incomprehensible reason, when I’d set up all the files for the worksheets, I’d stopped early. WHAT?! As one of my many favorite nephews says, “That’s crazy talk!” But sadly true.

Still, I’d said–both to myself and to Facebook–that I was finishing the workbook today. And I still had those four hours. And I had been working more quickly lately.

Can I just say that my fingers hurt. And my wrists. Not to mention my brain.

Confession: No, I didn’t do everything. As much as I’ve wanted to stick with the demands of the workbook, all the way through I’ve found a question here, a worksheet there, that I wasn’t ready to take on. I really need to do some factory/strike research before I can plot the Love Interest’s whole storyline. The draft I have is a totally tangled mess, so when Mr. Maass says to pick a scene and revise it, I sometimes find myself laughing. With a slight hysterical edge. And putting in a note that I’ll come back to that later, when I actually HAVE SOMETHING WORTH REVISING.

And I got a little more…that way on these last pages. Honestly, I didn’t take time to do the Brainstorming worksheet that wanted me to come up withanother story. Today?! I didn’t spend a whole lot of time on theme. But…I so took on the Symbol worksheet. And the one where you have to come down on the antagonist’s side. And I wrote a pitch!!! Yeah, baby.

Overall feeling? Good, basically. It’s taken me a lot longer than I wanted to get through this, but ours is not to dwell on the past, but only to move on into the future. I think I must know this story and these characters better than I did when I started, but truthfully–I can’t see it yet. Maybe that’ll come with plotting, maybe not until I actually dive back into writing. Oh, but, please, let it come!

At the end of this whole process, I feel a little bit noodled by trying to think about all this, rather than just put words onto the page and see what comes. I had moments where I felt as though I was just doing exercises, without being all that connected with my MC and her world. I’m pretty sure this was a factor of not being able to just commit hours every day to working through things, of not staying immersed. I definitely had moments where I fell in love with Caro all over again, with her needs and her conflicts. I’m counting on those moments to stick with me as I plot and as I get started on the next draft. If they don’t, I may have to face the possibility that this story isn’t the right one for me to be writing…today. I’m hoping  not, though! I’m hoping the work I’ve done has taken me deep enough that I’ll be hooked and committed and able to write it.

I’m sure you’ll hear all about it here, whatever I do decide. (Lucky you!)

For today, right now, how am I feeling? Well, I’ll tell you. I’m Shakin’! (Dare you not to dance.)

Today’s a day to toot horns.

I’ll start with my Friday Five, and you guys join in with the cool stuff you got done this week, no matter how small!

1. I got through the Plot section of Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook. That was a BIG horn toot. The best part is that it happened because I’ve been moving along more quickly and staying more focused as I work. So even though I don’t know that I’ve been getting more actual hours in on the WIP, I seem to be using the available ones more productively.

2. I bought Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. Which is another sign of my commitment to figuring out at least SOME plot for this WIP.

3. I bought a new monitor. I’d tossed the old (okay, antique. Ancient, even) CRT monitor a few weeks ago and “borrowed” my son’s flat-panel, since he’s pretty much always on his laptop these days, until I could “get around to” picking out one for myself. Yesterday, he realized and informed me that he needed to use the Smart Music software on his desktop, which meant, yes, he needed his monitor back. Soon, because the music he needs to practice is for a concert next week. So I stopped at my computer-shopping store, looked at the options, picked one, brought it home, connected all the cables, installed the software, and I am looking at it as we speak. I haven’t actually assembled it correctly, since it’s tilted at an angle toward my desk, not me. But that’s for the hardware guy to deal with. AKA Husband.

4. I cleaned the house. You know, at the Visitors-are-coming-soon level, rather the usual We-can-live-like-this-a-while-longer level. And, really, all I want to do is tell everybody to stop using the house for, oh, a week or so, just so I can sit back and look at the cleanliness for a while.

5. I got to Yoga twice and got in a couple of pretty good walks. I cut down on some of the sugar intake. I had more energy and slept better. Son is prone to say that “Correlation does not imply causation,” but I’m pretty sure this is one of those times it does.

Okay, let’s hear from you. Pat yourself on the back, toot that horn, give yourself a blue ribbon. And share your accomplishments in the comments, so we can all celebrate!

This week was about…

1. Wearing shorts and a sweater, as the sun came out and things moved toward warm, but only actually got there–on our hillside–for a couple of mid-day hours.
2. Watching youngish deer wander through our newly shorn and fire-proofed property and remembering that we need to start keeping our gates closed, if we want the dogwood and fuchsias to survive.
3. A little quiet time each evening, as husband and son went for driving-practice outings. Along with starting the car on Monday morning to see the gas gauge just tipping the top of the reserve light.
4. Attending a parent panel on the college-application process and hearing a few scary things but, mostly, a lot of sanity and reassurance.
5. Making progress on fiction writing AND work writing, reminding myself that I may not be able to get it all done as fast as I’d like, but I can still get it all done.

And one photo from inside those gates, the plant (azalea?) that five years after planting, my husband was calling plastic and swearing would never bloom. Some things just take a while, right?

It’s happening. I knew it would, and I’ve been resisting it as well as I could, but I’m starting to weaken.

Pretty soon, it’ll be SPLAT! Facedown in the sand, rope burn on my palms.

What am I talking about? The increasingly strong pull to rush move at a slightly faster pace through The Breakout Novel Workbook. I’m starting to get through a worksheet every time I sit down to work. I’m seeing myself type little notes into a step, notes like Covered this in earlier worksheet and Save for later, if needed. Instead of working through extra examples of the tasks Maass assigns, I’m doing just (AKA only) what the assignment says.

I’m scolding myself a little bit, and I’m using some restraint, but I’m also seeing this as a good thing. Tug of war pulls you in two directions–toward something and away from it. Up till now, I’ve been working steadily on the worksheets and making progress, learning more about my characters and their stories–which is why I backed off from drafting the WIP and picked up the Breakout book again. But…and here’s the good part…the more progress I make, the more I’m getting pulled toward writing. Actual scene writing. I drafted a short scene for a worksheet exercise the other day, and it was like a few drops of the most absolutely perfect dessert wine on my tongue. Sweet, smooth, and rich.

I’m getting impatient.

I’m still going to finish the workbook. There were good reasons why I dug back into it and committed to working all the way through. Those reasons still hold. But I do believe I’ll be moving just a little more quickly these days. And maybe loosening up my grip on the rope.