The Art of the Writer
Writing is a solitary activity requiring perseverance, practice, and patience. As a book blogger and columnist, I’ve interviewed debut novelists to New York Times bestselling authors. Surprisingly, there’s not much difference between the two. Simply stated … each has a story to tell by translating thoughts and extraordinary ideas into words on a page. Granted their methods may vary slightly. Pantser or plotter seems to be the burning question as if one trumps the other. It doesn’t. Both will lead the story where it needs to go.
The common thread tying these writers together is discipline. Writing daily. Editing sentences, scenes, even chapters without losing sight of the end goal. Overcoming roadblocks, most commonly referred to as life, is the biggest challenge. Spouses, kids, and work demand our attention. Stealing moments away comes with guilt. Not to mention there’s always another load of laundry to fold or a reality show to watch. The fundamental difference between a published author and an aspiring writer is perseverance.
My first novel, Par for the Course, took one year to write and four years to sell. Truly a labor of love. Initially, I was dead set on writing a romance novel, my favorite genre by far. Yet the notion of plotting a murder piqued my interest more. The small town setting and the likeable cast of characters prevalent in cozies reminded me of my own hometown. I had no specific roadmap in mind. Trial and error best described my writing process.
Following my dream required sacrifices. For instance, rather than hanging out with the other moms at soccer or lacrosse practice I’d hide in my car typing away on my laptop. Eventually word got out that I was pursuing a literary career outside of my comfort zone as a blogger and columnist. Publicly sharing my goals held me accountable for making it happen. I’d be in the grocery store or at carpool line and friends would stop me for an update on the book.
Early on, I learned being a pantser didn’t best suit my writing style. I’ll never forget sitting in a coffee shop with a friend of mine who offered an honest critique. She asked if I had ever given any thought to outlining my chapters a few at a time. I took her suggestion to heart and practiced it over and over again. Using a structured storyline has greatly improved my writing process.
After the publication of Par for the Course, I made a publishing house change. I rebranded the series and named it the Piper O’Donnell Social Lite Mysteries. My second novel, Country Clubbed, proved to be a challenging book to write. Around the halfway mark, my father passed away from a long illness. The grief I was experiencing took a toll on my writing and I lost my voice, so to speak. I’d stare at the keyboard wishing for words to appear, but the emptiness I felt was all-consuming. With a little patience and a whole lot of faith, I resumed writing and completed my second manuscript.
At the time of my third novel, Murder by the Minutes, I had served my full term on the board of trustees at my local library. Using my experiences from my service, I created a murder mystery set in a fictional library in a small town. As part of my outline, I used words from the library meeting agenda to plot the story. For example, Call to Order set the stage for the book. Old Business described the going-ons by pillars in the community. Once again, I practiced my organizational skills to hone my craft.
This past year, I ventured into uncharted territory and co-wrote the first book in a new series with a friend. Being part of a writing team tested my creative chops in new ways. The three P’s came into play … perseverance, practice, and patience. With two voices blending into one, I learned to compromise on plotlines, word choice, and themes for the overall improvement of the work. There’s something unique and extraordinary about finding the right partner to collaborate with when it comes to writing, just as it is in friendships.
Although as I mentioned, writing is a solitary profession, the encouragement and ideas from friends, associates, family and especially readers provides my motivation to keep writing. I use social media to stay current with trends in writing and to receive feedback from readers and potential readers. I enjoy meeting people at local bookstores, libraries, and various events. These connections keep my writing fresh and entertaining to today’s audiences.
Looking ahead, I am confident that my past experiences will further polish my craft. Following one of the most useful tips of the trade, I keep a tiny notebook in my purse to capture phrases, ideas, and snippets of conversation to be used in an upcoming book. As a voracious reader, I continue to learn from accomplished writers how to develop storylines and create unforgettable characters to drive a plot forward. Belonging to organizations like Romance Writers of America enables me to stay connected to an inspiring community of writers with common aspirations and goals. Most importantly, I steal moments thinking about future stories I may write one day.
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Jennifer Vido dishes the scoop on the latest happenings in the publishing business as the books correspondent at Momtrends.com. As a former national board member and spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation, she has been featured by Lifetime Television, Redbook, Health Monitor, The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun, Healthguru.com, and Arthritis Today. Murder by the Minutes is the third book in the Piper O’Donnell Social Lite mystery series. Currently, she lives in the Baltimore area with her husband and two sons. Visit her website at www.JenniferVido.com.
Never judge a book by its cover unless Piper O’Donnell is prominently on display. Woodlawn, Ohio’s newest library board of trustee member is busily securing her social status by organizing the library’s premiere event of the season––the Booklovers’ Ball. Unfortunately, Piper’s dreamy vision of pink panache vanishes into thin air when she stumbles over a dead body in the library director’s office.
Forget the evites and the party favors. The list of possible suspects could fill a bestseller, and they include Piper’s own sister who was spotted at the scene of the crime. There’s also a charismatic minister thought to be short on offerings for his ambitious mega church. And rumors are circulating that the library director himself and his ditzy assistant may also be cooking the books. With help from her handsome fiancé Rusty O’Brien, Piper puts her sleuthing skills to work to investigate the complicated crime. The minutes are ticking down for Woodlawn’s top party planner. Will Piper be able to uncover the mysterious killer who is intent on ruining her lavish affair––and can she do it before the next board meeting?
Category: On Writing
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Well said. Also challenged are us authors without spouse, children, home and companionship to cheer us. Life and work go on for us also after loss or illness. Often no one else does our chores and we’re the chief tenders to our spirits after each rejection. We too honor the gift and keep going!
I always enjoying reading the backstory on an author–thanks for sharing yours.