What writers really need is their own reality game show where writers have write offs up on the stage.
If you've ever watched Canadian Idol and heard one of the commentators talk about 'tone' or 'voice' or 'modulation' and several of the other singing terms, great. Each specialty has terms and knowledge. In the case of Canadian Idol or American Idol, the singers that have some talent are nurtured right behind the scenes and on stage by professionals. They are allowed to grow with all kinds of guides. With writing though, we don't really have a reality TV show for that and most of the time, it is a solitary profession.
Most writers start clinically broke but like writing anyway. Most dream of being published. Still before submitting, your manuscript is largely in its own vacuum. After reading your own manuscript a thousand times, it's hard to notice a typo or two or whether you characters' names change suddenly from Paul to Phillip.
And rather than a nurturing type of industry, we have a 'yes' and 'no' pile on editors desks. There really isn't any particular learning curve in writing because our reality TV show would be opening rejection letters. That is, until you are accepted and you work with an editor.
In this article, I would like to speak about what you can do before submitting your manuscript.
Trust me when I say that if you've written a novel, then that's a good thing.
To look at your writing with a critical eye, look first at your voice.
Do you have a strong voice? I don't mean the characters, I mean the voice as in the narration. Whether it's told in I or she and he, the voice is truly the spindly hands at work playing the whole novel for the reader.
A voice is weak if it is disjointed. A voice is weak if it doesn't have any sense of itself. A voice is fine if it captures and leads the reader along.
The best way to check your voice is to rewrite a couple paragraphs with other voices. Then, go back and see if you liked any of the other ones better. Question why and then apply what you've learned to the voice you had to start with, then make changes.
Very definitely, look at your plotting with a critical eye.
Does it exist? Some writers do that whole Albert Camus thing where everything starts with a death in the family. You will see countless fiction books on the best sellers list that use this or start with a wedding. If you are really lost at starting your novel, then pick one of these two because they call for dramatic plotting.
The biggest flaw in novels is coincidence. Sure, we all have unplanned meetings with people but seriously, do we have about forty of them over a two week period? Question your coincidences. You could have written an entire novel with coincidenal happenings that don't make sense when plotted.
To see if your plot makes sense all the way through, put it on a line graph with actions and events along the way.
What you should see is scene and sequel unfolding naturally. First, you will see the happenings but afterwards, there will be some manner of reflection if only for a second. It is just like when you talk to your boss and then think about it later. That's what people do. Therefore, the plot should zing by like this. Sequel is necessary but shouldn't slow the book down.
Definitely check your plot on a line graph.
Check for characterization.
Characters are often cast into situations they cannot handle initially. This causes growth. There is one famous character in novels that never grows older, never changes her perspective and she is a well-read mystery PI. Still after a while, readers give up on this main character and move on because of the striking lack of growth. Rather than getting a following, this writer is depending completely on new readers. So think about dangling your character into a scene to see how they are going to behave and make sure they grow.
For characters, they should have core beliefs and values that they act on. To check whether they are cohesiveness in their actions, certainly draw up a character sketch (a written one) and test your work against it. You would only have to do this for your round characters, not your static characters.
Check for pacing.
The pacing of your book is very important. If the book is set over a weekend, great. Most aren't. So make sure your book goes at a pace the reader can stand and of course, that it make sense to the reader.
These are just a few ways to revamp your manuscript before sending it in to an editor. Expect your fair share of rejection slips and grab ahold of anything an editor bothers to scrawl at the bottom of your latest rejection slip. Don't take it personally and keep working on your craft. Once you view writing as a craft and less of an art, you'll be much happier because a craft requires work.
Robyn Whyte is the CEO of Stargazer Press, an independent press at http://www.stargazerpress.com Come by and get a copy of Kate Rizor's new novel 'The Governor's Wife'. This widely reviewed author is considered by many loyal readers to be as good as Nora Roberts.
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