What I Learned from Art Taylor and Tara Laskowski about Building Suspense

I love the programming that the Sisters in Crime chapters do. I learn so much from the guest speakers. Recently, Art Taylor and Tara Laskowski did a presentation on building suspense in your writing for the Sisters in Crime - Central Virginia chapter. Here’s what I learned.

• Write what you love to read.

• Use what you read as models for your writing.

• Your openings need to catch the reader’s attention and keep it.

• There is a difference between action and suspense. Use shorter sentences for dialogue, action, and suspense.

• Start your story quickly and show the conflict immediately.

• Pacing is key for dramatic tension. When and where do you put in the plot twists? You don’t want to bore your reader, and you don’t want to spoil the twist.

• You want your reader to have a level of uncertainness or uneasiness.

• Increase the dramatic tension to make an ordinary situation menacing.

• Slow down the story or the passage of time to turn down the velocity. Long sentences slow the pace.

• Slowing down the pacing makes it unbearable for the reader. Make them want to find out what happens next.

• Three ways to end a chapter are cliff hanger, a question, or a reflection.

• Reflection at the end of a chapter is often more powerful than a cliff hanger.

• Vary your chapter endings. They all shouldn’t be the same technique.

• You always want the reader to turn the page.

What Have You Done for Your Writing Life Lately?

Professionals in all kinds of fields need to do continuing education or training for their certifications and careers. Writers need to keep up with new trends and old standards in the writing, publication, and marketing worlds as well.

This is a lot easier in the pandemic world since many workshops and conferences have gone virtual. I have been able to attend writing conferences, training, workshops, and other meetings that I wouldn’t normally be able to do if I had to travel. And I’ve learned a lot this year.

Writing organizations offer many free or low cost courses. Many of these are recorded, so you can watch them on your own schedule and not have to participate in the live event.

Many tools like Google Analytics, Canva, Bookbrush, etc. have great training videos for their products. And if the vendor doesn’t, more than likely you can find some folks who have posted how-tos on YouTube.

You need to make sure that you’re growing and learning. You need to add new tools to your toolbox and improve your craft, but don’t overdo it and let it cut into your writing time. Early in my writing life, I bought every book on writing that I could find. Then I realized I was reading more about writing that I was actually writing. I kept two of the best books, and the rest went to the friends of the library sale for someone else to use.

Life-long learning is important. The publication world and social media seem to change on a daily basis. Make sure that you do something for yourself.

How Much Editing Does Your Work Get?

Editing and revising are my least favorite part of the writing process, but I would argue that they are probably the most important. This is the part where your work is refined, polished, and made the best it can be. You usually only have one chance when querying an agent or an editor, and your work needs to be its best. I have a writer friend in another genre who always says he doesn’t have the time or money to invest in editing. Without revisions, you’re not submitting a quality product. You can also find critique groups, critique partners, or beta readers who can help you get your WIP (Work in Progress) in shape.

After I have done two or three or ten rounds of self-revisions, I submit it to my critique group. We meet monthly and read 50 pages of everyone’s WIP. It helps to get different perspectives and reactions to your stories. It is also a mystery critique group, so all the members are familiar with the conventions of the genre and subgenres.

Then when after all those revisions, I send the manuscript to a small group of trusted beta readers who are also mystery writers. We read each other’s manuscripts.

For manuscripts that I plan to query, I usually hire a professional editor for revisions and proofreading.

After I make all these changes, then the novel is ready for my agent and publisher for final reads and edits. That’s usually three or more rounds of edits/revisions.

Writers need a thick skin. Edits and revisions often feel like criticism when really they shouldn’t be. We do a lot of things well, and our editors help us produce the best possible product for our readers. The ultimate goal is to sell books.

The first time I submitted my beautiful manuscript to the critique group was eye-opening for me. After the feedback, I wanted to throw it in a drawer and abandon all hope. I learned to wait a few days after the meeting before I made edits. That gave me a bit of time to review the constructive criticism and not react emotionally. Most is extremely helpful. Many times things that I thought were perfectly clear in my mind we not necessarily clear to the early readers.

As a writer you need to hone your craft, and that comes with practice and feedback. It’s important that you build your trusted network of early readers, critiquers, and editors. I learn as much from the discussions of the others’ work as I do from the discussion of my pages.

Sisters in Crime, James River Writers, and other writing groups often has critique groups, workshops, and opportunities for authors to help other authors. Check out the online and local groups in your area.

New Vocabulary For The New Normal

The new normal brings with it a whole host of challenges and new ways of doing things. It also brings its own vocabulary. I received a notice from the AP Style Book a week ago about its new standards for Covid-related words. Here are some interesting words and phrases for your lexicon.

Blursday - This was my favorite. Covid Brain makes it hard for me to remember what day it is sometimes.

Corona Babies or Coronials - Children conceived during the lockdown.

Coronacation - It’s a staycation during the quarantine.

Corona Cuts - Cutting one’s own hair during the pandemic. Don’t cut your bangs!

Covid-10 or Covid-15 - A reference to weight gain during the quarantine.

Covid Brain - That fuzzy-headedness you get because of all the change, gloom, and anxiety.

Covid Idiots - You can figure it out. Maskhole is often a synonym.

Doomscrolling/Doomsurfing - This is when you scroll through your social media feeds looking for news of the next crisis.

Extreme Teleworking - When there’s no split between home and work life. It feels like it’s all day, every day.

Fashion Mullet- When you professionally dress for a video conference from the waist up and wear shorts or pj bottoms with your flip flops. (All business on the top; party on the bottom.)

Flatten the Curve - The work done to stave off the virus and reduce the number of infections.

Hamsteren - Hoarding (stuffing one’s cheeks like a hamster).

Magpie - Like hamsteren, it’s storing supplies for the lockdown.

Maskne - The facial breakouts caused by wearing masks for long periods of time.

Quaranteam - These are the small group of folks in your bubble who you have contact with regularly.

Quaranteens - Teenagers during the pandemic.

Quarantini - Any cocktail you mix at home.

Virtual Happy Hour - Video meet up with friends for drinks or to socialize.

WFH - Work From Home

Zoombombing/Zoomraiding - When others, with bad intentions, crash and take control of video conferences.

Zoom Fatigue - That feeling that comes from way too many video conference calls.

Zumping - Breaking off a relationship via Zoom.

Location! Location! Location! Setting is Key

Setting is key to your story or novel. In some cases, it can even be a character in its own right.

I write where I know. I’ve lived in Virginia all my life, and I love sharing the food, culture, history, beauty, mountains, and beaches with my readers. I use many places, street names, cities, and businesses in my stories. However, if it’s the site of a crime or murder, then I make up the place name.

Google Maps (Street View or Satellite View) helps me find neighborhoods and street names. In my Delanie Fitzgerald novels, she is a private investigator who does a lot of stake outs. I look on the online maps to find her places to park to watch suspects. The online maps help me get an idea of what the area looks like. I look for houses and other buildings. Many of the street views have photos on the site of the neighborhood.

In my short stories in the Virginia is for Mysteries and Deadly Southern Charm anthologies, I use historic areas or landmarks as settings (e.g. Mill Mountain Star in Roanoke, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Shockoe Bottom, and the Church Hill Train Cave-in). I love using these interesting sites as a backdrop to my mysteries. In my novels, my PI visits a lot of places in Central Virginia. At the end of each book, there’s a list of the sites to let readers know which places are real.

My new cozy series, the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, is set in a made up town, Fern Valley, located near Charlottesville, Virginia in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

I also keep an idea file when I hear about neat events or places. I jot them down for future stories.

Locations and details about them are important to your story. You need to get the culture, customs, and typography of the region right. I actually do a lot of research on setting and locales. People like to escape with books, and they love to find out about new places.

Writing for You - Journaling

I started a diary in the third grade. Someone gave me a denim-covered one with a lock and a key. This was an amazing gift that fed my love for writing. And I made sure to lock it each time I wrote down my innermost secrets.

I’ve kept journals, notes, and scrapbooks through the years. I even started two journals for my nieces when they were born. But I stopped journaling when I started writing novels. Life gets too busy sometimes, and things that were important get ignored or pushed to the side.

Through the years, I’ve received some beautiful journals as gifts. After the Pandemic started, I pulled one out and started recording thoughts about the virus, the shut down, and all the craziness. It helped. I also did a lot of my ranting, so it was cathartic. I hope in the future that it will help me remember what we were all going through during this historic moment in time and how I felt about it.

Then I realized there were good things going on, even in our darkest moments. Mr. Rogers always said to look for the helpers in any tragic or scary situation. And he was right. I saw so many examples of heroes and people helping others. So, I started a “Sudden Glory” journal. I use this to record positive, upbeat stories and examples of kindness. This has definitely helped me realize that there is goodness in the world no matter what is going on. It has also helped me with my outlook during the quarantine and stay-at-home orders. I felt so bad for the Class of 2020, everyone affected by the closings, and everyone who had their life upended. Everyone’s anxious, worried, scared… My journaling has helped me think about what’s going on and how I’ve reacted to it.

Journaling or keeping a diary is a wonderful way for you to write for you, and I think it will be a treasure later when you look back on what you recorded, doodled, drew, or shared.

Who else journals?

How Long Does it Take to Finish Your First Draft?

My first mystery novel took about five years to go from first draft to publication. As a new writer, I wrote when I could (or felt like it) and revised and revised and revised for years. I would overhaul major sections after early readers provided feedback. I would put it down for weeks and months and then go at it again.

I try to write every day, but it’s not always possible. Life gets in the way sometimes.

What works for me is to write and edit when I can, and I don’t beat myself up when I skip days or don’t write as much as I planned. Here are some things I’ve learned over the years (through trial and error).

1. When I don’t write regularly, it takes me longer to remember where I left off and get back in the groove. I am more productive if I can write a little each day.

2. Just write your first draft. Don’t spend hours proofing, revising, and editing. Finish it, and then you can focus on the polishing. I spent years on that first manuscript.

3. I would often handwrite a lot of my chapters in the early days. I save time now by composing/writing at my computer. This cuts down on typing time later.

4. You may have to make a tough decision with a manuscript. If you’ve worked and worked on it, and it’s not going anywhere, you may need to assess whether it’s worth pursuing or whether you should pause it. I have two manuscripts in a desk drawer that will probably never see the light of day.

5. I track my word count on my writing days, so I have a visual of my progress. (I use a lowtech Post-It on my desk with the date and total.)

6. Know your word count guidelines for your genre. There’s less revising if you’re close to your range at the end of your first draft. It’s hard to add 35K words when you think you’re done.

7. When I’m writing and I find something that I need to research, I highlight it and make a comment in the document. I keep writing, and I come back and insert what I find later. I was spending too much time on the internet looking for things (and getting distracted with funny dog videos).

8. I don’t do a full blown outline, but I do create a chapter summary. I highlight parts with mystery, romance, and humor in different colors, so I can see if there is too much or not enough of something. This provides a roadmap for me and helps as I transition from chapter to chapter.

9. For my series, I keep a spreadsheet with a column for each book. All the major and minor characters are listed with their key details. I also have a chart for place names and locations. I want to be consistent throughout the series. This is an easy reference when I forget a character’s eye color or other details.

Find the process that work best for you. If something’s not working, try something new.

Best wishes with your manuscript. (I’m almost done with the fourth Delanie Fitzgerald book. I have about 15K more words to go.) Happy Writing!

What It Takes - Tips for the Writing Journey

I borrowed this meme from the fabulous Judy Penz Sheluk. This is great advice for anyone on his or her writing journey. Usually what keeps someone from succeeding with writing goals is not the lack of creativity or ideas. It’s the determination and grit to put in the time to hone your craft and learn about the industry.

I looked up some synonyms for hard-working:

• Diligent

• Persistent

• Industrious

• Enduring

• Relentless

Writing is work. If you want to be published, you will have to wear many hats and put in the blood, sweat, time, and tears. Each milestone in the writing journey brings new tasks and challenges. You need to find what works for you and your career. You need to carve out your writing time and guard it fiercely.

Build your author platform. Even if you’re fortunate to be traditionally published, you will still be expected to maintain a social media presence on a variety of sites and have a website and email list. It takes time to interact with your readers and build your following.

If you are querying agents or publishers, it takes time to research a good fit for your book and to prepare the needed documents to submit. Make sure you follow all instructions. The shotgun approach isn’t effective. You need to do your homework and find out who specializes in your type of book.

Prior to your publication date, you’ll have several rounds of edits and proofreads. Any missed deadlines or delays will affect the publication date. You need to make sure you check content, cover, and formatting. I found incorrect headers and footers in one anthology draft. In another anthology, part of a story was missing. Always read your proofs.

Pub day is exciting and lots of fun, but there are marketing tasks that need to be done before, during and after the celebration. Planning helps here. Decide where you’re going to spend your promotion time and money.

It is exhilarating to hold that book in your hand (Finally!) What an accomplishment and a lot of work. It’s a matter of balance. The writers I know who have deadlines and a routine are the most productive and most successful.