Hello! On Sunday night I finished a major revision of my next novel, closed Scrivener, went to bed. Monday I flew to my Mom’s and that afternoon I compiled the book, formatted, did a few quick quality checks and sent it off to editor with a letter detailing the major changes. I’m tired in the brain! Next week a new episode of the pod comes out. This week, I thought I’d try out the threads feature - an organized way for you to join the conversation. Mostly, I’m curious how it works and if people will participate, so I thought I’d start with an AM(a)A/Q&A. What would you like to know about writing, the writing life, revising, or publishing or related topics? Ask me here!
Sara, I love and adore your book, "A Song Called Home." It's food for the soul. I'm happy to have discovered your writing. I see you've written many others. I don't have a burning question at the moment, but will eventually. My love of reading led to writing, as it often does. My first novel is contracted to come out in 2023. Besides your writing, I also love the stories of Amy Willoughby-Burle, Buck Storm, and Heather Bell Adams, plus a whole bunch of others. There's not enough time in the day to read all that I want. God bless you for your inspired, down-to-earth, heartfelt writing.
Sara. I’ve read almost all of your novels. One of the reasons I like them so much is the empathy I feel for the characters (Gem & Dixie in particular crushed me emotionally in a way that simple black marks on a piece of paper have no right to do). May question is about generating that emotional connection between character and reader. I notice you spend a lot of time inside character’s heads. Is that something you do consciously as you write? Revise? Other things you do to work your snake charmer’s magic on the reader? Thanks!
Thank you! A lot of this happens in revision, and it really does sometimes feel like I'm sweating blood or want to claw my face off to get down into the most real place I can with the characters. Part of it is that I know "page-turning plot" is not my brand. "Romantic swooning" is not my brand. The emotional authenticity that I strive for is, and if I can't deliver on that front, I better get real good at plot or romance or something else real quick!
For people trying to get better at the interior aspects of character, I recommend trying to know and understand yourself as much as possible. Think about why you do the things you do or feel the feelings you do--not the first or second layer of why, but the "why" below that. Being curious about what's at the heart of your psyche (and being curious about other people and their whys) helps a lot. That is the "magic" behind how I do it, I think! I've done so much work on self-knowledge and working through issues that it's almost habitual to have my characters be introspective, as well.
How to cope when out on submission for the 1st time...am doing my nut, supposed to be working on second novel but procrastinating and doing anything BUT. Help!
First of all, congratulations on getting something done enough to submit! That's a milestone few people who say they want to be writers pass, so good on you. If you haven't given yourself a little time to celebrate and pat yourself on the back for that, do it!
Once you've taken some time to celebrate the milestone, catch up on what you may have neglected while finishing the other thing, and get a little rest, I'd recommend trying to go back to doing some "non-businessy" things. That might include doing some writing that you're not already thinking of as "the next thing I can sell and turn into a product," reading a craft book, reading novels or other writing that makes you want to write, or engaging in some other kind of creative play or creative rest.
Finally, do try to maintain momentum on that second book (assuming you have a vision of what you want to be doing - I wouldn't throw yourself into it for the sake of getting words in if you're not excited about an idea yet). That might look like setting a small goal like 300 words a day or an hour 3x a week or whatever makes sense to you. Enough to stay in it, but not pedal-to-the-metal productivity while you're also distracted by what's going on with your submission.
It can also help to set limits on how often you'll check your email, stalk agents and editors on social media ("WHY ARE THEY POSTING VS READING MY BOOK??"), or otherwise obsessing about the submission. It can be a long wait, so try to take care of your sanity and creativity in the meantime!
Thank you Sara! Very wise advice. I AM excited about book 2 - think was just a bit paralysed by fear! But, after all the procrastination, I wrote another 1000 words today - so I'm up to 7k, which is about 10 per cent of the entire book, so I feel better! I think it's the THOUGHT of writing it that makes me anxious, but when I force bum into seat and actually write it, not only do I really ENJOY it, but I also am getting to know my MC's motivations more, and I am feeling my way through it, so it's giving me a stronger sense of why I'm writing it. Thanks so much again - your words of encouragement mean SO much, as it's a lonely road without connecting with people like you! M
Thanks for asking the question! I totally understand the overwhelming feeling about writing A BOOK. I think it helps to not think, "Okay, I'm going to write a novel," and instead think in terms of "I am going to write x number of words/x number of hours today," or "this week I'm doing this chapter" and then keep doing that enough days and watch it accumulate. The scope of A NOVEL can be terrifying if you let yourself really think about it!
Thanks much, Sara!
Sara, I love and adore your book, "A Song Called Home." It's food for the soul. I'm happy to have discovered your writing. I see you've written many others. I don't have a burning question at the moment, but will eventually. My love of reading led to writing, as it often does. My first novel is contracted to come out in 2023. Besides your writing, I also love the stories of Amy Willoughby-Burle, Buck Storm, and Heather Bell Adams, plus a whole bunch of others. There's not enough time in the day to read all that I want. God bless you for your inspired, down-to-earth, heartfelt writing.
Thank you! And congratulations on your book!
Sara. I’ve read almost all of your novels. One of the reasons I like them so much is the empathy I feel for the characters (Gem & Dixie in particular crushed me emotionally in a way that simple black marks on a piece of paper have no right to do). May question is about generating that emotional connection between character and reader. I notice you spend a lot of time inside character’s heads. Is that something you do consciously as you write? Revise? Other things you do to work your snake charmer’s magic on the reader? Thanks!
Thank you! A lot of this happens in revision, and it really does sometimes feel like I'm sweating blood or want to claw my face off to get down into the most real place I can with the characters. Part of it is that I know "page-turning plot" is not my brand. "Romantic swooning" is not my brand. The emotional authenticity that I strive for is, and if I can't deliver on that front, I better get real good at plot or romance or something else real quick!
For people trying to get better at the interior aspects of character, I recommend trying to know and understand yourself as much as possible. Think about why you do the things you do or feel the feelings you do--not the first or second layer of why, but the "why" below that. Being curious about what's at the heart of your psyche (and being curious about other people and their whys) helps a lot. That is the "magic" behind how I do it, I think! I've done so much work on self-knowledge and working through issues that it's almost habitual to have my characters be introspective, as well.
How to cope when out on submission for the 1st time...am doing my nut, supposed to be working on second novel but procrastinating and doing anything BUT. Help!
First of all, congratulations on getting something done enough to submit! That's a milestone few people who say they want to be writers pass, so good on you. If you haven't given yourself a little time to celebrate and pat yourself on the back for that, do it!
Once you've taken some time to celebrate the milestone, catch up on what you may have neglected while finishing the other thing, and get a little rest, I'd recommend trying to go back to doing some "non-businessy" things. That might include doing some writing that you're not already thinking of as "the next thing I can sell and turn into a product," reading a craft book, reading novels or other writing that makes you want to write, or engaging in some other kind of creative play or creative rest.
Finally, do try to maintain momentum on that second book (assuming you have a vision of what you want to be doing - I wouldn't throw yourself into it for the sake of getting words in if you're not excited about an idea yet). That might look like setting a small goal like 300 words a day or an hour 3x a week or whatever makes sense to you. Enough to stay in it, but not pedal-to-the-metal productivity while you're also distracted by what's going on with your submission.
It can also help to set limits on how often you'll check your email, stalk agents and editors on social media ("WHY ARE THEY POSTING VS READING MY BOOK??"), or otherwise obsessing about the submission. It can be a long wait, so try to take care of your sanity and creativity in the meantime!
Thank you Sara! Very wise advice. I AM excited about book 2 - think was just a bit paralysed by fear! But, after all the procrastination, I wrote another 1000 words today - so I'm up to 7k, which is about 10 per cent of the entire book, so I feel better! I think it's the THOUGHT of writing it that makes me anxious, but when I force bum into seat and actually write it, not only do I really ENJOY it, but I also am getting to know my MC's motivations more, and I am feeling my way through it, so it's giving me a stronger sense of why I'm writing it. Thanks so much again - your words of encouragement mean SO much, as it's a lonely road without connecting with people like you! M
Thanks for asking the question! I totally understand the overwhelming feeling about writing A BOOK. I think it helps to not think, "Okay, I'm going to write a novel," and instead think in terms of "I am going to write x number of words/x number of hours today," or "this week I'm doing this chapter" and then keep doing that enough days and watch it accumulate. The scope of A NOVEL can be terrifying if you let yourself really think about it!