Deliberating Details

Now more than ever, I find myself immersed in details.  When writing, I tend to want to throw in everything but the kitchen sink and that can lead to some real deliberating.  Deciding whether or not to leave some things in, throw some things out, whittle other things down–it can be a real dilemma for those of us who love description and don’t want to leave out colorful elements that add pizzaz to our stories.

But details can also drag us down as writers if we’re not careful.  For instance, everything, from the synopsis, to the manuscript, to the proposal should be clean and free of typos, wordiness, over-the-top description, unnecessary backstory, etc.   In an ideal world.

The details I’m talking about today are the basic nuts and bolts of the story.  The little things (and sometimes a big thing or two) that make us sit up a little straighter in our seats and take notice.  When done skillfully, details won’t overwhelm the story, but enhance it.  Details give just enough information to keep us turning pages.  A mere word or phrase can show time and place, physical characteristics, weather conditions, and also, set the mood or tone.

Details also apply, as my writer friends well know, to the business aspect of writing.  The things I lovingly refer to as “my second set of  housekeeping duties.”

We don’t have babies in diapers anymore, so my life is a little less harried in that aspect, but it’s busier in others.  As you know, with each life stage, it’s a trade-off.  A semblance of a schedule helps me, but it doesn’t mean that its ironclad.  I try to be flexible enough to not stress out should something unforseen happen.

Here’s what’s happening in my own story at the moment:

• Editing proposal of currently completed novel.
• Continuing to work on second book in series.
• Ramping up marketing plan (Take note if you’re not quite at this stage yet.  You will be expected to have one.  Begin developing one early and establishing yourself as a career professional.)
• Networking with other writers and industry professionals.
• Exploring best conference investment for the money.  (I’m thinking the ACFW conference this year in St. Louis.)

I hope you’ll keep turning the pages of my story with me.  I’ll try to share what I’m learning along the way.  For some of you, it’ll be old hat.  For others, you may learn something new.  I wished so many times in the beginning that I would have known then what I know now.  If I can answer a question, I’ll certainly try.  (Oh, and a great link that I recently ran across for techie types of questions is https://authortechtips.com.)  This site is profiled in the May/June issue of Writer’s Digest as one of the best general resource sites for writers.

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A question for you to think about…What five details in the photo above would you incorporate into a story to give a sense of time, place, and even mood?  (I’ll give you a hint about this photo tomorrow.)