Libby Drew

Life: I start a new job on Monday. I haven’t had a new job in ten years, mostly because I was happy at my old one. Good hours, good money, good people… Yeah, pretty content. Not gonna lie. But then another opportunity came up, and I thought, “Hey, why not?” The new job still has all the things: schedule, pay, autonomy, etc. You know what’s shocking? All the people -- at the old company -- flabbergasted at my decision. Why would I leave if nothing was wrong? Am I not scared? I mean… of what? Change is healthy. Change is growth. Risk is good, and I’m game. Writing: I finished a novel today. First one since my parents died. I feel accomplished and am celebrating with an Argentinian Malbec. My goal is to have this baby polished and the first chapter posted here by September 1st. It’s a tight deadline, I’ll admit. I might have to send my editor friend some of that prosecco she likes. This post is full of alcohol. (Probably because I am too at the moment. Don’t judge.)

I will have to make the time to read this. @Graeme is one of the authors I remember being here when I joined originally back in 2008, and I enjoyed his stories then. Thank you!

As in, "corral your thoughts."

I've almost always used it in the context of psychic connections. WHICH EXIST. 😉

I think I've called you that before.

Seems like a good start to me. ☺️

These are some of my favorite prompts ever. I love forming my characters' backstories. And honestly, a lot of that information never makes it onto the page in the strictest literal sense, but how those characters are shaped by those backstories is obvious in every scene. Bravo! Love these!

You may or may NOT have participated? Girrrrllll! You can't just drop that and sign off! 😄

Yes! Yum!

Swill is what the restaurant I ate at last night tried to pass off as sangria.

Dissolving shame and guilt through intimacy is a thing, and I've often seen it written instinctively into a story, as if the author recognizes its role and importance. That it's not always executed perfectly could be due to many factors, including the one you mentioned.

Life: Had a conversation with my sister-in-law last week at our 4th of July picnic. It went like this: Cass: I’ve got the most amazing idea for a book. Me: Nice. Cass: How would I go about getting it published? Me: First step? Cass: Yeah. Me: You have to write it. Cass: Oh, well…yeah. Cart before the horse, much? Writing: Some thoughts on editing, because this is a supportive and cohesive community and things like peer editing are a happy reality here. When you ask for help editing, it’s a good idea to know what kind of feedback you’re looking for, and then communicate those desires clearly in your request. Do you want developmental editing—“big-picture” feedback about structure, style, pacing and voice? This includes notes on plot, point of view and characterization. Example: “It feels like your story actually truly starts in Chapter 2, when your character loses his job.” Or, “Your protagonist comes off a bit unlikable. Here are some things you might do within the story to change that.” Often, a developmental edit is given as a separate document rather than as notes made directly on the manuscript. What if you don’t want “big picture”? Then perhaps ask for a line edit, where your editor will point out specific things, such as dialogue that doesn’t sound convincing or pacing problems in a given section. Like: “Why not skip the backstory here and get right into the action. It’s what readers have been waiting for.” Maybe you want both. That’s fine. But since developmental feedback assumes you will return to the manuscript and rewrite parts, line editing is usually held off until that rewrite has been completed. Copy editing and proofreading, on the other hand, are about fixing errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, word choice and sentence structure, as well as catching continuity issues. Like a warm winter coat that magically appears when it starts to snow, even though the character wasn’t wearing one earlier. If you’re certain you don’t want any content or structure changed and you just want the writing “cleaned up,” you’re looking for copy editing only. No matter what level of editing you ask for, prepare yourself for feedback, criticism and direction. If what you’re secretly hoping to hear is, “This is almost perfect. All it needs is one comma to be a bestseller!” better stock up on tissues. Be honest with yourself when seeking an editor. Not only about what feedback you want, but about what feedback you can handle. And finally…revision takes time. It’s normal to feel ecstatic to finally have a project “done,” but don’t shortchange the editing process. You simply can’t respond to a round of thorough developmental editing in a day. Expect that integrating feedback into a rewrite can and should take time. Even if all you ask for, and get, is a line or copy edit, then incorporate those fixes and… Put. Your. Project. Away. Reread it with fresh eyes in a week --or two (two is better) -- and edit accordingly. You will never regret this step. Promise.

Thanks for another great article. Sometimes I find sex scenes important to include, other times not so much. Referencing your two examples... the language I use to describe those encounters will vary depending on the length, genre, plot, and character arcs in the story. The detail from this post I'd like to pull out is for writers to do what feels right to them, based on their project. Don't worry about what's "expected". We're human and sexual expression is part of what makes us human, so there's no reason to feel embarrassed. Include it or don't, as you see fit.

Each day, Sidney loses more of Arthur. How do you stop the love of your life from slipping away?

Now you’re telling me You’re not nostalgic. Then give me another word for it. You who are so good with words And at keeping things vague. ~ We’re all unreliable narrators of our lives. Any truth is, after all, a matter of perspective. 13,211 “There you are,” Arthur said. His eyes lit up as I drew near. Their twinkling never failed to lift my spirits, and I offered a wide smile in return, then took Arthur’s hand and pressed it between my palms.

Another great post. Sometimes the most nebulous of concepts can be the most helpful when they make people think. This is all about self-reflection, and it is, as you say, as important as grammar, spelling, sentence structure, etc. One of my profound weaknesses is assuming everyone is exactly where I am in this process, and they aren't. Some are far ahead, others not as accustomed to looking inside themselves for inspiration. It would serve me to remember that. Thanks again.

Who isn't?

Both of these had me reminiscing while waiting to fall asleep last night. The first prompt was fun, but my mind wandered to the second and I started thinking about this lake we used to swim in when I was a kid. It was a huge part of my childhood, but I hadn't thought about it in years. I think I fell asleep with a smile on my face. Thanks. 🥰

Life: Here’s a conversation from my vacation… Sister: Try this book. I loved it. Me: What’s it about? Sis: It’s dark and screwed up. Right up your alley. Me: Thanks? Sis: It’s a two-parter. The sequel’s supposed to come out early next year. Me: What if it doesn’t? Sis: It will. The author says it will. Me: I’ll wait. So I can read it all at once. Sis: Haven’t you ever heard of delayed gratification? Me: Never been a huge fan. Sis: Oh, I realize. I’ve known you your whole life, remember? Me: That escalated quickly. If I fall in love with a story, I want to finish it NOW. Not wait for the next book, or chapter, or installment. Sorry? Writing: As authors, we have more of an opportunity than ever before to dole out our stories a tidbit at a time as we craft them. Thanks, Internet. But there are problems with this model if your goal is to publish your book. Even if you plan to self-publish. That’s a whole different discussion, though. Let’s talk about sharing fiction simply for the love of it. I’m the last person to poke holes in this practice, especially on any platform where the community expects it. LiveJournal was always like that, and I lived there for ten years. GA has a wide audience who not only enjoys, but expects, serialized fiction. So this isn’t me telling anyone writing and posting one chapter at a time that they shouldn’t. It’s me saying: Be cautious, serious writers, because there are pitfalls. The first is output. And expectation. Nothing loses readers faster than missing a scheduled update. And if you set your updates too far apart, even enthusiastic fans will lose interest. We all know how variable a process writing can be. A chapter could take an afternoon to write. It could take a month. Life can be like that. You also need time to edit and revise. You could skip this step, but I personally think it’s a huge mistake. For one, first impressions are everything, and one poorly edited chapter might be all prospective readers attempt before moving on to something else. Or someone else. Keeping a coherent plot is another hurdle. Even the most strongly outlined book may call for edits to early chapters as you approach the climax of the story. It sucks if you kill someone in chapter three who, you discover in chapter twenty, really needs to be alive for the story to be the best it can be. There’s no easy answer to this one. Finish the story, then post it, is about the only foolproof method. Your decision. The last problem I’ll mention is abandonment. I’m guilty of this. I’ve abandoned two stories (both here), which is not cool. I feel crappy about it. Sometimes abandonment can’t be helped. And sometimes we just lose the thread of one project and move on to another. It happens. No writer is immune. None of this is rocket science, I know. However, trust between authors and readers shouldn’t be taken lightly, so I’m putting it out there. Just as a reminder. We are all human, but readers trust us. Do your best to respect that.

It is horrible when you attempt to read a soporific story. But it's easy to stop and look for something more stimulating. Too many of my college professor's lectures were soporific! They have to be. It's compulsory. 😉

Trivia! Thank you. I learned something new today. That makes it a good day. 😀

That tree is scary looking. Like it belongs in a horror movie.

It didn't seem as though it would feel too long when we made the arrangements, but it definitely was. Avocado toast rules. This restaurant at the resort put tomatoes on it, which I've never done. I liked it better than I thought I would.

If that's true, then I consider the story a success! It was simple, even formulaic in plot, but I had hoped the characters would stand out. Thanks for reading!

Thank you! I modeled the professor after one I remembered from school. Although not a professor of architecture, he had a way of seeing inside his students and knowing which ones were genuinely moved by the material. So glad you enjoyed the story. 🥰