One of the first suggestions I made after developing this website, creating the RwriterN brand, is that an aspiring author should join a local writer’s group. Peer groups provide assistance and critiques from engaged individuals. The exchange of ideas and information can prove invaluable.
But todays Blog isn’t about editing and assistance from others. It’s about writing a second novel.
To begin, some writers are constantly plagued with ideas on how they could have improved their first work. They should have had the characters do this instead of that. They should have concentrated on a small cast of principles and not tried to write such an expansive work. How the writer handles these notions (whether correct or not) will mark their writing style far into the future.
A select few authors have produced winning manuscripts their first time out. Perhaps they had an excellent idea. Perhaps they had a professional editor(s) to correct mistakes. Perhaps they had professional readers to point out tangents and distractions from the manuscript’s storyline.
The notion of this type of publishing “dream team” is far from common. Reality for most first-time writers does not include the funding to pay for that level of help. For most, the act of producing something worthwhile is both hard work and a learning process.
An author has get past their mistakes. This might sound obvious, but some novice writers can’t concentrate on a second project because they can’t get over the should haves from the first. My favorite mantra for this comes from Emile Coue and has been quoted countless times (including several times in The Pink Panther movie series) “Every day in every way I’m getting better and better”.
It's as simple as this: If something didn’t feel right in the first book, don't repeat it in the second. If the storyline was too expansive, tighten the focus.
One way to accomplish this is with marker notes such as date, time, and location. Consider the television series "24". A wide variety of action and emotion was packed into a small space. It used time markers to help the viewer keep sense of the action and to keep them on the edge of their seats.
Not every writer likes marker notes (although they are a useful device to firm up timing.). Markers can be removed after they've served a purpose.
While a debut novel is an outpouring of the writer’s love, fear, pain, and creativity, a second novel is an act of will. The reader will be looking for something new. But that doesn't mean everything should be different.
If writing a series based on a set of characters or a specific location, it's best to keep a notebook or a card file of characters and actions. Who isn’t familiar with references to Derry, Maine, the fictional town presented as home base for many of Stephen King’s novels? When reading his books, references flow and add realism to a fictional location and a familiarity to fictional characters.
There are things that worked in a first novel that should be repeated. Perhaps characters were introduced in interesting and engaging ways. Perhaps descriptions of places or emotions felt real and alive. Repeat only the stylistic items that felt right. If a phrase felt awkward when it was written, it felt awkward when it was read.
Every writer has a voice of their own. There is something unique in style and structure that differentiates them from other writers. This won’t change in a second book unless the writer decides to change style.
I have a different style for different genres. In order to see and feel the emotions of my characters, whether good or bad, I listen to music that gets me in the mood to write. When I write literary fiction, I listen to music from the 1950’s and the 1980’s to transport me to a different time and place. When I write short stories like Gabriel Simmons and The Wyman Initiative, both of which had dark themes, I listen to whatever is current of the radio, but I make sure to watch an hour or two of FoxNews and CNN to get in the proper mood. When I work on a thriller, I’ll listen to Korn or Disturbed to get in the mood for mayhem.
In a first book, the mood is already set. It’s the clumsy excitement before the first kiss with someone you desire. In a second book, it’s a deeper longing where knowledge and expectations meet precision and timing. In the second book, the writer brings the reader further into the world of their imagination. It might still be clumsy at times, but that’s handled in the edit.
I’ve read debut novels that were brilliant. I’ve read debut novels that were mostly fluff. I’ve read second books of the former because I was sure they’d be good. I’ve read second books by the latter because friends and family asked me to give them a second chance. To paraphrase Stephen King in On Writing: A fluff writer will likely never be competent, but a competent writer can become a good writer.
The abilities and successes of new writers depend on their willingness to listen to criticism and learn from their mistakes.
The click here from today is a section from Brettinger where I’ve used markers. There are three actions taking place in quick succession. The markers help define the passage of time and tie the actions together.
Click here passages are periodically archived, but are still available. Select Contact Me from the home page or click on the menu icon at the top right of this page and select Contact. Make sure you reference the posted date when requesting archived files. I hope you enjoy. And whatever you do, keep writing.