A Novel Creation www.WatersWords.com

Until my recent retirement, I wrote professionally for over 45 years. Some of it was, I told myself at the time, not what I really wanted to be writing—articles for agency publications, informational materials, speeches for the agency director. It was “my day job” that I couldn’t quit because I couldn’t get anyone interested in my novels. Over the years, I   realized that any writing hones your craft—the thought processes required to come up with an idea; the utilization of resources to research thoroughly; the time to learn correct grammar and spelling; the willingness to learn from the masters; the discipline to sit in the chair and work; the development of thick skin in order to learn from, and not resent, criticism; the humility that comes with rejection; and the absolute joy that comes when someone really likes what you’ve written and says those magic words, “I couldn’t put it down.” A speaker at a writers’ workshop I attended made the statement, “Persistence trumps t...

As a new writer on the scene, I am still honing my craft. Perhaps I will always be doing that. Growing.   Stretching. Trying new techniques. Well, new to me anyway. For my latest project I am working with two points of view. It’s a “his” and “hers” kind of story. I started with my male protagonist. Writing from a male perspective was a challenge for me. I wondered if I could truly get into the head of a male character. I comforted myself with the notion that if Nicholas Sparks can speak from a woman’s point of view then I could surely speak from a man’s. I can at least make him the way my readers hope men think and feel. My character is a pampered twenty-something named Sam. His relationship with his cold, controlling father was always strained at best. But now? His father has died and the resentment boils over when Sam discovers the conditions which must  be met in order to inherit the vast estate his father has left him. First, he must live  and work on his uncl...

As most of my readers know, my husband died suddenly the last week in October. I was devastated. The last thing on my mind was writing. Love that man! I had planned to participate in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) for the month of November. It is a major project where an author sets a goal to write a novel in one month. During the month of October I outlined the novel, explored the characters, created several points of tension and talked it over with Tom. He grinned as I told him about the male protagonist. He knew he was always my model of a great guy in my stories. And in my life. My NaNoWriMo project was/is a book I call On the Edge of Quiet . It is a book that is on the edge of being Amish. My next attempt was going to be a mystery or suspense novel. For more info, go to nanowrimo.org Because I wanted to spend my time writing during November and because I wanted to try my hand at a “cat and mouse” sort of tale in the future, my November blo...

Well, good old Punxsutawney Phil has done his work for the year. According to the rodent, winter is still upon us. I’ve always thought it funny to read, “The groundhog saw his shadow. We’ll have six more weeks of winter,” when in fact, if he doesn’t see his shadow it’s only six weeks until spring. The simple truth is the spring season will arrive mid March regardless of the animal’s predictions. In fact the meteorological winter runs from March 1-May31 and the spring equinox is on the calendar for March 20. It makes me think about my writing, though. I can put a spin on my character’s actions and give new perspective to the event. I can share my protagonist’s point of view by what she’s thinking and change the reader’s expectations. I can cast shadows with my words, leading my audience down a path of mystery. I have the power to throw a twist into the plot or introduce a shadowy character. Yet, like Phil’s predictions regarding the weather, the end will come one way or...