Good morning! Please welcome guest author Lynn Crain. Though I will be away for most of the day, please feel free to leave comments for Lynn and I will post them as soon as I return. Thank you!
~Kate
Why Five Is My Magic Number
I am a pantser and while it seems like I should be standing in a 12 step meeting somewhere, shouting out my sin, it is a fact. I start stories with a germ and a prayer. Sometimes with nothing more than a title and one character that for some ghastly reason, visits me in my dreams. Yeah, I’m weird that way.
Recently though, I had a bout with the dreaded writer’s block and lack of motivation at the same time. It was one terrifying experience but I found my way by falling back on a tried and truth remedy. If I couldn’t move from one area to another with ease like normal, I would go back to using task lists.
Most writers are familiar with task lists. These are the lists of to-do items an author must complete over the course of a day, week or even a month. Last year, when I realized I was having problems, I started a book that only contained my tasks for a given day. I knew if I could stay focused and organized, I would be fine. Eventually.
Well, I did come out of that funk late last year and decided I was going to keep those task lists because it seemed to increase my productivity. So I decided to look back over some old notes and read some new writers books to stay in the groove.
The book I picked up is Write.Publish.Repeat. by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant with David Wright. It is a no-nonsense book on the world of self-publishing that has some very valid points on writing in general. Throughout the book I kept honing in on the themes of professional looking products and planning. This was something I wanted to do better every day.
I then went to an old planning notebook that I used occasionally when thinking about doing a big book, something around 75K and above. And I had to chuckle to myself. Apparently, quite a few years ago, I did some planning on what I wanted to write at the time. I hated outlines to the max but I don’t hate lists.
If you saw my desk, you’d understand what I mean. I have some post-it’s that have lists of #hashtags, lists with notes in them and a list with what I planned to do for this blog. The funny thing with these lists are most of them have five or less points. Now my daily task list isn’t that tight but my short lists are.
Now back to what I had planned out for some future books. Each book had the normal logline, blurb, synopsis, projected number of chapters, projected word count and tidbits about the characters. What was different is that I enumerated five things which needed to happen in each chapter to keep the story going.
Wait a minute…I’m a pantser…I don’t plan out things to every minute detail like some. I liked to take it as it comes. Yet, here I had found a lifeline of sorts to get me back into writing. A plan laid out, nice and neat in little bundles of five. On closer inspection, each one of those five points were loose items and could be changed as needed. These lists provided me with both a structure and a flexibility to move forward during a very awkward moment in my career.
I might not be able to sit down and write for hours like I used to do. Yet, I did know how to make a list of five items I felt, or maybe it was the characters who felt, were needed to get the story from point A toward the final destination of point Z. And just as suddenly, five became my magic number.
I sat down with the books that I wanted to produce this year and ordered them in how I’d like to produce them. I looked at the number of chapters, put a chapter to a page and wrote down five things I thought should happen. If I got stuck, I moved to another book and did the same. Eventually, I had about five books worth of materials. These were manageable chunks I could wrap my mind around. These were something I could do in quick order and I set about making sure that at least one five-point list is worked into my daily task list. This would keep me focused and on track.
The only other problem I had to work out was boredom. I tend to get very bored with whatever I’m writing and usually have at least two novellas and one full novel that I work on at a time. I did a bundle that matched those criteria and bang! I was on the road to writing and being productive every day.
I’m not saying that something like this may work for you. What I am saying is no matter what the task is at hand, if you break it down in manageable chunks you will be able to do it fast and more efficient than ever before. Any number can be your magic number. Pick something and stick with it.
My number just happens to be five.
Blurb: Sign language interpreter, Amanda Kranz, wants to find her soul mate but fears her chance has past due to the death of her childhood sweetheart. Finding sexy historian Henry Jager during an outing in her new home of Vienna, Austria, may have been a stroke of luck. When his ex-fiancée shows up just as their relationship starts to sizzle, Amanda must decide if standing up for what she really wants will give her lifetime happiness. Or will she be destined to spend her life alone?
Excerpt:
Her disappointment must have been plain on her face as she found herself suddenly gazing into the greenest eyes in a very handsome male face. A question in German followed as she tried to ascertain just what he said.
“I’m sorry,” she stated, her confusion obvious. “I’ve only picked up a word or two since I’ve been here. Do you speak English?”
“You’re American?” he questioned without the accent most Austrians possessed.
“Don’t make it sound like such a curse. There are a lot of us, you know.” Her indignation evident in her tone.
His rich laughter filled the space, warming her to her bones in ways she hadn’t expected. “Sorry. I guess one does pick up the attitudes of where they live.”
She looked at him puzzled. “That’s that supposed to mean?”
“Henry Jager, American, at your service ma’am.” His sweeping bow brought a smile to her lips.
“Amanda Kranz and I hardly think I qualify as a ma’am.” She stuck her hand toward him. His firm grasp sent an electric sensation as she felt the spark deep within her. She swore he felt it too as his eyes darkened.
“Do you prefer Amanda or Mandi? I know there’s not much of a choice with Henry.” His serious gaze spot of his interest.
Laughter bubbled up in her, the first such emotion in weeks. “Henry is a fine, strong name. And it doesn’t matter much with mine.” His hot look made her want to shiver in anticipation of what she could only speculate.
“Really? I would have thought your business associates would call you Amanda. Now your intimate contacts I expect call you Mandi.”
She gazed at him. Intimate contacts, now there was a misnomer. It had been years since she’d had any intimate contacts of the male persuasion. “Sounds good to me.”
“You gave in too easy.” He reluctantly let go of her hand as his look took on a more serious aspect. “Are you meeting someone?”
She shook her head. “No one to meet.”
“Good.” He grabbed her hand again, placing it in the crook of his arm. “Have you ever been to one of these before?” Henry expertly meandered around people, baby carriages and more as he led her to the next booth.
“Not really. I saw them last year but being so new to the city, I couldn’t bring myself to go to one alone.” She gazed at the Rathaus beyond them, remembering how intimidated she’d been by building even though it had a Christmas tree in front.
His eyes narrowed. “Sounds like you’re still a relative newcomer.”
“I suppose so. I got here in November of last year.”
“Ah – your impression?” His brows lifted when he drew back as if to study her face.
“Very commercialized. I expected something more – ” she struggled to find the right word. “– more homey, more authentic – more Austrian.”
Henry gazed around a moment before looking back at her. “I see your point. This is probably the one Christkindlemarkt that’s got the least to offer in specialized, authentic goods in my opinion except it does have a certain ambiance. And of course, there’s the skating rink as well as the park decorations.”
Her brow arched in amazement. She really hadn’t expected anyone to agree with her. All the women she knew gushed over every one of them. “You agree with me?”
His naughty smile was breathtaking. “Most definitely. This is the one where most of the tourists come. While there are some very Austrian things here hidden amongst the drivel, most are not unique or special in any way.”
“My thoughts exactly. Where exactly does one find more traditional items?” Astonishment spread through her. She had not once heard anyone say a negative comment about Vienna. All her colleagues gushed over the city but as far as she was concerned, it was just another place to live.
They stopped in front of a food booth, the aroma tantalizing. “Would you like something hot to drink?”
The brisk breeze nipped at her cheeks and she felt the cold through her coat. She definitely could use something to warm her up. “Sure.”
BIO:
and various other places on the net like My Sexy Saturday, Twitter and her blog, XtraOrdinary Romance. Still, the thing she loves most of all is hearing from her readers at lynncrain@cox.net.
PURCHASE Links:
Amazon US ~ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBFDLOK
Barnes and Noble ~ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-viennese-christmas-lynn-crain/1114313180?ean=2940016221441
Kobo ~ http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/A-Viennese-Christmas/book-KLxTdvUwEkukzOyG93F9yA/page1.html
Where Lynn Is:
http://throughheartshapedglasses.com/
http://www.twitter.com/oddlynn3
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLynnCrain
http://www.youtube.com/lynncrain
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/684863.Lynn_Crain
https://www.amazon.com/author/lynncrain
Social
Hello Lynn! It was wonderful to learn a bit about you and your book A Viennese Christmas! Going to hop over to your site and look around!
Thanks Colleen for dropping by. I appreciate it!
I’m a big fan of lists too – it really does keep me focused. A great idea to use them for story ideas, will have to steal that one and make room for yet another post-it note in my daily planner. 🙂
I’ve never been one for lists, but I’m struggling with a plot right now and might just go sit by the fire with a notebook and list out what could happen … Thanks Lynn!
I like lists too! It’ so helpful in keeping everything straight in my head. 😀 😀
Great idea! I’m always looking for better ways to organize by writing!