My writing process has changed a lot
When I write, I write. I sit down and start typing and generally don’t look back at what I’ve written until I’ve run out of ideas or my hands are telling me that is enough for one day. Then I’ll look back over what I’ve written and fix the red underlined typos. I love that it is so easy now to find a lot of your typos so quickly. The typos aren’t the only thing wrong with the story but that’s generally all I fix at this point. The rest of it is for editing at a later stage when I am looking at the bigger picture of my story.
I didn’t use to be like that, though. I used to write, edit, worry, edit, edit, edit, write, edit, worry, edit… As you can imagine it got pretty exhausting. I was so worried about what my writing would look like, that I spent a lot of time fixing one page, one paragraph, one sentence, before I even had a story written. I was so frustrated. I was struggling to get my story finished. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t get it right the first time? Why wasn’t it perfect the first time? I was sure something had to be wrong with me. I truly did not understand the whole process.
Fast forward twenty plus years and I now see things so differently. And write very differently. Now it’s about getting the story down. Getting the words down. Making the story sound really good before I worry about the grammar and typos. When I have finished with getting the story to be compelling and exciting and engaging, then I go back and edit and edit and edit.
Almost no one gets it right the first time
Little did I know, no one, or almost no one, gets it right the first time (I know of a few authors who claim they get it right the first time. I definitely do not). A well crafted story means editing, writing, rewriting. Sometimes a lot of it, as you will see from the piece that I’ve posted below (it’s an excerpt from my suspense/thriller novel, Concealed Inheritance). Once I figured that out, it made writing so much easier. Now, I write and write and write. And then I worry about editing. I don’t let the process bog me down anymore or make me worry that my story isn’t good enough.
I love the writing, editing and rewriting process because I know what it can lead to.
The fact that I’m sharing this, tells me how far I’ve come…
In fairness, my typing isn’t normally this bad. I do make errors but this was a bit extreme. Not sure if it was a day where my hands were saying enough of being on the computer? Anyway, here is the mess that started my story. I have highlighted many of the typos. I might have missed some as those highlighted typos don’t come over from the word document.
Now I am showing mostly the typos and grammar issues but as you read both excerpts you will also see that when I talk about editing, I am also referring to rewriting. The second version is not only, hopefully, typo free but it reads much better than the first. It feeds into the bigger picture of the story.
The top version is the mistake riddled version. Below it, I posted the edited version.
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Here is the Unedited version. Don’t look away, even though it is pretty bad.
“I don’t think so. I have a photo of the place. My dad proposed to my mom there. I ruined a picture my mom took of hte place. Why? Why would you ask if I own land out there?”
“Because Dad thinks there is some connection. There is something about a resort maybe going in out there?’
Shayna shook her head emphatically. “No. My father was one of the people who turned it into a protected area. I thought the government owned it?”
“According to my dad, no. He thinks it is owned by a few people.” Linc was holding somethign back.
Her mind started going back thorugh conversatiosn she’d had with her dad about that place. It was a place her and Keating had gone to, to make out as teens. But it had never felt right to her. She’d always thougth because it had been her mom and dad’s favorite spot. Little did she know it was also because her gut was telling her Keating was a sleeze.
Her dad had mentioned he’d made a deal to protect that land. That… she coudln’t quite figure it out. Her phone rang.
“Hello?” She answered without thinking.
“Shayna. Where are you? Gloria is here frantic. Scremaing her head off. Rina’s not around. Do you know what’s going on?” Carmen was raising her voice to be heard over Gloria who was obviously having a meltdown int he background.
“Rina’s in the hospital. She had false labor pains. I don’t want Gloria near her. Maybe… oh, whatever. She’s in ht ehopsital. I called but you didn’t answer. I guess you were too busy last night.”
There was a sharp indrawn breath. “I’ll take Gloria to see her. I dont’ think she’s in any shape to drive.”
“Great. She’s going to harm that baby.”
“I think there’s something—”
“No. Later.” With that she hung up.
“Carmen and Jerold came to work for my father less than a year ago. They were working for someone else when he poached them. I dont’ understand why, he had good help. I’m confused.”
She called her aunt. It took four rings for her to answer.
“Shayna, hi.”
“Aunt Jan. Do you know how Carmen and jerold came to work for dad?”
“Why the questions? Did they do something? I knew it. I tried to talk your dad out of hiring them. I didn’t like htem from the beginning. It was mutual I can tell you taht. I have always felt they’ve had it in for me. In fact, I think they were starying to come between your father and I.”
“Oh? Why?”
“Dammit. I think they were in my place again last night.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Some papers I had on my counter are missing. And a picture that I had is gone.”
“Was it valuable?”
“More than you know. I have to run.”
“What are you up to today?”
“Just running back to the city. I have some cleaning of my place to do. I’m thinking of sellign it.”
“Hey do you know amnything about that swamp out on 49?”
“No. Is there one? I dont’ know the area that well. I really have to go. Talk later.”
Shayna waited until she heard hte gentle click before she hung up. She lfited her wide-eyed gaze to Linc.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. But I’m tired of people lying to me.”
Below is the Edited version of this same chapter from Concealed Inheritance.
As you can see, not only did I edit the typos, grammar, and other mistakes but I rewrote a lot of this piece. I think it sounds much stronger. It’s more compelling and is easier to read. It flows better.
In the past a page like I posted above would have almost stopped me writing. Now I understand I need to write so I have something to edit.
“Do you own some property out near 49?”
Forty-nine was a swamp area that had been protected for habitat. Skylar knew it well.
“Why?” My dad proposed to my mom there. I ruined a picture my mom took of it. “Why would you ask if I own land out there?”
“Because Dad thinks there is some connection. There is something about a resort being built on that property?”
Skylar shook her head emphatically. “Keating said something like that. My father was against any development. He was one of the people who turned it into a protected area.”
“Hmm. Do you know who owns it?” Linc looked away. Something had changed in his demeanor. He was holding something back.
Her mind started going back through conversations she’d had with her dad about that place. It was a place she and Keating had gone to, to make out as teens. But it had never felt right to her, as she always thought it had been her mom and dad’s favorite spot. Her dad had made a deal to protect that land. He, in fact, owned one-quarter of it. Keating’s father, Mr. Richards, also owned part of it. But she didn’t know how much or if there were other owners. She looked at Linc. What was he fishing for?
Her phone rang.
“Hello?” She answered without thinking.
“Skylar. Where are you? Gloria is here, frantic, screaming her head off. Rina, is she still in the hospital?” Carmen whispered the last part. Gloria could clearly be heard having a meltdown in the background. She was calling Skylar all kinds of names.
“Rina is still in the hospital. She had false labor pains. I don’t want Gloria near her. Maybe… oh, whatever. She’s in the hospital. Sorry I meant to give you an update but I just left there.”
“I’ll take Gloria to see her. I don’t think she’s in any shape to drive.”
“Great. She’s going to harm that baby.”
“I think there’s something—”
“Later.” She hung up and said to Linc, “That was Carmen. She and her husband, Jerold, came to work for my father less than a year ago. They were working for someone else when he poached them. But why?” She wasn’t sure why she’d felt the need to say that out loud. She called her aunt.
“Skylar?”
“Aunt Jan. Do you know how Carmen and Jerold came to work for Dad?”
“Why? What’s happened? Did they do something? I knew it. I tried to talk your dad out of hiring them. I didn’t like them from the beginning. It was mutual, I can tell you that. They’ve had it in for me. They were starting to come between your father and I.”
“Oh? Why?”
“Dammit. I think they were in my place again last night.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Just a feeling. I’ve had it a few times since I moved in. I think I’m going to install cameras.”
Skylar gulped. “What are you up to today?”
“Just running back to the city. I have some cleaning of my place to do. I’m thinking of selling it.”
Skylar was avoiding what she needed to ask. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Do you know anything about that swamp out on 49?”
Her aunt inhaled sharply. “No. Is there one? I don’t know the area that well. I really have to go. Talk later.”
Skylar waited until she heard the gentle bloop that indicated the call was ended before she hung up. She made another call.
“Hi. It’s Skylar Lyons. Can I speak to Mr. Zant?”
It took several minutes before he came on. Which she wasn’t expecting.
“Skylar. We need to meet.”
“We do but I was wondering, can you tell me what Jerold and Carmen make?”
He gave her a figure that was reasonable.
“Do you know where they worked before coming to work for my father?”
“I don’t have that information in front of me but it’s less than a year ago.”
“Did Dad say why he hired them? Was it because they were a husband and wife team?”
“They’re brother and sister, I believe.”
“Oh. Jan worked closely with my father, right?”
“Yes. He took her into confidence in all of his dealings.”
“Can you tell me what Jan Lyons’ monthly allowance is?”
“I’m sorry I don’t have that figure in front of me. I’m just stepping out of the office but when can we meet? There is a lot we need to go through. I have some contracts you need to sign. The deadlines are coming up.”
“Sure. Thank you. I’ll get back to you.” She hung up and lifted her wide-eyed gaze to Linc.
“Are you okay?”
“No. I’m tired of people lying to me.”
My Best Advice
If you are a writer… write. Ignore all that is wrong with your story. Focus on getting your thoughts and ideas down on paper. Once you have that, then start going back through and seeing what makes sense and what doesn’t. What more does your story or book need? And of course fix the grammar, typos and other mistakes. Enjoy the process.
If you are a reader, read. Enjoy the read. Skip over those few typos and mistakes, as they aren’t supposed to be there. 😂 Those little buggers slip through sometimes, though.
This excerpt is from my suspense thriller release, Concealed Inheritance.
Please comment below. I’d love to know your thoughts about the whole writing process.
If you enjoyed this excerpt, please join my Readers Group to keep informed of my latest release. Click here.
“An incredible new series from this fantastic author… Twists and turns in this story are absolutely incredible…” Betsy Smith
She’s a week too late.
After traveling for almost a decade, Skylar, a sole heiress, returns home… in time to attend her father’s funeral. Haunted by the unanswered questions surrounding his death, her world is upended when she discovers she is now responsible for the well-being of two pregnant women—women who hold the key to unraveling the truth about her father’s life. Trying to do the right thing, Skylar can’t help but question, who is the father of these unborn children?
As she settles into her new role, she is forced to confront a chilling reality – someone is sabotaging her quest for the truth. As things get more complicated, there comes the shocking revelation that her father might have been suffering from dementia. It casts a shadow of doubt over everything and everyone.
Confused, she turns to Linc for help to navigate the truth about her father’s life. And death. But she soon discovers that his intentions aren’t as pure as she thinks. He too has a hidden agenda. As his secrets intertwine with her quest, their fragile trust is tested as shocking truths are unveiled.
Will Skylar untangle the web of deception and betrayal that shrouds her father’s memory? Or will the shadows outmaneuver her, leaving her to question everything she holds dear?
In the riveting start to The Family Heir Looms Series, Concealed Inheritance, plunges readers into a gripping thriller. Enjoy!
“Another great read. Loved your characters and the suspense throughout the book. I never expected the angle till closer to the end…” Connie Nixon
Here’s what other’s are saying about Maggie’s Novels:
“A Suspenseful Rush!”
“…this was one of the most exciting and heart stopping stories I have read in years. I think this author is fabulous. I could not believe how well this book was written…”
“…Questions grow and so does the pace of this excellent story. You’ll find yourself turning pages quickly to keep up with the race against time. Excellent read. I highly recommend it.”
Take an adventure beyond your fingertips...
Whether her thrillers are set in a real town, city, or countryside, or one made up from her imagination, Multi-Award-Winning Author Maggie Thom writes engaging suspense thrillers that delve into a family’s lies, ties, and deceit. They are rollercoaster stories featuring strong women fighting for what they know is right but having to wade through a maze of twists and turns. Maggie believes in happily ever after but will take you on one heck of an adventure to get there.
Buckle up, you’re in for quite a ride.
Maggie grew up in a house full of books, often making a weekly trip to the library to get more. Reading was her go to when it was too cold outside to play. She started experimenting with writing at a young age, letting her imagination take her away on many adventures. She has done many real-life adventures with her family – white water rafting, sky diving, traveling, mountain hiking, kayaking… Now, she writes to ensure that you get to go on a thrilling adventure as well.
Maggie
Her motto: Read to escape… Escape to read…
"Maggie Thom… proves her strength as a master of words, plots and finely chiseled characters… she weaves a brilliant cloth of the many colors of deceit.”Dii - TomeTender
"Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!" InDtale Magazine
Love stories with twists and turns?
Uncovering your family history, isn't always a good thing.
