Update on my third novel!

Remington 1960s typewriter from http://www.computermuseum.li

My outline for my third novel was presented to my book editor, and while she liked it, she had some bigger and better ideas for it. What does that mean exactly? Back to the computer I go! I LOVE her vision, which does not only involve this specific book, but future titles as well. If I can swing this - and I know I can - it will (hopefully) mean many more books to come...

No pressure...gulp!

Here's where I'm at: This weekend I'm working on making new art collages, next week I'm in Fresno, which means alone time in my hotel room. Perfect. I know exactly how I want to restructure this book's plot. My editor's idea has certainly added much more FIRE to the story and I'm majorly giddy to 'go there'. My revised submission is not due until mid-January, so that gives me time to play around with the characters, re-outline, and write some sample chapters.

I went through the same process for the first two books and relish this stage. It's like a huge blank canvas for a multi-layered mixed media project and having to choose the theme, papers, colors. textures, etc. I don't think there is a way to 'get it right' with the first outline, well... unless you are a mega superstar author, and even then I'm sure the drawing board never becomes dusty.


Do you know with my Glitter book, the original outline was called The Chubby Chica Chronicles? It was about the misadventures of three plus-size women, only one a crafter. But then I researched and found that the big girl genre had been not only covered, but was much better than anything I could produce. In fact, that's how I found one of my all-time favorite books, The Way It Is by Patrick Sanchez. My point is that you can see how far my finished manuscript strayed from the first draft. Only one character survived and made it in Waking Up in the Land of Glitter, and that was Ofie Fuentes. She's a survivor!

This is proof that writing a book is not a clean cut deal at your first stab, or even second or third (or more) even if you have an awesome agent and fabulous book editor. There are always revisions galore, lots of brainstorming and daydreaming. If you REALLY want to write, you will push through and make it happen. That's my theory anyway.

This is kinda hokey but, what keeps me focused is visualizing my book on the front table of a book store! I replay that image over and over in my head and it makes writing each page more exciting, because I'm that much closer to making my dream a reality. It worked with Glitter, I hope it works with this book too!

Here is a cute video I found about common mistakes wannabe writers make when it comes to novel writing. I thought it would be a good time to share!

OK, I'm going back into my outline, wish me luck!


Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new novel!