May 30, 2008
Victoria Bylin Visits
Written by Jaunty Guest in Jaunty Post
Thank you, Jaunty Quills, for inviting me to blog! It’s always fun to talk about writing. Necessary, too. Not to sound whiny, but I’ve discovered that no one understands this strange and wonderful journey quite like another writer. I was with a group of women a few weeks ago . . .
Friend: How’s it going?
Me: Really good. I figured out what happens in Chapter Four.
Friend: That’s nice.
Me: That’s the hardest part.
Friend: Uh, cool . . . I guess.
It’s cool to me, but I’ve discovered that no one understands the magnitude of Chapter Four unless they, too, have beaten their head against a computer monitor. For me, Chapter Four (sometimes Chapter Five) is like starting a new book. It’s the first turning point, the place where the story launches in a new direction. If I can get past the dreaded Chapter Four, I’m in good shape.
And there’s this stimulating topic . . . commas!
Me: I can’t believe it! The copy editor deleted half my commas!
Husband: Is that bad?
Me: It’s awful! It changes my voice!
Husband: I hear you just fine.
Me: Not that voice! My writing voice!
Husband: (blank look)
Me: Never mind.
That’s when I go online and moan to my sister authors who know that commas are a very big deal. They affect the rhythm of the story. I know this for a fact, because I just read a book that had very few of them. I found it distracting and wondered if the author had cried over her missing punctuation.
Covers, anyone? My husband and I had this conversation on the phone when I got a cover that surprised me. I’d sent in an art fact sheet describing a dark, brooding hero. When I got the cover, I saw my blonde heroine dressed in pink against a cheerfully pink southwestern desert with pink clouds in the sky.
Me: I hate it!
Husband: What’s wrong with it?
Me: It’s pink!
Husband: So?
Me: My heroine hates pink!
Husband: A lot of women like it.
Turns out he was right. That book with the pink cover was West of Heaven and it sold well. It grew on me and it’s now a favorite. So is my husband . . . That evening he walked in the house with a bouquet of pink roses to commemoriate the pink cover. He may not “get” the writing, but he “gets” me! That’s what matters most.
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Margo Maguire Says:
I am so happy that Victoria could blog with us today. She writes westerns for both Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historicals and Harlequin Historicals, and was a 2006 Rita Finalist for Abbie’s Outlaw. The Bounty Hunter’s Bride is Victoria’s first LIH and is available now. Here’s her website: http://victoriabylin.com/
Oh - and get her to tell you about her puppy!
Shana Says:
Welcome, Victoria! We feel you here at the Jaunty Quills. I, too, struggle with chapters 4-6. Sometimes 4 goes really well, and then I think, “Oh, this will be a breeze.” And that’s when 5 kills me. Glad I’m not alone!
Shirley Karr Says:
Hi Victoria!
I laughed out loud when I read your post. I can *so* relate to chapter 4, commas, covers and copyeditors from h*ll, and the husband’s blank look. That’s part of why we refer to our critique group’s meetings as “group”, as in group therapy, because we need confirmation that we’re not nuts and that these things — commas, covers, etc. — really are of great significance.
Fedora Says:
Hi, Victoria! How fabulous that your husband DOES get you–that is definitely a huge one! And I confess that as I’m not a writer, I probably don’t understand as well the satisfaction of figuring out Chapter four, but as an editor, I DO get the importance of commas
BTW, I took a peek at your site and loved reading your story–God is truly amazing!
Victoria Bylin Says:
Hello ladies! I ended up with a crisis at the day job and didn’t get to check in yesterday. I tell ya, a day without writing is like a day without milk
Anyone else remember those old commercials?
Margo mentioned the new puppy. He is soooo cute! We’re loving him to pieces. I think I need to give my next hero a dog : )