How to Write a Novel

Where Fleur ponders California, writing, and pennies in a jar.

I’m back. In case you were worried, I had not fallen into a black hole—quite the opposite. I enjoyed a detour to San Diego to help my oldest pack up her stuff and drive back to Colorado, temporarily. It was a nice break and a reset, and a reminder of how much I love California.

I went on a whale watching tour, where I saw no whales but saw a giant pod of dolphins with babies. Pretty magical…

I did not write at all, alas, so I broke my write every day stride I had since the end of May. But the reset was good for the soul, so worth it. I got to chat with my oldest daughter (road trip!) and quite literally smell the roses. Ah, California.

Balboa Park

This little break, although mostly practical and business-y, had me pondering what I’m working on, when I set out to write every day. How I sometimes act like writing a novel is no big deal anymore when in fact it is a Very Big Deal. Sometimes as writers and artists, we take our work and ourselves for granted. Especially once you have a few decades under your belt…

When I got home, I watched The Greatest Showman, which was so good. I watched Hugh Jackson subtly convey emotion with just his face, no words. I watched Zach Effron dance like Gene Kelly. I watched Zendeya, who is just stunning at everything. The singing, the choreography—it all looked so…

Effortless.

Now, any person knows that it takes work to make something so good. It takes a room full of talented people who are the best at what they do. But what you don’t see in such an effortless-looking performance is the thousand times that actor or singer had to show up, every day, to get it that way. It takes more than those oft-mentioned ten thousand hours to master a craft—it’s how you show up after you’ve put in those hours that takes your work from good to the Greatest.

(See what I did there?)

When I do my writing talks at schools and conventions, I often equate this to that giant change jar you may have had, once upon a time (or perhaps still) to save up for a vacation or what have you. You put your pennies and your dimes in there for months, until eventually, you’re surprised to find the jar is full. Writing a book is a lot like that. You have to put the pennies in to fill the jar. Show up a thousand—ten thousand—times until you get it right. And even then, you could probably do more.

I think of all this as I look at two novel drafts that are at the same stage: rough, in need of major shaping and revision. It’s going to be hard work. But I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. Pennies in the jar.

Now, I just need to pick which one I work on first…

How is your writing, or other creative project(s) going?

What I’m Writing

This past week, I revised a couple of short stories that are due for anthologies and drafted a small part of a non-fiction writing craft book that had been on the backburner. I’m preparing to clear the deck so I can focus on just revising a novel. I may even book a writing retreat to do it…

Where I’m Going

Aside from a few podcast interviews and sundry, August is quiet. I will be at a library event mid-August, but otherwise I hope to hit the trails here in Colorado. The older I get, the more I just want to be outside all the time.

What I’m Reading

I’m re-reading City of Thieves by David Benioff, in case I decide to tackle my WWII novel next. It’s still good, I’m happy to say.

Do you ever re-read your favorites, to see if they still hold up?

Your Weekly Floof

My oldest is staying with me and brought her kitty, so the balance is a little off in Casa Fleur. Floof is taking it all in stride, though. As long as she can sit in the window, she’s golden.