Brainstorming a New Novel

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When Lagging Indicators came out on July 2, 2018, I was creatively drained.  I only wanted to focus on launching and promoting the novel.  I didn’t even think about new story ideas for the next book. Fast forward eight months later: the flurry of activity has settled down and I find myself analyzing everything as a potential storyline.

Since there were thirteen years between the release of my first novel, Uptown & Down (2005), and Lagging Indicators (2018), I understand that I may have missed a key window to build my career as a novelist. Yet, I’m so energized by the opportunities becoming an indie author has afforded me and take nothing for granted.  So, it’s time to get back to writing!  The beauty of publishing independently is that I retain creative control and can set my own publication date rather than follow a traditional publisher’s schedule, which can range from 12-18 months from manuscript submission.  If all goes according to plan, a new novel will hit the cybershelves by August or September 2020.  However, one crucial element remains ambiguous: What will the new book be about?

I underwent a creative drought for about five years after Uptown & Down was published and chalked it up to “writer’s block.”  I do believe a writer can struggle with producing new work and have an artistic slowdown but in my case, the real culprit was procrastination.  Aside from taking care of my family, I preferred doing everything except write: volunteering, cleaning, organizing, driving around, working out, traveling, shopping, decorating, lunching with friends… Quite simply, I wasn’t willing to invest the time and effort it takes to write.

Arguably, many of those experiences and encounters informed Lagging Indicators, but I think I missed out on that book-in-between because I was a little bit lazy and a lot afraid.  I feared my next book wouldn’t achieve the high standards of depth and resonance I had set for myself.  I’m a perfectionist and was terrified of a “sophomore slump.”  Writing is often about timing and the 2008 financial crisis finally triggered thoughts that eventually led to Lagging Indicators.  I had a premise and constantly asked “What if?” in order to create drama and suspense.

After studying other writers’ processes, I finally understand that you can summon the muse.  You can find a story idea, outline those chapters, and craft that scene if you’re not afraid to make mistakes.  Striving for perfection from the outset can be debilitating.  Allowing yourself to go in all sorts of directions is paramount to unleashing creativity.  Revisions will help you polish that story, but you need the raw material first.

For Book #3, I began by asking: What do I want to write about?  I knew that I wanted the story to take place in my adopted country of Sweden, but how would I incorporate that into an interesting plot?  Next, I wondered:  What kind of books do I enjoy?  What do I know?  How do I want to challenge myself the next time around?  Once I had rough answers to those questions, an idea began to take shape, but I didn’t love it. It felt a bit uninspiring, but I figured I could make it work.  Nevertheless, something nagged at me and the storyline didn’t generate the same passion as I’d had with my first two novels.  I stayed awake thinking about it one night when–out of the blue–a new tale appeared in my mind.  It was as though it had been waiting in the shadows, daring me to pay attention.  I got so excited that I wrote the backcover copy the next morning as a starting point.

As of this writing, I’ve completed the pivotal Chapter One, or about 5,000 words, with approximately 80,000 more to go.  I’ve also done preliminary character sketches and an outline.  However, so many scenes and dialogue popped up while outlining that I decided to just write and get that first draft up and running.  I’m cautiously optimistic about where this story will go.  I think it has potential, but who knows?  Most importantly, I’m fired up and that’s a wonderful place to be.

While it felt like an epiphany when the new novel idea surfaced, I did follow a few conscious steps to get my creative juices flowing.  I think it’s important to be in the right mindset and let go of self-imposed limitations.  Here are some methods I used to free my inner muse:

Reading:

When I can’t write, I read.  Each book, whether literary or commercial fiction, teaches me something important about pacing, character development, etc.  I reread Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945) with my son last week and was floored by how intuitive and relevant that book still is today. The straightforward writing style and satirical narrative were a refreshing break from the works of popular fiction I’ve been reading lately.

Podcasts:

My favorites are author interviews and I enjoy the in-depth profiles of Author Stories with Hank Garner; Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books with Zibby Owens; and The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan.  Hearing about new books, how writers got their big break, and the creative process motivates and inspires!

Writer Blogs:

Jane Friedman is so helpful when it comes to writing tips and navigating the publishing world.  I’m so excited that she’ll be a faculty member at the Stockholm Writers Festival in May, where I will also be on a discussion panel about transitioning from traditional to indie publishing.  Julia Cameron and her Morning Pages are a great way to start the day and release unihibited thoughts.  Since I’m focused on a current story at the moment, I haven’t been following this method religiously but I appreciate her inspirational quotes and teachings.  I subscribe to Writer’s Digest and while they tend to bombard my Inbox with special offers for classes, there are at least 1-2 emails per week that tackle an element of craft that is relevant to what I’m working on.  

Exercise & Yoga:

In addition to my cardio and weight training, I’ve finally succumbed to the yoga bug. After sitting in front of the computer for hours on end, my shoulders and back ached so much, the only relief was stretching my stiff limbs.  I also wanted to feel more centered and present.  I’ve taken a couple of yinyoga classes and holding positions for several minutes challenges me to breath deeply and focus.  Eventually, my mind begins to clear and I’m less anxious.  I expand and release whatever’s been holding me back.

That sounds a lot like writing.

Fully Booked

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Books are back!

This might seem like a funny statement, but for years we’ve been predicting the end of physical books, the demise of the reader, the ascendence of  TV series and other forms of virtual entertainment on our smartphones…  However, 2018 was one of the best periods for the publishing industry, much to the relief of booksellers, authors, and their agents!  According to NPD Bookscan, hardcover sales increased, driven mostly by growth in adult nonfiction titles.  Bestsellers and critically-acclaimed books were in such demand this past holiday season, inventory was low and printers had difficulty keeping up.

Michelle Obama’s Becoming has sold over 3 million copies to date and her book tour continues to pack concert venues.  Bob Woodward’s Fear and Bill Clinton/James Patterson’s The President is Missing have also passed the million-copy mark.  Delia Owens’s debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing has topped the New York Times Hardcover Fiction List and sold well over 290,000 copies in all formats.

Of course, Owens owes this phenomenal success to her talent as a writer and the unique story she wanted to tell, but she was also bolstered by being the September 2018 pick of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Book Club.  Witherspoon’s broad influence has made her the worthy successor to Oprah Winfrey’s groundbreaking Book Club.  Created in 1996, Winfrey’s monthly literary endorsements made her the fairy godmother of the book world.  With her seal of approval, lesser-known authors became household names, sales skyrocketed, and book groups grew into an intrinsic part of popular culture.  Winfrey’s daytime talk show ended in 2011, but through her O Magazine, she continues to recommend books that often deal with race and class.  Witherspoon gravitates towards female-centered narratives and her choices have boosted the careers of Jill Santopolo, Chanel Cleeton, and the February 2019 pick, Jasmine Guillory, to another level.  There’s also the matter of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies which Witherspoon’s production company adapted into an HBO miniseries.  It went on to win four Golden Globe Awards and Season 2 will air in June.

Other celebrities have entered the book recommendation arena, including actress Sarah Jessica Parker with her own publishing imprint; actress and activist Emma Watson; NFL quarterback Andrew Luck; and late-night TV host, Jimmy Fallon.  Trevor Noah of “The Daily Show” along with Seth Myers of “Late Night with Seth Myers” have also gotten in on the literature trend.  Both programs have featured diverse writers such as memoirist Darnell Moore and award-winning authors Rebecca Makkai and Jesmyn Ward.

I have always been a certified book groupie.  I go to as many author events I can in Stockholm and look for ones to attend in other cities when I’m traveling.  There is a palpable sense of awe listening to a writer you admire, not only hearing about what inspires them but also the struggles they encountered before reaching a position of commercial or critical success.  I love meeting other book groupies and discussing a particular author’s work.  As an indie author, these connections not only fuel me, they also provide better insight into the reading public.  What moves readers?  Which book events are the most successful?  Without these points of contact, I would feel very lonely in the literary world.

But what does this sunny outlook say about writing as a career?  Sadly, the statistics aren’t as rosy.  A recent survey of 5,000 published authors (both traditional and self-published) by the Authors Guild, a professional organization for book writers, reports that in 2017, the median-pay for full-time writers was $20,300; $6,080 for part-time writers.  Many factors have contributed to this: the consolidation of publishing houses which have led to fewer deals, smaller advances, and lower royalties; the disappearance of magazines and newspapers which were an additional source of income; and Amazon’s grip on the self-publishing, e-book, and resale market.  For the majority of writers, writing cannot be the sole source of income.  It’s either a side hustle or you have to have a side hustle to pay the bills!

Writing sounds like a luxury–or agony depending on how you look at it.  Nevertheless, I still believe that the pursuit of the writing life is a noble one, even if you don’t get published.  You do it because you love it.  Because you have to.  Because you wouldn’t feel complete if you couldn’t put your thoughts on paper…  So, good luck and keep writing!

WRITER RESOLUTIONS

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I am so grateful for the year that was.  Two-thousand-eighteen was the point at which I recommitted to my passion for writing and pursued a profession as a writer; it yielded growth and learning beyond my expectations.  As a result, I am so excited to tackle new projects and goals in 2019.  I write New Year’s Resolutions fully intending to follow them, but usually have mixed success.  That’s probably because I include things that I’m not fully committed to, like working out five days/week or packing less when I go on trips.  Finishing Lagging Indicators had been on my list since 2014 and I did it–albeit four years later.  It can take time to tick off a resolution and I believe that the effort, rather than a 365-day deadline, is much more important.  With that said, here are my Writer Resolutions for the coming year!

Set Up a Writing Goal.  I would like to finish the first draft of my new novel with a publication date of Summer/Early Fall 2020.  I hope to share some aspects of the writing process with you throughout the year.

Establish a Writing Schedule. It’s really about showing up in front of your computer and writing.  Self-discipline and a strong work ethic, just like any other job. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but the words, the genesis of a story will eventually come. I think best in the morning, so I’ll start early and dedicate four weekdays to fresh writing and one weekday to edits.  My output goal for both of my novels has always been a chapter a week, not word count, and this system has worked for me.  I want to keep my weekends free to recharge my mind and spend quality time with my family.  Of course this is subject to change as the novel nears completion and the publishing process gets underway.

Read Two Books a Month.  For the bookworms out there who can read 1-2 books a week, I envy you!  I used to be that way prior to having children.  My goal for 2018 was one book/month and I achieved it.  I bought many more interesting books than I had a chance to read, but they’re now included in the 2019 #toberead pile.  Since I’m more alert and productive during daylight hours, I’ll pencil in reading time during the day.  The writer Elizabeth Gilbert believes in a weekly breakfast date at a diner or cafe with a book.  I will heed this simple but beautiful piece of advice.  I may even add a matinee movie in there sometimes!

Do Character/Plot/Scene Outlines.  I did this to a lesser extent with Uptown & Down, but with Lagging Indicators, everything flowed from my head.  My first novel was told from three perspectives while my second one was told exclusively from Mia Lewis’s point of view.  I will be returning to multiple viewpoints in my new work and this will require organization and mapping things out.  I look forward to the challenge!

Be Fearless.  I will block out the noise, hesitation, and self-consciousness and follow where the story takes me.  I will not worry about what other people think or how a story will be perceived.  I am writing fiction, not my autobiography.  I find that when I too closely associate my characters with myself, I hold back.  Writers must dare to ask tough, uncomfortable questions in order to find a compelling, authentic narrative.  Otherwise, we are only scratching the surface and doing a disservice to ourselves and our readers.

Edit, Edit, and Re-edit.  I will be relentless and strive for a tight, flowing narrative.  That old saying “kill your darlings” actually works!  If you love a certain sentence or section of your book, ask yourself if it’s essential to the story or if you’re just admiring your skills as a wordsmith?  I will also enlist other readers for advice, eschewing the embarrassment of showing family, friends, or a professional editor a first draft.

Conquering Writer’s Block.  It’s inevitable.  Hopefully this brain freeze won’t occur in the first stages of a new book, but it’s bound to surface after a significant period of writing time when your mind feels absolutely fried.  To counter this, I will read new books or re-read old favorites.  Digging into other writers’ compositions always invigorates me.  Conducting more research, character analysis, or visiting a location described in the work can also spur ceativity.  I will also engage in more cultural grazing.  This involves experiencing other creative forms such as fine art, theater, film, music… Every cultural connection has the power to inspire and motivate, so don’t feel guilty about putting that manuscript away and getting lost in something else!

Write a Monthly Blog Piece.  This trains my writing muscles and I enjoy it!

Attend a Writer’s Retreat.  This has been one of my Resolutions for several years, but with two busy kids and family obligations, it has not been easy to get away.  However, I have resolved to JUST DO IT and everyone around me will have to adapt.  Now, the big question: Which retreat from this amazing list??

Unplug.  I partake in a lot of screen time.  Time that could be spent reading or writing.  However, most of what I consume is related to the writing and publishing world.  I’ve learned so much through blogs, Instagram, and articles and am afraid of missing out on useful information. But I will sincerely try to block off a fixed amount of time for these pursuits because the fact of the matter is, my listening and focusing skills have diminished from too much screen consumption.  That concerns me and the first step to nipping a problem is admitting you have one!

Be Kind to Myself.  I will try not to feel insecure or depressed if I don’t achieve the aforementioned resolutions.  As long as I’m trying my best, I can feel satisfied.  There’s always the option to reassess and regroup.

Practice Gratitude.  Especially during those moments of frustration.  I am so grateful for the chance to pursue my writing dreams.  I thank my family and friends everyday for believing in me.  I am indebted to the readers who have read my books, given positive feedback, sent text messages, or written reviews.  This wave of support propels me forward :). Happy New Year!