The Plot Thickens
When I first began writing, I was naïve and thought that devising an interesting idea for a story plot or if I was able to see a special view for a poem that was all that it took to become an author. Inspiration is only a part of being a writer. It is the germ of a thought process that has caused the journey to begin. It is followed by hours of diligence and perspiration. Some people think it is as easy as writing a letter or shooting a text to a friend; not so.
Many items come into the decision making. When you write about people there are the things that they do and say remain consistent? Are their conversations normal and not stinted? If they have an accent or dialect, is it true to their area and remain true? When I choose a location, does the story reflect the nature and weather of the place? Time of day, time of year, and the time period and the type of clothing and the customs must remain true to form. There must be an agreement of facts. There is always someone who is more of an expert than you and will find fault if you stray away any minute detail. All of these items must match, integrate, and deal with the plot with how you share it.
After this a writer must read through the story time after time, looking for errors in punctuation, misspellings, or grammar. Sometimes the author will insert a word that is not actually there as they read it, leaving the reader confused because they don’t understand what is missing.
The fun is just starting. Most writers have a friend or several friends to read their writings. Really good friends will tear it apart. They will pick apart each and every mistake that you make. They will point out everything from weak places in the plot or feebleness in characters to errors in punctuation, typos, and incorrectly spelled words. Then it’s time to go back to the drawing board, trying to remedy anything that was not done well. It may require the introduction of a new character or writing a new twist to the plot.
I’m not complaining. I love my eagle-eyed friends. I wanted to share what it takes to get a book ready for publication. Even then, there will be errors. I just hope that the plot of the story and characters allow some tolerance for this author.