Editing Tips, Writing Tips

Finding a First Chapter

Chantelle Griffin

It’s the second chapter that creeps in when you least expect it. Trying to get to first place. Yes, that’s how it starts. When you realise you jumped straight into the action without a lead in. Who does that? Well… The first attempt is not about being perfect, it’s about getting into the flow. For some reason that means skipping the beginning. If you have ever had this issue there can also be that awkward moment of realising it’s happened again. It can be a hidden blessing because it means you get to rediscover the start. Only this time it’s different. This time it can change.

Knowing Your Flaws

More often than not I find the story began too far in. Oops! The idea rushes around inside for so long. That by the time it’s written the scene has already begun. Like starting a conversation without the crucial detail. If you have ever done this it can be rather difficult to backtrack and explain the missing piece. The good part about knowing your flaws is that it means you can look out for them. A personalised check list can help if you know it’s going to happen.

Make One Change

After the ending is written it can be easier to back and write a whole new chapter. The fun part is laying the ground work and revealing the potential of what is to come. Adding a fresh start is a fantastic way to get reacquainted with the characters. If you are a pantser it can provide an opportunity to include foreshadowing or the odd bit of intrigue. However you start the first draft it can be easier when you already know the end. If you have a story or a favourite book, go back and change one thing. What would it be?

Editing Tips, Writer Thoughts, Writing Tips

Avoiding Editing

Chantelle Griffin

No, I am not editing again. Well yes I am, but it’s one of those things where anything can be a distraction. I have never regretted editing. The finished product is always worth the toil. The cringing, the ‘did I really forget to a word how many times?’ I have a habit of leaving out ‘the’ in the middle of a sentence. It’s like a treasure hunt for to find all the lost words. The other habit is joining two thoughts together mid-sentence. If it takes more than 5 minutes to figure it out the sentence gets deleted. What was I thinking? Umm…

Unravelled Plans

The best part is finding out that the story makes sense. You have no idea how of a relief that is. On top of that I went head long into a large scene with many characters. Did that go according to plan? No… Did it cause panic and chaos? Absolutely! Somehow through all this the underlying story made sense. *Breathes a sigh of relief at the small miracle*

Rebellious Characters

It can be rather complicated trying to keep track of that much action. It was fun, surprising and annoying all at the same time. The dragon just wanted to melt snow. The wrong person died. The person who was supposed to be trouble ended up being nice. Don’t ask me how that happened. I have no idea. The best part of editing os reading the story and finding hidden gems that were all but forgotten.

Writer Thoughts

Continuing a Story

Chantelle Griffin

You may be wondering what I have been up to? There was the carefully thought out plan. Have a small break, work on another project, then begin editing. The only problem with this is less than week after finishing a first draft, I was itching to keep going with the story. Oops!

The Quandary

At the moment it’s all about figuring out how to cram in editing between writing. You see, book number 5 wants to write itself! How did that happen? All stories are different from beginning to end. Whether that’s fast or slow, easy or really annoying.

Changing Rhythm

Why would books in the same series by completely different to write? Each book contains a story that has some heavy lifting to do to enrich the overall plot. All the while characters grow and change. It’s complicated and this time it’s the penultimate story. There’s a serious reveal before the very last book in the serious and I am struggling not to write.

Writing Flow

Since things are a little topsy-turvy I thought I would go with the flow and see what eventuates. It may change things around a bit, but that’s half the fun of being a writer.