Outlining, cutting, researching, and a dash of actual writing

Thought I forgot about my blog, didn't ya? No, I've been busy working and editing my novel's outline. To be honest, I didn't think it would be too exciting talking about cutting (or deleting which I've done a lot of) chunks of writing. The outlining process has been very helpful, and I'd like to recommend it to any writer starting out who wouldn't normally try it. For as long as I can remember I've been the type of writer who just writes if an idea interests me or I've read an article in the newspaper that I think, hey what if... The problem with this lack of focus is I start these ideas in hopes a beginning, middle, and end will appear and the "story" turns into one long beginning. Or in some cases the ending seems too forced. It's seems elementary to suggest outlining, or too much like preparing for an in-class essay, but sometimes the obvious approach just works.

With that said, as I write my outline I've been reviewing chapters I've already written to see if they do or don't fit with the direction I'm taking my story. Some parts work (yeah!) others, meh. The best part, I review a scene I completely forgot I'd written and I think, not bad. Not perfect, but not bad. Can I use this? Maybe, yes. It's time consuming, fun, a little cathartic, and humbling when what I've written just sounds terrible.

I'd like to think the writing of my novel is progressing and I'd also like to think that my reading about two dozen mysteries from when I first started my novel has improved my writing. I just finished Judi McCoy's Hounding the Pavement this week and am finishing up Dick Francis' Proof. Both very different mystery novels, but each has their amateur sleuth, which is just what my heroine is.

As I've mentioned before it's a supernatural, cozy mystery, and no I'm not writing about vampires. I have nothing against vampires. I grew up on Buffy and happen to enjoy Vampire Diaries though many see it as a teen show, but for now I'm staying far away from vamps. Since my novel has supernatural leanings, it is set in the real world so the research part has taken up another chunk of my time. Don't get me wrong, I actually enjoy researching, but it does cut into the writing part of it. I'll be honest, I don't regret one moment of researching a topic because that too has enriched my setting and characters.

The majority of my research has focused on California Fish and Game, bears, inn keeping/inn keepers, and detective/forensic mumbo jumbo. Since I'm not in forestry, never worked at an inn, and am not a cop, this research takes a while. I've spoken with friends who might have a friend with knowledge in these areas. I hope to interview experts in different fields and of course acknowledge them.

Until next time, happy writing.