Monday, July 16, 2012

Mechanics on Monday: Comfort Zone, Voice, Authenticity

Today I'm going to hit "send" on a proposal that I've been fretting over for the last few weeks.  If you read my personal blog, you'll know I've complained about this manuscript a *few* times.  What's the issue?  Well, it's not what I usually write.  And I guess I'm a little bit of a chicken when it comes to doing something different.  I love routine.  I love knowing exactly what to expect-and I didn't know what to expect with this one.

The last few manuscripts I've written have been set in small towns, with a load of secondary characters that small town romances are known for.  This book, is anything but small town.  It's set in France and begins with my hero and heroine meeting in Paris.  Then they end up in the French Alps...I know, I know, why am I complaining, right?  Because as much as this is fun to write, my insecurity over not getting it right has prevented me from chugging along at a quick pace.  I've second-guessed everything. 

Thankfully, two of The Hot Pink sisters came to my rescue (or they were just so tired of reading my whining emails that they had pity on me and read the damn thing.)  I was relieved to find there were no major problems, no glaring omissions, and that they had many nice things to say-along with great constructive feedback.

So what was it that worked then?  How did I make a manuscript that took me out of my comfort zone work?  Here are some tips/tricks that worked for me:

1) Research until confident:  I had to do much more 'research' for this one.  You can't write about things authentically if you don't know enough about them.  So I scoured the Internet for pictures/descriptions of famous Parisian hotels.  I figured out the distance, the route that my hero/heroine would have to take in order to drive from Paris to the French Alps.  I did a little research on the architecture of a French chateau and what renovated ones look like.  This was so important, because if I hadn't done this, I wouldn't have had the confidence to write the setting, the characters' impressions of where they were and where they were going.

2) Stay true to your voice: I think this was integral to making the manuscript work.  But I found myself straying a little and I think that caused me a lot of doubt.  There were a few lines that just didn't sit right-because they weren't true to my voice, to my characters.  But when I identified that, I was quickly able to go in and adjust it to my own 'voice' and still have the characters behave in an authentic way.  I don't think that just because your book is different from what you normally write, that you can change your voice.

3) Write who you love:  Even though this book has more external conflict than I'm used to, and the characters have professions that are way different than I usually write, they are my classic type of character (as pointed out by the lovely, Olivia).  You can't write a different character for the sake of it.  You still have to love who you're writing about.  You have to be able to understand them inside and out.  If you can't, then your reader certainly won't love them either.

I'm going to look over the synopsis of this manuscript one last time and then, that's it, gone!  Its fate lies in the hands of my editor. 

So what about you?  Do you tend to gravitate toward writing similar settings?  Or do you like to switch things up?  Am I the only chicken around here? ;-)

9 comments:

  1. Great post, Victoria! I think that however much we may try and branch out, there is probably always going to be some element of personal style and integrity that remains consistent across our writing, don't you think? It isn't even conscious, in a way--it's just a little part of us (the writer) coming across on paper.

    I tend to write what I know in terms of settings (so I stick with the New England area or Chicago area and I am toying with a Montreal setting) but I love your tips for writing about a location that is not as familiar and maybe one day I will work up the courage to try it myself. And here I thought maybe you could take a trip to Paris for research:-)

    BEST of luck sending out that proposal. I was bracing myself for something totally different, and I admit, I was excited to see the classic Victoria James elements I have come to know and love....just set in France! What's not to adore, cherie?

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    1. Thanks, Olivia! Oh, I'd love to read a book of yours set in Montreal...maybe that's just because I'm a fan of your work and a Canadian...LOL. And yes, you're so right about that personal style that remains consistent across our writing :-)

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  2. Victoria, great post and good luck!!! I've got my fingers crossed for you, but I have a feeling you don't need it. You've written a great story with wonderful setting details.

    And yes, I would be a little unsure of myself if I wrote about a locale I hadn't visited/lived. I'm a visual writer. The story has to play out in my head as I write. If I can't see it, I can't write it. But perhaps with enough research I might be able to branch out. One of these days I might have to give it a chance. *G*

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    1. Thanks, Jen! So funny, feeling unsure of myself was what had me second-guessing this manuscript, so I understand your hesitation. Having read your work, I totally think you can too, though why would you want to leave those cowboys ;-)

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  3. Congratulations on finishing, Victoria! Great post. I haven't branched too far out in terms of setting yet, but I'm experimenting with a different type of book, and that's presenting its own challenges. But I think these experiments with place, time, locale and genre contribute to voice and make us who we are as writers. If nothing else, it keeps it interesting and fresh.

    Good for you for remaining true to yourself as you explored a different kind of story, and best of luck! :-)

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    1. Thanks, Natalie! Good for you on trying to write something different-and yeah, I'm sure the learning curve is steep. And yes it would totally keep things interesting. Good luck, and keep us posted on that book! :-)

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  4. First of all, best of luck, Victoria! And nice one for getting it good to go. What is it about clicking 'send' that makes you want to check every single word again? :-/ As BR and BTE are based in Blackthorn and I made the place up, I don't have to worry so much about authenticity but more consistency and suspension of disbelief. I love the freedom paranormal creates in that respect. I was quite lucky with Sacred Dark as well because it's based in a remote English village and I just so happened to have being living in one as I wrote it. ;-) So, dystopian urban district to reclusive rural village, I guess that's mixing it up. They're still claustrophobic and intense stories so as different as the settings may be, I guess my voice is consistent. I really liked what you said about writing who you love - isn't that more important than setting any time? Really enjoyed the post, Victoria. :-)

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  5. Hi Linds, thanks! I must admit, my mind wandered when you said you were living in a reclusive rural village in England-how lovely!! And re the suspension of disbelief-I think that's a whole other post I'd love to read-about creating an actual place and making it believable *hint, hint* LOL. Thanks, Linds :-)

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  6. Hmmm. I think I could manage something along those lines. Just send me a little bit of chocolate to seal the deal.... lol! ;-) Seriously, that's a great idea. Thanks for suggesting it. x

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