THE MAKING OF MADDIE AND THE RANGER
Have you ever wanted to follow an author’s writing progress as he/she writes a book? You’ve come to the right place! Journey with me as I write the third book in my Texas Treasures series, Maddie and the Ranger.
Maddie and the Ranger is due at my publisher at Journey Fiction this June. I’ve not written an entire book in some years, so the thought has given me more than a few sleepless nights! I’ve procrastinated by pretending to work on author platform for the first book in my Texas Treasures series (Cassandra and the Cowboy), but I’ve got to get a move on it.
So, I promise you, my dear follower, and myself to start today! Stay tuned and see how it goes.
Jan. 3, 2019 – I started a “Cast of Characters” file. As I compile this list, I will be checking it with my other two books to make sure the information is consistent. There will be more characters in this book than the other two, so I will need to make sure their names, characteristics, etc. don’t overlap and confuse the reader.
Jan. 4, 2019 – I started an outline of events. I have some ideas, but I’m not sure how they all will fit. I am hoping this will allow me to set a direction for the plot, so I can get started writing the book.
An author platform is a BIG deal for writers. I’m not quite sure yet how to juggle that with finding the time to write. I already have a author page on Facebook, but I plan to also start a Twitter account in the next day or two. A new trick for an old dog!
Jan. 7, 2019 – Took a needed break from all things writing yesterday. Good for clearing the brain, so I can begin anew today!
Started my Twitter account (Janine Mick Wills – author). New stuff! I need encouragement, so go there and follow me!
This week I will continue plotting my book – the building block for what’s to come. I’ve got the first chapter started and came up with more ideas in the wee hours of the morning two nights ago. I plan to just start typing and not stop to correct or think too deeply. I want those ideas to flow from my brain through my fingers with little or no intervention. There will be time to go back and add all the nuts and bolts.
Jan. 14, 2019 – I’ve got to figure a way to start enjoying this process. This past week or two, just the thought of sitting down to write has given me a knot in the pit of my stomach. And it seems like I am thinking about this third book all the time. I’m afraid I just don’t have it in me after all these years to write and finish it.
It’s not writer’s block because when my fingers hit the keyboard, the words do flow (Not necessarily good words, but words none-the-less). But all this doubt and fear has made me more than a little uncomfortable.
So, I’m trying to look at my writing as a journey. Not just to finish something my publisher will be pleased with, but a journey to become a better me and ultimately please my Lord! Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go write! 🙂
Jan. 21, 2019 – Due to operator error(!), I lost the start of Maddie from two different sources. Two weeks’ worth of work and some 30,000 words. Much to be learned here:
- God is still in control
- Did I REALLY want to write the book (Yes, I’ve already started over)
- Always back up your work in more than two places and in more than two ways
And as I am apt to say… and so I begin again!
Feb. 1, 2019 – Yesterday was a horrible writing day. I couldn’t write my way out of a wet paper bag. And thus far I’ve only rewritten 21,000 words in two weeks compared to the 30,000 words I wrote in the two weeks prior.
But I love what my daughter texted me, “The day wasn’t lost. It just contributed.” So, today I chose to trust God and remount that writing pony. Will it be a better writing day? Only He knows. But the point is He DOES know.
Feb. 10, 2019 – It took me three weeks to rewrite the 30,000 lost words of my third novel. Several of those chapters are completely gone and a few more were added, but I’m about at the place I left off. Praise the Lord!!!
A friend of a friend is working on the cover art. It’s definitely a “trial and do-over” process. It’s amazing to see a physical rendition of the character who I created twenty years ago!
Feb. 21, 2019 – It’s funny how mercurial writing this book has been. It’s exciting, agonizing, fun, and this past week it’s just been plain work. I guess that’s kinda like life, huh? But I plan to hang in there until I cross that writing finish line, Lord willing!
I have rewritten the 30,000 words I lost from my first draft, plus an additional 25,000 words. It’s coming along, but I try not to think about all those “brilliant” words I lost. Hopefully there are some in those ones I’ve rewritten.
My editor is pleased with the first renditions of the cover art. When Mike’s finished with it, she’ll start working on the typography. This has been a slow and tedious process, and I’m not even doing it!
March 7, 2019 – Taking a break from Maddie while I recover from a cold I picked up from the grandkids and also work on the edited version of Cassandra and the Cowboy from my editor. That has been quite the undertaking. Hope to start on Maddie again next week!
March 24, 2019 – I am up to chapter thirty and approximately 80,000 words now! Last week I wrote a circus scene. It was scads of fun. I hope to get the first draft finished next week (Maybe three or four more chapters and 10,000 more words). Then the REAL work will begin!
A fellow Journey Fiction author gave me some helpful intel about Twitter and Pinterest. I now have a Pinterest account for my series. I hope this will help develop my “brand.” I think promoting this series will be almost as hard as writing the books!
March 28, 2019 – Praise the Lord. The first draft of Maddie and the Texas Ranger is finally done. Yes, there is a TON of work still to do, but for me, getting this accomplished was the lion’s share!
April 1, 2019 – I hope it wasn’t an April Fool’s joke that my editor sent Cass back for me to look at one more time before she gets the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) ready. I spent the next five days agonizing over it. Why in the world did it seem to need more work than the last time I went through it? Scary! I hope I didn’t make so many changes that it muddied the work my editor had already done. I think we writers will always find something to fix or do better with our work. But where do we draw the line?
Trying to start wading through the shark-infested marketing waters. How does one get noticed in the midst of so many? I am going to give it my best shot and trust the Lord for the results. After all, I am Writing for the Glory of God!
May 1, 2019 – It’s been a bit since I’ve added to this page. I’ve had to put Maddie on the shelf while I get ready for the release of Cassandra and the Cowboy at the end of May. I’m working on putting together a Launch Team right now. It’s unchartered waters. Scary but fun, all at the same time. Hopefully, I will be able to get back working on Maddie soon!
July 31, 2019 – It has been a long time since I’ve added anything here. I’ve been busy marketing Cassandra and the Cowboy (You can now purchase in on Amazon) and editing Juanita and the Outlaw (I hope it will be ready for publication this fall (2019). I’ve only dabbled a bit with Maddie this summer, but last week, I started going through the first draft and hope to have that done today or tomorrow. From there I will start adding description, checking the plot, deleting excess verbiage, etc. etc. Let the fun begin!
August 8, 2019 – I FINALLY have enough done that I can include the first chapter of Maddie and the Ranger on this website! Click on the link to read it!
August 27, 2019 – My editor has asked for the manuscript for Juanita and the Outlaw, so starting tomorrow, I can work full time on Maddie. I’ve only been through her once since the first draft. There’s much to be done. But I’m excited. I love the story and the characters! I think you will too!
January 6, 2020 – Yes, It’s been a long time since I posted here. I spent most of the summer getting Juanita and the Outlaw ready to send to my editor, gathering a launch team, and then launching the book. Next came the holidays, and I’m just now getting back to Maddie. My editor would like to see her published this Spring. I’ve still got lots to do, but I’m going to try! Right now, I’m editing a couple of chapters a day. I still LOVE this story, the character, and the adorable children. I think you will too!
April 13, 2020 – Like many of you, I’ve been stuck inside because of the coronavirus. I’ve used that time and the preceding months to continue editing Maddie and the Ranger. Because of this pandemic, my publisher has pushed the release date for Maddie to this summer. I’m ready to find a few beta readers to critique the manuscript and give their opinion and look for mistakes. After that, I’ll go through it one more time and then send it to my editor. Then the rest of the publishing process will hopefully be underway.
January 7, 2021 — Well, thanks to the Covid virus, there’s not been much to report in 2020. The release of Maddie kept getting pushed into the unknown future. As she stands know, my editor/publisher is working on the editing process and hopes for a Spring 2021 release. Stayed tuned. I’ll let you know as soon as I know something!
