Jessica Ferguson

Author, Writing Coach, Speaker

The Case of the Gaping WHY

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A night or two ago I had a nightmare. I dreamed I went through my manuscript line by line and asked WHY after each sentence. Some of my whys had no answers. Most did, but sometimes the answer was implied, or not immediately evident. I remember being very confused.

I know why I had such a dream.

When I got to the end of my novella, I found a big hole. There was a huge unanswered WHY WOULD HE DO THAT? I know that has more to do with motivation but it sure leaves a hole in my plot. WHY WOULD HE DO THAT?

Yep, I yelled it.

This very important character is not my MC yet the story couldn’t be written without him. He’s the stimulus, so to speak. The stimulus with the gaping WHY. This is one of those why didn’t he just pick up the phone and call instead of manipulating. Manipulation makes him look like a bad guy so there has to be a really, really good reason for it.

I tried to put a band-aid over that gaping hole. Didn’t work.  I tried to cover it by attributing the actions of another character to the one with the WHY.  Didn’t work.
 

To fill this plot hole sufficiently, I might have to add another character and another chapter or two. Or, maybe I do need to make my character wearing the WHY on his forehead a bad guy. 

No, no, I don’t want him to be bad. And this is a novella; I can’t have a thousand characters.

I haven’t worked on my story for more than a week because of this gaping WHY. I’m stymied! Help!

Any suggestions how I might approach this problem?

Encouraged by Midnight In Peking

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This is my first post for the Insecure Writers Support Group and I’d like to tell you about a book I just finished reading–a very depressing book. It took me three days to read, and it certainly wasn’t something I’d normally pick up. I’ll blame that on hubby. He’d read several reviews and bought it with his B&N gift card. Midnight in Peking by Paul French totally captured his attention and eventually, mine.   

I kept asking hubby why he thought the book was so good.  “It’s about an unsolved case,” he said. He knows I like books and movies about cold cases. This tale sounded right up my alley.
When I started reading the book, it yanked me in immediately but every now and then I’d look up and ask, “Now why were you so taken by this book?”
“It describes an era,” he said. “It’s the story of Peking.”   That made more sense. Hubby is into history-not maniacal murder.
Midnight in Peking is the story of the unsolved murder of 19 year old Pamela Werner, the daughter of a former British consul to China. The murder was horrific. I don’t dare describe it here or you’ll quit reading this post. Stay with me; I have a point.
Paul French is an expert on China and wow, he plopped us right down in the middle of Peking, 1937. We lived, breathed and tasted the setting. He went into fine detail.  
Midnight in Peking reads like a novel. The pacing is great. The corruption has readers on edge. The facts are well-documented, fascinating and heartbreaking.
Honestly, we don’t know who to root for in this book. There seemed to be no goodness. There are no bright spots. Even the young girl’s dad seemed questionable. I wasn’t sure about him. I had to put my reading aside now and then to catch my breath and look out the window, think of my own daughter and say a prayer for her safety. Midnight in Peking reminded me of the horrors all around us–yes, even today, in our own country.
By the time I reached the end of the story, I realized there were a couple of heroes after all: The father turned out to be a good guy. When all else failed, he dedicated his life to finding out who killed his daughter. And without a doubt, the author is a hero, because he shared their lost story with the world.
And there’s the encouragement today: words have power and writers are heroes. No matter what we write–fiction or nonfiction–we have the power to make someone laugh, cry, think, experience something new, see something in a different way, or actually feel something. We can’t ever take that privilege, that opportunity, lightly. We should pore over every word in our stories, make certain it’s the right word, the best word to evoke what we want our readers to experience. We can be–we are–heroes.

At Booktopia Blog, Paul French answers 10 Terrifying Questions: He offers this advice to new writers:
Never, ever, under any circumstances put pen to paper and start to write about anything that doesn’t completely obsess and fascinate you. Without a complete absorption in the subject you’re guaranteed that, at best, it’ll turn into a dreary and frustrating slog and, at worst, it’ll drive you mad and put you off writing anything else ever again.
What a responsibility we have! What a challenge! What a gift!

Real Simple – Annual Essay Writing Contest

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I’m not familiar with this particular Essay contest but I do like the magazine. They have some great recipes. To search recipes using a particular ingredient, go HERE.  To check out the essay writing contest, click HERE and be sure to read the previous winners. Good luck!

Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day

The Fifth Annual Life Lessons Essay Contest

Find out how to enter Real Simple’s yearly contest.

Ryan MesinaRealSimple.com
If you could change one decision that you made in the past, what would it be? No, you can’t go back in time, but here’s the next best thing. Think of a decision that you regret—anything from a ridiculous choice of prom date to a serious lapse in judgment—and tell us what the mistake taught you about yourself.
Enter Real Simple’s fifth annual Life Lessons Essay Contest and you could:
  • Have your essay published in Real Simple
  • Receive a prize of $3,000
  • Win round-trip tickets for two to New York City, hotel accomodations for two nights, tickets to a Broadway play, and a lunch with Real Simple editors
To enter, send your typed, double-spaced submission (1,500 words maximum, preferably in a Microsoft Word document) to lifelessons@realsimple.com. Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. EST on May 12, 2012, and runs through 11:50 p.m. EST on September 13, 2012. All submitted essays must be nonfiction. Open to legal residents of the United States age 19 or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. (Entries will not be returned.) Click here to see complete contest rules.
Read the winning essay, Someone to Hold On To by Mara Eve Robbins, and the two runners up, The Embrace by Kenneth Krattenmaker and Knowing Sam by Molly Fessler, from last year’s contest.

Markets for Weekend Writing

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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers, 101 Motivational Stories for Writers, Budding or Bestselling, from Books to Blogs

The editors are looking for “your setbacks, mentors, breakthroughs, and successes.”

Topics considered include:

How did you overcome writer’s block?
Who kept you on the right path when you were ready to give up?
When did you realize that the story in your heart was ready to be shared with the world?

The editors are NOT looking for promotional pieces.

They want to know about “your journey to publication, including self-publishing and blogging. This is your opportunity to help other writers — published and unpublished — to draw inspiration and learn from your experiences.”

Deadline: June 30, 2012

Payment: A check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book (worth more than $100).

Note: Author retains the copyright and the right to resell it.

For complete details and submission guidelines, visit http://chickensoup.com/ 

Other titles are as follows: 

Angels Among Us
We are looking for stories from people who believe that they have encountered or been helped by angels. How did your angel manifest himself or herself? How did your angel help you or someone you know? Please do not send stories about people who are “angels” because they do nice things, and also please do not submit eulogies where you say that your loved one is now an angel. The deadline date for story and poem submissions is July 31, 2012.

Great Advice for Making Changes in Your Life
Have you ever read a Chicken Soup for the Soul story that had a wonderful nugget of advice in it that made a difference in your life? We are looking for stories that contain great pieces of advice, whether they are little things that improve our everyday lives, or major epiphanies that can change a life completely. Topics we will cover include advice related to work and personal relationships, marriage, parenting, health and fitness, finances, constructive criticism, taking chances, and following your passion. The deadline date for story and poem submissions is August 31, 2012.

Independent Woman
Whether you are single or married, widowed, or divorced, you are in charge of your life and the lives of many other people. Tell us your story about running your independent life, achieving independence, and being a complete person. We are referring to all kinds of independence, not just financial or emotional. Share your story of empowerment and independence to help women of all ages feel stronger, more capable, and more confident. The deadline date for story and poem submissions is July 31, 2012

Parenthood
They always say it’s the best job and the worst job. But basically it’s the best! We are looking for your stories about parenting – the hard work, the joy, the unconditional love, the funny times and the occasional sad ones too. Whether you’re a new parent of one or an “experienced” parent of several, by birth, by marriage, by adoption, or by fostering, tell us your stories about parenthood. Funny stories, stories that will make us tear up, stories with nuggets of great advice – all your anecdotes are welcome. The deadline date for story and poem submissions is June 30, 2012.

Raising Kids on the Spectrum
If you are the parent of a child with autism or Asperger’s, we invite you to share your story about raising your child – the ups and downs, the effect on your family, your child’s special attributes and talents, and the lighter moments too. You may use a “pen name” on your story. These stories will provide advice, comfort and insight to other parents in the same situation. The deadline date for story and poem submissions is September 30, 2012.

Social Media, Writing & Proofing & Tornadoes!

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I’m dragging my feet when it comes to blogging. Sorry. I’ve just completed a great class on Social Media for the Writer taught by  Cindy Carroll. On Cindy’s website bio, she says the only thing she knows is banking and bartending. She’s wrong about that. She knows social media and the ins and outs of it. And she has so much patience; she’d make a great kindergarten teacher! I’ve taken a couple of social media classes and this is the B.E.S.T. best. Cindy didn’t give up on any of us. She worked with us until we “got it.” I highly recommend her to anyone who doesn’t have a handle on how to set up FB pages, Google+, or any of the other sites.

I’m not 100% certain I’ve done any of it right, but I have her fantastic lessons printed and I’ll be reviewing them over and over and over again. In the meantime, if you hang out on FB, then go to my Jessica Roach Ferguson page and LIKE me. It’s a little bare, but eventually, it’ll come together. I hope.

Also, follow me on twitter @jessyferguson and bring me into your circle of friends on Google+. I’m also on LinkedIn under one of those names.

Didn’t I tell you I’d be turning over a new leaf in Oklahoma. Reinventing my writer-self.
I’m almost finished with my novella.

I’m proofing a wonderful 400 page novel for a good friend who plans to go POD and eBook with it. I’ll be tooting her horn for her when the time comes.

I read and offered some suggestions on a great short story for another friend about a mountain climber. How in the world she came up with such an idea is amazing to me. I guess my mind just doesn’t think like that. Her characters seem so real, so sad, so alive, so emotionally tortured! I’m SO impressed!

On top of all of this, we’re still dodging tornados: look at the pics I took last night. We went to the closet only once. We heard hail pummel the TV station while our weatherman talked. He’s holding hail in his hot little hands! And he’s promised MORE tonight.

This and That about Blogging and Publishing

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Confession time: I miss the A to Z Challenge! I’m already thinking/dreaming/planning for April 2013. Blogging every day with hundreds and hundreds of other bloggers inspired me. I was a “member” of a very special club. And I was committed! Now my posts are sporadic and lacking … lacking what? Purpose, I think.

I’ve decided to join the Insecure Writers Support Group. You can read about it HERE. They’re a great bunch of bloggers and writers and many of them participated in the A to Z Challenge. So on the first Wednesday of each month, I’ll post about insecurities, fears, doubts and we’ll look at solving some of our problems. The scary part is that if I miss two months in a row, they kick me out of their club. Yikes! We’ll see what happens.

On another note, I don’t know if any of you follow Nathan Bransford’s blog. He is the author of Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow (Dial, May 2011), Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe (Dial, April 2012) and Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp (Dial, March 2013). He was formerly a literary agent with Curtis Brown Ltd. and is now the social media manager at CNET. He lives in San Francisco.

I find I read him more now that he isn’t agenting. Wonder why? Anyway, he’s got an interesting take on Traditional vs Self-Publishing and I like it. Take a look and tell me what you think.  HERE it is.

A Creative How-To

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In a speech, Ray Bradbury suggested we should write a short story a week. At the end of each week we will be happy because we’ve accomplished (completed) something. And if we write a short story a week, we will have 52 short stories at the end of the year.

He goes on to say we should read a short story, an essay and a poem every night before we go to bed. None of the modern stuff. We should read quality stories by Edith Wharton, Dahl,  Washington Irving and Poe. We should read the best poems–those by Alexander Pope, Frost and Shakespeare. We should read essays across the board in different fields. Examples are essays by Huxley and Loren Eiseley.

Every night before we go to bed, if we read one essay, one poem and one short story, by the end of a thousand nights, our head will be stuffed with all sorts of wonderful things and we’ll be on our way to becoming more creative.

What a challenge! Are you up for it? And don’t forget, in addition to this reading plan, you must write one short story a week.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

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We’re heading to Louisiana–a ten hour road trip–to celebrate our baby’s birthday. Actually, her special day is May 26th but she has concert plans so we’ll be partying early. I can remember every detail of her birth. Seems like yesterday. And why shouldn’t it? I was too stupid to ask for drugs and by the time I realized I needed them, too far gone to request them. “They” say you forget–I haven’t.

 I’m an old mom. Had baby girl when I turned 35 and I believe it was the perfect age to become a mom. I valued her, treasured her, loved her and was able to stay home, play with her and watch her grow. And boy! did she grow way too fast. Twenty nine years have flown by and I haven’t had nearly as much time with her as I’d like. I guess parents always say that but maybe not. Sometimes I hear moms or dads complaining about kids coming back home. Not me. If I could, I’d be like Miss Ellie of Southfork and have daughter and stepson living on the ranch with me–in their own homes, of course!

Baby girl has filled us with joy and made our world a better place. Happy birthday, Chaney! We love you.

Monday Markets and More

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Thought I’d share some markets and contests today, as well as a conference I attended last year.

Killer Nashville is a great little conference for mystery writers and it’s coming up in August. They hold a contest too but the deadline is fast approaching–June 1st. If you place or win, your book will be considered by Five Star. The editor is the finalist judge. One of the perks of this contest is that you don’t have to attend the conference to enter the contest, but certainly you’ll want to if you learn you final.  The Killer Nashville conference is small, intimate and has great sessions. Even if you don’t write mysteries it’s a fun conference. They stage a crime for you to solve and they have some interesting speakers–some of them REAL law enforcement officers. Take a look at their blog HERE. To learn more about Killer Nashville, go HERE and tour the site carefully. I hope I see you there!
Here’s a novel contest I learned about from friend Linda F. Todd.  The 2012 prizewinner will receive a publishing contract with a $7,500 advance and a $5,000 marketing budget. The winning novel will be published in the Spring of 2013 in a hardcover or trade paperback edition by Counterpoint/Softskull Press and distributed to the book trade by Publishers Group West.  The deadline is June 15th and  there are no fees to enter.

Pill Hill Press has a lot going on these days. Check out their website. They’re inviting recipes for a cookbook and some stories for anthologies.  Look at their opportunities for publication HERE.

Do you write essays or creative nonfiction? Consider contributing to the Easy to Love series of books.  CURRENT CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Easy to Love but Hard to Teach and Easy to Love but Hard to Treat

Here’s a market for women writers over 60.
There are markets, contests and conferences everywhere. Do you have any favorites?

OUTLINE!

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I think I’ve blogged before about outlining my first book, The Groom Wore Blue Suede Shoes.  I took twelve sheets of typing paper and each signified a chapter.  Then I recorded everything I wanted to happen in each chapter. That book was published by Silhouette Romance and I never, ever outlined a book again. And I never sold another book either. I’ve written (or tried to write) six or eight books since then–but only completed three. And believe me when I say a couple of those completed books have plot holes that would swallow a publishing house.

The point is, I failed because I became a pantser. My bad!

So here’s the deal: OUTLINE! If you’re having problems completing a project, or creating scenes that happen in a logical way or spotting holes and inconsistencies, try OUTLINING!

My latest project–a 25,000+ word novella–is outlined in detail. Granted, I was so incredibly inspired by the premise of this story that I had no trouble writing a detailed synopsis–nine pages. Then I turned those nine pages into a detailed outline. Ten chapters. The words are flowing. I write each day. I know where I’m going. And my outline doesn’t mean I’m locked into anything. In fact, chapters one and two were combined immediately and I’m a little surprised at a couple of scenes that weren’t planned. Don’t feel as thought your hands are tied or your creativity stifled, things can and will change as the characters evolve and reveal themselves. I’m excited because nothing is slowing me down. I love my characters and they love me. I think they love me because I outlined and got to know them a little before I slapped them in their respective scenes and chapters.

We all know and agree there’s no right or wrong way to write a book. We have to choose the method that works for us. No matter if it’s sitting down and slinging word after word like a crazy person out of control, or if it’s confidently and safely glancing over at a detailed outline that lights the blurry path.

Do what works for you, but if you’re having problems and can’t finish a book  . . . OUTLINE!

Remember: People who get off to a great start have better success. And I think you can take that to the bank.

Do you outline or do you hit the ground running?