Week 11:

Well, the first complete edit of the 100th version of MOUNTAIN LAUREL is finished. Okay, maybe not 100 versions, but it sure feels like that. Here are some things I learned in the process:

1. Understand your market. My book is targeted toward pre- teens and teens. I want them to get excited about life in our area long ago. In order to present my story in believable terms, first I had to do some homework.
2. Understand the setting. Initially, my story started out about my parents and stories that had been passed down through my family. I knew the area where they grew up, so I started my search there. I read Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb after I’d finished my entire story. There were few similarities, but the voice felt the same to me. I’ve lived in this area my entire life, with a couple of excursions for a short time, and I understand the history. I read many articles on the Internet and poured over glorious picture books at the library that captured the splendor of the Smoky Mountains. Then, I’ve traveled extensively throughout the region, forming my own thoughts and impressions. All of this is key when writing historical fiction.

3. Let the story evolve. This was probably my biggest eye-opener. For ten years, I kept my story in a box. My characters couldn’t grow or change a great deal because the stories were from my parents and about my parents. At the suggestion of an editor, I changed everything. I removed all references to towns, people and most actual stories. A few of the stronger ones, I kept (in some form); but, for the most part, the overall story is true fiction. I realized writers used this technique every day. Maybe something or someone from their past influences their work, but the successful ones allow their stories to take wings and fly. So in order for the story to evolve, give it wings. Let it fly.