Writing Fiction is Hard

This week I met with a group of writers for lunch and a session to talk about the craft of writing.  It is a mixed group of women, some of whom are published authors.  There is one other woman who has finished a book but has not published it yet.  Then there is me, the aspiring romance novelist who has not finished a book yet.

I was so honored to be asked to be part of this group because these are women who I admire very much. Also, they know their craft as writers yet aspire to improve their skills.  We spend our time eating, talking, gossiping and then digging into the skills it takes to be a writer.  Everyone has to submit something for critique by the group.  We also talk about our current works in progress(WIP) and talk through the story lines with which we may be struggling. 

It was my turn to be critiqued.  I sent my chapter with much trepidation.  One of the women, who is also a copy editor, asked if she could edit my work.  "Edit away" I replied.  What she returned looked like she had bled virtual red ink all over the virtual paper.  She encouraged me not to be too overwhelmed by her work.  I have done extensive writing - first within a business environment and later an academic one.  I am used to working with editors and people who critique my work.  I told her that her edits were not nearly as frightening as the first draft of my dissertation, when it was returned from my doctoral adviser. 

We talked about my chapter.  My heroine was not likeable enough.  I did not have enough conflict in my first chapter.  I needed more drama and action.  My dialogue was stilted and not realistic.  I went into this group with much fear.  I came out having survived my baptism by fire and encouraged to do a much better job at my WIP. 

I learned that, yes I am a great writer, yet writing fiction is a whole different animal than writing for work or school.  I have to lose myself in my characters and make them alive for the reader of my books.  They have to be likeable - there is nothing more frustrating to me than a great story with an unlikable heroine or hero.  I need to incorporate conflict into the story to keep the reader engaged. 

So I am persisting in finishing this book and moving on to others.  My current WIP is a series of books I call the Hockey Mom's Trilogy.  There is much work to be done.  I will succeed.