Ideas, Ideas--When an Agent (and a husband) Comes in Handy

I am a notecard user. Whenever I get an idea, whatever it may be--for a book, a blog, a character, a scene--I jot it down on a notecard.

This morning as I was trying to steer my way to producing new proposals for my agent and I to discuss, I discovered that I'd jotted down 22 different book or series ideas onto my little notecards. TWENTY-TWO! No wonder I was having a hard time narrowing down what to write next. My imagination has gone wild. The problem is each one sounds enticing to me. This is when I'm glad to have the help of my husband and agent--I rely on them to tell me what's lame and what holds promise.

You have to develop thick skin and have a loose grasp on your "little darlings" if you want to create the best novel possible. When I first started writing, my husband and I had several discussions that ended in tears--mine, not his--because I was too stubborn to see that what I had written could be better. After a little time, and usually soul searching, I came to see it from his perspective. My books are better for it.

It doesn't end after you've written a few books either--a good author always values the opinions of outside readers. I'm not saying that you should let every reader remold your book. No one has a better vision for what you want you book to be than you do, but readers can point out weaknesses.

As an editor, I've dealt with this issue many, many times. I get a great idea for how to "fix" a hole in the plot, but it's MY idea, not the author's. If the author doesn't take ownership of the idea it becomes the editor's book. It loses that flavor that makes it uniquely theirs. More often than not, the author will have an even better idea that works better with the overall story than I could ever concieve.

A few years ago I'd been editing a book about a character in the Witness Protection Program. There was no sense of impending doom, as I'd come to expect in other books of this genre, no bad guy returning to "get" the witness who'd gone under cover. I suggested the author boost this element, but her response was, "I don't want the cliche Witness Protection novel; I'm going for a more real life look at the issue." This was the heart of the story that only the author could know and hold onto. I was glad she pushed back because I would have been changing the very essence of her story. A good editor lets authors push back; the story will be better for it and it will help the author gain a deeper knowledge of what they want their story to be and where they aren't communicating clearly to their audience.

So, now to sift through my 22 books to see which one floats to the top.
More later,
Traci