DIY Deadlines

I envy people with editors and publishers and deadlines. This DIY business of writing lacks a certain kick-in-the-pants to facilitate inspiration.

A writer can get too close to her writings. Somehow this week I’ve achieved a more distant view. So what went before to bring that about?

First: A response from my copy-editor who returned the first ten pages with her notations and comments. Second: A weekend visit to a children’s book fair (as attendee, not as a presenter). And Third, preceding the other two items: A course on selling books.

Monday night I worked late adding an additional scene for the last section and a bit on the epilogue. Both still need more work. Tuesday morning while walking, my thoughts turned to what I would say if I were presenting a book talk. And on today’s walk, I came up with a further topic to booktalk, plus a way to repair a minor problem in those first ten pages referenced above.

Wow!

What Ifs

This morning’s “book talk” idea revolved around the What Ifs that shape one aspect of my novels. What if future peoples are chipped at birth?

Imagine! No more ID thefts of social security numbers or bank accounts. Those implanted chips would hold name, birth, DNA, etc.

But, what if a foster kid doesn’t have that info on his chip? What if he doesn’t know anything about his origins, and won’t know until he reaches the age of 18? That’s one of the What Ifs of Pawn Quest.

And then we turn that assumption on its head. Our current and long-standing immigration policies made me realize there would always be exceptions. What if people who are not chipped have a baby? They can’t use the public medical facilities and they live in hiding. 

A very bright young kid appeared in Pawn Quest and demanded his own story be told. Ty’s Choice was actually the easiest book for me to write because there was only a single point of view—and the topic of implanted chips is very much front and center in the plot.

Maybe I should take more walks. A good thing our days are cooling down. 

How about you? Will I see you rallying on No Kings Day?