Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
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  • Tag: Plotting and Planning a book

    • Blue Snow #2: Making It Out Alive

      Posted at 4:17 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on July 18, 2022

      #WritersLife:
      In my previous post with this same topic, I mentioned changes I made in my current work in progress, which included dealing with my hero’s name, changing my heroine’s name, and the spelling of her name numerous times. Plus, I changed the spelling of the child’s name three times. All that took place within the first 11,000 plus words. Ah-ha, but hold on a minute.

      To Plan or Not to Plan

      To date, the word count is 24,094 words. All the changes I made in the beginning, made me realize how much easier it is to plan a story. It isn’t like I haven’t jotted down notes, because I have many. The thing is, you have to look at the plan.

      Changes didn’t stop in the first 11,000 words.

      Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

      Night Thoughts Instead of Night Sweats

      Plot Changes

      Back to the AH-HA, BUT HOLD ON A MINUTE: One sleepless night an idea came to me to change my boy child to a girl. Writing another little boy in a story—this story with this plot—would veer a little too close to one of my other books. Can’t have that now, can we. So, now I’ll say the child’s name got changed four times.

      You’ve probably heard before: Writers, don’t stop thinking about a story, or stories, when we walk away from our computers. Nope. I may not have plotted 100% of this story out in writing, but I continually plan and plot in my mind. As I continued thinking of this story, I didn’t stop at name changes.

      Real Doozie of a Plot Change: Making it Out Alive

      One of my characters never made it into the first 11,000 words because he/she died before the book opened. It hurt my heart hard that this character wouldn’t appear in the book because even though not there, she/he occupied space in my mind and minds of my characters. Before I knew it, I grew to care about him/her. To relieve my ache, I gave this person life. That’s not to say there won’t be a death because if not, there goes part of my plot. Oh, Dear!

      Oh, Dear.

      OH, DEAR!!

      As a series writer, bringing my person back to life had a little to do with thinking ahead. One day she/he might appear as the hero/heroine in another book. Working her/him into the story meant I had to create a life for said person. This one is still developing as we go, but I had lots of info on this character already, anyway. I can’t promise a big role, but this person is a necessary secondary character. I’m glad for this change. Patting myself on the back.

      Research: Along for the Ride

      However, I have typed out all of my research thus far. I had a lot of fun researching classic, vintage, antique, vehicles. One video I watched took me for a ride through town. When the driver jumped on the gas and those Headers opened up, my heart beat faster. (Memories.) I felt like I was along for the ride too. Research alone takes a lot of time but can be fun. One of the most important parts of this video, showed me an answer to a question that had me searching and searching to no avail. Yeeha.

      Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

      Romantic Fiction

      Writing fiction is so much fun. Writing romance is tons of fun, though, not always easy. I can’t wait until this book is finished. At this point, I need to concentrate on guiding my hero and heroine to an ending. Thank goodness I write romance because, plotting or no plotting out a story, I, and readers, know there will be a happily-ever-after. And that, my friends, makes my heart happy too.

      Thanks for reading and going along on this journey through Blue Snow with me.

      Posted in #AmWriting | 10 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Blue Snow in the Moonlight, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Plotting and Planning a book, seat of the pants writing, western romance
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  • © 2007 – 2023 by Mary J. Dressel, Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    © Mary J. Dressel, Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, and Mary J. McCoy-Dressel Books, 2007 – 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Mary J. McCoy-Dressel and Mary J. McCoy-Dressel Books with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

    • Memory Lane: Mark Twain and my Dad
      Memory Lane: Mark Twain and my Dad
    • Reboot - Guarding Generations: A Writing Prompt
      Reboot - Guarding Generations: A Writing Prompt
    • Daily Prompt: Hair Dye and Front Row Seats
      Daily Prompt: Hair Dye and Front Row Seats
    • Daily Prompt: Do It Yourself Ambitions
      Daily Prompt: Do It Yourself Ambitions
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      Wordless Wednesday: Old-timer

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