Guest Blogger: Maria V. Snyder
September 1st, 2007 by Michelle Diener
Building Stories & Giving Birth to Books
Hello! Thank you all for inviting me back as a guest blogger! I’m thrilled to be here! 
Today, I want to blog about the way I view writing a novel and submitting it for publication. I’m not sure if anyone else looks at writing quite the same way (it would be interesting to find out!), but it helps me when I’m trying to explain my writing process to others.
For me, writing the first draft of a novel is similar to building a house. Before building, I need to work up a blue print to use as a guideline or as a synopsis for my editor (I still hate writing those things). During this planning stage, I figure out who will live in this house and what equipment and tools I’ll need. For example in Storm Glass (Study series book #4), my main character (main occupant of the house) is a glass artist. I needed to learn how to work with glass so I had the needed tools to construct a scene where she’s crafting her glass animals. So I signed up for a glass blowing class (so fun and tax deductible!).
But I don’t dwell on planning stage too long, I’m still a “pantser” at heart (i.e. seat of the pants writer). I like to have a few surprises and if I find I need more supplies, I’ll “buy” them on the fly. I’ll start my story from the ground up. No short cuts for me – just because I’m looking forward to a scene on the second floor, I’ll wait and write “up” to that point. While writing Magic Study, I had a scene where Yelena and Valek meet up again in mind, but it wasn’t until the half way point of the novel. I was really really looking forward to writing that scene, but I waited and used that scene as an incentive while I wrote the first half of the book (and it’s one of my favorites scenes in the book. For those who have read the book – you should know exactly which one I’m talking about ;>)
For me all the hard work and effort goes in to building the structure, connecting rooms, and making sure no flaws in logic will make the whole thing collapse. It takes me a good seven months to build the first draft of my novel. Once done though, the fun part begins. I let the building settled for a few days and return to it with my “decorator’s hat” on. Then I tour the empty rooms and see how I can improve them. Painting walls, putting up curtains, moving in furniture is how I view revisions. I layer in more rugs…I mean details, expand on the plot, and fix all the clunky phrases and dialogue. I enjoy this process the most, and it’s where story themes and characters arcs show themselves to me and I can expound on them.
Once the house is ready to sell, I use a whole different thought process for submissions. Back when I finished Poison Study (my first novel) I viewed submitting my manuscript as trying to get pregnant. (Don’t worry guys this isn’t going to be an icky detailed re-telling of the birth of my children. Although…..no…no…I…must…resist) Sending out a manuscript and waiting for a response is very similar to doing one of those pregnancy test kits – however response times from publishers are much much much longer (but wouldn’t it be great to get feedback in a minute?!). The disappointment when you see the negative (or get the reject letter) is similar.
When you finally get the call, it’s exciting (a positive result), but yet there are many worries abound. The possibility of miscarriage is higher in the first three months – the editor who loves your story may change jobs or the marketing department might say they can’t sell the book. Signing the book contract is like being safely passed the first trimester. Then the waiting and planning stages begin. Telling your family and friends = getting publicity materials ready. Cover art = decorating the nursery. All those doctor visits = all those edits and revisions. And during that time, there is still a worry that something might happen.
It’s not until the baby is in your arms or the book in your hand that you can truly celebrate. All the time and effort spent preparing has culminated in this moment. Enjoy it – because a whole new set of worries pop up once you changed the first diaper. Birth announcements = press releases. Colic = bad reviews. No sleep = no sleep. Will my child thrive? = will the book sell? Will he/she have friends? = will readers enjoy the book? And so on.
Of course, I realize there is a big emotional difference – it’s just a book after all! Well…..
15 Responses to “Guest Blogger: Maria V. Snyder”
Maria, I just love your analogy. Especially the putting on your decorating hat comment after the story is down on paper but needs layering and reworking.
Thanks for being our guest again!
Maria, I know the scene in Magic that you’re talking about and I loved it. As a reader, I enjoyed the anticipation, waiting for them to get together.
Although I may scribble notes about other scenes, I write in sequence too. I loved your decorating analogy. I used to dislike that part, but I’ve changed my mind with my last two books. This is my chance to make the rooms pretty–and even switch them around.
Maria, this is an amazing blog! Thanks for visiting us again. Also, I nodded so much reading this, I’ve should’ve had my Ipod on.
I write in sequence too, and now when those decorator moments come, maybe I won’t dread them so much. I’ll pretend I’m buying a new rug or lamp now! Hey, I’m all for what works.
Great analogies! I just got Poison Study and Magic Study last night, and am looking forward to reading them this weekend. Knowing what thought you’ve put into it makes it even more interesting. Now I’m anxious to get to the scene you and Edie mentioned.
I tend to write in sequence, but lack your self-control if a favorite scene comes to mind – especially if I’m feeling “blocked.” Then I write the scene to motivate me to keep moving.
Marie,
Your analogy works absolutely perfect for me, although– my pre-planning stage would be seeing a house in a magazine and saying I want that!!
And then plunging in to build it without ever seeing the original house plans, or talking to the builder. . . And when I finally get the house completely erected (first draft) it looks nothing like that pretty little house I’d visualized. At which point I throw on my demolition hat and start tearing down and rebuilding all the walls, decorating each room as i go. (my revision process,
)
It’s a lot of wear and tear on the nerves, but eventually I end up with a pretty good approximation of that pretty little house in the magazine. (or the original visualization of the book)
But other than that, heck our writing process is so similar we could be twins.
Whoops, Sorry :blush:– I meant to say Maria. I hit send before I could change it.
Hello Everyone! Thanks for the great comments. Nice to know I’m not the only one who looks at writing as building a house – and I discovered a long lost twin – Theresa where have you been!! ;> Interesting how everyone’s method are just a little bit different.
I understand about trying to match the pretty little house in the magazine – I think the story will match when I start out, but by the time I’m a couple chapters in, the whole structure is taking on a new and unexpected shape!
Rebecca/Kate – I hope you enjoy the books. Let me know if you figured out the scene I mentioned
Thanks again for this opportunity!
I remember that scene too. Rebecca, you’re in for a treat. Actually, you’re in for a treat for the whole two book ride
.
Maria, like Edie I used to hate the reworking, revision process. I consider it a huge stride forward in my writing that I finally ‘got’ that what I built first time round didn’t need to be perfect, in fact, it could never be. I needed to go in with a sledgehammer as well as a fine art brush and make some changes. It still isn’t perfect, but its a lot better
.
I have my renovation consultants too, my CPs.
My favorite revisions happen when something keeps niggling, it’s just not right and I don’tknow why, then the way to fix it suddenly comes to me. And I don’t just fix it, I make it so much better that I sometimes look at it and think, “Did that come out of me?”
If that’s what it takes to produce the wonderful books you’ve written–well then, we should all adopt your philosophies. Great guest blog entry. Thanks for sharing!
Maria,
I’ve been out there looking for you!
I just knew I had a twin out there somewhere. 
And see? I do know how to spell your name.
I always have such a strong image of what my book is going to turn out like, that it makes my first draft pure hell. I write and I write and I write and its nothing like that pure image in my mind. So frustrating.
In the early days I used to try to fix it the moment it came out on the page, but no matter how much I’d fiddle with it, it just never matched the vision I had of how it should be.
When I gave up and started letting myself write crap on that first draft, things finally clicked. It’s through those acres of crap that I find the core of the image. Once I’ve found the core, I can revise until it gleams as brightly as the version in my mind.
Needless to say, I’m a revision lover.
Maria:
As always, your insights are entertaining as well as informative.
Patiently waiting for FIRE STUDY,
Heidi
Maria, I’m curious. Was there ever a time, maybe in the beginning, when you didn’t relish the decorating stage?
It’s an art I’m learning to enjoy. Notice I didn’t say, Love. hehe. I’ll settle for enjoy.
Great analogy, Marie. I generally liken my creative process to putting together a jigsaw puzzle. I’m not one of those who have to write a book in a strictly linear manner. I write scenes all over the place and then fit them together until I get a smooth, seamless story. Seems to work for me.
Great blog. Thanx for coming back to visit us, Maria.
Liz, I read where Jennifer Cruise writes the same way…scenes all over the place!
You’re in great company!