Where the Magic Happens...

Editing

I'm creative! No question about it. I write, draw, paint, do crafts... I do it all. Many years ago when I was teaching a writing class on how to write a novel at the Seniors Center in Kingston, Ontario, I offered my students models of what I expected them to achieve. For example, one of the components of writing a novel is "setting the scene". So for one class, I asked each student to create a scene for the novel they were writing. I was a teacher in the public school system for 33 years and one of the techniques I used was called modelling. Modelling is where the instructor creates and example of whatever the outcome of the lesson is and shares it with the students as an example or "model" of what the teacher expects them to achieve. For the entire course, I created models of all the aspects of writing a novel that I wanted my students to experience. The idea was that when the course was over each person would have everything they needed to write their very first novel. The reality was, that when the course finished, because I had 'Modelled" all the aspect of a novel, I too had the basis upon which to build a novel. Mine happened to be a historical murder mystery. We got ready to move to a new home and so my outline of a novel went into a box. Originally it was called "Mirrored Illusions".

For years, that novel lived in a box that followed my life from one home to another. After my husband died of cancer, I finally landed in what was supposed to be my final home. When I was unpacking, I "found" the novel! It had been box bound for 12 years! So, eight years ago, I took that outline out of the moving box and began to breath some life into it.

Over the next 5 years, it gradually came to life. I did copious amounts of research into the historical background information I needed to make the novel feel authentic for the time period. I wanted the reader to actually "be there", so to speak. I took the primary characters and developed back stories for each one. I created a timeline for the plot and each subplot. I even created genealogy charts for the historical characters because the back story for the community took place over several generations. Finally, I began writing.

Eventually, a manuscript emerged. Then, 2 years ago, I got really serious and started taking courses because, although I had written a book, I had no idea how to get it published so others could enjoy my labours! Then began the hard part. The endless editing and revising. My original manuscript underwent about 7 revisions and eventually lost nearly 10, 000 words! I was ruthless in my final edit. The title changed, some of the characters fell in love, new characters emerged and insisted on having a place in the story. Even the title changed!

Now the hard part began. I learned how to write a synopsis which is different from a blurb. I learned how to write a query letter, identify the genre of my book, how the publishing industry worked. The list of new skills I needed to get my story publishing was HUGE! I had no idea when I started the process how much additional work would be needed to get my story onto a bookshelf in a bookstore or library. It truly is overwhelming. I watched videos of agents and publishers discussing what was trending in various markets, what they want to see in a pitch letter, what would entice a publisher to invest in my story. I listened to live interviews, joined several professional groups and actively participated in the services they had to offer. I really committed to getting this manuscript into a book format and onto a shelf! I was all in committed!

Now let me digress for just a moment. I turned 76 a few months ago. I knew that in order to find an agent to represent my novel and then for that agent to find a publisher who was willing to invest in my story, then put it on their publication timeline, I was potentially looking at 3 to 5 years. So, I did the math. If I found an agent (I had already spent a year sending out query letters with no nibbles), and eventually that agent found a publisher that was willing to put my book in print and market it and then put it on their publishing timeline (usually 1 to 2 year from acceptance to being on the shelf) I was looking at years to realize my goal. Minimum, I would be in my 80s. Now, to be honest, my health is very fragile. I'm in palliative care. So, it was beginning to look life it wasn't going to be a realistic option.

The other option, which is becoming very popular because of the length and rarity of becoming traditionally published, is self publishing which is sometimes called "vanity" publishing. Indy publishing is expensive and although there are a lot of companies offering self-publishing services, not all of them are top tier. Some are even scams. So, like everything "buyer beware" and do your due diligence. I'm a physically handicapped, widowed senior citizen in palliative care. I don't have that kind of money!

Needless to say, I was feeling pretty discouraged and depressed at this stage. It began to look like this was turning into a "no win" scenario. So, I sat myself down and forced myself to look at my book realistically. Let me be honest: it wasn't a pretty conversation. I had a lot invested in this project emotionally, mentally, time and money wise. The thought of chucking it all in and walking away didn't feel like a viable option. So then what? Then it struck me!

For entertainment, every day, I watch YouTube stories. They range from 25 minutes to 2 hours in length. Each one is a complete story. But what if...

My mind drifted back to the "Penny Dreadful" novels of the Victorian Era where people were so poor that they could only afford to buy books one chapter at a time. The PBS "Masterpiece Theatre" program suddenly came to mind as well! I could see the narrator sitting in a chair in front of a fireplace introducing that night's story. What if I combined those two concepts and created a storytelling experience. To me, the most important things were not to make money from the sales of my books or to experience the validation and prestige of having a book published. To me, the most important thing was entertaining others with my storytelling. So I decided to create a storytelling channel on YouTube and present my novel, one chapter at a time, just like the "Penny Dreadful" novels! How exciting! Right?!

One problem... I had no idea how to do it! So, 2 months ago, I began to teach myself how to make a YouTube story video. I had some experiences with my "End-of-Life Journey" video series and our current "G.G.'s gluten-free Cooking" video series both of which my son and I had filmed, edited and put up on YouTube. However, it seemed to me that presenting my novel, one chapter at a time, would require more skills than I currently possessed.

Back to the drawing board! Over the past 2 months I have devoted hours and hours every day to teaching myself how to use AI to create images and videos to accompany my novel chapters. Each episode needs and intro and an outro in addition to a pitch plus the chapter of the story itself. So I set myself the task of doing the research, taking the training and creating the components needed to create an episode. I can honestly say, that after 2 months of hard work, I have produced 2 minutes of an animated intro video. TWO MINUTES! Phew... that was one very steep learning curve for an old gal like me with brain fog from my Fibromyalgia, but I did it! Yeah!!!! We all scream in jubilation! Such an achievement! But wait, the first episode is more than 40 MINUTES long! It has taken me 2 months to create 2 minutes.

Reality Crash! I nearly threw in the towel right there and then. However, at my age what else do you have to do with the hours between when you wake up and when you go to bed? So I've decided to continue... for now... and see where it goes. There are 33 chapters in the book! This is only the first one! However, hopefully I'll reach a stage where I have learned the skills necessary to do this successfully and about a year from now I might even have something to share with you and the public in general!

That brings me to today's post. This is the exciting part. As of yesterday, I'm beginning to do the editing and compilation of the material. This is the last skill to master. Once I've done this then I'll be able to work independently, without my son's help, and things will move more quickly.

I honestly had no idea what was involved. If I had, I probably never would have started. So here, in the images, you can see I'm adding images and videos segments to my recorded voice. It's fascinating work! Demanding, but very creative. Every day, I'm learning so much. How many of us Septuagenarians can say the same? Life is exciting. I wake up every morning wondering what I'll create today. What new learning challenge awaits me? Some days my stress level is literally through the roof! You know you're doing something wrong when your stress is inducing chest pains at 3:30 in the morning. I've learned to mange that. I even bought a children's timer to force me to step away from the computer a take a break from time to time. However, all things considered, I'm loving this exciting new chapter in my life. I hope you'll continue to share it with me through my Facebook page "The Secret Portal Mysteries" (Spoiler alert! THE TRIQUETRA LEGACY is just the first in a potential series. I'm already working on the second novel... but that's for another day!

https://www.facebook.com/SecretPortalMysteries/

Me editing the tarot reading scene from chapter one.