Author Lynne Murray

 Lynne Murray, author of the romantic comedy, Bride of the Living Dead, has had six mysteries published. Larger Than Death, the first book featuring Josephine Fuller, sleuth of size who doesn't apologize, won the Distinguished Achievement Award from NAAFA (the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance).  She has written three ebooks of encouragement for writers as well as essays, interviews and reviews on subjects that rouse her passions, many of those can be found under "Rants and Raves" on her web site.

She’s here today to talk about Revisions. Whether you love the writing stage where you revise your work or hate that part, you’ll like her take on Revisions.

Welcome Lynne Murray.

Revisions are my favorite part of novel writing.

The “dominoes falling” at the end of the first draft is a close second, but that can be so exhausting. I usually don’t sleep well during the last stages of writing the first draft of a novel, waking up in the middle of the night to add things that just won’t wait. Scribbling a cryptic note on my bedside notebook is not an option at that point. I do love how the plot all comes together. I’m not one who outlines much—I try but end up dropping through a trap door into writing the scene. One of the results of this weird process is that I’m always surprised to find that the action naturally gets faster and faster toward the end of the first draft as it speeds toward the conclusion. 

Once all the drama has unfolded and the shape of the book is in place, revisions allow me to dig deeper into the characters, the setting and the story.

Some writing teachers suggest compiling bios and even mug shots for the book’s characters as a method of getting to know them. This doesn’t work for me, perhaps because summaries of facts about people don’t spark my imagination. I learn much more about the people in the book by seeing them in action, particularly during revisions. It’s like discovering new facets of someone you thought you knew.

 Revisions can dig up important aspects of the book and characters. Daria, the heroine of Bride of the Living Dead, loves T-shirts that feature classic horror movies.  I knew that, but it became more and more important with each revision to defining Daria’s view of how both movies and clothes make statements about who she is and what matters to her.  If she’s going to please both families with a formal wedding she won’t be able to get married wearing a T-shirt depicting the poster from the 1958 classic “I Married a Monster from Outer Space.”

Daria’s not about to become a Stepford Bride. So how can she stay true to herself and still go through with the wedding?

As I dig up more questions about each character’s needs, the events of the book change too. For me it’s like driving around looking for something you didn’t know you were looking for. Once you find it, the surprise makes the reward even greater.

Too bad life doesn’t offer the same opportunities for revisions that we find in fiction.

Thank you Lynne!

Personally, I have love/hate feelings about revising. I dread it, but once I get into the process, I love the new material and the deeper understanding of my characters.

Lynne lives in San Francisco and when not writing she enjoys reading, watching DVD film directors' commentaries and spoiling her cats, all of whom are rescued or formerly feral felines. She also tweets and has two blogs, one under her name and one called Bride of the Dead (love that title!).

She’s also doing a blog tour. If you’d like to follow her on her stops, check out her schedule. And now, the Comment section is open for comments or questions about her books, her Revision process or even her cats! And be sure to keep an eye out for Daria in Bride of the Living Dead.