Not the end of the world. The end of my novel.

If you're a writer, you know finishing a novel means you've been to "the end" many times. While I am doing the final polish of my manuscript, I know my editor will have her own opinion on whether the novel is done or not.

I'll make my deadline. Not without a few gallons of coffee, but I'll make it.

And I even had time for a weekend dash to Roswell to visit an old friend.
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I am envious of writers who find the time to blog, attend conferences, volunteer, and promote their work. I was able to do some of those activities, in moderation, until recently.

Facing a publishing deadline, I had to prioritize. That's easy. I decided to make my fiction-focus the new book for Annie's Publishing. Once it is finished, I'll return to other projects.

Life will go on as usual.

A month into the novel, in order to stick to a schedule allowing me to complete the book on time, I stopped reviewing short stories. Then I stopped blogging, for the most part. A topic for an entire blog is my decision to stop attending conferences.

My day job became more demanding. I'm planning to retire in a few years. We have set the date. But until then, I need the job and the great benefits. The balancing act must continue a bit longer.

Family suddenly needed more attention. I found myself fighting to find time for basic fitness, or reading a novel. 

I still stuck to my writing schedule. The new novel is in first draft form. Critique group will review the final chapters next week. One last edit by me, then it's off to my editor.
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Success, right? I have another month or so of work on this book when the editor's comments come back, then life returns to normal.

Not so fast. I have been stressed out a lot lately. This goes beyond having a deadline. I've worked to deadlines many times. I decided to identify the stress in my life, and cull out those things I can.

Today I unsubscribed from several news sites that pop up in my email with screaming headlines. No more screaming.

I'll hit Facebook next, and silence the "friends" who constantly rant or repost political stuff that raises my blood pressure. If we can't have civility in our daily discourse with people we call friends, then I choose to opt out. In fact, it might be best to hop off the social media merry-go-round from time to time.

I'm taking a break. 

With any luck, you'll find me out walking or running. Maybe sitting on the deck watching the flowers grow. I might finally make some progress on my to-be-read pile. And finish fiction projects begging to be written.

Summer is short. Life is short. Find the positive in each day.

​Today I offer a peek behind the curtain to the struggles and triumphs of writing. Here is my advice to aspiring authors, while readers may find it interesting to learn what goes into the creation of their favorite fiction.

You can read my article on the Pikes Peak Writers blog: https://pikespeakwriters.com/2019/07/7315/

I received a nice review of Survive Or Die from Jason Half.

"I have always been a fan of mystery settings that isolate a group of people and plots that turn up the tension. J. Jefferson Farjeon's Mystery in White has his travelers stranded by a snowstorm in a country manor where murder may have just occurred, while Agatha Christie brings And Then There Were None's fated guests to Indian Island, with no means of escape. Catherine Dilts makes good use of her woods-and-mountains Colorado backdrop to trap and challenge her characters, and she keeps the perceived safety of civilized society just out of their reach." 

You can read the entire review on his website. https://www.jasonhalf.com/blog/book-review-survive-or-die-2019-by-catherine-dilts 

For Mystery Thriller Week, I offer a peek behind the curtain to the struggles and triumphs of writing. I give my advice to aspiring authors, while readers may find it interesting to learn what goes into the creation of their favorite fiction.

1) Pantser or Plotter?
Writers will ask whether you are a pantser or plotter. A pantser writes by the seat of his or her pants. Page one, blank screen - GO! A plotter creates an outline of the story before beginning. Many writers fall somewhere in between, doing some outlining, but not hesitating to depart from the outline if the story veers in a new direction. Which are you? It may take years of writing to decide. You may also discover that being a pantser works better for one story, while careful plotting is required for another. Experiment. 

2) Don't hurry.
There may be anecdotes about people writing a best seller or classic in a weekend, or a matter of mere weeks. Good luck with that. My best work has taken time. Due to deadlines, that time is often compressed, but the work will not be cheated of the hours.

On that same note, don't rush to get your work before agents, or push it prematurely into self publication. After you have written "the end," set your story aside. Days, a week or two, even a month will allow you a fresh perspective. 

3) Don't quit the day job.
When I first became published, I joked that I'd be able to earn my living from writing on the day I retired. Sadly, this is probably going to be the truth. The economic reality of writing is harsh. Short story author R. T. Lawton has quite a bit to say on this topic in his article: https://www.sleuthsayers.org/2017/03/while-were-at-it.html 

I'm not saying it can't be done, but the majority of folks I know who are writing full time are retired, or are supported by a spouse. Be cautious before you leave that paying gig. A steady paycheck, health insurance, pension, and paid vacation are non-existent for the self-employed writer.

4) Learn the business.
As budding authors, we crave learning the art and craft of writing, but the business end? Not so much. How can you learn, besides reading books or blogs? Join a writing group attended by successful authors. By joining the Mystery Writers of America, I was fortunate to meet published authors who freely shared their experiences at local chapter meetings. Libraries may offer writing workshops, or can direct you to local writers' groups. If you attend a conference, include sessions on the business aspects of writing.

I'm not talking strictly about the financial side of business, although learning the best method to track your income and expenses is important at tax time. You will need to know how to write a synopsis. (Hint - you can't do much better than Pam McCutcheon's how-to book.) Where to find agents representing your style of fiction. What is the proper etiquette when pitching to an editor at a conference. If you want a career writing, treat it like any other business, and educate yourself.

5) Renew the joy.
Writers can burn out, just as in any profession. I have heard complaints from the entire spectrum of writers, whether unpublished or multi-published. At some point, it becomes a job. Maybe even drudgery. You begin to hate your story, dread sitting in front of the computer, and doubt your sanity for thinking you had the talent to write fiction. Before you throw in the towel, ask yourself these questions.

Who is stopping you? A negative person in your life? Someone who needs your attention, whether a child, a boss, or an elderly parent? Yourself? Can you turn the negativity into motivation? "I'll show them - I am a writer!" Find a way to balance the needs of people in your life with your own goals. If you're not happy and healthy, how can you be a good parent, spouse, employee, caretaker?

Why did you begin writing in the first place? A book inspired you? Did you escape pain through reading, and want to give someone else that gift? Do you have fond memories of being read to, or reading in a favorite comfy place? Revisit your earliest motivation to be a writer. 

What did you have to say that was so important, you were willing to sacrifice other aspects of your life in order to hammer out words for hours on end? Is that message still valid? Your message, or theme, doesn't have to be lofty. Distracting readers from their worries and problems with an entertaining story can be more valuable than any deep literary tome. 

That moment will return when suddenly the words flow. The scenes click together. The characters jump off the page. You become lost in your own story. You remember the joy of writing, and why you started on this crazy journey. 

You can do this. Even if you have to write in snatches of stolen time. Even if you have to battle doubts, whether from people around you, or yourself. A good deal of success in writing is mere persistence. That is a trait we can all nurture.

You can find the Mystery Thriller Week group on Facebook.

Join me on my final stop on the Survive Or Die blog tour at Pulp and Mystery Shelf. I reveal how I became a published author, why I write cozy and amateur sleuth mystery, and three tips for people wanting to become authors. Read here.

On Kings River Life today, you can read my Earth Day themed article on the benefits of abandoned mines. While the detritus of 19th century mining might sound incompatible with environmental stewardship, bear with me. Sometimes attempting to fix one ecological issue exacerbates another. Read here.

Also on Kings River Life is a fabulous review of Survive Or Die, my novel touching on the issue of abandoned mines. Read here.

My guest today is L. C. Hayden, author of the Harry Bronson thriller series. Her newest novel, When Memory Fails, includes a memorable character, Honey the dog. L. C. tells us how Honey charmed her way into a thriller.

In order to understand how Honey, the dog, came to be a character in my latest thriller When Memory Fails, one must first know a bit about the story’s basic plot.

Sandy Sechrest, her boyfriend Daniel, and retired Detective Harry Bronson head for Sechrest Falls, a ghost town in Colorado, which houses an alluring ledger that the three seek. The sole resident in this ghost town is a character simply known as The Hermit.

In order for this story to work, I knew that the Hermit needed to be a strong character, one that the readers would identify with. However, when I read the first draft of When Memory Fails, the Hermit was definitely not memorable. The story needed something that would give the Hermit a boost.  I considered adding another character. I quickly eliminated that idea as it would only detract from the story.

What then? I thought and thought. Then it hit me.

The Hermit would have a dog. Yes, the right type of dog would be ideal.

Once I had decided this, my next step was to create such a dog. That meant first finding the right kind of breed. I felt overwhelmed when I realized that a lot of types of breeds exist, not to mention the sub-breeds. Which one should I choose? And how could I narrow this list down?

As I’m brooding over this, my dog, a Basenji named Honey, nudged me.

I looked at her.

She nudged me again. Feed me.

“Later,” I told her. I wanted to finish my research.

She gently hit my hand with her nose. No, now.

I glared at her. She nudged me again. I sighed and stood up. “Okay, dog, you win.” I went to the kitchen and prepared her food. For any other dog, this would be the end of the task. But not for Honey. She insists on me being present when she eats. If I simply put her food down and walk away, she will follow me and not eat. She’d rather starve. Consequently, I crossed my arms and waited until she finished eating.

Once she did, I quickly headed for my computer to finish my work. Honey ran in front of me, blocking my way. I stopped and looked at her.

Aren’t you forgetting something? her eyes seemed to ask.

I gave myself a mental tap on my forehead. Oh, yeah. Her after-dinner treat: a dental chew stick we call Greenie. Thank God she is willing to eat this by herself without me being present. I gave it to her and made a mad dash for my computer.

Minutes later, she stood by me and yelped. Basenji’s don’t bark as their ancestors used to live with the Egyptian pharaohs in their castles. Therefore, the dogs were not allowed to bark. To guarantee that there would be no barking in the castle, the kings ordered that the dogs’ vocal chords removed. Through generations, this breed of dogs lost their ability to bark, but they are definitely not one-hundred percent quiet. They learned to yodel and make all kinds of other noises. Thus the reason Honey yelped instead of barked.

I knew what she wanted. “Let me finish this first, and then we’ll take you for your walk,” I told her.

She let out another high pitch yelp.

I ignored her.

She yelped again.

I did my darnest to ignore her.

She yelped.

I stood up. “Okay, okay, you win. I get it. You want your walk now.”

Rich, my husband, put her harness on and the three of us went for the walk. Half-an-hour later, as we headed home, I treasured the idea that Honey likes to take a nap after her walk. Good. Finally, I’ll find the time to continue editing my novel.

We reached our house, and Rich said that he was a bit tired and was also going to take a nap. Great! A picture of a quiet house danced in my head. I could finally focus on the revisions.

That lasted a whole five minutes.

Honey let out a loud whining, not once, but a constant sound that sent a chill running down my back. I bolted out of my chair, nearly knocking it down, and ran down the hallway and into our bedroom.

Thankfully, being hard of hearing, my husband remained sound asleep. Honey stood beside the bed by his head, looking up at him, whining.

“Honey, what’s wrong? You’re going to wake Daddy up. Hush.” I pulled her toward me.

She worked her way free and resumed her stance by Rich’s head. Once again, she whined. I grabbed her again and the entire incident repeated itself.

In spite of my efforts to keep the dog quiet, my husband woke up. He opened his eyes and looked at her. “What’s wrong, Honey? You ate, you got your treat, and your walk. What do you want?”

Honey whined.

Rich sat up on the bed.

“Honey?”

She continued to whine.

“Do you want to play? Is that it?”

Her answer came in the form of another whine.

“Okay, okay. We’ll play.” Rich got up and reached for his shoes.

Soon as he was out of bed, the dog jumped up and occupied the same spot Rich had just vacated. She curled up and went to sleep.

Rich and I stood looking at her. She wanted his spot, and she got the spot.​

I shook my head. “What a dog,” I told my husband.

Rich agreed.

I went back to work on my computer.

Now, let’s see, where was I? Oh yeah, I was about to decide on what kind of a breed the dog in my story should be. I considered the qualifications I needed for my fictional dog to have.

First of all, the dog shouldn’t be too big or too small. It had to be just the right size. An image of Honey popped in my head. I nodded. Yeah, a dog about her size would be ideal.

Second, I needed basically a quiet dog, like a Basenji.

Same image popped up. Honey.

I needed a dog that had a cute personality.

Honey.

I needed a dog that had a strong personality that always found a way to communicate with the humans in the story.

Honey.

I shook off the images and began the research. I typed in on the Google bar dog breeds. I heard Honey gently snoring, happy that everything had gone according to her schedule.

Honey.

I closed the search bar. I didn’t need to do any research. I had everything I needed here at home.

And that’s how Honey became a character in my book—and will continue to be a character in future Bronson books.

Honey. What a dog.
 
 When Memory Fails is available here.
​You can learn more about author L. C. Hayden and her writing here.
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I answer interview questions today on the Mysteristas blog. Learn more about what made me interested in writing Survive Or Die, and my idea of a perfect day, which includes one of my favorite hobbies. Read here.