Today in the First Draft hot seat is Melanie Macek.
Melanie has been writing in some form or another as long as she can remember. From songs to plays (a bad one) to poetry (not her forte) to romance, the urge to write has always been there. She read her first romance book at the age of thirteen and hasn’t looked back. A voracious reader, Melanie has been making an effort to expand her reading horizons, thanks to forced college papers. Other genres have captured her imagination, but Romance will always hold her heart.
A native Californian desert rat, Melanie has lived over half of her life in Texas. Braving mosquitoes, humidity, and the occasional voluntary hurricane evacuation, she and her husband and their two 4-legged children Murphy and Charlie, spend time with family, friends, and planning their next travel adventure. She writes in most of her spare time and always makes sure to take a pen and paper with her just about everywhere she goes.
When you decide to write something new, what is the first thing you do?
It depends on the story. Most of the time I just sit down, start writing and see where the story take me. I do have a series I’ll be starting in 2014 that requires a lot more planning than I usually do.
Do you have a set routine approaching it?
Not yet. I usually just sit down and write. Then I’ll take a 70 page spiral notebook and start writing down character traits and setting information as it reveals itself.
Pen and paper or straight to the keyboard?
Usually straight to the keyboard. My first book was written mostly on paper mainly because I didn’t have access to a computer. I have a book idea I started a year ago that I started on paper because it felt right for the time period and feel of the story.
How important is research to you?
It’s extremely important. We live in a global community where people have access to not only the internet but online friends around the world who can verify the information. I believe I owe it to my readers to be as accurate as possible. I try not to research when I’m working on a first draft. I’ll make notes off to the side to verify a date, or if the character is on a certain street, where is the sun in relation to where they’re standing. Things like that. I’ve focused on contemporary romances to date, so there hasn’t been extensive research required…yet.
How do you go about researching?
A ton of online research. So far, my stories have been set in places where I’ve visited so I have a basis for the setting before I start writing. For one story, I’ve requested multiple books from a library in the area where the story is set. It’s a place I’ve never been, so I’m very worried about getting something wrong.
How do you store everything; ideas, research, images that catch your eye?
I hate to admit this, but I tend to bookmark websites…then proceed to forget I bookmarked them. That’s why I create the spiral notebook. I have a research section in each one and try to at least write down the name of the website so it will trigger my memory. As far as images I download, I create a folder for each book on my flashdrive so I can access to it no matter where I’m working on the story.
Tell us how that first draft takes shape?
I’m a linear writer. I write from beginning to end because my characters refuse to reveal themselves to me until I’m writing their story. I’ve written full outlines and my characters end up growing in a way that I never anticipated. I may have general ideas of where I want them to go, but rarely do they end up there.
Are there any rituals you have to do or items you must have with you while writing that draft?
Just my flash drive. I guess at the beginning I keep the notebook with me when I’m working so I can keep eye and hair color straight along with other details as they reveal themselves.
Does the outside world exist or are you lost to us for a period of time as the magic works?
Both. During the day I tend to write and talk at the same time (I do a lot of secret noveling at work). At night when I write is usually when I’m able to let go of everything around me and get lost in the story.
What does your work space look like?
Which one? LOL. I have a desk set up that I use on the weekends. Most evenings, I sit on the couch with the hubby because I’ve been sitting at a desk all day at work. If I need to work on a part that requires access to research items I’ve printed out, then I’ll work at the desk and close the door to both the hubby and the cats.
Edit as you go or just keep getting words out?
I learned on my second story to never edit as I go. I did that on the first story and I could never get it finished. The second story I worked on, I did the first draft from start to finish without editing and it flowed and I was able to finish the first draft within two months. The first story? Took about 14 years to complete. Plus, I had to transfer it from paper to computer and I edited as I went. Now, I write the first draft, then worry about editing and fact checking.
I see many writers counting words in a day. Word counter or other method of keeping track of progression?
I tried the words per day and all it did was cause me stress. There are days I need to completely step away from a computer. I felt too much guilt on those days I took a break. I lasted about 150 days before I packed it in. But, those 150 days put me more in the mind frame of taking writing more seriously. While I may not write every day on my story, I try to keep the story in my mind and work on the marketing aspect.
So, that first draft is down. Roughly how long did it take? And what shape is it in?
Like I said, the first one took 14 years. The second one 2 months, the third about 3 months. The fourth about a month. The novella series I’m working on at the moment, the drafts have taken anywhere from two weeks to a month and a half. They ALL need work and they’ll usually go through about three edits before I even send them to a beta reader.
In what format do you like to read it through, ereader, paper or the computer screen?
I’ve been writing in Scrivener the last year, so I’ll do at least one edit in that program. After one or two edits, I’ll export it to a word file. Depending on the beta readers preference, I may print it out and use that to go by for edits. For the most part, I try to do all the edits in Scrivener.
What happens now that first draft is done?
Edit, revise, edit, revise, wash, rinse, repeat. Oh, sorry. You get the idea. I try not to do more than 5 edits because if I let myself keep editing, it’ll never end. So after a certain point, I stop and get it ready to publish.
Thanks for digging into the depths of the first draft. It’s been a pleasure having you.
You can find Melanie on her Blog, on Facebook and Amazon.
If you want to answer the First Draft questions, please just let me know and we’ll sort out a date!
Annalisa Crawford says
Great interview, and nice to meet Melanie. I tend to edit a lot before anyone is allowed to see it. I’m in awe of those writers who happily send off their first draft for critique.
Melanie Macek says
Annalisa, I sent out a first draft once and regretted it. I try not to torture my beta readers that way anymore 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – Thanks for introducing us to Melanie.
Melanie – Thanks for sharing your draft process with us. I couldn’t agree more with you about the vital importance of research, by the way. And I do most of mine online too. I wish you success!
Melanie Macek says
Thanks Margot! Answering Rebecca’s questions helped me think more about my process and what’s worked for me and what hasn’t. Research is key, especially in our small world.
nancyrae4 says
Hi Melanie, thanks for sharing with us! I love research and I tend to get lost in the information search!
Melanie Macek says
Me too, Nancy! I’ve lost hours to research 🙂 Happily of course. Especially on the novel I plan to set in Chicago. I got lost for weeks in that research!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I don’t edit as I write either, although I’ll ponder how I’m going to say something before I commit it to page.
Melanie Macek says
I wish I could keep the thoughts in my head long enough to do that, Alex. Sometimes I just have to get the gist of it on the page and fine tune it later. BTW, love that you have the ISWG. I may need to join 🙂
Raelyn Barclay says
Fun interview and a nice look into your process Mel.
Great series Rebecca.
Melanie Macek says
Thanks for stopping by Raelyn! I love Rebecca’s series. It’s been interesting to see how others get the story on the page.
Melanie Macek says
Want to say thanks to Rebecca for having me. These were fun questions to answer and it made me look at my process a little more in depth and take stock of what worked for me and what hasn’t. I plan to make adjustments to my work space and schedule once I get the rest of the novella series published. Thanks again, Rebecca!
Rebecca Bradley says
It was a pleasure to have you Melanie. I’m really enjoying this series. We all work so differently! Good luck with the rest of your series x
Donna K. Weaver says
You and I have a lot in common, Melanie. I like to see where the story takes me, even when I kinda know where that will be. Unless it takes me somewhere else. lol And I’m very much a linear writer, too.
beautifulorange says
Great interview. I’ve been away from the blogging world for far too long as I’ve started a new job and been focusing on getting my first draft complete. Just finished… excited, scared, nervous. I haven’t edited and I know that there is some serious re-writing to be done. Luckily I’m looking forward to it! Thanks Melanie and Rebecca…
Rebecca Bradley says
Ah! I wondered where you were – see it was noted 🙂
Glad to hear the first draft is done. Good luck on the next stage!
beautifulorange says
Ah, that’s sweet of you to notice! And thanks!
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