How Scrivener Makes Ohlen's Bane Possible

As I have mentioned on this blog and on The Ardent Scribe, Scrivener has proven to be a wonderful tool for my writing and creative productivity. It's not about putting words to electronic paper -- a basic text editor can do that -- it's about organizing and maintaining that text as the process unfolds.

My second book, Ohlen's Bane, is possible because I am using Scrivener.

I started out with a plot event list. This is basically a list of sentences, each describing a specific scene in the book, in chronological order of how they will appear in the book. Once that is done, I begin my work in Scrivener.

I create a new scene, or text card, for each sentence. The scene title is 2-5 words describing what happens, and the full sentence I created in my plot event list goes into the card description. I drag and drop those scenes into roughly equal length chapters.

In the research section of Scrivener, I create cards for each named character in the book that describes their physical characteristics, personality and background. I also create a page of place names and yet another filled with randomly created names that I may grab from as new bit players turn up in my story.

Once Scrivener is pre-loaded with all of my research and scenes, I fire the trigger and begin writing.

Ohlen's Bane started off somewhat slowly. I wrote the first six chapters, about 10,000 words, and then read over what I'd written. It dragged. I found myself growing impatient for the good stuff to start happening. Thanks to Scrivener, I was able to drag and drop scenes to rearrange their order. I scrapped entire scenes -- not by deleting them, but by putting them into a Scrap chapter. This gave me recourse in case I found a use for them later on, or even just to grab fragments of scenes.

After paring it down and reorganizing scenes into a better order, I was able to start cranking away again. Now that my story found a good rhythm, thanks to Scrivener's ability to keep my book organized, I was then able to crank out 12,000 words in a single weekend.

When I finish one scene, I open up the text card for the next. Since it has a brief 2-3 sentence description of what happens, I am up to speed on what happens next and can bang it out in record time.

Scrivener really is a brilliant piece of software, and I don't think I'd ever get my second book written without it.

Be Willing to Kill Your Babies

When I was in high school, typing was a required course. We used IBM Selectric typewriters rather than computers. By the end of the one-semester course, I was the fastest in my class, banging out 90 error-free words per minute. It was the most useful thing I learned in high school.

Since moving to computers, I can edit as I type. I still type close to 90 wpm, but thanks to the backspace key, I type backwards even faster ... clickity clickity clickity WHACK WHACK WHACK clickity clickity clickity, etc.

Where am I going with this?

I'm working on my second book, the sequel to Ohlen's Arrow, tentatively entitled Ohlen's Bane. The first weekend I worked on it, I cranked out over 12,000 words. I typed a lot. Since then, my word count is up to 15,000. I decided to read over what I had so far, and although it was interesting, it wasn't engaging.

The last thing I want is for my book to require the reader suffer through to the fifth chapter before anything good happens. One of the things going for Ohlen's Arrow was its pace. It started with action and maintained an engaging level of action with few pauses throughout the story.

I am now killing my babies. As I read through my first four chapters, I am looking for sections that can be rearranged to maintain a better pace. I'm also looking for sections that aren't important at all. When I find them, I kill them. I'm not tied to the words I created. I can remove them and write new ones, better ones. The story also has sections that take far too long to get across what can be conveyed either indirectly or simply.

Because of my technical background, I tend to be rather verbose in my descriptions. I am learning to adopt a more compact and dense writing style, conveying an equal or greater amount of information in fewer words.

My goal is to write 100,000 words for Ohlen's Bane. I'll probably write more than that, because I know that during the revision and editing phase of the project, I'll be whacking the backspace key a lot more than any other.

I am willing to kill my babies.

NaNoWriMo and Ohlen's Bane

November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I had already begun writing my new novel, Ohlen's Bane, at the tail end of October, a process that included brainstorming and then creation of a plot event list. I set up Scrivener to have proper chapters and scenes based on that plot event list and had even begun writing Chapter 1.

Now that November and NaNoWriMo has come along, the timing is perfect for keeping me motivated. Over this past weekend I cranked out over 12,000 words on Ohlen's Bane and am now neck-deep in Chapter 4.

I set up Scrivener to have a project goal of 100,000 words, and a session goal of 3,000 words. It's very rewarding to see that 3,000 word goal whoosh by with tons of creativity and energy left in me. I think 50,000 words by November 30th is a very achievable goal.

Announcing Ohlen's Bane

I have begun writing the sequel to Ohlen's Arrow and have tentatively titled the new book Ohlen's Bane.

For the observant among you, you'll notice the A-B sequence between titles. This is intentional, but 'Bane' is not mere alphabetical coincidence, it is very apropos to the story.

Although I won't give away any spoilers, I can tell you that Ohlen and his friends will face the biggest challenge of their lives in this second book of the series.

Series? Does that mean there will be perhaps a third book, making it a trilogy? Honestly, I don't know. It's possible, though. Stay tuned.

Search for editor and cover designer for book 2

UPDATE 11-14-2013: I have hired an editor for Ohlen's Bane, but am still seeking a cover designer.

I have begun the process of creating the sequel to Ohlen's Arrow, and part of that effort involves interviewing editors and cover designers.

When writing Ohlen's Arrow, my first novel, I engaged the services of two different editors. Both contributed to the process but there were some lessons learned along the way. On this second book, I intend to make the selection process a bit more formal, with an actual interview and trial edit. The editors I hired for my first book were individuals that I already knew on a personal level, which by itself isn't inherently bad but it did introduce a few complications, including the fact that one of the editors wasn't professionally qualified.

The graphic designer I hired for the first book was talented and a joy to work with, but she had no cover design experience. Furthermore, she has opted to get out of graphic design for a while to spend more time with her newborn son. She's not available to work on the second book, so I need to find someone knew.

Reviews of Ohlen's Arrow from Amazon.com

I would like to quote the following reviews of Ohlen's Arrow, posted to Amazon.com:

"I enjoyed taking this journey with Ohlen and his friends. The balance between action and character development was perfect and the story was easy to follow. That can't always be said of a book in this genre and as a reader, I appreciate it. I'm happy to hear the author has begun the sequel, and I'm anxious to find out what's next for our hero."

"I was waffling on how many stars to rate this work. Since this was Mr. Williamson's first publication I decided to round it up to a 5 because I think his book is a great read and rounding down meant taking away a well deserved extra 1/2 a star which seemed wrong. His characters felt true to themselves and their environment. Their interactions were complex but fresh and not contrived. Mechanically it is a good story but it was the character development that made this first book such a great read. Most writers do not have Mr. Williamson's dexterity at crafting such realistic characters. I do not think this is the end for Ohlen and his friends. I look forward to seeing where Mr. Williamson takes this group next - especially my favorite character the one we last checked in on before the story closed - talk about a delightfully complex character construct."

Excerpt from Chapter 10, "The Dead Man Speaks"

As Merrick Stonehorn stood in the back of the crowd gathered in the courtyard, he watched Hadrick Burgoyne emerge onto the wooden dais erected before the Keep's main entrance. An entourage of sycophantic advisers and attendants surrounded the fat, grey-haired man whose clothes were needlessly regal beyond the occasion. Despite Burgoyne's physical size, Merrick considered him to be the smallest man he'd ever met.

The ruler began speaking to the assembled crowd – it was a monthly ritual. His speeches were flowery and puffed up civic decrees that had little substance but were intended to remind the citizenry that he was still in charge.

Merrick sensed someone was watching him. A short, wiry man with brown, expressionless eyes emerged from behind a food vendor's cart, stood next to the giant innkeeper, and said, "His speech is especially interesting today, don't you think?"


Both men kept their eyes toward the fat man on the dais as they conversed. The big man shrugged his shoulders and said, "'Interesting' isn't the word I would choose."


Rinn discretely glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot. "I'd say he's doing a good job for a dead man."


"I don't like the guy, but that doesn't mean I want to see him dead."

"Too late."

Merrick gazed nonchalantly toward the shorter man standing next to him. He caught a glimpse of a rare smile from the rogue.

"We need to talk. You know where," Rinn muttered before fading back and disappearing amongst the vendor carts.

Ohlen's Arrow now available on iTunes Bookstore

Over the weekend I spent several hours formatting Ohlen's Arrow in iBooks Author. It took a while, but I finally got it submitted to iTunes Bookstore. After nearly a week in their review cycle, Ohlen's Arrow is now available for sale ($2.99) on the iTunes Bookstore.

Now available for Kindle, Nook, and iOS devices

Ohlen's Arrow is available as an e-book for Kindle from Amazon.com. The price is $2.99 and visitors can download a free sample of the book as well. It is also available for Nook from Barnes & Noble, and for iOS devices on the iTunes Bookstore.

This is my first novel and as you can imagine, I am super excited about its release. The entire process from conception to publication took roughly a year. I spent three years writing the first three chapters, mostly just to write for the sake of writing. Once I decided to take it seriously and turn it into a book, I wrote the remaining 17 chapters in three months. Editing, proofreading, revisions, and graphic design took nearly nine months.

I intend to write a sequel and already have some general concepts in mind for major plot points. I even have a working title and cover design in my head. To date, those that have read Ohlen's Arrow have been clamoring for its sequel, and I don't intend to disappoint my readers in that regard. It is my goal to shorten that one-year process down to six months.

How Edits Feel

Elmore Leonard once said, "Write the book the way it should be written, then give it to somebody to put in the commas and shit." This is a good viewpoint to hold when you're a writer, because when you give your work to a copyeditor and they take their red pen and bleed all over it, you can't take it personally.

Otherwise I would have stabbed myself in the heart with a rusty nail weeks ago.

As I've received edited chapters from my copyeditor, I got a brief sense of panic when I noticed the sheer volume of suggested changes. It makes me feel like I just started learning English a month ago. I also wonder what went through her mind as she reviewed my work. "This guy thinks he can write a book? What audacity!"

It has helped me to realize that this is part of the process. No writer, no matter how skilled or successful, produces flawless prose on the first try or even the 30th. As Elmore Leonard pointed out, it's not really the writer's job to do so, either. Focus on the creativity, the tone, the emotion, the description. Get the basic mechanics of your writing down, then allow someone else to do the editing, to put in the commas and shit.

I only have three more chapters to review from my copyeditor, then I need to read through Ohlen's Arrow, cover to cover, one more time before I put it up for sale. I'm very excited about this as you can imagine, but it has been a very long, tedious process. The editing and revision phase of a book project is far more difficult and tedious and time-consuming than actually writing it; I am really looking forward to getting it finished.

Copyediting Ohlen's Arrow

I have hired a copyeditor to go over the latest (and hopefully the last) revisions of Ohlen's Arrow. My goal is to have Ohlen's Arrow revised and edited and back on the Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble e-book store shelves by the end of August, and so far that timeline appears to be very realistic.

Stay tuned.

Character Study: Mella

This is the next installment in a series where I introduce key characters from my new novel, Ohlen's Arrow. Rather than doing the predictable thing -- focusing on Ohlen, the main character -- I'm introducing the other key participants, his friends and enemies.

Mella and Ohlen grew up together in the village of Tarun. Whereas Ohlen was orphaned at a young age, Mella had a wonderful childhood growing up with her twin sister, Ranael, until tragedy struck. At the age of six, Ranael went missing without a trace.

Perhaps because of this, and in general because of the harsh nature of living in a remote village with all the dangers that presents, Mella grew into a strong-willed woman nearly fearless in her devotion to her husband, Scarn, and her two children, six-month old daughter Mirra and nineteen year old son Therran.

Mella has deep brown eyes and long, straight sandy blonde hair unlike most residents of Tarun that have dark brown or black hair. She stands 5' 6" tall and has a fit body. She has a ready smile and a joyous laugh, but can also take on a stern and no-nonsense demeanor when she or her family are threatened.

Most adults in Tarun learn to use at least one weapon because of the constant threat of attack from cru'gan, and Mella excelled at the use of a bow. She's not quite as accurate as Ohlen, but few people are.

Mella is intensely loyal to those she loves, and being a mother, is also capable of great tenderness and kindness.

Revisions are done, editor wanted!

I have completed the revisions to Ohlen's Arrow and am now looking to hire a professional line editor to go through it. I've got a couple of leads but am open to referrals from other authors. I'm specifically looking for someone that gets paid to edit as their day job, not just someone who writes good (yes, that's intentionally bad grammar).

It's my goal to have the final manuscript edited and ready for sale by the end of August.

Character Study: Merrick Stonehorn

This is the first installment in a series where I introduce key characters from my new novel, Ohlen's Arrow. Rather than doing the predictable thing -- focusing on Ohlen, the main character -- I'm going to introduce you to the other key participants -- his friends and his enemies.

Merrick Stonehorn and Ohlen go back more than a decade. In appearance, they couldn't be any further apart, but in spirit they share much that would be familiar to brothers.

Merrick is a big man in both stature and personality, standing six and a half feet tall and weighing at least three hundred pounds. He's in his late 40s and has long red hair with a few streaks of grey, and he keeps it tied into a single braid that reaches the middle of his back. He wears a large gold loop in each ear. His face, arms and hands show many scars from more battles than Merrick himself could count.

Despite his large physical size, Merrick moves about with a deceptive ease and grace. The way he moves isn't the only deceptive aspect of this larger-than-life man. His mood can jump from friendly to deadly in the blink of an eye when he feels threatened. His trust is hard-earned, but once obtained, Merrick is loyal to his friends to the bitter end.

Merrick Stonehorn began adventuring while still a teenager and quickly gained notoriety for both his bravery and his cunning. Still in his mid 20's, he singlehandedly infiltrated a cru'gan stronghold, killed the tribal leader, and escaped not only alive but carrying gold equal to his own body weight (which was substantial, to say the least!) This, and other adventures like it, soon made him rich.

In his late 30's he used his spoils to purchase the Inn of the Three Fans in the lakeside town of Eeron. Despite appearances that he has settled down and given up his adventuring ways, Merrick still finds time to get into the wilds, often accompanied by his second-in-command, a beady-eyed rogue named Rinn.

Ohlen's Arrow enters a revision stage

During the last week of May I published Ohlen's Arrow to Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Since then, I have received some very valuable feedback from a professional source that moves me to take the book down off the e-shelves and give it another round of revisions before making it available for sale.

The message was, it's a great start, especially for a first-time author, but it still needs a bit more work before it truly has a chance to stand at the professional level.

I'd rather get the book done right than simply get it done, so I made the painful choice to temporarily remove it from sale and spend the time and effort to make it even better.

If you have purchased the first edition, please feel free to contact me directly. I will be happy to gift you a copy of the revised edition when it becomes available.

Final Assembly!

The cover design and world map have been delivered to me from the designer, Kristie McClure, who did a fantastic job. The text has been proofread I don't know how many times, and a block of ISBNs have been purchased. All that's left is to assemble the final pieces together using Scrivener, produce the various eBooks, and then test them out in the various e-readers.

I'm targeting Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, and Apple's iTunes bookstore. I don't have specific plans to print Ohlen's Arrow in a dead tree edition, but am open to that once the eBook versions are all online and available for sale.

The self-imposed deadline is to have the book available for sale by June 1st. I'm very excited to see this effort come to fruition! Now, if I can just make enough money to quit my day job and become a full-time writer, life will be golden...

World map and ISBN's

The world map for Ohlen's Arrow has been finished as well as the cover design. I also purchased a block of ISBN's to be used for each delivery channel.

What remains is to get my author pages created for each eBook publisher, then format the novel and create the eBook files.

My goal is to have the book available for sale online by June 1st and I'm on target to meet that deadline.

Cover art process moving forward

I met with my artist/illustrator, Kristie, yesterday evening to discuss the cover design for Ohlen's Arrow. We're going to start with three concept sketches. I gave her very specific guidelines and suggestions for the first one, a general concept or style for the second, and the third is entirely up to her creativity and imagination.

Kristie will also be designing the world map that appears at the beginning of the book.

I'm very excited to see my first novel moving forward. While the artistic side of things progresses, I'm also taking care of some final edits and very minor plot changes, followed by yet another round of proofreading. Then it all comes together and I move forward with the sales and marketing side of things.

Minor plot changes

In the process of editing Ohlen's Arrow, my editor and I have come up with some aspects of the plot that still need some tweaking. Prior to this effort I had assumed the plot was more or less settled and the rest was just down to proofreading and mechanical oversight.

It helps to get an outside perspective on your writing. Other people come at a story with a different set of assumptions and preferences. They can see things that the author takes for granted or simply doesn't see at all.

This process of editorial oversight has thrilled me because I know the story will improve as a result. I have no ego in the game. In fact, I'm pleased that the end result will be of even higher quality. In the end, everyone wins, both author and reader.

Outside help

No writer is an island. You can't edit your own work. These are just some of the sayings that highlight the fact that writers need outside help in their effort to write and publish their works.

For Ohlen's Arrow, I have engaged the professional services of an illustrator to design the book's cover and the world map inside, and an editor for the text contained within. Up to this point my outside help has entailed the reviews of nearly a dozen volunteer beta readers.

Writing a book is an exciting process, and frankly, I'm glad I don't have to do it alone.

Ohlen's Arrow: Excerpt

This is an excerpt from the book, Ohlen's Arrow. This is how the book starts...

Thwip.

The arrow sank deep into the creature’s throat and it fell backward in a spray of blood, twitching and clawing at the wooden shaft protruding from its severed windpipe. The man lowered his bow and crouched down into the bushes in case there were others. He remained still but watched and listened intently to see if he had stumbled upon a lone cru’gan or if it had been part of a patrol. At first the only sound was the wet gurgling coming from the cru’gan’s throat. Now it lay still and silent and the only thing the man could hear was the evening breeze through the pine trees.

After several minutes passed he retrieved his arrow and quickly searched the body, then rolled it under a pile of briars out of sight. He kicked the creature’s blood into the dust and pine needles to obscure the evidence of the encounter, and then moved silently away into the forest amidst the diminishing evening light.