Getting Closer

Through the glorious process of revision, I have rewritten the beginning and end of my book. I’ve renamed it, added characters, and beefed-up a few who needed more meat on their bones. This is no longer a linear chronology that begins with my main character being a high school kid growing up in a fishing village on the Maine coast. Many of my precious (to me at least) Norman Rockwell-like descriptions of place, family dynamics and culture are on the cutting room floor, in trade for a faster-paced, more consistent read.

I wish I could take credit for the insight that has brought my book to where it is today, but I can’t. That credit goes to literary agent, Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary. She seems bound and determined to get a solid book out of me. Her most recent set of fix-its contained but two items—this down from twenty the first time around. In addition she suggested I give the manuscript to a line editor for the purpose of uncovering potentially ugly scars that might show up given all of the surgery I’d been doing on my manuscript. Also, the line editor would uncover confusing changes in voice over the course of the story. I am blessed in having an excellent editor in the same person that handles all of the other chores that go along with being Mrs. Lawrence.

Thanks to Pat’s thoroughness, I no longer have a plot riding around on Kyle Tolliver’s shoulders. Rather, the plot lives and grows naturally within him. The premise for his harrowing night ride in a dinghy to save Ellen, Nathan and his father from Viktor Bukharov is now based on necessity of the moment, rather than a preconceived plan. Gone is the grudge between the cops and Kyle. Now Chief Dodson guarantees and provides police protection, but it breaks down when a big explosion goes off on the other side of the harbor.

The biggest catch was uncovering a serious breech of voice. My main character is incapable, by virtue of lack of experience and moral upbringing, to even think about killing a man, yet he was forced to meet Bukharov in a kill or be-killed showdown. In earlier versions I ignored these personality traits and had Kyle talking tough about getting him out in the open…taking him down. If that’s how he really felt, was he much different from the vicious Viktor Bukharov? Now Kyle’s motivation is much more believable, because it’s true to life, and that heightens the drama.

Beyond the Boathouse is a much more exciting and balanced story with well-developed characters. I am very thankful for all of Paula’s insights and suggestions that helped me bring Beyond the Boathouse to this point. There may well be more work ahead, and that’s fine because I can almost see the finish line from here.

Till later,

Ken