Solitary

Just finished going through the line edits on my teen novel, Solitary.

Let me say this now.

I love this story.

Maybe it's taken twenty years to sum up my high school experience, but so be it.

I think this story does a great job of combining angst, love, and terror into a pretty cool story.

I really love the last twenty pages or so.

I don't always feel that way about my stories. I know some might not believe that, but I don't.

I feel like there's such great potential with this story. It's only part one in a four part series. So many questions are left unanswered. So many storylines are left to continue telling.

I'd give myself an A minus on the execution of this. Hopefully the remaining three stories will weave together in an amazing and thrilling way. We'll see.

Don't Forget The Things That Work Well

I'm working on the line edits for my teen novel, Solitary. What that means is that I'm going through rereading the manuscript and seeing what my editor has done to the story. There are a few story issues that needed addressing, but most of what I'm doing is making sure the edits to the story are okay (do they fit, if something's changed does it sound like my voice, etc.).

My editor makes notes throughout the story--sometimes explaining why something doesn't work, sometimes chiding me in a good-natured way, sometimes highlighting a sentence or a scene that she enjoys.

I just read a paragraph which she said she loved in the notes. Here it is:

I know now the reason filmmakers make people do stupid things in movies. Because in real life, people do do stupid things. People run ahead when they really should run away. People open the door when it should always, always remain shut. People enter the room when they really should exit the building.

Obviously you have to read that in context of the story. My point in sharing it is this: it's nice to know what works.

Sometimes when editors do their job so well and focus on all the parts of a story that don't work, they forget to share what does work. It can leave an author wondering if they liked anything at all in the story.

I try to learn as I go through edits. I learn not only by the things that need cutting and tweaking but also by the things that don't. By the things that work well.

I'm glad to be thrown a bone every now and then!

Every Breath You Take

Here's the cover of my next book that's being published in December. Completely original story that I rank up there with my other favorites (The Watermark, Sky Blue, and Ghostwriter). A love story with a supernatural twist.

Writing Tip #38

Be empathetic. Try putting yourself in other people's shoes.

For over thirteen years, I worked at a publisher where my sole job was to make a variety of authors happy. I felt like I excelled at that job because I was empathetic. I tried to put myself in the authors shoes, whether they were best-selling stars or brand new authors.

I try to do the same with my characters and the people occupying my stories. I try to put myself in their shoes, whether they are eighty years old or female or in prison. I try to find some part to relate to, to care about, to empathize with, even if they're a "bad guy." I've discovered that life doesn't really have heroes and villains--it has flawed people, some who find hope and some who give it up all together and some who wander around somewhere in the middle.

Learn to care about your characters and put yourself in them.

People Who Might Like My Next One

In another month, I'm self-publishing an original stand-alone novel called Every Breath You Take. All I will say now is that it's a love story with a supernatural twist.

You might like it if you're one of the following (if you happen to be two or more, then definitely make sure you get a copy):

--A fan of Travis Thrasher

--A fan of The Promise Remains and The Watermark who wonder when Travis is going to write another sweet love story

--A fan of Sky Blue (the other love story with a unique twist)

--A parent of a little girl

--A parent whose "little girl" is about ready to get married

--An aspiring musician

--A fan of Coldplay

--Someone living in Chicago

--A sucker for a great love story

--Someone in need of a unique wedding present

--Someone who likes to donate to struggling artists (haha!)

Okay, last one aside, if you happen to be one or several of those kind of people, then chances are you'll like Every Breath You Take.

I will be showing off the cover and revealing the storyline very soon with info on how you can purchase. Stay tuned!

The Latest

So here's the latest on what's going on with my writing.

Lots of exciting things are happening.

Sure, Thrasher-boy, you say that all the time. Far as we know, you're working the drive-through at Arbys.

No, I really mean it. There are some things I can share and some things I can't share just yet. That's part of the process of being a writer. Sometimes you work on projects that may or may not see the light of day. As much as I want to talk about them, it's better professionally to keep my big yapper shut.

So what's happening?

First off, I'm hoping to self publish a novel by the end of the year.

Oh, boy, things have gotten bad, haven't they, Travesty? Self publishing?

There's an explanation. I've shared some on that story, but I plan to share lots more soon. LOTS MORE. When I show up at your door knocking like a girl scout selling cookies, you'll hear about it.

No, seriously, I'm ecstatic about the story. I'm calling it Every Breath You Take. The back cover copy is simple: "a love story with a supernatural twist."

I'm done with work on Broken, my next supernatural thriller coming out in May. I've shared the plot of that story on my blog. It's less scary than Isolation or Ghostwriter. There's a real story of redemption in this novel. I love it.

Will you ever say you DON'T like a story, T-RASH?

Okay, well, how about this? The story I wrote this year under a proposed pen name was sent to my agent. Not so good with that one. I lost my way with it. My agent was kind but more or less said I'd lost my mind with it. I didn't end up liking the story, to be honest. I'm going to keep some of the basics but ultimately go back to the drawing board with it. I already have ideas. But . . .

On the same day my agent more or less told me "Travis have you lost your mind?" with this story, she also presented me with a very interesting project.

Bet you can't tell us 'cause it's just so ultra cool just like you think you are, huh?

Yes, second-person-spouting voice in my head. You're right.

I'm working on a couple of projects that have come to me. No, they don't involve Dancing With The Stars (I'm not one yet) and they don't involve the Amish (not one yet either). These are in the category of Might-See-The-Light-Of-Day. They're very cool and would take my career in a cool new direction if they happen.

So is that it? Because you're really boring the audience here, Travie. And I think you've already lost a whole bunch of blog readers.

Actually, no, it's not it. I've already shared some about this, but the first in my teen series called Solitary is getting a great response from the publisher. It's coming out in August and I'm currently working on through the edits on it. Love the potential of this story.

So when are you writing with James Patterson, Mr. Trasher?

Funny.

Okay, so that's it on the writing side of things. I'm working very hard, not only to continue this wonderful and crazy journey I'm fortunate to be on, but because I love telling stories. I really do. I get frustrated when I get them wrong, but I love it when I hear I get them right.

Solitary Back Cover Copy

Seems fitting to do something related to my scary stories on Halloween, so let me share the back cover copy for Solitary, releasing next August.

His Loneliness Will Soon Turn to Fear….

When Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina, he faces the reality of his parents’ divorce, a school full of nameless faces—and Jocelyn Evans. Jocelyn is beautiful and mysterious enough to leave Chris speechless. But the more Jocelyn resists him, the more the two are drawn together.

Chris soon learns that Jocelyn has secrets as deep as the town itself. Secrets more terrifying than the bullies he faces in the locker room or his mother’s unexplained nightmares. He slowly begins to understand the horrific answers. The question is whether he can save Jocelyn in time.

This first book in the Solitary Tales series will take you from the cold halls of high school to the dark rooms of an abandoned cabin—and remind you what it means to believe in what you cannot see.