Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp- Next Chapter

cover design by Farah Evers

In which the opening of Chapter 13 becomes Chapter 12, and other feats of reformation.

Writers will often state that a work will take on a life of its own and dictate what should happen next, or when. I've been a victim of that phenomenon this week.

I have an outline, supposedly through Chapter 18 (when I have to make a plot decision). So, I started Chapter 12 on Thursday, right after finishing 11. I thought I knew what was going to happen in it. But I got a few paragraphs in and stalled. What should John Aho tell Ana? What was the real reason for the attack with the tire iron? Then I stalled. I didn't know the answers to those questions yet.

Finally, I decided to just finish that chapter later and move on to the next one where some action was due to occur. Last night I couldn't sleep, so I began writing that scene. But the more I wrote, the more I realized that it needed a long build-up, which became its own chapter, but delaying the action any more might be unwise. So much for the original Chapter 12! I reduced it to seven sentences, left those unanswered questions unanswered (it's a mystery after all) and it became the ending for Chapter 11.

I'm back to matching with my outline (not that it matters a bit... it's just a tentative way to track the timeline of the story), and something big is about to happen in Chapter 13.

Meanwhile, here's an excerpt from the current Chapter 12:

    Len was seated on the couch folding a basket of laundry, and Sunny was eating toast with red jelly at the counter which served to divide the kitchen from the living room. It was a typical set-up for a single-wide trailer, made with cheap materials. The cupboard doors were chipped and the Formica countertop was worn. Everything looked beat-up and dingy, but clean. There were no sagging curtain rods, or gaping holes in the paneling with erupting insulation, so typical of old mobile homes which have been subjected to years of family life. I was impressed.

You can buy book 1, News from Dead Mule Swamp, for only 99¢ at Smashwords, or Amazon

Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp- Chapter 11, Twice

cover design by Farah Evers

I've actually written two chapters since last posting about it. However, I decided to combine the previous chapters 6 and 7 into one since they both were short and took place in the same location.

In this chapter, Ana gets some advice from her friend Cora, whom you met in the previous book.

Here's an excerpt from the current Chapter 11:

    “You’re welcome to read the papers, of course, but they won’t tell you much more than what Len probably told you. The whole thing came to a dead end really quickly. There wasn’t much of an investigation, to tell you the truth.”
    “You remember when it happened, then?”
    “Sure. The Sheriff questioned that boyfriend of hers...”
    “DuWayne.”
    “I’d forgotten his name. But, anyway, his whole day was accounted for...

You can buy book 1, News from Dead Mule Swamp, for only 99¢ at Smashwords, or Amazon

The Value of Good Feedback, Early

I've mentioned my local writer support group here, the West Side Gang, several times. I definitely want to talk about my participation with these people again. Last night there were six women and two men in attendance. (I tell you that only because the picture shows just women.)

Although I'm up to chapter 11 of Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp with the writing, the group only meets twice a month so my sharing is way behind the writing. Last night I read chapter 4 to them. It's the chapter where the crux of what the mystery will be is revealed.

I learned some things from their reactions. This is perhaps an even better story than I anticipated (assuming I can carry it out as well as I introduced it). They were obviously gripped by the "facts" of the case, and are already identifying with the two children in the book, Star and Sunny.

Based on that observation, I think I can dismiss any ambivalence I was feeling about "moving the plot forward" fast enough. It is taking a lot of chapters to create the back story and set the reader up for a big discovery. But I think the interaction of the characters is going to be enough to hold attention.

I am continuing to do at least an adequate job of ending chapters so that people want to read the next one right away. Every meeting, someone says something like "Is that all?" When I finish my chapter.

Somehow, this book is turning out to have more depth of meaning than the first one. Although both are cozy mysteries, the story line of this one is clearly more poignant.

Of course, the group also serves as my "alpha readers." They help me catch errors, repetitions, boring sections, etc. The fact that there are people with many backgrounds and styles who attend gives me varied perspectives.

If you are writing, and seeking publication of any sort, I strongly recommend joining a writing group. Remember, this advice comes from a group avoider, so you can be sure I really mean it.

Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp - Chapter 10

cover design by Farah Evers

This chapter is really long. Is it too long? Should I make it even longer and break it into two? Does it make any difference? All rhetorical questions at this point.

One thing is certain. I always knew the plot for Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp was going to be more complex than News from Dead Mule Swamp, and that would make for a longer book. It seems to me at this point, it's going to be a lot longer. That's fine, but it might be a bit of a surprise to people who read the first book and expect a similar length.

The pacing of this book is also different. I'm hoping that will work out all right.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 10:

    From the kitchen window I watched them play with the pup. They had forgotten to put on their long pants, but they seemed adept at keeping away from the dog’s toenails, dancing around him and teasing him with a stick. Paddy got tired of lunging for a stick he couldn’t get, and brought a yellow tennis ball to Sunny. She tossed it to Star. Of course, Paddy raced toward the older girl, who threw the ball to Sunny. The girls seemed completely at ease with the dog. While they played keepaway, I tore up lettuce and washed the other vegetables and fruits we’d bought.

You can buy book 1, News from Dead Mule Swamp, for only 99¢ at Smashwords, or Amazon

Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp - Chapter 9

cover design by Farah Evers

One of the things about writing a series of books is that certain elements of the protagonist's life and locale will appear over and over. In fact, as a lover of serial mysteries, I expect certain things in (almost) every book. For example, what would a Nero Wolfe novel be without a scene in the orchid room, or would we love Anna Pigeon books as much without the various National Parks as backdrops?

So, I am trying to determine, even at this early point, what are the key parts of an Ana Raven mystery. Based on the feedback I've received so far, people seem to love the descriptions of the rural area, and Ana's interactions with her friends. Chapter 9 has Ana exploring a back route to her house, revealing more of the county.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 9:

    I was a little confused, because I had already crossed the Petite Sauble River, back on Kirtland Road. So, had the road wandered north again, or where was I?
    The map quickly revealed that there was a small river, the Thorpe, coming in from the southwest and flowing into the Petite Sauble. I was only about two miles from my house, and could drive right home if there were still a bridge. I could see a matching dirt road with a guardrail across the water and realized it had to be the seasonal road that continued beyond my place.
    I looked upstream on the Thorpe River. Much to my amazement there was a bridge just a short distance away.

And yes, I am mapping the whole county on graph paper.

You can buy book 1, News from Dead Mule Swamp, for only 99¢ at Smashwords, or Amazon

Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp - Chapter 8

cover design by Farah Evers

Chapter 8 takes Ana to the next county, to a larger town called Emily City. She's learning a lot about taking care of a large puppy, and has just been shopping at a pet store.

Sometimes I feel as if the chapters that don't move the plot along are extraneous. Yet, I know from reading many mysteries, that the parts of the story that fill in details of the characters' lives are part of what makes a book well-liked. I'm working at finding a good balance.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 8:

    In just a few minutes I had pre-paid for an hour of dog-sitting, and was about $50.00 poorer all together, but feeling much better about doing the other errand I hoped to complete. It was good that Paddy seemed happy to go with almost anyone who would pay attention to him. I petted the red head, looked deep into his brown eyes and told him I’d be back soon. His standard answer was a lick and a tail wag, after which he let Brad lead him toward the back door.

As you may have guessed, this book strongly features Patrick, Paddy, the Irish Setter. He makes friends wherever he goes.

Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp - Chapter 7

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I was hoping to write two chapters this weekend, but so far I've only managed one. One is better than none!

I'm sort of hung up on wanting to have some action in Chapter 8, but I really need to bring in another conversation first... unless I can find a way around that. So I'm thinking about it. I know some people say, "just write" and figure it out later. But I do better if I figure it out first.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 7:

    “There we are.” Paula’s gaze roamed over the dining room. “I need to get back to work, but it’s been nice to meet you. Stop in again. I’d like to know how those babies are doing.”
    “Some babies!” I said. “Maybe I’ll bring them here for a treat.”
    “That might work. But you should make sure they feel all right about coming, first. Star was old enough when it happened to have plenty of memories of her mother.”

Chapter 7 just sort of happened. The character and what she would have naturally done next dictated it. It wasn't in my original plan.

You can buy book 1, News from Dead Mule Swamp, for only 99¢ at Smashwords, or Amazon