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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Murphy’s Mystery Law (and 20K reasons I’ll prevail)

by Chautona Havig · 8 Comments

Let me set the scene.  Denny’s.  Eleven o’clock at night.  I had to wait for my “usual” booth–table 14.  It’s the only table in the restaurant with an outlet right at the base of the bench seat.  My spot.

It happens almost every night these days. I walk in, they point to “my table” and tell me to go ahead.  Now and then, someone has the audacity to be sitting there already.  Then I have to wait at another table.  That was last night.  The wait, I  mean.  Someone appears with a Coke.  It could be anyone but the cook.  I think he’s the only one who hasn’t yet.  I’m trying not to be offended.  Uppity guy, that cook.  😉

I show up with two bags.  My purse and my fabulous tote bag–the one my friend Rachel made me.  The one that has half the books I’ve written on it.  Because she’s cool that way.  Unzip the purse… pull out the laptop.  Dig into the little insert pockets and voila!  Earbuds.  BTW… I LOVE my purse insert that I got from  Amazon a few years ago.  I think I paid 5.00 back then, and it looks as good as the day I bought it.  Now you get two in a pack for 7.90 in the color I chose.  Great deal, and it organizes everything so nicely!

Back to the story.  Writerly people sometimes call those little asides, “Plot Bunnies”.  That’s a literary term for, “SQUIRREL!”  (as an aside, another “squirrel” moment: I got my purse insert cleaned out because  I mentioned it here.  So thanks.)

Now this is where everything got interesting last night.  First, I plugged in the earbuds and called up my music playlist.  I believe my first choice last night was The Soul of Erin (The cover is mislabeled as “Sound of Erin”  Hmph.  This is not correct.  I have the album–the VINYL album. I know this stuff.)

I opened The Vintage Wren and started to write.  That lasted… fifteen seconds? You know, long enough for me to figure out I had NO more of my audio notes transcribed?  *insert whimper here* Off goes “Mother Machree” and in comes “Chautona chatter plus road noise.”

Spent an hour transcribing notes.

**SQUIRREL MOMENT**  I switched to “MY” table as soon as the lovely ladies who held it hostage from me released it without ransom.  I’ve got mad negotiation skills.  Or maybe just an evil eye.  Or patience. It could be patience.

Yes, by this point it’s midnight.  It took me until one-thirty to write the day’s chapter in The Vintage Wren.  That includes making two quote memes for today’s sharing.  Just sayin’.  In the interest of full disclosure and all that jazz.  Here’s proof.

391

I ordered “my” custom burger.  For the record, it’s a “Build your own burger” in case you ever want to try it.  I choose the burger patty, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms, and bourbon sauce.  With broccoli instead of fries.  No bun–nothing else.  YUM.

While I ate, I searched for my Madeline notes. Um… gone.  Seriously.  The things are GONE.  But, my audio notes are there.  So, I started listening.  (can you stand the excitement here?  I mean, this is intense stuff.  *rolls eyes at self*)

The ideas–things I’d forgotten I wanted to do–flowed through the wires, into the earbuds, and into my brain.  I typed.  Yep.  More transcription.  Um, this is supposed to be PRODUCTIVE time.  Ahem.  *whimpers again*

Just as I thought I was about done, I hear something at the end.  A tiny little detail I wanted to add to The BIG CLIMAX scene.  And I’d forgotten ALL ABOUT IT.

Something in the scene referenced something else I’d forgotten–a HUGE CLUE.  Um, folks.  Let me just remind you (because I think I need to beat it into my head again).  THIS IS A MYSTERY!!!  (not a murder mystery, but a mystery nonetheless) Um, you can’t leave out vital clues in a mystery and expect it to make any sense.  I don’t know about you, but I hate mysteries where you get to the end and a huge chunk of the how and why just happens to appear with zero foreshadowing.  Um, the fun stuff about mysteries is trying to figure it out YOURSELF.

*thud*

Guess who has to do some adding and rewriting now?

So what’s that 20k reasons and prevailing nonsense in the title of this thing?  Let me tell you.  That’s how many words I have until the book is done. Every word needs to count.  And I’m DETERMINED not to add another 10K words just because I have to add a few scenes.  I can cut if I have to  I can.  But I WILL NOT INCREASE WORDCOUNT.

Madeline…  Will I have any sanity left when I’m done with book one?

Murphy… that guy tries to interject his “law” into everything.  He got me this time, but I WILL prevail.  I WILL.

One word at a time.

One clue at a time.

One book at a time.

Until next time…

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Comments

  1. Sharon Quillman says

    February 4, 2016 at 8:05 am

    Hahaha I’m so thankful I am not the only one that things “disappear” on! I love listening to your process. I’m with Courtney, if you ever need help transcribing you got plenty of us who would do it no problem. There is actually a software out called Dragon NaturallySpeaking (purposefully did not space that btw) that is typically used for medical transcription, but it would work great for you. You speak and it types your notes for you. Unless of course that part of the process helps in your writing process then forget it, we don’t want to change how you write! 🙂

    Love “watching” from afar.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 4, 2016 at 1:38 pm

      I have dragon, but I didn’t know if it would be able to handle the road noise. All of my audio things happen in the car. If I’m going to be driving for six hours, I’m going to be working!!!

      Reply
  2. Lonzine Lee says

    February 4, 2016 at 2:11 am

    Hi Chautona,

    I’m learning so much from you. Thanks so much for the transparency. BTW, I read about half of Corner Booth last night. I love it…for so many reasons. Thanks again.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 4, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      I do love that book. Aaah… Dean. I so relate.

      Reply
  3. Elizabeth says

    February 3, 2016 at 11:16 pm

    “when I’m done with book one”

    Oh, how I love this phrase from you! You just can’t have a 1 without a 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6, can you?! 😉

    Reply
  4. Courtney says

    February 3, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    Girl! Send me your audio files and I’ll transcribe them–free! I promise not to give away any plot secrets. 😉

    Reply
  5. Alicia says

    February 3, 2016 at 3:38 pm

    I absolutely love this post!! So you!! And I love the way you wrote it…with humor and fun and a short story all in itself. :).

    Sounds like it was still an adventurous and productive night all in all.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 3, 2016 at 6:37 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Should I be glad or scared that you liked how its worded. It’s SO ME. It’s what you get if you’re talking to me. LOL

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
byChautona Havig

Hey, we’re back after a couple of weeks of vacation, and boy did I need it. And, have I got a fabulous interview for you. Nancy Naigle and I talked about her books, her most recent release, What Remains True as well as her Christmas books and the one I’m most anxious to read, The Shell Collector. Listen in and learn about what Nancy says about this bet she has going on in What Remains True. Great stuff!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Need a Great Romantic Read to Wind Up Your Summer Reads?

As I said in the podcast, a while back, someone told me I’d LOVE The Shell Collector–one of those people who recommends books you HAVE to read if they say you do.  So I bought it and it’s been sitting on my shelf ever since. Well, now it’s on my GoodReads shelf, and I’m about to start it (and I optimistically thought I’d be done with it by the time this episode released. Oh, me of too much faith in myself and my time management!)

Author of over thirty books, not to mention a bestselling author who also has movies made of her novels (And The Shell Collector has been optioned! EEEP!), Nancy loves to write Christmas books and small-town stories. Seriously, as we talked, I felt like she was talking about me half the time. We’re so very alike in so many ways. It was fun.

Nancy also pointed out that her first books (if you go WAY back) are not Christian fiction and are a bit spicier than she prefers to write and definitely more than she writes today. So be warned there, but she did assure us that they are all closed-door books.

What Remains True by Nancy Naigle

One woman wants to win a bet. One man wants to become a rodeo champion. One little girl may give them both something even better—from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

“A commitment-phobic rodeo star and a divorcée with secrets find love in this wholesome romance. . . . As uplifting as it is sweet.”—Publishers Weekly

Working at a little shop on Main Street in a small town is exactly the break that executive Merry Anna Foster needs following her divorce. She’s made a bet with her ex-husband that she can live on the amount of money she’s giving him in alimony. If she can do it, then Kevin will have to stop complaining and leave her alone. But after three months of this new life, will she even want to leave Antler Creek?

Adam Locklear, bull rider and owner of the local feedstore, is having the best year of his rodeo career. He’s also a bit distracted by the pretty new neighbor living in his old bunkhouse. But Adam has no time for matters of the heart. He’s got his future all mapped out, and that future doesn’t involve a woman just yet. It doesn’t involve parenting a little girl either. However, Carly Fowler still suddenly leaves five-year-old Zan—the daughter Adam didn’t know he had—in his care.

Is it possible that the future holds a life even better than what Merry Anna and Adam had each dreamed of? One that includes both tenderness and even love—not just for each other but for Zan too?

You can learn more about Nancy’s books and movies on her WEBSITE.

Oh, and PSST… I’m loving the audiobook of this one!

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Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
August 9, 2022
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July 26, 2022
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Episode 157: A Chat with Historical Christian Fiction Author, Lynn Austin
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Episode 154: A Chat with Romantic Suspense Author, Sami A. Abrams
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Episode 153: A Chat with Historical Author, Tracie Peterson
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