Writing  The White Limousine was a learning experience spanning countless hours with several drafts and revisions.  While I was writing, I took a series of courses from local author and fiction writing instructor, Robert Wiersma. Robert’s small class size (limited to 12) and his intensive’ workshopping’ approach involved receiving critiques from fellow students as well as from Robert. This approach exposed us to many different genres, and an appreciation for a variety of writing styles. There were many ‘aha’ moments as I struggled to convey the images in my head on to the page. Attending conferences and taking in presentations by various writers have also been instructive. My critique group with the Victoria Writer’s Society has provided valuable feedback.

There were times when I thought that I was on the last draft, but I also learned that what seems like brilliant writing at the time of conception often reads a lot less so when reviewed a few days later; or a plot that seems watertight has sprung a leak or two. These are two of the many challenges involved in learning the craft of writing fiction.

I was so involved with the craft aspects of writing, that I never thought much about what happens when  the last draft really is the last draft. Rob Wiersma put it something like this: There comes a time when every novel becomes an orphan – a time when you lay it on the church steps and hope for the best. The White Limousine is officially an orphan, but the end of one process is the beginning of another. Preparing for publishing  is a painstaking process that involves professional editing, book cover design, book formatting and layout and, the hardest part of all – writing the back cover blurb: aka, condensing a 300 page book into a couple of sentences. All of that is done. The printer is next. We’ll get a draft book, do another review, and then hopefully, the orphan will be ready for the church steps.

All I wanted to do when I started on my writing journey was to write a few books.