Starting Over

by Gina X Grant

Late in 2018, I left Toronto where I’d lived for the better part of six decades, and moved into the house of my dreams in Aurora. I’ve always been a joiner, having belonged to just about every writer group you can think of. So, even though I’d chosen to take a year off writing while I built a new life, I joined the Writer’s Community of York Region (WCYR). I attended only one or two meetings before the world locked down. Since the world was ending, I decided I’d never write again, let all my memberships lapse, and gained twenty pounds. As one does.

But the world didn’t end, so in 2023, re-joined the WCYR (and Weight Watchers) and vowed to attend as many activities as I could. I lost the twenty pounds and in October became inspired to write another book, after hearing Jenny Madore speak at our sister-group, WCDR (Durham). With WCYR’s encouragement, I participated in NaNoWriMo and wrote 50,000 words in about 40 days.

Now I’m writing a new (to me) genre—the cozy mystery. I’ve written action-adventure in the past, some with mysterious elements, but a murder mystery is a highly structured form. With my first draft done, I needed to make sure it would hold reader interest. Imagine my joy when I read that the next WCYR seminar offering would be Increasing Tension and Suspense. Not only that, but it was at the Aurora Public Library, which is just down the road from my home.

Bruce Hanson arrived prepared, offering informative handouts and assigning engaging exercises. I much prefer a workshop to a lecture and Bruce really delivered. He covered the basics such as “show, don’t tell,” and dialogue tags versus action tags, before leading us to more advanced topics such as the ever challenging “pacing.” It never hurts to review the basics, and I learned something new about structure and pacing.

The epiphany moment—the one that really made it worthwhile—actually happened later. Bruce encouraged questions and participation from the attendees, and one such discussion was around flashbacks. I’m a fan, while others… not so much. I cited the TV show Highlander, which would always have a “B” plot that jumped back in time to tell a story that informed the “A” plot. Yes, we all agreed. That’s one way to do it,

But upon reviewing my manuscript the next day, I realized I hadn’t done that. I’d written a few fun flashbacks that did give insight into how the main character, a retired con artist, became who she is today. But these flashbacks accomplished little else. Oh, no! Isn’t that exactly what we don’t want a flashback to do? A few quick tricks with Word and I had transferred an outline to Excel, where I replotted my flashbacks into their own relevant story. Because this is first in a series, it’s so important to get it right or readers won’t bother with book two. Plus, this now defines the structure of each novel in this series going forward. Knowing this from the outset will make plotting so much easier.

In summary, I found Bruce’s presentation both informative and fun. I also enjoyed the in-person discussion and socializing. I can’t wait to get to know my fellow WCYR members better.

Gina X. Grant / Storm Grant. Gina began writing professionally in 2006 after cutting her writerly teeth on fanfic. Her books have been published by small, medium, and large presses, including an urban fantasy series with Simon & Schuster. In 2010, she began self-publishing her novels, and now has more than a dozen novels and short stories available under the pen names Storm Grant and Gina X. Grant. On Facebook, she goes by Gina Storm Grant. She is a member/past member of many writing organizations, including SFWA, SinC, RWA, and NinC, as well as her local organization, the Writers Community of York Region. Gina lives in Aurora, Ontario with a rescued Mexican street dog named Canoli.

Find her at: http://www.ginaxgrant.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/gina.x.grant

Bruce A. Hanson (a.k.a. Robert Rime) is a member of the Muskoka Authors Association, the Barrie Writers Club, and the Writers’ Community of York Region. He has travelled quite a distance from his analytical electrical engineering roots, which included a short stint working on the space shuttle’s Canadarm. He has trained with Second City Toronto, appeared on the Cottage Life television show Cottage Cheese, and has worked as an extra for TV and film including Flashpoint, Warehouse 13, and John A.: Birth of a Country. Bruce’s short fiction has received nine writing awards. Reach him at bruceahanson.author@gmail.com.