Recently I was tagged for the Work in Progress Challenge by Jennifer Eaton and Gene3067. My sincere thanks go to both bloggers for including me. If you haven’t yet visited their blogs, please do so. You won’t be disappointed.
Someday, when I’m published, someone might want to interview me. Hey, stranger things have happened, right? And these questions are good practice for that day. So without further ado, here are the questions and my answers.
1. What is the title of your Work In Progress?
I have two novels, Death Out of Time and Summer at the Crossroads. Since “Death” is more traditional time travel/sci-fi, I think it’s more readily marketable as a first novel. I’ll focus on this WIP for these questions. I really like both titles, and if the works see traditional publication, I hope the press agrees.
2. Where did the idea for the WIP come from?
In late 2007 or early 2008, I saw a TV program on “mysteries” at the Smithsonian Museum. One of the segments was about a naturally formed mummy from the 1700s, in Pennsylvania as I remember. When researchers tried to find more information about the individual, they couldn’t. And some of the clothing items in the grave weren’t commonly available in the area until after he died. I thought that would make an interesting idea for a novel. You can see more about my beginnings as a writer and this manuscript with this post.
3. What genre would your WIP fall under?
Since time travel is a major component, I suspect it will get classified as science fiction. But there’s a strong mystery element in the book, and I honestly believe it can appeal to a wider audience.
4. Which actors would you choose to play characters in a movie rendition?
Some who aren’t yet well known. I don’t want to force an image of the characters on my readers. I give some basic descriptions in the book, but you have the leeway to project your own ideas. If it ever hits the big screen, I don’t want to see big names in the starring roles.
5. What is a one-sentence synopsis of your WIP?
Er … I am so not ready for one sentence. Um … What happens when an archaeologist discovers the final resident in her eighteenth-century cemetery is a skeleton with twenty-first-century dental work and artifacts? Is that a start? Or totally lame?
6. Is your WIP published or represented?
Are there established authors taking part in this challenge? Because who else in today’s publishing has representation for a work in progress?! (And by definition, a WIP wouldn’t be published.)
7. How long did it take you to write?
I didn’t start writing it until late spring/early summer 2009. Some of my beta readers tell me I have one more draft before moving to “grinding and polishing.” So more than 3.5 years so far…. But much of that time was spent with the other WIP, and I can only write part-time.
8. What other WIP’s in your genre would you compare it to?
I think this question should ask for a comparison to published works. I asked a few readers if they could do this because I can’t come up with any. I honestly don’t think it reads like any sci-fi/time travel stories that I know. I hope that’s a good thing. So far, no one else has come up with a comparison, either.
9. Which authors inspired you to write this WIP?
I can’t say there were any conscious influences. I’ve never read a book and said, “Oh, I want to write something like that. I think I will.” Subconsciously? Probably every author I’ve read has had some influence on me—Isaac Asimov, Clifford Simak, Ursula Le Guin, just to name a few from the science fiction shelves.
10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest about this WIP.
If you enjoy science fiction/time travel books that emphasize a good story and engaging characters over futuristic tech, Death Out of Time could be for you.
11. Finally: Tag three other Authors and ask them to complete the above interview.
When I was caught in another “tagged” game, I wrote a series of interview questions for fellow writers. So I don’t think I should hit any of them again. But here are three who eluded me then, so I’ll get them this time. They are, of course, under no obligation to play.
This concludes our interview, and I hope you have a wonderful day. Until next time!
laurastanfill
/ October 13, 2012So fun to hear about your WIP, jm!
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Thanks, Laura! I’m really hoping it’s ready to shop sometime next year…. Fingers crossed!
laurastanfill
/ October 13, 2012They’re crossed for you! I spent seven years working on my last novel… only to send it to my agent, finally, and have her pass on it because the economic climate had changed. Those were the wrong seven years to sit on a manuscript and keep reworking it; when I started, the industry was still in good (enough) shape.
Point is, I don’t regret the seven years of writing, though. It’s a much better book for the time I spent revising (and teaching myself to revise). I always love hearing about writers who have spent more than a year (or two) working on a project.
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012I’m amazed at people who can work full-time jobs, raise families and still find time to draft a novel in a few months. I cannot do that. Maybe if I could spend all my work time on writing…. But I don’t think that will be an option before retirement! And while writers like me may not appear to be “serious” on the surface, given the other responsibilities in our lives, I think something positive should be said about us sticking with it through the years!
I don’t think any writing is wasted, even if it doesn’t make the final cut or see the light of day. It’s all been good exercise for our creative process and writing skills. Here’s to all of us tortoises!
laurastanfill
/ October 13, 2012Cheers!
philosophermouseofthehedge
/ October 13, 2012Ditto the cheers. Actually sometimes it seems that full time writers are less “serious” and successful than one who balances work, family and life like a juggler…..maybe it’s having to shift focus/concentration all the time to everyday life keeps a writer from getting too close and stumbling/laboring over unimportant details of the story? Juggling is bound to insert “real life” into the story as you are having it actually interrupting all the time? (Does this make any sense? Writing in isolation and away from life may be detrimental for some?)
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012It makes sense! While I’m convinced the main ideas for my stories come from the main characters and my muse, many of the supporting scenes and dialogue come from my interactions with people and places in this world. If I kept myself closeted away, I doubt I could bring a sense of “currentness” or “reality” to the stories.
Vanessa Chapman
/ October 13, 2012I would imagine that originally these questions were written with the word ‘Novel’ rather than ‘WIP’, but somebody along the line changed it to ‘WIP’ which is why a couple of the questions don’t quite work. But that aside, interesting to hear more about your WIP. I would say that your one sentence synopsis is perfect – out of all the answers to the questions, that’s the one that made me feel a little surge of excitement about the possibility of reading this novel at some point.
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Hmm, so I give boring interviews? Just kidding!
It makes sense that this would have started as a real interview for someone who had written a novel. And now those two questions don’t quite fit.
I am really hoping to have this WIP ready to shop sometime next year. If I can do a good job with the upcoming revisions, that would do it for the “nuts and bolts” of the plot, scenes, and story. Then it would be polishing up the language rather than more revisions.
It will be published! The only question is: In what format?
char
/ October 13, 2012This story does sound intriguing, especially with the time/travel twist.. I love how hard and long you’ve worked on it. Great Q/A session. Jacqueline.
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Thanks, Char! Of course, every writer probably thinks they’ve done something new and different, but I hope I’ve at least come up with an interesting idea, even if it’s not the world’s most original or creative one.
Now if I can just make it to the finish line….
char
/ October 14, 2012You will! Go, go, go! Or as I usually scream from the stands at track meets, “Go faster!” Then I feel like a goof, since I know she’s going the fastest she can. I just feel like I have to scream something. Keep up the good work.
jmmcdowell
/ October 14, 2012Carrie Rubin
/ October 13, 2012Your premise sounds really intriguing and original. Clever concept. I can’t wait to read it! And kudos to you for talking about it. I think it will be a long time before I spill any info on my current WIP. Dishing on my work is hard for me, and I have no idea why.
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012We’ll see if I can pull it off.
And if I weren’t so far into it, I’m not sure how much I’d want to talk about it, either. I wouldn’t say much about the sequel right now since so little of it is written. Just think of all the changes that might happen before the first draft was finished!
While I’m finding it easier to talk about the WIPs on the blog, I wish I could come up with other post topics that would interest a wider audience like you do. I’m trying, but that’s what I find hard to do!
Carrie Rubin
/ October 13, 2012Oh, I think you’ve covered a nice variety. You’re definitely an outside-the-box kind of thinker.
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012But not enough to get me fr…ly pr…ed.
And I would need something like that to bring a wider audience to the blog. So far, most people who follow it are fellow writers, which is fine for my “platform” at this stage. But I’ll need to broaden things somehow as the book gets closer to publication. We’ll see how it goes. 
Carrie Rubin
/ October 13, 2012Well, you’ve got a good hook with your archaelogy. It’s a unique field, and most of us find it fascinating (whether it is in reality or not
).
Julie
/ October 13, 2012Oh, I like the sound of this
The one sentence synopsis was very good, makes me want to read it. The closest thing I’ve read to it the sound of this that I can think of (and it’s only somewhat similar) is Connie Willis’ Doomsday Book, which was fabulous.
Thanks for the tag. That should give me something to do today while I try not to write my November book.
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Thanks, Julie! It was easy to put you on the tag list, and when I did, I was wondering which WIP you would choose!
And now you’ve given me my next book to read, so thank you again!
[As you plan for NaNo, I honestly think you should have a second book idea outlined and ready for the last half of November. You may very well have time for it!
]
Julie
/ October 13, 2012You know, I’d probably take your suggestion if the NaNo novel wasn’t the close of a trilogy. I don’t think I’m ready to write the next one after that. But I love that you think I’m capable of writing two novels in a month
And you’re welome for the Connie Willis recommendation. I keep meaning to go back and reread that one. It really was excellent.
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Well, if a new novel is out of the picture, there are always stand-alone short stories or short stories that are related to the larger novels. Those are good for “bonus content” to fans of your books when they’re published. You could either do a volume of short stories or have them as extras on your future web site.
Julie
/ October 13, 2012Yeah, I agree. I just don’t have any short story ideas ready to go. I have been holding mine as bonus content at this point. I don’t know about doing the collection. I’d have to call it something like Origins, as all of my shorts have been preludes to the novels.
On the other hand, the first book of my next project seems to be responding to your prod. The climax and end of that book just took shape in my brain, and I haven’t even had coffee yet!
philosophermouseofthehedge
/ October 13, 2012I cannot believe you were able to write such a good one word synopsis. And one that is bound to intrigue people. That’s a very difficult skill – probably comes from your background of pulling facts together and drawing a concise conclusion?
Anyway, the book sounds fascinating – partly because you write with such a balance between fiction and scientific fact ( which is often stranger than fiction?).
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Hmm, drawing precise conclusions…. That sounds so right for scientific fields. And yet when it comes to our professional writing, archaeologists are some of the most obtuse and wordy folks out there! We may not be the worst when it comes to jargon, but I challenge anyone to beat us in length! Seriously, most dissertations are at least 400 pages long, and two volumes for the hard copy is not uncommon. You could probably do serious damage to your foot if you dropped one on it.
But I’m glad to hear you like the one-sentence synopsis. This challenge really forced me to start thinking about it. And now I’m ready if someone asks, “So what’s your book about?”
Fingers crossed I will have the final draft done next year and will be shopping it.
Oh, and fact is definitely stranger than fiction. The other WIP has a scene that will leave a lot of people wondering, “How do you invent something like that?” And the reality is—it’s based on a true event.
philosophermouseofthehedge
/ October 13, 2012The thing about some research writing is you have to be sufficiently vague or someone will nail you solidly for jumping to unsubstantiated conclusions in a published piece. But secretly, before the writing, there’s a lot of boiling down of info into manageable lengths?
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012That is true. We will draw specific conclusions from the work. But they won’t sound that clear-cut in the publications.
Brigitte
/ October 13, 2012J, your book sounds great! I love mysteries but I’m not a big science fiction fan. Is there mayhem and killing in it? It’s difficult for me to talk about my writing. I always feel like I have to finish something before I can and only allow a trusted few to read my work. But thank you for sharing yours and I look forward to reading it once you’ve finished it.
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Hey, Brigitte, to be honest, there’s very little mayhem and killing in it.
But there is unexplained death, and the protagonists try to figure out what happened. Unlike a lot of sci-fi, this story takes place mostly in our own time and on Earth. I think I do a good job of “grounding” readers in the story so that even non-sci-fi readers won’t flounder.
When I decided to start blogging in advance of publication (as all the advice says writers must do), I also decided to talk some about the WIPs. I don’t want to give away too many details, but I did want readers to know something about them—and to let them decide if the books might interest them once published. But it’s hard for me to do that, too.
annewoodman
/ October 13, 2012Well, JM, I guess I have an inside track on this post. ; ) I think the fact that you can’t think of any books like yours is a good start towards publication… I could think of a few that I was not trying to emulate but that reminded me of my first WIP, and I think it affected whether people wanted to represent it.
You have a great premise and good follow-through. (I, too, am amazed when someone with a full life can crank out a novel in four months or whatever. I’ve been at my second WIP since this spring, and I’ve been writing at what I consider a “furious” rate… and yet. Still not drafted. And that’s just the draft!)
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Thanks, Anne! There’s always a lump in my stomach when I send out a draft to beta readers.
But that’s really the best way to “whip a WIP” into shape for submission to agents or editors.
The whole “compare your WIP to a published work” when querying gives me mixed feelings. I can understand agents wanting a comparison they’re familiar with to get a feel for the work and potential press options. But shouldn’t something new be attractive on its own? How many of the vampire books will stand up through time, for example? I’d bet the first books to restart the craze will be the last ones standing.
The first draft of Summer at the Crossroads took me six months to complete. But much of that wasn’t in competition with the second book, Death Out of Time. And I wasn’t working as many part-time hours. The first draft of “Death” took a lot longer. And honestly? “Summer” has needed much more time for revisions. We all have different writing habits and schedules. My philosophy is that the WIPs take as long as they need.
kindredspirit23
/ October 13, 2012Enjoyable. My only criticism would be that your WIP is much better than you tout it. Personally, I think the first one “Death…” is one of the best sci-fi books on the subject that I have read in a very long time, and I do love time travel.
Scott
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Why, thank you, Scott! I hope others will agree with you once it’s published.
It’s really hard for me to “talk up” my books—doing so just runs counter to my nature. And I always think they could be better. But at some point, writers have to say “enough” and start the publication process. I do hope that next year an agent will agree with you!
kindredspirit23
/ October 13, 2012If he doesn’t, you may need a new agent.
Elliot
/ October 13, 2012Do you like time travel films as well then? If so what do you like. I like time travel stories, and for films off the top of my head I can think of 12 monkeys, The butterfly effect (which is slinky cheesy but fun, and of course Back to the Future.
I of course apologize for asking about films in a post about writing!
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012I do enjoy time travel films, too. Back to the Future is such a classic and lots of fun. A couple of the adaptations of H. G. Wells’ The Time Machine have been good. And The Navigator was an interesting take on the idea. Who knows, maybe someday there will be an adaptation of Death Out of Time.
(No, I’m not holding my breath!)
Elliot
/ October 14, 2012Oh yeah, the 1960 version of The Time Machine is a good one. That film just out (or soon to be) “Looper” also has an interesting concept.
Kourtney Heintz
/ October 13, 2012Tough questions that you handled really well! I think you’ve got a great start on the logline too!
jmmcdowell
/ October 13, 2012Thanks, Kourtney! Of course, I can just picture myself meeting an agent somewhere who asks about the book—and I promptly forget not only the logline but the characters’ names and the story line!
winsomebella
/ October 13, 2012Not “someday” but “when” and not “might’ but “will.”
jmmcdowell
/ October 14, 2012I really need to work on my “positive thinking,” don’t I! Drat that Midwestern, Catholic upbringing!
diannegray
/ October 14, 2012The book sounds (and is) fantastic. Well done for facing the challenge.
I love your one sentence synopsis (I find these really difficult).
Thank you so much for the tag
jmmcdowell
/ October 14, 2012I feel funny saying I like the book. I mean, writers should like their work, right? Of course, how objective can I be? But even with the suggested revisions (and there have been a number of them!), my betas also have been encouraging. So more days than not, I’m optimistic that the book will find an audience of some size.
The one sentence synopsis was tough. I had a few sentences down, this tag forced me to condense those down. If nothing else, it’s a great challenge for that!
4amWriter
/ October 14, 2012Like everyone else, I think you did a great job summarizing your book in one sentence. That’s one of the hardest aspects of saying what your book is about, because you’d think there are so many other elements that need to be mentioned.
I started keeping my one-sentence pitch in my wallet. I learned that lesson not because I met an agent on the airplane, but because my accountant asked me what my book was about. I totally froze. I figured if a numbers guy intimidates me, then I’m going to be hopeless in a real situation.
Plus, I think 3 1/2 years is pretty darn good for crafting a novel, especially when this wasn’t something you expected to ever do. It’s not like you took classes and workshops or went to writing conferences to prepare for this gig. You were obviously meant to write it.
jmmcdowell
/ October 14, 2012Thanks, Kate.
It was hard to do. Now I just have to MEMORIZE that sentence and then craft a few more as a follow up. But I like your solution of carrying a copy of it in your wallet. Because frankly, an agent shouldn’t hold it against us if we freeze up when asked about the story. It’s only natural, I think, for unpublished authors to be that nervous!
I’m just thankful my characters chose me to tell the story and have stuck with me through the years. Of course, I did stick with them when they went from sci-fi to mystery and back to sci fi.
Maybe they owe me that one!
And hopefully my lack of classes, workshops, and conferences won’t show when I shop the story….
4amWriter
/ October 14, 2012Well, your lack of classes et al didn’t show when I read the story. So, I think you’re AOK there.
jmmcdowell
/ October 14, 2012Given your writing and editing abilities, I am smiling and breathing a huge sigh of relief now.
susartandfood
/ October 15, 2012JM, we can say we knew you when some day I’m sure. Writing, for those of us who love to do it, is such a wonderful outlet. As you say whether it remains tucked in a journal or blazes across the big screen it is a pleasure to be part of the creative process.
jmmcdowell
/ October 15, 2012It’s comments like yours that keep me going through the inevitable rounds of self-doubt.
Things would be so much easier if I wasn’t hoping to find an audience for my writing! But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Another round of revisions begins soon. And then lots of grinding and polishing. 
Carol Wuenschell
/ October 16, 2012I enjoyed reading these details about your work. I think the premise sounds fascinating, and if it’s as much fun as your Megan mystery it’s going to be a winner. (Of course I don’t expect so many details about the nitty-gritty of archaeology in your novel.) Regardless, I’m in.
jmmcdowell
/ October 16, 2012Thanks, Carol.
You’re right—there are only a few snippets of archaeology details in the novel. Madeleine has her hands full with “other issues” very early on in the story. 
What would it be like to go to work one day and the world turns upside down? 
I hope I’ve got a fun take on that idea.
Smaktakula
/ October 16, 2012You know, having a “work in progress” is a lot more than a lot of people have. Moreover, having a “work in progress” that is LEGITIMATELY in progress, is a lot more than MOST people have. These things take time.
jmmcdowell
/ October 16, 2012It does take time. And some people don’t realize that the editing and revising and re-editing and re-revising can take much longer than the writing of the first draft. (Unfortunately, they’re often the people who e-publish themselves and flood Amazon and Barnes & Noble with less-than-decent books.) Would I love to do a well-written, well-edited book every year? Absolutely. But unless I win the lottery, that’s not likely to happen. And since I don’t play the lottery…. The books will take longer. And I’m okay with that.
gene3067
/ October 16, 2012Yay! That was wonderful. I regret only getting to this post now. Never worry about how long it takes. Just think about how your book will become part of socital history in its own right.
jmmcdowell
/ October 17, 2012Thanks, Gene.
Cross your fingers, if all goes well, I’ll be shopping the book next year. We’ll see what happens and take it from there.
gene3067
/ October 17, 2012Count my fingers crossed.