Get your novel write first time

You’ve turned out a bunch of pages in a burst of inspiration or the marathon of NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month.

Congratulations. You’re off to a good start. But is it ready to publish? Not even close. What you have is a raw lump of clay ready to be shaped into a work of art.

At the Saturday, Oct. 22, meeting of Willamette Writers Coast Chapter, author Sue Fagalde Lick can help to take you from “From Messy First Draft to Masterpiece.”

Writers attending the meeting, held at Newport Public Library, will be taken through the steps of revision and rewriting needed to create a publishable book.

The discussion will include how to make sure your characters ring true, make each chapter do the work it should, ramp up suspense, eradicate unnecessary words and conquer verbal tics. You will also learn when and how to bring in help, such as critique groups, beta readers and paid professional editors. Participants will come away with a plan for the next steps to take with their books.

Lick’s most recent book is “Seal Rock Sound,” a sequel to her novel “Up Beaver Creek.” Both are set in Lincoln County. She has published several others, including “Unleashed in Oregon,” “Stories Grandma Never Told,” “Childless by Marriage” and two poetry chapbooks.

Co-founder of the Oregon Coast chapter of Willamette Writers, she is currently president of the Oregon Poetry Association. 

Saturday’s workshop runs from 2 pm to 3:30 pm at Newport Public Library, located at 35 NW Nye Street. For more information, go to willamettewriters.org.