Beth TerrellSitting down with Beth
Elizabeth “Beth” Terrell is one of my new heroes and favorite people. She wrote the first draft of her first novel from her Jared McKean series, at 75,000 words, in six weeks. She outlined the first week and then called upon the muses to help her create a masterpiece in 4 weeks time. Now, she says that it wasn’t a “masterpiece so much as a good character study.” I’m pretty sure she’s being modest.
Beth learned to read at the age of three, under the tutelage of her Aunt Frances, who coupled with her grandmother, showed Beth her storyteller roots. She was always writing and knew that “when I grow up, I will teach and I will be a writer.” She is on her way to achieving her dream.
On Writing
She began her writing adventure by discovering a contest for St. Martin’s. The contest was for a detective novel. So, with five weeks to complete a novel, Beth got down to business. While she initially tried to write about a female P.I., it was the image of Jared McKean, leaning against a fence post in jeans and a bomber jacket, which she saw in her mind. She knew that he was “waiting for me to ask…who are you?” Beth worked to pull the story from Jared and piece it together.
The first draft didn’t win the contest, but it won Beth her first agent. She decided to revise the novel, tearing out beloved chunks, fearlessly re-imagining the story with a more pounced plot and sub plot. She used index cards, “white for plot/mystery, purple for one subplot, yellow for another” then pulling the note cards together and reading them, Beth decided what should stay and what didn’t move the story along.
She would toss the unwanted card out and keep going, allowing the plot to grow as the pieces came together as a whole. Thanks to the intensive re-creating, it would become “my first book and my third.” Beth says, “If I keep writing them over and over again, I know I will get it right.” Revise, rewrite, and revise.
The character of Jared McKean was created to be “a man’s man.” But it took intensive research because, “Men don’t know whether to be John Wayne or Alan Alda.” Beth had discover who her main character would be, and she knew she couldn’t input too much of herself, or the character would end up too feminine. She took the parts that could transition, such as being a horseman, enjoying tae-kwon do and having once been a part of theatre. My favorite: that theatre experience, because Jared’s knowledge of costumes would provide him with various disguises. Beth saw a picture of a good guy who has his flaws, but keeps trying.
What makes Jared come to life is that Beth sees him as a character and a person. In fact, her writing quirk is that when she finds herself stuck, she pulls Jared out a chair, grabs a notepad and jots down a question. She then asks him, “alright, what happened next?” Jared is the inspiration, and the talented Beth Terrell is his guide; together they are a perfect team.
Advice
I asked Beth what advice she has for other writers. “Read a lot. Write a lot. Edit a lot.” She acknowledges that as writers, “we fall so in love with our work, it can be hard to throw a huge chunk out.” But, the more a writer learns to rewrite, the better off they are.
“Never give up,” Beth advises, and when it comes to a fellow writer’s work, “put it out, send it, keep doing it and make a plan to stay motivated.” It’s your dream, follow it.
Coming up for Beth Terrell
Beth continues following her dream. You can find her at Killer Nashville 2009, and keep an eye out for the re-release of her novel Racing the Devil, under her pen name E. Michael Terrell, which will be coming soon to a store near you.
Comments
“Read a lot. Write a lot. Edit a lot.” Excellent advice, thanks. And thanks for the interview.--Michelle C
Thank you, Paige, for your kind article. I hope I'm half the writer you see in me. I also hope to see you at Killer Nashville in August--and at the dog park in the meantime! Luca and Jared say hi.
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