The 14th First Chapter
Randy Overbeck reflects on the long road to getting it right, showing how persistence, revision, and a refusal to settle for “good enough” turned one chapter into fourteen drafts and ultimately shaped a bestselling, award-winning mystery series.
A few years ago, when the first entry in my Haunted Shores Mysteries was released, I was doing a book talk at the Carnegie Library at a small town in Ohio. A young reporter (probably 19 or 20) from a small town newspaper was covering the event—such as it was.
After my brief presentation to the very small crowd, the reporter came over, her green eyes sparkling. Pen and pad in hand, she said, “Dr. Overbeck, my editor asked me to interview you but first I have to tell you something.” She was practically bubbling. “I’m a reporter for the Journal but I’m also in college and I’m taking creative writing classes. And this week, the professor discussed the elements an author needs to have in a first chapter.” She pointed the pen at me. “When I read your Blood on the Chesapeake, I was bowled over. Your first chapter hit every element on his list.”
I smiled at her. “Do you know why?”
Those green eyes got wide. “I’d love to know the secret.”
I whispered, though loud enough for the others who had gathered around to hear, “It’s the fourteenth first chapter.”
Her nose scrunched. “What?”
“The final published version has what was my fourteenth attempt to write the first chapter.”
Incredulous, she asked, “You rewrote this one chapter fourteen different times? Why did you do that? What was wrong with the first thirteen?”
By now, the four others who had lingered moved in closer, probably hoping for something juicy. I glanced at them, then back at the young female journalist. “Because I wanted to get it right. It’s not that there was anything wrong with the earlier versions. They simply weren’t the very best I could do…and I knew it.”
She frowned at me. “That sounds like a lot of work for just one chapter. I don’t know. Why didn’t you stop at ten…or twelve?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just that I knew I hadn’t hit it, yet though I knew I was getting close.”
She scribbled a few words in her notebook. “Did you keep track? Like this is number ten?”
I smiled. “No, I didn’t realized I had gone through thirteen versions until later. But when I nailed the final version, I felt it worked and continued writing the rest of the book.”
She shook her head. “Still, it sounds like a lot of work for what, six pages?”
“It was. Look, your first chapter, your first paragraph is your only chance to hook your readers—once they check out your cover and blurb. If that beginning isn’t good, captivating even, they won’t bother to keep reading… and more important, they won’t buy the book.” I pointed to the copy she was holding. “It worked for you, didn’t it?”
She looked sheepish. “To tell you the truth, this isn’t my usual read. I’m mostly into romance. But when I got this assignment, I thought I should check out your novel, maybe read a few pages. And I started it right after that class in creative writing. When I read that first chapter, I was hooked. Read the whole book in two days.”
I said, “I treated every other chapter the same way. Not that any of them required thirteen revisions or rewrites, but I made sure every chapter advanced the story, amped the suspense, spooled out the romance. I gave each chapter the same attention, editing and revising it until I felt I got it right.”
The reported glanced down at her copy of Blood on the Chesapeake in her hand and thumbed through the dogeared pages. “How long did it take? To write the whole book?”
“I didn’t have a deadline. Probably close to eighteen months, about a year and a half.”
“Eighteen months?” she repeated. “Was it worth it?”
I grinned. “Well, the book’s only been out a few months, it’s selling well and the novel has already won a national award, the GOLD AWARD from Literary Titan.”
She scribbled furiously on her pad resting atop my novel, my well-loved novel by the looks of it. “Thanks, I’ve got plenty for my article.” She handed me a business card. “Should be in next week’s edition.”
I’ve lost track of the young reporter and aspiring writer but I’ve never forgotten that meeting. Each new book, each writing endeavor, I struggle to keep in mind those words I shared with her. I don’t ever want to release anything—much less an entire novel—unless it’s the very best I can do. I guess it works because my titles have now earned a dozen national awards including THRILLER OF THE YEAR (ReadersFavorite) BEST BOOK (Chanticleer Reviews) and MYSTERY OF THE YEAR (Reader Views). And so far, I’ve notched #1 and #2 bestsellers.
And I can say my newest entry in the series, Red Shadows at Saugatuck, which was released in July, represents some of my best writing ever and critics agree. “One of the finest books ever written, a paranormal mystery that stole my soul and took my breath away.”—N N Light Bookheaven. Wow!
I’d consider it a personal favor if you’d check it out and see for yourself. Let me know what you think
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, speaker and podcaster. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined that experience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series, the bestselling series, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries,” and the award-winning series, “Lessons in Peril.” His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awards including Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) and amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Dr. Overbeck also hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and can be heard wherever listeners get their podcasts. He is a speaker in considerable demand, sharing his popular presentations about ghosts and the world of book publishing with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S.
As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.
When he’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy and visiting both his far-flung family and the scenic locations around this country, often in search of inspiration for his next great story.
More info about his novels, programs and podcast can be found at his website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com
Email: randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com
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RED SHADOWS AT SAUGATUCK
Darrell Henshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him for years. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo has inherited his “gift.”
Now, they both can see ghosts.
Upon his parents’ insistence, Darrell agrees to drive his young family 800 miles to celebrate his Aunt Gertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once in the resort town of Saugatuck, Michigan, their participation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missing weeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss their concerns—”Those girls run away all the time.” Still, as questions pile up and threats grow, Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even more evil than one missing teen.
Can Darrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife and five-year-old son in danger?