Yesterday I went to our first nano meet since November. Our group is awesome, as we don't like to wait an entire year to see each other, so we meet up once a month, except for December, when we're all pretty nano-ed out (and with Christmas, it makes it hard to find a time.)
Anyway, it was fantastic. While we didn't have quite the turn out that we have during November, I got to see more than a few people who I have been missing. And it hit me while I was there...it's been two months since I've seen everybody last.
Two months. Really? I don't know about you guys, but my Christmas is always busy. December is stuffed full of shopping that no one really wants to do, travelling that leaves you tired only to see the family for maybe two days before you find yourself back to reality and trying to get back into the swing of things. For me January was nearly as busy, with me trying to keep up on the ridiculous amounts of editing I have to do for my Dangerous Waters book, along with critique group stuff. And then losing my grandfather last week and having to drop everything I was doing to go down and see the family again.
These last two months have been crammed full. They were tiring, and in some cases not all that pleasant, and I should be glad to have them done. And I am glad. I was glad that I could see the people that I am quickly coming to see as my family. I was glad to be back in the atmosphere of a group of writers just wanting to get that book done. While there wasn't the competitive nature that there is during November, just being there and seeing those people helped to remind me that just because nano is over and everything is changing, doesn't have to mean that it's all bad.
Despite how busy I've been, though, when I was sitting in that restaurant yesterday, looking around at the room full of writers that have the ability (and have managed to do so in the past) to scare waitresses and make them worry about us, I couldn't help but think 'wait, it's been two months already'?
Two months since I wrote three novels (and I'm not even done editing the one I started before nano)? Two months since I've seen everyone. Two months where I've barely written anything!
It's sad, really, that all I've written since nano ended is a single chapter that I owed a friend for a collaboration I'm doing. I try to remind myself that I've been editing, but that's not really true, either. I've been procrastinating. I've been blogging (Which I love and wont stop doing. In fact, you can start looking forward to two posts a week instead of one, at least for next month). I've been critiquing. But I haven't been doing what I should be doing, at least not with the seriousness that I should have.
So as of right now, I'm going to set this goal for myself: I am going to finish Dangerous Waters by the end of April. (Beta readers allowing, of course.) I'm going to have a new book (thus far untitled) written before the end of July (To the first draft.) And I am going to update my blog twice a week.
To be honest, I don't know if I can do all of it, but I'm certainly going to try. Because if I don't take myself seriously and force myself to do the work, can I really expect other people to take me seriously?
Wish me luck!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
When Life Laughs At Your Plans
Since November I have been furiously trying to get everything done. I've started the Epic Year of Querying (and I do plan on getting some of that done, I just have to finish editing first) I've joined a contest, and I've been taking this blog seriously, rather than something I thought I should do because everyone else was doing it. In other words, I've become a writer.
Just like in writing, I have plans for my life. I planned, for instance, that I would get my editing done for critique group this weekend. And that I would be hanging out with my friends. I was living my life the way I thought I should.
That was when disaster struck. You see, life never lets you do exactly what you want it to. Sometimes there are things in life that makes you drop everything you're doing. Things that usually come to you in a single phone call and you realize that your life is about to change again.
On friday, at about 5 pm, I got just such a phone call. It was from my mother, and we knew it was bad because she was crying. Though I've seen my mom cry before, she always tries to play things down for us. When she was getting an angiogram last year she told us it was 'just a test, and I'm fine.' So when we answered that phone, we knew that something was seriously wrong.
My grandfather died on friday.
We didn't spend weeks visiting him in the hospital while he drifted further and further away. We weren't mentally prepared for this to happen. He had been having some heart problems, and he even had surgery in 2010, from which he never quite recovered fully from, but his death was still a shock. He died after getting morphine for some pain. They never diagnosed what, exactly happened. All we know is that he fell asleep and his heart stopped.
My grandfather never lived near me, and yet so many of my childhood memories include him. He used to be in the marines, you know the type. Tattoos all down his arms, all of them obviously made while on a boat in the middle of God-knows-where. He handed out presents at christmas - unless he was just getting off a night shift and needed sleep. He had an argument with us when we were kids about The Lion King, because lions don't talk! He was my Papa, and I loved him.
Getting that phone call meant that all of those plans that I had got ripped apart and thrown out the window. I always imagined having kids and coming down to visit my grandma and grandpa. I never, for a second, thought that I would have to get married without him, and yet I'm not even engaged yet. Even this weekend, one that I thought would be spent with friends and having fun, I'm instead at my grandmother's house preparing to go to a funeral home.
Life has it's own plans. And these kinds of things are what makes us who we are. How do we deal with the deal of a beloved grandfather? Do we just deny it and go on with our lives? Do we let it stop us dead in our tracks? He may not have always been there, but I always knew that he was somewhere out there. Somewhere that I could go to anytime I wanted to hear some awesome stories from when he was in the marines. Or how he was trying to learn Manderin.
He's gone now, and I'm dedicating this blog post to him. I'll also be dedicating my first book to both him and my cousin. The Bryans in my life that are gone now. (Another plan that has changed.)
Papa, we love you, and we'll miss you. I hope that one day I get to see you again. Until that day, look over us and keep us safe and together. Just know that we'll remember you. Always.
Just like in writing, I have plans for my life. I planned, for instance, that I would get my editing done for critique group this weekend. And that I would be hanging out with my friends. I was living my life the way I thought I should.
That was when disaster struck. You see, life never lets you do exactly what you want it to. Sometimes there are things in life that makes you drop everything you're doing. Things that usually come to you in a single phone call and you realize that your life is about to change again.
On friday, at about 5 pm, I got just such a phone call. It was from my mother, and we knew it was bad because she was crying. Though I've seen my mom cry before, she always tries to play things down for us. When she was getting an angiogram last year she told us it was 'just a test, and I'm fine.' So when we answered that phone, we knew that something was seriously wrong.
My grandfather died on friday.
We didn't spend weeks visiting him in the hospital while he drifted further and further away. We weren't mentally prepared for this to happen. He had been having some heart problems, and he even had surgery in 2010, from which he never quite recovered fully from, but his death was still a shock. He died after getting morphine for some pain. They never diagnosed what, exactly happened. All we know is that he fell asleep and his heart stopped.
My grandfather never lived near me, and yet so many of my childhood memories include him. He used to be in the marines, you know the type. Tattoos all down his arms, all of them obviously made while on a boat in the middle of God-knows-where. He handed out presents at christmas - unless he was just getting off a night shift and needed sleep. He had an argument with us when we were kids about The Lion King, because lions don't talk! He was my Papa, and I loved him.
Getting that phone call meant that all of those plans that I had got ripped apart and thrown out the window. I always imagined having kids and coming down to visit my grandma and grandpa. I never, for a second, thought that I would have to get married without him, and yet I'm not even engaged yet. Even this weekend, one that I thought would be spent with friends and having fun, I'm instead at my grandmother's house preparing to go to a funeral home.
Life has it's own plans. And these kinds of things are what makes us who we are. How do we deal with the deal of a beloved grandfather? Do we just deny it and go on with our lives? Do we let it stop us dead in our tracks? He may not have always been there, but I always knew that he was somewhere out there. Somewhere that I could go to anytime I wanted to hear some awesome stories from when he was in the marines. Or how he was trying to learn Manderin.
He's gone now, and I'm dedicating this blog post to him. I'll also be dedicating my first book to both him and my cousin. The Bryans in my life that are gone now. (Another plan that has changed.)
Papa, we love you, and we'll miss you. I hope that one day I get to see you again. Until that day, look over us and keep us safe and together. Just know that we'll remember you. Always.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Commons - A YA novel
Alright, I know that I just posted yesterday, but I have been shown a very interesting link by a friend. One that brought me to a contest. And, as I pointed out in my blog yesterday, I may be slightly competitive, and so find that I am unable to resist entering this. Check out Brenda Drake's Blog for further details. Unfortunately the contest ends tomorrow, but I'm hoping that at least some of you get to see this. Anyway, the entry is requested on the blog as well as in the comments, so here goes:
Title: The Commons
Genre: YA dystopian
Word Count: 101,000
Pitch: At the end of the Great War, the world split into two societies: The Commons and The Techs. Now the two worlds are about to collide, and neither will ever be the same again.
First 150 words:
Title: The Commons
Genre: YA dystopian
Word Count: 101,000
Pitch: At the end of the Great War, the world split into two societies: The Commons and The Techs. Now the two worlds are about to collide, and neither will ever be the same again.
First 150 words:
Once these streets had been filled with tall buildings. Large concrete structures where the people went to work every day. Streets that spanned for miles that were constantly jammed with an endless stream of cares. It was hard to believe that this was all that was left. Only one grey building stretched up to the sky, but even the top of that one was jagged and unstable. The rest of the street consisted mostly of piles of concrete.
It was an all too familiar sight to Arisa, who had been travelling to all the city ruins. Each one seemed to be worse than the last, until she had arrived here. She did not know what city it had once been, but from the remains she would guess it had been hit hard in the great war.
Arisa let these thoughts run through her head as she stared around herself.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Shiny New Ideas
First things first. I must give props and respect to both L. S. Taylor and J. Larkin for getting some queries out and officially starting out Epic Year of Querying. Much as I hate the fact that I'm losing (I may be just a little competitive...) I love that we have some numbers up there! Can't wait to see how well we do with these queries this year. (Especially once the rest of use get our acts together and get them out there.)
Moving on. This week I have managed to not get any editing done. You may recall in my last post I talked about how I had to rewrite about 13 chapters in the last half of my novel. I wasn't exactly looking forward to all of the extra work, of course, but I also wasn't planning on never getting around to it.
In the last week I have caught up on three or four shows I've been putting off since November. I've started reading a book that I just got in and is the sequel to a book I really liked. I've cleaned my room and organized all of my writing stuff. I've set up the new printer my boyfriend bought me. I even just barely managed to get the two critiques I need for tomorrow done. (The feedback I give to the other three that I don't need to critique are barely started, however)
After that, why don't we all take a wild shot in the dark about how much editing I've gotten done.
None. Zilch. Nada. Zero. I haven't even brought my manuscript with me in an effort to make it look like I might be getting some editing done. Oh no. Instead it's sitting on my desk awaiting the arrival of my motivation (which I'm seriously starting to think is on an extended vacation.) Two months after nano, and I still can't get my motivation together enough to carve my novel into something that people actually want to read. The fact that the first half of it is out with beta readers doesn't even begin to touch the motivation I need to gather up in order to get those chapters done.
So why is it that I don't have this motivation? Well, I think I've got a pretty good idea.
Back in November, I ordered a journal from nano. I love it. It features a sturdy cover, plenty of lined paper, an elastic to keep it closed and a place to store a pen. The outside reads 'There's a book in you that only you can write.' A quote by the one and only Chris Baty. I took one look at this journal, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. This book was going to be the place where I wrote down all of those shiny new ideas that I can't get to while I'm working on other things. They don't have to be good ideas, just anything that's occurred to me. Then, when I have time to write another novel, I can just flip through it and see which ideas stand out.
This has been working pretty well, but there's one tiny problem. One of the ideas that I recorded in this book is not letting me shut it away. The main character is more vocal than the characters from a series that I've written two books in! She doesn't go away. She just keeps talking and talking. Telling me details about her life, which I don't want to know yet.
It's distracting. All I want to do is sit down and write it all out. I want to work out what's going on with her, and who the antagonist is. I want to know more about her love interest (who isn't yet named.) I want to see where the book goes, and what kind of plans I can come up with for future books. I want to write her story.
Unfortunately, I also know that I have to finish this editing, because I need to start querying this year. No ifs, ands or buts about it. This is the year that I am going to get my stuff out there. Whether it's liked or not, people are going to see it.
So the guilt doesn't let me work on the new project, but with my mind so distracted by it, I can't work on the old project. The combination of the two are leaving me with no motivation to do anything but catch up on shows that I have been wanting to catch up on for months.
Next week, though, I can't let myself fall back into this pattern. I want this book out by the end of april. That means I need to get it to my beta readers by the beginning of February at the latest. Sorry Jayne, but I can't listen to you right now, much as I might want to. I have to get back to what I was doing.
I'm going to throw all of my shiny new ideas back into my book and leave them there. Ignore those voices and hope they're willing to talk again when I'm done. Much as I love telling new stories, I don't want to do it at the cost of my old stories. I can't give up because there's too much work involved. I need to keep going no matter what, and I'm going to do that starting tomorrow!
Moving on. This week I have managed to not get any editing done. You may recall in my last post I talked about how I had to rewrite about 13 chapters in the last half of my novel. I wasn't exactly looking forward to all of the extra work, of course, but I also wasn't planning on never getting around to it.
In the last week I have caught up on three or four shows I've been putting off since November. I've started reading a book that I just got in and is the sequel to a book I really liked. I've cleaned my room and organized all of my writing stuff. I've set up the new printer my boyfriend bought me. I even just barely managed to get the two critiques I need for tomorrow done. (The feedback I give to the other three that I don't need to critique are barely started, however)
After that, why don't we all take a wild shot in the dark about how much editing I've gotten done.
None. Zilch. Nada. Zero. I haven't even brought my manuscript with me in an effort to make it look like I might be getting some editing done. Oh no. Instead it's sitting on my desk awaiting the arrival of my motivation (which I'm seriously starting to think is on an extended vacation.) Two months after nano, and I still can't get my motivation together enough to carve my novel into something that people actually want to read. The fact that the first half of it is out with beta readers doesn't even begin to touch the motivation I need to gather up in order to get those chapters done.
So why is it that I don't have this motivation? Well, I think I've got a pretty good idea.
Back in November, I ordered a journal from nano. I love it. It features a sturdy cover, plenty of lined paper, an elastic to keep it closed and a place to store a pen. The outside reads 'There's a book in you that only you can write.' A quote by the one and only Chris Baty. I took one look at this journal, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. This book was going to be the place where I wrote down all of those shiny new ideas that I can't get to while I'm working on other things. They don't have to be good ideas, just anything that's occurred to me. Then, when I have time to write another novel, I can just flip through it and see which ideas stand out.
This has been working pretty well, but there's one tiny problem. One of the ideas that I recorded in this book is not letting me shut it away. The main character is more vocal than the characters from a series that I've written two books in! She doesn't go away. She just keeps talking and talking. Telling me details about her life, which I don't want to know yet.
It's distracting. All I want to do is sit down and write it all out. I want to work out what's going on with her, and who the antagonist is. I want to know more about her love interest (who isn't yet named.) I want to see where the book goes, and what kind of plans I can come up with for future books. I want to write her story.
Unfortunately, I also know that I have to finish this editing, because I need to start querying this year. No ifs, ands or buts about it. This is the year that I am going to get my stuff out there. Whether it's liked or not, people are going to see it.
So the guilt doesn't let me work on the new project, but with my mind so distracted by it, I can't work on the old project. The combination of the two are leaving me with no motivation to do anything but catch up on shows that I have been wanting to catch up on for months.
Next week, though, I can't let myself fall back into this pattern. I want this book out by the end of april. That means I need to get it to my beta readers by the beginning of February at the latest. Sorry Jayne, but I can't listen to you right now, much as I might want to. I have to get back to what I was doing.
I'm going to throw all of my shiny new ideas back into my book and leave them there. Ignore those voices and hope they're willing to talk again when I'm done. Much as I love telling new stories, I don't want to do it at the cost of my old stories. I can't give up because there's too much work involved. I need to keep going no matter what, and I'm going to do that starting tomorrow!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Dusk Gate: Seeds of Discovery character interview
Hello everyone on Epic Robot! :)
Danni promised a special post on Wednesday, and I was a slacker, so you're getting it on Thursday. :)
She was kind enough to invite me, Breeana Puttroff, to do a guest post and character interview from my Young Adult Fantasy series.
Danni is an amazing friend and writer who I met through our fabulous weekly "parties" on Twitter, the Friday Night Twitter Writer's Party. All of you who are writers of any sort should join us each Friday evening at #FNTWP. Just bring whatever writing you're working on, and some smiles, too.
Anyway, this is my first guest post, and I have no idea what I'm doing. :) But I am grateful to Danni for giving me the opportunity.
This week, I'm celebrating the launch of the second book in the Dusk Gate Chronicles, Roots of Insight. Be sure to leave a comment on this post for your chance to win an e-copy.
Below is a character interview of one of the main characters in the series, William Rose. This interview takes place after the first book, Seeds of Discovery, but before Roots of Insight.
William is the fourth-born son of the king and queen of Eirentheos, a world that is connected to our own via a magic gate. Fourth-born children in Eirentheos are given the gift of healing, at a Naming Ceremony shortly after birth.
One day in our world equals ten in Eirentheos, so although William is seventeen in our world, he has lived many more days in his. Because his world is less technologically advanced than ours, he and his uncle have traveled back and forth between the two worlds for many years, studying the medicine of our world, and taking the knowledge back to theirs.
The Dusk Gate Chronicles begins when Quinn Robbins, a sixteen-year-old girl from the tiny mountain town of Bristlecone, Colorado, notices William's unusual behavior, and stumbles upon his secret.
What's the first time you traveled between the gate?
The very first time I traveled through the gate was when I was six cycles old. I was always very close to my Uncle Nathaniel, maybe because we're both healers, or maybe it was just a connection that was always there between us. For as long as I can remember, I was fascinated with Nathaniel's work, and whenever he was home in Eirentheos, I would follow him around to the clinics and help him with his work. As I grew a little older, we realized that there were so many things we could learn from Earth, that it would work better to have two people who had studied there. At the time of my first visit, Nathaniel was deep in a project of trying to learn how to bring hydroelectricity and wind energy to the Capitol city of Eirentheos. My father brought me through the gate to visit Nathaniel here while they were working on that project.
What do you think of this world?
I think there are many great things about Earth, and also many things I don't understand, or am glad don't happen in Eirentheos. The capabilities of technology are amazing -- the ability to use technology for healing, electricity, refrigeration. But then there seem to be a lot of people who use it to play video games on their cell phones, and they miss out on the kinds of relationships with family and friends that are common in my world.
How do you deal with traveling between two worlds?
It can be very challenging, but I'm kind of used to it now, and I don't plan on doing it forever, or even for as long as Nathaniel has.
Do you miss your family?
Every moment I am away from them.
What do you think of Quinn?
I actually like Quinn, now that I've gotten to know her a little. She's smart and she's caring, and I know she would do anything for someone she cared about. She's so stubborn, though.
Was it weird having someone interested in you?
No. That's happened several times on Earth, and in Eirentheos people are always interested in what the royal family is doing. I just thought Quinn would give up if I ignored her long enough, like everyone else always did.
Do you want Quinn back in your world?
I can't say I don't want her back in my world -- as I said before, I do like her. But I think it's a bad idea, and she has no idea how deep she might get herself in, and how challenging it can be to divide yourself between two worlds. At least for my part, the only people I'm hiding and keeping secrets from are strangers. If Quinn were to come back to my world, she would have to lie and hide from her family and friends, and I think she'll get hurt.
Thanks so much for hosting me, Danni! I hope your readers enjoy.
Readers -- if you're interested in winning some prizes, please be sure to visit my blog at
breeanaputtroff.wordpress.com
Danni promised a special post on Wednesday, and I was a slacker, so you're getting it on Thursday. :)
She was kind enough to invite me, Breeana Puttroff, to do a guest post and character interview from my Young Adult Fantasy series.
Danni is an amazing friend and writer who I met through our fabulous weekly "parties" on Twitter, the Friday Night Twitter Writer's Party. All of you who are writers of any sort should join us each Friday evening at #FNTWP. Just bring whatever writing you're working on, and some smiles, too.
Anyway, this is my first guest post, and I have no idea what I'm doing. :) But I am grateful to Danni for giving me the opportunity.
This week, I'm celebrating the launch of the second book in the Dusk Gate Chronicles, Roots of Insight. Be sure to leave a comment on this post for your chance to win an e-copy.
Below is a character interview of one of the main characters in the series, William Rose. This interview takes place after the first book, Seeds of Discovery, but before Roots of Insight.
William is the fourth-born son of the king and queen of Eirentheos, a world that is connected to our own via a magic gate. Fourth-born children in Eirentheos are given the gift of healing, at a Naming Ceremony shortly after birth.
One day in our world equals ten in Eirentheos, so although William is seventeen in our world, he has lived many more days in his. Because his world is less technologically advanced than ours, he and his uncle have traveled back and forth between the two worlds for many years, studying the medicine of our world, and taking the knowledge back to theirs.
The Dusk Gate Chronicles begins when Quinn Robbins, a sixteen-year-old girl from the tiny mountain town of Bristlecone, Colorado, notices William's unusual behavior, and stumbles upon his secret.
What's the first time you traveled between the gate?
The very first time I traveled through the gate was when I was six cycles old. I was always very close to my Uncle Nathaniel, maybe because we're both healers, or maybe it was just a connection that was always there between us. For as long as I can remember, I was fascinated with Nathaniel's work, and whenever he was home in Eirentheos, I would follow him around to the clinics and help him with his work. As I grew a little older, we realized that there were so many things we could learn from Earth, that it would work better to have two people who had studied there. At the time of my first visit, Nathaniel was deep in a project of trying to learn how to bring hydroelectricity and wind energy to the Capitol city of Eirentheos. My father brought me through the gate to visit Nathaniel here while they were working on that project.
What do you think of this world?
I think there are many great things about Earth, and also many things I don't understand, or am glad don't happen in Eirentheos. The capabilities of technology are amazing -- the ability to use technology for healing, electricity, refrigeration. But then there seem to be a lot of people who use it to play video games on their cell phones, and they miss out on the kinds of relationships with family and friends that are common in my world.
How do you deal with traveling between two worlds?
It can be very challenging, but I'm kind of used to it now, and I don't plan on doing it forever, or even for as long as Nathaniel has.
Do you miss your family?
Every moment I am away from them.
What do you think of Quinn?
I actually like Quinn, now that I've gotten to know her a little. She's smart and she's caring, and I know she would do anything for someone she cared about. She's so stubborn, though.
Was it weird having someone interested in you?
No. That's happened several times on Earth, and in Eirentheos people are always interested in what the royal family is doing. I just thought Quinn would give up if I ignored her long enough, like everyone else always did.
Do you want Quinn back in your world?
I can't say I don't want her back in my world -- as I said before, I do like her. But I think it's a bad idea, and she has no idea how deep she might get herself in, and how challenging it can be to divide yourself between two worlds. At least for my part, the only people I'm hiding and keeping secrets from are strangers. If Quinn were to come back to my world, she would have to lie and hide from her family and friends, and I think she'll get hurt.
Thanks so much for hosting me, Danni! I hope your readers enjoy.
Readers -- if you're interested in winning some prizes, please be sure to visit my blog at
breeanaputtroff.wordpress.com
Monday, January 9, 2012
A Snag In Editing
Before I start this week's post, there were a few things I wanted to say. First and foremost, I would like to point out that there are now six writers participating in the Epic Year of Querying. You can get to any of their blogs from the side bar, as well as find the link to get to more information about it. I'm very excited to see what this year brings, and how we will all do on this challenge. Of course, it goes without saying, any other writers who wish to join in the fun can, just give me a link to whatever site (be it blog/twitter profile/website, whatever you wish) and how many queries you have sent out since Jan. 1, 2012, and I will gladly add you to the list. You can also follow the fun on twitter using the hashtag #YEQ2012.
Second, there will be an extra special post going up on Wednesday of this week. I'm not going to give away any details (cause it's a surprise) but make sure you look out for it. I'm excited to see this blog becoming something other than me talking to myself, and this is just one of many such things I'm hoping will happen this year.
Alright, onto the post. So, I was editing today. I planned on getting about three chapters done so I could catch up with my goal. It was something I knew I was going to have to do, because I spent all day yesterday doing things like getting my hair cut and hanging out with friends. So when I finally got around to it today (instead of working on my blog like I wanted to) I sat down ready to edit.
I'll admit that I may not have been as anxious to edit as I could have been. In fact, I was rather reluctant to start. I may not have been editing as fast as I could have, and I kept getting distracted, but that's besides the point.
The fact of the matter is that after all of that, I got through half of the chapter and realized just how much I was changing, and how unhappy I was with what was left. After all of that I ended up throwing the chapter out completely and starting over.
With that realization, however, came the certainty that I had hit the point in my book where I knew I was going to have to do some major overhauling. See, I had already come to the conclusion that I had to change quite a few things in the second half of the book. I hadn't written a very important scene, and that scene couldn't be written the way the book was already done. So I knew that there was going to come a point where I would have to start rewrites.
Unfortunately this point came a lot earlier than I had thought it would. In fact, I had been hoping that I would make it at least another five or six chapters before I would have to start completely changing what was written.
Alas, I cannot change what I have come to realize must happen. Well, I suppose I could, but then the book just wouldn't be as could as it could be, and I definitely don't want that. This is the book I want to get published. The one that I already have half of out with beta readers. The one that I have already gotten a second round of beta readers for. I can't just not fix it. This is my baby we're talking about. I want it to be all it can be.
So, while editing is my least favorite part of writing (and yes, I will continue to complain bitterly about it for the rest of the time that I'm doing it) I will continue to do it. Because, you see, I love my work, and I don't intend to let it be less than what it could be only because I don't want to do the editing.
Now I've gone through the rest of the book and have decided which chapters I need to rewrite, and which ones just need editing. I've also decided what I need to add to make the story complete. I now have a clear idea of what I need to do to make this book ready for my beta readers. On one hand this gives me a sense of relief. I know what I'm doing now, and I don't feel so much like I'm stumbling around in the dark. On the other hand, rewriting is somehow so much more work than editing.
Wish me luck, because in the next month (okay...maybe two) I plan to whip this novel into shape. Even if that means rewriting half of it.
Second, there will be an extra special post going up on Wednesday of this week. I'm not going to give away any details (cause it's a surprise) but make sure you look out for it. I'm excited to see this blog becoming something other than me talking to myself, and this is just one of many such things I'm hoping will happen this year.
Alright, onto the post. So, I was editing today. I planned on getting about three chapters done so I could catch up with my goal. It was something I knew I was going to have to do, because I spent all day yesterday doing things like getting my hair cut and hanging out with friends. So when I finally got around to it today (instead of working on my blog like I wanted to) I sat down ready to edit.
I'll admit that I may not have been as anxious to edit as I could have been. In fact, I was rather reluctant to start. I may not have been editing as fast as I could have, and I kept getting distracted, but that's besides the point.
The fact of the matter is that after all of that, I got through half of the chapter and realized just how much I was changing, and how unhappy I was with what was left. After all of that I ended up throwing the chapter out completely and starting over.
With that realization, however, came the certainty that I had hit the point in my book where I knew I was going to have to do some major overhauling. See, I had already come to the conclusion that I had to change quite a few things in the second half of the book. I hadn't written a very important scene, and that scene couldn't be written the way the book was already done. So I knew that there was going to come a point where I would have to start rewrites.
Unfortunately this point came a lot earlier than I had thought it would. In fact, I had been hoping that I would make it at least another five or six chapters before I would have to start completely changing what was written.
Alas, I cannot change what I have come to realize must happen. Well, I suppose I could, but then the book just wouldn't be as could as it could be, and I definitely don't want that. This is the book I want to get published. The one that I already have half of out with beta readers. The one that I have already gotten a second round of beta readers for. I can't just not fix it. This is my baby we're talking about. I want it to be all it can be.
So, while editing is my least favorite part of writing (and yes, I will continue to complain bitterly about it for the rest of the time that I'm doing it) I will continue to do it. Because, you see, I love my work, and I don't intend to let it be less than what it could be only because I don't want to do the editing.
Now I've gone through the rest of the book and have decided which chapters I need to rewrite, and which ones just need editing. I've also decided what I need to add to make the story complete. I now have a clear idea of what I need to do to make this book ready for my beta readers. On one hand this gives me a sense of relief. I know what I'm doing now, and I don't feel so much like I'm stumbling around in the dark. On the other hand, rewriting is somehow so much more work than editing.
Wish me luck, because in the next month (okay...maybe two) I plan to whip this novel into shape. Even if that means rewriting half of it.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The Epic Year of Querying
As some of you may have noticed, I didn't post last week. I was planning on it, I truly was, but I was also at my grandmother's house, which doesn't have wireless internet. So, instead, I decided to skip the week and take a Christmas vacation.
This year I'm going to be doing a few things different on my blog. First of all, if you will kindly look to the sidebar, you will see a box entitled 'The Epic Year of Querying'. This is where I will keep all of you updated on the progress of my writing/editing/querying. I will update it every week along with my blog post.
Also, this year I will be doing my best to put my blog more in the eye of the writing public. This means that you could see things such as guest blogs, character interviews, reviews on books, and participation in blog scavenger hunts. I'm very excited for the first of these which should be happening in the next week or two.
This will be the year that I put myself out there. That I look at my blogging as another step in my writing goals, rather than something I'm doing because it looked like fun. Where I start to truly take myself seriously as a writer. Where I don't give up on a writing project because I'm starting to feel like it needs far too much work.
It has been over a year now since I came to the realization that I am, in fact, a writer. Since the beginning of nano 2010 I have written 9 novels. 5 of those have been pushed aside as not worth the time to edit, but the rest I'm going to do something with. It may take a lot of editing. It may make me want to rip the hair out of my head, but I am going to get them published!
I have two close friends also taking part in the Epic Year of Querying with me:
Eric Satchwill
B.A. Matthews
I'm excited to see how each of us do in this challenge.
I would also like to invite anyone else who wants to join in the adventure to do so. Comment here and leave me your blog address. I'll make sure to add you to the total counts!!
2012 is going to be an awesome year (right up to when the world ends, of course...) I can't wait to see what it will bring!
This year I'm going to be doing a few things different on my blog. First of all, if you will kindly look to the sidebar, you will see a box entitled 'The Epic Year of Querying'. This is where I will keep all of you updated on the progress of my writing/editing/querying. I will update it every week along with my blog post.
Also, this year I will be doing my best to put my blog more in the eye of the writing public. This means that you could see things such as guest blogs, character interviews, reviews on books, and participation in blog scavenger hunts. I'm very excited for the first of these which should be happening in the next week or two.
This will be the year that I put myself out there. That I look at my blogging as another step in my writing goals, rather than something I'm doing because it looked like fun. Where I start to truly take myself seriously as a writer. Where I don't give up on a writing project because I'm starting to feel like it needs far too much work.
It has been over a year now since I came to the realization that I am, in fact, a writer. Since the beginning of nano 2010 I have written 9 novels. 5 of those have been pushed aside as not worth the time to edit, but the rest I'm going to do something with. It may take a lot of editing. It may make me want to rip the hair out of my head, but I am going to get them published!
I have two close friends also taking part in the Epic Year of Querying with me:
Eric Satchwill
B.A. Matthews
I'm excited to see how each of us do in this challenge.
I would also like to invite anyone else who wants to join in the adventure to do so. Comment here and leave me your blog address. I'll make sure to add you to the total counts!!
2012 is going to be an awesome year (right up to when the world ends, of course...) I can't wait to see what it will bring!
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