As a writer there are certain things that affect your ability to write. For example, I find it nearly impossible to write when I have a headache. Each word I drag out sends another round of pain shooting through my skull, and when I look back on any progress I may have made I realize just how bad it actually is. Especially if the mood of the scene isn't angry or annoyed.
So, I've learned to adapt. Or, rather, I've learned to accept the fact that writing is not going to get done if I can't get rid of the headache. It's not an excuse, it's the matter of whether it's worth it in the end, and I've determined that it just isn't.
Of course, there are other things that can affect this as well. Things like what happened to me on Monday.
On Monday I had a bad day. It started right when I got to work (I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of my day job, but I can usually get through the day without thinking about quitting). I'm not going to get into details of why it was such a bad day, but suffice it to say that by the time the day was over, my mood was foul. And I left work early!
Unfortunately my bad mood didn't just affect my writing. I didn't get to just go home and do nothing while moping around and indulging in my bad mood. (I know what you're all thinking, but I let myself wallow in my bad moods. They last one day, and they don't happen all that often, so I indulge.) Instead I got to go to critique group.
Now, normally I love critique group. I love getting feedback on my work and learning how other people interpret what I've put down on the page. I enjoy the dynamic we have in our group and how much I learn as a writer from the process.
When I got there on Monday, however, and one of my critique partners said something negative, I found myself fighting with him. Arguing his point and not letting him explain where he was coming from. I was getting frustrated and angry, and I really couldn't control those emotions, even though I knew I was being irrational.
I even had the thought that I should just toss that novel and pretend I had never written it.
These aren't normal things for me. While I love a good discussion about my work, or anyone's work, for that matter, what I was doing on Monday was fighting. And defending my work. And thinking that I should scrap an entire novel because of one moment of feedback? I just spent the entire day yesterday restructuring a novel that I've already rewritten twice. I don't just cast things off because of one piece of criticism.
It was hard for me to accept what was being said because my emotions were already shot from the hard day I'd had at my day job.
I hate that a job that I don't enjoy can make the thing that I do like so much harder. This is the reason that I don't want to be working a day job. Unfortunately I don't have a choice at this point. I'm not published. I don't have someone that just wants to let me work on my writing full time. I have to continue to pay my bills in order to keep writing.
So I just have to work on trying to not let a bad day at work colour everything else I do. This would be so much easier if I could compartmentalize.
Now to make it up to my critique partner. Maybe I should buy his dinner at the next critique group.
Showing posts with label Eric Satchwill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Satchwill. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
There is Only One Goal
Each writer has their own goals, set using different variables. How fast we write. How fast we edit. When we need to have something done by. What's going on in our lives. etc. But there's one goal that every writer has: To be able to call themselves an author.
There is a difference, of course, between a writer and an author. While you have to be to a writer in order to be an author, the same is not true for the other way around. You see, writers are people who write, but have yet to be published. Authors are people who write and have had a piece of work published.
I'm a writer.
My friend Eric A. Satchwill, however, is an author.
This momentous occasion occurred today! He wrote a short story and submitted it to an anthology. One yes, a couple blog posts, and some publishing later, and he finds himself with the brand spanking new title of Author. Shiny, right?
Of course, there may have been some small amount (or huge mountains full of) jealousy on my part, but I still couldn't be happier for him. He has achieved the first step in making it in the world of writing. He's gotten published, and -- for today at least -- he can sit back, look at that short story and think that he has achieved something. He's accomplished his goal.
Just like the rest of us, though, his journey isn't going to stop there. Let's face it, I doubt there is a single author out there that got their first book/short story/poem published and thought 'yep, that's it. My life goal. I'm done!' No. We always have more dreams, more goals, more accomplishments to push toward.
His is the novel he's been working on for the past two years Fallen Things. As someone whose a part of his critique group, I can tell you that it's great, and one day it's going to be out there on the shelf ready to be purchased.
And me? Well, we all know that I have a short story out for submission (50 days and counting...hoping to NOT get a response, because they're saying that an early response is not generally a good thing). And, of course, there's Pandora, which I'm currently editing. It's going well, for once. I think that may be because I got most of the issues ironed out in the first go around.
One day soon I'm going to join Eric in the ranks of published author. I'll have that shiny new title (may even make a name plate that says so...just for the hell of it) and I'll be ready to jump in to the work of authors and make my mark (I'll probably use a red pen...)
How close are you to getting your shiny new title? Do you already have it? What are you working on hoping to get published??
There is a difference, of course, between a writer and an author. While you have to be to a writer in order to be an author, the same is not true for the other way around. You see, writers are people who write, but have yet to be published. Authors are people who write and have had a piece of work published.
I'm a writer.
My friend Eric A. Satchwill, however, is an author.
This momentous occasion occurred today! He wrote a short story and submitted it to an anthology. One yes, a couple blog posts, and some publishing later, and he finds himself with the brand spanking new title of Author. Shiny, right?
Of course, there may have been some small amount (or huge mountains full of) jealousy on my part, but I still couldn't be happier for him. He has achieved the first step in making it in the world of writing. He's gotten published, and -- for today at least -- he can sit back, look at that short story and think that he has achieved something. He's accomplished his goal.
Just like the rest of us, though, his journey isn't going to stop there. Let's face it, I doubt there is a single author out there that got their first book/short story/poem published and thought 'yep, that's it. My life goal. I'm done!' No. We always have more dreams, more goals, more accomplishments to push toward.
His is the novel he's been working on for the past two years Fallen Things. As someone whose a part of his critique group, I can tell you that it's great, and one day it's going to be out there on the shelf ready to be purchased.
And me? Well, we all know that I have a short story out for submission (50 days and counting...hoping to NOT get a response, because they're saying that an early response is not generally a good thing). And, of course, there's Pandora, which I'm currently editing. It's going well, for once. I think that may be because I got most of the issues ironed out in the first go around.
One day soon I'm going to join Eric in the ranks of published author. I'll have that shiny new title (may even make a name plate that says so...just for the hell of it) and I'll be ready to jump in to the work of authors and make my mark (I'll probably use a red pen...)
How close are you to getting your shiny new title? Do you already have it? What are you working on hoping to get published??
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Skillful Liars (Day 15)
Today is midway through nano, and I spent the day not writing. Okay, I got some words done, just not as many as I was hoping for. Apparently, the day before a trip is typically crammed full of last minute errands. Who know. Okay, probably everyone, except for me, because I've never really been on a trip like this one.
Anyway, while I was running around not writing today, I started thinking about my story (because when I'm not writing my story, I'm generally talking about it or thinking about it, or really doing something that could somehow be related back to writing.)
So, while I was thinking about my story (and talking about it to my friend) I couldn't help but realize just how skillful writers are. Writers are the best liars out there!
Now, this might not be true face to face. I know how to tell a lie, but I've seen some writers who are absolutely terrible at it. But on the page, that is where the talent really shines through. I mean, we don't write stories, we sell worlds.
We have to take something that we've come up with and create a world that the reader knows and loves and never wants to leave. We have to bring it to life for them, and in order to do that, we have to make it real to ourselves.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If there's one thing writers are really good at, it's lying to themselves.
Today I was so far in to my world that I was talking about the fashion. The fashion! I barely care about that in our world, but I was describing it with absolute glee. (In case you're wondering, picture a mixture of modern and late eighteenth century clothing. I have character that matches a tight bodice, corset included with capris and a hairstyle with feathers sticking out of it. Just saying.)
Because the fashion is so relevant to how everything works in this world, I had to figure it out, and I had to care. I had to make the world real to myself so that I can sell it to my readers. That's just the way writers work.
There's just one problem with it. You see, when a writer sells a world to themselves, sometimes that world becomes an obsession. And I'm not being sarcastic. I think about my books far more often than I probably should. I know a few things that are going to be happening in the third book of one of my series, and I'm not even done the editing on the first book.
The characters become so real, when I talk about them to other people (who aren't my friends and therefore don't know who they are) they assume that I'm talking about some of my friends. It gets really awkward when I start to mention things like how he or she is a werewolf, or then the Lady in th fountain showed up.
Now, I say 'problem' but the truth is, I think it's great that we have the ability to immerse ourselves in our writing so much. We get to live in this world for a while as we try to portray it on the screen. We get to watch these scenes that we've had running through our heads for who knows how long come to life on the page. And then we get to watch our readers fall in love with it to. In my opinion, there's nothing better.
How involved do you get in your stories? Do you have someone who knows your characters as well as you do?
Anyway, while I was running around not writing today, I started thinking about my story (because when I'm not writing my story, I'm generally talking about it or thinking about it, or really doing something that could somehow be related back to writing.)
So, while I was thinking about my story (and talking about it to my friend) I couldn't help but realize just how skillful writers are. Writers are the best liars out there!
Now, this might not be true face to face. I know how to tell a lie, but I've seen some writers who are absolutely terrible at it. But on the page, that is where the talent really shines through. I mean, we don't write stories, we sell worlds.
We have to take something that we've come up with and create a world that the reader knows and loves and never wants to leave. We have to bring it to life for them, and in order to do that, we have to make it real to ourselves.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If there's one thing writers are really good at, it's lying to themselves.
Today I was so far in to my world that I was talking about the fashion. The fashion! I barely care about that in our world, but I was describing it with absolute glee. (In case you're wondering, picture a mixture of modern and late eighteenth century clothing. I have character that matches a tight bodice, corset included with capris and a hairstyle with feathers sticking out of it. Just saying.)
Because the fashion is so relevant to how everything works in this world, I had to figure it out, and I had to care. I had to make the world real to myself so that I can sell it to my readers. That's just the way writers work.
There's just one problem with it. You see, when a writer sells a world to themselves, sometimes that world becomes an obsession. And I'm not being sarcastic. I think about my books far more often than I probably should. I know a few things that are going to be happening in the third book of one of my series, and I'm not even done the editing on the first book.
The characters become so real, when I talk about them to other people (who aren't my friends and therefore don't know who they are) they assume that I'm talking about some of my friends. It gets really awkward when I start to mention things like how he or she is a werewolf, or then the Lady in th fountain showed up.
Now, I say 'problem' but the truth is, I think it's great that we have the ability to immerse ourselves in our writing so much. We get to live in this world for a while as we try to portray it on the screen. We get to watch these scenes that we've had running through our heads for who knows how long come to life on the page. And then we get to watch our readers fall in love with it to. In my opinion, there's nothing better.
How involved do you get in your stories? Do you have someone who knows your characters as well as you do?
* * *
Daily Word Count: 5,500
Total Word Count: 123,089
Monday, October 22, 2012
Just a little Critique
This week is the last time our critique group is meeting before nano. As a rule we don't keep up with the critiques during nano because there's really not enough time for all of us to complete our nano goals and try to keep up with critique group.
I have mixed feelings about this. While I have a bit of a break -- not having to worry about getting the critiques done, or even what I'm going to submit -- at the same time, those critique groups helped my writing more than anything I've ever done. I've learned about my own writing more from hearing what other people have to say about it than while writing any of the multiple novels that I've managed to complete the first draft of.
That being said, sometimes I feel like I'm a little stuck. I'm going through a routine of writing in November (or during camp nano) submitting to critique group, and possibly getting to a second draft, but I never seem to get any further than that.
I want, more than anything, to be a published author. I want my name to be printed on the cover of a book. I want to be able to walk in to Chapters and find my books alongside my favourite authors. I want a complete stranger to read my books because someone recommended it to them.
So how can I do that when I can't even get to a third draft?
In order to get published, I have to submit my manuscript to someone. As I want an agent, it would be to the agents I would love to have as my own. Before I can submit, I have to actually like my manuscript. Which is probably only going to happen after I get feedback from my betas. In order to get feedback, I have to send out my manuscript to my betas. And to send it out, I really have to get it to the third draft.
Of course, I had a goal. I wanted to finish my third draft of Pandora by the end of this month. I managed to finish the second draft at the very beginning of the month, and I thought that I might actually get done this third draft in order to send it out.
I haven't. I'm not even done going through it to see what changes I still need to make. I'm about halfway through reading it and I don't foresee myself actually making it through the entire manuscript before November gets underway. I'm not even entirely sure I'm going to be able to finish the list of changes before then.
It's a disappointment. I want to have it ready for submissions by January, but it is what it is. I can accept that I didn't get as much done as I wanted. I think I took on too much this month anyway, so I'll get by.
What I won't be able to forgive myself for is if I don't get this manuscript done and sent in to an agent. This is probably the best book I've written to date, and I just can't wait to see what other people think of it.
My critique group is filled with amazing writers that have given me great insight in to my work. And if I never go any further with it, what am I saying about them? About the time they've invested in to my novel? I can't do that to them any more than I could do that to myself.
So while I may not finish my editing quite as quickly as I had hoped, I'm going to finish the third draft, I'm going to get it out to betas, and I'm going to find an agent for it. No matter how long it takes.
Are you a part of a critique group? Have they helped you as much as mine has?
I have mixed feelings about this. While I have a bit of a break -- not having to worry about getting the critiques done, or even what I'm going to submit -- at the same time, those critique groups helped my writing more than anything I've ever done. I've learned about my own writing more from hearing what other people have to say about it than while writing any of the multiple novels that I've managed to complete the first draft of.
That being said, sometimes I feel like I'm a little stuck. I'm going through a routine of writing in November (or during camp nano) submitting to critique group, and possibly getting to a second draft, but I never seem to get any further than that.
I want, more than anything, to be a published author. I want my name to be printed on the cover of a book. I want to be able to walk in to Chapters and find my books alongside my favourite authors. I want a complete stranger to read my books because someone recommended it to them.
So how can I do that when I can't even get to a third draft?
In order to get published, I have to submit my manuscript to someone. As I want an agent, it would be to the agents I would love to have as my own. Before I can submit, I have to actually like my manuscript. Which is probably only going to happen after I get feedback from my betas. In order to get feedback, I have to send out my manuscript to my betas. And to send it out, I really have to get it to the third draft.
Of course, I had a goal. I wanted to finish my third draft of Pandora by the end of this month. I managed to finish the second draft at the very beginning of the month, and I thought that I might actually get done this third draft in order to send it out.
I haven't. I'm not even done going through it to see what changes I still need to make. I'm about halfway through reading it and I don't foresee myself actually making it through the entire manuscript before November gets underway. I'm not even entirely sure I'm going to be able to finish the list of changes before then.
It's a disappointment. I want to have it ready for submissions by January, but it is what it is. I can accept that I didn't get as much done as I wanted. I think I took on too much this month anyway, so I'll get by.
What I won't be able to forgive myself for is if I don't get this manuscript done and sent in to an agent. This is probably the best book I've written to date, and I just can't wait to see what other people think of it.
My critique group is filled with amazing writers that have given me great insight in to my work. And if I never go any further with it, what am I saying about them? About the time they've invested in to my novel? I can't do that to them any more than I could do that to myself.
So while I may not finish my editing quite as quickly as I had hoped, I'm going to finish the third draft, I'm going to get it out to betas, and I'm going to find an agent for it. No matter how long it takes.
Are you a part of a critique group? Have they helped you as much as mine has?
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Next Big Thing
I have been tagged in another challenge, and I thought it would be fun to post it. So, here it goes. I'm going to use the book that I'm currently editing and hoping to query in January.
What is the title of your book?
Pandora - Book 1 of the Jayne Pheare Series
Where did the idea come from?
I've never been a huge fan of this question, but that's mostly because I don't always remember where I get my ideas from. Thankfully I do actually remember where this one came from, so I can answer the question. Last nano I was hanging out in our chat room (which I may be slightly addicted to during November) where we have an awesome name generator for all of those character naming emergencies you have during nano. (If you've never done nano, trust me, these do happen. More often than you would think.) Anyway, one of the other regulars (we're having the room tested for drugs...so far it's clean) was randomly generating names. I don't know if he was actually looking for a name, or just procrastinating, but regardless, many a name was being brought up, most of which were being made fun of or just out right rejected. And then Jane Fear popped up. I was hooked immediately. I knew I had to make that character, though I honestly didn't know anything else about the character (as you may have noticed, I have since changed the spelling of the name.). I took the idea and ran with it.
What genre does your book fall under?
Urban Fantasy
What actors would you chose to play your characters in a movie?
Honestly, this is probably the hardest question on here, as I don't cast my characters before I write the book. I prefer to imagine them exactly the way I want them, rather than equating them with a face that isn't exactly right. But, as it's a question being asked on a challenge I've committed to doing, I suppose I'll do my best, though I guarantee nothing.
Jayne - Eriko Tamura
Dax - Chris Pine
Ashley - Brian Tee
Zane - Chris Hemsworth
Lashon - Kristen Bell
Mac - Rupert Grint
Reggie - Malin Ackerman
Jerri - Michelle Williams
Brooks - Michael Ealy
Yep, I was right, that took me longer than all the other questions I answered. But that's my cast. I thoroughly enjoyed casting my characters ^^
What is the one - two sentence synopsis for your book?
A conscience can make an assassin's job hell.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I'm definitely hoping to be represented by an agency. Not that I have anything against self publishing, and will probably self publish if the traditional route doesn't go anywhere, it's just that I don't particularly trust myself to do everything correctly. To have a solid book that I wouldn't cringe while reading if I had bought it. To be able to advertise it enough to make any kind of profit. So, I would prefer to have an agent and publisher.
What else about your book will pique your readers' interest?
While assassins and werewolves have both been done, putting them together isn't something you see very often. Add in a conscience, some sexual tension and a bit of a mystery, and I think this is a book any Urban Fantasy reader would love.
The Tags
Alright, so here are the tags. The person who tagged me tagged three people, so I'll do the same:
B.A. Matthews
Eric Satchwill
Breeana Putroff
What is the title of your book?
Pandora - Book 1 of the Jayne Pheare Series
Where did the idea come from?
I've never been a huge fan of this question, but that's mostly because I don't always remember where I get my ideas from. Thankfully I do actually remember where this one came from, so I can answer the question. Last nano I was hanging out in our chat room (which I may be slightly addicted to during November) where we have an awesome name generator for all of those character naming emergencies you have during nano. (If you've never done nano, trust me, these do happen. More often than you would think.) Anyway, one of the other regulars (we're having the room tested for drugs...so far it's clean) was randomly generating names. I don't know if he was actually looking for a name, or just procrastinating, but regardless, many a name was being brought up, most of which were being made fun of or just out right rejected. And then Jane Fear popped up. I was hooked immediately. I knew I had to make that character, though I honestly didn't know anything else about the character (as you may have noticed, I have since changed the spelling of the name.). I took the idea and ran with it.
What genre does your book fall under?
Urban Fantasy
What actors would you chose to play your characters in a movie?
Honestly, this is probably the hardest question on here, as I don't cast my characters before I write the book. I prefer to imagine them exactly the way I want them, rather than equating them with a face that isn't exactly right. But, as it's a question being asked on a challenge I've committed to doing, I suppose I'll do my best, though I guarantee nothing.
Dax - Chris Pine
Ashley - Brian Tee
Zane - Chris Hemsworth
Lashon - Kristen Bell
Mac - Rupert Grint
Reggie - Malin Ackerman
Jerri - Michelle Williams
Brooks - Michael Ealy
What is the one - two sentence synopsis for your book?
A conscience can make an assassin's job hell.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I'm definitely hoping to be represented by an agency. Not that I have anything against self publishing, and will probably self publish if the traditional route doesn't go anywhere, it's just that I don't particularly trust myself to do everything correctly. To have a solid book that I wouldn't cringe while reading if I had bought it. To be able to advertise it enough to make any kind of profit. So, I would prefer to have an agent and publisher.
What else about your book will pique your readers' interest?
While assassins and werewolves have both been done, putting them together isn't something you see very often. Add in a conscience, some sexual tension and a bit of a mystery, and I think this is a book any Urban Fantasy reader would love.
The Tags
Alright, so here are the tags. The person who tagged me tagged three people, so I'll do the same:
B.A. Matthews
Eric Satchwill
Breeana Putroff
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I Am A God!!
This is a map. Clearly. But it's not just any map. This one hangs on my wall right behind my desk, and it has brought me much joy since it was given to me for Christmas last year.
You may notice that this particular map isn't anywhere on the known earth. That's because this map was drawn out based on a world that I created! That's right, I made that world. And isn't that pretty much the sole prerequisite to being a God? Creating an entire world out of nothing??
Sadly this world has been shelved along with the characters that I so lovingly created (and managed to gain fans for). But the excitement I felt when I first saw the finished project is something I feel every single day when I'm planning, writing, and even editing.
As a writer, every day I get to create worlds. I get to dream up new games, and creatures. I get to commit words to paper that one day may even get read by others.
In fact, when I'm writing, all I ever think about is how the people reading my words will get involved in the worlds I've created. Will they care about the main characters and the plights they have to survive? Will they want to visit that part of the world because they would really love to see that creature I created? Will they get so mad at someone that they'll be tempted to stop reading because if they don't they might just throw the book against the wall?
Will they fall in love with a character and cry when they die? Will they clap and laugh in glee when those two characters that have been fighting the attraction they obviously feel for each other finally get together? Will their eyes mist when a new life is brought in to that world?
I want my world's to be as real to my readers as they are to me. I want my readers to feel like they're there. Like they knew the cities and the countries that I create. Like they're best friends with my characters.
If I can achieve that, no matter how well I do as an author (according to the publishing houses and whatever agent I may eventually get) then I know I have achieved everything a writer could ever really want.
So, I will continue to be a God. To play around with the world's I create, throw my character's twists that they never saw coming, and kill off characters that I would rather see live, because it's what I do. I am a writer.
**Map created by the ever amazing Eric A. Satchwill. Visit his site to find out how to order your own map of your world, and become a God by your own right!**
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