AAAAHHHHHHH! Ok, I feel a little better. For the past 24 hours I've been grappling with the idea that I may need to tear apart my manuscript and start over. Not completely over, but restructure it. I've worked on it all morning, having to take 'mom' breaks here and there. For the most part, it's been frustrating and I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and not really getting anywhere. It doesn't feel right to move things around from where I've got them, but I've had several people that I've asked about it say I might need to. *sigh*
So far the changes I've made, I don't like. I feel like the changes are slowing down the momentum of the story, which is not what I want. The story I have written moves pretty well, so I thought before I started fooling with it.
Right now, I'm SO frustrated with it, I'd rather do housework than write. That falls under the catagory of "You know it's bad when: " So I decided to write down my frustrations on here and maybe later on, I can look back at this and say..."Oh yeah..I remember that. I was ready to pull my hair out that day." Hopefully, this is only a minor set back. I may just put it up and start working on my Vet MS and maybe I'll get an idea of how I need to fix the other one. That's the way my brain works. Even though I may not be working on the problem right then, my brain is still trying to come up with a solution, even if I'm not thinking about it at the moment and then BAM! Something comes at me out of nowhere and it's usually a pretty good idea. That's what I'm hoping anyway..
Right now, my instinct is to leave it like it was. I like the way the story flows now, but it's still bothering me that most of it is a memory. So, I wonder where I should go from here. Only time will tell, I guess.
I'm not the most patient person in the world, so I hope some sort of resolution happens soon.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
When creativity explodes right in front of you
I've been a busy beaver since school's been out working on two different manuscripts. One I've worked on for so long, I have to leave it alone for awhile. It's kinda like being with relatives too long. You love them so much, but if you're around each other for too long, you start getting on each other's nerves. That's what happens to me with Ellie, Jack and Jaston. I've read, re-read and re-written their dialogue so many times, I get to a point where it all just sounds stupid. Then I hear Diana Gabaldon's voice in my head saying she never gets writer's block because if she gets stuck on something, she starts writing on something else. I decided that's what I needed to do.
She said if she got an idea for a scene, she'd go ahead and write it out and worry about how it would fit in with everything else later. I've been doing that with my new MS. It doesn't have a name right now. I'm sure one will come to me at some point. Right now, I just save my documents as 'Vet/warlock'. The story is still new so there are a lot of questions I still have, but the characters are showing themselves to me a little at a time.
My deal is I have to be patient, so the characters can tell me the story instead of my forcing a story on them. That seems to work much better for me. It also makes the writing process fun for me. I'm not sure what I would do if I had a real deadline to write with. It would probably stress me out.
I haven't abandoned the other MS. It's still near and dear to my heart. My critique partner, Tina, who is a joy to work with and a great writer in her own right, went through my "Never Alone" MS. Now, I'm going back over it and fixing what she thought it needed. I think after that, I'll start the query process. I might ask one or two more people to look at it to see if it has any other errors she or I didn't catch now that I've changed some things.
On a whim, I wrote a short story for @Green_Woman 's blog contest this week too. That was interesting. I'd never written one before. I had to use some pictures as a writing prompt. It turned out to be really fun, but 2,000 words nearly killed me. Having that restriction kept me on my toes for sure. I have another friend on Twitter @AMSupinger that has a writing contest on her blog too. She wanted me to write another 2,000 word short story on 'Haunted Love'. This should be easy since my first MS has a ghost as a main character, but so far, I'm not getting any kind of creative burst for that one. Maybe next week...:)
She said if she got an idea for a scene, she'd go ahead and write it out and worry about how it would fit in with everything else later. I've been doing that with my new MS. It doesn't have a name right now. I'm sure one will come to me at some point. Right now, I just save my documents as 'Vet/warlock'. The story is still new so there are a lot of questions I still have, but the characters are showing themselves to me a little at a time.
My deal is I have to be patient, so the characters can tell me the story instead of my forcing a story on them. That seems to work much better for me. It also makes the writing process fun for me. I'm not sure what I would do if I had a real deadline to write with. It would probably stress me out.
I haven't abandoned the other MS. It's still near and dear to my heart. My critique partner, Tina, who is a joy to work with and a great writer in her own right, went through my "Never Alone" MS. Now, I'm going back over it and fixing what she thought it needed. I think after that, I'll start the query process. I might ask one or two more people to look at it to see if it has any other errors she or I didn't catch now that I've changed some things.
On a whim, I wrote a short story for @Green_Woman 's blog contest this week too. That was interesting. I'd never written one before. I had to use some pictures as a writing prompt. It turned out to be really fun, but 2,000 words nearly killed me. Having that restriction kept me on my toes for sure. I have another friend on Twitter @AMSupinger that has a writing contest on her blog too. She wanted me to write another 2,000 word short story on 'Haunted Love'. This should be easy since my first MS has a ghost as a main character, but so far, I'm not getting any kind of creative burst for that one. Maybe next week...:)
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Apocolypse Now??? Nope
Well, by now everybody is breathing a secret sigh of relief that the guy making all the noise about the Rapture happening today, May 21, 2011 was wrong. It was fun having an unusual bond with everyone all over the world. Twitter was all 'a-buzz' with jokes and sarcastic comments about it. I confess, I jumped in with the majority and played along with all the funny comments. I realized all everybody in the world wants is to exist and live in peace. We want to be left alone to make our own decisions, good or bad and live the best life we can while we're here.
Thinking we might not have any time left as a world was both ridiculous and worrysome at the same time. It made me stop and think, however fleeting, what it must be like to be a cancer patient who's only been given a number of days to live. What would you do with the time you have left? Likely, you wouldn't get to do everything you wanted.
I know I probably wouldn't. I'd like to think I'd tell all the people I love how much they mean to me. The sentence I just wrote gave me an idea. What if we went through our Facebook friends list and had a 'friend of the day'. Telling on our status how much that friend means to us or how we met. I have hundreds of friends on facebook from high school, college and life. Many are former students that have sought me out after they've grown out of our school and moved on to the rest of their life. It's really great to see how they change and grow and to know I played a small part of that growth while they were in elementary school.
So, I think I have it now. Since we seem to have a few more days left than we thought we had before, I'm going to start with the first person on my friend's list and try to tell one every day how glad I am to have them in my life. Hopefully, I've been a positive force in their lives. If I haven't been, I hope to change that and become one.
How does that sound? I think it sounds like a huge undertaking, but if I don't get done with my list before the Rapture actually does happen, that'll be ok. Hopefully, I'll get to tell the rest of them when we get where we're going. :) (I love Brad Paisley by the way)
Thinking we might not have any time left as a world was both ridiculous and worrysome at the same time. It made me stop and think, however fleeting, what it must be like to be a cancer patient who's only been given a number of days to live. What would you do with the time you have left? Likely, you wouldn't get to do everything you wanted.
I know I probably wouldn't. I'd like to think I'd tell all the people I love how much they mean to me. The sentence I just wrote gave me an idea. What if we went through our Facebook friends list and had a 'friend of the day'. Telling on our status how much that friend means to us or how we met. I have hundreds of friends on facebook from high school, college and life. Many are former students that have sought me out after they've grown out of our school and moved on to the rest of their life. It's really great to see how they change and grow and to know I played a small part of that growth while they were in elementary school.
So, I think I have it now. Since we seem to have a few more days left than we thought we had before, I'm going to start with the first person on my friend's list and try to tell one every day how glad I am to have them in my life. Hopefully, I've been a positive force in their lives. If I haven't been, I hope to change that and become one.
How does that sound? I think it sounds like a huge undertaking, but if I don't get done with my list before the Rapture actually does happen, that'll be ok. Hopefully, I'll get to tell the rest of them when we get where we're going. :) (I love Brad Paisley by the way)
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Writer Friends
I've learned from being on Agent Query and Twitter and now Facebook, that writer's aren't just people that sit in their houses and are recluses to the rest of the world. Where that stereo type came from, I have no idea, but I know in this age of global communication, it's just not true. All the 'writer types' I've ever asked a question or talked with on Twitter and Agent Query are always the nicest people. I'm not sure if I've just been lucky so far, since I am a 'newbie' to this community or I'm just smart enough to pick out the good ones...;) Just kidding on that one.
It's funny when I refer to my writer friends, they're 'writers' in my brain, while myself, I still don't see as a writer, at all. I accept a lot of labels and titles, Mom, wife, daughter, music teacher, friend, co-worker, college buddy....but writer.....still trying to wrap my head around that one.
Sometimes I feel like I'm just hanging around with all my writer friends on Twitter as an 'outsider', hoping the 'cool kids' will allow me in their club. But in reality, it's not like that at all. They have all been so welcoming. Answering questions and just talking has been both a learning experience and a pleasure to get to know new and interesting people. Alot of the people I 'hang' out with on Twitter and AQ have started a blog called, "From the Write Angle". They've always got great and informative posts about writing and the business of. If you didn't know about it, you should definitely check it out. If I was really smart, I'd be able to link my blog to theirs, but so far, I haven't figured that one out yet...give me some time....I'll work on it. :)
It's funny when I refer to my writer friends, they're 'writers' in my brain, while myself, I still don't see as a writer, at all. I accept a lot of labels and titles, Mom, wife, daughter, music teacher, friend, co-worker, college buddy....but writer.....still trying to wrap my head around that one.
Sometimes I feel like I'm just hanging around with all my writer friends on Twitter as an 'outsider', hoping the 'cool kids' will allow me in their club. But in reality, it's not like that at all. They have all been so welcoming. Answering questions and just talking has been both a learning experience and a pleasure to get to know new and interesting people. Alot of the people I 'hang' out with on Twitter and AQ have started a blog called, "From the Write Angle". They've always got great and informative posts about writing and the business of. If you didn't know about it, you should definitely check it out. If I was really smart, I'd be able to link my blog to theirs, but so far, I haven't figured that one out yet...give me some time....I'll work on it. :)
Monday, April 4, 2011
Writer's block
Ok..I've only been writing for a little while. Not like some who have written all their lives, I'm VERY new to all of this. So far, I really hadn't experienced a case of writer's block and I'm not sure I am now. I think it's more Writer's Doubt. Is that a clinical condition? Is there a pill I can take to make it go away? I wish...
I read blog posts by more experienced writers who are WAY smarter than me. I'm being serious by the way....right now, this is a 'no snark zone'. I've gone through checklists about what my MS needs, what it doesn't need, what my query needs, what it doesn't need, check the word count, are you characters interesting? I've looked over and over and over my MS....editing, rewriting, editing again, rewriting again over and over. I've heard other writers say, "This is my third rewrite" or "This is my fifth rewrite"...I've rewritten and edited so many times, I couldn't begin to tell you a number. I think my characters are interesting, but I really like my characters....that doesn't mean anyone else will. Will your plot keep the reader turning pages? I have no idea. I'd like to think so, but I'm not sure about that either. I'm just feeling a little....hmm....beat up...but that really isn't an accurate representation.....
Stupid maybe? In over my head? Overwhelmed? What in the world made me think I could do this? All those thoughts have been pummeling me for the past week... I don't know why. Remember when I said 'beat up' was an accurate representation? Maybe I was wrong about that...
I'm older....I'll be 45 on my birthday in a few weeks. I've got a Music Education degree and I've been an elementary music teacher for 20 years. I'm good at it. Really good. So I know I'm not a complete idiot.
I just feel like one. I'm REALLY behind on my reading since I didn't read unless I had to my WHOLE life. Only in the past two years have I really started reading for enjoyment. So when I hear, "Have you read ..... ? and I haven't, I feel a major stab inadequacy. Your mind is a powerful thing. It can talk you in and out of situations at the drop of a hat. I guess I need to stop listening to my brain and write in spite of myself and all those Writer Doubts....pesky little critters...maybe there's a spray I can buy...
Hope I don't seem whiny....I can't stand whining...It drives me crazy. I don't allow my kids at school to whine, so I don't. This is more of a 'banging your head or kicking the wall in frustration" thing.
So this is me....feeling like I need to give up, but knowing I'll never forgive myself if I do.....so I'll take a break...unscrew my head off, clean out the "Negative Nancy" thoughts and screw it back on the right way.
I read blog posts by more experienced writers who are WAY smarter than me. I'm being serious by the way....right now, this is a 'no snark zone'. I've gone through checklists about what my MS needs, what it doesn't need, what my query needs, what it doesn't need, check the word count, are you characters interesting? I've looked over and over and over my MS....editing, rewriting, editing again, rewriting again over and over. I've heard other writers say, "This is my third rewrite" or "This is my fifth rewrite"...I've rewritten and edited so many times, I couldn't begin to tell you a number. I think my characters are interesting, but I really like my characters....that doesn't mean anyone else will. Will your plot keep the reader turning pages? I have no idea. I'd like to think so, but I'm not sure about that either. I'm just feeling a little....hmm....beat up...but that really isn't an accurate representation.....
Stupid maybe? In over my head? Overwhelmed? What in the world made me think I could do this? All those thoughts have been pummeling me for the past week... I don't know why. Remember when I said 'beat up' was an accurate representation? Maybe I was wrong about that...
I'm older....I'll be 45 on my birthday in a few weeks. I've got a Music Education degree and I've been an elementary music teacher for 20 years. I'm good at it. Really good. So I know I'm not a complete idiot.
I just feel like one. I'm REALLY behind on my reading since I didn't read unless I had to my WHOLE life. Only in the past two years have I really started reading for enjoyment. So when I hear, "Have you read ..... ? and I haven't, I feel a major stab inadequacy. Your mind is a powerful thing. It can talk you in and out of situations at the drop of a hat. I guess I need to stop listening to my brain and write in spite of myself and all those Writer Doubts....pesky little critters...maybe there's a spray I can buy...
Hope I don't seem whiny....I can't stand whining...It drives me crazy. I don't allow my kids at school to whine, so I don't. This is more of a 'banging your head or kicking the wall in frustration" thing.
So this is me....feeling like I need to give up, but knowing I'll never forgive myself if I do.....so I'll take a break...unscrew my head off, clean out the "Negative Nancy" thoughts and screw it back on the right way.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Day-10 Distraction Monster
The Distraction Monster...I fight him daily. Not sure how many of you are like this, but keeping my attention to one thing can be a challenge most of the time. When I'm writing something for the first time, like a new plot twist or something completely different, I can stay at it for a good chunk of time. If I'm editing or going back over to look for mistakes, I get distracted...a lot. So much so, that sometimes I completely avoid the task altogether. If I'm going to be doing this for a living one of these days, I've got to get over that...
Twitter and Facebook keep me distracted. In my defense, I have learned a TON of information by following authors and agents. They are a great resource for writing information. There are always links to really informative articles and blog posts that I have bookmarked and learned from, so sometimes I count scanning all the 'tweets' as writing research. I need to learn about writing as much as I need to write. Both will make me better...I just feel guilty when I hear Diana Gabaldon's voice saying she writes every day.
I need to write every day...even if it's just a little...but I haven't written in several days....thus...the guilt.
So, this is me...trying to get back on track
Battling the distraction monster that lurks on the web and jumps on me at any turn where my brain might be the least bit unchallenged...sometimes it jumps on me when I'm too challenged...I'm just looking for that safe place where there's a happy medium.
Twitter and Facebook keep me distracted. In my defense, I have learned a TON of information by following authors and agents. They are a great resource for writing information. There are always links to really informative articles and blog posts that I have bookmarked and learned from, so sometimes I count scanning all the 'tweets' as writing research. I need to learn about writing as much as I need to write. Both will make me better...I just feel guilty when I hear Diana Gabaldon's voice saying she writes every day.
I need to write every day...even if it's just a little...but I haven't written in several days....thus...the guilt.
So, this is me...trying to get back on track
Battling the distraction monster that lurks on the web and jumps on me at any turn where my brain might be the least bit unchallenged...sometimes it jumps on me when I'm too challenged...I'm just looking for that safe place where there's a happy medium.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Day-9 Plot Directions
I'm debating about a part of the plot that came to me a couple of months ago. When I was reading through the chapter, for about the hundredth time, I had an idea come to me. I just started writing it to see where it went...When I was done, I realized that by adding this really cool plot twist, I had completely changed the circumstances in what was coming up in the next part of the book or series I should say. I already knew the story pretty well, but now I've added a dynamic that will change everything else.
I'm not afraid of rewrites...I do them and edit all the time. Sometimes I rewrite a paragraph, sometimes I take out a whole page or pages or just rework a sentence. The goal is to try and keep the story as concise and still be interesting enough to keep reading it as possible. I hope in all this I'm becoming a better writer. That's the goal anyway...
I've done this enough times now that I know to do whatever rewrite on a different page, that way if I go back later and think..."What was I thinking" I don't have to worry about losing what it was before. I like to keep everything I've written just to go back sometimes and see what I was thinking. Just because I didn't use it in the story I'm writing currently, doesn't mean I might not be able to use it later.
But this one plot twist...I just can't decide. It involves one of the characters well....she goes through a 'life-changing' experience. Just not sure whether to keep it or chuck it. I could go ahead and tell you what it is, but at some point if you read this and then my book actually does see the light of day and becomes published, I don't want to ruin it for you...
I just wish I could decide for sure what I want to do...hmm.....
When I decide what to do for sure....I'll let you know..
I'm not afraid of rewrites...I do them and edit all the time. Sometimes I rewrite a paragraph, sometimes I take out a whole page or pages or just rework a sentence. The goal is to try and keep the story as concise and still be interesting enough to keep reading it as possible. I hope in all this I'm becoming a better writer. That's the goal anyway...
I've done this enough times now that I know to do whatever rewrite on a different page, that way if I go back later and think..."What was I thinking" I don't have to worry about losing what it was before. I like to keep everything I've written just to go back sometimes and see what I was thinking. Just because I didn't use it in the story I'm writing currently, doesn't mean I might not be able to use it later.
But this one plot twist...I just can't decide. It involves one of the characters well....she goes through a 'life-changing' experience. Just not sure whether to keep it or chuck it. I could go ahead and tell you what it is, but at some point if you read this and then my book actually does see the light of day and becomes published, I don't want to ruin it for you...
I just wish I could decide for sure what I want to do...hmm.....
When I decide what to do for sure....I'll let you know..
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