Nearly there!
In the completion of what I think will be the best version of Wielder yet, I have mapped out what I have left to do and how long it should take. It helps me to have a goal, but unless I have a major deadline, I like to pace myself.
Here is my writing schedule as I predict it:
Finish major rewrite: two days
Break to ponder and outline a little: three days
Edit main character: three days
Edit minor characters: Week and a half to two weeks
Break to get a little perspective: two days
Read through one last time to catch any minor oopses or weak points: four days
Hand over to one or two trusted readers: two weeks
Total: just under 6 weeks (this is an outside figure, of course. I'll bet myself a pint of chocolate Haagen Dazs I can get it done in less time!)
When this schedule is complete, it will be handed over to my honored agent for a final reading, but I dare not assign Stan a time-limit. He is far too busy to put everything else aside just to read my latest manuscript! (but, from experience, I'm guessing about 2 weeks)
Once I've made his changes, he will shop it around and that's where time loses all meaning. As all the writing world knows, Publishers must and will take their time over your work--and rightly so! I don't want MY book passed over because their just wasn't enough time!
And so, here we go!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Should or Shouldn't?
I read somewhere that you should always write--even if you don't want to--even you don't feel inspired at all. Well, I decided a few weeks ago that this theory is flawed. There are times you (or, more specifically, I) shouldn't write.
So here is my list of Times you Should and Times you Shouldn't. Follow or not as suits you best, fellow writers.
When you Should:
-if you feel inspired.
-if you have a deadline.
-if you don't have a deadline.
-if you want to.
-if you want to finish your novel.
-if you don't really feel like it, but still have a clear head and time to get 'involved'.
When you Shouldn't:
-if you are trying to write something cheerful, but are feeling angry, depressed, picked-on, etc.
-if you are on medication that impairs your mind and ability to be coherent.
-if you should be focusing on something else (i.e. your job, your children, driving, kissing your significant other, sleeping, etc.)
-if you don't want to finish your novel.
-if you really hate writing, but someone else thinks you should.
-if you wake up at three in the morning with a 'brilliant' idea, but you have to be up by 6 with your kids, job, and/or other commitment.
I guess the moral of the blog post today is: writing is marvelous, beautiful, satisfying, and even, sometimes, your job. But it isn't your life. Sometimes you shouldn't be writing. Sometimes you should be living and doing other things.
For me personally, writing is a disease--a lovely, pleasant disease--that would consume me and all my time, if I let it, but I don't. And I believe my writing is better for it.
What do you think? When 'Should' you write? When Shouldn't you?
So here is my list of Times you Should and Times you Shouldn't. Follow or not as suits you best, fellow writers.
When you Should:
-if you feel inspired.
-if you have a deadline.
-if you don't have a deadline.
-if you want to.
-if you want to finish your novel.
-if you don't really feel like it, but still have a clear head and time to get 'involved'.
When you Shouldn't:
-if you are trying to write something cheerful, but are feeling angry, depressed, picked-on, etc.
-if you are on medication that impairs your mind and ability to be coherent.
-if you should be focusing on something else (i.e. your job, your children, driving, kissing your significant other, sleeping, etc.)
-if you don't want to finish your novel.
-if you really hate writing, but someone else thinks you should.
-if you wake up at three in the morning with a 'brilliant' idea, but you have to be up by 6 with your kids, job, and/or other commitment.
I guess the moral of the blog post today is: writing is marvelous, beautiful, satisfying, and even, sometimes, your job. But it isn't your life. Sometimes you shouldn't be writing. Sometimes you should be living and doing other things.
For me personally, writing is a disease--a lovely, pleasant disease--that would consume me and all my time, if I let it, but I don't. And I believe my writing is better for it.
What do you think? When 'Should' you write? When Shouldn't you?
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Worth it
As I revise 'The Wielder' for the hundredth time, I stop now and then and consider--five years of work on one book and not done yet (well, five years off and on, plus a dozen other projects, including two other novels, two children, another job, and travel).
The point is, is it worth it? All this effort and time--why can't I let go of this one?
The funny part is that I've always considered myself a 'mystery writer'. YA fantasy, while fun to read, is not a genre I ever seriously considered. I didn't have a ton of experience (emphasis on DIDN'T) and mystery is my first love.
The reason 'The Wielder' is GOING to get done is because I have a deep-gut feeling that it must be worth it.
I wonder how many writers go through this. I've heard some edit and edit and finally discard the novel in progress, realizing it's a dead end. I've also heard of writers who spend their whole lives writing one book and never finish.
Oh, I hope I fall somewhere in between.
I guess what it comes down to is that I love this book. I love every single version its been through and it gets better every time. So, there you go--it's already worth it.
The point is, is it worth it? All this effort and time--why can't I let go of this one?
The funny part is that I've always considered myself a 'mystery writer'. YA fantasy, while fun to read, is not a genre I ever seriously considered. I didn't have a ton of experience (emphasis on DIDN'T) and mystery is my first love.
The reason 'The Wielder' is GOING to get done is because I have a deep-gut feeling that it must be worth it.
I wonder how many writers go through this. I've heard some edit and edit and finally discard the novel in progress, realizing it's a dead end. I've also heard of writers who spend their whole lives writing one book and never finish.
Oh, I hope I fall somewhere in between.
I guess what it comes down to is that I love this book. I love every single version its been through and it gets better every time. So, there you go--it's already worth it.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Mind v. Body
Sometimes (okay, a LOT of times these days) I'm up until 1 or 2 in the morning working on my edits. I enjoy it so much--the quiet (kids asleep and no one calling) and the opportunity to really bury myself in the story.
Of course, once I'm done for the night I have to follow it up with a light book or movie--something to help my brain wind down from its writing high. This usually works. Sometimes it doesn't.
Two nights ago, I finished my chapters around 1:30 then pulled out "Cold Comfort Farm" (fabulous light reading!!!) for half an hour. When my eyes were swollen with sleep, I gave up and headed upstairs. Fell into bed just after 2 AM and turned off the light. SO ready to sleep.
And then it hit me.
Chapters 10 and 11 were all wrong. Really wrong. I mean, throw out half of it and insert a totally new and incredibly VITAL scene. Out with the dull and unnecessary blah. The new scene would be intense, thrilling, and I knew exactly how it would play out. How did I not see this before? HOW?
And why did it have to hit me at 2 in the morning?
You can guess what happened. I know you can. Oh yes. I laid awake for anther half hour--eyes wide open again--planning, outlining, working out little details. At 2:30 I had a choice: get up and write the wretched scene (and give up an entire night's sleep, of course) or put it away and do it right the next day.
I weighed the options: sleep and sanity v. the realization of an epiphany. The eternal conflict--Body v. Mind.
Who won? Well, both, in the end, but at that critical moment--Body. I went to sleep and survived the next day. I did not, in fact, get a chance to write the new scene until today. Poor Mind had to wait two days to make its magic.
I think it was worth it, however. See, sometimes an idea that seems Life-altering and Brilliant at 2 AM turns out to be Blah and Foolish just a few hours of sleep later. In hindsight, retreat was definitely the right choice and I'm glad I did.
Don't be fooled. My 2 AM idea was every bit as amazing as I'd hoped. EVERY BIT. But it might not have been and sitting on it for two days confirmed it for me. Also, having a fresh brain made the writing that much easier and the resulting chapter that much better.
Yay, Inspiration! I love you! I couldn't get by without you!
Now, go buy a watch.
Of course, once I'm done for the night I have to follow it up with a light book or movie--something to help my brain wind down from its writing high. This usually works. Sometimes it doesn't.
Two nights ago, I finished my chapters around 1:30 then pulled out "Cold Comfort Farm" (fabulous light reading!!!) for half an hour. When my eyes were swollen with sleep, I gave up and headed upstairs. Fell into bed just after 2 AM and turned off the light. SO ready to sleep.
And then it hit me.
Chapters 10 and 11 were all wrong. Really wrong. I mean, throw out half of it and insert a totally new and incredibly VITAL scene. Out with the dull and unnecessary blah. The new scene would be intense, thrilling, and I knew exactly how it would play out. How did I not see this before? HOW?
And why did it have to hit me at 2 in the morning?
You can guess what happened. I know you can. Oh yes. I laid awake for anther half hour--eyes wide open again--planning, outlining, working out little details. At 2:30 I had a choice: get up and write the wretched scene (and give up an entire night's sleep, of course) or put it away and do it right the next day.
I weighed the options: sleep and sanity v. the realization of an epiphany. The eternal conflict--Body v. Mind.
Who won? Well, both, in the end, but at that critical moment--Body. I went to sleep and survived the next day. I did not, in fact, get a chance to write the new scene until today. Poor Mind had to wait two days to make its magic.
I think it was worth it, however. See, sometimes an idea that seems Life-altering and Brilliant at 2 AM turns out to be Blah and Foolish just a few hours of sleep later. In hindsight, retreat was definitely the right choice and I'm glad I did.
Don't be fooled. My 2 AM idea was every bit as amazing as I'd hoped. EVERY BIT. But it might not have been and sitting on it for two days confirmed it for me. Also, having a fresh brain made the writing that much easier and the resulting chapter that much better.
Yay, Inspiration! I love you! I couldn't get by without you!
Now, go buy a watch.
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