To my very great surprise, this edit is very different from all of my previous edits. I suppose each one was unique, really, but this is a whole new level.
Between raising three children, illness (my own, my husband's, and the children's), holiday activities, touching bases with my friends now and then (so they don't think I'm dead), keeping the house in reasonable order, and freaking out about a mouse infestation in our attic (yeah--gross), I didn't think I'd find the time to get any of this edit done.
Guess again! :)
Even with squeezing it in here and there, I'm a week in and more than halfway done. And it's serious rewrite! I've scrapped scenes, rewritten others, changed main characters, even turned a plot-line upside down.
And it's easy. And fun! And finally, FINALLY pulling itself into a beautiful, satisfying whole. The characters are consistent, and the plot is tight and flows well.
I'm just so pleased with how this is coming together. So pleased.
I think the biggest reason it's so different and easy is that I haven't read it in about six months. I've got fresh eyes, and I've been reading more than writing. Reading another person's work changes how you look at your own writing.
The point of all this? I now believe the best thing you can do for yourself (if you have a manuscript that needs work) is put it away for a long, long time. Don't stop thinking about it, maybe allow yourself to outline or brainstorm a little now and then, but don't touch the manuscript itself.
The result? MAGIC!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
This is Why
A friend asked me once why I call this blog "Round about we go". If you are a writer then you already know the answer.
I actually got the title from a Milne poem, called "Busy":
"Round about, and round about, and round about I go. All around the table, the table in the nursery. Round about, and round about, and round about, and round about..." Well, you get the idea.
In my Milne book there's a cute little sketch of a toddler skipping around a table until his little legs give out and he falls down dizzy.
It's an endless cycle, this writing stuff and sometimes I feel like that dizzy little man--skipping happily in circles, and going nowhere. Thankfully, it is a happy journey to nowhere and I never give up hoping I will eventually escape the nursery.
Alas, my friends, I have not yet stopped skipping 'round my nursery table. The Wielder is in my hands once again, and in dire need of editing.
However, do not get discouraged. This time it is different. This is what I've heard called "trimming the fat". Removing all the extra info and wordy descriptions that are holding the story back. That is what Stan wants.
I am also going to spruce up the heroine and the villain. That's what I want.
Thankfully, I am well past the pregers hormone issue and writing is, once more, a pleasure. And so...
Round about, and round about, and round about, and round about I go!
I actually got the title from a Milne poem, called "Busy":
"Round about, and round about, and round about I go. All around the table, the table in the nursery. Round about, and round about, and round about, and round about..." Well, you get the idea.
In my Milne book there's a cute little sketch of a toddler skipping around a table until his little legs give out and he falls down dizzy.
It's an endless cycle, this writing stuff and sometimes I feel like that dizzy little man--skipping happily in circles, and going nowhere. Thankfully, it is a happy journey to nowhere and I never give up hoping I will eventually escape the nursery.
Alas, my friends, I have not yet stopped skipping 'round my nursery table. The Wielder is in my hands once again, and in dire need of editing.
However, do not get discouraged. This time it is different. This is what I've heard called "trimming the fat". Removing all the extra info and wordy descriptions that are holding the story back. That is what Stan wants.
I am also going to spruce up the heroine and the villain. That's what I want.
Thankfully, I am well past the pregers hormone issue and writing is, once more, a pleasure. And so...
Round about, and round about, and round about, and round about I go!
Monday, August 15, 2011
It's Complicated
The process of waiting is happily filled with hours of writing and, that rarest of pleasures (rare for the young mother of three, anyway), reading. (And I don't count children's books, sorry). What am I reading?
A few things, actually. I've got a bookmark in William Goldman's "The Princess Bride" (for the millionth blissful time), I just started Jane Austen's "Emma" (only my second reading--I didn't like it the first time), and a book by my favorite writer.
Who is my favorite writer, you ask?
Well, that's where it gets complicated.
The answer is: Stephen King. Yes, you heard correctly--Stephen King, the Horror novelist.
Appropriate response? Shock and (yes) Horror.
But, wait. I don't actually read Horror books (or see Horror movies, comics, etc.). I don't disapprove of them, exactly, but I can't handle them. I'm not built to appreciate stories created to frighten people. They make me hurt in a bad way and I don't like it.
However, Stephen King has written more than a collection of (widely acknowledged to be brilliant) Horror stories. He created a fantasy as well ("The Eyes of the Dragon") and a marvelous book called "On Writing".
Every now and then, you find a book that resonates with you. A book you read over and over because it speaks your language and you always come out of it inspired, enlightened, and just plain satisfied. For me, that book is "On Writing".
Contained in "On Writing" are Stephen King's past experiences and advice to writers, which is all very useful, but what I really like about it is hearing his voice. Behind the terrifying fiction sits a man with admirable morals, deep inner strength, and a macabre sense of humor.
I find his writing advice useful and inspiring, but I usually get more out of his stories. Some are sad, or painful, or just plain dark, but he tells them with humor, so you're laughing when you probably shouldn't be. Or maybe you're laughing exactly when you should be. The point is, you're laughing when he wants you to.
Which is why I can never read the rest of his books. If he can get me laughing at a horrific situation, what would happen when his intention is to terrify? I guess we'll never know. Sorry. It's just not my cup of tea.
Still, I always come out of "On Writing" wishing desperately that my favorite writer had chosen a genre I actually like! Then again, if he had done so, he wouldn't be writing "Truth" he insists all writers need to do. I suspect his abilities are tied to his truth-telling, so he wouldn't be my favorite if he wrote anything else, would he?
Sigh. As I said--it's complicated.
A few things, actually. I've got a bookmark in William Goldman's "The Princess Bride" (for the millionth blissful time), I just started Jane Austen's "Emma" (only my second reading--I didn't like it the first time), and a book by my favorite writer.
Who is my favorite writer, you ask?
Well, that's where it gets complicated.
The answer is: Stephen King. Yes, you heard correctly--Stephen King, the Horror novelist.
Appropriate response? Shock and (yes) Horror.
But, wait. I don't actually read Horror books (or see Horror movies, comics, etc.). I don't disapprove of them, exactly, but I can't handle them. I'm not built to appreciate stories created to frighten people. They make me hurt in a bad way and I don't like it.
However, Stephen King has written more than a collection of (widely acknowledged to be brilliant) Horror stories. He created a fantasy as well ("The Eyes of the Dragon") and a marvelous book called "On Writing".
Every now and then, you find a book that resonates with you. A book you read over and over because it speaks your language and you always come out of it inspired, enlightened, and just plain satisfied. For me, that book is "On Writing".
Contained in "On Writing" are Stephen King's past experiences and advice to writers, which is all very useful, but what I really like about it is hearing his voice. Behind the terrifying fiction sits a man with admirable morals, deep inner strength, and a macabre sense of humor.
I find his writing advice useful and inspiring, but I usually get more out of his stories. Some are sad, or painful, or just plain dark, but he tells them with humor, so you're laughing when you probably shouldn't be. Or maybe you're laughing exactly when you should be. The point is, you're laughing when he wants you to.
Which is why I can never read the rest of his books. If he can get me laughing at a horrific situation, what would happen when his intention is to terrify? I guess we'll never know. Sorry. It's just not my cup of tea.
Still, I always come out of "On Writing" wishing desperately that my favorite writer had chosen a genre I actually like! Then again, if he had done so, he wouldn't be writing "Truth" he insists all writers need to do. I suspect his abilities are tied to his truth-telling, so he wouldn't be my favorite if he wrote anything else, would he?
Sigh. As I said--it's complicated.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Patience
One month ago (June 24th) my daughter, Audrey, finally joined our family and I took a month off everything. She's a great baby: sleeps pretty well, eats plenty, and watches the world through calm, interested blue eyes. We're all glad she's here--even our two-year-old!
My recovery, though slow, is progressing and the writing itch is gradually returning, but the lack of sleep and periodic illnesses in our house have kept it from taking full form. Much as I would like to bury myself in character and plot, I find my alone-time taken up with sleeping, eating, and the rarest of all blessings--showering!
Still, the itch must and will be satisfied soon. My other two children started letting me sleep at about four months old. With luck, Audrey will take a hint and follow their example, but I may not wait that long anyway. Sometimes, sleep or no sleep, you just have to write.
I'm not there yet. No.
But I will be soon.
In the meantime, I'll fill my days with cuddling Audrey and chasing my crazy boys around the house and backyard (gotta get back in shape somehow, right?), all while waiting to hear Stan's thoughts on the manuscript.
Yes, he's still reading it and I'm hoping to hear that he's ready to shop it around with publishers. Waiting and hoping--the fate of all would-be-published writers. Hmm. If I didn't have a baby to cuddle, I don't know if I could handle it just now.
Thankfully I do have my darling daughter and I can be patient. I can. I swear!
Yeah, right. :P
My recovery, though slow, is progressing and the writing itch is gradually returning, but the lack of sleep and periodic illnesses in our house have kept it from taking full form. Much as I would like to bury myself in character and plot, I find my alone-time taken up with sleeping, eating, and the rarest of all blessings--showering!
Still, the itch must and will be satisfied soon. My other two children started letting me sleep at about four months old. With luck, Audrey will take a hint and follow their example, but I may not wait that long anyway. Sometimes, sleep or no sleep, you just have to write.
I'm not there yet. No.
But I will be soon.
In the meantime, I'll fill my days with cuddling Audrey and chasing my crazy boys around the house and backyard (gotta get back in shape somehow, right?), all while waiting to hear Stan's thoughts on the manuscript.
Yes, he's still reading it and I'm hoping to hear that he's ready to shop it around with publishers. Waiting and hoping--the fate of all would-be-published writers. Hmm. If I didn't have a baby to cuddle, I don't know if I could handle it just now.
Thankfully I do have my darling daughter and I can be patient. I can. I swear!
Yeah, right. :P
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Waiting
Baby hasn't come yet (groan) and I can't stop thinking about the manuscript. As I said in a previous post, no manuscript is perfect and all I can think about are the mistakes I made.
I know of at least one (admittedly small) error I missed: adding an apostrophe where I shouldn't have. And I have some doubts about one or two scenes. They might be too long or give away too much information. The book might be too long or the plot too complicated.
Once the baby gets here, I'm sure I'll be able to stop fussing over these things--at least until I get feedback from editors telling me what I did wrong ;)
But that's months away. What's a super-pregers writer to do?
Well, this one is going to get a pedicure this afternoon and forget her worries in a big bowl of fresh watermelon. Ha!
I know of at least one (admittedly small) error I missed: adding an apostrophe where I shouldn't have. And I have some doubts about one or two scenes. They might be too long or give away too much information. The book might be too long or the plot too complicated.
Once the baby gets here, I'm sure I'll be able to stop fussing over these things--at least until I get feedback from editors telling me what I did wrong ;)
But that's months away. What's a super-pregers writer to do?
Well, this one is going to get a pedicure this afternoon and forget her worries in a big bowl of fresh watermelon. Ha!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
At Last
I DID IT!
The manuscript is in Stan's capable hands and my baby could come any day. Talk about cutting it close!
I'm so relieved I'm actually as a loss for words. I'll update when I have more to say.
:D
The manuscript is in Stan's capable hands and my baby could come any day. Talk about cutting it close!
I'm so relieved I'm actually as a loss for words. I'll update when I have more to say.
:D
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Good Enough?
Here we go...sprinting to the finish!
I've completed my overhaul of the synopsis, outline, bio, and query letter. My husband is more than halfway through the manuscript and I'm already working on the part he's finished. In other words--nearly there!
And a good thing too. My baby girl is due in six weeks and they way things are looking, she may not be willing to stay inside that long. We've already had one bout of 'false labor' that seemed pretty real to me (even the doctors were nervous). I'm being told to rest, drink lots of fluids, and stay calm. (Right! With two toddler boys running around? Ha!)
Stick it out, little girl!
Still, all this time 'resting' has given me more time to work on the manuscript.
Confession: the closer I get to being done, the more nervous I feel. Knowing this is the last rewrite for some time kind of scares me. I've written enough to know perfection is never really attainable--for me anyway. I can get close, but there's always an error to fix or a phrase that could be just a little clearer. My mother (an amazing writer herself) calls it layers of editing.
So here we are, about to send my work out to editors, and I just can't be sure what layer of editing I've reached. I feel good about this book now--confident that it's the best it's ever been. But is it good enough?
I guess we'll find out...eventually.
First I have to finish! Ha ha!
I've completed my overhaul of the synopsis, outline, bio, and query letter. My husband is more than halfway through the manuscript and I'm already working on the part he's finished. In other words--nearly there!
And a good thing too. My baby girl is due in six weeks and they way things are looking, she may not be willing to stay inside that long. We've already had one bout of 'false labor' that seemed pretty real to me (even the doctors were nervous). I'm being told to rest, drink lots of fluids, and stay calm. (Right! With two toddler boys running around? Ha!)
Stick it out, little girl!
Still, all this time 'resting' has given me more time to work on the manuscript.
Confession: the closer I get to being done, the more nervous I feel. Knowing this is the last rewrite for some time kind of scares me. I've written enough to know perfection is never really attainable--for me anyway. I can get close, but there's always an error to fix or a phrase that could be just a little clearer. My mother (an amazing writer herself) calls it layers of editing.
So here we are, about to send my work out to editors, and I just can't be sure what layer of editing I've reached. I feel good about this book now--confident that it's the best it's ever been. But is it good enough?
I guess we'll find out...eventually.
First I have to finish! Ha ha!
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