"You must want to enough. Enough to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price of disappointment and discouragement while you are learning. Like any other artist you must learn your craft—then you can add all the genius you like."
--Phyllis A. Whitney
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| A bit of cheer from my favorite dahlia |
How are you doing? I was very encouraged to read all the reasonable goals set last week and am eager to clap my hands or pat you on the back consolingly, whatever the need may be. For me this week was wrought with writing ups and downs. I am a quarter of the way through this particular revision, which puts me exactly where I want to be. But sometimes I wonder if I'm over my head. I want this novel to be both emotionally riveting and historically accurate. Have I learned my craft well enough to pull this off? I want to see this novel in print. I hope I want to enough.
So how was your week? Do you want to enough?
I tackled 40 pages of revisions! I'm going to focus on that for the moment and not the major rewrites I still have looming.
ReplyDeleteIt's been so long since I've looked at this WIP that I basically had to lock myself in my office and force myself to start working.
At first, I struggled, but then I finally got into a groove. I hope it holds up until the end.
Hope everyone else is having a good month!
Jennifer--Great work! I had the same problem when I first started the revision. I think it took me over an hour to revise the first sentence. Stay in the groove!
ReplyDeleteI will finish this revision today. I will finish this revision today. I WI'LL finish this revision today.
ReplyDeleteActually it's going well. I have two friends ready to read it for me and I didn't even have to beg. Really excited to see if I've fixed a lot of the Problems you pointed out. And tomorrow I really need to start preparing notes for my upcoming workshop. I'm feeling positive this week!
I've actually had a fabulous writing week and broke the 20k mark on this manuscript. Plus the motivation issues I was worried about are becoming clearer - I'm sure there's loads to be revised, but I'm falling deep into this draft and I love that feeling. The issues that stemmed from me personally are morphing into issues that are truly my MC's and that is better.
ReplyDeleteMy sub is still out there and I've heard a little news but am still waiting. Nothing exciting yet.
Denise--That's fantastic! Go. Go. Go! Yay for positivity ^_^
ReplyDeleteJRo--Love it that you've had a fabulous week. Hooray for 20K! Hope you get some exciting news soon.
*waves hands in the air* I want to!
ReplyDeleteI think there comes a point where you need to trust yourself. From the tiny snippet you showed me, the setting was believable, but I'm not a history buff of that time period. You got the emotion down right, though. IMHO, that's more important. Do you know anyone with that particular historical knowledge who could beta-read?
I finished the agent spreadsheet (for now, 30 entries is enough), only to learn from a very wise and experienced person that while the entries are complete, I still have to research each agent more in-depth. But the spreadsheet will help. And if I can tackle one agent per day on most days of the week, then I think I'm doing okay.
I sent one query this morning! And no sooner than I did, I heard back from an agent as well ... *drumroll* ... "Just to let you know, I've received this and it's in my to-be-read pile." Well, that's better than a "no". ^_^
I didn't get to do much fitness-wise, because I've had a slightly-sprained ankle since December 30th. Maybe today I'll manage. I also lost my food log and didn't track anything for several days (gah) and then bought a shiny *new* notebook ... only to have the old notebook finally show up. Ain't that just the way?
No reading yet, but I have the day off. And as for writing, I've been logging little observations and impresions in my notebook. I am ready to (re-)start work on STAR CHILD, though. So far the most work has been brainstorming. I worked through a few plot issues and realized how it can be stronger. I just want to be in the right headspace, and that means going over the notes I made in July and November, then putting words to the page. Good thing I have today off to work this! Or maybe get some reading done. Either way, the day will be well-spent.
I absolutely want to enough. In fact, I think I'm well into wanting to too much, at this point.
ReplyDeleteBut lately, I've been concentrating a lot more on getting focussed and working at 'my craft'. (Why does that always make me think of sewing a fine seam, or making pipe cleaner decorations, or painting with acrylics?)
Laura--One a day is a wonderful goal. Keep up the good and brave work!
ReplyDeleteMary--I know what you mean. I'm not the craft sort. Storytelling skills perhaps?
I <3 #wipmadness.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are all so inspiring! I totally want it enough, and it is so great to be with a group of people with the same drive and determination.
I have to let my historical rest now, but I'm about to send off that first chapter/synopsis for a contest. Thanks to all who helped by critiquing for me!
In the meantime, I'm having so much fun drafting something new and completely different. So I'll be busy with that all week--hopefully all month!
Angelina, I hope you'll let me beta read your historical! I'm definitely a WWI and II history buff. Once I spent a month traveling around Flanders and France checking out the battle sights. Sooooo moving to set foot on the D-Day beaches and trenches of Ypres.
Hope your querying goes well, LS! I've been developing a pretty involved spreadsheet to capture all the research too. *shudders*
JRo, congrats on getting 20K in! What a great landmark!
Denise, best of luck finishing up!
Hope everyone sees continued success in writing and revising this week. Stickers and streamers to all!
Kip
Kip--You're a fabulous partner and inspiration for all of us. Enjoy the new project. I will definitely take you up on your offer as soon as I finish this revision. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou guys make my week, you know that? Especially since I haven't met even my reasonable goal of 350 a day.
ReplyDeleteI haven't written anything :( I've been out in LA performing in an Anime Convention with Random Encounters, brainstorming new ideas, old ideas, and blogfest ideas, and trying not to get stressed out over agent-list-making.
This coming week, I want to rewrite a prologue and finish scene 1 of the new book. If I can't manage that... well, maybe I'll need to start wanting it more.
Lora--Sounds to me like you're filling the creative well. Best wishes with the writing. You can commiserate with LS and Kip with the list making. Have a great week!
ReplyDelete@Angelica: An hour for the first sentence? Yikes, I've definitely been there!
ReplyDelete@Jaye Robin: Woohoo! 20k is a huge milestone! Keep us posted on the sub...
@L.S.: "I think there comes a point where you need to trust yourself." Brilliantly said!
So excited to be a part of this! I absolutely adore that quote, which I currently have posted everywhere to remind myself to stay strong during the crazy times.
Congrats to everyone for their accomplishments! I haven't worked on my WIP since before Christmas, so my goal this week is to get back in the swing of things and write 800-1000 words. We'll see how this goes...
LisaAnn--We'll be here and on Twitter, cheering you on. Thanks for joining in and have a fun and productive week with the WIP.
ReplyDeleteVery cool quote. It's full of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteI totally get what you're saying about hoping you've learned your craft well enough to pull it off. I was saying something similar to Molly Hall a few months back (about my own writing) and she has this beautiful way to describe that. If only I could remember her words, I'd share them.
My week was great because I'm super excited about my new idea (as you know), but full of distractions because I'm also studying for a test.
Dawn--Molly would have something beautiful to share, wouldn't she? Keep having fun with the shiny and best wishes on that test!
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to enough, but then fear grabs a hold and...well...ugh.
ReplyDeleteAlleged--I'm sending you a virtual sledgehammer to beat back fear, okay?
ReplyDeleteHi everyone! **waving**
ReplyDeleteSuper proud of y'all.
And I DO want it, badly. Truly, I'd welcome snarky laughter from an agent if I just had something to turn in. For me, proving I want it is boiling down to hanging a sign on me that says, "Unless I'm on fire, do not speak" on the front and "People Eater" on the back. Sigh, my big writing day resulted in only 450 words for the WIP. Must be more strict with everyone! I shall be quite a joy. =)
Pretty neat blog....NEW FOLLOWER.
ReplyDeleteIf you need another book, try my giveaway. :)
Book Giveaway on my blog….THE WICKED WIVES.
Stop by and complete the entry form if you like.
http://silversolara.blogspot.com/2012/01/give-away-of-wicked-wives.html
Wow, this is some good food for thought. I am on day two of not re-reading my wip so I can get started on rewrite...
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ReplyDeleteWell it's Wednesday already, and I've had no #wipmadness yet this week. But, yes...I want it enough—so badly it screams. Got some good footing on the climax last week. Another 900 words anyway.
ReplyDeleteHome issues have got me a little off track, so I've been reading instead of writing. But today I will march into #wipmadness...until I have to take Ghost Son to the orthodontist...
If we didn't have life's distractions, we wouldn't have anything to write about.
Party on, people...
Mary Ann--I think screaming for it helps. ^_^
ReplyDeleteDeb--So good to see you here. Hard to stay away, isn't it?
Elizabeth--Welcome and thanks for the link!
GP--Maybe I should make you a t-shirt like that!
OH YES! I agree with Angelina, GP! We need a t-shirt!!
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