One other crucial part of a writing partner, group or writing alone is the waiting. I don't know about you, but the waiting kills me. Slowly. Painfully. Kills. Me.
Waiting for critiques to return, waiting to finish the stupid *&#@ thing in the first place, waiting to wait some more while you query agents. Then, I hear, there is more waiting.
I'm learning, slowly, to take advantage of all the waiting. While my nano novel rested (after first being a rebel and thinking I could jump straight into edits. ha. ha.) I started a new project. You know that incredible high of knowing you can actually write a novel, so why not write a ton more? Uhm. No answer. When that novel got to a point of needing to rest before I could finish it (I don't think I'll finish it, actually.) I started on the editing/revising process of my nano project. But, in between those times when revision seems too overwhelming or it's out on critique chopping blocks, what do I really do that is helpful in the waiting process?
Journal: Remember that freedom of writing without any purpose other than to express your soul. No fragments, past and present tense mixes fine and the POV is always first and always sounds great. Because it's you. And you might discover something new about yourself. Something that may have snuck in while you've been in stories having torrid affairs with main characters and punctuation marks.
Make a Plan: There's nothing like the written word, right? We love it. So, use it. Write the title of your novel at the top of a sheet of paper. Write down things about it that come to you. What does it mean to you? Now write out your process. Will you re-write before any other eyes see? Will you go ahead and send it to the critique partners and then re-write, edit and send it back? Do you even have other eyes to look at your work? Write it all out, all the way to querying agents/or self-publishing/or small press publishers.
Smell the Flowers: Yes, there is life out there and it's waiting to see you. It's your inspiration, don't let the worry and doubt monsters keep you buried in frozen foods and ice cream.
Read: Read for enjoyment. DO NOT COMPARE your WIP to the brilliant romance/thriller/YA/Paranormal/Inspirational novel you are reading. Let go of your writing for a moment. Just long enough to show your support to a fellow author by reading their book. Simply escape into it. Do not analyze. That is for later. Remember...you are waiting.
Learn Something New: Whether it be about writing or something else. Learning is stimulating your brain and the waiting...well it only sucks your brain dry. Trust me.
And when all else fails....have you seen the new app on Facebook?! :0)
What do you do to keep the dreaded wait more bearable?
Showing posts with label writing and growing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing and growing. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday Inspiration
I hope everyone's holidays were merry. The royal court made out like, well, royalty. Now I'm ready for it to be over. :0) Which is different than I've been in years past. I have always kept decorations up until the 30th of Dec. Then it's clean it out and have the house ready for New Year's by the 31st and we stay up all night playing board games. (To keep the house clean-do you see my issue with new year and clean house here? It's a curse.)
This year...different story. I feel like ripping down the tree, packing up the decorations and kicking 2009 out of the door. I don't really know why. It was a rough year, but really nothing that I've seen so many other families go through. My children are sleeping safely in a warm bed with tons of toys surrounding them. They all avoided the H1N1 virus, we still have a roof over our heads. We have so much to be thankful for. But I'm ready to start fresh. Funny how the new year gives us that feeling of a clean slate, isn't it?
In writing, my year started with a course through the Institute of Children's Literature. They are a fabulous group. I joined their forum and dove into my assigments. I devoured writing prompts and would write short stories almost daily. I entered several contests. I queried. I submitted. I failed.
Writing picture books or stories for children in any form is a very difficult task. I assumed that because I was a mom that reads to her children....I could write that. Well........let me tell you. I can. But it ain't easy!! And..I found that I don't have a passion for that age group. I don't know if I just...grew up too much or what. It also seemed that no matter how much praise I received from other writer friends, either through critiques or just general interest, I did not like my work. How could I sell something I don't like?
So, I went on and started my first 'contemporary' novel we'll call Audra. I love Audra. I love her character and her world. But I learned a lot and after reading Audra I realized that I had created a book of events...one conflict after another with no real growth, or change or reason for all the conflicts. Audra is lovingly stored on my flash drive. I decided it was time to find something else. I didn't feel like a failure, I felt like I just needed more practice.
I wrote and finished my first novel during the month of November for Nano. I thought it would be YA. I had one of those angsty teenage lives, surely, I could do this. It was hard, it was fun, and rewarding. I felt full of fire and energy. I started a new project, but abandoned it for the nano novel. I just couldn't wait to get it right.
Recently, I received a critique that made me sit down and re think this whole writing gig. Now, it's not that the critique was harsh. Please do not get me wrong. In fact, she mentioned that she loved my style and my voice. I feel like that alone is a great compliment! I was positive someone would tell me I needed to work on voice. (and she may as the book progresses) The questions involved the story...believability and setting it up right. Which is crucial. I'm so glad she brought it to my attention. But I first sat down and almost cried.
It made me wonder if I had the intelligence, the patience, the staying power, to learn the things I didn't know that she brought up. In my nano novel, Addiction, the government plays a role in that my MC works for Homeland Security. I've also set it in the future.
Honestly...I don't know why I did that. I'm not creative in a sci-fi sense AT ALL. I tried to keep it small potatoes because, well..I don't know a thing about politics, either. Seriously. Nothing. I get confused with all the talk and end up tuning it out. Irresponsible, I know, leave me to my little world. Government and Economics was the one class I failed in high school. Almost failed Economics in college.
I was about to humbly admit my defeat and notify all parties of my farewell to the writing dream when I read this post. Thank goodness for Heidi Willis. Not only was her debut novel one of the most amazing books I've read in a looong time(and no, I'm not doing this for a profit, I paid for the book, FTC)but her posts always offer me hope at the exact time I needed it. She reminded me that I have chosen to continue in the past and it's what I must continue to do in my future. She is my angel and my inspiration for this Sunday.
This year...different story. I feel like ripping down the tree, packing up the decorations and kicking 2009 out of the door. I don't really know why. It was a rough year, but really nothing that I've seen so many other families go through. My children are sleeping safely in a warm bed with tons of toys surrounding them. They all avoided the H1N1 virus, we still have a roof over our heads. We have so much to be thankful for. But I'm ready to start fresh. Funny how the new year gives us that feeling of a clean slate, isn't it?
In writing, my year started with a course through the Institute of Children's Literature. They are a fabulous group. I joined their forum and dove into my assigments. I devoured writing prompts and would write short stories almost daily. I entered several contests. I queried. I submitted. I failed.
Writing picture books or stories for children in any form is a very difficult task. I assumed that because I was a mom that reads to her children....I could write that. Well........let me tell you. I can. But it ain't easy!! And..I found that I don't have a passion for that age group. I don't know if I just...grew up too much or what. It also seemed that no matter how much praise I received from other writer friends, either through critiques or just general interest, I did not like my work. How could I sell something I don't like?
So, I went on and started my first 'contemporary' novel we'll call Audra. I love Audra. I love her character and her world. But I learned a lot and after reading Audra I realized that I had created a book of events...one conflict after another with no real growth, or change or reason for all the conflicts. Audra is lovingly stored on my flash drive. I decided it was time to find something else. I didn't feel like a failure, I felt like I just needed more practice.
I wrote and finished my first novel during the month of November for Nano. I thought it would be YA. I had one of those angsty teenage lives, surely, I could do this. It was hard, it was fun, and rewarding. I felt full of fire and energy. I started a new project, but abandoned it for the nano novel. I just couldn't wait to get it right.
Recently, I received a critique that made me sit down and re think this whole writing gig. Now, it's not that the critique was harsh. Please do not get me wrong. In fact, she mentioned that she loved my style and my voice. I feel like that alone is a great compliment! I was positive someone would tell me I needed to work on voice. (and she may as the book progresses) The questions involved the story...believability and setting it up right. Which is crucial. I'm so glad she brought it to my attention. But I first sat down and almost cried.
It made me wonder if I had the intelligence, the patience, the staying power, to learn the things I didn't know that she brought up. In my nano novel, Addiction, the government plays a role in that my MC works for Homeland Security. I've also set it in the future.
Honestly...I don't know why I did that. I'm not creative in a sci-fi sense AT ALL. I tried to keep it small potatoes because, well..I don't know a thing about politics, either. Seriously. Nothing. I get confused with all the talk and end up tuning it out. Irresponsible, I know, leave me to my little world. Government and Economics was the one class I failed in high school. Almost failed Economics in college.
I was about to humbly admit my defeat and notify all parties of my farewell to the writing dream when I read this post. Thank goodness for Heidi Willis. Not only was her debut novel one of the most amazing books I've read in a looong time(and no, I'm not doing this for a profit, I paid for the book, FTC)but her posts always offer me hope at the exact time I needed it. She reminded me that I have chosen to continue in the past and it's what I must continue to do in my future. She is my angel and my inspiration for this Sunday.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Growing Pains
Princess Rhiannon stayed home from school today due to those pesky growing pains. Do you remember those? When I was young, I remember those shooting pains going from back to legs, to knees, to thighs and back again. Well, now my poor princess must be growing like a crazy person because she is experiencing those painful growth spurts. In fact, it gets so bad that she won't be able to walk without crying. Now, my princess is dramatic and a fabulous actress, however, this was not acting and my heart cried for her. I let her stay at home and lay back down in bed with a heating pad. I feel like maybe I'm wrong for not pushing her to get up and stretch those legs!
Most careers experience growing pains as well. Those days when you learn so many things that you thought you already knew about your job. Those times when the boss drags you in his/her office and chews your butt for thirty minutes.
I think as writers, we can empathize with growing pains better than most careers. We write this masterpiece that bares our souls, our mysteries and our insecurities. Then we slash it and reword and reshape and print and trash and print again. Each revision is a different shooting pain. Our characters argue and fight with us. Our plots rebel and try to run opposite directions, creating shooting pains in our heads. But after each pain subsides, our story has grown. Our talent has grown. Then when we send it off into the world, the pain can be unreal. Once that has subsided, again, we've grown. We grow with each and every word we write on the page (or screen).
How do you ease the pain of growing?
Most careers experience growing pains as well. Those days when you learn so many things that you thought you already knew about your job. Those times when the boss drags you in his/her office and chews your butt for thirty minutes.
I think as writers, we can empathize with growing pains better than most careers. We write this masterpiece that bares our souls, our mysteries and our insecurities. Then we slash it and reword and reshape and print and trash and print again. Each revision is a different shooting pain. Our characters argue and fight with us. Our plots rebel and try to run opposite directions, creating shooting pains in our heads. But after each pain subsides, our story has grown. Our talent has grown. Then when we send it off into the world, the pain can be unreal. Once that has subsided, again, we've grown. We grow with each and every word we write on the page (or screen).
How do you ease the pain of growing?
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