Saturday, December 4, 2010
Editing the editing process.
Out of desperation, I begged Bridget to come out to dinner with me so I could talk through my frustration at not being able to figure out where to start. This rewrite will be me pretty much rewriting the whole freaking Drunk novel which is a daunting task in many aspects, the least of which I haven't been doing much writing. I blame extreme nerves and laziness which has caused me to freeze up and be able to do anything but stare at the Word file and wish for it to be done. So B and I went out to noodles and she sat and ate while I started talking through the book, voicing my own thoughts on weaknesses and holes and such, with her occasionally interjecting her own opinion. It... was... FABULOUS! Exactly what I needed to get the juices going. So far I haven't had time this week to do more than put down the brainstorming session in a file and add to it, but I think I finally can start! B also was stuck on one of her own projects, and I got to return the favor by letting her bounce ideas off of me until -voila- she also unstuck herself! Tomorrow will be another noodle meetup, but this time with computers. Let's see if I can get the first scene rewritten without having a major panic attack!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
NUR!
NURRRRR! That is the sound of my frustration at the editing process. Such.. a.. pain.. in the ass! And no, I'm not even a 1/3rd of the way through. Or a 1/4th for that matter. Probably not even a 1/12th. The problem is I know how much work is ahead of me. Time to address my fear- getting stuck, not completing it, having the original be better than the edit- and just get on with it.
Let's do this, people!
Let's do this, people!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Great Quotes on Rewriting
"Books are not written—they're rewritten."— Michael Crichton
"Good writing is essentially rewriting."— Roald Dahl
"I have never thought of myself as a good writer. . . . But I’m one of the world’s great rewriters."— James Michener
"I have rewritten — often several times — every word I have ever published. My pencils outlast their erasers."— Vladimir Nabokov
"I can’t understand how anyone can write without rewriting everything over and over again."— Leo Tolstoy
"Good writing is essentially rewriting."— Roald Dahl
"I have never thought of myself as a good writer. . . . But I’m one of the world’s great rewriters."— James Michener
"I have rewritten — often several times — every word I have ever published. My pencils outlast their erasers."— Vladimir Nabokov
"I can’t understand how anyone can write without rewriting everything over and over again."— Leo Tolstoy
Monday, October 4, 2010
NaNoWriMo!
Ahh tis October which means that I'm getting excited for NaNoWriMo again. I have "participated" the last three years, but by participate I mean I have 1) Always done it in October instead of November since I usually get so excited that I start a month early and 2) Never completed the 50k word goal in the set period of time. I think the most I've done is 35k during the NaNoWriMo month. The first part of my novel, Drunk, was completed during NaNoWriMo last year. This year I'm hoping to complete either the story bouncing around in my head or the sequel (or prequel) to Drunk which I've loosely named Haunted House. Yes, my titles are horrid. I've told you this before.
Who else will be participating this year? Have you completed the 50k goal? Do you find the NaNoWriMo "quantity over quality" style to be helpful or distracting? For me, it's been extremely helpful. Get it all out there, get the rough draft of the story done, and you can go back later and make it better. Getting it out is the most important part, I've learned. It shouldn't be that difficult but completing a story seems to be one of the hardest parts of writing for not just myself, but other writers I've spoken to. For me there are three difficult stages of my writing. The first is after that initial bout of explosive writing is complete, when I've been going hellbent on a story and then I hit a hitch, my energy fades, or something distracts me. It's hard to go creatively from 0 to 60 then back to nothing. You push on but you start doubting the story and your writing- is it even worth it to continue on?
The second bump in the road to writing is when your story hits a hitch. It took me a very long time to figure out that when this happens, I need to delete the last few pages (or last few scenes) and start over. Hardest thing for me to do but it always works. I finally learned that with Drunk. The third hitch, and for me so far the hardest, is finishing the goddamn story! 3/4ths of the way through I stop writing. Why is this? Has my storyline hit a hitch? Can I not think up a valid ending? Am I scared to end it and have to start on the editing process. What is it? Sometimes it's one of these things, sometimes it's all, but it's still the hardest part. Finishing my first novel has helped tremendously with this. It may seem strange but now I know I truly CAN DO IT! I can write a goddamn novel and it may not be good but at least it's out of my head and down on (electronic) paper. That feeling of success was one of the best feelings in the world.
But then the editing starts...
Who else will be participating this year? Have you completed the 50k goal? Do you find the NaNoWriMo "quantity over quality" style to be helpful or distracting? For me, it's been extremely helpful. Get it all out there, get the rough draft of the story done, and you can go back later and make it better. Getting it out is the most important part, I've learned. It shouldn't be that difficult but completing a story seems to be one of the hardest parts of writing for not just myself, but other writers I've spoken to. For me there are three difficult stages of my writing. The first is after that initial bout of explosive writing is complete, when I've been going hellbent on a story and then I hit a hitch, my energy fades, or something distracts me. It's hard to go creatively from 0 to 60 then back to nothing. You push on but you start doubting the story and your writing- is it even worth it to continue on?
The second bump in the road to writing is when your story hits a hitch. It took me a very long time to figure out that when this happens, I need to delete the last few pages (or last few scenes) and start over. Hardest thing for me to do but it always works. I finally learned that with Drunk. The third hitch, and for me so far the hardest, is finishing the goddamn story! 3/4ths of the way through I stop writing. Why is this? Has my storyline hit a hitch? Can I not think up a valid ending? Am I scared to end it and have to start on the editing process. What is it? Sometimes it's one of these things, sometimes it's all, but it's still the hardest part. Finishing my first novel has helped tremendously with this. It may seem strange but now I know I truly CAN DO IT! I can write a goddamn novel and it may not be good but at least it's out of my head and down on (electronic) paper. That feeling of success was one of the best feelings in the world.
But then the editing starts...
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Latest Update
Despite the title of my last post, I did *not* get back on track. In fact, I went to Burning Man and got wayyyyy off track in a very glorious fashion. I have done no writing for the past month and a half besides some minor editing here or there, which was not in my game plan but happened anyway.
But Fall is in the air and the writing bug is hitting me again.
My goal for September and October is to do the second rewrite of The Novel aka Drunk. This means a complete reworking of the storyline. Tomorrow I get together with Mz B for some hangouts and adventure-sharing. I doubt any writing will get done but hopefully we can set a day/time for our next writing date. I should have Sundays off soon, which means three(ish) days off which equals more time to write and get together. This will be a very good thing.
The reedit of Drunk will be focused on rewriting the storyline so that it's an actual story and not just a background vehicle that is carrying the characters. I will also be strengthening a few of my male characters. A brainstorming session followed by a string of different graphed out plot lines is in order. I see lots of coffee shops in my future.
I'm hoping to get this done by end-ish of October so that I can participate in NaNoWriMo again. I love getting out new storylines in October and November and then using the rest of the year to finish them and fill them in. This has worked well for me the past three years and will hopefully continue through 2010.
But Fall is in the air and the writing bug is hitting me again.
My goal for September and October is to do the second rewrite of The Novel aka Drunk. This means a complete reworking of the storyline. Tomorrow I get together with Mz B for some hangouts and adventure-sharing. I doubt any writing will get done but hopefully we can set a day/time for our next writing date. I should have Sundays off soon, which means three(ish) days off which equals more time to write and get together. This will be a very good thing.
The reedit of Drunk will be focused on rewriting the storyline so that it's an actual story and not just a background vehicle that is carrying the characters. I will also be strengthening a few of my male characters. A brainstorming session followed by a string of different graphed out plot lines is in order. I see lots of coffee shops in my future.
I'm hoping to get this done by end-ish of October so that I can participate in NaNoWriMo again. I love getting out new storylines in October and November and then using the rest of the year to finish them and fill them in. This has worked well for me the past three years and will hopefully continue through 2010.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Getting Back on Track
Trying to get back on track with the writing, which has been surprisingly difficult. Time to just sit down and DO IT. My brain has been a thousand other places and not focused right now.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Writing Day!
Writing day with Ms. B today. I love having a Saturday writing date. I also have many stories to share with her, so we'll have some catch up time. Since I got back from the Fire Festival, I have done exactly no writing work. Not sure what I'm waiting for- maybe today. Need to jump back in the saddle and start working again.
My writing challenge pretty much ended as it stood in my last blog. I got a few more words written but not much. Am I disappointed? A little but not terribly. It was a fun challenge and I'll be doing it again. I'm starting back on my temp job next week for a month or two, so I'll have even less time to go out at night which means I'll be home and have no excuses not to sit down and write.
This summer has been awesome for social engagements and not so bad for getting crap done but not so great on writing. If I'm going to complete this project- the whole reason for starting this blog- then I need to get my ass going like now.
My writing challenge pretty much ended as it stood in my last blog. I got a few more words written but not much. Am I disappointed? A little but not terribly. It was a fun challenge and I'll be doing it again. I'm starting back on my temp job next week for a month or two, so I'll have even less time to go out at night which means I'll be home and have no excuses not to sit down and write.
This summer has been awesome for social engagements and not so bad for getting crap done but not so great on writing. If I'm going to complete this project- the whole reason for starting this blog- then I need to get my ass going like now.
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