Revision and What Matters

While some people can make their way through rough drafts without having a map (worldbuilding and such in place) others can't even write their first sentence without knowing in great detail who their characters are...what their motivations are...the conflict and plot and so on. Some people don't start until they have built their world complete with cultures and languages and designs for clothes. But I would say most writers are somewhere in the middle. They don't write without having SOME idea of what comes next. They don't start unless they have SOME idea of the theme they wish to express.

I have been able to get through rough drafts without much planning and come away not too badly burned. Revision is a different monster. Lethal even if you make the wrong move. If you don't plan your attack before you actually make your move you can end up cutting what matters out of your novel. 

If you don't have some idea of where you'd like to end up at the end of your revision...you aren't going to reach the end. Or you are going to end up with a tangled mess that doesn't make much sense. So I propose that you figure out what matters to you before you revise. If you didn't figure out your theme in your first draft...or it has changed since then...figure it out now. And write it down on paper. Use it as a guide to get you through these next months. You will need it to keep you on track. Figure out what conflict is essential to your theme. Ask as many questions as it takes to get what you need. This is important. Without knowing the heart of your book you will end up with something that doesn't quite sing...that gets rejections and you won't quite know why.

Author Holly Lise goes into depth about this and her entire writing process with her online course How to Revise Your Novel. I am not an affiliate. I do not get money from reffering you to her course. I just love her class. It has helped my writing in ways I cannot express. If you don't know how to get through a revision...how to do it right the FIRST time...then this is something you might want to look into.

Wow...*coughs* It's been a long time since my last post!

Okay...I honestly didn't mean to leave you all in the dark without any idea as to what is going on in my life. I guess when life throws punches at you it doesn't stop with just one. Which I guess would explain my absense quite a bit...wouldn't it? :p

Some good things have happened. I've made great progress on my WIP thanks to Holly Lisle's How To Revise Your Novel course. I know what is wrong with it and why. I even know how to fix what's wrong! It's just...getting to the end that is taking forever. Apparently when you write a novel in a month it can leave you with extensive revisions. Or at least that's how it is in my case *blushes* I had no idea I'd still be working on this book almost a year later. And yet here I am. Good thing about this though : I haven't just written one thing. I have another first draft finished. Which I told you guy's about as well. I have some awesome ideas for a new book too. All in all...I have lots of stuff on different levels of completion...its just I haven't reached the end of revision yet. I'm hoping to get there by July as that is when I start school...which brings up my next subject!

I'm going to be attending school for Massage Therapy and I'm really excited. I know there aren't a lot of spots open right now and it'll be hard work finding a job...but its what I wanna do. I'm not going to give up. I mean...I'm trying to be a published author. I think being an LMT is easy in comparison. Or maybe I'm pushing my luck with that one. We'll just have to wait and see. I just hope I can get good grades. I wasn't the type to get A's in high school. I did the minimum for everything unless it was a subject I was obsessed with like English.

There are other things going on as well...but if I get into them it'll be like turning this blog into my personal journal. I'd assume that equals boring!

Anyway that ends the updates on my life.

I'm thinking on a post in the future I should dig into my revision process and the lightbulbs I'm having. Maybe it'll help some people. Like one thing in particular: writing down my scenes on index cards has become a huge part of my process for first drafts AND revision. This is partly because of Holly Lisle...an author I admire. She also writes courses for aspiring writer's like myself. She has changed the way I look at revision forever. I always thought you just started from the first line on the first page...changing words and sentences as you went. Plot as you saw fit. But its much more than that. How can you write the book you want without first knowing your target? These are things I'd like to address in later posts.

Well I think its time to say goodbye again. Sorry for the rant and very random post. Just thought I'd give you all a bit of everything today. Write and rock on!

New Year's Resolutions...and jeez...I haven't updated in awhile!

It's that time of the year again. You know, when we inspire each other to do things and then kinda go about our merry way, forgetting we made the resolutions to begin with? Actually, for me, not this time. This year I have resolutions I am really serious about sticking to. I don't care how many hours of work I have to put in. The weird thing is, I am pretty good at sticking to my goals, its just when it comes to the New Year...some reason I choke and I throw all my hard work out the window, even if I really want what I aspired to do that year.

So, fess up guys:p Who else makes resolutions and then kinda...just...gets bored or scared or busy? Tell me I'm not the only one? Well, I challange you to do something a bit different this year. Make your resolution something really special, maybe a dream you have. Obviously it should be something you know you can accomplish in a year, or at least get started on it. Whether its saving up for a house, losing some weight, doing something crazy and dangerous just for the heck of it...but make it something you know you really want, something you are passionate about. Take your time with this. Then, write them out, on here if you must. Put them up where you can see them every day. If you really want what you have written down...I know you will make at least a little progress.

And now, for some resolutions of my own:

1.) Finish the revisions to my projects and send at least one manuscript out this year. I will never get used to rejection, plus I will never have the chance to succeed, if I don't put myself out there. Make it the best I can then let it go...

2.) Participate in JulNoWriMo or NaNoWriMo, or both if I can manage. A real writer writes, so I need to make sure I keep creating new stories I care about.

3.) Spend time with those I love, doing the things I love.

4.) Go to school if my finances allow (This isn't as important as the others...but it would be helpful.)

5.) Lose the rest of my baby weight. (It's only 8 pounds, but 8 pounds I don't want to see anymore!)

These are my most important ones I wish to stick to. These aren't my only ones, but everything else will take time and I'm not so sure how long it will take to make a change. My eating habits for example. One day I'm eating healthily, the next I'm fine with eating half a gallon of icecream while sitting down to watch The Biggest Loser! I want to set a good example for my baby. At some point I really need to get on this.

Writing Update: I have two finished first drafts...but I haven't gotten through revision yet. I'm gonna tell you all right now...writing the first draft was a piece of cake compared to this! Especially going through How To Revise Your Novel. I'm seeing all the mistakes I've made and its overwhelming me. Sometimes it makes me feel like I'll never be published. Other times I have lots of hope where my writing is concerned. But I have to admit I am not really on the ball with my editing. And I need to be.

When I can actually come back with some progress I'll tell you more about the editing thing. Otherwise when I post it'll be more personal. Like, sometime this week I'd like to tell you about a new hobby of mine.

A couple things

Hey guys, long time no talk huh? Sorry I've been so quiet. Honestly I didn't mean to be. I've been hard at work revising my WIP I did for JulNoWriMo and it hasn't been easy. If I'm right I probably won't be done with revision until the end of the year. Then I'll let a couple people have a look and see if I missed anything. Then *gulps* It'll be time to write a query letter and submit my work. I'm a little overwhelmed by the thought, but I'm sure you already noticed that! The reason for that is simple: I'm afraid of rejection. I don't think I know any writer that isn't. But the reality is I need to get over that if I want to actually get published...so I'm sticking with my goals and making sure I actually send my work out. Regardless of whether or not I get good responses in return.


When you think about, I mean really think about it, the main reason most writers don't get published is because they give up too fast. Rejection stops them in their tracks. They don't persist. They roll over and let their dreams pass them by. At least this is from I've seen. Sure, a lot of books can't get published. I understand that. But that doesn't mean you give up and never write again! You start on a new idea, a better idea. And think each rejection brings you closer to an agent.


I know, easier said then done right? I can't even stick to my own advice! But I'm going to change that this year, get out of my comfort zone and at least try. And even if this book doesn't land an agent I'll keep writing. Because its who I am and I'm not giving up on my dream.


So, to all the other writers out there, I think this is the best advice I can give you: Read. Write. Revise. Query. Repeat. Persist. No matter what. Even if an agent tells you you are horrible, that is just one agent. You never know when you'll get a yes. And your writing can always improve.


About  other WIPs: I haven't had much time to keep planning my next WIP that I wanted to write for Nano. Revision is a lot harder than I ever expected. But I'm close. If I really I'm push myself I might be able to write it in November, but I won't be upset if I can't. Things have been really hectic this year. Next year I'm going to push it up a notch and try for three books that year. :) I'm such a masochist.


So, what is your dream and what are you doing to achieve it?

Well-Meaning (But WRONG) Friends And Family

You know what I hate? When well meaning friends tell me what I should do with my life, I mean my writing. I absolutely can't stand it when them or even people I don't know try to tell me how I should write, how long it should take me...or even WHAT I should write. Writing is a big part of who I am. I really am not thrilled when people try to define what it should be to me.

Have you ever experienced something like this? I know, I haven't gone into any detail at all. But if I do...I think it will only make the situation worse. Anyways, if this has happened...what do you do? Ignore them, tell them exactly how you feel, pretend you agree...what?

I'd love some advice if anyone has any. Man, I'm not even published and the life of a writer is already difficult at times. I just wish people understood what I am trying to do. But the fact is they don't. And chances are if you are a writer most people won't understand you either.

I know, this is such an uplifting post. Yeah. Right. Well, have a good day. I'm going to try to get through mine without freaking out.

Update of sorts...and a question

I'm trying to ignore the urge to tear into my first draft already. I've given myself a minimum of a week to let it cool down. In order to follow this I've started planning my next project. I already know I'm going to have lots of fun with this one. I'm working through Lesson 7 of HTTS (How To Think Sideways) right now, hoping I won't mess up on the worldbuilding this time around. I've found that is my weak spot. I just can't seem to get my world to come alive. Hopefully during revision this is something I can fix.

When you start a new project while letting first drafts rest...do you ever feel like you seriously screwed up? Should have done so many things differently? I keep having those thoughts, and it is starting to effect the fun I was having coming up with this new idea. Trying to tell myself that this is a learning experience, my writing will only get better...hasn't helped much. I keep obsessing about the MS that needs to be fixed. Or, worse yet, fantasizing about destroying it. That's how much I dislike it right now. The beginning was amazing and something I probably won't change much of. I start hitting walls in the middle. And I know I've got nothing but fog at the end.

Okay, enough complaining about my project. Something cool has certainly come out of this as well. I've made it to the end of a rough draft! And it has been a LONG time since that has happened. At least I can be proud of that. Maybe I'm not too thrilled with certain aspects of my book, but I am proud I stuck through it and actually made it to the end. I was so happy I cheated on my diet and ate pizza! Which was bad for my diet but tasted oh so good!

Which brings me to a question. How many of you celebrate finishing a rough draft, or edits, or sending out query letters? Or say you don't write but have another hobby...what do you do to celebrate reaching the end of a creative project, if anything at all? This is the first time I have rewarded myself. I think I might start doing it more often.

Well, must get back to my new project. And if you're interested in what I'm writing...its a YA novel focused on some tough issues. If I had to pick an  audience for it I'd say in the 14-18ish range. The name of the new book is HAVEN. As for the one waiting for revision...I'm trying to come up with a better name.

Day 24: And Done With The First Draft!

Just wanted to let you all know I DID finish my WIP before the end of the month. It probably needs a hell of a lot of work, but I actually finished draft one. That is a huge accomplishment for me.

But, even though I have that done, JulNoWriMo is not over...which means I want to try and outline another idea quickly (at least the first part of it) and write it for the rest of the month. THEN I'll go about revising my first project.

So tonight I'm scrambling to put my other idea together in such a way that I can start writing it. It's going to tough, but I like a challenge.

So wish me luck!