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.

Story Beginnings: Backstory

On Agent Kristen's blog she talks about writer's who start their story in the wrong place, people that have talent but do not yet know that they have started with backstory, that they are not moving their story forward, ect. Apparently this happens a lot. Do you think that you have started your story where it really begins? Are you just putting your characters in situations that have nothing to do with what your story is really about? If you think that is a possibility you might want to read her post.

It makes me wonder how many agents reject because of this and if I might have a problem with the same thing. So I have made a note to myself to pay close attention to what my characters are doing and making sure the beginning chapters matter just as much as the rest.

How many of you watch where you start your story? How many of you start with your actual story? Do you know if you are moving your story forward? Can you tell when you are including too much backstory?

This may sound like something quite simple to avoid, but almost all writers fail at this. All the more reason for us to make our manuscripts shine, beginning and end.

Planning the YA novel

That's right. I just finished my last project and I'm already getting to work on the next thing on my list. It seems that lately I can't go more then two days without writing something. I just get too twitchy.

And that brings me to the topic of the day. Pre writing. It is one of the most important parts of the process for me, for many different reasons. It reminds me what I want my story to be about, it gives me an idea of the major conflicts and who the characters are, ect. If I didn't do any pre writing before the actual writing...well, I've already seen where that gets me. I never finished anything. I also noticed my work is much cleaner, much more interesting to read.

Plus, it is one of the funnest parts of writing a novel. When an idea is fresh in your mind and keeps you up at night...that is the best feeling in the world. But maybe that is just me. But this is also where I get freaked out because I always seem to forget before I write exactly how much work this is.

Starting a project is hard, but once I get going it gets much easier.

So, do you do any pre writing before you start a new project? Or do you just dive in and go wherever the story takes you? I can see many reasons to do either, but I don't think I was born to be a panster. Some people don't need to plan at all and can make a story sing, but that's not me.

Is pre writing important? Do you do it because you love it or is it because you know its needed?