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?

Day Fourteen: I'm Stil Moving Forward!

Sorry I haven't been updating you guys everyday on my wordcount. There has been some drama here at home, the WIP stalled...and a lot of other little tidbits I won't rant about here. But I'm off writing again, and as you can see I'm still on track for finishing this month. In fact, if I can write a couple thousand words today I'll even have a buffer day or two if things get bad down the road. I've also gone off of my planned outline and into some unknown waters as far as my WIP goes. I don't know where it will take me or if I'll get back to knowing where I am. For now I'm just taking this as it comes. I'm not really worried. I have the ending in my head and that is enough for me. It's getting there that will be tough. I hate middles sometimes.

I've learned something pretty important this month. The first is pretty obvious. If I want to finish anything I start I need to write on a regular basis. No excuses. I'm so used to writing only when the mood strikes me, but the fact of the matter is that if you want to continue publishing books you have to write every day, not only when you want to. I've known this for quite some time, but it didn't really sink in until this month. I asked myself if I could produce three of four books a year if I had to. And, if I stick with it and write consistently, I have no doubts that I can.

Do you, as a writer, feel it is important to write every day? Do you have a word goal? When is it okay not to write? For me personally, I know it is okay to take a day off when I have other things to deal with. Like my family. There is a middle ground. Writing is important, but it should not come before my child's needs. But, that aside...I've been trying to write as close to every day as I can muster.

In the next few days I'd like to talk about other things I've learned from JulNoWriMo. And I'll probably be ranting about my WIP. Who knows, you may get to see a snippet or two.

Day 8: Still ahead but feel behind, plus I hate what I am writing.

Okay, here's the thing. I'll be the first writer to admit that I've got a serious problem with not listening to my Inner Editor. I always feel like what I have written is crap. Or think its not worth trying to fix things because it will still suck anyway. I know this can be a normal reaction, but its hard to remember sometimes. Usually I just think I'm not nearly as good as everyone else and I've got not right to be writing. What have I got to say that is so important?

Yeah, I warned you. I wasn't in a good mood today. I KNOW that the first draft is allowed to be crappy. But how crappy? When do you say enough is enough, this sucks, lets try again? I want to spend time with these characters...I just don't feel like my writing is good enough for their stories. I know the only thing I can do is keep writing, keep improving. But MAN that is HARD sometimes.

Seriously, as a child I never thought that writing could be so hard. I was oblivious. Or maybe I was smart then. I wrote for me. That was it. If it wasn't fun to write I didn't do it. And I didn't listen to other people. I stuck with what interested me.

A great writer once said that a first draft is for your eyes only, and that you are writing that for yourself. You revise with the reader in mind. That is, if you want to publish. I need to keep this in mind. That all this crappy writing is okay, as long as I love my story. I just have to focus on getting it down.

Anyone else getting the writer blues? Have any tips to combat against it?

Day One: 1283 words and counting...bring it on!

Compared to other writers this might not seem like very much, but for me every word I write is another goal I have passed. So I am extremely pleased with my first effort, even if its not as much as I had hoped to write. And the best thing? They weren't all crappy words. In fact, if I'm lucky, there might be some keepers in there!

If I can actually write everyday...it should be fairly simple to finish my WIP this month, even if I only write at this pace. That will be the biggest struggle for me. Writing every single day. Sometimes I just forget. And others I am too tired or upset. But I've got to get over that if I actually want to finish this thing. And of course I do! r

Does anyone else feel like they must have written thousands of words and realize the actual number is much smaller? That was the kind of day I had today. I just kept thinking I was kicking butt. Come to find out I didn't do as well as I thought. Oh well, I got some words and I like them.

And that brings me to a kind of random question: How do you go about writing first drafts? Do you throw out anything you can think of on the page and hope that something makes sense at the end? Do you revise while you edit? Do you use an outline? Do you write every scene not knowing anything but your characters?

First drafts are quite a fun discovery for me, the beginnings being the best. Although I use a outline I am more than willing to chase other ideas if they come to mind. I will add characters if they call to me enough. I think writing is one of the most spontaneous things I do. There are so many ways a novel can go during a first draft. I love finding out which way I should take.

Tomorrow

I have decided that in order to get my first draft of my WIP done this summer I will participate in NanoWrimo in  July. I have not been known to be the kind of person to finish anything, let alone a novel. And even though I wrote a Nano Novel last November...I never had the chance to finish it due to some really sucky circumstances. So this time around I not only want to write the rest of my WIP this month, but I want it revised by the end of the year, ready to be sent out to agents. Think that's crazy? It might be. I have never tried to submit anything in my life. I know this is going to be hard work. But I have always wanted to be a writer. How can my dreams come true if I never go after them?

Hopefully I will be writing on the blog every day, letting you know about my progress. That's the goal anyway. You will see my moments of extreme desperation, times of pure happiness and feelings of brilliance. Okay, that might be a little over the top. But I hope to at least make this a fun experience for somebody.

I'll be posting my word count every day. If you so choose you can participate as well. I'd love to know how everyone else is doing.

I have been inspired. Only time will tell if it lasts.

Word Count For The Day: 1000

Goal For Tomorrow: 1500

And let the writing begin...

10,000 Word Mark

It seems like has taken forever but I've finally reached that first mark in my WIP. I actually feel like I'm getting somewhere, like I'll finish this thing. Which is funny because in reality I have quite a ways to go. But I am happy anyway. Just wish progress was a little faster. But hey, I haven't really been known for my patience.

My biggest problem has been finding the time to write. When I actually sit down the words flow easily. They may not be good words, but at least they come. And its only going to get harder. When I go to school I'll have to somehow balance homework, my infant a job and writing. So I have made a list of when I can write and where I can start cutting at other things that aren't as important.

I found that the easiest times for me to get words on paper is in the early morning or when my son goes to bed at night. These actually work extremely well because its silent, so I don't have any interuptions. I'll admit it sucks dragging myself out of bed in the morning, but its worth it.

TV is another big one. The time I watch it could easily be used to write a scene. So I'll be doing that more often as well. This is usually when I am feeding my son, but I could easily write in a little notebook instead. This way I would always be able to write every day instead of a couple times a week.

I also bring my notebook with me everywhere when I leave the house because I never know when I could sit down and write. It has paid off quite a few times. And those minutes add up after a while.

I know there is probably other things I could do to make sure I have the time to write, but this is what I have found that works for me so far.

How do you find the time to write? Do you sacrifice anything? Have any advice to give? Let me know in the comments.

It's Late, I Can't Sleep...Perfect Time To Write!

So the last few days have been tough writing wise. My son is going through another one of his growth spurts and I just couldn't seem to get any time to myself. I'd put him down for a nap but as soon as I took out my notebook or my laptop he would wake up! And need to eat again. Or want to be played with. Or need to be changed. You know, all that baby stuff. So writing through this has been extremely difficult.

Today I decided that no matter what I'd write. Even if it meant asking hubby to watch our son for a few minutes. I just had to get writing again. Meeting my deadline for this story is important to me.

To make a long story short...I somehow managed to write rather furiously while my family kept baby busy, and I even like what I wrote! It seems my Muse really likes to come out to play at night, and while its nice and all...it can also suck. It really gets in the way of my sleep.

I didn't really have much else to say other than I'm proud I got some more words down. I have about thirty five pages of my new story now, which means I am becoming more and more certain I will make it to the end of my first draft. And that sure keeps me going.

When do you write? Whenever the mood strikes? Every day at the same time? Different times every day? I write at least three times a week now and always find that I work bettter at night. Not sure if that is because people are less noisy or my Muse gets more excited...but it sure is fun.

I'm still smiling about those surprise pages. And to everyone reading this: Don't let anything keep you from writing, no matter how little time you think you have.

You Tell Me: How Long Have You Been Working On Your Manuscript?

The very first full length novel I wrote-I was twelve- took me about six months to write, not including revision. Needless to say...it wasn't very good. In fact, it was bad. I worked on a lot on poetry and short stories after that, slowly learning the craft, improving my pacing and many other things I had no clue how to do.

All throughout highschool I continued writing. Whether it was a simple freeverse poem or the beginning of a novel or a short story...I wrote like a fiend. But every time I tried to write a novel again I never got past that thirty paged hump. Now that I am more experienced I assume it was because I never planned at this point in my life. I just took off with an idea and hoped something amazing would happen.

I think the reason I wrote so much poetry in highschool was because of the simple fact that I could get it done in one sitting, whereas writing a novel was a much more daunting task. There would come a point where the middle would start to sag and I would just give up.

During these years, even though I couldn't finish a longer project, I learned that writing as much as I could was important. So I did my best to write every day, even if it was only a line or two.

If I had been more patient in highschool I could have easily finished quite a few novels. I wrote really quickly. I just gave up too fast.

It wasn't til November of last year I actually decided to stick with an idea, no matter how bad, and write for thirty days. I was going to reach the end this time. And in that crazy month I did come up with something that resembled a novel.

I'm starting to realize that every project is different in terms of how long it takes me to complete now. I just finished a short story that took me a little over two weeks to write. It was only 7,000 words. In twice that amount of time I wrote a novel. The next novel I am getting ready to write will take about two and a half months.

My point in telling you this? I'm not sure. I guess that when you are writing...be kind to yourself. If you feel things are going slowly there might be a reason for it. Give yourself time to let the deeper layers of your story come to you. Give yourself time to make it the best it can be. Likewise, if things are coming at you fast and furious...don't slow down. Don't worry about whether or not it is crap. Write what is in your heart. Save the criticisim for the rewrite.

I've ranted long enough I think. Now it comes down to the real question, the reason I posted this. How long have you been working on your current project? Or if you just finished...how long did it take you? It really interests me to see so many different numbers. I know people that can bang out a book in less than a month, and those that take over a year. How long does it take you?

Finished the rough draft!

Finished my rough draft! Can't stop smiling I'm so happy. Has anyone else finished any writing projects?

What do you do when you think your book is wrecked?

I'm not asking because I think my project is ruined, I am just curious to see what others do if this happens to them. Do you salvage what you can and start again? Or do you try a completely new angle? Is there cases where you think the project can't be saved?

For me it is always hard to admit that a project isn't going the way I want it to. I try so hard to fix it and when I can't...I just can't seem to throw it out, even if nothing is worth saving. So what do I do with it? It wastes space on my computer because I think...maybe someday I'll make use of it.

But I am getting better at moving on at least. I don't force myself to finish projects that I know won't make it to second draft anymore. That's something right?

PROJECT UPDATE: I'm working out my ending right now. It's taking a lot of planning. But, endings are always hard for me so I expected this. I just can't wait to start writing again so I can finish this. I'm itching to write my next project. Like now.