Noveling in January - Page 2

[wordmommy]

Um. Sort of.

I actually got feedback from an agent a few years ago about how the action didn't start quickly enough and realized she was right, got depressed about the whole thing, and stuck it in a drawer.

Now that I've decided to focus on it, I'm just sort of speeding things along a bit, introducing a character earlier, and tightening up awkward stuff that I put in because it was the only way to get the story rolling. So the style isn't changing much, but the pace is. And, of course, introducing the other character earlier means that I'll have to go a few chapters up and rework a lot of that. But introducing him earlier makes the story more organic.

[Sagesgirl]

School has started back up for me, so I am getting more writing done! Funny how that happens. (Although, except for day 1 of English 1302, I haven't written in lieu of taking notes.)

I decided to go with threatened violence instead of actual violence, so I'm feeling good. I need to get my notecards together & into my book bag.

[Aufilia]

I'm still alive... reeaaally... but real life has been sucking up my free time. DD turned 3 and work has been crazy (we're in the home stretch releasing version 1 of the software application I've been working on for 16 months).

So how's everybody doing?

I made it up to halfway through chapter 28 of the 30 in my outline and got totally sidetracked last week when someone in my writing group asked why I'd killed off some minor characters. Who needs misc characters hanging around for no good reason, right? Yeah, well, now I'm considering re-writing the entire 2nd half to add one of the minor characters. I just re-wrote chapter 13 to let him live. Sigh.

[Sagesgirl]

I haven't killed off anyone yet. I'm way too early in the game. I'm only on page 70-something. I've added in a couple of scenes not in my outline; I think I may cut one or two that are there, since they're not especially titillating, but we'll see. The new scenes make the book a bit more interesting. I've come to a spot where the two main characters are in the protagonist's home, and I'm sort of winging it, but I think I'll have to go back & sketch out a floor-plan so I can keep things straight. I also really need to move my reference folder into my backpack; I need to find out whether her brother Mark is married or not. I know I've made that decision, but I don't remember what it is!

[St. Margaret]

Hey, I'm jumping in, too!

DH is a supportive man who has a special place waiting for him in heaven for rearranging his work schedule so I have time to write once again (DD stopped napping at 20 months, it seems).

I've been continuing research and general planning but now I'm finally back into the daily work/writing routine. I'm working on a trilogy of YA fantasy novels. The first is written in very drafty form, and the second is just begun. I'm going back now and reworking the first book, and then I'll tackle the second as I find readers for the first. I'm really hoping to get the third written by this time next year (My process is writewritewrite and revise massively later. I know everyone says to do it this way, but I think maybe I take it to heart more than most people envision, because I seriously pound it out, and then later decide most is crap but without the crap I wouldn't have come up with a few neat bits.)

How is your project going?
I'm making progress, so that's good! I'm maybe a third of the way through big content rewrites of the first book.

What surprised/amazed/impressed you most about what you've achieved so far?
Going through all my notes and remembering all this stuff I've come up with and forgotten about. Yay, instant plot!

What hasn't gone so well/disappointed you/been an unpleasant surprise?
Reading through so much of my first draft and cringing at so much of the writing. I KNOW I was just learning as I went, but still. I put my faith in revision, revision, revision.

Any lessons you've learned about yourself, about writing a novel, or about life in general as you work?
Giving myself time to write (and to think about writing when I can have a thought to myself) makes me a much better person, and a much happier person. Also, going over my madly scribbled notes again and again reminds me of studying for exams in college, which gives me hope that I CAN get it all straightened out in my head, and juggle all the plot and character and themes and sort them out. Eventually.

Do you have any writing-related resolutions or goals for this year?
Finish Book 1. Spend time organizing plans for Books 2 and 3. Finish writing Book 2. If I can do that much, I'll be happy as happycakes. But if I can get into Book 3, all the better.

Now I need to go to bed so we can watch Lost

[MommyHawk]

I was looking for this thread all month and just found it! ahhh!

I need help - I'm trying to finish and have a horrible writer's block - not from lack of something to write about - I have the entire last 2 chapters done in my head - I just can't get myself to do it, even when I have the time to write!...what is this? does this happen to everyone at the end? I just can't seem to 'finish' it - even though I KNOW there will be months of revisions ahead

anyway, I'm hoping to finish it up by the end of the month...this weekend! ha...I guess I'll finish it in February

[Aufilia]

Originally Posted by MommyHawk

I was looking for this thread all month and just found it! ahhh!

I need help - I'm trying to finish and have a horrible writer's block - not from lack of something to write about - I have the entire last 2 chapters done in my head - I just can't get myself to do it, even when I have the time to write!...what is this? does this happen to everyone at the end?

Oh, yes. I have so far failed to finish it twice, though I only have 1.5 chapters left to go (about 4k words). The first time I got there I realized what I'd outlined just wouldn't work. The second time (last week) I got halfway through chapter 28 and got sidetracked by my writing group. The first time through I actually did write down a smattering of conversation (3 or 4 lines at a time that I had in mind) and a couple partial scenes -- that's helpful because at least it's not totally blank.

Originally Posted by Sagesgirl

I haven't killed off anyone yet. I'm way too early in the game. I'm only on page 70-something. I've added in a couple of scenes not in my outline; I think I may cut one or two that are there, since they're not especially titillating, but we'll see. The new scenes make the book a bit more interesting.

What, page 70 and nobody's died? I'd killed at least half a dozen people by then. But then.... much different books and all. (Actually in mine, nobody dies between chapters 14 and 28, which is quite a long run.)

Originally Posted by St. Margaret

Hey, I'm jumping in, too!

DH is a supportive man who has a special place waiting for him in heaven for rearranging his work schedule so I have time to write once again (DD stopped napping at 20 months, it seems).

Awwww what a sweetie! DH is actually really good to me, too. I get to go write with my writing buddies a couple times a month in addition to my weekly crit group meetings. I hear you on being a happier person.


My crit group had nice things to say about this week's chunk. After that I mentioned that I was thinking about keeping one of the minor characters I killed off last week, and everybody was against it! WTF. I re-wrote 3 chapters keeping him in and he was useful, kinda. But he's equal parts useful and annoying baggage. It's no wonder my protagonist is regretting letting him live.

[MommyHawk]

how does one go about finding a critique group...and is one necessary?

[MommyHawk]

I finished my 1st draft!!! :

it's got some editing - ok, TONS of editing - ahead, but I did it and I had to share my news with someone, anyone!!

now, do I print it out and read it/edit? Or just do in on the computer? It ended up being 698 pages (133K words) so it'll take a bit of paper...but then, to print it all out and see exactly how big it is...I think that would hit it home more than typing the words "THE END"...I think I need to feel the weight of what I did in my hands if you know what I mean

[Aufilia]

Congratulations on finishing!! ::::::::

Hmmm -- I think you could go either way, depending on your preferences. I printed and hand-edited the first 5 chapters, but I've been editing the rest on the screen.

My crit group actually found me rather than the other way around. They/we run a writers' workshop at a science fiction convention, and if we come across someone promising we might invite them to do a trial run.

If you have any local writing friends you might ask around. If you know some local writers in your area, you might email and ask them, even if you don't know them well. Also, local writers' associations might have leads. Or local conventions related to your genre.

I know there are writers who write and revise alone, but I find it really useful to have extra eyes poring through. My group can read it with fresh eyes, not knowing where the story is going, which gives them a different perspective. I've found it instructive to have to think critically about everyone else's work, too.