Today is the last day of Nanowrimo, and I made it! One of the first things I did, after updating my badge, was to wash my hair. I’m not sure what that says about me…
I then made myself a cup of tea and ate some chocolate before posting the messy first draft to my cheerleaders* in my writing group – because I promised them I would and yes I’m terrified as I hasn’t even skimmed over what I’ve written these past 30 days.
From last Wednesday onwards it was going to be hard anyway because I wasn’t home. At the beginning of the week I had a migraine which meant that after a day in front of the computer at work I really couldn’t stand the thought of looking at any more screens.
I’m not going to say I’ll catch-up this week because for me that’s counter-productive. I’d be distracted by having to catch up and I’d loose the fun from week 1.
So my plan is as follows:
finally moving back home tonight (properly*) which means all my notes, boards and prep work will be around me
finish editing chapter 1 and sending it out for feedback tonight
setting out a timetable for ROW80 from now on
I did crit a fellow’s writer’s work and I’ve been jotting down notes for projects I want to do after the current WIP so I don’t feel completely useless and I didn’t stop thinking about Quarantined either. I’ve realised I need to change the format a bit to make it work better. I guess you could call it in-your-head-manuscript-editing.
I know Wednesday is going to be my day off as I’m going to see Giselle, so I can plan around that.
*I haven’t spent more then a few days in my flat since the hospital saga started last October. He’s healing up now
…apparently, judging by my writing buddies latest blog. I thought I was going on holiday? What a foolish notion. *lol*
It’s all good though, I’m actually looking forward to it. It was her that started me off on my WIP the last time I visited, only it was writing exercises then. I still have them, see below -
“Tea?”
Sarah looked at the girl in disbelieve.
“Tea? You’ve hunted me for weeks, beaten the crap out of me and just dragged me out of my bedroom window and now you want me to have tea with you?!”
The girl just smiled and poured herself a cup, taking a seat opposite Sarah she winked and said:
“It’s never to late to start being civil.”
Sarah snorted.
“You know we aren’t that different, you and me.”
“Really?”
Sarah laced her question with sarcasm.
“Apart from the fact that I don’t chase innocent people into a deserted park or kidnap them.”
The girl sighed and opened the drawer in the cupboard behind her, taking out a brown folder she placed it in front of Sarah and opened it. There was her name, Sarah Owen, 17 years old, pisces… the notes carried on from there.
“What is this?”
“You. Shall I read?”
The girl pulled the folder towards her and lifted the first few pages.
Of course the story has changed a lot since then. It’s still evolving now, but that was the day that the name Sarah first appeared.
So boot camp eh? Well like Marieke said, I’m going to be crit-ing Ysolde while I’m there* and she’ll be helping me in my WIP. Which should have the first draft finished by then, I have 2 chapters and an epilogue left and another 3 weekends to do it in. No problem.
So since I couldn’t possibly fit everything into the comment section, here’s my reply m’dear:
This may or may not include vicious critiques,Yes chronic comma confusion, That would be you, I’m staying away from comma’s cocktails at the Hard Rock, Check veggie burgers at the same Hard Rock, Double check flirting with waiters,That was you not me. It didn’t get us served quicker though, you should practise more 1k1hr, oho… I’m worried youtube vids, That be me Doctor Who overload, Check, check, check, Torchwood too please cheesy films And some truly awful ones *wink* and tea. Yep, stocks are running low! Oh. And books. Possibly. Book buying may or may not occur. *g* Like the sun might possibly rise and set… right?
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So before I go back to writing I just quickly wanted to share this – ♥
And yay for Jackson Pearce also loving SYTYCD, I knew YA author’s were the best.
I’m not good at taking it, I know it’s not the ideal thing to admit when you want to be an author, but I know it’s the truth.
It’s a flaw I’m trying to work on.
I also know why I take it too much to heart.
I spend a big part of my childhood with the knowledge that those around me, while they didn’t wish me harm, didn’t expect me to succeed. In their brutal honesty they would sometimes say things that might not have had an impact on them but weren’t the things an orphan didn’t need to hear.
These were good people, don’t get me wrong, but the feeling of not belonging and not being accepted for who I was had a big impact. When I tried something new and didn’t achieve perfection first time round I always felt like I had failed. So I didn’t try very often.
I have grown in many ways since then but when I don’t get it 100% right away my first thought it still that I’ve failed. At that stage someone* will tell me to stop being stupid and see how great what I’ve done is and I do get there, it just takes me a little while longer.
Today I sent the first part of my book to my crit partner. It’s been 5 years since anyone has read any of my stories** so I was utterly terrified.
The notes that she sent back are great, really they are and it was good to see things from another perspective. I now know that there are a few things that need changing and I’m thinking about how best to go about it. I know she’ll help me, give me tips (she’s been at this way longer then me) but like I’ve said, I struggle when I don’t do it right the first time.
So after I read them, I sat down and read a book***, thought about what she said and decided to carry on.
Because the story is good. So are my characters and while it’s not perfect now, I can make it so much better because of it’s flaws. And you know what? In the end the most important thing she said was:
“…I do really like it. I want to read more, and not just because it’s you writing it. I think it shows potential, and I want to know what’ll happen next. And I love your writing style!”
Who am I to deny her finding out what happens in the end.
* I might not have parents but I have some wonderful family & friends in my life now.
** Mainly because my first attempts weren’t that great, (I’ve read them since then and they really weren’t) and I needed the time to pick myself up again.
*** ‘The curious incident of the dog in the night-time’ by Mark Haddon, and I would recommend it.
and I didn’t stop thinking about Quarantined either. I’ve realised I need to change the format a bit to make it work better. I guess you could call it in-your-head-manuscript-editing.
