It has been a good month and a half since my last post, the one where I bemoaned my current living situation and announced my serious intent to find another home. Well...we did! After two weeks of intense apartment/house hunting, we found a place more suitable and have moved all of our stuff (lots and lots and lots of STUFF) in. Now I have the wonderful task of finding a place for everything. I guess I have been slacking because we have been moved in for four three days now and I still don't know where any of my pants are (thank goodness for hubby's old sweats that I found on top of a box of CD's), but I've been extra tired lately and the baby has decided to work on her audition for the role of banshee.
Regardless of the current chaos, I am very happy to have a place that is warm, carpeted, bug free (as much as any place can be), large enough to fit our incredible amount of stuff, and.....HAS A DISHWASHER!!! Though, the dishwasher isn't working right now. Hehe. Anyway, I am content.
I plan to give myself this week to clean the place up and get settled and then next week it is on to something I have neglected for far too long: writing.
Speaking of which, I am pleased to announce that I entered the Surrey International Writing Contest again this year and made it to the shortlist. My piece was a non-fiction short story, and though I did not win (sigh), I did manage to make it to the top nine out of 300 entries. I may post the story sometime this week.
Now...to clean :)
Showing posts with label Beginnings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beginnings. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
In defense of my method
I'm sure I've mentioned before how my husband loves to tease me about this book that is 'always talked about but never gets written!'
I know. I've been working on this thing for a good three and a half years now, with only five chapters actually written. The thing is, my story is still being figured out. I've had to research (quantum physics, guns, musical science) and I've also been figuring out my 'voice.' I'm am pleased to say that after about half a dozen rough drafts of my first few chapters, I've finally found a style and voice I am pleased with. And I am confident that my prologue (rewritten at least a dozen times) could be sent in to an agent as is...that is how confident I am in it! Now I just have to write and polish the remaining 16 chapters.
My goal this week is to do a few more edits on the chapters I have already written and then start into the rest, hopefully knocking down at least three chapters a week. The good part about having three years to stew over my story is that I have worked out so many details, I can practically see it like a movie in my head. I also have a deeper understanding of each of my characters (two main characters and four secondary characters), and a chapter outline for the entire book.
After learning A LOT by reading blogs and books on writing techniques, I think that I've come a long way since I initially put pen to paper. I may not have a lot to show for my work in words, but the depth and quality of my writing has drastically improved and I have learned some important tips. Best of all, I am now surrounded by like-minded people (on the internet, that is!), and I love this process of growth as we all follow our dreams and do what drives us: write.
Now to the editing board.....
I know. I've been working on this thing for a good three and a half years now, with only five chapters actually written. The thing is, my story is still being figured out. I've had to research (quantum physics, guns, musical science) and I've also been figuring out my 'voice.' I'm am pleased to say that after about half a dozen rough drafts of my first few chapters, I've finally found a style and voice I am pleased with. And I am confident that my prologue (rewritten at least a dozen times) could be sent in to an agent as is...that is how confident I am in it! Now I just have to write and polish the remaining 16 chapters.
My goal this week is to do a few more edits on the chapters I have already written and then start into the rest, hopefully knocking down at least three chapters a week. The good part about having three years to stew over my story is that I have worked out so many details, I can practically see it like a movie in my head. I also have a deeper understanding of each of my characters (two main characters and four secondary characters), and a chapter outline for the entire book.
After learning A LOT by reading blogs and books on writing techniques, I think that I've come a long way since I initially put pen to paper. I may not have a lot to show for my work in words, but the depth and quality of my writing has drastically improved and I have learned some important tips. Best of all, I am now surrounded by like-minded people (on the internet, that is!), and I love this process of growth as we all follow our dreams and do what drives us: write.
Now to the editing board.....
Monday, November 2, 2009
Onward and Forward!
It's official. I am currently on medical leave and will not be returning to work. I know I should feel relieved, but my head is still processing. It seems too good to be true! My doctor has not put a time frame on my leave (so I may run into some bad luck and end up on regular benefits with the expectations to find a new job as I enter my third trimester) but I am hoping and praying that everything will work out. I am DONE with stressing and look forward to starting this new chapter in my life.
The theme, 'Beginnings,' has been strongly on my mind, so I thought my postings for this week could focus on that.
I feel like I am very much at the beginning of my career as a writer. I may never be officially published, but that does not lessen the validation of the term, 'writer,' nor does it weaken my resolve to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and let the imagination take hold. I know I have so much to learn and an incredible need for improvement in my writing (ESPECIALLY when it comes to grammar). This does not daunt me. In fact, I say, "Bring it on!"
I currently have a novel in the works. I have titled it, 'Anymus,' and plan to seek representation once I feel it measures up to publishing standards. That part will be the tricky bit, but I am willing to work hard and receive as much constructive criticism as it takes to make it a truly stellar novel. I am hesitant to reveal the plot and theme, but I will reveal that it is a fantasy with a twist. Picture 'Heroes' meets 'Lord of the Rings' meets 'Rock Band' (yes, the video game).
I should mention that this novel breaks the beginner's publishing rules (epic fantasy series where the first novel is not stand-alone) and so I am taking a risk and following my heart. I should also mention that I am really stubborn and have never liked to go about things the way everyone else does.
So...the day has arrived and I can no longer procrastinate. I am not participating in NaNoWriMo by the conventional standards, but will be using the 50,000 word challenge to apply to my own novel. I have 25,000 words written with approximately 80,000 to go.
Tomorrow I will be posting the short story I entered for the SIWC writer's contest. It was not short-listed (but my poem was, yay!) and since I doubt I will enter it anywhere else, I would like to share it with you all and give you an idea of my writing 'voice'.
Cheers!
The theme, 'Beginnings,' has been strongly on my mind, so I thought my postings for this week could focus on that.
I feel like I am very much at the beginning of my career as a writer. I may never be officially published, but that does not lessen the validation of the term, 'writer,' nor does it weaken my resolve to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and let the imagination take hold. I know I have so much to learn and an incredible need for improvement in my writing (ESPECIALLY when it comes to grammar). This does not daunt me. In fact, I say, "Bring it on!"
I currently have a novel in the works. I have titled it, 'Anymus,' and plan to seek representation once I feel it measures up to publishing standards. That part will be the tricky bit, but I am willing to work hard and receive as much constructive criticism as it takes to make it a truly stellar novel. I am hesitant to reveal the plot and theme, but I will reveal that it is a fantasy with a twist. Picture 'Heroes' meets 'Lord of the Rings' meets 'Rock Band' (yes, the video game).
I should mention that this novel breaks the beginner's publishing rules (epic fantasy series where the first novel is not stand-alone) and so I am taking a risk and following my heart. I should also mention that I am really stubborn and have never liked to go about things the way everyone else does.
So...the day has arrived and I can no longer procrastinate. I am not participating in NaNoWriMo by the conventional standards, but will be using the 50,000 word challenge to apply to my own novel. I have 25,000 words written with approximately 80,000 to go.
Tomorrow I will be posting the short story I entered for the SIWC writer's contest. It was not short-listed (but my poem was, yay!) and since I doubt I will enter it anywhere else, I would like to share it with you all and give you an idea of my writing 'voice'.
Cheers!
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