Sometimes the world just conspires against you...and sometimes it steps in on your behalf.
The past few days, I've had my novel thrust into my face in some unusual/unexpected ways. Leah's sister called and brought it up (which is unusual because, though she is nice, my novel is not really something that would be on her radar). I think I've mentioned it like ONCE in front of her (I'm not really one to run around bragging "I'm writing a book" like most English major-types I've known). That was strange, but stranger was when I saw my new blog-friend, MountainGirl's blog entry about NaNoWriMo (which mentioned me by name).
These two (minor) incidents kicked me in the head enough to start working again. I woke up and started a pot of coffee, hunted down my physical edits, and made a "Heavy Metal-Editing Playlist" in iTunes (Motorhead, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Avenged Sevenfold, Dethlkok, DragonForce--in case you are interested). I don't know how you (if you write) edit, but me--I have a system. I take a print-out and mark it up with a pen. I take that and sit down at the computer and make a "digital" edit (in a separate file). Usually my digital edit is a bit different from the physical one. Sometimes I look at a change and think "what was I thinking?" and skip it...or I spot something I missed and fix it.
Well, I started that process today. I have about 100 pages "physically" edited (I do it at work, on break...and when I'm not on break). Before I edit the NEXT 100, I thought I'd make my digital edits...for Leah. I know that once she starts reading this thing she'll force me to finish it--which is what I need.
Anyway, progress was made today.
6 comments:
Does that mean I'm in line somewhere?
Yeah, of course you are! You did such a fantastic job on my last few short stories...
I just want Leah to look at it all first. She's a good litmus test for the broad things. Plus I need her to constantly bug me about finishing it.
I'd say by this summer (that's the goal) you and whoever else I know (that wants to read...Terri?) will get their hands on it.
I'm a bit like you when it comes to editing - I really do prefer to have a piece of paper and a red (or purple) pen in front of me and then transfer the changes to the computer.
I then hang onto these drafts for what seems like forever. Ok sometimes it is handy to be able to go back and refer to them but really, I think I have trouble letting them go - even the crappy bits ha ha ha :-)
I'm not a "pack rat" by any means...except when it comes to my writing. I keep EVERYTHING/ALL DRAFTS.
I have a folder on my computer that is slowly filling up with various drafts of this book I'm working on...but sometimes you just never know what you'll need (and when you'll need it).
Exactly - like when my first book got deleted in a power failure (we are talking 15 years ago and computers weren't as good then - or at least this one wasn't). I have some of it but I know there are bits that are gone forever - this book was ... short stories is the wrong phrase, more of a collection of thoughts and anecdotes - one per chapter - lost and gone forever ...
Yes, I want to read it. make it a goal to have it ready by summer. I'll look forward to it.
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