Now I'm home again and trying to get back into my normal groove. *sigh*
I just got a completely honest critique of my book back from someone who has some serious experience in the industry, and I, apparently, have a lot I need to do to fix things, if I ever want to publish. Soooo. Back to work. Ugh! I hate to step away from the new story I'm working on. It's so cool, but I need to give the first one another go around--plot work and cut/polish. I've still got a long way to go to be the writer I want to be. *sigh again* At least I have a map of the things I need to work on.
22 comments:
Welcome back and good luck with the revision. :)
Yay! So glad you're back Lois! I feel the same way about my last two WIP. I have to stop to polish my first one, but really want to finish my second one. *sigh*
So torn, isn't it? To rework something you know deserve some more polishing because it's getting closer, yet to feel the pull of the new. I am in the same boat. However tedious it seems, however, the old work still manages to surprise me when I go digging deeper and reconstructing.
All good, all good.
Welcome home, Lois. When Scott faced the same problem, he decided to finish his current story--or at least a draft of it--before going back to revise the old. Maybe that's what you should do if you're in the groove with the current work.
Good luck with the revisions :) And hopefully you won't lose steam with your 2nd story, either.
Good luck with the revisions :) And hopefully you won't lose steam with your 2nd story, either.
I agree with Davin. Perhaps you should finish what you're working on first. I know you've been through so much on this book. Monarch has been like that for me, and so has Breakaway. Breakaway is still sitting, waiting... waiting... because I moved on to other things, and I'm glad I did. I found out that working on something new taught me new things and gave me new skills to be able to fix Breakaway in a way I never could have before. One day I will be able to rework that book and make it great.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck! I'm here if you need, too. :)
Sarahjayne, Thanks.
Carolyn, Yep, it's a tricky balance.
Yat-Yee, There is so much possibility for depth in the first book. I hope I can manage to make it work.
Davin, Following Lord Scott's example could be the way to go. I'm still deciding. I'm thinking I may try working on them both at the same time. I've never done that before, so we'll see if I'm capable or too one track mind to make it work.
Judith, Thanks. That's what I'm hoping.
Glam, There was a lot of good advice for the first WIP and so I'm thinking I'm going to take it and work on it some at least while it's all fresh. If I'm too close to it to make it work, I may go on and finish WIP 2 and come back to it. Then I may be able to do justice to the story and characters.
Does this mean you drove right by my house in Flagstaff??
I'm glad you had a nice break and good luck on the revisions! (Steal moments to retrun to your new book, just for your own happiness.) :o)
It sounds like you have a great attitude regarding your critique! Good for you for going back and fixing what needs to be done. I hope it's just what you need to achieve publication.
I'm glad the trip went well.
Well, at least with the critique you know what you need to do. Perhaps it won't be as grueling as you think and you'll be able to fly through it.
Lunch? When you get your groove back?
Welcome back! Glad you had a good time in Arizona :) Ugh critiques. It seems like everyone out there is a critic; everyone has their two cents to add. Even if it's a wildly famous, well-received book, people always pick out something wrong about it. When will it ever end? Good luck with your revisions, I am trudging through mine as well so I'll be right there with you :)
You are a gifted writer and you will get there. Your words work on the page, if that makes any sense.
I wonder if you have considered writing forward? I know people don't like to hear it and I'm not saying it is the right decision but I know that it worked for me.
What I mean is, keep writing your new WIP and put all you have learned into play.
If I would have kept with my first, or even my second, novel..I wonder if I would have ever written the third that eventually sold.
Just a thought....feel free to ignore it. I'm in a rambling mood today...
*hugs* *writing and revision cookies*
Jackee, We never made it to Flagstaff. The closest we got to you was Sedona. I'm going to try working on both of them at the same time.
T. Anne, Thanks. I had to take a few deep breaths and step back, but I know the critter is just trying to help me be better, and I really appreciate that.
Anne, I'm hoping. The book may end up shorter or focused more on the elements that I think make it unique. How about next week for lunch? I have my niece visiting this week.
Julie, Camaraderie really helps. This critter really knows what she's talking about so I'm listening.
Tess, Thanks. That means a lot that you think my words work on the page. I do think some things work, but I need to streamline things. I've thought a lot about just writing forward. I am going to continue with my new story, but for now I want to work on implementing the advice I got and see where it takes the old story.
Dani, Thanks.
I find an honest critique from someone in the know to be such a gift. I hope you take it that way! That's how I've gotten some of my best feedback ever.
Welcome home!
And what a treasure to have those stories on tape! Great idea.
Good luck on the revision!
It only feels like a long way right now. Once you get in the car and start driving, you'll be fine. And yes, I'm talking about the revision. Good luck!
Ugh. Those kinds of critiques can be painful, but in the long run are the best there are.
PJ, It is a gift. I see it that way, but, oh, the work I have ahead of me. At least she thinks it's worth the work.
Becky, I'm really excited that I got them. I think I'm going to do that every time I go home. One evening of storytelling.
Elana, Yeah. That's the way it is with most work. It's easier once you buckle down and start doing it.
Beth, So true. It's good to know exactly what I need to do. Now it's just the doing it.
I was midway through one project when I got feedback on another. It was crazy hard to say goodbye to one character and 'ello to another. I keep wanting to assure my unfinished manuscript that I haven't forgotten about her. :)
You'll get there with the revisions. Your work will be so much stronger because of them.
*adds revision cupcakes to the table*
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