Showing posts with label Waiting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Waiting. Show all posts

Friday, April 4, 2014

My Writing Life: The In Between Times

While finishing my book I was busy. Not regular busy, I was crazy-nose-to-the-keyboard-busy, writing and revising every free minute I had. For weeks my eyes were twitching and I had the craziest dreams. I wasn't even reading as much as usual. Finally my draft was ready and I sent it to two betas. I decided I'd take a break from that story. The plan was not to look at it for six weeks (this is the Stephen King advice). Hopefully when I pick my book up again, it will be with fresh eyes that can see the forest and the trees and all the plot points that need tweaking.

Actual trees

So I relaxed into the in-between life finally done writing and not yet editing. I tried to soak up the sense of pride at completing something. Surprisingly that worked for a few days. I watched Orphan Black and gave my dog a haircut. I had a list of books to read, some as research for my book. Tragically, despite how I tried to occupy my time I was left with too much of it. Maybe I was too adjusted to the hectic writing schedule or simply cannot handle being an inbetweener.* My mind itched to open the word document to start revising. I remembered things I need to clarify and I'm pretty sure I forgot to tie up one kind of important subplot. My betas are going to kill me. There was no way I'd make it six weeks without writing, so I pulled out an ongoing list of story ideas. I wrote a few lines summarizing what I would do with each one until I felt that tug and knew I'd found my next project.

Initially I thought starting a new book while another one is still in progress would be confusing. I was afraid I'd lose interest in my completed story and when the six weeks were up I'd ignore revisions in favor of writing the new book. Writing generally being more pleasant than revising which requires harsh self assessment. I suppose that could still happen, but I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't. Possibly the new book will keep me optimistic when it's time to switch to editing mode or when I'm reviewing notes from betas asking, whatever happened to that pivotal character who is missing from the end of the book? Seriously, so sorry about that.




Disclaimer: Inbetweener is not a word. The Inbetweeners was a British sitcom about teenage boys. I have never been British or a teenage boy.


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

On My Writing Playlist: Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

Conor Oberst (of Bright Eyes fame) is one of my favorite songwriters but most of his songs are a little too lyrically intense to go on my writing playlists. I get distracted by the words and lose my focus and that is the opposite of what the writing playlist is for. This song, "Spoiled" from Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band is not distracting. It also is about being a spoiled brat and as you may have guessed my main character is a spoiled brat.

For him being happy is difficult. There is always something missing it seems. How much does he need to achieve before he will be content? Why do his victories fail to give him anything like peace or pleasure?

Whatever the reason Conor's right when he says, "That's just a shame."



Friday, June 17, 2011

Keep on Pottering

Why does Jo Rowling love to torture us? For years she dropped clue after clue about the Harry Potter books and as fans we hypothesized, reread the books and lost sleep over the possibilities. Okay, maybe that was just me. Now, my peaceful vacation is interrupted by yet another Potter Teaser.



Rowling announced that she will be making a Potter related announcement. That's just evil. The website has a link to a YouTube countdown. We have to wait 6 days to hear what it is. The announcement will inevitably lead to even more waiting. Oh and she promises it is not a new book, and MuggleNet calls it the Pottermore Project.

There are many theories circulating. They range from a London based HP Theme Park, an interactive online game, and the long awaited HP Encyclopedia.

I don't know what to believe. Rowling is tricky and even though they say it is not a new book, I question their honesty. Remember when Dobby swore whatever was happening at Hogwarts had nothing to do with Voldemort? Rowling loves to torture us with semantics.

Do you have any theories?