Finished the rough draft revisions yesterday. Maybe I should have celebrated, but I'm not. There is still so much to do. The story is more convoluted than ever.
I shouldn't say that. I really have made progress.
I was {re-writing} a certain plot outline today, making sure I could summarize it from start to finish. I can, mostly. But there's this lovely little phrase at the end: there is a showdown.
I know what that means, because I've written the scene. But seriously...there is a showdown? That's all. And my writing of the showdown wasn't all that impressive. I'm sitting there trying to further plot. Could care less about action.
{I'm writing a suspense novel.} Problem.
Don't know why, but I'm so much more interested in the emotional conflicts, the relationship conflicts. Internal conflict for the win! But at some point I decided to write a book with guns in it. Which means...there is a showdown.
My external conflict scenes usually do best when I couple them with something going on in the internal conflict realm. Try to keep conversations going during car chases, that sort of thing. Unfortunately, in my rough draft of this lovely showdown...I didn't do any of that.
Guess what I get to do now. At least emotions are more fun to write than bullets.
Showing posts with label outlines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outlines. Show all posts
7/10/12
6/20/12
The Story Board
I've come to that point in my novel--again--where the story is going to change rather dramatically because of these revisions. Not too dramatically. But dramatically enough for me to be hopelessly lost.
I've already tried writing these scenes half a dozen times over. Today, with June drawing to a close {no! no, no, no!}, I figured I should put an end to my insanity--
And then my eye fell on Kirsten's Scenes & Settings book. {Yes, I was an American Girl girl. Lots and lots of Kirsten.} I got it more recently from Goodwill, but haven't had a whole lot of use for it, in all honesty. {I'm 21, after all.} It's something like 2'x3' with huge background pictures meant to assist in making Kirsten's world more real when playing.
But it makes a great post-it note board for story outlining. Plus, if I were to have multiple outlines going, I could put them on the book's "pages", close them up, and keep them safe. I don't have that many outlines going right now--I hope I never do--but it I did, I would have an organization method.
I like organization methods. Hence this post.
What about you? Have you ever outlined with paper/post-it/white-board {as opposed to on the computer}? What did you use? How'd it go?
I've already tried writing these scenes half a dozen times over. Today, with June drawing to a close {no! no, no, no!}, I figured I should put an end to my insanity--
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results" - Rita Mae Brown {often attributed to Albert Einstein, who did, admittedly, come first}--and try something different. So I stole a page from Save the Cat! {but not really} and started writing my possible scenes down. Decided the post-it notes would work better than notecards, but where was I going to post these post-it notes? My white-board already has writing on it and is rather precious to me, all things considered.
 |
| Kirsten, posing in front of her book |
I like organization methods. Hence this post.
What about you? Have you ever outlined with paper/post-it/white-board {as opposed to on the computer}? What did you use? How'd it go?
2/13/12
If Outlines are Burning Me Out
In January, I shelved the dystopian I was working on. I had been outlining and planning and plotting for weeks, and it wasn't going anywhere fast. I'd started it half a dozen times, and been frustrated with every beginning.
Now it's February, and I'm running into the same problem with Lead Us Not. I've outlined and planned and plotted. I've written the beginning twice. And while I think the story has serious potential, I'm not having any fun figuring out what's supposed to happen. If it wasn't a sequel, if it wasn't what it is, I would have shelved it already.
Also in February, I've begun a completely unmarketable historical fantasy in the vein of Patricia A. McKillip and Megan Whalen Turner. {What, you don't know who they are? Thus its unmarketability.}
What's wrong? The book I want to work on, the book I believe in, Lead Us Not, has stalled. And the book that was supposed to be nothing more than a dabbling is actually taking a nice shape.
I've written about this before, about how my need to make each book easier than the last by planning is actually getting in my way. But I hadn't seen it live in action until now. The historical fantasy, unoutlined, unplotted, unplanned, is what occupies my writing attention. And Lead Us Not sits there and mocks me.
If outlines are burning me out, I'm going to have write from scratch. That's how I've always done it. I assumed I would grow out of it. I thought I would become a mature and confidant writer, outlining everything beforehand so that my number of drafts lessened. But that is not to be.
Writing something--particularly a certain sequel that I want to finish--is more important than having it all mapped out before hand. And even though the thought of embarking on Lead Us Not scares me, the thought of abandoning it altogether, the way I did Callyn's story, scares me even more.
Now it's February, and I'm running into the same problem with Lead Us Not. I've outlined and planned and plotted. I've written the beginning twice. And while I think the story has serious potential, I'm not having any fun figuring out what's supposed to happen. If it wasn't a sequel, if it wasn't what it is, I would have shelved it already.
Also in February, I've begun a completely unmarketable historical fantasy in the vein of Patricia A. McKillip and Megan Whalen Turner. {What, you don't know who they are? Thus its unmarketability.}
What's wrong? The book I want to work on, the book I believe in, Lead Us Not, has stalled. And the book that was supposed to be nothing more than a dabbling is actually taking a nice shape.
I've written about this before, about how my need to make each book easier than the last by planning is actually getting in my way. But I hadn't seen it live in action until now. The historical fantasy, unoutlined, unplotted, unplanned, is what occupies my writing attention. And Lead Us Not sits there and mocks me.
If outlines are burning me out, I'm going to have write from scratch. That's how I've always done it. I assumed I would grow out of it. I thought I would become a mature and confidant writer, outlining everything beforehand so that my number of drafts lessened. But that is not to be.
Writing something--particularly a certain sequel that I want to finish--is more important than having it all mapped out before hand. And even though the thought of embarking on Lead Us Not scares me, the thought of abandoning it altogether, the way I did Callyn's story, scares me even more.
2/2/12
A Sequel
As you may remember, or may not remember, it doesn't really matter, I had quite the time of it after I finished TWT (Those Who Trespass).
It started in November, with what was probably the worst NaNo book ever written. Then came December, while I wrote my query. And while I agonized over the query, I tried to write a dystopian that I had long had in mind. {It's The Bachelor meets The Hunger Games. But it doesn't matter, because I couldn't make it work.} It wouldn't write. I outlined, I outlined, I outlined, trying to avoid the inevitable slew of rewrites that I always encounter after a first draft.
It didn't work. I finished my TWT query. I brushed up the TWT manuscript. I queried.
And I started writing scenes for another book. A sequel.
A sequel.
I never intended TWT to have a sequel. It still doesn't need one. I think it stands alone just fine. But sometime last year, I started getting ideas. I jotted them down and ignored them. FanFiction for my own work, I figured. Unimportant.
And then, when I finished TWT, I started writing more. The story just kept going. And since I was undergoing self-inflicted torture with the dystopian, I told myself I could write whatever I wanted, just as long as I was writing something. And what I wanted to write was...the sequel. It even has a title.
I've already written at least a dozen scenes. I'm enjoying it. Clayton and Jenn still have things to say to each other. They still have things to not say to each other. There is still conflict. There is still romance. There is still room in this story for more.
I never would have guessed it. I never wanted it, but here it is, and I like it.
And so commences the first real sequel I have ever written. {I've planned out series' before and have snippets of multiple books in series, but this is the first time I've finished a book and kept going.}
Have you ever written a sequel? Were you planning to do it, or did it sneak up on you?
Also, I finally got a rejection. It made me feel better, like I'm not living in the Twilight zone anymore.
Also, also, Patrick Ness is still brilliant. The more I consider the Chaos Walking trilogy, the more I'm assured of Ness' brilliance.
It started in November, with what was probably the worst NaNo book ever written. Then came December, while I wrote my query. And while I agonized over the query, I tried to write a dystopian that I had long had in mind. {It's The Bachelor meets The Hunger Games. But it doesn't matter, because I couldn't make it work.} It wouldn't write. I outlined, I outlined, I outlined, trying to avoid the inevitable slew of rewrites that I always encounter after a first draft.
It didn't work. I finished my TWT query. I brushed up the TWT manuscript. I queried.
And I started writing scenes for another book. A sequel.
A sequel.
I never intended TWT to have a sequel. It still doesn't need one. I think it stands alone just fine. But sometime last year, I started getting ideas. I jotted them down and ignored them. FanFiction for my own work, I figured. Unimportant.
And then, when I finished TWT, I started writing more. The story just kept going. And since I was undergoing self-inflicted torture with the dystopian, I told myself I could write whatever I wanted, just as long as I was writing something. And what I wanted to write was...the sequel. It even has a title.
I've already written at least a dozen scenes. I'm enjoying it. Clayton and Jenn still have things to say to each other. They still have things to not say to each other. There is still conflict. There is still romance. There is still room in this story for more.
I never would have guessed it. I never wanted it, but here it is, and I like it.
And so commences the first real sequel I have ever written. {I've planned out series' before and have snippets of multiple books in series, but this is the first time I've finished a book and kept going.}
Have you ever written a sequel? Were you planning to do it, or did it sneak up on you?
Also, I finally got a rejection. It made me feel better, like I'm not living in the Twilight zone anymore.
Also, also, Patrick Ness is still brilliant. The more I consider the Chaos Walking trilogy, the more I'm assured of Ness' brilliance.
12/20/11
Due to Poor Planning
How long should you pound away at a story before setting it aside?
I thought this new MS was going to be great. It had some great romantic scenes, some action, some coming-of-age, and, to be honest, I have some epic scenes planned for the sequels. If I ever get to the sequels. I can't make the first book - and we all know that if there is no first book, there is no sequel - work.
There are too many plot holes. Too many characters that won't cooperate. Too much of the world-building left unbuilt. All of it laughing at me because I can't form a coherent story around it. It's bothersome.
I feel like I have two choices:
It scares me, the prospect of not being an outliner. I always thought I was. I'm a very analytical person, so I figured, "Of course I'm an outliner at heart! I'm just a panster due to poor planning!" But maybe I'm a panster after all. And as daunting as the prospect of the outlining agony 2/3 of the way through, anything is better than the outlining torture I'm putting myself through now. At least when I'm 2/3 of the way through, I'm emotionally connected to the story.
Seems I've talked myself into an answer. If I can find the guts to jump off the cliff of outlining into the unknown abyss.
I thought this new MS was going to be great. It had some great romantic scenes, some action, some coming-of-age, and, to be honest, I have some epic scenes planned for the sequels. If I ever get to the sequels. I can't make the first book - and we all know that if there is no first book, there is no sequel - work.
There are too many plot holes. Too many characters that won't cooperate. Too much of the world-building left unbuilt. All of it laughing at me because I can't form a coherent story around it. It's bothersome.
I feel like I have two choices:
- Set it aside and work on something else. Anything else, to regain my sanity. Something I can enjoy.
- Start writing...even though I don't have a plan. I told myself I wouldn't do it. I told myself that this time I would outline my face off before beginning.
It scares me, the prospect of not being an outliner. I always thought I was. I'm a very analytical person, so I figured, "Of course I'm an outliner at heart! I'm just a panster due to poor planning!" But maybe I'm a panster after all. And as daunting as the prospect of the outlining agony 2/3 of the way through, anything is better than the outlining torture I'm putting myself through now. At least when I'm 2/3 of the way through, I'm emotionally connected to the story.
Seems I've talked myself into an answer. If I can find the guts to jump off the cliff of outlining into the unknown abyss.
12/15/11
Whispers From a Twist
Despite my frustration with the seven-part story structure and its ease of use with every other story in the universe besides mine, I have had some breakthrough. It started as a twist, not a twist carefully fashioned and formed after pages and pages of typing at my desk, but a twist formed while I brushed my teeth in the bathroom.
What if, the twist whispered, Callyn set the bomb?
I nearly dropped my toothbrush. Callyn setting the bomb? The idea was unthinkable. But then, I considered, it worked. I already knew that Callyn needed some great reason to be ashamed of herself - this would definitely do that. I already knew that Callyn had ties to the bomb-setting people...
What if, the twist continued to whisper, Callyn was still dating Fagan?
I nearly answered back and told the twist that that was impossible. But was it? I considered. It definitely made things a lot more tricky for Callyn, but that was totally Callyn's problem. And any problems for Callyn are godsends for me. The more problems she can find herself in, the better.
Problems introduce tension. Problems introduce conflict.
But the twist wasn't finished. What if, it whispered, Elizabeth is more than your average "mean girl"? What if she's a spy?
That was pretty much the twist of twists, but again, a few mental shuffles, and it worked perfectly. More than perfectly. This story is coming together.
Ever been whispered to by a twist? Did you listen?
What if, the twist whispered, Callyn set the bomb?
I nearly dropped my toothbrush. Callyn setting the bomb? The idea was unthinkable. But then, I considered, it worked. I already knew that Callyn needed some great reason to be ashamed of herself - this would definitely do that. I already knew that Callyn had ties to the bomb-setting people...
What if, the twist continued to whisper, Callyn was still dating Fagan?
I nearly answered back and told the twist that that was impossible. But was it? I considered. It definitely made things a lot more tricky for Callyn, but that was totally Callyn's problem. And any problems for Callyn are godsends for me. The more problems she can find herself in, the better.
Problems introduce tension. Problems introduce conflict.
But the twist wasn't finished. What if, it whispered, Elizabeth is more than your average "mean girl"? What if she's a spy?
That was pretty much the twist of twists, but again, a few mental shuffles, and it worked perfectly. More than perfectly. This story is coming together.
Ever been whispered to by a twist? Did you listen?
12/14/11
Seven Parts of White Collar
So I think y'all know that I've been using Dan Wells' seven-part story structure. And yes, I'm loving it.
Dan has an epic slide on his PowerPoint where he divides The Matrix into seven-parts four times. One for the plot, one for Neo (the MC), one for Neo's romance with Trinity, and one for Cypher's betrayal. It's a beautiful thing. I can pretty much sit there and marvel all day long. {Download his PowerPoint on his site - free - and you'll see what I mean.} But here's the thing, I'm trying to do it with my own WiP.
I have a character arc, and a romance arc. Still a little shy of the betrayal arc, but it's the plot arc that's been bothering me. I've sat there and pulled my hair out, trying to figure out what goes where and how and when and omgosh, I'm going to die. And after some serious frustration and annoyance with Dan Well's epic Matrix outline, I declared, "It can't be that easy." I know in theory that every good story follows this - I've known this inherently for some while - but I didn't think it was really that easy to map it out.
I decided to make a seven-part outline for the last thing I'd watched, which so happened to be White Collar...which shouldn't surprise you. {I chose Season 1, Episode 8, which, if you were going to watch, you've probably already seen, since Season 4 comes out in just over a month. But if you haven't, I've done my best to keep it free of any major spoilers.}
It took me less than 15 minutes to make the following:
The fact that this worked so easily made me both impressed with White Collar (even more)...and annoyed that it really is that easy. But the more examples I have, the better.
Have you ever mapped out a popular book or movie (or TV show)? Do tell...
Dan has an epic slide on his PowerPoint where he divides The Matrix into seven-parts four times. One for the plot, one for Neo (the MC), one for Neo's romance with Trinity, and one for Cypher's betrayal. It's a beautiful thing. I can pretty much sit there and marvel all day long. {Download his PowerPoint on his site - free - and you'll see what I mean.} But here's the thing, I'm trying to do it with my own WiP.
I have a character arc, and a romance arc. Still a little shy of the betrayal arc, but it's the plot arc that's been bothering me. I've sat there and pulled my hair out, trying to figure out what goes where and how and when and omgosh, I'm going to die. And after some serious frustration and annoyance with Dan Well's epic Matrix outline, I declared, "It can't be that easy." I know in theory that every good story follows this - I've known this inherently for some while - but I didn't think it was really that easy to map it out.
I decided to make a seven-part outline for the last thing I'd watched, which so happened to be White Collar...which shouldn't surprise you. {I chose Season 1, Episode 8, which, if you were going to watch, you've probably already seen, since Season 4 comes out in just over a month. But if you haven't, I've done my best to keep it free of any major spoilers.}
It took me less than 15 minutes to make the following:
- Hook (sad, boring life): Mozzie accurately compares Neal to a pawn.
- Plot Turn 1 (call to adventure): The case is brought to Peter's attention.
- {I think in any crime show, this would always be Plot Turn 1. Just a thought.}
- Pinch 1 (bad guys attack): Neal discovers some incriminating evidence against Peter.
- Midpoint (reaction --> action): Peter, Neal, and other FBI Agents create a plan to get the villain's data.
- Pinch 2 (bad guys "win"): Neal and Peter are discovered and trapped with minutes to live.
- Plot Turn 2 (the power is in you): Neal decides to trust Peter and tells him so.
- Resolution (hero defeats villain): Neal accurately - and prophetically - compares himself to a chess knight.
The fact that this worked so easily made me both impressed with White Collar (even more)...and annoyed that it really is that easy. But the more examples I have, the better.
Have you ever mapped out a popular book or movie (or TV show)? Do tell...
11/30/11
50 Minutes of Story Structure
For once in my life, I have a story that refuses to write itself. It wants to involve me for some reason, wants to involve me before I put the proverbial pen to paper. Fingers to keys. Whatever.
The point is, because of its lack of cooperation - and the inordinate amount of time spent revising Those Who Trespass - I'm doing my outlining/plotting/planning now. Who's brilliant idea was this, anyway? In theory, I love outlining. In reality, it's torture.
But I did find something yesterday that made my plotting life much better...and much more entertaining. I give you Dan Wells, author of I Am Not A Serial Killer. This is the first of 5 parts of a talk he gave on story structure, and, let me tell you, it's worth the 50 minutes of your life. So worth it. I stayed up past my bedtime Monday night to watch it, and I was not disappointed. It's clear, concise, entertaining, and brilliant. Watch it all.
I found the link to this guy in one of Elana Johnson's posts. Do you have any more plotting links/tips/tricks I should know of? Every little bit helps...
11/30/11 Edit: I completely forgot to link to Dan Well's page...where he generously provides a download of his PowerPoint. EPIC!
The point is, because of its lack of cooperation - and the inordinate amount of time spent revising Those Who Trespass - I'm doing my outlining/plotting/planning now. Who's brilliant idea was this, anyway? In theory, I love outlining. In reality, it's torture.
But I did find something yesterday that made my plotting life much better...and much more entertaining. I give you Dan Wells, author of I Am Not A Serial Killer. This is the first of 5 parts of a talk he gave on story structure, and, let me tell you, it's worth the 50 minutes of your life. So worth it. I stayed up past my bedtime Monday night to watch it, and I was not disappointed. It's clear, concise, entertaining, and brilliant. Watch it all.
I found the link to this guy in one of Elana Johnson's posts. Do you have any more plotting links/tips/tricks I should know of? Every little bit helps...
11/30/11 Edit: I completely forgot to link to Dan Well's page...where he generously provides a download of his PowerPoint. EPIC!
11/20/10
NaNo Outlining
This is the extent of my NaNoWriMo outlining, made 20 days into November, 30K into the story, after deciding that it's time to move on to Act 2. ;)
7/7/10
Wishing My Fingers Were Flying
Since I've already written the book twice, I have a pretty good idea of what's going on. And while I had an extensive, seven-page outline for the second draft, the third draft has nothing of the sort. It works pretty well, because I'm basing it off of the first and second drafts and using them as outlines. It's not seat-of-my-pants writing, but neither am I strictly following a pre-written outline.
It works. For me.
However, it also involves a halt and a pause every few chapters to figure out what exactly is going to happen next. I know it in general, but now comes the part of figuring it out, putting it in order, making sure I'm not focusing too long on Ivolet without checking in to see what Daniel has been up to. It's time-consuming.
And very boring. I just want to go! and let my fingers fly and the story take wing. It's ready. But if I did that, I'd have something akin to my first draft - and that is not something I want to be sending in. So I restrain myself and plan and outline and make tables of each army's military strength at any given time. Ack.
I like planning and organizing and administration. It's in my blood. (Phelgmatic) But right now I'm exhibiting that lovely streak of Sanguin and am very impatient. COME ON! Let's write already! I want the word count to keep rising!
What about you? Are your fingers flying today? Or have they slowed due to planning (or writer's block, or Independence Day, or [insert random hindrance here])?
See, I told you I'd be back!!
It works. For me.
However, it also involves a halt and a pause every few chapters to figure out what exactly is going to happen next. I know it in general, but now comes the part of figuring it out, putting it in order, making sure I'm not focusing too long on Ivolet without checking in to see what Daniel has been up to. It's time-consuming.
And very boring. I just want to go! and let my fingers fly and the story take wing. It's ready. But if I did that, I'd have something akin to my first draft - and that is not something I want to be sending in. So I restrain myself and plan and outline and make tables of each army's military strength at any given time. Ack.
I like planning and organizing and administration. It's in my blood. (Phelgmatic) But right now I'm exhibiting that lovely streak of Sanguin and am very impatient. COME ON! Let's write already! I want the word count to keep rising!
What about you? Are your fingers flying today? Or have they slowed due to planning (or writer's block, or Independence Day, or [insert random hindrance here])?
See, I told you I'd be back!!
5/19/10
Supposedly Working
Me: I made a breakthrough on my story today.
Mom: Oh, the ice skating one?
Me: No, the princess one. The one I'm supposedly writing the third draft of. [sic]
Problem is, I don't want to write the third draft until I have it outlined and plotted out so nothing jumps out and surprises me again (necklaces that show up once, get lost, and never get searched for or found; treachery that I never intended; odd appearances of peaches - yes, peaches! - that make me wonder what I was thinking). And I don't want to outline it until I know exactly what I want, exactly what I want to keep from the former drafts, and what I have got to get rid of.
There are two colorfully typed pieces of paper on my floor right now, surrounded by my plethora of colored highlighters (thanks, Mom!) and colored pens (thanks, JW!) that list every single scene in both drafts. It feels like I spread my story out on my floor (if my floor could be covered by 194 8.5"x11" pages) and suddenly gained a superpower to defy gravity. This way, I can float above and point out the scenes I love and those that, well, I didn't (and thus know which ones to keep).
That's why I say I'm only supposedly writing it. I've been "working on" the third draft for several weeks now, but I haven't gotten past the first page of any actual prose, especially any prose that I liked. I've been messing around with the beginning, having recently realized that a slow beginning that builds to action is never going to hook an agent. (And, upon further inspection, not even a reader, which is ten times as important. I wouldn't even read past the first few pages.) My beginning is doubly tricky, too, because it has to inform the reader of several facts before Ivolet, the protagonist, loses her memory and gains a new name.
The result? A first-person present-tense jump straight into the action. I totally scratched two scenes at the beginning that introduced characters (that promptly died, or lost their memory, or weren't revisited for chapters) and just went straight to the blood and gore of assassination. It was lovely. :) And I think it will merge well with the story, because it can kind of be a...what's it called...a presentiment of the nightmares she'll allude to later in the book.
So, first scene solved.
Somehow, that isn't as comforting as it should be. Yay, the first of what the second draft clocked at seventy-freakin'-one scenes. (That was sarcasm.) This book is not an epic, was never intended to be an epic, and it really needs to shrink just a tad.
But, the outline is progressing, and I'm glad I have a beginning that I (finally!) like and love and that hooks me into reading. It's a start.
In other news, guess what book came in for me at the local library?!?!!? (Need a Hint?)
You'll never guess. A Conspiracy of Kings, by Megan Whalen Turner. I cannot describe my ecstasy in words, but I shall attempt it in exclamation points.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The librarian heard me gasp when she called me to tell me the hold was in (I requested the book, so I get an automatic hold. I love my library.) I could hear her smile. And then, I couldn't stop smiling at the librarian who checked it out for me (who has to be, by the way, a princess in disguise working at a library ooooh! new book idea!). I got in the car and hugged it to my chest, and I almost took it into the grocery store with me. It's so beautiful.
There are few things in life that the newest book from [insert favorite author here] can't solve. Life is stressful, but Megan Whalen Turner always delivers. I can't wait to be surprised by the twist that I'll never see coming, and I can't wait to see Eugenides again. I CAN'T WAIT!!! It's sitting on my desk beside me as I type, it's beautiful, majestic cover of someone (Sophos? Eugenides? Someone New?) riding a horse. Riding a horse, urgently, looking behind him as if pursued. Is he fleeing? Bringing news? Who is he? Definitely noble, by his attire and his bold ring. (For the record, I want Megan Whalen Turner's cover designer to design my covers, too. Pretty please! Best covers ever.)
There's an almost empty glass of ice-cold lemonade on my desk, too. I had intended to drink it while I started A Conspiracy of Kings, but I had to blog about getting ready to read it first (of course!) and thus my lemonade is almost gone. Texas is hot. Anyway, I told Mom that I wondered how long it would take me before I read it. "Because," I said, "I love to know that I still haven't read it yet and that it's still waiting for me to read." She understood.
But it's tempting me, calling me, like a lover, like an escape, like a fantasy world. I'm going to read it twice, I've already decided. If there aren't any blogs for a while, it's because I got one of my many wishes and somehow woke up in Attolia.
"Rsl 1984," by Newsboys
"Michelangelo," by Satellite Soul
"God and His Impostors," by The Silent
"No Fear," from The Swan Princess
"Evenstar," from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
"Light Up the World," by Desperation Band
"Rock of Ages," by David Crowder
"All I Do Is Think of You"
Mom: Oh, the ice skating one?
Me: No, the princess one. The one I'm supposedly writing the third draft of. [sic]
Problem is, I don't want to write the third draft until I have it outlined and plotted out so nothing jumps out and surprises me again (necklaces that show up once, get lost, and never get searched for or found; treachery that I never intended; odd appearances of peaches - yes, peaches! - that make me wonder what I was thinking). And I don't want to outline it until I know exactly what I want, exactly what I want to keep from the former drafts, and what I have got to get rid of.
There are two colorfully typed pieces of paper on my floor right now, surrounded by my plethora of colored highlighters (thanks, Mom!) and colored pens (thanks, JW!) that list every single scene in both drafts. It feels like I spread my story out on my floor (if my floor could be covered by 194 8.5"x11" pages) and suddenly gained a superpower to defy gravity. This way, I can float above and point out the scenes I love and those that, well, I didn't (and thus know which ones to keep).
That's why I say I'm only supposedly writing it. I've been "working on" the third draft for several weeks now, but I haven't gotten past the first page of any actual prose, especially any prose that I liked. I've been messing around with the beginning, having recently realized that a slow beginning that builds to action is never going to hook an agent. (And, upon further inspection, not even a reader, which is ten times as important. I wouldn't even read past the first few pages.) My beginning is doubly tricky, too, because it has to inform the reader of several facts before Ivolet, the protagonist, loses her memory and gains a new name.
The result? A first-person present-tense jump straight into the action. I totally scratched two scenes at the beginning that introduced characters (that promptly died, or lost their memory, or weren't revisited for chapters) and just went straight to the blood and gore of assassination. It was lovely. :) And I think it will merge well with the story, because it can kind of be a...what's it called...a presentiment of the nightmares she'll allude to later in the book.
So, first scene solved.
Somehow, that isn't as comforting as it should be. Yay, the first of what the second draft clocked at seventy-freakin'-one scenes. (That was sarcasm.) This book is not an epic, was never intended to be an epic, and it really needs to shrink just a tad.
But, the outline is progressing, and I'm glad I have a beginning that I (finally!) like and love and that hooks me into reading. It's a start.
In other news, guess what book came in for me at the local library?!?!!? (Need a Hint?)
You'll never guess. A Conspiracy of Kings, by Megan Whalen Turner. I cannot describe my ecstasy in words, but I shall attempt it in exclamation points.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The librarian heard me gasp when she called me to tell me the hold was in (I requested the book, so I get an automatic hold. I love my library.) I could hear her smile. And then, I couldn't stop smiling at the librarian who checked it out for me (who has to be, by the way, a princess in disguise working at a library ooooh! new book idea!). I got in the car and hugged it to my chest, and I almost took it into the grocery store with me. It's so beautiful.
There are few things in life that the newest book from [insert favorite author here] can't solve. Life is stressful, but Megan Whalen Turner always delivers. I can't wait to be surprised by the twist that I'll never see coming, and I can't wait to see Eugenides again. I CAN'T WAIT!!! It's sitting on my desk beside me as I type, it's beautiful, majestic cover of someone (Sophos? Eugenides? Someone New?) riding a horse. Riding a horse, urgently, looking behind him as if pursued. Is he fleeing? Bringing news? Who is he? Definitely noble, by his attire and his bold ring. (For the record, I want Megan Whalen Turner's cover designer to design my covers, too. Pretty please! Best covers ever.)There's an almost empty glass of ice-cold lemonade on my desk, too. I had intended to drink it while I started A Conspiracy of Kings, but I had to blog about getting ready to read it first (of course!) and thus my lemonade is almost gone. Texas is hot. Anyway, I told Mom that I wondered how long it would take me before I read it. "Because," I said, "I love to know that I still haven't read it yet and that it's still waiting for me to read." She understood.
But it's tempting me, calling me, like a lover, like an escape, like a fantasy world. I'm going to read it twice, I've already decided. If there aren't any blogs for a while, it's because I got one of my many wishes and somehow woke up in Attolia.
iTunes DJ
"Letting Go," by Matt Moore"Rsl 1984," by Newsboys
"Michelangelo," by Satellite Soul
"God and His Impostors," by The Silent
"No Fear," from The Swan Princess
"Evenstar," from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
"Light Up the World," by Desperation Band
"Rock of Ages," by David Crowder
"All I Do Is Think of You"
5/17/10
The Day of Good Intentions
Monday. The Day of Good Intentions.
I had an idea that if I could do writing work for 8 hours a day (or, better put, 40 hours a week), I would accomplish the goal. That would be full-time, that would be perseverance, and that would have to have a finished product to be proud of. How could it not?
It's a very good idea in theory. I'm certainly appreciating the scrutiny of my time. (I have a stopwatch and a piece of paper detailing my pursuits today. It's enlightening.) But what on earth are you supposed to do when you're staring at an outline of a book written twice over and wondering how you ever got from Point A to Point B?
I wrote this book once, consciously skipping a lot of backstory in the interest of getting to the end and completing the book. The second time I wrote it, I inserted the backstory, introduced the previously invisible characters, and generally put forth way too much information. Now I'm trying to outline the third draft and desperately seeking the balance between the two methods. I'm looking back at the first draft and wondering what it was that I didn't like (it's more innocent, more childish, more suited to the characters and the fantastical story), and then I'm looking at the second draft and wondering why I chose to be so...explanatory.
There's a balance in here, somewhere! (There has to be.)
I always thought I would take the best of the first and the best of the second, but, honestly, I changed the story a little bit between the two drafts. The best of the first doesn't match with the best of the second. So today is the day of reckoning in which I choose what really has to go, and what really must stay, and somehow mesh them all together to create a story that is as captivating and intriguing as what I first envisioned.
A good story should not be this hard. Or maybe it should be. Maybe that's the price you pay for a good story, and that's why there are so few.
I'm just so afraid I'm going to leave out something important, or leave in something ridiculous. And to go through all this with the thought that I simply must work on this for a professional, and not hobby-like, length of time if a writer is what I want to be -- it's torture. Every single plotline I ever wrote or imagined is spinning through my head and making a mess worse than a tangled knitting basket.
So I figured I would take a quick break and blog about it. Hopefully some of my creativity will return to me when I return to Microsoft Office Word 2007.
"Psalm 64B," by the Genevan Foundation for Cultural Renewal
"Declaration of Independence," from National Treasure
"The Living Stone," by David Williams
"Tradition," from Fiddler on the Roof
"Firefly," by Common Children
I had an idea that if I could do writing work for 8 hours a day (or, better put, 40 hours a week), I would accomplish the goal. That would be full-time, that would be perseverance, and that would have to have a finished product to be proud of. How could it not?
It's a very good idea in theory. I'm certainly appreciating the scrutiny of my time. (I have a stopwatch and a piece of paper detailing my pursuits today. It's enlightening.) But what on earth are you supposed to do when you're staring at an outline of a book written twice over and wondering how you ever got from Point A to Point B?
I wrote this book once, consciously skipping a lot of backstory in the interest of getting to the end and completing the book. The second time I wrote it, I inserted the backstory, introduced the previously invisible characters, and generally put forth way too much information. Now I'm trying to outline the third draft and desperately seeking the balance between the two methods. I'm looking back at the first draft and wondering what it was that I didn't like (it's more innocent, more childish, more suited to the characters and the fantastical story), and then I'm looking at the second draft and wondering why I chose to be so...explanatory.
There's a balance in here, somewhere! (There has to be.)
I always thought I would take the best of the first and the best of the second, but, honestly, I changed the story a little bit between the two drafts. The best of the first doesn't match with the best of the second. So today is the day of reckoning in which I choose what really has to go, and what really must stay, and somehow mesh them all together to create a story that is as captivating and intriguing as what I first envisioned.
A good story should not be this hard. Or maybe it should be. Maybe that's the price you pay for a good story, and that's why there are so few.
I'm just so afraid I'm going to leave out something important, or leave in something ridiculous. And to go through all this with the thought that I simply must work on this for a professional, and not hobby-like, length of time if a writer is what I want to be -- it's torture. Every single plotline I ever wrote or imagined is spinning through my head and making a mess worse than a tangled knitting basket.
So I figured I would take a quick break and blog about it. Hopefully some of my creativity will return to me when I return to Microsoft Office Word 2007.
iTunes DJ
"Raising the Cross," from The Passion of the Christ"Psalm 64B," by the Genevan Foundation for Cultural Renewal
"Declaration of Independence," from National Treasure
"The Living Stone," by David Williams
"Tradition," from Fiddler on the Roof
"Firefly," by Common Children
4/28/10
Concentration and the Lack Thereof
I can't concentrate.
It's really wrong how this happens. I get an open evening where I don't feel like I'm deserting the family by my writing endeavors, and I can't concentrate. Really, really wrong.
Part of it is because I've now had a headache for over twenty-four hours. It's unusual for me to suffer this long from a headache, and I wish I knew if it was simply allergies (which all Texans much suffer through, apparently), or something like staring at the computer too long. Or maybe it's dehydration; I'm very prone to dehydration. Or maybe I'm like all those people in the movies. They get headaches and then they go blind. I'm chronically nearsighted; maybe that has something to do with it. Maybe my rebellion about changing contacts every month has finally decided to punish me. I don't know. All I know is that I can't concentrate.
As soon as I get a semblance of order, I'm interrupted. The phone, my brother, my mother, my father, the dryer. (I didn't even mention how I can interrupt myself through Facebook, checking blogs, installing anti-virus software, uninstalling anti-virus software, and writing blog posts...) And then the rotation starts again, and again. If I can maintain more than twenty minutes of steady writing, that is an accomplishment.
On a more encouraging note, I finished an outline for Thin Ice today. Oh, wait, I seem to have typed that before. This is Thin Ice Outline #3. But it's my favorite. I have the character introductions listed beneath their chapter headings, which is nice. And my character list is finally in the same document, which is also nice. It's all quite lovely.
I think the reason I'm concentrating so hard on the outline is because I want to write the chapters out of order. I have scenes in my head, and they come and go, fading in and out of my consciousness, like waves on a beach. One day I'll be mulling over a scene between Lottie and Rau, the next, it will be Lottie and Van, or Rau and Van.
I just realized that I have scenes that take place with only Lottie, not Rau. This means that I'll have to change point of views during this book. That's possible, but I didn't want to have to do it. I don't want an artsy book, like East; I just want a book that might be able to trick the reader because of how much is not known about Lottie. I don't want the reader to know that she's lying through her teeth. (So is Rau, but that's another story...literally.) But I may have to jump around.
Oh well, if Megan Whalen Turner can do it fluidly, I can too!
I am very far from being Megan Whalen Turner.
I think my brain is in knots from all these different directions it's taking at every moment. Thin Ice, point of views, Megan Whalen Turner, the Holy Spirit (oh, that's another blog post - another three blog posts), my family, Chrissie Patterson, my HEADACHE!!!!!
Oh, my head...
This is actually a very epic statement, you know. The hero, after some great espionage escapade, took the corner too suddenly, only to find his enemy's henchman waiting for him with a two-by-four. He saw stars, and then everything went black. Then, "Oh, my head," he groaned, wincing as he sat up. "Where am I?" His surroundings were four, bare concrete walls, decorated only by a sparse light bulb on the ceiling. The light hurt his eyes. As he sat up, he found that he could not move his arms. His hands were tied. His head throbbed. The door - he had only just noticed that there was a door - opened, and he tried to look alert...
Oh, my head...
I'm chronically nearsighted. I'm dehydrated. I have never been susceptible to allergies, but there is a first time for everything, I suppose.
I'm the antithesis of heroic and epic.
Yet I have Advil. You notice that no one ever offers that sorry protagonist any Advil. Yet I have some in the kitchen cabinet. And as soon as I post this ridiculous, meandering, random blog, I'm going to go ruin my liver and swallow some Advil. Peace. Relaxation. No villains storming through the doors with questions that I won't answer, like, "What are you doing here?" and "Who sent you?" and "Who's with you?"
No one, sir. I came alone.
The biggest lie in any spy book, by the way. There's always someone outside in hiding, waiting...waiting...waiting...
I'm going to go take an Advil now and spare you the insanity of my aching mind.
It's really wrong how this happens. I get an open evening where I don't feel like I'm deserting the family by my writing endeavors, and I can't concentrate. Really, really wrong.
Part of it is because I've now had a headache for over twenty-four hours. It's unusual for me to suffer this long from a headache, and I wish I knew if it was simply allergies (which all Texans much suffer through, apparently), or something like staring at the computer too long. Or maybe it's dehydration; I'm very prone to dehydration. Or maybe I'm like all those people in the movies. They get headaches and then they go blind. I'm chronically nearsighted; maybe that has something to do with it. Maybe my rebellion about changing contacts every month has finally decided to punish me. I don't know. All I know is that I can't concentrate.
As soon as I get a semblance of order, I'm interrupted. The phone, my brother, my mother, my father, the dryer. (I didn't even mention how I can interrupt myself through Facebook, checking blogs, installing anti-virus software, uninstalling anti-virus software, and writing blog posts...) And then the rotation starts again, and again. If I can maintain more than twenty minutes of steady writing, that is an accomplishment.
On a more encouraging note, I finished an outline for Thin Ice today. Oh, wait, I seem to have typed that before. This is Thin Ice Outline #3. But it's my favorite. I have the character introductions listed beneath their chapter headings, which is nice. And my character list is finally in the same document, which is also nice. It's all quite lovely.
I think the reason I'm concentrating so hard on the outline is because I want to write the chapters out of order. I have scenes in my head, and they come and go, fading in and out of my consciousness, like waves on a beach. One day I'll be mulling over a scene between Lottie and Rau, the next, it will be Lottie and Van, or Rau and Van.
I just realized that I have scenes that take place with only Lottie, not Rau. This means that I'll have to change point of views during this book. That's possible, but I didn't want to have to do it. I don't want an artsy book, like East; I just want a book that might be able to trick the reader because of how much is not known about Lottie. I don't want the reader to know that she's lying through her teeth. (So is Rau, but that's another story...literally.) But I may have to jump around.
Oh well, if Megan Whalen Turner can do it fluidly, I can too!
I am very far from being Megan Whalen Turner.
I think my brain is in knots from all these different directions it's taking at every moment. Thin Ice, point of views, Megan Whalen Turner, the Holy Spirit (oh, that's another blog post - another three blog posts), my family, Chrissie Patterson, my HEADACHE!!!!!
Oh, my head...
This is actually a very epic statement, you know. The hero, after some great espionage escapade, took the corner too suddenly, only to find his enemy's henchman waiting for him with a two-by-four. He saw stars, and then everything went black. Then, "Oh, my head," he groaned, wincing as he sat up. "Where am I?" His surroundings were four, bare concrete walls, decorated only by a sparse light bulb on the ceiling. The light hurt his eyes. As he sat up, he found that he could not move his arms. His hands were tied. His head throbbed. The door - he had only just noticed that there was a door - opened, and he tried to look alert...
Oh, my head...
I'm chronically nearsighted. I'm dehydrated. I have never been susceptible to allergies, but there is a first time for everything, I suppose.
I'm the antithesis of heroic and epic.
Yet I have Advil. You notice that no one ever offers that sorry protagonist any Advil. Yet I have some in the kitchen cabinet. And as soon as I post this ridiculous, meandering, random blog, I'm going to go ruin my liver and swallow some Advil. Peace. Relaxation. No villains storming through the doors with questions that I won't answer, like, "What are you doing here?" and "Who sent you?" and "Who's with you?"
No one, sir. I came alone.
The biggest lie in any spy book, by the way. There's always someone outside in hiding, waiting...waiting...waiting...
I'm going to go take an Advil now and spare you the insanity of my aching mind.
4/20/10
Legitimately Writing
I spent an inordinate amount of time with The Once and Future King today, because my computer, on which I was legitimately writing, was suddenly commandeered for use in YouTube instructional videos depicting the steps needed to dismantle one's nerf guns. Yes, there are such videos.
Legitimately writing? Well, yes. I know I haven't done that in a while, but today I finally settled down and did it. After that first chapter of Thin Ice, I'd been rather in a pickle. I didn't want to go any further until I had an idea of how the book was going to pan out. An outline, by some definitions. And you know how much I love outlines; I procrastinated, but even procrastinating has its good points. I've spent these days working out kinks in Thin Ice, in my head. My head is very good at working out kinks.
My first priority was to make sure it didn't go too long. Ivolet is too long; I'm going to have to address it when I return (oh. joy.), and I didn't want to have to remedy the same mistake twice if I didn't have to. Since the first chapter was about 3000 words, I decided to go on a journey to discover the proper word length of chapters, divide 80,000 (the average number of words in a YA book) by that number, and discover the number of chapters in my book. I planned to then plan my outline accordingly.
There is no proper word length of chapters. There are guesses at the "page length" (book pages or manuscript pages? they have yet to tell me) of chapters. Fifteen "pages" seems to be a right number for that. But I don't work with pages because they are way too subjective (and they're hard to transfer from WordPerfect, Word 2003, and Word 2007, whatever the case may be). So I was stuck. Eventually I found some information that led me to think that 3000 was as good an estimate as the next person's, so I went with that.
The end result? Twenty-six, 3000-word chapters. Not bad. (Yes, I know my math is rounded something wacky.)
Once I settled upon the number of my chapters, I began to make a numbered list of the scenes I had in my head. There were some that didn't quite have a place in the chronology, I just knew that they happened. When I'd put down everything I could think of (and it ended quite nicely at twenty-six), I began to arrange them in order. First, I organized the ones that had to be in specific order. I then put what was left in slots where they were most needed to give plot and motive. In the end, I combined a couple, which put me at twenty-four chapters.
I designed the outline with twenty-six in mind and have twenty-four chapters marked out. I left the two extra, because we all know how well I stick to outlines and the things I'll add. I have a feeling one or two of the chapters could go long, and we wouldn't want to leave some padding. But they're marked out! This is cause to rejoice!
With Ivolet, it took me days, maybe even weeks, to make the outline I ended up working with. I made this one in one day. Very happy about this.
Legitimately writing? Well, yes. I know I haven't done that in a while, but today I finally settled down and did it. After that first chapter of Thin Ice, I'd been rather in a pickle. I didn't want to go any further until I had an idea of how the book was going to pan out. An outline, by some definitions. And you know how much I love outlines; I procrastinated, but even procrastinating has its good points. I've spent these days working out kinks in Thin Ice, in my head. My head is very good at working out kinks.
My first priority was to make sure it didn't go too long. Ivolet is too long; I'm going to have to address it when I return (oh. joy.), and I didn't want to have to remedy the same mistake twice if I didn't have to. Since the first chapter was about 3000 words, I decided to go on a journey to discover the proper word length of chapters, divide 80,000 (the average number of words in a YA book) by that number, and discover the number of chapters in my book. I planned to then plan my outline accordingly.
There is no proper word length of chapters. There are guesses at the "page length" (book pages or manuscript pages? they have yet to tell me) of chapters. Fifteen "pages" seems to be a right number for that. But I don't work with pages because they are way too subjective (and they're hard to transfer from WordPerfect, Word 2003, and Word 2007, whatever the case may be). So I was stuck. Eventually I found some information that led me to think that 3000 was as good an estimate as the next person's, so I went with that.
The end result? Twenty-six, 3000-word chapters. Not bad. (Yes, I know my math is rounded something wacky.)
Once I settled upon the number of my chapters, I began to make a numbered list of the scenes I had in my head. There were some that didn't quite have a place in the chronology, I just knew that they happened. When I'd put down everything I could think of (and it ended quite nicely at twenty-six), I began to arrange them in order. First, I organized the ones that had to be in specific order. I then put what was left in slots where they were most needed to give plot and motive. In the end, I combined a couple, which put me at twenty-four chapters.
I designed the outline with twenty-six in mind and have twenty-four chapters marked out. I left the two extra, because we all know how well I stick to outlines and the things I'll add. I have a feeling one or two of the chapters could go long, and we wouldn't want to leave some padding. But they're marked out! This is cause to rejoice!
With Ivolet, it took me days, maybe even weeks, to make the outline I ended up working with. I made this one in one day. Very happy about this.
3/22/10
To Love an Ending
I wrote an outline for my ending. Be proud. Uh-huh, yeah, yeah, be proud. (Okay, I know my gangsta is lacking. That's my brother's department.) But anyway, I did outline the "ending."
What ending is more than a freakin' page long?! I was expecting a few sentences, and it's more than a page! A whole 'nother freakin' page!
This is knowing that my entire book was 6.3 pages of outline. Now it's about 6.5. Well, looking at it that way, it's not so bad. I have a page left instead of of 0.6. But it shall be better for it.
I hate endings. I don't finish books because I hate endings. With a passion. I have to decide to love them. It's the only way to succeed in this. I have to learn to love endings. Love writing them. I have to look forward to the end of the book so that I can write the ending.
Ending! Yay!
*groan*
What ending is more than a freakin' page long?! I was expecting a few sentences, and it's more than a page! A whole 'nother freakin' page!
This is knowing that my entire book was 6.3 pages of outline. Now it's about 6.5. Well, looking at it that way, it's not so bad. I have a page left instead of of 0.6. But it shall be better for it.
I hate endings. I don't finish books because I hate endings. With a passion. I have to decide to love them. It's the only way to succeed in this. I have to learn to love endings. Love writing them. I have to look forward to the end of the book so that I can write the ending.
Ending! Yay!
*groan*
3/18/10
A Phobia of Deadlines
A few weeks ago, I went through my outline and discovered that I would mathematically be finished on March 19, 2010. This was a combination of word counts, outline page numbers, and various other x's and y's.
Then I made the grand mistake of telling someone. There's this thing called accountability, and, while it may be beneficial, is not gentle. It's not something I necessarily asked for.
I have just over 32 hours before I'm supposed to be finished. And I'm only on the bottom of page 5/7 of my outline. Big, long sigh.
Did I mention I have writer's block? Yeah, got it bad. To remedy this, I decided to go back to certain aspects of my first draft. And after rewriting them into this second draft, I realized that they don't follow the outline. (My lovely outline says, "Ivolet gives Daniel and earful." An earful about what? Who wrote this outline anyway?) So I have gone and added more pages to the deleted scenes file and have to readdress this.
Ivolet's phobia of having her hands tied is actually helping me a good deal. It's new, and it's given her a weakness. That's a good thing.
It's bothersome. I'm having a lot of trouble finding their personalities. I invented these characters! What's happening to me? I guess I have to write like a writer now, instead of an actress.
Now, to stop procrastinating...
Then I made the grand mistake of telling someone. There's this thing called accountability, and, while it may be beneficial, is not gentle. It's not something I necessarily asked for.
I have just over 32 hours before I'm supposed to be finished. And I'm only on the bottom of page 5/7 of my outline. Big, long sigh.
Did I mention I have writer's block? Yeah, got it bad. To remedy this, I decided to go back to certain aspects of my first draft. And after rewriting them into this second draft, I realized that they don't follow the outline. (My lovely outline says, "Ivolet gives Daniel and earful." An earful about what? Who wrote this outline anyway?) So I have gone and added more pages to the deleted scenes file and have to readdress this.
Ivolet's phobia of having her hands tied is actually helping me a good deal. It's new, and it's given her a weakness. That's a good thing.
"Merinthophobia - fear of being bound or tied up." - The Phobia ListThe internet is good for something. Ivolet has merinthophobia. This is quite interesting, and it gives her a reason to be really angry at Daniel as they set out for Portsmouth. The industrious Arwan is going to tie her up, and she'll be that way for two or three days. Oh, yes, that will give her something to give Daniel and earful about.
It's bothersome. I'm having a lot of trouble finding their personalities. I invented these characters! What's happening to me? I guess I have to write like a writer now, instead of an actress.
Now, to stop procrastinating...
3/1/10
Ditching the Outline
I didn't really ditch the outline. I just added something. An entire 2000+ words of something. I went ahead and wrote that piece of Daniel's captivity that I was talking about yesterday or the day before (whenever it was). I'm still not sure I like it. Once I go off course, it's SO easy to just go meandering along in meadows and streams and just stopping to smell the roses. I wrote my outline for a reason! Stick to the outline, stick to the outline, stick to the outline!
Oh, I know better than the outline. I can go away and just come back.
Yeah right, you know better than the outline. Ha! You've got to stick to the outline or you will find yourself in serious trouble. Like you're in now...trying to write a silent conversation between Daniel and Quin. Whose idea was that, anyway? That was really stupid. It's so hard to write a conversation without...um...dialogue.
I've written over 2000 words today. I'm going to see if I can't fit in some new-story fun in before supper. Not saying what it's about!
Bother - it's time to eat. So much for ice skating fan fiction! Oh - I miss the Olympics!
Oh, I know better than the outline. I can go away and just come back.
Yeah right, you know better than the outline. Ha! You've got to stick to the outline or you will find yourself in serious trouble. Like you're in now...trying to write a silent conversation between Daniel and Quin. Whose idea was that, anyway? That was really stupid. It's so hard to write a conversation without...um...dialogue.
I've written over 2000 words today. I'm going to see if I can't fit in some new-story fun in before supper. Not saying what it's about!
Bother - it's time to eat. So much for ice skating fan fiction! Oh - I miss the Olympics!
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