Write Stuff

2011-12-17T10:20:00.005-05:00

Since I decided on a deadline to finish Caroline, I feel like I'm getting too complacent and it seems like my writing is getting lazy :( Therefore, I think it's in my (and the character's) best interest if I take the rest of December off. Now, this doesn't mean that I will stop writing OR change my deadline. I just won't be working on Caroline until January 17th (at least).

In the meantime, poor Touch needs some TLC and maybe I'll even be able to finish it (at least the first draft)! After working on it for I don't even remember how many years, it will be nice to see something completed.

I'm actually excited to get back into it...that story feels tighter than Caroline. Maybe because it's about older people.

Deadline

2011-12-05T09:04:00.003-05:00

I decided to set a deadline to finish the second edit of Caroline. I hope to be done by April 30th of 2012. I still have a lot of work to do. I'm almost finished with chapter 19 and the original story had 33 chapters (including a prologue and epilogue).

I'm actually quite excited about the prospect. Not so much about finishing (though that is plenty exciting in itself), but in having a deadline. That usually pushes me to do what I need to. Off we go!

2011-11-27T14:40:00.003-05:00

I am lost. I'm not sure of another way to put it. I can't seem to get back the passion I once had for Caroline. Maybe it's just been too long. Maybe I need to work on another story. Maybe I should chuck it all and start my own think tank (props to anyone who knows what movie that's from -- hint: it leads to a spirited game of hockey). What I do know is that I can't stop writing.

I wonder if God wants me to stop. Maybe I should ask Him.

2011-09-17T14:46:00.003-04:00

I seem to have lost my motivation lately. Now, this could be for a number of reasons (however many I come up with), but I think the main one is PAIN...I'm having surgery in 3 days..YIKES...and though this is not my personal blog, my writing life and my life life often bleed together, so I have to accept the effect this surgery is having on EVERYTHING. Anyway, I've had to stay away from my trusty Aleve since Thursday, and I am hurting...

Another reason, which I only fully embraced a few days ago, is that I am lost. Yes, Caroline is written out to the end, but the one plot change I made has snowballed throughout the whole book and I can't see the end. Stupid avalanche! It's hard for me to stay focused on the present without having a plan for the outcome. Paging Dr. Freud. I'm not willing to accept it, but this ALSO bleeds into my 'other' life.

I have taken a hiatus from the critiquing group...reason 3 in this twisted saga is that I think my writing is juvenile and worthless. This happens every few months, so I'm not too worried. It will pass. But a major cause of this is reading other people's stories. I needed a break and I'm not giving myself a time limit...

Apparently the number of the day is 3.

I've been listening to the soundtrack I created for Caroline, hoping that will push me back into the trenches. But unfortunately, Sick Puppies (as much as I love them) can't ease the pressure on my sciatic nerve.

I'm trying to take it easy on myself, but it's not as simple as it sounds. I'm in pain, I should give myself a break...right? But the pain has been around for years...it's getting old. Not to mention that it's lost the 'excuse' status. I don't have a job, so writing has become that for me and I've let myself down because I don't feel like doing it. I should be done with this already. How hard is writing a book really?

Very hard, many would say. I think the harder part is NOT writing. I'm constantly thinking about my stories...scenes, dialogue, plots...or the characters. Many songs I like are only because they fit the story or what story I could tell based on the lyrics. That was actually the beginning of Caroline...a song called...yup, you guessed it...Caroline.

2011-08-30T14:07:00.002-04:00

So...I've been contemplating a MAJOR plot change for Caroline. Whether I'm actually going to do it is the question. It will turn the story away from the 'happy ending' it currently has now. But I don't know...it doesn't seem to have a point in the larger scheme of moving the story along. Or a point period.

When I get to that point in the story, I doubt I'll follow through with the threat. It's a mean thing to do. I've only told two people and neither thinks it's a good idea.

I'm plugging along with the book, though. I'm almost done with chapter 17. Yay!!

back again

2011-08-11T14:37:00.002-04:00

I'm not even going to get into the cliched 'oh, it's been so long' crap; oh, wait! I kinda just did, didn't I? Ah, whatever...

The truth of the matter is that my motivation/desire to write has taken a nosedive since my computer died (the first time--yeah, it died again). But the period of mourning has gone on long enough.

I recently joined a e-mail critiquing group and have posted the prologue and 1st chapter of Caroline. The response wasn't quite as good as I expected, but I believe that is a good thing. It just means I have some work to do. Also, the 'audience' there doesn't seem to be Christian, so they may not understand/accept my story. I don't want to underestimate the ladies there, but I believe mine is the only religious work. I have developed a friendship (of sorts) with one lady who has told me she's a Christian; so there's potential.

I'm excited about the prospect of finishing Caroline again. I have changed the plot and am hoping to make the characters stronger and more convincing. One person in the group told me that she doesn't connect with the main character. Hmmm. I was a little distressed to hear that, but I am that much more determined to make her more likeable and relate-able. How to do that, I haven't a clue...yet. I like her :)

I'm at chapter 17 right now.

commitments

2011-01-21T12:48:00.005-05:00

I'm starting to think that this isn't going to be a very successful commitment for me...maybe instead of a chapter a week, I should go for a certain word count...it's really hard to commit to writing a chapter when I don't know when/if I'll feel inspired.

If that's true, than committing to a word count presents the same problem. I'm up to four paragraphs now (224 words) and I can't say that I like what I've written.

I'd like to be able to commit to editing what I've written so far (both in Touch and Caroline), but that's tricky as well since I'm working with another person whose schedule I can't control.

I suppose I could make a commitment to finish typing Caroline...or maybe I'm just taking this commitment thing too far...

Touch

2011-01-14T13:15:00.004-05:00

Ha! I just read over my old posts (not deleting them this time, promise) and I noticed that a goal of mine was to finish Touch by the end of last year. Well, that didn't happen!

Well, I created a new commitment on stickk.com to finish the book by the first week in April. The 4th, to be exact. 1 new chapter a week...report due on Mondays. My first report is due in three days (the 17th) and I have 3 paragraphs written.

These are the times when I really miss the stuff I lost when my hard drive died. I had the whole rest of the book plotted out and even partially written. While I still remember where I wanted to go...I'm not sure how to get there anymore. Hopefully, I'll find my way soon...

...cradle and all...

2011-01-04T11:37:00.003-05:00

Shortly after I wrote my last blog, my hard drive went kaput. I lost all my files...my stories, pictures, music...everything. I won't lie...it was tough. But, it just might have been the motivation I needed to forge ahead in my noveling quest. (Ha! I sound so dignified and snooty...I love it!) Now, instead of 15+ stories in need of direction, plot, and completion; I'm down to two: Caroline and Touch. Easier to focus when there's less to focus on.

Caroline is technically complete. Fortunately, I provided my editor with a hard copy, so all is not lost. Thank You Lord for that foresight...or hindsight...no, I was right the first time, foresight. After talking to my pastor, I've decided to make some (not too major) plot changes; and while most of my notes and ideas were lost, I did post the first 12 chapters (with revisions) online, so I can tell where I was going. Now comes the fun part of typing the remaining 19 chapters...yikes!

Touch is not done yet, but I'm on chapter 28. And (another yay to God), chs. 1-27 are online. I'm a little stuck, as I don't quite remember where I was heading next in the story (overall, I do); but at least I have enough of a foundation to build on.

I haven't quite decided yet if I want to do the sequel(s) to Caroline, but I think finishing the book takes priority at this point.

...hitting a wall...

2010-11-15T15:12:00.006-05:00

I hate when I get stuck. And what I hate even more is when no one helps me.

I guess I really can't get mad at anyone...and I'm not, but I am frustrated. And it's really holding me up...

So, I decided to do a self-edit of Caroline before I have someone else look at it. It's 32 chapters (including a prologue and epilogue) and right now I'm on ch 13. I've been on this chapter for a couple of weeks now. I've tried to move on to later chapters and even the other books in the series, but this particular scene (that isn't very important; well it is, but I can write around it) is blocking me. I feel like I can't move on until I get this right.

Maybe I just need to focus on something else until I can resolve this. Sometimes, the more I force something, the longer it takes to actually 'fix' it.

Another project that is close to my heart is Touch. I'm not exactly sure how long I've been working on this book, but I'm on ch 28. I'm aiming for 32-35 chapters total. I really wanted to finish it by the end of 2010, but now I'm not so sure if that will happen. :(

...in which I babble about nothing-ness...

2010-11-04T16:37:00.004-04:00

So, it seems that writing has come to this of late...I write a bunch of blogs...and delete them because they are irrelevant. I keep changing my mind. But I've heard women are supposed to do that...

Anyway, here is my attempt to start anew on this blog...

So here I have decided to talk about my writing...not that anyone else will read -- or care for that matter, but still, writing about writing makes me happy.

I have about 15 stories brewing at the moment, including a series that is 'my baby'. I've been writing about the Barringer family since I was in grad school (started in '99; got my degree in '01) They've twisted and expanded themselves into a family saga that's hit 5 books (well, in theory, anyway. Who knows if I'll actually complete all 5). I finished the first one, Caroline, in '08. I would really like to get it published and am sending out query letters, but I get discouraged by the rejection so easily. In the meantime, I've decided to go through and do some editing on my own (I know it'll need A LOT more work, but at least I can change some of the parts I don't like).

The second book, Barefoot in the Rain is technically done, but needs serious revision...and is kind of a big mess as I've done a little of that revision (I decided to change a side plot, and the story needs to be fixed to reflect that).

Books 3, 4, and 5 (Sibling Rivalry, Riptide, and Saving Grace respectively) all have at least one chapter written. I find it easier to jump around when I'm writing about one family...I've plotted the books out and have decided what I what to happen (mostly).

A lot of times, I can't seem to make up my mind on what I want to work on. Or maybe I can only work on one thing for a certain period of time. Don't we all get like that?

There are also days when I look at what I've written and am like 'this is absolute crap'. I'm convinced a three year old could do better and I want to give up writing completely. Fortunately, I haven't done that yet...just come REAL close.