Armed with comments from 3 beta readers and my lovely CP
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idaho_laurie plus the normal route I walk.Tomorrow and the day after, I will read through each reader's comments,
making notes, and adding notes to the revision sheets I am already starting
out with, ie.
BSD Revisions (surfing) Things to watch in descriptions: flow/fluid/grace/style
These aren't WORDS to use or that I might have overused (that comes way later in
the process) these are keywords to remind me of the comments I need to incorporate
into the surf scenes.
I'll read through for Voice, seamlessness, pacing (Ari's incline etc.)
Ask, is there conflict on every page? Are the 5/6 senses present on each page?
Can any visual details be added or expanded?
And remind myself that except in summary:NO TELLING! SHOW!
And I'll make the necessary changes.
- Location:On my way to bed
- Mood:content
- Music:Silence
What have you learned from each of the novels and/or plays, screeplays, picture books, chapter books, whatever, YOU'VE written (and rewritten... wash, rinse, repeat) Consider sharing their status now, and perhaps even a song from the project's playlist if you have one :)
I'll go first!
TITLE (I love titles!) GENRE STATUS SONG
BLIND JUSTICE Detective Drawered HEART: Alone
What I learned: That I CAN finish a novel. That story and characters are the heart of a novel and words are the rhythm and beat of that heart.
21 Jump Street TV teleplay Forever Filed Theme/music
What I learned: That action and dialogue are what propel the story forward. The rest is window-dressing, necessary for a more impactful appearance.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE OLD NORTH BRIDGE Young YA Drawered(for now) BANGLES: Eternal Flame
What I learned: That ya is my total and absolute passion.
BETWEEN THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT Edgy Upper YA Needs Rewrite SARAH MCLACHLAN: Angel
What I learned: Be brave. Stay true to the story that must be told or you'll never hit the right note. Also a great deal about showing not telling.
A bunch of pbs and mag stories. I'll pick one.
BODIE'S WISH PB Drawered ???
What I learned: Make every word count. Love language and use it intentionally.
OVERCOME YA Needs Finishing LIVE: Overcome
What I learned: A HUGE part of my process is to stay mum about the story until it has come to a certain fruition. Too much talk about a project before it has finished germinating bleeds off creativity.
THE CALENDAR OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD Older MG Needs Finishing OFRA HAZA: Fatamorgana
What I learned: The absolute importance of research, and how critical visual props are to my process. And I love to experiment with different formats.
LIFE'S TOO SHORT YA On Submission MADONNA: Get Into the Groove
Okay. Well, I learned to transition :) Seriously, I was the queen of cuts from my previous experience with screenwriting, and well, it took some unlearning, let me tell ya! I also was able to better apply the 3 Act Structure, learn to distill from critiques, comments and revision requests to come to my own conclusions. Trust my instincts.
THE BROWN SHOE DIARIES YA Finishing CHASEN: Crazy Beautiful
In a way it's cheating to include this because I'm not quite done yet. But. I'm learning to listen when my gut tells me a project is ready and to prioritize it. And, above all, to respect my process.
- Location:Heading away from the desk for a break
- Mood:contemplative
- Music:Paul Wright: Resurrection
I'm finding weekly goals not well-suited to my process, so I'm gonna do daily goals and check-ins instead, as possible.
I decided to try a variation of Walter Dean Myers schedule, because I enjoy multi-tasking and do it fairly well.
September 17, 2007
A bit of research for So Fresh and The Brown Shoe Diaries
Incorporate last draft of BDL with current and remove all lingering scenes that will not be in the final version of the novel.
Write 1400 words on Brown Shoe Diaries.
Continue reading Tips on Having a Gay (Ex)Boyfriend, which I am LOVING!!!
Read Da Peeps pages, request remainder.
Bills etc.
Stretching and short walk. Look ahead to when back is healed and I can actually get on work out schedule.
Start reading one of Madeleine L'Engle's books to the kids... which one? which one?
Comment on LJ's, keep on top of emails etc.
Laundry. Other chores. God time. (not in that order)
Do something in the studio that makes me feel good. One small thing. I'm feeling like an art loser right now.
Spend 30 minutes doing something completely frivolous and relaxing.
- Location:BIC
- Mood:contemplative
- Music:lawnmowers
Mom and wife'ing it.
Made some sloooow progress toward the end of Ch 2.
- Location:Off to Bed
- Mood:tired
- Music:Night-house sounds
Not much work done at all. Too much life :D
Some of it was lovely:
a visit to a friend's house
the farm animals and enduro race at the fair
I did a great amount of revising in my head. Hopefully that counts for something, hopefully the momentum I'd thought I'd gained before life got crazy isn't lost.
We'll see how today ends up.
- Location:all over the house doing misc chores
- Mood:creative
- Music:The Afters: The Way You Are
Some days are like that.
I did finish the coyote sketch (it's a very young coyote) lol. Which I'll post to the art journal later. Got some designs prepped for carving and tested a glaze for the background of Coyotes at Midnight. Not sure quite what I think about it. We'll see.
Did the usual Mom/Wife stuff: laundry, dinner, schlepping kids, discipline, maintenance, homework handholding, loving, worrying, praying, head-banging... ya'll know what I mean :)
Today, the house is empty but for myself and the dogs and cats. I have high hopes for the revision fairy and I today.
Hope everyone else's day is dandy!!
- Location:Moving between the desk and the studio
- Mood:energetic
- Music:Outside noises drifting in the window
Please send your good thoughts and prayers toward a lovely, garden-esque, 4-bedroom house for us! And hey, if you know anyone who has one available in Chico, Paradise, and environs, let me know. Miracles happen.
Stress-relievers: Repeated playing of TobyMac's new song I'm For You. Love it! Love it! Love it! And my crits girls aka Da Peeps are planning a mini-retreat this summer. I'm SO excited!! Diana and I have gotten together a couple of times, but I've not yet met my girl
idaho_laurie. Can't wait!In writing-related news, the revision of LTS goes on. And goes well. And deliciously enough, the top 3 emails sitting in my Inbox right now are from agents on my top-tier requesting fulls. GOOD TIMES!
- Location:Desk but heading toward the living room
- Mood:Upbeat
- Music:TobyMac: I'm For You
