Alrighty whippersnapper. (That's me talking to me.) Time to get that rear in gear.
So ... who never managed to do a ROW80 close-out post? Who? That's right; me. I don't even think I'll add it to the linky tool, because I doubt anyone goes back to it. However, I also don't want to start getting emails from my writer friends asking if I'm okay. I am fine. I'm just not sure how to close out this particular round ... Where am I again?
Here we go: I had a singular goal for Round 2 of ROW80, and that was revising my novel Queen Witch. I made great progress ... but I'm still not done. I have three scenes left to write, and the final third of the novel to edit on this round of revisions. I'm a tad disappointed in that, but I also need a break. And that's what I'm doing now. I'm on a nice little break. :)
What have I been up to? it's obviously not writing, reading, blogging. Not folding laundry or cleaning or cooking (although I think I'll whip up some bbq pork and cookies later ... maybe I'll get back to this, but I'm home alone tonight with my youngest -- the first time we've ever been totally alone overnight. She's napping now, so I'm typing fast since I've been meaning to do this post since Wednesday. lol. Aren't long parenthetical statements terrible?).
My friend's wedding is in two weeks! Eek! We've been going nuts with parties. I have many, many stories and can not type fast enough. I'm skipping updating you on the bridal shower, 'cause that was pretty tame.
Last Saturday night was the bachelorette party. My husband gave me very helpful tips on packing for Who Knows What. (Like I never did all-nighters before I had kids? Sheesh.) I packed a lot. And that was good. We started out at one of the bridesmaid's houses -- a very cute 1940s, very Southeast Portland place. She throws a mean party, and her husband is one hell of a bartender. Fun was had, including many snacks in penis shapes, and t-shirts made by another bridesmaid. Mine was purple. Rock on! And on the back it read "Maid of Dishonor." I. Loved. It. We went out in downtown Portland, to Kells, which is a great bar, and then to a tiny dive called Tube. That is where I left my credit card (bad news, not so smart, comes with it's own stories but this post is too long). The bridesmaid who hosted was ready for bed, but several of us partied on, and ended up crashing at the bride's house. Her hubby-to-be made us a bed in the living room, which we could see him doing from the pizza joint across the street, even though it was after two a.m. Because that friend, too, lives in a very cool, very Southeast Portland location. When I woke up in the morning, the terror began. I'd meant to sleep at the other house so I'd have my car. I stewed for a bit. No one else was up. I texted my hubby. I slept a little longer. I woke up and stewed some more ... and then eureka! The light-bulb went on. I was only 0.9 miles from my car. So I hoofed it there and made it home. End of story.
And that's all I have time for because the kiddo is waking up. Hope everyone has a happy Saturday! I'm going to do the Mom thing. :)
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Crazy Weekend Ahead
I took the afternoon off of work because I have far too much life stuff to do at the moment. A very dear friend is getting married in four weeks, so the next two weekends are full of festivities to celebrate her single life, and that which lies beyond -- marriage. :)
I think our family's next free weekend is in mid-July. We have family scattered throughout the state that I want to see this summer/fall, so I know more weekends will be booked before long. That's the way the summers go. Add in extra outdoor chores and kids who want to be at the park every second...you get my drift. I know you do.
In the midst of the busy season, I'm craving time with my manuscript so I can do this revision justice and get this baby closer to publication. When I have the time the writing is flowing well. I hope other people like this book -- a part of me is sure no one else will get it. But I can't think about that now. What I need to think about is when to fit in writing.
Before I had kids, I used to write in the early morning hours, before work. That way I did my thing first, and felt good about it all day long. Back then it was a good writing time for me, because my internal editor was still waking up. But I've learned to ignore her when writing a first draft. That doesn't threaten the existence of mankind, or anything, like I seemed to think back then. I've learned not to take myself so seriously, and I credit that with part of my success in word count over the past few years. Maybe a little of that is age, too? I was more concerned with people taking me seriously in my twenties.
Back to writing time. Evenings aren't awesome, because my brain is tired. I get my best word count (quality and quantity) in the morning, and it seems like the earlier the better...which I guess means it's time to start getting up earlier. I do get more sleep these days, now that my youngest girl is one and a half. The way it's gone so far is that if I get up, the kids get up. (Okay, enough ranting J.R. -- didn't you say you had a busy weekend? Shouldn't you be doing something productive?) Sigh. Yes I should. And off to it I go!
I think our family's next free weekend is in mid-July. We have family scattered throughout the state that I want to see this summer/fall, so I know more weekends will be booked before long. That's the way the summers go. Add in extra outdoor chores and kids who want to be at the park every second...you get my drift. I know you do.
In the midst of the busy season, I'm craving time with my manuscript so I can do this revision justice and get this baby closer to publication. When I have the time the writing is flowing well. I hope other people like this book -- a part of me is sure no one else will get it. But I can't think about that now. What I need to think about is when to fit in writing.
Before I had kids, I used to write in the early morning hours, before work. That way I did my thing first, and felt good about it all day long. Back then it was a good writing time for me, because my internal editor was still waking up. But I've learned to ignore her when writing a first draft. That doesn't threaten the existence of mankind, or anything, like I seemed to think back then. I've learned not to take myself so seriously, and I credit that with part of my success in word count over the past few years. Maybe a little of that is age, too? I was more concerned with people taking me seriously in my twenties.
Back to writing time. Evenings aren't awesome, because my brain is tired. I get my best word count (quality and quantity) in the morning, and it seems like the earlier the better...which I guess means it's time to start getting up earlier. I do get more sleep these days, now that my youngest girl is one and a half. The way it's gone so far is that if I get up, the kids get up. (Okay, enough ranting J.R. -- didn't you say you had a busy weekend? Shouldn't you be doing something productive?) Sigh. Yes I should. And off to it I go!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Mid-Week Update: Queen Witch Coming Together
It turns out I'm quite satisfied with the way this draft is progressing. Fear is such a pesky beast. I'm happy to say I've been looking mine straight in the face and continuing on my chosen course anyway. So there, beasty fear. (Note: I'm talking about the fear of complete and utter failure, not being any good despite giving my all to my writing, etc. You writers out there know where I'm coming from. It can be distracting, if you let it.)
Since my update on Sunday, I've tackled two out of twelve scenes that still needed revisions/additions, and added more than 1,700 words to my manuscript. I'm past the 40 percent mark, and zeroing in on the mid-point of the action. Exciting!!
From here, my goal is to finish this revision, so that only the copy-edit and final polishing remains at the end of the round. That's ten more scenes that need serious work, and more than 50 percent of the pages that need an edit...Go team! (Team being, uh, me...a team of one. :))
Two weeks left, ROWers! Time to drive those oars deep and give it your all!
Since my update on Sunday, I've tackled two out of twelve scenes that still needed revisions/additions, and added more than 1,700 words to my manuscript. I'm past the 40 percent mark, and zeroing in on the mid-point of the action. Exciting!!
From here, my goal is to finish this revision, so that only the copy-edit and final polishing remains at the end of the round. That's ten more scenes that need serious work, and more than 50 percent of the pages that need an edit...Go team! (Team being, uh, me...a team of one. :))
Two weeks left, ROWers! Time to drive those oars deep and give it your all!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Beauty of Sanctuary (Snow White and the Huntsman)
If you haven't seen Snow White and the Huntsman yet, and you're into fantasy, put down whatever device you're reading this on, and scoot on out right now to find a showing. I saw it over the weekend, and I'm still thinking about it.
This movie is full of wonder. The portrayals of the Dark Forest, and later its antithesis Sanctuary, are stunning. In general, the effects make me glad to live in this day and age, when fantasies really can be brought to life for viewers. It also gives me great appreciation for the visual arts, movies in particular, and all of the work that goes in to developing the details that make a movie like this really sing.
In case I haven't sold you, check out this preview...
This movie is full of wonder. The portrayals of the Dark Forest, and later its antithesis Sanctuary, are stunning. In general, the effects make me glad to live in this day and age, when fantasies really can be brought to life for viewers. It also gives me great appreciation for the visual arts, movies in particular, and all of the work that goes in to developing the details that make a movie like this really sing.
In case I haven't sold you, check out this preview...
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sunday Update: The Editing Life
Hi again, fellow writers and readers. This will be a short update, as we have a busy day full of family events.
Editing is a funny game. Let's be real. How much do I have to say? Not much. :)
A few weeks ago I pulled a whole section out of the novel I'm editing. Close to 10,000 words. But of course I didn't delete them -- I moved them into a "scrap" document, just in case I changed my mind. Lucky for me, because change my mind I did! While the novel's timeline has changed, I found I needed a lot of what I'd cut, just in a different form. That process resulted in bringing back a little more than 5,000 words of what I'd cut. Other than that, I've added about 2,000 words. But I also cut some stuff and tightened things up later in the document, so my manuscript is only 800 words longer.
There are twelve more scenes that need revision or additions (My husband said, "You counted them?" *sheepish grin* Yes. I counted them.) Other than that, it's all editing. I feel confident I'll have this draft complete by the end of the round. Then back to the shelf with it while I return to the Children of the Sidhe novellas. I will publish Queen Witch by the end of the year, but I'm not rushing it.
Anyone else noticed it's now June? What happened?
Editing is a funny game. Let's be real. How much do I have to say? Not much. :)
A few weeks ago I pulled a whole section out of the novel I'm editing. Close to 10,000 words. But of course I didn't delete them -- I moved them into a "scrap" document, just in case I changed my mind. Lucky for me, because change my mind I did! While the novel's timeline has changed, I found I needed a lot of what I'd cut, just in a different form. That process resulted in bringing back a little more than 5,000 words of what I'd cut. Other than that, I've added about 2,000 words. But I also cut some stuff and tightened things up later in the document, so my manuscript is only 800 words longer.
There are twelve more scenes that need revision or additions (My husband said, "You counted them?" *sheepish grin* Yes. I counted them.) Other than that, it's all editing. I feel confident I'll have this draft complete by the end of the round. Then back to the shelf with it while I return to the Children of the Sidhe novellas. I will publish Queen Witch by the end of the year, but I'm not rushing it.
Anyone else noticed it's now June? What happened?
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