I've been sick for the past few days, so I got very little writing done. I did do a bit of editing on Friday, and then a bit more on Saturday, but that was it for the extended weekend. I still have the creeping crud, so I'm not looking forward to work tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get some good writing done tomorrow night. It's difficult to write when you can't go a minute without coughing!
Good night, everyone! Sleep well!
Editing my Novel: Day 4
Well, just as I predicted, tonight was nothing like yesterday. Tonight I could do no wrong. My fingers flew over the keyboard and every sentence I wrote sounded perfect. I felt like the computer screen was a big piece of stone and I was Michelangelo chiseling out the statue I saw waiting to be released from inside it. Really, if every day was like today, I think I could breeze through this whole editing thing in a matter of weeks.
But every day won't be like today. That's okay, though, as long as I have the occasional day like today to help me see past the bad writing days.
I'm still editing chapter 2, but that doesn't surprise me because I knew this chapter would be tough. When I wrote my first draft of this chapter, I was still trying to decide if I wanted to write the story in first or third person. So I switched back and forth between the two, trying to find the story's voice. Now that I know I'm going with third person, I'm having to clean up all of my earlier experimentation. I know that doesn't sound like it'd be fun to edit, but for some reason, it is. My guess is that the obsessive-compulsive part of me loves the cleaning and tidying up of all those different narrative styles! :-)
But every day won't be like today. That's okay, though, as long as I have the occasional day like today to help me see past the bad writing days.
I'm still editing chapter 2, but that doesn't surprise me because I knew this chapter would be tough. When I wrote my first draft of this chapter, I was still trying to decide if I wanted to write the story in first or third person. So I switched back and forth between the two, trying to find the story's voice. Now that I know I'm going with third person, I'm having to clean up all of my earlier experimentation. I know that doesn't sound like it'd be fun to edit, but for some reason, it is. My guess is that the obsessive-compulsive part of me loves the cleaning and tidying up of all those different narrative styles! :-)
Editing my Novel: Day 3
For the past two days I've had great editing sessions. Tonight...not so much.
It's a strange thing to be a writer. One day you can read what you've written and feel like you're the next Tolkien or Bradbury. The next day you can read that same text again and wonder if you should delete the entire chapter and start fresh. I've learned that during these bad days, you just have to plug away at the editing and look forward to the next editing session, because more often than not everything will turn back to gold tomorrow. :-)
It's a strange thing to be a writer. One day you can read what you've written and feel like you're the next Tolkien or Bradbury. The next day you can read that same text again and wonder if you should delete the entire chapter and start fresh. I've learned that during these bad days, you just have to plug away at the editing and look forward to the next editing session, because more often than not everything will turn back to gold tomorrow. :-)
Editing my Novel: Day 2
Today I focused on chapter 2 of my novel. I only got 1,400 words edited, but I knew this chapter was going to take a lot of time so the word count doesn't bother me.
One thing I'm enjoying is the challenge of writing a book that contains lots of references to death in the first two chapters. The novel is an epic fantasy and death is not one of my central themes, but I needed to establish some character traits early on and forcing my characters to deal with death has given me lots of great options for doing that.
In the next few days I'll put together a "back of the book style" teaser that will reveal more of what my book is about. I guess at that point I should also reveal the name of my book too. :-)
One thing I'm enjoying is the challenge of writing a book that contains lots of references to death in the first two chapters. The novel is an epic fantasy and death is not one of my central themes, but I needed to establish some character traits early on and forcing my characters to deal with death has given me lots of great options for doing that.
In the next few days I'll put together a "back of the book style" teaser that will reveal more of what my book is about. I guess at that point I should also reveal the name of my book too. :-)
Editing my Novel: Day 1
As I begin editing my novel, I'm going to post short but regular updates on my progress. Public accountability is a wonderful thing, don't you agree? :-)
Today was Day 1, and I accomplished a lot. I managed to edit all of chapter 1, a chapter which currently sits at 3,209 words. I was already happy with this chapter, but it definitely needed some tightening up. So...I tightened it. :-) I'm pleased with the final result, and so this chapter will most likely be the one I release for free to get people excited about my book.
That's it for tonight. After four hours of editing, I'm ready to get in bed with my Kindle Touch and read Streams of Silver until my eyes won't stay open.
Good night!
Today was Day 1, and I accomplished a lot. I managed to edit all of chapter 1, a chapter which currently sits at 3,209 words. I was already happy with this chapter, but it definitely needed some tightening up. So...I tightened it. :-) I'm pleased with the final result, and so this chapter will most likely be the one I release for free to get people excited about my book.
That's it for tonight. After four hours of editing, I'm ready to get in bed with my Kindle Touch and read Streams of Silver until my eyes won't stay open.
Good night!
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