Hi there. I’m late for the Wednesday Round of Words check in, but going to post an update anyway, since I didn’t get around to any author business on Easter, even posting to my blog.
I’ve had so much fun brainstorming about what my fantasy novel is missing! I have pages of new notes…now I’ll need to pick and choose between my ideas, and then this draft is going to get a major face-lift, with a lot of additional scenes. That’s great, because it’s short right now even though the story is big. That’s something some readers have criticized about my writing — that I tend to move through a plot really quickly. I know I can improve the pacing and amount of detail and backstory for my next draft of Queen Witch.
However, I’ve also realized that this isn’t going to be quick. I still believe I’ll have the book out by the end of the year, but my goal is no longer summer time. Lots of revision and writing new scenes, then back to an edit on paper, and then finalizing the manuscript and getting input from betas. It’s exciting, though. I put off writing this story for years, because I knew the idea could turn into an amazing book if I took my time with it. So I plan to continue taking my time with it. And of course I can’t prevent myself from working on other things, like my Children of the Sidhe paranormal romance novellas or my bright and shiny short story (or possibly novella) idea…which I will post on at a later date . 🙂
Today I have a two hour chunk of child care that won’t be devoted to the day job! Yippee!! My major project at the day job is done and extra hours over with for the time being. *Pats self on back*
So, today I go through my Queen Witch manuscript backward, writing a sentence or two about each scene and it’s place in the plot. I’m excited to see how far I can get today…wish me luck!
You know what I love about the ROW80 writing community? I know several of my writer friends are out there right now, brains humming with the writer bug, getting words on pages (be it pen and paper or electronic), crafting plots, creating characters and backstory…It’s good to know that while this is a largely solitary activity, it’s also one I share with many inspiring folks out there in the world. Have a good week, writer friends!
One of my biggest problems is also going through a plot quickly. Some readers actually want that because they are in a hurry. Others like to savor each word slowly. LOL
I’m glad you’re so enthusiastic about your additional ideas and scenes. And I wouldn’t worry about publishing dates. Like fine wine and cheese, sometimes a story takes a while to age to perfection. 🙂
Honestly, I want to find out what happens next just like the reader does…and I’m of that school that says if it doesn’t play into your plot, you cut it. Don’t bore readers with your pet additions. If nothing hangs on it, it goes. Brutal, eh?
Nice to hear that your head is abound with ideas. And as one the persons (in my defense I got up on the wrong side of the bed that day) to complain about wanting more I’m sure the extra wait will be worth it. Just make sure to put a bird in it. And not just a raven or crow, but a cool pretty bird like a hummingbird or a snow bunting or a penguin or how about a pterodactyl (lets see you get that one in there).
May you have a nice weekend, good luck, and great writing.
Thanks! I’m hoping it’ll be a productive weekend, but I’m also looking forward to some down time with the family. Maybe we’ll go the Children’s Museum, or the pool or something…these kids need wearing out. 🙂
My character in Flight is a hawk shifter. The strange thing is, I spent the whole winter spotting these gorgeous birds on my commute, sometimes I’d see twenty hawks during my afternoon drive. The naked trees help; I haven’t been spotting as many since the leaves returned.
I’ve also heard big birds are back in the Willamette Valley — apparently our eagle population is doing well, but the news hasn’t reported on hawks. I’ve lived here my whole life and I never remember seeing this many raptors. So I kind of feel like I called them while outlining and writing Flight. As soon as I finished the book, the leaves came and they disappeared…This is the strange interplay between myself and my environment that I maintain in my mind. 🙂
Isn’t it great connecting with other writers? Writing can be solitary, and it’s so nice to know that you are not in this all by yourself. Good luck on your goals!
Sounds like you’re doing great J.R. (both at the EDJ and the novel 😉 )! Keep up the excellent work. There is something very grounding about ROW80, and knowing that even though we work in solitude, we don’t do so alone. 🙂