I am working my little tail off on my edits. Okay, I'm probably working too hard. It's just so difficult to make the words work. The plot needs to be water-tight, the prose needs to stay true to the protagonists voice, the characters need to be three dimensional, the setting needs to be the perfect blend of camp, pulp and realism to make me smile. Oh yes, we can't forget the "to be" verbs. Can't have too many of those. Must keep the story active. Show don't tell. That's the motto.
Yeah, those are fun edits to fix. (I'm dripping with sarcasm here.)
Anywho,
I've been busy. Muy, muy busy. In the most productive way. My book is coming along quite nicely. I have to say. Maybe no one else will like it quite as much as I do. Maybe no one else will like it at all. Frankly, I don't really care. I have fought to keep this story my own. If I love it, I will be satisfied. No matter the outcome. Wow, am I one tough cookie to please, though.
Maybe that's not a good thing. I don't know. It is what it is.
I just keep plugging along. In the mean time life goes on. School starts next week. I start a new semester with new students and speeches and faculty meetings. Fall yard projects need to be completed. The bathroom in the basement needs to be painted before we install the cabinets and the list goes on and on and on.
What I wouldn't give for a carbon copy of myself . . .or at least a maid and a gardener. I can't add cook to the list because cooking brings me as much joy as writing. So does gardening actually, but it sure would be nice to have somebody help me with the weeding.
I could get discouraged here, it's Thursday night and I'm a week behind schedule. Because I act all persnickety over the last ten chapters of revisions while the red hot noise for my work at the beginning of the summer has cooled to complete silence. But I won't. It's counter productive.
The only thing I can do is write on. And if it takes me Tolkien time to edit this book to my pleasing, so be it. Cause it's got my name on the first page and that's saying something.
6 comments:
Good work, Kristi. Keep it up, unless you are going to burn out. That is worse in the long run.
You'll make it!
How do you fit in the time? I have my story down and need to edit it to pieces, but my kids are always around. I'm hoping it will be easier when school starts and I'm down to just one at home again. But he is 3 so...
Anyway, I get an hour or so most nights after 10pm, when I am not at my best. But I refuse to give up hope! Just like you I love my story and even if no one else likes it in the end, this is for me. :)
Good luck and keep it up!
Melinda- If I burn out you can visit me on Tuesdays in the sanitarium. Bring soup. :)
Charity- I am so glad you asked because writing time has been my biggest battle.I can tell you what works for me. I've been thinking about blogging about this for a while so I think I might share a few thoughts on the subject. I have a four year old so I know about never being alone. Ever. Not even in the bathroom. Sigh. I'll try to post something on the subject this week.
Kristi, I loved this. You are right where I am too and I found your strength bolstering. Thanks!
Mostly, I've been feeling mighty fine about my edits. But last week a few of those requested hit awfully close to home and I had to take a real close look to see if I could retain the integrity of my story while still making the requested changes. It was tough, but I think I've settled on a compromise that will work.
Like you said, when all is said and done, it's MY name on the cover of that book and I want to be proud.
Good luck to you! I know you can do this! (and so can I rah rah!)
Way to be true to yourself, Kristi. That's the only way to write. You can hear what other people think, and that's good sometimes, but finally you have to write the book YOU want.
Also, I think silence is normal in this profession. That's how it is most of the time. It's the clamor that's wierd. And really, can you write with all that noise? I sure can't. But knowing it was ever there gives you hope they'll want the final product when it's ready.
And they will! I know I do.
Don't worry! Just write! Exclamation points! Hurray!
Kristi, I've said more times than I can count how inspiring you are for me so I'll just say it one more time: You're so inspiring to me, Kristi.
I'm sorry about the time and difficulty you're having but I know your MS is worth it. You're one of the most incredible writers I've ever read (and I read something like 1000 books a year, seriously). I can't wait to see your name on that cover.
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