I haven't heard from my editor yet on my romance that will be coming out soon, so I've been plugging away this week on my next one. It hasn't been going quite as quickly as I'd planned.
Here's the deal. Originally I thought I could write 2,000 words a day. I've discovered that 2,000 words a day might be more difficult than I imagined. During NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month - November) I always manage to churn out 1,667 words a day, so I figured this would be no problem. It's just, um, hang on, let me get my calculator out...333 words more. And I always did NaNo while I was working full time. One year I did it with a newborn. So why would I have trouble now, when the only other thing on my agenda is housework and playing games with my 4-year-old? And exercising. And walking down to the water. And taking my daughter to school and picking her up and going to the library and reading and doing laundry and eating dinner and cleaning the kitchen and all of a sudden it's 8 o'clock and I need to get the kids baths and get them to bed. What?
The result is that I've written 7,529 words so far since Sunday, instead of 12,000 words. If tonight and tomorrow I can bang out 2,471 words, then I can end the week with 10k, which is 4k lower than my goal. But maybe more reasonable. Because writing a book is hard work, you guys. Even when you have the whole thing planned out.
On a more positive note, today I jogged 3.06 miles in 29:38! Best time yet!
Also, I have to admit that one of the reasons I'm having a hard time getting into my book this week is that I'm reading The 5th Wave. IT'S AMAZING! You should all read it! I'll write a review once I finish it and have time to process all the action.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Killer Hook!
I went to a writing class today at the library on how to write a "Killer Hook." I knew I needed to go to this because I've already been told TOO MUCH BACKSTORY! in the first part of my novel (which is coming out soon, you guys!).
A lot of the stuff I'd heard before, but apparently skipped when it came to my own work. What got me was when the ladies leading the class said, "You guys want to read us what you have?" I had already decided I would cut the whole first chapter, because I knew it was backstory and could easily be worked into the second and eighth chapters in little tiny chewable pieces instead of this big hulking mass of boring. But while they were talking about famous hooks, and giving us examples, I had hastily been morphing the beginning of my second chapter into my new hook. When they offered to hear what we had, I read that. AND THEY THOUGHT I SHOULD CUT THE FIRST THREE PARAGRAPHS! I was devastated. I even argued, which I thought I knew better than to ever do. Because when someone gives you advice on your writing you should always consider it, even if at first you think it's dumb. Chances are there's something to it, even if you don't use all of it. I thought I knew that. But there I was thinking "No, please! It's good like this!"
They went on to the next person, and I thought about it, and then sure enough, they were right. Darn it. So I cut some more. And I'll probably cut some more when the editor calls me and tells me what I need to do to get my book ready to be published (because I have a book coming out soon!).
And now, at least until the editor calls me and tells me what else I need to do to book one (which may or may not have a title now), I must get to work on book number two so my fans will have something new to read in January.
A lot of the stuff I'd heard before, but apparently skipped when it came to my own work. What got me was when the ladies leading the class said, "You guys want to read us what you have?" I had already decided I would cut the whole first chapter, because I knew it was backstory and could easily be worked into the second and eighth chapters in little tiny chewable pieces instead of this big hulking mass of boring. But while they were talking about famous hooks, and giving us examples, I had hastily been morphing the beginning of my second chapter into my new hook. When they offered to hear what we had, I read that. AND THEY THOUGHT I SHOULD CUT THE FIRST THREE PARAGRAPHS! I was devastated. I even argued, which I thought I knew better than to ever do. Because when someone gives you advice on your writing you should always consider it, even if at first you think it's dumb. Chances are there's something to it, even if you don't use all of it. I thought I knew that. But there I was thinking "No, please! It's good like this!"
They went on to the next person, and I thought about it, and then sure enough, they were right. Darn it. So I cut some more. And I'll probably cut some more when the editor calls me and tells me what I need to do to get my book ready to be published (because I have a book coming out soon!).
And now, at least until the editor calls me and tells me what else I need to do to book one (which may or may not have a title now), I must get to work on book number two so my fans will have something new to read in January.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
I have an ebook coming out soon!
Books To Go Now is publishing my romance novel! There are still a few details to iron out, but it should be coming very soon. Stay tuned for more information!
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