when to revise…
The ‘wake up early to write’ thing isn’t working so far. Because, in order to do this, you must actually wake up at the early time and begin to write, not just roll over and slap the snooze button and think, “I should be getting up to write now.”
It should work that way, I think. Maybe I need to buy a recorder and just start babbling into it at 6am. The husband will love it, I’m sure. Or maybe he will tell me to get into bed earlier than 1am and stop creating playlists in WinAmp.
Must. Write. Today. It’s no good having all these beautiful spreadsheets if I have nothing to enter into them. I also have to decide if I’m going to edit FWD, (which doesn’t seem to be bowling editors over, although to be fair I still haven’t heard back from some yet), sooner than later at the same time I’m trying to finish FB. It’s not that the revisions are that daunting (okay, they are considering I have to probably change a lot of the conflict) but the biggest problem is that I don’t want to go back and reread the story. Not because I don’t love the concept or the H/H, but because every time I go back and reread something I wrote a while ago, I cringe. Kind of like watching a bad home movie from the 80’s. Because I know my writing has improved since then, which is a good thing. But supposed I reread it and realize that it is total crap? How do I know if it’s worth fixing or if my time is better spent on the newer book?
Yeah, I know, questions I probably have to answer for myself. (But it would be really nice if someone else *hint* had ALL the answers)
Excuse me while I go pour coffee down my throat and contemplate the universe.
Steph T.
February 8th, 2005 at 9:39 am
Pass some of that coffee this way, because I need some universe contemplation, too.
I have that exact problem with older works. But it isn’t the “crap” factor. That, I’ve learned, can be fixed. The problem is that although my writing has improved AND changed, I seem to regress when I read the past stuff. I just can’t seem to get out of that mode and make improvements. It’s strange.
Good luck, because I know how you feel!
Oh, and quit hitting the snooze button. *g*
February 8th, 2005 at 9:47 am
Writing early in the morning will never, ever happen for me. I don’t function. If I’m lucky, I get some writing done between 10 and noon. Until then, I’m bleary-eyed and fuzzy-headed.
February 8th, 2005 at 12:05 pm
I’m pouring that coffee right along with you.
February 8th, 2005 at 1:06 pm
*passes strong coffee all around*
Are we wired yet?!
February 8th, 2005 at 2:30 pm
I pulled out an old novella to start editing.
*HUGE CRINGE*
It’s. SO. BAD!
Jorie blogged about reading a ms. she wrote 3 years ago and how even though she had that sort of response even she could see the promise in it. I bet you’ll have the same reaction. My novella on the other hand……. *gag*
Okay okay it’s not THAT bad, but well, it needs LOTS of cleanup which is a heck of a lot easier than rewriting…
February 9th, 2005 at 1:06 am
Ah, coffee and the meaning of life. Er, revisions. I’m right there with you this time Steph, I have an entire book to re-work. And I don’t get to use the luxury of a snooze button either, it just doesn’t seem right to even try since I usually don’t go to bed until 5am or so. I’d be snoozing the whole day away. Hmm…that sounds kind of appealing. Where’s that playlist? I need music.
February 9th, 2005 at 11:17 am
Steph, if you find those answers would you pass them along to me? I admire you for even thinking about getting up early to write. Those words just don’t compute in my head. Although, if I did actually get up early — for anything — my husband would probably die of shock. So that’s why I don’t get up early. Yeah. That’s it. I don’t want to kill my husband. Not today, anyway.
February 9th, 2005 at 4:27 pm
Cece - I’m scared to pick up this ms because of the whole *gag* reaction - I’m thinking it needs a complete overhaul.
Katie - I WISH I could stay up all night and write - like you and Sharon, it’s my favorite time to write. Staying awake is the major problem. *g*
Lynn - am ROFL at your excuse for not getting up to write early. Am thinking I will borrow that every time I hit snooze.