So, for my own benefit, I have started working with my characters, scenes, and plots outside of the story line. It's been - interesting, to say the least. I wrote out little things that may have happened in their pasts and how they reacted. It help solidify them in my head, what they are thinking during key moments of the book and how they are feeling. I actually had to draw out some of the places in the book as well (i.e. the hospital, Ella's apartment, and some places that are coming in book 2). And I did it, I moved the first 3 chapters from book 2 to book 1. It needed to be done for climax purposes, and it make much more sense this way. I also had to write in some characters that I had not included and some people that read the book asked about them. SO...rewrites, rewrites, rewrites.
I am amazed that this has been happening this way. I never thought there could be so many exercises involved in the process. I now know why people quit their "day jobs" to pursue their writing career. I would love to have the quality time to spend on the book, instead of working on it at night when I'm exhausted from the rest of the day. Maybe sometime in the future. I just have to keep reminding myself of why I started writing this in the first place, my love of the characters, how I want the reader to feel about the book (plot, characters, action), and Keep Moving Forward.
This has also given me some sort of permission to becoming "unguarded". My editor pointed out that I seemed restrained. "Ella isn't talking with her mother!"- I believe was the statement. It made me realized that I was constricting my characters and constricting the plot by not expressing myself as a writer. That I was afraid of something, I guess I'm not sure what I was afraid of, but not anymore.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Been away for a bit
Sorry for the long break. Had to get myself and my book back together after editing. For all of you new authors who are going through the process for the first time, this was the most difficult part for me.
I had a book that friends/colleges told me had a good plot and they like it. I had some recommendations that I should have it published. This sounds much easier that it actually is. I did a ton of research on where to go from there. I was lucky that I found a great editor that would hold my hand a bit (cost a fortune), but she gave me real advice on where I needed to go from here and 'ripped my book apart'. We got to talk about what was good about it and where it needed improvement, word counts, grammar, and subplots. Somehow I thought 'Hey I will be able to do the corrections and have it go through the editing process again.' I guess I didn't understand the word - Rewrite. It doesn't mean make some corrections and keep going, it means *REWRITE* the book. For a first time wanting to publish author this task was a bit overwhelming.
My editor also told me to become well read in my genre, which I was well watched in (I love watching psychological thrillers) my genre but not well read. Now I have several under my belt, some I liked and some...no so much. But it gave me a good reference. So MY advice, read your genre, know what is expected BUT don't change the tone or where you were planning on going. It has given me new eyes to look at my book series. It has made me change some things about the book, where to break the books and a better story arch for the main plot and for the subplots. Taking a short break, has given me new energy and hopefully will give the book new energy.
Looking forward to getting going again, and knowing that my editor will be on board for the next set of edits which hopefully will not be followed by "What the hell did I think I was doing.". I'm also planning on taking a week off of the job that pays the bills so I can spend some more quality time with Ella and Jude (main characters from the books). I want to finish up the 'poorly written' plot of book 2, just so I know where I want to go with it, and then move on to really digging in to the rewrites for the first book. I have decided that this is worth doing and I want it. I want people to read it, I want it to feel real, and I want people to connect with Ella and Jude - individually not together ;)
There will be more frequent posts to follow. Still working on names for the books. I really liked the fire related names, but they remind me too much of THE HUNGER GAMES book themes and second book title so I'm going to have to work on something better.
I had a book that friends/colleges told me had a good plot and they like it. I had some recommendations that I should have it published. This sounds much easier that it actually is. I did a ton of research on where to go from there. I was lucky that I found a great editor that would hold my hand a bit (cost a fortune), but she gave me real advice on where I needed to go from here and 'ripped my book apart'. We got to talk about what was good about it and where it needed improvement, word counts, grammar, and subplots. Somehow I thought 'Hey I will be able to do the corrections and have it go through the editing process again.' I guess I didn't understand the word - Rewrite. It doesn't mean make some corrections and keep going, it means *REWRITE* the book. For a first time wanting to publish author this task was a bit overwhelming.
My editor also told me to become well read in my genre, which I was well watched in (I love watching psychological thrillers) my genre but not well read. Now I have several under my belt, some I liked and some...no so much. But it gave me a good reference. So MY advice, read your genre, know what is expected BUT don't change the tone or where you were planning on going. It has given me new eyes to look at my book series. It has made me change some things about the book, where to break the books and a better story arch for the main plot and for the subplots. Taking a short break, has given me new energy and hopefully will give the book new energy.
Looking forward to getting going again, and knowing that my editor will be on board for the next set of edits which hopefully will not be followed by "What the hell did I think I was doing.". I'm also planning on taking a week off of the job that pays the bills so I can spend some more quality time with Ella and Jude (main characters from the books). I want to finish up the 'poorly written' plot of book 2, just so I know where I want to go with it, and then move on to really digging in to the rewrites for the first book. I have decided that this is worth doing and I want it. I want people to read it, I want it to feel real, and I want people to connect with Ella and Jude - individually not together ;)
There will be more frequent posts to follow. Still working on names for the books. I really liked the fire related names, but they remind me too much of THE HUNGER GAMES book themes and second book title so I'm going to have to work on something better.
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