Dawn Reno Langley's Blog, page 9
August 26, 2013
First draft DONE
There's no feeling like the moment when you know you've committed to the page the whole first draft of a book. When I finished yesterday, I instantly felt my body release a long breath of air as if every creative muscle had been tensed for the past year as I wrote page after page of this book.
But it's not done yet! The book is way too long, so my next step is to read it through in its entirety and cut, cut, cut, tighten, tighten, tighten. I have already had one of my writer friends read it, and she has made some suggestions, and I'll probably send it to someone else, too, but I need to dive in and make the cuts before I do that.
The theme of trust is pretty strong and holds together, according to my reader, but the daily entries have to contain a mini theme and hold together, as well. And I need to make sure very sentence works.
Amazing -- this is the first time I've come in long. Usually, the books are too short!
But it's not done yet! The book is way too long, so my next step is to read it through in its entirety and cut, cut, cut, tighten, tighten, tighten. I have already had one of my writer friends read it, and she has made some suggestions, and I'll probably send it to someone else, too, but I need to dive in and make the cuts before I do that.
The theme of trust is pretty strong and holds together, according to my reader, but the daily entries have to contain a mini theme and hold together, as well. And I need to make sure very sentence works.
Amazing -- this is the first time I've come in long. Usually, the books are too short!
August 1, 2013
Nurse Izzy
For the past week or so, I've been either flat on my back or relegated to the house. The only exercise I've gotten is my walks with Izzy (and those are pretty slow right now). I've had mono and a cyst down by my voice box that's making me sound like something from the Soprano family. Not much fun. The worst part is I really haven't been able to read or write until sometime yesterday afternoon. Now I'm feeling like I have to steal every moment before I go back to work -- and make it count.
During this not-so-much-fun time, Izzy's been either at my side or lying across my lap or nearby (right now, he's at the front door, looking out the screen at people walking down the street). Even though he can't administer medicine, run to the store for me, or take my temperature, he still has a lot to do with my recovery. He has made me laugh, he has reminded me I need to get up and move around occasionally, and he has checked on me to make sure I'm still "here."
Surprisingly, this down time has been good for my imagination, and I've worked on the book even though my fingers didn't touch the keyboard until early this morning. Now I have to figure out whether this book really needs to be the 500+ pages it's becoming or if there's a good way of cutting it down to right above 400, which would be great seeing as it's in the form of a journal that covers a whole year.
Onward . . . woof!
During this not-so-much-fun time, Izzy's been either at my side or lying across my lap or nearby (right now, he's at the front door, looking out the screen at people walking down the street). Even though he can't administer medicine, run to the store for me, or take my temperature, he still has a lot to do with my recovery. He has made me laugh, he has reminded me I need to get up and move around occasionally, and he has checked on me to make sure I'm still "here."
Surprisingly, this down time has been good for my imagination, and I've worked on the book even though my fingers didn't touch the keyboard until early this morning. Now I have to figure out whether this book really needs to be the 500+ pages it's becoming or if there's a good way of cutting it down to right above 400, which would be great seeing as it's in the form of a journal that covers a whole year.
Onward . . . woof!
July 11, 2013
Puppies and People
As I work through the draft of Walking With Izzy, I'm rethinking what it's like to be a woman with a dog (I'm not going to say 'older' woman, but I guess that's a fact). I've discovered that it's become really important to me that people I'm friends with are comfortable with Izzy (and that's not an easy task). And, conversely, he has to be comfortable with them (again, not an easy task). It's gotten better during the past year, but we're still working on his trust issues (as well as mine).
Creatively, this spawns some interesting moments in the narrative of his/my story. I need to point out how relationships are built and what it takes to sustain them -- both my relationships with people (primarily, men) and Izzy's relationships with the people we usually meet on our walks. The parallels between his relationships and mine really astound me.
What is also surprising is how much writing this book has made me analyze myself, and at this stage in my life, that means a lot of looking in the rearview mirror and wondering how that view compares with the one coming at me through the windshield. I'm reminded of a Mary Chapin Carpenter song: Sometimes You're the Windshield, Sometimes You're the Bug.
Finally, I have made deadlines for myself with this book, but I'm being kind to myself. I've decided it'll be done when it's done.
Creatively, this spawns some interesting moments in the narrative of his/my story. I need to point out how relationships are built and what it takes to sustain them -- both my relationships with people (primarily, men) and Izzy's relationships with the people we usually meet on our walks. The parallels between his relationships and mine really astound me.
What is also surprising is how much writing this book has made me analyze myself, and at this stage in my life, that means a lot of looking in the rearview mirror and wondering how that view compares with the one coming at me through the windshield. I'm reminded of a Mary Chapin Carpenter song: Sometimes You're the Windshield, Sometimes You're the Bug.
Finally, I have made deadlines for myself with this book, but I'm being kind to myself. I've decided it'll be done when it's done.
June 10, 2013
Trusting and Izzy
Well, it's into June and I'm still working on the Izzy book. I want to be really satisfied with it before sending it off to an agent. Competition is stiff in the publishing world these days, and if I don't lead with my best foot forward, it won't be worth it. So, every night, I sit with my laptop and endeavor to make this book better and better. I'm not quite sure where it's going, but I know what the ultimate finale will be. Now to get there!
April 29, 2013
And so it begins . . .
My last post was about finishing my novel, but it was just the first full draft. Now comes the rewriting. I heard from one of my pre-readers that the ending feels like it was wrapped up too quickly. That thought went through my head as I was writing it, and I think I wrapped it up quickly because I was afraid the book was going to be too long. Now that I know I have to cut at least one character, that might help shorten it a bit, but I'm going to have to go back into it with the realization that there are end-problems. Funny, this seems to be an issue I've had with most of my books.
Endings and beginnings. The two most important pieces of a book.
Back to the draft -- after I finish the draft of the Izzy book, which is pretty close to being done. This one will be a lot shorter than the novel, and there are empty spaces to fill with this one.
The writer's work is never done!
Endings and beginnings. The two most important pieces of a book.
Back to the draft -- after I finish the draft of the Izzy book, which is pretty close to being done. This one will be a lot shorter than the novel, and there are empty spaces to fill with this one.
The writer's work is never done!
April 3, 2013
The Novel is DONE!
It feels so good to end the closing scene when you've been involved in a novel for more than a year. I had envisioned the scene in my head so many times, but when it came to actually writing it, I tore it apart and put it back together at least six times -- and am still not sure whether it's right. But it's done. The first draft. The place where all the ideas get dumped.
I already know there are some major changes that need to be made in the next draft. One of the characters is going to disappear and several scenes that really aren't important to the narrative structure. But I'm just letting the book sit for a while and I'm working on something else. I have two readers who will give me feedback when they're finished, and who knows, I may end up making other major changes that are not even on my radar right now.
The main point is that the book is done. Done. Fini. The end!
CELEBRATION TIME!!!
I already know there are some major changes that need to be made in the next draft. One of the characters is going to disappear and several scenes that really aren't important to the narrative structure. But I'm just letting the book sit for a while and I'm working on something else. I have two readers who will give me feedback when they're finished, and who knows, I may end up making other major changes that are not even on my radar right now.
The main point is that the book is done. Done. Fini. The end!
CELEBRATION TIME!!!
March 22, 2013
Chinua Achebe
Today I heard from my good friend, Gbanabom Hallowel, wonderful poet from Ghana and fellow Union University Cohort 2 grad, that Chinua Achebe had passed away. Achebe, the author of the seminal novel 'Things Fall Apart', influenced me in ways I cannot count. His simple style, the powerful message about colonial and post-colonial Africa, his understated eloquence -- all are aspects that have made me realize just how little the American reading public knows about texts from other continents.
I read 'Things' with my 10th graders at several schools, as well as with my college students, and it never failed that I saw more details every time I led a student discussion. Whether we talked about the role of women in the tribal village or the negative ways white men intruded upon ancient African tradition, the discussion never left me with extra time in the class. What started out as a simple topic became more and more complex as we unraveled the text -- seeing within the story the multi-layered relationships between people, the construct of the African village, the commentary Achebe made through his characters on the migratory patterns forced upon native Africans by white intruders.
I've always felt that if I were to have met Achebe (as was planned back when I was about to publish 'The Candace: Warrior Queens of Egypt') for his 70th birthday, I would have sat at his feet like a child, eager to hear more about his country, about his theories on writing, and about his predictions for Africa's future. It would have been a splendid moment.
But it was not to be.
Instead, I have been lucky to meet other Africans, like Gbanabom (who we call Elvis), who have shared their lives with me.
As Gbana stated earlier today, long live Achebe. Because his words live, he will never die.
I read 'Things' with my 10th graders at several schools, as well as with my college students, and it never failed that I saw more details every time I led a student discussion. Whether we talked about the role of women in the tribal village or the negative ways white men intruded upon ancient African tradition, the discussion never left me with extra time in the class. What started out as a simple topic became more and more complex as we unraveled the text -- seeing within the story the multi-layered relationships between people, the construct of the African village, the commentary Achebe made through his characters on the migratory patterns forced upon native Africans by white intruders.
I've always felt that if I were to have met Achebe (as was planned back when I was about to publish 'The Candace: Warrior Queens of Egypt') for his 70th birthday, I would have sat at his feet like a child, eager to hear more about his country, about his theories on writing, and about his predictions for Africa's future. It would have been a splendid moment.
But it was not to be.
Instead, I have been lucky to meet other Africans, like Gbanabom (who we call Elvis), who have shared their lives with me.
As Gbana stated earlier today, long live Achebe. Because his words live, he will never die.
February 13, 2013
Rainy Days and Reading
Whenever it rains, I always find myself saying that I wish I was home on the couch with a cuppa tea and a good book. Do you do say the same thing?
Lately, I've been picking very long books to read (I'm on the last novel in the Game of Thrones series, Dance with Dragons A Dance With Dragons ), which means they're part of my life for a long time. And that's fine. I enjoy it. But sometimes I think about what it's going to feel like when I finish, and I find that actually slows me down. I want to stay with these characters for a lot longer.
My own writing: I'm probably two or three chapters from the end of my novel, so I've begun testing the waters and seeing if there are agents/editors out there who are interested in the book. Sometimes I think I should just relax and wait until it's completely done, but it's like Christmas. I want to see whether the package is a special one that will be something people will want!
Hope your rainy days are filled with good books!
Lately, I've been picking very long books to read (I'm on the last novel in the Game of Thrones series, Dance with Dragons A Dance With Dragons ), which means they're part of my life for a long time. And that's fine. I enjoy it. But sometimes I think about what it's going to feel like when I finish, and I find that actually slows me down. I want to stay with these characters for a lot longer.
My own writing: I'm probably two or three chapters from the end of my novel, so I've begun testing the waters and seeing if there are agents/editors out there who are interested in the book. Sometimes I think I should just relax and wait until it's completely done, but it's like Christmas. I want to see whether the package is a special one that will be something people will want!
Hope your rainy days are filled with good books!
October 19, 2012
National Novel Writing Month
Last night at 8:37, my first grandchild was born. Ryes Brander Wilson, 8 lbs 10 oz, 21" long, healthy head of dark hair, big eyes, and the cutest lips ever. I'm incredibly relieved and ecstatic that both he and his mother came through the c-section healthy. Now, I look forward to seeing him change with each day that goes by.
Today, I made a commitment to myself to write a novel during the month of November: National Novel Writing Month. Every day, I will write and I won't look back to edit or revise. I'm sure it won't be easy, but I need to do this for myself -- and for that precious little baby who will one day call me Nansie :-)
Today, I made a commitment to myself to write a novel during the month of November: National Novel Writing Month. Every day, I will write and I won't look back to edit or revise. I'm sure it won't be easy, but I need to do this for myself -- and for that precious little baby who will one day call me Nansie :-)
October 5, 2012
Inspiration
Whether I'm writing or not, I love to read what other writers have written about the process. Right now, I'm doing just that for inspiration. There are so many things that you learn throughout the process of being a writer that it's easy for some of those "things/techniques/talents" to slip away . . . and it's good to remind myself to use what one of my mentors called "the little muscles." Now I need to go back to my writing and add in some of the small details. Tiny details. Little movements. Miniscule moments.
Am I being detailed enough?
Am I being detailed enough?
