Laci Maskell's Blog, page 4
May 13, 2014
Figuring It Out
So I am not a pro at this whole writing thing. I haven't even published my first book yet. So I am still figuring it all out. And when I say figuring it all out, in this blog, I mean, how I write.
Now, let me tell you before I start this. The writing is always the same. The writing is never different. However, the way I go about the writing is different.
I watch a lot of author videos. Now, when I say a lot, I mean A LOT! I love watching author videos. I love to get their take on things. I love to know how they go about writing and if they have any advice for writing. Of course, they do.
It would seem that every time I am writing a new book or working on a new book, I will watch a new author video and they will have some new way of organizing your plot or the way they write and so on. An example of this is Becca Fitzpatrick. For her novels, she would have this large stack of note cards. She would have one note card for every scene in the book. On the note cards she would write plot, dialogue, character arcs, and so on, whatever would help her remember what she needed to write for that scene in that chapter. Then, she highlights or flags or uses different colored note cards for scenes that need work, scenes that are perfect, scenes that need more plotting, and so one.
As you can imagine, I thought this was a great idea. Now, for my first book, I merely used a notebook full of scenes, dialogue, plot, and so on, to help me with the writing. But for my second book, I wanted to try Becca's way of working. So I tried it. I failed at it. I only wrote a couple of scenes and didn't really use them to help when I was writing. Again, I used my trusty notebook full of stuff.
One thing I did use for my second book was a list of scenes that had to happen. The book needed to go in chronological order according to dates. This list of scenes was very helpful. I write what date the scene had to occur on and then what the scene was. Very useful.
Now, my notebook full of thing and such, it is sometimes very daunting and trying to find a certain thing you need for a certain scene in a sea of ink and pages is difficult. What I do is take those little flags, that lawyers and such use to mark where someone needs to sign something. I use these flags to mark what note I need to use. Then, when I have used that note, I remove the flag until I no longer have any notes to add to the book, and I have finished the book. It works really well. I do still have to look through the flags, but it is not as difficult as trying to read through the notes I have used when they look the same as the ones I haven't used.
For my third book, I tried to used the note cards way again. It did work better this time, but I still didn't use it for the whole book. It did help me to figure out what order I wanted to put scenes in, but it just wasn't for me in the long run. So, again, I used the notebook full of stuff and the flags. But I also had a list of scenes that needed to happen and in what order they needed to happen. When I would use the scene, I would cross it out. Again, it worked really well.
A couple of weeks ago, this girl I follow on Twitter posted a picture of her chapter board. It was a white marker board with a post it for each chapter. These post its would have scenes or dialogue and so on on them. I thought this would be a good idea. Surely this would help e be organized. Before I even attempted it, I decided not to use it. However, I was in the store the other day and came across binders and plastic paper covers. Then it came to me. I would use a sheet of printer paper for each chapter and put them in the plastic covers. Each page would have the chapter number at the top, the narrator - because I like to use multiple narrators - the date, and then I would use different colored post its for scenes, plot, and dialogue for each chapter. So far I am really liking it. Before I started using this, I was disorganized in my head as to how I was going to put the scenes I knew I needed in the book and in what order. But then I started this and I kept pulling out printer sheets and adding post its to them. I got a lot farther than I probably could have other wise. So, for now, this is the method I am going to use. I am really liking it so far. But, also, I still am using my trusty notebook full of stuff and the flags.
So, as you can see, none of you, I'm sure, wanted to know this, could care less, and also, I have no clue what I am doing. But I think the moral of the story is that many different things work for many different people and just because it works for one person doesn't mean it is going to work for every one, or anyone else for that matter. If you made it to the end, thanks for sticking with me, and I will try to make it shorter next time. I hope you enjoyed and got something out of this. Until next time.
Now, let me tell you before I start this. The writing is always the same. The writing is never different. However, the way I go about the writing is different.
I watch a lot of author videos. Now, when I say a lot, I mean A LOT! I love watching author videos. I love to get their take on things. I love to know how they go about writing and if they have any advice for writing. Of course, they do.
It would seem that every time I am writing a new book or working on a new book, I will watch a new author video and they will have some new way of organizing your plot or the way they write and so on. An example of this is Becca Fitzpatrick. For her novels, she would have this large stack of note cards. She would have one note card for every scene in the book. On the note cards she would write plot, dialogue, character arcs, and so on, whatever would help her remember what she needed to write for that scene in that chapter. Then, she highlights or flags or uses different colored note cards for scenes that need work, scenes that are perfect, scenes that need more plotting, and so one.
As you can imagine, I thought this was a great idea. Now, for my first book, I merely used a notebook full of scenes, dialogue, plot, and so on, to help me with the writing. But for my second book, I wanted to try Becca's way of working. So I tried it. I failed at it. I only wrote a couple of scenes and didn't really use them to help when I was writing. Again, I used my trusty notebook full of stuff.
One thing I did use for my second book was a list of scenes that had to happen. The book needed to go in chronological order according to dates. This list of scenes was very helpful. I write what date the scene had to occur on and then what the scene was. Very useful.
Now, my notebook full of thing and such, it is sometimes very daunting and trying to find a certain thing you need for a certain scene in a sea of ink and pages is difficult. What I do is take those little flags, that lawyers and such use to mark where someone needs to sign something. I use these flags to mark what note I need to use. Then, when I have used that note, I remove the flag until I no longer have any notes to add to the book, and I have finished the book. It works really well. I do still have to look through the flags, but it is not as difficult as trying to read through the notes I have used when they look the same as the ones I haven't used.
For my third book, I tried to used the note cards way again. It did work better this time, but I still didn't use it for the whole book. It did help me to figure out what order I wanted to put scenes in, but it just wasn't for me in the long run. So, again, I used the notebook full of stuff and the flags. But I also had a list of scenes that needed to happen and in what order they needed to happen. When I would use the scene, I would cross it out. Again, it worked really well.
A couple of weeks ago, this girl I follow on Twitter posted a picture of her chapter board. It was a white marker board with a post it for each chapter. These post its would have scenes or dialogue and so on on them. I thought this would be a good idea. Surely this would help e be organized. Before I even attempted it, I decided not to use it. However, I was in the store the other day and came across binders and plastic paper covers. Then it came to me. I would use a sheet of printer paper for each chapter and put them in the plastic covers. Each page would have the chapter number at the top, the narrator - because I like to use multiple narrators - the date, and then I would use different colored post its for scenes, plot, and dialogue for each chapter. So far I am really liking it. Before I started using this, I was disorganized in my head as to how I was going to put the scenes I knew I needed in the book and in what order. But then I started this and I kept pulling out printer sheets and adding post its to them. I got a lot farther than I probably could have other wise. So, for now, this is the method I am going to use. I am really liking it so far. But, also, I still am using my trusty notebook full of stuff and the flags.
So, as you can see, none of you, I'm sure, wanted to know this, could care less, and also, I have no clue what I am doing. But I think the moral of the story is that many different things work for many different people and just because it works for one person doesn't mean it is going to work for every one, or anyone else for that matter. If you made it to the end, thanks for sticking with me, and I will try to make it shorter next time. I hope you enjoyed and got something out of this. Until next time.
May 7, 2014
Falling In Love With Book Boyrfriends
I am here today to talk about something that I feel needs to be addressed. Haha. Just kidding. Bust seriously, I am here today to talk about my love for fictional characters. Let's be honest, we all love fictional characters. It's like a sport, or maybe a job. But there are no trophies, no perks, no raises, and no bonuses. Well, there might be a few bonuses.
I have certainly been in love with my fair share of fictional characters. I swear I have never loved anyone like I loved Patch Cipriano from the Hush, Hush series. I could be his Nora. I bawled like a baby when Fred Weasley died, because we were supposed to spend forever together. Who wasn't in love with Pacey or Dawson?
So, a few things about loving fictional characters I want to talk about.
First, why do we love them? And why do we inherently love them more than real people? I think we love fictional characters because we can. Because it doesn't cost us anything, and yet we get so much in return. We can read about them, or watch them on TV shows or in movies and it doesn't cost us anything. Yes, we get emotionally invested, hard core sometimes, but they can't really break our hearts. They can't cheat on us. They can't steal from us. And I think this is why we sometimes love them more than real people. Real people are hard, they are messy, they have minds of their own. There are so many other reason to love frictional characters, but that is not really why I am here.
I want to talk about loving fictional characters as their writers. Now, many authors feel differently about this. Some say that they do not love their fictional characters and so say they absolutely love their fictional characters. Now, mind you, I am mostly referring to YA authors and characters. Firstly, I believe this has a lot to do with gender, then it has to do with who the author is, and so on. Many fans want to know if authors love their characters. Rachel Higginson, for example, will sometimes say she loves her characters as children and therefore not romantically.
I would like to address my opinion on this subject. Yes, I love my characters, but how do I love my characters? This is the thing, I write both of the characters so while I might not be in love with my male characters, my female characters are in love with my male characters. My female characters are a part of me, so therefore, wouldn't I be at least partially in love with the male characters? I don't know. I am only twenty three years old, a lot younger than the other authors who write YA books, therefore I don't feel so badly about being in love with fictional characters as they might. Especially NA characters, I can totally be in love with them. This probably makes no sense, and I realize that I am rambling, but I feel many different things about loving characters. I love some of them as brothers, some of them as friends, some of them as loves, and so forth. It really depends on the character, the book, the situation, how long I spend with a character and so on.
One of the things that I am trying, and failing, to say is that I think it is okay to love fictional characters. They are fictional after all. They can't ruin real life relationships. They can't break your heart. They give you far more than they take from you.
I am just going to stop here while I am somewhat ahead. But you feel free to love or hate fictional characters however you see fit. Also, don't get me started on hating fictional characters. That is another topic for another blog. Until next time.
I have certainly been in love with my fair share of fictional characters. I swear I have never loved anyone like I loved Patch Cipriano from the Hush, Hush series. I could be his Nora. I bawled like a baby when Fred Weasley died, because we were supposed to spend forever together. Who wasn't in love with Pacey or Dawson?
So, a few things about loving fictional characters I want to talk about.
First, why do we love them? And why do we inherently love them more than real people? I think we love fictional characters because we can. Because it doesn't cost us anything, and yet we get so much in return. We can read about them, or watch them on TV shows or in movies and it doesn't cost us anything. Yes, we get emotionally invested, hard core sometimes, but they can't really break our hearts. They can't cheat on us. They can't steal from us. And I think this is why we sometimes love them more than real people. Real people are hard, they are messy, they have minds of their own. There are so many other reason to love frictional characters, but that is not really why I am here.
I want to talk about loving fictional characters as their writers. Now, many authors feel differently about this. Some say that they do not love their fictional characters and so say they absolutely love their fictional characters. Now, mind you, I am mostly referring to YA authors and characters. Firstly, I believe this has a lot to do with gender, then it has to do with who the author is, and so on. Many fans want to know if authors love their characters. Rachel Higginson, for example, will sometimes say she loves her characters as children and therefore not romantically.
I would like to address my opinion on this subject. Yes, I love my characters, but how do I love my characters? This is the thing, I write both of the characters so while I might not be in love with my male characters, my female characters are in love with my male characters. My female characters are a part of me, so therefore, wouldn't I be at least partially in love with the male characters? I don't know. I am only twenty three years old, a lot younger than the other authors who write YA books, therefore I don't feel so badly about being in love with fictional characters as they might. Especially NA characters, I can totally be in love with them. This probably makes no sense, and I realize that I am rambling, but I feel many different things about loving characters. I love some of them as brothers, some of them as friends, some of them as loves, and so forth. It really depends on the character, the book, the situation, how long I spend with a character and so on.
One of the things that I am trying, and failing, to say is that I think it is okay to love fictional characters. They are fictional after all. They can't ruin real life relationships. They can't break your heart. They give you far more than they take from you.
I am just going to stop here while I am somewhat ahead. But you feel free to love or hate fictional characters however you see fit. Also, don't get me started on hating fictional characters. That is another topic for another blog. Until next time.
May 6, 2014
New and Other Things
I have finally finished editing my book. I finished it a week or so ago, and then I sent it to my best friend to edit for typos and such. Which she did. I spent the last three hours going back and forth between her edits and my copy. It is finally finished and ready to be formatted to be published.
Holy shit.
I don't even know how I feel right now. And that makes me wonder how I will feel when I hit Publish. Holy crap. I am excited and yet filled with trepidation at the same time. I wonder if people will like it. I wonder if people will hate it. I wonder a lot of things. Clearly I think too much.
I also wonder how I feel about the book. When I first wrote it, I loved it. For years after I wrote it, I loved it. It has always been my baby. Now that I have read it so many times in order to edit it, I wonder if it is any good. I'm not sure if that is because it really is no good, or because I am just nervous to publish it and for it to be out in the world. Ugh. So many feelings. Once I have it formatted and ready to publish, I might show you all the cover, which I love so much. I'm not sure what I will do yet. But I will let you know before I publish it, just in case any of you want to buy it.
Next order of business. On May 1st, I tweeted that it was May 1st and the perfect day to start a new project, and then when I opened up a blank Word document, I had nothing.
It is not that I had nothing, come to find out, but that I was unaware of how to start. I am, sort of, working on three projects at once. This is merely because I don't know which one I should really work on, which one I should finish first, and which one I want to work on. Writing, for me, is a lot about emotion. This is also how I handle my food. Moods. If I am not in a mood to have meatballs, I don't want to eat meatballs. However, when I am in the mood for something, I just have to have it. This is how I handle my writing a lot. If I desperately want to work on a book, that is what I want to work on. A lot of the time, also, this has a lot to do with the characters I think about most often and most vividly. So many emotions, good thing writing and books have so much to do with emotion.
But like I said, it was not that I had nothing. I knew what project I was starting on, and I knew where the whole book would go, because it is the second book in a series, but I had no clue how I wanted to start it. I knew that three things needed to happen in the beginning of the book, but I wanted to perfect scene/sentence to start the book. Now, I am well aware that nothing is or ever will be perfect, so don't start with me. But first lines are my thing. Not that I ever have perfect, or even good first lines. What I mean, is I think the first line of a book is so important, so crucial that it needs to be as close to perfect as it can be. This is what I was struggling with. The sentences I thought I had for the three scenes I could have used were not coming to me. I also think I was stuck in my own head. I felt like I needed to start this project because it was the first of a new month and because my friends who love to read my books wanted a new one. Ugh! But then I wrote a first sentence, whether it be good or not, and then words just started flowing out of me. It was awesome. I felt accomplished and a little less like a failure. And I think that is what we writers need to do sometimes, get out of our own heads. We can be really detrimental to ourselves, if you know what I mean.
I wish there was more time in the day, or that I didn't have to sleep. There are so many project I want to work on and I feel like I don't have enough time to work on them all. Jackson Pearce tweeted to day that when she figures out how to teleport shit is going to get real. I wish I new how to teleport. I hate driving. Also, I would go to so many places I want to see, like New Zealand, England, Rome, and so many other places.
I live in Nebraska, and if you know anything about being a nerd, and living in Nebraska, then you know that unless you want to travel a long ways, you will never see any of the authors that you like. I wanted to see Maggie Stiefvater a few years ago but the closest she was to me was over five hours away and I just couldn't make that work. Even a couple weeks ago, there were three authors I really like that were in Des Moines, IA, but it was short notice and several hours away and I just didn't get to see them. But now, Maggie is going to be in Omaha, in July, which is only three hours away and two months notice, and I totally get to go. I am so excited!!
I feel like there are a lot of things to do, besides publishing my book, as an author. I already have a Twitter page, so that is covered. I also have a blog, so that is covered. However, I feel like I need to post more often. But then there is a Facebook page, a website, and a lot of other things. Especially since I am self publishing. I will have to get the word of my books out all by myself. But if I really want to do this, being a writer this, then I am okay with that. I will put in the work, because I have only ever wanted to be a writer, and I know that I will only ever want to be a writer.
Well, I feel like I have said enough for one day. Thank you for reading, and until next time.
Holy shit.
I don't even know how I feel right now. And that makes me wonder how I will feel when I hit Publish. Holy crap. I am excited and yet filled with trepidation at the same time. I wonder if people will like it. I wonder if people will hate it. I wonder a lot of things. Clearly I think too much.
I also wonder how I feel about the book. When I first wrote it, I loved it. For years after I wrote it, I loved it. It has always been my baby. Now that I have read it so many times in order to edit it, I wonder if it is any good. I'm not sure if that is because it really is no good, or because I am just nervous to publish it and for it to be out in the world. Ugh. So many feelings. Once I have it formatted and ready to publish, I might show you all the cover, which I love so much. I'm not sure what I will do yet. But I will let you know before I publish it, just in case any of you want to buy it.
Next order of business. On May 1st, I tweeted that it was May 1st and the perfect day to start a new project, and then when I opened up a blank Word document, I had nothing.
It is not that I had nothing, come to find out, but that I was unaware of how to start. I am, sort of, working on three projects at once. This is merely because I don't know which one I should really work on, which one I should finish first, and which one I want to work on. Writing, for me, is a lot about emotion. This is also how I handle my food. Moods. If I am not in a mood to have meatballs, I don't want to eat meatballs. However, when I am in the mood for something, I just have to have it. This is how I handle my writing a lot. If I desperately want to work on a book, that is what I want to work on. A lot of the time, also, this has a lot to do with the characters I think about most often and most vividly. So many emotions, good thing writing and books have so much to do with emotion.
But like I said, it was not that I had nothing. I knew what project I was starting on, and I knew where the whole book would go, because it is the second book in a series, but I had no clue how I wanted to start it. I knew that three things needed to happen in the beginning of the book, but I wanted to perfect scene/sentence to start the book. Now, I am well aware that nothing is or ever will be perfect, so don't start with me. But first lines are my thing. Not that I ever have perfect, or even good first lines. What I mean, is I think the first line of a book is so important, so crucial that it needs to be as close to perfect as it can be. This is what I was struggling with. The sentences I thought I had for the three scenes I could have used were not coming to me. I also think I was stuck in my own head. I felt like I needed to start this project because it was the first of a new month and because my friends who love to read my books wanted a new one. Ugh! But then I wrote a first sentence, whether it be good or not, and then words just started flowing out of me. It was awesome. I felt accomplished and a little less like a failure. And I think that is what we writers need to do sometimes, get out of our own heads. We can be really detrimental to ourselves, if you know what I mean.
I wish there was more time in the day, or that I didn't have to sleep. There are so many project I want to work on and I feel like I don't have enough time to work on them all. Jackson Pearce tweeted to day that when she figures out how to teleport shit is going to get real. I wish I new how to teleport. I hate driving. Also, I would go to so many places I want to see, like New Zealand, England, Rome, and so many other places.
I live in Nebraska, and if you know anything about being a nerd, and living in Nebraska, then you know that unless you want to travel a long ways, you will never see any of the authors that you like. I wanted to see Maggie Stiefvater a few years ago but the closest she was to me was over five hours away and I just couldn't make that work. Even a couple weeks ago, there were three authors I really like that were in Des Moines, IA, but it was short notice and several hours away and I just didn't get to see them. But now, Maggie is going to be in Omaha, in July, which is only three hours away and two months notice, and I totally get to go. I am so excited!!
I feel like there are a lot of things to do, besides publishing my book, as an author. I already have a Twitter page, so that is covered. I also have a blog, so that is covered. However, I feel like I need to post more often. But then there is a Facebook page, a website, and a lot of other things. Especially since I am self publishing. I will have to get the word of my books out all by myself. But if I really want to do this, being a writer this, then I am okay with that. I will put in the work, because I have only ever wanted to be a writer, and I know that I will only ever want to be a writer.
Well, I feel like I have said enough for one day. Thank you for reading, and until next time.
March 7, 2014
Story Development and World Building
I have normally do not have an issue with story development or world building, but I am finding that as I try to develop a new story, I am having issues.
Normally, I love my brain. It works in mysterious ways most of the time, but I love the way it works. This come out of nowhere that I find brilliant. One time I came up with an entire story from one line of dialogue. The whole story was there, not just bits and pieces, the whole thing. I knew what the issues were, what was going to happen, and how it was going to end. This happens a lot. Or when I come up with new stories, ideas come gradually but never few and far between.
However, that is not the case as I try to develop a certain new story. The idea came to me as a snipet and has practically stayed that way the whole time. Most of the time, when I try to develop the story and to learn where it will be going, it comes to me in big chunks. Not the case with this one. I got the idea as that tiny bit, what the characters were. Normally I get characters names and persons right away. Not so with this one. Characters names and personalities are not hard for me, but this time, it was nearly impossible. I'm not even sure I have them now. I keep thinking, oh, this person could be this or this person could be this, but then I think but this person could not be this but something else. I thought I had the two main characters but decided to change the name of the main girl character. Ugh. It is so frustrating. I wanted some of the characters to stay at a certain place but then I wondered why they stayed there or what purpose does it serve. This never happens to me. Most of the time I just have aha moments that astound me. Now, I wonder where my brain has gone. Possibly the bahamas. I suspect it is much warmer there.
I can't even figure out what the conflict of the story is. It is maddening. I feel like I have failed my brain, or perhaps that my brain has failed me. Either way. Last night I had a bit of a breakthrough with the story and I wanted to cry. It was one of those aha moments and I just wanted to cherish it. Because with this story, they are few and far between.
Well, there you have it folks, the rant of a girl who fears she has lost her aha moments.
Normally, I love my brain. It works in mysterious ways most of the time, but I love the way it works. This come out of nowhere that I find brilliant. One time I came up with an entire story from one line of dialogue. The whole story was there, not just bits and pieces, the whole thing. I knew what the issues were, what was going to happen, and how it was going to end. This happens a lot. Or when I come up with new stories, ideas come gradually but never few and far between.
However, that is not the case as I try to develop a certain new story. The idea came to me as a snipet and has practically stayed that way the whole time. Most of the time, when I try to develop the story and to learn where it will be going, it comes to me in big chunks. Not the case with this one. I got the idea as that tiny bit, what the characters were. Normally I get characters names and persons right away. Not so with this one. Characters names and personalities are not hard for me, but this time, it was nearly impossible. I'm not even sure I have them now. I keep thinking, oh, this person could be this or this person could be this, but then I think but this person could not be this but something else. I thought I had the two main characters but decided to change the name of the main girl character. Ugh. It is so frustrating. I wanted some of the characters to stay at a certain place but then I wondered why they stayed there or what purpose does it serve. This never happens to me. Most of the time I just have aha moments that astound me. Now, I wonder where my brain has gone. Possibly the bahamas. I suspect it is much warmer there.
I can't even figure out what the conflict of the story is. It is maddening. I feel like I have failed my brain, or perhaps that my brain has failed me. Either way. Last night I had a bit of a breakthrough with the story and I wanted to cry. It was one of those aha moments and I just wanted to cherish it. Because with this story, they are few and far between.
Well, there you have it folks, the rant of a girl who fears she has lost her aha moments.
February 28, 2014
Editing
I'm not sure if I've already said this, but I am not one for editing. Not at all.
I have already said that I plan on self publishing my books. Now, self publishing may be considered easy, or a cop out, or a way to deal with failure. However, that is not the case. There is so much more that goes in to self publishing that no one knows, cares to know, and so on. I will get into this on another blog when I get farther into the process.
Right now, the guy who is designing my covers is already at it, so that leaves me with the task of perfecting the book so it is ready when the cover is. Now I really don't like editing. I know I have talked about this before. I also know that I said that when I started totally rewriting one other of my books that I was in love with it, but I am again faced with editing a book.
First off, this is the first book I ever wrote and it is my baby. I love it to pieces. I know that it is not perfect, and I know that it needs a lot of work, but I just find editing daunting, and scary, and mean. I know that my book is not perfect and that I truly will have to edit it if I want it to be any good and if I want people to read it.
The first thing that I am fixing is the tense. I wrote it in past tense, but I just like present tense, and also it works better in present tense. Now, my jeez, let me tell you how hard it is and how time consuming it is to switch tenses on an 80k word novel. It's not necessarily hard, but it does take a lot to find every single word. Ugh. And it takes so long. It took me like a half hour to do one chapter the other day.
Then, there are plot holes I have to fix, and things that resemble too closely to other books, and grammar issues, and emotional issues, and telling not showing issues. Oh. The issues.
I am the type of person that would MUCH rather create than edit. I can create all day long, but the moment I have to edit, I spend barely any time on it. I am such a terrible writer. I realize that editing is something that must be done in order for a good product, I just don't like it, and I like to wine about it on here.
But there is just something about creating, writing fresh, discovering new things, that is infinitely better than editing, and fixing. What writer wants to fix things? What writer wants an editor to tell them their writing sucks and they need to fix it? Not me. I know that I need to just buck up and do it, but I still don't want to.
So there you have it folks, you now know where I stand on creating vs. editing. I hope you enjoyed my rant. Tata.
I have already said that I plan on self publishing my books. Now, self publishing may be considered easy, or a cop out, or a way to deal with failure. However, that is not the case. There is so much more that goes in to self publishing that no one knows, cares to know, and so on. I will get into this on another blog when I get farther into the process.
Right now, the guy who is designing my covers is already at it, so that leaves me with the task of perfecting the book so it is ready when the cover is. Now I really don't like editing. I know I have talked about this before. I also know that I said that when I started totally rewriting one other of my books that I was in love with it, but I am again faced with editing a book.
First off, this is the first book I ever wrote and it is my baby. I love it to pieces. I know that it is not perfect, and I know that it needs a lot of work, but I just find editing daunting, and scary, and mean. I know that my book is not perfect and that I truly will have to edit it if I want it to be any good and if I want people to read it.
The first thing that I am fixing is the tense. I wrote it in past tense, but I just like present tense, and also it works better in present tense. Now, my jeez, let me tell you how hard it is and how time consuming it is to switch tenses on an 80k word novel. It's not necessarily hard, but it does take a lot to find every single word. Ugh. And it takes so long. It took me like a half hour to do one chapter the other day.
Then, there are plot holes I have to fix, and things that resemble too closely to other books, and grammar issues, and emotional issues, and telling not showing issues. Oh. The issues.
I am the type of person that would MUCH rather create than edit. I can create all day long, but the moment I have to edit, I spend barely any time on it. I am such a terrible writer. I realize that editing is something that must be done in order for a good product, I just don't like it, and I like to wine about it on here.
But there is just something about creating, writing fresh, discovering new things, that is infinitely better than editing, and fixing. What writer wants to fix things? What writer wants an editor to tell them their writing sucks and they need to fix it? Not me. I know that I need to just buck up and do it, but I still don't want to.
So there you have it folks, you now know where I stand on creating vs. editing. I hope you enjoyed my rant. Tata.
February 21, 2014
Finishing A Book
Last night, I finished writing my book. I cannot say how good that feels. I was so happy. But today I almost feel lost. I wanted to finish for so long and to have it done. But I have also spent the past few months writing every single night, and now that I have finished it and don't have to write every night, I don't know what to do with myself.
I already miss writing those characters. But at the same time, I am looking forward to working on other projects. My brain is going in too many directions, having too many conflicting feelings. Poor thing.
I truly thought finishing this book was going to take far longer than it did. I knew how I wanted it to end, but I wasn't sure how I was going to get there. Then yesterday I added a scene that was just going to be a filler scene. One that would merely act as a way to bring three of the characters closer. But when I thought about it, I had one of those light bulb goes on over the head moments. An aha moment if you will. And I knew how I was going to end it and how I was going to get there. It was amazing. I also had one of those moments where I really love my brain. Because sometimes, I do truly love my brain.
Normally I write about 2,000 words a night. Now, I started writing the ending scene but didn't think I was going to finish it in one night. I thought it might take me two nights at least. But then I started writing it and getting further into it and I just couldn't stop. I had to finish it. Many of the reasons I stop writing for the night is because I want to go to bed or because I don't know where to go from where I am at. But last night, I ended up writing 5, 414 words to finish it.
This book is by far the most complicated book I have written. It is by far the most involved book I have written. It is by far the most emotional book I have written. And I love it. Of course, it kind of has to be all those things because it is the first book in a trilogy.
It also happens to be the longest book I have ever written. The total word count of the book is 94,890 words. Once I got over the word count of my previous longest book, I felt a rush of accomplishment for every thousand words over it I got. I am certainly a strange person but I happen to be okay with that.
Anyway, I have finished it and I feel great. I feel accomplished. I feel like I have achieved a victory over something. I just feel lots of things. I recommend finishing a book if you want to feel great about yourself.
Once again, I have twitter if you would like to follow me. My handle is @LaciMaskell
I already miss writing those characters. But at the same time, I am looking forward to working on other projects. My brain is going in too many directions, having too many conflicting feelings. Poor thing.
I truly thought finishing this book was going to take far longer than it did. I knew how I wanted it to end, but I wasn't sure how I was going to get there. Then yesterday I added a scene that was just going to be a filler scene. One that would merely act as a way to bring three of the characters closer. But when I thought about it, I had one of those light bulb goes on over the head moments. An aha moment if you will. And I knew how I was going to end it and how I was going to get there. It was amazing. I also had one of those moments where I really love my brain. Because sometimes, I do truly love my brain.
Normally I write about 2,000 words a night. Now, I started writing the ending scene but didn't think I was going to finish it in one night. I thought it might take me two nights at least. But then I started writing it and getting further into it and I just couldn't stop. I had to finish it. Many of the reasons I stop writing for the night is because I want to go to bed or because I don't know where to go from where I am at. But last night, I ended up writing 5, 414 words to finish it.
This book is by far the most complicated book I have written. It is by far the most involved book I have written. It is by far the most emotional book I have written. And I love it. Of course, it kind of has to be all those things because it is the first book in a trilogy.
It also happens to be the longest book I have ever written. The total word count of the book is 94,890 words. Once I got over the word count of my previous longest book, I felt a rush of accomplishment for every thousand words over it I got. I am certainly a strange person but I happen to be okay with that.
Anyway, I have finished it and I feel great. I feel accomplished. I feel like I have achieved a victory over something. I just feel lots of things. I recommend finishing a book if you want to feel great about yourself.
Once again, I have twitter if you would like to follow me. My handle is @LaciMaskell
