Excited and Confused: ROW80 Check In
Late to post, but good news to share. Depression Cookies was just honored with a Silver Award for Realistic Fiction in the 2011 Readers Favorite book awards. In addition, we were named a Finalist in the Chick Lit category.
After a week of questioning myself and my character, this was a nice reboot. But the pressure is on... Depression Cookies was also a Finalist in the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. I don't want to sully the story by not putting out a quality sequel.
As a reader, do you have much higher expectations for the sequel? I've often commented about sequel-syndrome, how sequels often disappoint (especially the second book in a trilogy).
This leads me to the worries I've been having about writing my character again. I am so attached to her, yet I understand the need to age her slightly and allow her to grow up. An early reader I really trust warned me that her voice, thoughts, reactions need to age. But I hestitate to age her too much. I'm nearing 40, and I still have 15 year old thoughts running through my head. Granted they are balanced with older, more mature thoughts. I want her to age, but I think her inner musings won't change drastically.
If you are attached to a character, how much to do want to see him/her grow? If the character changes too drastically is something lost?
Brief progress update:
- Sequel is moving along, but had to rework the first two chapters due to an inconsistency between our chapters. The joys of co-writing. I worked on the sequel two hours today alone. No major word count tallies, but I felt good about the progress.
- Making great progress toward my editing goal. Still hope to be done by Friday.
- Homework. Check. Sign up for SITS 31DBBB challenge. Check. (although I'm finding the forum aspects confusing) Leave encouraging comments for fellow ROW80 participants. Check. Book Reviews, so close.
Overall, I feel great about the week.
Goals for the upcoming week:
- Finish Sequel
- Two book reviews
- Finish editing and request more chapters
- Read my book club book by Wednesday, September 7th.
Hope my fellow A Round of Words in 80 Days particpants feel good about their weeks, too. Let me know! If you stop by, I'd love some thoughts on my questions above.
After a week of questioning myself and my character, this was a nice reboot. But the pressure is on... Depression Cookies was also a Finalist in the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. I don't want to sully the story by not putting out a quality sequel.As a reader, do you have much higher expectations for the sequel? I've often commented about sequel-syndrome, how sequels often disappoint (especially the second book in a trilogy).
This leads me to the worries I've been having about writing my character again. I am so attached to her, yet I understand the need to age her slightly and allow her to grow up. An early reader I really trust warned me that her voice, thoughts, reactions need to age. But I hestitate to age her too much. I'm nearing 40, and I still have 15 year old thoughts running through my head. Granted they are balanced with older, more mature thoughts. I want her to age, but I think her inner musings won't change drastically.
If you are attached to a character, how much to do want to see him/her grow? If the character changes too drastically is something lost?
Brief progress update:
- Sequel is moving along, but had to rework the first two chapters due to an inconsistency between our chapters. The joys of co-writing. I worked on the sequel two hours today alone. No major word count tallies, but I felt good about the progress.
- Making great progress toward my editing goal. Still hope to be done by Friday.
- Homework. Check. Sign up for SITS 31DBBB challenge. Check. (although I'm finding the forum aspects confusing) Leave encouraging comments for fellow ROW80 participants. Check. Book Reviews, so close.
Overall, I feel great about the week.
Goals for the upcoming week:
- Finish Sequel
- Two book reviews
- Finish editing and request more chapters
- Read my book club book by Wednesday, September 7th.
Hope my fellow A Round of Words in 80 Days particpants feel good about their weeks, too. Let me know! If you stop by, I'd love some thoughts on my questions above.
No comments have been added yet.
