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2015 Daily Writing Cheering Squad
I just edited the last 14 pages of my WIP today! All I have left to do is write an epilogue this weekend and then send it to the editor on Monday.How was your day?
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I am reading through a manuscript I will publish closer to the end of the year. Trying to kill my darlings. :)
I'm trying to figure out how to insert a picture. Imagine pompoms, Kim!Don't you love that feeling when you read through your work and you feel proud, and then you can't wait to share it. I hope you're feeling that while things get bloody with your darlings!
I do! It's weird...now when I read through it, I can see pretty clearly that the beginning needs to be reworked. I also see I need to flesh out some scenes and get rid of at least three characters.
I'm still keeping at finishing my nano project:) Up to about 30,000 words now so keeping at it. It's going well even if slow.I still have the pinterest page with all of my cyborg, android, steampunk images. It really helps.
http://www.pinterest.com/mrsbookmark/...
I am writing much better. As I get further into the chapters, I am able to streamline the various subplots and stick with the main dynamic between my heroine and my hero. The first few chapters are a mess, but it gave me the worldbuilding. They'll likely be cut as around chapter 5 things take off.
Echo that board is gorgeous! It made me want to write something futuristic. Its awesome that you can be honest (and cutthroat) about what's best for your book. Many writers would want to hold on to that five chapters of words that they made sound pretty. Good for you that you know when and how to use the scissors!
I don't know about you guys, but I have to write on the weekend. My children have a ton of activities where I can sit on the sidelines with a notepad and write.Got a huge chunk of my WIP edits typed in. Also did a passable draft of the dreaded epilogue. Its decent. I think it actually might be passable for Monday's turn in to the Editor.
I'm now off to watch Episodes 1 & 2 of the new Syfy series "12 Monkeys" with the fam.
I worked on fleshing out a scene near the end of Maybe Tomorrow. I still need to flesh out some "middle" scenes as well, but I hope I can finish those in the next two weeks.My weekends are when I usually get the most writing done. It depends though--on my husband. If he has something to keep him busy, he gives me the time I need to write. If he doesn't have something he can work on while I am writing, then he is worse than a child.
Hi all,I enjoyed writing love stories as a teen and didn't pick it back up again until well into my thirties. Now between kids, work, school and familial responsibilities, I only get to write and hour before my own bedtime when everyone else is asleep.
I am currently working on my second IR. The issue I am running into is how to get to one place from another. So I know the major events I want to occur, but for some reason I am finding the initial transitions to those events difficult. I'm only in chapter four though and hope that once my characters settle down with each other it will be less difficult.
Hi Cecily! Don't worry about getting them from one place to another at your first draft stage. You can work that out later. Focus on getting your main plot and subplots down and then you can go back and figure out everything else. :)
Hi Cecily! Welcome! So excited your writing with us. I agree with Kim. Just get those words on the page (or screen). I spent one year writing the first three chapters of my first novel because I picked over every word.Last year, I wrote four books in six months. I just sat down each day and let the characters talk and I transcribed. Now that I'm cleaning up those manuscripts, I'm being picky over the words and the transitions. But it comes easily now because the entire story is spread out before me.
Kim, I was trying to put up a funny picture of a man-child, but I'm still image-challenged.
Today, I finished the last pass of my current WIP. It goes off to the editor in the morning! I have some time before the next in the series is due, so I'm going to work on a short novella. Like you, Cecily, I'll be writing once everyone in my household goes to bed. I'll be mentally sending you transition words!!
Ines wrote: "Hi Cecily! Welcome! So excited your writing with us. I agree with Kim. Just get those words on the page (or screen). I spent one year writing the first three chapters of my first novel because I pi..."Lol! Ines, today, he was much better. He spent most of the day cooking, so I had plenty of time to write. :) Just imagine a very handsome 45-year-old Swedish man with white blond hair dancing around the kitchen in a Philadelphia Flyers t-shirt and black shorts and you have my hubby. :)
Kim wrote: "Hi Cecily! Don't worry about getting them from one place to another at your first draft stage. You can work that out later. Focus on getting your main plot and subplots down and then you can go bac..."Kim wrote: "Hi Cecily! Don't worry about getting them from one place to another at your first draft stage. You can work that out later. Focus on getting your main plot and subplots down and then you can go bac..."
Thanks Kim,
I am going to give that a shot tonight. I've been playing out some of the events in my mind and trying to hold onto them until I get the in between down. I don't know why I created that rule for myself, but it's nice to get "permission" to let that go. I will just right whatever comes to me tonight.
Ines wrote: "Hi Cecily! Welcome! So excited your writing with us. I agree with Kim. Just get those words on the page (or screen). I spent one year writing the first three chapters of my first novel because I pi..."Four books in six months is quite a task. It's funny, because when my kids write that's what I tell them. Just write what comes to you and edit later, yet I haven't been able to do that this time around. Do you work with an outline or do you just go with an overall idea and then just write?
Thanks for the supportive words and thoughts.
Hi Cecily! Transitions will generally come easier the second draft, so just get the words down. You can do it! Congrats on getting the current WIP done Ines.
@Kim, that's hott!@Cecily, I love outlining and plotting. Its my favorite part of the process. I use Scrivner's outline and notecard function.
@Echo, thanks! I often listening to podcasts before I write. I listened to this one about Roxie Rivera before finishing that WIP off. Her production schedule is a new title every 6 weeks.
http://rockingselfpublishing.com/epis...
BTW Ines, I forgot to cheer you on for finishing your draft! Hoot-hoot, sweetie! :D
Thanks Kim!I didn't get any new words into the manuscript today. Carried around a notebook and made notes as I visited family and they stuffed my belly with fruit salad, pancakes and vegetable lo mein. Crazy combination, I know! I'm about to crash at 9pm.
This morning before I left out, I did finish formatting my manuscript for print in InDesign. It was hard, and time consuming, but I had to do it myself because I've used up my total budget for this book with editing, cover design, and marketing. Luckily, I'm comfortable in other Adobe products, so the learning curve wasn't that steep. Those who do it for a living deserve their paycheck.
I wish you all "Twilight" dreams (remember, Stephanie Myer had a dream about Bella and Edward and woke up to write it;-)
Ines, I think it is great how much you get done with your writing each day. You're a good role model. I couldn't sleep last night and woke up around 3:45 in the morning. I decided to write and got two hours in. My WIP is moving along and I am thinking about reworking a book a wrote years ago aimed at tweens. I feel like I'm having a writing surge and trying to take advantage of it. Good night!
I usually buy my templates from http://www.bookdesigntemplates.com since I am not very good at formatting myself. I may hire someone to do the next one for me. Looking for a good editor now though. The editor I used last time was good but she still missed a few things (and so did I).
Also trying to decide how many Danish words + place names to leave in the manuscript. Since most of the book takes place in Copenhagen, it makes sense to add some to give a flavour of the setting. But I had one reader who sent me an email and complained about the Danish place names--she wanted me to translate them to English, which felt wrong to me.
@Kim, I've read your work before and I actually appreciate being taken somewhere else. I just Googled references I didn't know. I think go with your gut on it. It's important to elevate the conversations we are having between readers and writers and introducing readers to new places can be a part of that. Perhaps would it be beneficial to add a map or a list of Danish words and English translation in the back of the book? JR Tolkien style? Speaking of editing and proofing, I did not make the investment with my last book and realize the error. I'm currently in Grad school and write all of the time. People come to me to edit their work. I am usually on it with grammar, but as thoughts are spilling out I must be getting sloppy. I of course edited the work but missed a few things. It's almost painful to know I have a few in there. I am looking to hire someone for the next one, but as you mentioned, budgets.
BTW, I used the same company for my cover and I am really happy with it .
@Ines, checking out Scriveners now. It might even be helpful with all the writing I do for school. Research papers can be awful to organize. Thanks for the info.
My plan today - some outlining and then industry research, after school work is done, hopefully. Happy Writing!
@Kim, I've read your work before and I actually appreciate being taken somewhere else. I just Googled references I didn't know. I think go with your gut on it. It's important to elevate the conversations we are having between readers and writers and introducing readers to new places can be a part of that. Perhaps would it be beneficial to add a map or a list of Danish words and English translation in the back of the book? JR Tolkien style? Speaking of editing and proofing, I did not make the investment with my last book and realize the error. I'm currently in Grad school and write all of the time. People come to me to edit their work. I am usually on it with grammar, but as thoughts are spilling out I must be getting sloppy. I of course edited the work but missed a few things. It's almost painful to know I have a few in there. I am looking to hire someone for the next one, but as you mentioned, budgets.
BTW, I used the same company for my cover and I am really happy with it .
@Ines, checking out Scriveners now. It might even be helpful with all the writing I do for school. Research papers can be awful to organize. Thanks for the info.
My plan today - some outlining and then industry research, after school work is done, hopefully. Happy Writing!
Cecily wrote: "@Kim, I've read your work before and I actually appreciate being taken somewhere else. I just Googled references I didn't know. I think go with your gut on it. It's important to elevate the con..."I think I may add a map + footnotes when I use Danish phrases so people can see the translation immediately.
And Scrivener--I love it. I write all my novels in Scrivener. :)
@Kim, my friend Leslye just wrote a great blog about maps and map making for books. Check it out: https://theindiecolophon.wordpress.com/
And that print template resource is excellent -thank you!
@Cecily, there are Youtube Tutorials on how to use Scrivner with research papers.
No words in the manuscript today for the new WIP. Fleshed out the outline though. Then reread 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love for inspiration.Oh and I published the third and final installment in my erotic romance serial today! Tomorrow I'm running my first paid ad. Wish me a rankings boost!
Ines wrote: "No words in the manuscript today for the new WIP. Fleshed out the outline though. Then reread 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love for inspir..."Congratulations Ines and good luck.
Kim, I didn't find any of the Danish names confusing because you wrote clearly enough to give context. It's your decision, but I'd hate for you to lose your unique style.
Cecily, Scrivener is wonderful. I am so pleased with that software.
Wrote steadily on WIP. I have two key scenes I'd like to get done before the weekend. It's a major turning point, so I feel if I can get that cleared I can go back a few chapters and keep my events in order.
Wrote for about three hours today. Dealing with mental health in my WIP and trying to see if it works well with a romance. I hope it does, because it is a major part of my plot and premise. Working through Scrivener's tutorial.
Today will be a full day of writing.I'm working on an article, school work and my WIP. I think I will have carpal tunnel syndrome by the end of the day.
Happy writing all.
Ines wrote: "@Kim, my friend Leslye just wrote a great blog about maps and map making for books. Check it out: https://theindiecolophon.wordpress.com/
And that print template resource is excellent -thank you..."
Thanks for the tip! I am going to check it out now. I haven't got any writing done today but I did meet a writer friend and discuss the plot of her novel. :)
@Cecily, that sounds awesome! Not the carpal tunnel. Your character. I love a flawed or imperfect character. My vote (because your writing is a democracy;-) is to go for it!@Kim, helping a writer friend is-too getting writing work done. If your friend gets their words out because of you listening to their plot issues, then you get credit!
@me
-I got some great character work done on the WIP.
-I threw in the towel on trying to do my print cover for my current release myself and paid my cover designer to do it for me.
-I also got the designer to move up the schedule for my next book cover.
-I've decided to go a virtual writer's conference with my critique partner. http://authormarketinglive.com/
-And finally, my critique partner and I pledged to add daily reading to our daily page count goals. Neither of us has read a book in the last two weeks. That's just not right!
The best thing I did last night and this morning was to get some reading in! It felt like a homecoming putting my nose in the Kindle.Then I got down to business and did some serious replotting of my WIP.
And finally, I revised a free story that I'm posting to my newsletter subscribers tomorrow. I've earned an early bedtime. See you all in the morning. I have Friday's 'off' from my day job. I use air quotes because I always spend the day writing at a coffee shop.
Whose got something to cheer?
I've got nothing...;) No, seriously, I didn't have time to get any writing done yesterday. However, I'm testing an editor to see if we're a good fit.
@Kim, Good luck with your editor. Its kind of like finding a hair dresser. Its such an intimate and long process with someone digging their hands all up in your personal space.Today I met up with girlfriends and ate a lot, and I mean A LOT, of carbs. Now I'm so sleepy. Only got 374 words today. Gonna curl up and read and watch television. Then head back to it tomorrow.
I spent the day playing around on Wattpad and creating a cover for a free story I'm writing. I'm gonna count that as writing even though I didn't get any new words into the manuscript, and I'm not gonna tonight. Its family movie night. We're watching the first two episodes of the Syfy series 12 Monkeys and eating double dark chocolate cookies with cookie dough ice cream -yum!
Ines wrote: "@Kim, Good luck with your editor. Its kind of like finding a hair dresser. Its such an intimate and long process with someone digging their hands all up in your personal space.Today I met up with..."
Anxiously awaiting feedback from possible editor. Spent most of yesterday dealing with a sinus headache, so not much writing was done. However, I did jot down some notes for scenes.
I also updated my vision board on Pinterest with more images of Kerry Washington and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (who were inspiration for Laney & Mads in Maybe Baby) since I am planning another novella featuring them.
I had a great day! 990 really good words! Feeling really encouraged as I go into this week.
Ines wrote: "I had a great day! 990 really good words! Feeling really encouraged as I go into this week."Very cool! :) Yesterday afternoon I worked on a couple of scenes, and then I spent the rest of the evening talking writing with my husband, who has an idea for a sci-fi novel he wants to write in Swedish. Which is great--*no one* writes sci-fi in Swedish. It's either thrillers/mysteries a la The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or literary fiction about dysfunctional families.
Work has kept me from writing, but did some reading and felt inspired. Up now before the kids trying to get some words in and critically thinking about my author voice and practicing ways to write more sultry than actual sex. Also, trying to get a handle on how long this WIP will be. 83 pages in and I know I am not near the end. Will probably have A LOT of paring down to do.
I had another great day! 1106 words in the WIP. I find that if I just get a couple of hundred words in the morning, I'll itch to finish the scene before I go to bed.I hope you guys got some words in today!
Ines wrote: "I had another great day! 1106 words in the WIP. I find that if I just get a couple of hundred words in the morning, I'll itch to finish the scene before I go to bed.I hope you guys got some words..."
Way to go Ines! I got about 2,000 words done. I feel like there's a lot missing from the scenes that I've been writing, but I feel like I just need to get the words down, and then I can go back and fix everything. :/ That always makes me feel uneasy, but I've got to keep going!
2000 words is an amazing word count, Bianca!! Cheers to you!Iot it in early today. Only had one student show up to my 8am Scriptwriting class. We both sat quietly and wrote for about 2 hours. I got 1095 words for the WIP. Its not a perfect scene, but there's a lot of stuff in there that's good and I'm excited to clean it up later. I worked in the story of the frog and the scorpion and Buddha sitting under the Bodhi Tree! I LOVE THIS STORY!!!
Last night, instead of writing, I took part in a Writers Digest with Ivory Madison and it focused on writing a good first draft in 30 days + self-editing. Then I read through some notes I wrote down a few days ago and tried to decide how to implement them into my WIP.
Tonight I will give myself 90 minutes to write some scenes. Hopefully, I won't be disturbed while I am writing. :)
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The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears
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How do you all feel about writing books? Those "how-to" guides and such. I've found they actually inhibit my creativity rather than help it, which explains why they're collecting dust or used as a doorstop, lol. The only writing guide that was actually any use (and was really inspiring) was No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days. I used this for my first NaNoWriMo and still refer to it.
Hey all just thought I'd introduce myself.. Well I started writing a book for my own pleasure and had no intentions of sharing it with world... Now a few years later I'm still at it and dare I say I feel my writing has improved and hopefully I will finish it this year
@Fountain PenI read writing guides when I'm stuck on plot in the beginning. They allow me to make sure my stories don't fall apart in the middle. But you have to follow your Muse. If she says let them collect dust, that's what you do.
@Lorraine, Hi! Welcome! I think all hobbies are careers waiting for us to patiently put in our notice at the other place. I hope you keep writing with us.
My day? Not so great. Wednesday is the day I play chauffeur to my kids all evening. I got the beginning of a scene done (357 words) and outlined the rest. Hoping it flows out of me tomorrow.
TheFountainPenDiva wrote: "How do you all feel about writing books? Those "how-to" guides and such. I've found they actually inhibit my creativity rather than help it, which explains why they're collecting dust or used as a ..."The first time I tried NanoWrimo, I tried to follow the No Plot... guide, but it didn't really help me. I ended up following a friend's plan--which was come up with your dream cast, make vision boards, write a plot outline, and then give yourself at least an hour a day to write.
Lorraine wrote: "Hey all just thought I'd introduce myself.. Well I started writing a book for my own pleasure and had no intentions of sharing it with world... Now a few years later I'm still at it and dare I say ..."Hi Lorraine! Welcome to the group! :) Kudos to you for following your dream. :)
TheFountainPenDiva wrote: "How do you all feel about writing books? Those "how-to" guides and such. I've found they actually inhibit my creativity rather than help it, which explains why they're collecting dust or used as a ..."It's funny that you brought this up because after I was done with Distractions, I didn't know where to start with my next book. I had an idea but had NOOO idea how to get from A - B. I thought the plot was too simplistic.
So, like the OCD, distracted writer I am, I spent like three days Googling (is that how you spell it?) 'How to plot a novel that kicks ass'. Of course I used variations of that search term, but you get the point.
I found the Snowflake Method - that just pissed me off. I want the basics, and then I want to write. I don't want to spend three months planning.
Then I found the Post-it Note method - basically, you write every detail that you have on a post it - each color is a different character, setting, scene, arc, emotional development, etc, - that pissed me off. I ended up having a wall covered in different colored notes. I couldn't organize or find what I was looking for.
Just when I was about to give up and say that I had writers block and walk away from the story for another - god knows how long - the clouds parted and...
I came across this.... Writing a Plot that Grips your Readers
in conjunction with this... How to plot a novel in 5 steps
These 2 articles, especially the second one, totally changed how I plot my novels. I do use Excel to plot out scenes, it makes it much easier to move scenes around and decide which ones to edit out.
I hope these helped. They certainly worked for me.
Lorraine wrote: "Hey all just thought I'd introduce myself.. Well I started writing a book for my own pleasure and had no intentions of sharing it with world... Now a few years later I'm still at it and dare I say ..."Hey Lorraine. Welcome. Just don't stop writing :) It took me forever to share my stuff and I love going back to read my old stuff. I can tell that I've grown because as I'm reading it, I always mentally groan and think, 'what the hell was I thinking?'
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