Monday, June 21, 2010

Monday...

Another nice Monday without appointments! Yay. It is now 4:02 and I want to share with you where I've gotten to on my list.
Novel - I've done two sets of revision sessions both covering 20 pages - looking for plot holes etc. I'm now at page 210 out of 304. In other words, in the fat flabby centre and I'm having fat flabby centre problems. This has caused me to rethink this part of the process. I know, I know - it was going so well but now it isn't. I know there is something wrong with this part of the novel and I can't get to it the way I'm going. Soooooo...I'm picking up a technique from Nail Your Novel. In her free ebook by the same name, Roz Morris, suggests doing a beat sheet at this stage of revision. It means going through the whole thing and writing out each beat or scene with a timeline along side. You condense it as much as possible so you can see how the whole thing moves or doesn't. I'm going to do it. I am absolutely dedicated to doing this thing right and not letting my impatience and hurry up driver dictate otherwise. I will report on how it goes.
Walked Dog -
contacted clients to setup appointments
figured out dinner
cleaned bedroom, dusted and changed sheets
sent off medical receipts
found rest of tax stuff
sat (meditated)
swept and vacuumed office

So - you can see how it is going. I'm not procrastinating on the writing because I have better things to spend that on! Now I'm going to go do one of those other things...but I'm not telling you which one. I figure I have three more hours to devote to my list - how will it go????





Oh and by the way, she said so casually...I'm going to meet the Queen next week. Yep, I'm going with my pal, Arlo, who got an invite and wouldn't have gone because he isn't a monarchist but he knew I'd like to so he accepted! We're going to watch her unvail a plaque down at the waterfront. I'm going to wear a REALLY BIG HAT! Arlo is nearly 90 and has a long white beard so we're sure to stand out.
Oh, I love the Queen. And I'm not a monarchist either. I just do OK. Does everything have to make sense!?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by my blog--so nice to meet you!!!!

You know, I've been revising my most recent WIP since November--I totally hear ya on the "slogginess" of the process. I'm waiting for a new beta to give me some feedback before I attempt querying. In the meantime, I'm working on a new WIP--fresh words and new world building is so refreshing for the creative juices!

Good luck with your project!! :D

Roz Morris aka @Roz_Morris . Blog: Nail Your Novel said...

Hi Jan! Delighted you found Nail Your Novel useful. Do report back on what happens when you write your beat sheet. And congratulations on your dedication. Sometimes stubbornness is all that gets books written!

Jan Morrison said...

D- thanks for dropping by here. I am unsure what a new 'beta' is. Reminds me of Anne Blythe of Anne of Green Gable's fame who thought a honeymoon was a bicycle built for two. I think perhaps a beta is an android that sits down quietly with one's manuscript and plots what is to be done next. Ah. How nice! I cannot start another WIP because I already have several at several stages. I'm really trying hard to stick to this one for now and so keep in the process. I'll drop by and see how you're doing from time to time...
Roz - don't worry - I will spill all here at Crazy Jane. I find it helps enormously to chart my progress as I go and set my goals publically. And I'll be spending lots of time at your site - it is chock full of help!

Helen Ginger said...

Are you practicing your curtsy? And never look her in the eye, right?

Unknown said...

Wow, that's great. You're doing so much. I'm jealous that your meeting our queen. Not that I'm such a monarchist but I think it would be a neat experience.

CD

Jan Morrison said...

Helen and Clarissa - I think there will be quite a large crowd of invitees so I probably won't be able to practice my curtsey. I'm used to bowing though - we do it for all our teachers so perhaps she'd like that! I'll just be glad to see her from less of a distance than if I were in the road! And I have to remember to not go all Beatlemania on her. Because it would mortify Arlo. Ah, life is so rich and weird!

Ann said...

You have great stamina! Continued goodluck with the revisions. If I was going to do one thing from your list it would be sit and meditate. Hope you have a great Monday, and summer solstice.

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

Because you’re working on your manuscript on a daily basis, I think the fix will pop in your head when you least expect it. Have fun with the Queen!

Jan Morrison said...

Thanks Ann - sorry that wasn't it. I cleaned my office. Had to. Woofies big as sheep. bahing in the corner. Come to think of it maybe they were Elspeth's sheep from It's a Mystery...hmmm...

Hi Jane - you snuck in while I was answering Ann! Thanks for the vote of confidence - I will believe you to be correct!

Mason Canyon said...

Oh, do enjoy your visit with the Queen. Will there be photos for us to see?

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I want to see a picture of the big hat! :)

Good luck with the revision work.

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

I'm amazed at how much you cross off your to-do list AND still get revisions done! And you're going to meet the Queen. Squeeee!

Good luck with your revisions - sometimes they're easier than first draft writing, sometimes not!

Hope your 'boet' (brother) is enjoying Soccer World Cup in sunny (but freezing) South Africa. The vibe is terrific - vuvuzela's haven't stopped blowing since the opening ceremony!! :)
Judy

Jan Morrison said...

Mason - I'll be bringing my camera you can count on that!

Elizabeth - first I have to find the big hat! But I will, I will - I am a hat person and one doesn't get lots of opportunities to wear a big hat!

Judy - I think he may be arriving home on Monday - he did see four games I think! I am QUITE sure he won't find your weather freezing. Ha! He has lived his whole adult life in the far north! I will see him later on in the summer and ask him a zillion questions...

Hart Johnson said...

I love this thoughtful process you hare going through. I am watching carefully, as my 'to rewrite' stack keeps growing, and come... maybe August... I am going to tackle the first, so I REALLY want to know what works and doesn't!

And I love the queen too... For similarly nonsensical reasons--mostly because I am an Anglophile.

Words A Day said...

And by the way! Meeting the queen! Be sure to report back! Was wondering how the photo of hrh fitted into your post! Thought you might have based one of your characters on her! Enjoy!

Elspeth Futcher said...

You're meeting the Queen???? Wow!! Just remember "Your Majesty" first and "Ma'am" after that. You must tell me about every second of it.

I met her years ago - I'm doing fairly well with meeting members of the Royal family - The Queen (2x) Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Princess Alexandra. And have they ever invited me to dinner? That would be a no. Oh well.

Jan Morrison said...

oh you funny things - I'm quite sure that I am meeting her in a crowd of two hundred people or more down on the waterfront - she is unveiling a plaque on a ship that my old pal Arlo is connected to. Perhaps if she sees this old codger with a very long white beard standing next to a woman in a fabulous big hat - she'll saunter over.! Elspeth - I did get a similar invite to see Charles and Diana many years ago - on the waterfront - boats and whistles and so forth. It is closer than standing in a crowd but not close. My father said to tell her that 'my dad worked for your dad' and I said I would be sure to! But you've actually MET the woman. jeesh. such a dream thought.