Saturday, October 1, 2011

And We're Off!

Today is the first day of NaBloWriMo and I'm in. I wasn't going to then I was then I wasn't then I was. I work better with a theme and if I'm doing a bit of teaching and entertaining entwined. This blog is dedicated to my writing life (check my side-bar for other blogs I write or co-write). I will be writing a daily journal about my revision process. I will keep it short and pithy, I promise. I will also include my Home-Made Revision Workshops, as we go along, and of course my Friday Challenges. If you're new to my site and are interested in either of these things - go to my side-bar of categories and click away.

October 1, 2011

Dear Journal,
Last weekend was such a marathon of getting my pitch to the publishers ready - the pitch itself, a longer (but still concise) synopsis and the first chapter of True - all polished and shiny - that I must say this week wasn't a stellar one in getting back to the slog delight of my revision. I did manage several hours on both Tuesday and Wednesday.. Today, nothing. I have one chapter - eight pages - left to put the edits in from the manuscript that Caroline edited. That means every chapter will have been touched but I still have...wait a sec. while I go look - 17 chapters - 168 pages - to put into 3rd person. That'll take me very little time - the hardest chapters were where I did both at once (edits and switch). I'm thinking I can do this in roughly two weeks, maybe less. Then, in the true spirit of living my life backwards, I will do the big macro changes. Don't even yell at me - I'm impervious - I know it is too weird, but that's how she's rolling.
What are the big changes that I'm envisioning?  The most work will be creating more vivid main characters. I will also be looking at where I can increase tension. This isn't a thriller or a mystery but it still needs tension. I will continue to do the micro edits  - paring down the verbiage, replacing the clichéd phrases with zingy fresh metaphors, and looking at the structure of each sentence, paragraph and chapter. I will be running between the balcony (macro) to the dance floor (micro) and I will get nice and skinny doing so. OK, so I won't - I'll get nice and skinny if I stay on this diet!
That's it for today's entry, dear journal. I'll be back tomorrow and will have time to do some ACTUAL revising.

7 comments:

Laura said...

I hear you... I'm right at that place with mine too.
Good luck and keep at it
LX

Golden Eagle said...

Great to see you've joined NaBloWriMo! :) I'm doing it as well.

Good luck with your writing!

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

I wish I got nice and skinny while revising!!!! Seems I eat more. ;)

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

I don't mind revising so much. It's harder creating the original work. I'm not doing the NaBloWriMo this year. Sounds like a good exercise.

Monti
NotesAlongTheWay

Danette said...

Sounds like you've got a bit a good craziness going on! Thanks for stopping by and glad your fitting in Nablo into all this!

Jan Morrison said...

Laura - well, I'm in this far - might as well continue. I actually like revising, especially now, when I finally understand my story.
Thanks, Goldie! And back at ya.
Tricia - yes, that's why I started this crazy diet (17 day diet). I'm on the second stage but I cheated this weekend so need to get strict again.
Hi Monti - that would be true for me too, only I just have such a dog's dinner of a first draft. My first draft might be someone's outline or even musings.
Danette - No probs - I'll be back! I'm making Nablo a tool to push on my revision - that's the only way I could manage it. Now to day two!

Anonymous said...

Hello Sheriff Jan!
What do legumes say when they meet someone new? Peased to meet you! (I had to. I apologize.)
Looking forward to reading more about your revision process and will share it with the Baldone (my spouse, who needs to write more).
Best wishes and Happy NaBloWriMo!
Bek aka accidentalthong.com