Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Holiday Writing



This is the first time that I have tried writing during the holidays. It's insane! I haven't been able to sit long enough to get a good rewrite in on my novel, and I haven't let any new ideas flow out of me for weeks! I could use the excuse of finals, and holiday shopping, but shouldn't I be able to write regardless??

Today, I was watching the snow fall on my car, and a character came to me. She was very annoying, and screaming for some paper time.  She was younger then my normal characters, and quirky, but let me emphasize again the word "annoying."  I knew that I couldn't give her the typical excuses that I give my other characters, so I gave her about a page and a half before putting duct tape over her mouth and closing my laptop.

After weeks of not being able to write anything new, you would think that I would be relieved that I released a new character out into the world, but I feel overwhelmed. She will not be going away anytime soon, I just have this feeling. The problem with her is that she doesn't have a conflict, and she really doesn't have much of anything. She has a setting at the moment, but she does a lot of talking about herself. Can I really make time to listen to the endless amount of chatter she has to get to a main plot and resolution?

I guess time will tell..  Are you a writing machine during the holidays? Or do you find yourself making excuses, and putting your characters off for a different time?

Anyway, that's my update -- to all of my followers, MERRY CHRISTMAS!! <3 See you all in the New Year!
 

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Rewriting Phase 1


Where is my novel? It's stuck inside of my laptop, waiting for me to open it up.  Why haven't I started to rewrite? Well, I'm not exactly sure. I guess you could say I'm scared. My first novel is sitting on a shelf inside of a closet. I gave myself permission to shelve it quite a long time ago, in anticipation for its rewrite.  I am scared to read what I spent 16 days pouring out of me.  I am scared that once I do finally sit down and look at it, I will be either be pleasantly surprised, or really disappointed.

Therefore, I call this blog Rewriting Phase 1... I wish there was someone to hold my hand during this process. Self-soothing has never been a strong point of mine. However, I know I must go at this alone-- or not so much alone, since my characters will be happy to have my attention again.  

Phase 1 supplies
A notebook
Novel
Favorite pen

Phase 1 tasks
Reread each chapter
Mark up entire pages
Write notes in notebook
Breathe

Wish me luck.