It’s amazing how much the little things can make a difference when I’m writing. I usually know what I’ve got a block that I just need a little pebble to dislodge in order to fix things, but the problem is figuring out which pebble.
It’s rarely the same one twice. And never twice in a row. I’m one of those people who has more success trying new approaches than doing what worked last time.
I’ve been trying to get back into these revisions of my story for months now. I can tell because the last time I started a major overhaul was in May. MAY. And I only made it about halfway through even though I knew exactly what needed to happen in the whole story.
Okay, that’s a lie. I made it about 1/4 of the way through. But 1/4 is 1/2 of 1/2 and so it’s practically 1/2, especially since it’s 200 times closer to 1/2 than it is to 1.
Anyway…I made a tiny little tweak. And a little bigger one. The first was changing the POV, like I mentioned yesterday. That’s freed up so much room to let this particular story flow. From where I sit, it’s allowed a lot more room for the kind of world building I need here, without being too ‘telly’. I don’t know that for sure and I’m hoping my CP’s will confirm it for me, but that’s the way I see it.
I also figured out I was stifling my character. I let her voice flow, and she’s got a great one (I think), and then I forced it into this depressing…dare I say ‘Bella-esque’ (that’s my term, you can borrow it if you want) reactionary state.
Once I stopped making her wallow in self-pity, she forgave me for mistreating her and started to shine on the page again.
It’s true, I’m only into day 3 of revisions. But considering the last six months I’ve had a hard time writing for more than 2 hours every million or so days, I consider this progress.
What’s your current writing achievement? Share and let us celebrate with you ^_^ (That means Kate, and Laura and everyone!)
WHY DID YOU INCLUDE MATH IN THIS POST OH GOD MY HEAD.
lol.
i’m GLAD you’re having a great progress for this round of revisions! i love when things click into place.
i figured out a subplot i need for my WIP. now i just need to figure out how chapter eight goes…
good luck with revisions!
@Ashelynn – I’m pretty sure the math is wrong. I don’t know if that helps or not.
Yay for new subplots! So exciting! ^_^
I figured that computer people are math people = being good at stuff I only understand with hard work and/or vodka being involved. You could have had me stating positively, “no, really, somehow it’s 200 times closer to 1/2 than it is to 1, I don’t know how, but…”
Anyway. My latest writing accomplishment is managing a believable, fun, likable female lead in a novel. For some reason in the past I’ve been able to come up with good female leads in short stories, but in novels they tend to go flat. (I’ve never been able to explain why I can write male leads so much easier than female ones, despite my XX status…maybe I am schizophrenic.)
But I’m feeling pretty good with how the girl is turning out in this novel–she’s realistic, has quirks, and is attractive without being just a pretty reward for the hero.
Math just makes my eyes glaze over. I’ll believe you….
My achievement is that I just finished the first draft of a book that’s seriously kicked my ass for the last 2 months.
Not looking forward to the revision, but at least I got it done.
@Breanna – one of the best things about being a computer person is I don’t have to be a math person. I know how to make the computer do it for me 😉 That’s awesome, though. I love strong female leads. I have a hard time with them too, but they’re so much fun to write when they co-operate.
@Kate – I’m going to just pretend now my math formula is right, since y’all are writer people and don’t know any better 😉 And…YAY! Huge congratulations to you 😀 Finishing a story draft is a major accomplishment, and you totally deserve recognition for doing it. And in 2 months on top of all that. Congrats ^_^