I both love and hate coming to the end of a project. Doesn't matter if it's finishing editing, writing, plotting, whatever. I get all twitchy at the end.
It's a combination of excitement and nerves. I'm happy to be done, and happy to start something new. Then the nerves about what will happen with the finished project. We're working on the nerves, slowly but surely.
The Muse is currently flittering between three different ideas. Since my first solid deadline is in two months, I'm indulging her a bit. All three are for shorter fiction with rather large gaps in the outline. In the next few weeks, I'll try to control her a bit more. She's just struggling to settle into one plot line. Poor Esther is going through three different tribulations at the same time as a result.
Most of the time, I work better with solid deadlines. I have one set for myself at the end of February. But 10,000 words by then should be easy. Once the Muse settles down. Outlining is helping quite a lot. I used to never outline more than a few half formed ideas scribbled in margins. Now I have outlines for most everything. It helps me when the Muse decides to bounce ahead in the story. I can outline it now and then finishing writing the rest when she returns.
But I'm happy with how my projects are coming along. Lots of high hopes for 2016!
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Something Slightly New
For the new year, I thought I might try and new way of organizing my schedule. I tried it a few years ago, and it sorta work. I'm sure it would have worked better if I stuck to it. Which I will this time!
As ever, I have my year long calendar hanging from the wall with deadlines highlighted. Some are real, some are self imposed. I then mark off each day with the color corresponding to each series. Green for the Gaslight Hunters, Red for Black and Redd, Blue for the unnamed fantasy, and purple for the shorter works. This is more for my own curiosity. I want to see how much time each project requires. I also want to keep track of when I write the most and when I edit the most.
Next, is a blank notebook with one purpose only. Outlining my time. It might sound rather simple, but it helps me tremendously. The first page is the list of all the projects I want to finish this year, which are then ranked by "importance". Not that any story isn't important, but some are better along than others. I told myself I'd finish a totally new novel by the end of the year. This will help me when I finally am ready to start that. Right now, I'm guessing it will be in the late spring or early summer.
As discussed before, submitting to agents is the top priority right now. I have list of top agents and am working through it. I'm also trying to fit in a few shorts for new markets. And all that time waiting for responses means time to keep writing.
The list helps me pick what to write next. Book 2 of both the Hunters and Redd and Black are fully outlined and have the first chapter written. I keep stalling on doing more because I simply don't know which one will get picked by agents first. Then of course, what if neither do? That's why I'm trying to outline the fantasy series in my down time.
As of right now, I think I have everything fairly well balanced. We all know that could change at any second. This time, I have contingency plans for both successes and failures. I'm so excited for 2016, despite the rather bumpy start.
As ever, I have my year long calendar hanging from the wall with deadlines highlighted. Some are real, some are self imposed. I then mark off each day with the color corresponding to each series. Green for the Gaslight Hunters, Red for Black and Redd, Blue for the unnamed fantasy, and purple for the shorter works. This is more for my own curiosity. I want to see how much time each project requires. I also want to keep track of when I write the most and when I edit the most.
Next, is a blank notebook with one purpose only. Outlining my time. It might sound rather simple, but it helps me tremendously. The first page is the list of all the projects I want to finish this year, which are then ranked by "importance". Not that any story isn't important, but some are better along than others. I told myself I'd finish a totally new novel by the end of the year. This will help me when I finally am ready to start that. Right now, I'm guessing it will be in the late spring or early summer.
As discussed before, submitting to agents is the top priority right now. I have list of top agents and am working through it. I'm also trying to fit in a few shorts for new markets. And all that time waiting for responses means time to keep writing.
The list helps me pick what to write next. Book 2 of both the Hunters and Redd and Black are fully outlined and have the first chapter written. I keep stalling on doing more because I simply don't know which one will get picked by agents first. Then of course, what if neither do? That's why I'm trying to outline the fantasy series in my down time.
As of right now, I think I have everything fairly well balanced. We all know that could change at any second. This time, I have contingency plans for both successes and failures. I'm so excited for 2016, despite the rather bumpy start.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Non-Stop
How do you write like you're running out of time? Write day and night like you're running out of time. How do you write like tomorrow won't arrive? How do you write like you need it to survive? How do you write every second you're alive?
Like the vast majority of the Internet, I have been drawn into the incredible musical HAMILTON. I'm not normally one for hip hop and rap, but I love it. The above passage comes from the song "Non-Stop", where the ensemble remarks on how Hamilton can't stop himself from writing and writing.
For obvious reasons, it really struck me. Especially "How do you write like you need it to survive". Because that's why I do this. I need my writing to stay alive. (Another fun Hamilton reference!) I've seen a lot of writers reference this line, most notably Kameron Hurley. I really admire how much she has done in her writing. Lately I find myself looking to her blog for some reassurance that anything is possible in publishing.
Because I once again am setting high goals of myself. I'm seizing every opportunity that comes my way. While I'm still working on the balance between wild submissions and my sanity, I don't want to miss out on anything again. I really feel both my books are at their best right now. I'm proud of them and proud of myself. So I'm spending the first half of 2016 on agent submissions while building up the supporting books, shorts, and novellas.
But I'm no stranger to rejection. If I can't get any further, I'm going to try and switch gears. Not abandon the novels. Never! Simply start a new one and then push that on agents. I'll still send out the Victoriana when I can after that, but it won't be as wild as it is right now.
I just need a way to get my foot in the door. I know where I want to be at the end of this year. It's a feasible goal, but requires non-stop work. I'm ready for it. Honestly, I can almost taste it.
Like the vast majority of the Internet, I have been drawn into the incredible musical HAMILTON. I'm not normally one for hip hop and rap, but I love it. The above passage comes from the song "Non-Stop", where the ensemble remarks on how Hamilton can't stop himself from writing and writing.
For obvious reasons, it really struck me. Especially "How do you write like you need it to survive". Because that's why I do this. I need my writing to stay alive. (Another fun Hamilton reference!) I've seen a lot of writers reference this line, most notably Kameron Hurley. I really admire how much she has done in her writing. Lately I find myself looking to her blog for some reassurance that anything is possible in publishing.
Because I once again am setting high goals of myself. I'm seizing every opportunity that comes my way. While I'm still working on the balance between wild submissions and my sanity, I don't want to miss out on anything again. I really feel both my books are at their best right now. I'm proud of them and proud of myself. So I'm spending the first half of 2016 on agent submissions while building up the supporting books, shorts, and novellas.
But I'm no stranger to rejection. If I can't get any further, I'm going to try and switch gears. Not abandon the novels. Never! Simply start a new one and then push that on agents. I'll still send out the Victoriana when I can after that, but it won't be as wild as it is right now.
I just need a way to get my foot in the door. I know where I want to be at the end of this year. It's a feasible goal, but requires non-stop work. I'm ready for it. Honestly, I can almost taste it.
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