by Sarah | Sep 7, 2010 | Changing Tracks, General, Train To Nowhere, Writing
I like to blame it on Mercury being in retrograde. Messing up my writer’s brain and functions.
It sounds so much better than “in a funk” or “writer’s block”.
Either way, that’s where I’ve been. The only thing that has been written are the 100-words pieces.
A few weeks ago I got a rejection from a mid-size pub that was helpful. It had plenty of notes, and it really got me even more wedged into my ‘stuck’ place. Once that came, not a word was written for the third book in the series (which I’m only 1/3 done with).
The past few days I’ve begun to find a bit of hope underneath all the negative ‘blah’ energy.
I’ve been playing with some alterations for Train to Nowhere and have been working on a mock-up cover (which I always love to do). The characters are changing just a little, and every time they do it excites me even more.
I took Changing Tracks back out of it’s nap. Started a new file and edited the first few chapters according to the notes I received. I’ve set a tentative schedule of 2-3 chapters a day of actual focused editing. I’m changing the font and trying to catch what I missed. There are some things I won’t get after all the edits I’ve done – but I’m hoping to make it just a little tighter and nicer. The good thing is that the first 3 chapters now sound much more like the rest of the books, I didn’t have to change much so the difference was not as tremendous as I thought.
On Thursday I’m pleased to say that I’ll be posting an interview with Sandra Worth. I’ve been privileged enough to get a chance to review the last two novels she’s had published. With a new novel coming out in February 2011, she was kind enough to agree to an interview now – and a review at the release! So keep an eye out for that Thursday.
Either Friday or Saturday I hope to post the net 100 words – but as the word this week is ‘Rotten’, I’m not sure if the muse will grant me such cooperation.
On a side note – my L key keeps skipping. That’s way too many typos for my liking. I need to fix it fast.
by Sarah | Jun 27, 2010 | Changing Tracks, Contests
Last week I had another first.
I entered Changing Tracks into its first contest.
After I hit send I wandered around the website for the contest. Then I panicked. I had known from the start that this particular contest gives ms feedback to all of its entries. At least, I had read it. It didn’t really hit me until after.
I think it was seeing the form that they use for feedback that did it. Looking at all the areas the scant 35 pages they are seeing will be judged.
Don’t get me wrong – I’ve known all along that the ms would be judged. Not just in this contest, but by every single agent that receives a partial.
There is something about having every little detail laid out in front of you in black and white that makes you start to panic. Seriously. Palms sweating, mind racing, ‘what did I just do’ panic.
I calmed down. I moved on. I’ve continued editing and fine tuning. I’ve completely changed my query (this time getting NO feedback on it and ending up w/ a partial request.). I’ve kept querying. I’ve made plans to enter it in another contest. In fact, that one does not give feedback to every entry, but it takes the full manuscript.
In two months time I’ll know one way or another, because both contests have said that they’ll notify finalists by September.
I’ve got nothing to lose by entering. If I’m not a finalist nothing is lost. If I am, a ton is gained.
Once I have them sent off, though…I have the same issue I do with all of this querying.
Putting it from my mind.
I’m SO bad at that.
by Sarah | Jun 3, 2010 | Changing Tracks, writing tips
I once received the suggestion that I should print out my manuscript and hand edit it. I don’t remember who said it, or why I rebuffed it – other than the obvious truth that my printer would likely scoff in my face.
Yesterday I did just that.
My printer did snort and protest. It ran out of black ink and 45 pages are printed in blue. One page had the top chewed up. It took an hour (slow printer).
But now my manuscript sits in front of me. Mocking me.
Last night I had to pick my mom up from the airport and while I waited in the cell lot for her to tell me she was ready, I read. I made it twenty pages in and found quite a few items to mark and change (including a blatant typo that spell-check missed!).
I knew the ‘theory’ that reading it on paper was different then reading it on the screen you wrote it on. I didn’t believe it.
But there’s something to be said for it. I hope to continue through the whole manuscript now this way. I’m going to be submitting my novel in two contests by the end of the month (hopefully, I need to come up with the entry fees first), and I want this to shine. I hope between my beta and my own edits that will happen.
So I vote for putting your printer through its paces. It really does read different on paper.
I like to blame it on Mercury being in retrograde. Messing up my writer’s brain and functions.
