I'm sure going to miss them. We've all got various things going on and mutually agreed it was time to quit. But while it was going I learned so much. In fact, before I started it with Willard, before Sherry, Christy, Antonio or even Clare joined, I learned at the other group with Michelle, Kim and Kirk. All of the members of both critique groups have helped me beyond words.
I've thought, since day 1, who I would thank on a dedication page. In fact the rough draft had such a page and I keep everything.
So it's time to update it. I may never get published and die an old drafter who couldn't quite touch the sky, but if by some miracle I do get Ann out there and she makes it, it's due to many shoulders. Here are all the ones I can think of at the moment...
There is a special virtue in taking a curse and making it a blessing.
For the knowledge and help;
Jeff, Steven, Willard, Chris, Ian, Jay, Adam, Mike, Daniel, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Warner, Claudia, Night Author, Aprilynne, Danielle, Jason, Jesse, Michelle, Kim, Kirk, Liz (RIP), M’liss, Claire, Anna, Sherry, Antonio, Christy and two of Mr. Russon’s 6th grade classes.
For the heart and soul;
Janeen, Laura, Katelyn, Sara and David
----
Yep, this year of edits is done. I've got a couple things left (5 more chaps of hard copy mark ups, possible last scene from Roland's pov) then it's resubmit time. But did I catch everything?
Does it still talk down? Does the show outweigh the tell? Is the history stuff accurate? Are the characters interesting enough? Strong enough? Does it resolve things enough to be considered stand alone? Is the action paced enough? Are the redundant and passive words replaced with active words? And is it still stiff?
Sigh. Will it ever be right? Am I over-editing?
"They" all say they get sucked in. Will "they" still get sucked in? I see so many errors in so many published works, yet those books are popular. Their characters and entertain and inspire. Can mine? Will mine?
I've traded very short, brief emails with Brandon Mull and Daran Shan, but I wish I could just sit and chat with a published author about my fears. Ask them if they went through it. How did they survive? Did they ever find out if their editing was "too much" or "not enough" or did it ultimately even matter?
A part of me feels close. A part of me feels very far away.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Longs for more Golden Compass movies...
Just rewatched the movie on HBO. I have the special DVDs and my ears are always pealed for news on the sequels.
Last critique group it was suggested that I broaden my YA reading. I was told there was a world outside Harry Potter and Twilight. She said that because I always cite those books when comparing mine. I do that for familiarity. The truth is, I have read other books. I've read Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak series, the Spiderwick Chronicles series(although that was practically a picture book), Watership Down, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Work and the Glory series, most of the Tinnishoes Among the Nephites series and I'm in the middle of the second Fablehaven book.
I've also read the His Dark Materials trilogy. I read all three of these before the movie came out. My daughter has read them, too and like me she loves them. I like Harry more, but I this the Dark Materials books better than the Twilight series. I like Lyra a lot better than Bella and just as much as I like Hermonie.
I enjoyed the movie and after rewatching it on HBO I did a web surf on the sequels. Still nothing. hisdarkmaterials.org is gone, Wikipedia and IMDB have nothing of real use in regard to new news on the sequels.
I long for them. I hunger. But alas, for so many different reasons, they are on hold. Dakota Blue Richards is getting older and before long it'll be too late.
Sigh.
Last critique group it was suggested that I broaden my YA reading. I was told there was a world outside Harry Potter and Twilight. She said that because I always cite those books when comparing mine. I do that for familiarity. The truth is, I have read other books. I've read Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak series, the Spiderwick Chronicles series(although that was practically a picture book), Watership Down, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Work and the Glory series, most of the Tinnishoes Among the Nephites series and I'm in the middle of the second Fablehaven book.
I've also read the His Dark Materials trilogy. I read all three of these before the movie came out. My daughter has read them, too and like me she loves them. I like Harry more, but I this the Dark Materials books better than the Twilight series. I like Lyra a lot better than Bella and just as much as I like Hermonie.
I enjoyed the movie and after rewatching it on HBO I did a web surf on the sequels. Still nothing. hisdarkmaterials.org is gone, Wikipedia and IMDB have nothing of real use in regard to new news on the sequels.
I long for them. I hunger. But alas, for so many different reasons, they are on hold. Dakota Blue Richards is getting older and before long it'll be too late.
Sigh.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Twitter links
Hmm
Lot's of fake celebs on twitter...
http://twitter.pbwiki.com/Fakers
And here are some real ones...
http://twitter.pbwiki.com/MinorCelebrities
Lot's of fake celebs on twitter...
http://twitter.pbwiki.com/Fakers
And here are some real ones...
http://twitter.pbwiki.com/MinorCelebrities
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Cut 20,000 words? "Kill" big bad at end?
The title of this post says my next big challenges in editing my novel. I found out it's Middle Grade and MG books run about 75,000 words. Mine is 92,000.
It's 92 because I cut the Kidnappers scene and the Festival scene. Both have been in since the rough draft but both can be safety removed.
I thought last night that besides the add on scene with Tom from book 2, there was nothing else I could cut. This morn while walking the dogs I thought of 2 others. If done right, I could cut both tavern scenes. This means editing the witch and final battle scenes so Dale never appears and that means a new beginning on book 2, but it would be worth it. After all, I need to get THIS book off the ground.
First I need to completely rewrite most of chap 31 (the final battle) and fake Dominic's death. The tools are already in place to set that up, just need to rework it. I'll do that, then if I need to cut the tavern scenes, all the better.
This is hard!
More details to follow.
It's 92 because I cut the Kidnappers scene and the Festival scene. Both have been in since the rough draft but both can be safety removed.
I thought last night that besides the add on scene with Tom from book 2, there was nothing else I could cut. This morn while walking the dogs I thought of 2 others. If done right, I could cut both tavern scenes. This means editing the witch and final battle scenes so Dale never appears and that means a new beginning on book 2, but it would be worth it. After all, I need to get THIS book off the ground.
First I need to completely rewrite most of chap 31 (the final battle) and fake Dominic's death. The tools are already in place to set that up, just need to rework it. I'll do that, then if I need to cut the tavern scenes, all the better.
This is hard!
More details to follow.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Loved Twilight!
Thought it was a perfect representation of the book. I was OK with Patterson being Edward.
I actually liked the movie better than the book. But I always said books 1 and 2 had slow first halves.
Anyway, great movie. I would love to see it again. Can't wait for the DVD. And can't wait for New Moon!
I actually liked the movie better than the book. But I always said books 1 and 2 had slow first halves.
Anyway, great movie. I would love to see it again. Can't wait for the DVD. And can't wait for New Moon!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
novel sigh
Yes, I know the kids talk too old. I know you doubt my historical stuff (and maybe you're right).
So what do I do? Chuck it?
I've been at this for too long. Harry was ripping up the charts and I was trying. Now Edward is ripping up the charts and I'm STILL trying. Heck, Edward is from a Mormon author. A Mormon writing vampires? Wait. I thought that was me. But no. She was already finished with her story while I was still writing the rough draft.
Do I hate Twilight? Nope. I've read them. I own them. I'm catching the movie this weekend and yes, I like them. Do I resent Stephenie Meyers? Nope. We each have our time. Her time is now. In fact maybe she's opened a door for me. Maybe people will want Annabelle.
This really has nothing to do with Twilight. I'm just angry. Around every printed, handwritten red lined page is more bloody ink, telling me how this version is flawed. It wouldn't be so bad if her mark up was one of the first ten betas. But this is two years later. Two years!
Will I ever get it right?
"Not so much italics, let the reader decide what is stressed."
"Jorgantown sounds awfully Norwegian for Connecticut".
"Glorianna should have her hair up, not down. Woman never had it down in those days."
"Children wouldn't know about fairy tails because this is before the Grimm brothers."
"The Dunston kids should talk in a uneducated way. They should be dumbed down."
"The Foresights come off as rich. If they were, they would settle in the cities like rich people of the time did. Not come to start a new life."
"The first name Paige wasn't used back then. Change it."
"Dominic is too tall at 7'. No men were that tall during those times."
"The children don't talk like kids. Annabelle talks too old."
"Annabelle shouldn't be able to read. Kids cant read back then."
That's why her dad's a bookbinder! It's all there in chap 2! And the Dunstons point out that she talks funny. And the raven states Annabelle is an old soul. Now should I say she grew up fast because she helped her dad with the bookbinding?
Face it. It sucks. I suck. I get a dream and it sucks.
Stupid.
So what do I do? Chuck it?
I've been at this for too long. Harry was ripping up the charts and I was trying. Now Edward is ripping up the charts and I'm STILL trying. Heck, Edward is from a Mormon author. A Mormon writing vampires? Wait. I thought that was me. But no. She was already finished with her story while I was still writing the rough draft.
Do I hate Twilight? Nope. I've read them. I own them. I'm catching the movie this weekend and yes, I like them. Do I resent Stephenie Meyers? Nope. We each have our time. Her time is now. In fact maybe she's opened a door for me. Maybe people will want Annabelle.
This really has nothing to do with Twilight. I'm just angry. Around every printed, handwritten red lined page is more bloody ink, telling me how this version is flawed. It wouldn't be so bad if her mark up was one of the first ten betas. But this is two years later. Two years!
Will I ever get it right?
"Not so much italics, let the reader decide what is stressed."
"Jorgantown sounds awfully Norwegian for Connecticut".
"Glorianna should have her hair up, not down. Woman never had it down in those days."
"Children wouldn't know about fairy tails because this is before the Grimm brothers."
"The Dunston kids should talk in a uneducated way. They should be dumbed down."
"The Foresights come off as rich. If they were, they would settle in the cities like rich people of the time did. Not come to start a new life."
"The first name Paige wasn't used back then. Change it."
"Dominic is too tall at 7'. No men were that tall during those times."
"The children don't talk like kids. Annabelle talks too old."
"Annabelle shouldn't be able to read. Kids cant read back then."
That's why her dad's a bookbinder! It's all there in chap 2! And the Dunstons point out that she talks funny. And the raven states Annabelle is an old soul. Now should I say she grew up fast because she helped her dad with the bookbinding?
Face it. It sucks. I suck. I get a dream and it sucks.
Stupid.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Talking to the class III
BACKFLASH!
Things have been crazy here so sometimes I forget to put down important events. The following is one of them. I'm typing in very basic sentences to just get this event written down.
A couple weeks ago (on Halloween morn, no less) I spoke to a class of 8th graders. It was very different from the two times I spoke to 6th graders. Some in the audience seems really interested while a few were bored. I suppose that's the nature of the age.
I showed up early so students thought I was a substitute. LOL. Nope. Not me. This was Laura's class and she hates being embarrassed so I didn't do anything to point her out. It seemed to go OK for her. I was a teen a thousand years ago so I remember the silly fears.
Katie and her friend Anna showed up before class. I had my own grown up fears, sitting at the front of the class, scared they'll think I'm a boring nerd. Katie's visit really helped. Of course Anna wanted to talk about Heroes so my guard came down and I could relax a bit. Once the bell rang they left and it was time for Mr. Bryant to do roll and introduce me.
I explained what the book was about and gave a lead in to the chapter bit I was to read from. I read it and then asked if they had questions. No questions! (Very different from the 6th graders. Almost the entire class raised their hands.)
I then explained why and how I decided to become a writer. They seemed very interested. I hope it went well.
I was pleasantly surprised that he had one of those things where his computer screen appears on a view screen. If I had known, I'd have brought some pics of Annabelle and her brother.
I'm very grateful to Mr. Garret Bryant for this opportunity.
Things have been crazy here so sometimes I forget to put down important events. The following is one of them. I'm typing in very basic sentences to just get this event written down.
A couple weeks ago (on Halloween morn, no less) I spoke to a class of 8th graders. It was very different from the two times I spoke to 6th graders. Some in the audience seems really interested while a few were bored. I suppose that's the nature of the age.
I showed up early so students thought I was a substitute. LOL. Nope. Not me. This was Laura's class and she hates being embarrassed so I didn't do anything to point her out. It seemed to go OK for her. I was a teen a thousand years ago so I remember the silly fears.
Katie and her friend Anna showed up before class. I had my own grown up fears, sitting at the front of the class, scared they'll think I'm a boring nerd. Katie's visit really helped. Of course Anna wanted to talk about Heroes so my guard came down and I could relax a bit. Once the bell rang they left and it was time for Mr. Bryant to do roll and introduce me.
I explained what the book was about and gave a lead in to the chapter bit I was to read from. I read it and then asked if they had questions. No questions! (Very different from the 6th graders. Almost the entire class raised their hands.)
I then explained why and how I decided to become a writer. They seemed very interested. I hope it went well.
I was pleasantly surprised that he had one of those things where his computer screen appears on a view screen. If I had known, I'd have brought some pics of Annabelle and her brother.
I'm very grateful to Mr. Garret Bryant for this opportunity.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Busy couple of days! I actually have it off for once and so I've been running like a mad dog.
This year I couldn't really afford to dress out and I don't like how make up makes my face itch so there you go.
BUT I do love the holiday. Soon we'll be taking our monsters out trick or treating. Then we'll watch old spooky movies and relax.
Here's some pics to celebrate.
This year I couldn't really afford to dress out and I don't like how make up makes my face itch so there you go.
BUT I do love the holiday. Soon we'll be taking our monsters out trick or treating. Then we'll watch old spooky movies and relax.
Here's some pics to celebrate.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Rejected
The short story was rejected so Annabelle & Roland; Terror at Fun Land will not be in the anthology. They liked Ann and her brother, but felt Roxie was rushed.
I see their point. It was too rushed. I could build on it and add more meat but I'm currently working on the novel and honestly the short with Roxie could be folding into the novels.
So I'm shelving it for the moment. I can see my current goal finishing up. I'm almost done with edits. We're on chap 24. I have six more chaps to go then this round of edits will be done. I'll then go back and do some editing in the first few chaps to make sure it reads as well as the later chaps. Once that's done it'll be submission time.
So I'm disappointed but not depressed.
Onward and upward.
I see their point. It was too rushed. I could build on it and add more meat but I'm currently working on the novel and honestly the short with Roxie could be folding into the novels.
So I'm shelving it for the moment. I can see my current goal finishing up. I'm almost done with edits. We're on chap 24. I have six more chaps to go then this round of edits will be done. I'll then go back and do some editing in the first few chaps to make sure it reads as well as the later chaps. Once that's done it'll be submission time.
So I'm disappointed but not depressed.
Onward and upward.
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