Serious Wednesday: Working Hard and Hardly Working

Some would call it Working hard; others might say, 

hardly working. I say, both! 

Mondays--after the weekend--is a day that usually ends up being closer to the "hardly working" sort of day. And though I felt as if I accomplished a little, it wasn't enough, at least according to my standards. 

You see, I have a list: A chore and writing list. Some days it's longer than other days, but I almost always use it. I spread my chores, with possible length of times to complete each one. Interspersed between these chores, I have my writing chores/writing goals. 

Here's how it looks:  

Carole's Chore & Word Crawl

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Rise, shower, dress, 30 mins:  

Devotions, 30 mins:  

Breakfast, 20 mins:  

Exercise, 20 mins:

Open/delete email:  

Soc Media (promotion), 1 hr:  

Sweep, 20 mins:  

Write 100 words:  

transplant a flower, 20 mins:  

Write 150 words:  

(and more...)

Word count for the day:  

Overall word count:  

Now, I'm not saying you have to do it MY way, but I do recommend setting a positive and attainable schedule to your writing routine. Even if you gain only 200 words a day to your manuscript, you're farther up the road than you would have been.

You don't want to set goals so high, you're not going to reach them. Not saying I reach all of mine every day. Sometimes I only complete half; sometimes none, BUT most times I do have favorable success with this list. 

I do recommend you consider using something similar! I think you'll find it helpful! 

The Value of Critique Partners

Priceless, if you have the right ones.

Critique partners don't just read your manuscripts. They read, love, hate (really!), tear apart, encourage, advise, brainstorm, and are there for you whether you get rejections or acceptances.

• Example 1:

My first three critique partners were unique in that we all wrote different genres. Two got how I wrote, one didn't. But the one that didn't gave me a piece of advice I've never forgotten.

One of the best of the three in critiquing told me that I should hack away (not in so many words) how I'd started the romance they were reading, and begin the story with the scene from around the second chapter, I think it was.

Wow. I couldn't get my mind around that one. I loved my baby the way I'd created it. There wasn't anything wrong with the way I wrote the beginning chapter. Blah, blah, blah.

So, the CP that didn't always get my type of writing, said, "Put it away. Don't look at it for a few days, weeks, whatever. Give yourself time. Then revisit it and see what you think."

I did. I listened. I cut.

Now I can't understand why I ever thought differently. The story is MUCH stronger because I listened to those CPs' advice.

• Example 2:

One of the novels I'm working on is an edgy (dealing with strong subjects such as abuse) contemporary. Recently, I got critiques back from three different CPs. On one of them, Mary suggested I build more suspense into the first chapter by lengthening the scene, and then she suggested that my heroine do some of that in the garden.

Now that might not sound like much to you, but to me, working behind the scenes, it was just the thing that worked in my brain. I started to plot and think how I could do it. I was able to go back and rework the chapter, and it worked. Stronger. More intense.

Another of these three, Ro (well, Mary does too. Grin.), reacts violently to my manuscript. She hates, hates, hates the antagonists, and even though the protagonist isn't (right now) in any way an angel, she's rooting for her.

Exactly the reaction this type of novel should draw out of a reader. It's exactly what helps me see I'm on track while writing it.

Tearing apart, advising, brainstorming, and reactions from my critique partners all play a huge part in helping me develop the best novel that I can write.

And, of course, that just means, I'm another step closer to publication.

The ultimate goal for a writer.




Quote:
The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new. --Samuel Johnson

Blessings!

Updating and All That Stuff

I'm trying to keep my head above water. Really.
I didn't shout this out because I wasn't sure where I was going to go with it--and still don't know.

But . . .

I was sort of promised an offer of a book contract. A small traditional press, yes, but a traditional press. A reputable one.

This was for one of my romances and I'm pleased.

But . . .

not sure YET exactly what to do. Diana (agent) and I talked about it. We reached a mutual decision. Now we'll see where that leads. More later when I know something.


And . . .

I've been editing and editing and editing and . . . well, you get the gist, of my historical suspense. I have wonderful critique partners that slash (ouch) and suggest (yes!) and brainstorm (what a help) and encouragement (ah, yes!). So with all these suggestions, I've gone over the whole manuscript at least FIVE or SIX times. I'm just about done. Maybe one more time skimming.

Then I'm sending it to Diana so she can start the rounds with publishing houses.

On my contemporary suspense: She's sending it to some more houses. We'll see where that goes. She says, it's just a matter of finding the right editor at the right time. Sigh.

I've suspended work on my cozy mystery because of all the editing, plus I hear that CBA publishing houses are not receiving anything in that genre right now. We'll see about that. Diana suggested I turn it into a suspense. Brooding on that one.

I did three chapters on the second book in my contemporary suspense series, but am cutting a lot of that and practically starting over.

I'm also anxious to get going on the second book in my historical suspense.

I have another one hubby and I are collaborating on that I need to work on.

I'm also musing on a short story that I've kept in mind that will take place in the early 1900's. A hobo story.

And I could always work on my "hitman" story. Don't you wonder what that's about?

Then I need to perhaps expand my romances.

Wouldn't you say I've got plenty to keep me busy?

Love ya all!





Quote:
I know so many writers who are a hundred times better than me and have longer, greater ideas than mine, but they gave up; they stopped. The biggest talent you can have is determination. Do you use the writing process as your ongoing excuse to keep exploring the world, meeting people, and learning things? If you can do that, then the writing itself will be its own payoff and reward. --Chuck Palaknuik

Blessings!