There's something going on in the blogosphere it would seem. I haven't blogged for months - in fact, I've just posted over at Bushy's to the effect that I won't be blogging there any more. Then I come over here and casually click on the Black Boxes thingy (see Black Boxes at the bottom of this page V )to find a random recommended blog and what do I find? Another woefully out of date one - probably more so than mine in that there were only two entries for 2010 plus apologies for not keeping up to date etc etc. It then occurred to me that there are several blogs out there which have slipped because their owners are struggling to keep up the routine. Anyone who has a blog always intends to keep it up to date, but so many of us let them lapse for whatever reason. How many blog entries have you read over the years that start with the words "I have so much to tell you and I can't believe it's been x number of months/ years since my last blog..."
Speaking for myself, most of my day to day thoughts are to do with the creative process, more specifically, working on ideas for my own projects and therefore not necessarily the sort of thing I want to express publicly as I do it. There are some who are happy to report their works in progress as and when it happens, and that is fine - I'm just not one of them.
Perhaps it's therefore a good time for me to rethink the purpose of this blog. So what to do? Do I scrap this one and start again with a more specific purpose? Or do I simply scrap it; draw a line under it and say, "No more"? What would you do?
~
Thursday 23 September 2010
Thursday 25 March 2010
What Kind of Writer?
Since this is the 25th March, it must be EdMo day 25. I've logged a mere 16 hours so far, which is woefully behind schedule - and that's despite having a Skeelly day last Saturday, accounting for roughly half of those hours!
No matter, it's all valuable experience...
As is often the case, these things don't always go to plan and I managed to kill off one of my characters last Saturday. So, I'm now dealing with a murder mystery! This, coupled with the idea to switch from a first person to a multiple (well two - three at the most) third person point of view, means that the story's structure has changed direction in a big way. I knew I would need at least another strand to take care of part of the story but I hadn't explored it in too great a detail. To be fair, as a NaNo, I was concentrating on bashing out a mere 50,000 words. A full length first draft however is more like double that - so in reality, there's another 50,000 words to find and this is the position I find myself in now.
If I've learned nothing else, I've discovered what kind of writer I am; a planner rather than a "Seat of your pants" type. The NaNo I'm editing now was the most planned novel I've attempted so far, and as a NaNo it was an absolute dream to write. But, as already mentioned, it needs roughly another 50,000 words, and this is why I've struggled with it. It's because of this that a part of me wants to scrap it (and all other partially completed novels) and start again on something completely new. Another part of me (quite a big part as it happens,) thinks I should persist with it; I've come this far, it would be a shame to turn around and go back now. In typical Libran fashion, I'm undecided.
What's the answer? Perhaps I need a plan for the other 50,000 words? It all seems a very disjointed way of doing things but I would be much better equipped to deal with future novels as a result (did you see that glimmer of optimism?) So, what's it to be? Scrap everything and start again with a completely new plan and the thrill of writing 100,000 new words? Or, the thrill of writing 50,000 new words to a new plan and the satisfaction of a finished project? Somehow,I think I've answered my own question but I'd be curious to know what others would do when faced with a similar dilemma?
No matter, it's all valuable experience...
As is often the case, these things don't always go to plan and I managed to kill off one of my characters last Saturday. So, I'm now dealing with a murder mystery! This, coupled with the idea to switch from a first person to a multiple (well two - three at the most) third person point of view, means that the story's structure has changed direction in a big way. I knew I would need at least another strand to take care of part of the story but I hadn't explored it in too great a detail. To be fair, as a NaNo, I was concentrating on bashing out a mere 50,000 words. A full length first draft however is more like double that - so in reality, there's another 50,000 words to find and this is the position I find myself in now.
If I've learned nothing else, I've discovered what kind of writer I am; a planner rather than a "Seat of your pants" type. The NaNo I'm editing now was the most planned novel I've attempted so far, and as a NaNo it was an absolute dream to write. But, as already mentioned, it needs roughly another 50,000 words, and this is why I've struggled with it. It's because of this that a part of me wants to scrap it (and all other partially completed novels) and start again on something completely new. Another part of me (quite a big part as it happens,) thinks I should persist with it; I've come this far, it would be a shame to turn around and go back now. In typical Libran fashion, I'm undecided.
What's the answer? Perhaps I need a plan for the other 50,000 words? It all seems a very disjointed way of doing things but I would be much better equipped to deal with future novels as a result (did you see that glimmer of optimism?) So, what's it to be? Scrap everything and start again with a completely new plan and the thrill of writing 100,000 new words? Or, the thrill of writing 50,000 new words to a new plan and the satisfaction of a finished project? Somehow,I think I've answered my own question but I'd be curious to know what others would do when faced with a similar dilemma?
Monday 8 March 2010
EdMo Day 8
Arghhhhh...!
Well folks, I've not made as much progress as I would have liked. So far I have logged 6 hours and 40 minutes, which is 6.55 hours behind. This is partly because I have logged precisely zero hours this weekend - that's it - nada!
Just when I think it's time to stop kidding myself, I read this week's article on the EdMo site. In a nutshell, this is saying; editing is hard work! All those little blips we stumble across along the way - yep they're normal.
So, my advice to myself is: pick yourself up, dust yourself down, stop pulling your hair out (it's normal for men to go bald - but women tend to get stared at) and just get back to it. Remember, this is NOT about EdMo, it's about me finishing a novel. EdMo is simply there to steer me along the path, that's all. I have to do the actual work. So, here's to tomorrow!
Well folks, I've not made as much progress as I would have liked. So far I have logged 6 hours and 40 minutes, which is 6.55 hours behind. This is partly because I have logged precisely zero hours this weekend - that's it - nada!
Just when I think it's time to stop kidding myself, I read this week's article on the EdMo site. In a nutshell, this is saying; editing is hard work! All those little blips we stumble across along the way - yep they're normal.
So, my advice to myself is: pick yourself up, dust yourself down, stop pulling your hair out (it's normal for men to go bald - but women tend to get stared at) and just get back to it. Remember, this is NOT about EdMo, it's about me finishing a novel. EdMo is simply there to steer me along the path, that's all. I have to do the actual work. So, here's to tomorrow!
Wednesday 3 March 2010
EdMo Day 3 and a bit of a moan...
Another quick post, touching base. I was going to rant about Facebook and their apparent lack of responsibility when it comes to approving groups or members. I've decided it can wait for another time - if I can be bothered. I'm seriously thinking of pulling my Facebook account if they continue to allow such utter morons to set up, at best, stupid and at worst, such seriously offensive groups. It saddens me that certain sections of society have stooped so low.
Get your act together Facebook!
A mere hour of edits today. I'm noticing all the plot holes more and more as we go. Some of these plot holes are in the form of questions which I just haven't found satisfactory answers to yet. I've tried writing the questions down on a notepad on my bedside and looking at them before dropping off to sleep - but so far the answers have evaded me. I hear that this method can sometimes take a while to work so I'll just have to be patient.
Get your act together Facebook!
A mere hour of edits today. I'm noticing all the plot holes more and more as we go. Some of these plot holes are in the form of questions which I just haven't found satisfactory answers to yet. I've tried writing the questions down on a notepad on my bedside and looking at them before dropping off to sleep - but so far the answers have evaded me. I hear that this method can sometimes take a while to work so I'll just have to be patient.
Tuesday 2 March 2010
NaNoEdMo - Day Two
I've so far managed to log just under four hours over the past two days - so I'm slightly ahead of schedule! I'm still not sure what my editing style is yet. So far I'm working on a chapter at a time. I've even copied each chapter into a separate file because I feel it's less daunting working on smaller chunks. There are a few plot points to iron out, but I'm getting there... slowly.
Sunday 28 February 2010
Doing it now (starting tomorrow...)!
On this last day of February, I find myself counting down the hours until the start of EdMo. Am I prepared? A little. Am I nervous? A little. Have I any clue as to what I'm letting myself in for? No. Am I going to stop this whittering and get on with it? I hope so!
Somewhere along the way, I managed to persuade John, one of my writing buddies from Skeealleyderyn, that he should join me in this madness. (He called it bullying, but I prefer persuasion). It might seem crazy to attempt this now amongst all the other commitments we all have but I think, if not now, then when? A strange thing happened last week when I was working with my spreadsheet. When I came to a difficult bit, where I'd normally give up, with the intention of coming back to it with a magically conceived solution, I made myself stick at it. It was this sense of, "It's now or never" hovering over me. I don't want it to be never, so I'd better make it now.
Somewhere along the way, I managed to persuade John, one of my writing buddies from Skeealleyderyn, that he should join me in this madness. (He called it bullying, but I prefer persuasion). It might seem crazy to attempt this now amongst all the other commitments we all have but I think, if not now, then when? A strange thing happened last week when I was working with my spreadsheet. When I came to a difficult bit, where I'd normally give up, with the intention of coming back to it with a magically conceived solution, I made myself stick at it. It was this sense of, "It's now or never" hovering over me. I don't want it to be never, so I'd better make it now.
Wednesday 24 February 2010
Regaining some focus.
~
I know I said I wasn't going to bother waiting for EdMo, but I looked at their site again today. It seems that, unlike WriMo, you can use an existing WIP for your EdMo - yay! This is good as it means I can use EdMo to help me to focus.
I made some progress today by setting up a spreadsheet with five basic columns: chapter number, chapter heading, brief chapter description, problem and suggested solution. So I broke down the main outline chapter by chapter adding my thoughts to the last two columns as they ocurred to me. I can now feel a sense of clarity - and more importantly, enthusiasm once again!
I know I said I wasn't going to bother waiting for EdMo, but I looked at their site again today. It seems that, unlike WriMo, you can use an existing WIP for your EdMo - yay! This is good as it means I can use EdMo to help me to focus.
I made some progress today by setting up a spreadsheet with five basic columns: chapter number, chapter heading, brief chapter description, problem and suggested solution. So I broke down the main outline chapter by chapter adding my thoughts to the last two columns as they ocurred to me. I can now feel a sense of clarity - and more importantly, enthusiasm once again!
Monday 22 February 2010
Don't want to wait for EdMo!
~
In keeping with my last post, I had an email from NaNoEdMo this morning, reminding me that this annual event is to start 1st March. To be honest, I don't think I'm going to wait another week to get stuck into my editing, but I'll keep it in mind if the going gets tough... which it probably will. There seems to be a specific month for every stage of the process. I've survived three NaNoWriMos but never attempted an EdMo, or any of the other spin off events if it comes to that. Mind you, I don't feel I have to have my hand held the whole way. In fact, it's possible that I might have had my hand held a little too tightly over the past five years. It's a bit like learning to ice skate; you need some support and guidance in the early stages. But, sooner or later, you have to let go of the sides and just go. Hopefully, you'll glide along, regaining your balance. If you're really lucky, you might do it so convincingly and elegantly that people believe you can do it. You never know, you might even begin to believe in yourself!
In keeping with my last post, I had an email from NaNoEdMo this morning, reminding me that this annual event is to start 1st March. To be honest, I don't think I'm going to wait another week to get stuck into my editing, but I'll keep it in mind if the going gets tough... which it probably will. There seems to be a specific month for every stage of the process. I've survived three NaNoWriMos but never attempted an EdMo, or any of the other spin off events if it comes to that. Mind you, I don't feel I have to have my hand held the whole way. In fact, it's possible that I might have had my hand held a little too tightly over the past five years. It's a bit like learning to ice skate; you need some support and guidance in the early stages. But, sooner or later, you have to let go of the sides and just go. Hopefully, you'll glide along, regaining your balance. If you're really lucky, you might do it so convincingly and elegantly that people believe you can do it. You never know, you might even begin to believe in yourself!
Thursday 18 February 2010
Dusting Off The Cobwebs
~
Yes, it's about time I updated a few things around here. On the one hand, I've been debating (with myself,) whether I want to continue with this blogging malarky and if so, on what basis? One thing's for certain, I don't think I can get away with one post a year! So, if I'm going to do it, I should do it properly - ie regularly - or not at all.
The same is true of writing. Again, I've been having some serious discussions (again, with myself - and at this point, you're probably wondering whether you even want to tune into anything I might have to say...) The main question has been, "Do I want to write? If so, then why the hell am I not writing?" OK, so that's two questions - I think I'm allowed two questions? The truth is, I have written, amongst other things, a novel which is still very much in a fledgling state. In other words, it needs editing. I am at the editing-thinking-rethinking stage and whichever way you look at it, it doesn't feel very much like writing; it's so much harder. I miss bashing off thousands of words, but there comes a point when the splodge of words you have in front of you needs careful sculpting into something (hopefully) worth reading. So there you have it. I'm not writing (much) at the moment because I'm sculpting splodges of words...
Yes, it's about time I updated a few things around here. On the one hand, I've been debating (with myself,) whether I want to continue with this blogging malarky and if so, on what basis? One thing's for certain, I don't think I can get away with one post a year! So, if I'm going to do it, I should do it properly - ie regularly - or not at all.
The same is true of writing. Again, I've been having some serious discussions (again, with myself - and at this point, you're probably wondering whether you even want to tune into anything I might have to say...) The main question has been, "Do I want to write? If so, then why the hell am I not writing?" OK, so that's two questions - I think I'm allowed two questions? The truth is, I have written, amongst other things, a novel which is still very much in a fledgling state. In other words, it needs editing. I am at the editing-thinking-rethinking stage and whichever way you look at it, it doesn't feel very much like writing; it's so much harder. I miss bashing off thousands of words, but there comes a point when the splodge of words you have in front of you needs careful sculpting into something (hopefully) worth reading. So there you have it. I'm not writing (much) at the moment because I'm sculpting splodges of words...
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