Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Green and Embarrassed

This post has a little back story so bear with me here. As you know, I'm just starting this writing process and I'm completely green! A few months ago my cousin's spectacular wife asked me if I'd like to join their writing group. I was absolutely ecstatic! For the duration, we've been reporting on submissions and giving each other support, talking about inspiration and of course writing. When Angie asked to read what I'd written so far, of course, I was happy to pass it along without a thought about critique. I had never envisioned "writing" group to be synonymous with "critique" group. Yesterday, I posted on finding one and the panic that went with it only to log into RallyStorm and find this beautiful critique of my prologue! All right, I will admit to being very green and very embarrassed, but I'm learning... albeit slowly.

As for my weekly update, I have been cruising along and enjoying the ride. The side of me that loves a good pun (or bad in this case...) craved putting "the write" there instead, but I managed to refrain. (Just barely! Notice I still got it in. Ha ha!) I'm currently working on chapter 11 and have 32,000 words behind me. I've also made my first real cut and believe me, I get attached to things easily and it was hard to hit that delete button, but it's done. Whew!

8 comments:

  1. Wow, sounds like a big week for you. First crit and your first big cut!

    And I also love a good (or bad) pun!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Whenever I feel bad about cutting, I think of movie makers who shoot hours and hours of film that ends up on the cutting room floor. Did they waste their time shooting scenes that aren't in the movie? I don't think so. We don't waste our time writing scenes that don't make it in the final story, either.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kate, one for the history books! lol!

    Angie, that's a great way of looking at it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Isn't it funny how hard - and yet how freeing - it is to hit the delete button. And, being another greenie (though not as green as I was in January)...I so sympathize!!!. I'll crit for you anytime.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have to say, I save my big cuts. There are some really well written paragraphs where I colored a little outside the lines of my story, but they might be good for something else. And I have used them, mostly musing through when I'm stuck somewhere in my present writing, but other times, plugged them in another story entirely.

    Best of luck to you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. jd, That's exactly what my husband told me to do... lol! I actually didn't save this, but I can see the wisdom in saving cuts. Thanks for the advice and well wishes!

    Christine, you are just awesome! I think the most freeing thing about hitting the delete button is knowing that because of it, the story really will be better than it was. Thanks for offering to crit! For what it's worth, I'd be happy to do the same, though (fair warning if needed) I do have "blush" issues. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like you are doing great. I still consider myself pretty much a greenie as well. I hate cutting anything and have several cut scene files saved hoping they will come in useful later. I've yet to have anything critiqued, but the day is coming. Sure I will be biting my nails the whole time. I popped into your other blog - your boys sound adorable.

    Thanks for dropping by. Happy writing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks, Robin! I think they're pretty adorable, but I'm a tad bit biased! I'm a blog addict too apparently, so dropping by is always fun for me. :)

    ReplyDelete

Travel to Another Point of View