I've come to a very difficult decision. Technically, my absence made up my mind for me and it makes me terribly sad, but I can't keep up with the blogging community right now or in the foreseeable future. This homeschooling thing is taking up a lot of time. I know that several of you out there homeschool and keep up with writing and blogs and I just marvel at how you do it. I have no time to plan ahead because I'm planning science, math, language arts, music, phonics and art lessons... Not to mention keeping my two year old occupied. (Truth be told, I'm failing at that too. Haha!) Add to that a rigorous church calling, family time, writing time a little time to practice music, cook, clean. do laundry, check and write blogs (etc) and it equals me breaking down.
Anyway, the decision that I'm still hesitating to even type out is that I won't be keeping up with this blog or any of yours. I really want to, but I just can't. If we're friends on facebook, I'll still be keeping an eye out for your awesome accomplishments and I'll still be writing my own novel. I just don't have the time to come up with not-so-clever blog posts. And reading all of yours? It's just not happening. There are hundreds of blogs I love. I'm so sorry! I wish you all the best and maybe in a couple of years when I'm NOT homeschooling, I can jump back on the wagon. Wow... That seems like eons from now.
I'm not going to lie. This post has been HARD to write. I've loved my on-line journey with the writing community and I've learned so much! Thank you all for being so supportive and amazing.
Time to go do a little science experimenting in the which I mess with the space-time continuum...
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
My World in Rewrites and Revisions
It's been so long since I've written an actual post that I'm not even sure where to begin. I suppose I've been stuck in my edits for so long that contributes a great deal to my lack of inspiration. I've been thinking a lot about my goal for the story and what I want it to be and it hit me HARD why I am where I am. Let me explain.
After writing my first book, I sent it off to a friend for my very first critique. She didn't come out and say it, but through her comments (which were awesome and oh so helpful) I realized how boring I'd made the back. All backstory and feeling, very little action. So I decided to start the story earlier. A lot earlier! (Like 10 years earlier. Granted, the timeline keeps changing now and I'm going to start the story up where this book leaves off now, but I'm bird walking...) Anyway, I wrote this second one out and it was so much better! I've had a couple people read it, and for the most part my pacing was dead-on. Not boring at all!
The problems were in a couple of characters that my crit partners weren't connecting to.
1. Show the Second's plans in more detail.
2. Make Syrent more likable.
3. Connect Syrent's story to the main character's story earlier in the book.
My three main goals. At first, these seemed like easy fixes. Add a few chapters here and there. Enlighten readers with more thought process. Etc. Last week, it hit me what I've done. I spent so much time on action, action action that I had left out the emotion. Particularly with Syrent. So my new goal to add to the above three is to make sure my characters are letting their feelings be known. The trick comes in not adding too much so I don't slow down the pace. Wish me luck!
After writing my first book, I sent it off to a friend for my very first critique. She didn't come out and say it, but through her comments (which were awesome and oh so helpful) I realized how boring I'd made the back. All backstory and feeling, very little action. So I decided to start the story earlier. A lot earlier! (Like 10 years earlier. Granted, the timeline keeps changing now and I'm going to start the story up where this book leaves off now, but I'm bird walking...) Anyway, I wrote this second one out and it was so much better! I've had a couple people read it, and for the most part my pacing was dead-on. Not boring at all!
The problems were in a couple of characters that my crit partners weren't connecting to.
1. Show the Second's plans in more detail.
2. Make Syrent more likable.
3. Connect Syrent's story to the main character's story earlier in the book.
My three main goals. At first, these seemed like easy fixes. Add a few chapters here and there. Enlighten readers with more thought process. Etc. Last week, it hit me what I've done. I spent so much time on action, action action that I had left out the emotion. Particularly with Syrent. So my new goal to add to the above three is to make sure my characters are letting their feelings be known. The trick comes in not adding too much so I don't slow down the pace. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
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