Welcome everyone, to another Monday Meeting. Last week, I did a lot of writing related things, but not a lot of revising. I had big plans yesterday afternoon to get a lot of that revision done, but instead, I fell asleep. Crashed. I was seriously tired. But, before falling asleep, I reached for a comfort read. NEVERWHERE by Neil Gaiman. I did wake up later to watch parts of the Superbowl, specifically the commercials. I had been feeling so burned out and had been go-go-going for so long, that my body just needed to crash and reset. And, now, I'm great. Refreshed. Back in the game.
Or I was, until I had to confront the oil company this morning as to how it was possible that we ran out of oil Saturday. If you're wondering, evidently, it was our fault. Even though we're on automatic delivery, and have a credit balance, somehow we had used more oil than was expected, (mabye, possibly, because it was COLD) so the oil company was not to blame. Yup. I love it when people don't take responsibility for their actions. Argh. Letting it go. Letting it go. Deep breath.
On to the meeting:
This week, I'd like to get the next chunk of stuff revised for my Middle Grade project. And, I have a little voice in the back of my head telling me to draft the ending on my YA. I normally listen to the voices in my head when it comes to writing. But, I also have a meeting with Robert, so we'll see if my priorities this week will change after talking the projects out.
To sum up, I will revise at least two chapters on my Middle Grade, and do some drafting on my YA.
What about you? What book do you go to when you you need comfort? Do you heed the voices in your head? What are you setting out to accomplish this week?
I want a voice in my head telling me what to do? Can you do that for me?
ReplyDeleteLOL! Tina-I can be that voice. And wait to you read the book I'm sending you. You'll laugh too.
ReplyDeleteUgh- that voice is often telling me to work on two things at once.
ReplyDeleteSo I have a MG that is in the end of revisions, and a YA early draft that is stewing while I work out some issues, so of course, last night I wrote 500 wds on a brand new YA.
My goal this week is to find that piece that's missing from my YA project. Something is STILL wrong.
ReplyDeleteMy comfort read is something either from The Time Quartet or the Austin Family series by Madeleine L'Engle.
And as far as voices, well... Don't we all have them?
I do the writing stuff that has to be done - as in revisions. And then, I do the fun stuff like outlining, creating, writing new stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd for comfort and relaxation, I read a new book that I've gotten from the library.
Sounds as if you have a good plan for the week.
ReplyDeleteme? well, I'm plotting out the elements of the secret society in my new MG work. It's intense and hard and frustrating and fun all at the same time.
Lily--It's funny where the muse goes. I say follow it! Good luck getting things done this week!
ReplyDeleteAlicia--it's frustrating not knowing what the missing piece might be. (I just flashed on Shel Silverstein). What do your critters say?
ReplyDeleteAnd, how did you know that I was actually looking in my bookshelves for one of the Time Quartet when I settled on Neverwhere? And I need to buy A Ring of Endless Light. It's one of my favorite books.
Laura--you sound disciplined. Wow. I bet that motivates you to get a ton done. Maybe I'll try that this week.
ReplyDeleteI love new reads, but when I'm really out of sorts, I need a familiar love.
Tess, sounds like a challenging week ahead of you! Good luck getting it all done!
ReplyDeleteWhoa, how did I miss this party?!?! Tina, I am so that voice in your head, as you and H are mine.
ReplyDeleteHeather, I envy your ability to lay it all out there. Revise this, draft that, talk to... My head so does not work that way, yet.
It's more like:
Okay, I am going to, ooo, new story idea, hmm...not gonna work, unless...oh that looks like an orange peel, oh, pretty flowers, oh my god, I have the best idea ever, gotta pee, wait, I forgot my idea, what was it? NO!!!!!!!!!!!
Jon--I had this thing when I started writing that I would only write one thing at a time. One Thing. I wanted to force myself to get to the end of the revisions on a project. I didn't want to get distracted with Shiny New Idea Syndrome.
ReplyDeleteAnd it works, to a point. But I need the creative outlet of drafting, too. The best part about holding off on drafting is that the ideas get very full when they stew in my brain for three to six months. I always take notes on my ideas when I have them, but I don't write until they've been stewing.
So, now I work on revisions mostly, and let myself draft when I need to. The problem is that I am faster at drafting than revising, so the revision queue is getting bottlenecked (is that the right word?). But, I'm sure that with time and as my writing improves, it'll balance out.
I don't think that my technique will work for others, but it works for me--and maybe what you do right now works for you--or maybe you'll keep adjusting it until it does. But those shiny new ideas are worth their weight in gold, so as long as you keep getting them, I'd say you're good.
I have decided to sell my ideas. Any takers?
ReplyDeleteGold, I tell ya, gold.
ReplyDeleteYou know what else is gold? HEAT! Which again, I find myself lacking. ARGH.
Okay seriously Jon, you just made brie cheese come out my nose because I was laughing so hard!
ReplyDeleteMy comfort read is usually something I've never read. Sounds weird, but I need to NOT know what's going to happen.
I almost always listen to the voices in my head. I only resist when I'm trying to avoid something. Like writing a query, or something that I simply don't want to do because it's boring. Otherwise, I work on what my head, and heart are yearning for.
This week my goals are to send out a few more queries because I'm not hearing either way on the ones that are out and to really get somewhere on at least one of my WIPs. I have a couple that I could roll on once I get just one pivotal scene written out. I just need to sit down and do it!
Oh and Heather, no heat is no good! We lost ours twice recently, we let it go out BOTH times I:I Then we lost power and only had the gas. Lots of cat blankets were utilized to stave off frostbite.
ReplyDeleteA. Grey-- I love getting somewhere! I think that's why I love drafting so much. It's like I'm physically moved along by the writing. I hope you get the pivotal scenes down so that you can chug along!
ReplyDeleteAnd, we have heat again (hopefully longer than one day this time)! YAY!
My goal today is to get home. I'm in the chicago airport right now. But tomorrow I will continue w/my chapter a day goal for my YA rewrite.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your projects, but my flight is about to board. Maybe I'll have time to check back in from Seattle:-)
A.Grey (I still so love your name), brie cheese, eh? Well, I made a fancy person laugh, how 'bout that?
ReplyDeleteSorry about the heat issue Heather. I was at my sister's house this afternoon and the power went off, she called the company and they said they didn't know why. They told her it would back within 24 hours. "Uh, 24 hours?! I have a three year old and a ten month old at home."
"Congratulations."
It came back on an hour later.
Paul--great goal. It'll feel good to settle back in to home, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteJon--that's ridiculous. At least people jump here, when stuff goes wrong. They normally make it worse, but at the very least, they try.
ReplyDeleteThe voice in my head is continually telling me to write the end of my current WIP. I'm trying but it seems a wall of nothing comes out. I just want to finish it so I can edit, edit, edit. I don't have a particular book to go to--just my friend named chocolate who comforts me all the time :)
ReplyDeleteChristine--That's frustrating. What if you started editing the beginning, and worked through? Maybe the ending would work it's way out.
ReplyDeleteChocolate is a good friend. ;)
Good luck with getting unstuck. I'm sending postitive ending vibes your way.
I have about four hours of revisions. If I can get that done, I'll be very happy, because this is a busy week for me in a non-writing way.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all your stuff.
Ohmigosh, no heat sounds AWFUL! We ran out of propane a couple nights when it was in the twenties, and that was COLD (when it's 20 outside, it's 25 inside the camper if there's no heat).
ReplyDeleteHarry Potter books are comfort food to me. And I'd like a big zone of writing where I get 30K done in a week. Please.
Anita--that's a good way to do goals--by time. And, I'm glad that you recognize when your life is busy, and not set your expectations too high. Good luck reaching it!
ReplyDeleteNatasha--Brrr. Our house never got much below 50 before they fixed the problems. And, I'm happy to say that the heat is buzzing through the pipes right now. Yay!
ReplyDeleteI turn to Harry Potter too.
Wow! 30k. I'm sending speedy writing thoughts your way! Good luck this week!
Sometimes you need that break to rest. I've been super anxious about agent hunting. I can't believe how nervous I got when I pressed send! Now that I've queried a handful of agents, I can get back to my usual stuff. I'm going to try and get some magazine submissions done this week.
ReplyDeleteKelly--I can imagine that querying and waiting can really derail anything else getting done. I'm glad you are trying to get back into normal life.
ReplyDelete