Agent Janet Reid tells us to make MORE mistakes, not fewer--great advice for any of us who's fear of "not getting it right" has kept us from getting anywhere at all.
I've had mixed feelings about starting Wade's story. On the one hand, I was itching to write, but on the other, any story that I've gotten anywhere on has come from some flash of inspiration, not by following an outline alone. I pushed out the intro, but since have been writing a line at a time...Seriously...a line, then maybe doing four hours worth of laundry or catching up on Lost or whatever, then coming back to force another line out. I've been keeping Reid's post in mind to get me to not junk the whole project in order to wait (foolishly) for the type of inspiration I require.
So it doesn't thrill me. The opening does what I need it to do, and I can edit it into literary joy-joys later. Maybe it feels like a mistake, but I need to get through it to produce something better.
I've been casually watching Jim C. Hines gather information for a survey of how writer's broke into publishing. Here's his first results post, complete with graphs! While the first entry deals with how the writers in his survey broke in--short stories first, no short stories, agent or direct to publisher--the second covers how long it took.
As you can guess from scattered reviews of books that have just come out mingled with long running series and things that are just new to me, I don't spend a lot of time worrying about what's next on the horizon. Still, it's nice to get a heads up from time to time. The lovely Tez has a list of April releases that reminds me to put two of my favorite authors' work back on top of my TBR list, and informs me that another favorite has turned to Young Adult books--something I'll be sure to check out.
8 comments:
Hi Avangyline,
To be honest its usually pretty hard to keep an eye out for titles and authors that you love. Generally the only way I manage it is to order catalogues from each and try to keep up with whats what in there.
That said, I have missed books and only heard about them when other book addicts have reminded me.
I suppose its a feature I should look into for example on the first day of each month put up a list of books that are expected for them. That way it helps others remember as well as being a piece on hand for myself.
Great blog and one that is always of use especially when writing is concerned as it does feel at times that you're the proverbial hermit stuck in the cave with no other contact. (Or as some may think, the proverbial monkey in the cage planning on chucking its dung at the first person to disturb it. LOL)
Ach, the "Check it out" widget on the left is covering the opening paragraph and a bit, so I can't read those bits!
another favorite has turned to Young Adult books
Which one: Maria V. Snyder, Kelley Armstrong, Richelle Mead, Kim Harrison, Rachel Caine or Rachel Vincent? By the way - Blood Promise and Once Dead, Twice Shy are paperbacks, and were published originally in hardcover some time ago. But paperbacks are more affordable, so it's good to wait ;-)
Falcata (or may I call you G?), thanks for the compliment! Once upon a time ago, there were enough fantasy/sci-fi writers that I wasn't interested in that I could follow, impatiently, the ones I adored. With new titles coming out in urban fantasy before I can say, "Really, her third book is almost on the shelves?!" and still plenty of interest in fantasy and occasional sci-fi love, I give up.
Besides, I figure that plenty of people haven't read everything out there, so there's a chance any review I write will be new to them.
Tez, I'm sorry the widget's in the way! Is your window full screen? Either way, I'll make a new one soon.
My YA interest is the Maria V. Snyder. I loved the Poison series. Kelley's already got me hooked on your YA series, and I may or may not check out the others.
Gosh, I know how you feel...working off of an outline sucks when you're not feeling it. I can get caught up in waiting for the right chemistry to come...that perfect scene that speaks to me...I wish I could work like Anne Rice and have a character speaking to me instead...that way, I'm sure, the words would flow faster!
I'm not big on the outlining...I do rough sketches of what is to come but I don't go crazy...maybe you need to take a step back from this project and work on something else for a while.
I've done the forced writing thing. It finished the novel, but left me with a world of work. Most times for me it's just trying to get up the motivation to start. That's why I decided to really push myself to get something done in time for RT. I found that MOST nights, once I started writing, I just kept going.
Personally, if the project isn't speaking to you and a different project is, I'd switch. Especially this early in the game, it's totally legit to work on whichever project calls to you the most :)
As someone who's currently in query hell, I read Reid's comments with interest. It's probably the most discouraging thing a writer does and it's hard to keep writing with all those rejects in the email box.
As for new titles, it's almost impossible! I hearly missed Rob Thurman's new Cal Leandros book! How did it do that? Thank goodness for those nice people at Amazon who sent me a reminder. They're so nice. LOL
DBR
When you are writing one line at a time it must seem like you will never get anywhere. However, I have a friend who is writing a novel pretty much that way. A few lines every morning. So far, it is working for her.
I almost always have the whole story in mind before I start and that was true of my novel too. Though the novel is sitting on my desk in a folder and needs many many revisions when I decide to take it on again.
I often miss books when they first come out and catch up with them later on.
I agree with DB. Coming up with a new story while querying (and getting rejections more often than not) sort of sucks the joy out of outlining.
For me, it's still a necessary evil.
Post a Comment