We're leaving for Australia in 2 weeks. I have so much to do before then. Kids have baseball games, karate tests, projects due, playdates planned, doctor's appointments ... and so on. I'm feeling overwhelmed.
I really wanted to send off my entire manuscript to my SCBWI critique group before leaving but ... I've scrapped two chapters and decided to rewrite them from scratch (sigh!). It had to be done. I'm glad I've fixed it, but I'm behind the schedule I'd set for myself. This means I'll have to do some serious revisions during the 2 months we're in Australia. I'd just got into a really good writing routine (see previous post) and now I'll have to start over. I'm not sure if I'll be able to.
We'll see.
At least I'll still have access to my on-line critique group ...
Monday, May 12, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Five gifts
Ever since I came back from the SCBWI conference on April 12th, I have been frighteningly focused! I almost can’t believe it, but I’ve been writing like a rocket.
One of the things I attribute it to, is a really inspirational keynote speech by Laurie Halse Anderson.
It really helped to get me into “write like a rocket” mode, or rather, “revise like a rocket”, since what I really need to do is clean up the humongous first draft of my middle grade novel. So, what did she say in that great speech?
This is what she said. Give yourself five gifts to allow yourself to write (or something like that, I was so busy listening that I forgot to take notes). Anyway, this is how I remember it.
Gift number one: Time. A dedicated writing time builds commitment, she said.
I ruthlessly cut back on my volunteer work at the kids' school, something I really enjoy, so I can write in the mornings. I even abandoned helping in my daughter’s 2nd grade writer’s workshop and my son’s library class. I miss those two the most, but I must write. I also excused myself from a scriptwriting project that I had (almost) landed.
Gift number two: Space. A dedicated space for writing, builds focus, as per Laurie.
I had been writing on the kitchen counter, in the mini-van, in bed, on the deck, anywhere. Our home office is a horrible maze of all the computers, gadgets, and various technical do-dads that my husband can cram into one room. I refuse to clean the room much less write in it. What to do? Finally, I decided to move in with the cats. We have a designated cat room for our aged felines, so we can house them comfortably and still minimize dander in the house. My son is allergic to lots of things, including, them. Thankfully, his allergies have been steadily improving, so the kitties can now roam at will. This has worked out better than I hoped. I’ve plastered the walls with my six foot long timeline and pictures and drawings of my characters and settings. Every time I go in there I can just jump right back where I left of. And one of my main characters is a cat, so having two cats sitting around (or on) me is actually very helpful.
My cat room
My mews, Rakhan ...
... and Sona, (Yes, she has a bob-tail, but she's a shelter kitty, not a Pixie-Bob or anything fancy)
Gift number three: Art. Do something, other than writing, that gets your creative juices flowing; jazz ballet, knitting, gardening, quilting or whatever.
I’m taking pictures. I always liked photography, and it’s a damn sight easier than quilting!
Gift number four: Craft. Do something to improve your craft. Write, journal, read, critique, blog …
I'm blogging, and I’m trying to stay in touch with my on-line writer friends through a monthly critique exchange. I’m also sending the whole manuscript in three large installments to my wonderful SCBWI critique group. I’m so lucky to have both these wonderful sets of generous and talented friends!
Gift number five: Permission. Give yourself the permission to write.
This is actually hard, when you can’t see the time you put into writing translating into too much money in the foreseeable future. But, OK, at least until I get my draft cleaned up and sent off, I’m giving myself the green light!
Enough dithering for one morning … I’m off to revise!
One of the things I attribute it to, is a really inspirational keynote speech by Laurie Halse Anderson.
It really helped to get me into “write like a rocket” mode, or rather, “revise like a rocket”, since what I really need to do is clean up the humongous first draft of my middle grade novel. So, what did she say in that great speech?
This is what she said. Give yourself five gifts to allow yourself to write (or something like that, I was so busy listening that I forgot to take notes). Anyway, this is how I remember it.
Gift number one: Time. A dedicated writing time builds commitment, she said.
I ruthlessly cut back on my volunteer work at the kids' school, something I really enjoy, so I can write in the mornings. I even abandoned helping in my daughter’s 2nd grade writer’s workshop and my son’s library class. I miss those two the most, but I must write. I also excused myself from a scriptwriting project that I had (almost) landed.
Gift number two: Space. A dedicated space for writing, builds focus, as per Laurie.
I had been writing on the kitchen counter, in the mini-van, in bed, on the deck, anywhere. Our home office is a horrible maze of all the computers, gadgets, and various technical do-dads that my husband can cram into one room. I refuse to clean the room much less write in it. What to do? Finally, I decided to move in with the cats. We have a designated cat room for our aged felines, so we can house them comfortably and still minimize dander in the house. My son is allergic to lots of things, including, them. Thankfully, his allergies have been steadily improving, so the kitties can now roam at will. This has worked out better than I hoped. I’ve plastered the walls with my six foot long timeline and pictures and drawings of my characters and settings. Every time I go in there I can just jump right back where I left of. And one of my main characters is a cat, so having two cats sitting around (or on) me is actually very helpful.
My cat room
My mews, Rakhan ...
... and Sona, (Yes, she has a bob-tail, but she's a shelter kitty, not a Pixie-Bob or anything fancy)
Gift number three: Art. Do something, other than writing, that gets your creative juices flowing; jazz ballet, knitting, gardening, quilting or whatever.
I’m taking pictures. I always liked photography, and it’s a damn sight easier than quilting!
Gift number four: Craft. Do something to improve your craft. Write, journal, read, critique, blog …
I'm blogging, and I’m trying to stay in touch with my on-line writer friends through a monthly critique exchange. I’m also sending the whole manuscript in three large installments to my wonderful SCBWI critique group. I’m so lucky to have both these wonderful sets of generous and talented friends!
Gift number five: Permission. Give yourself the permission to write.
This is actually hard, when you can’t see the time you put into writing translating into too much money in the foreseeable future. But, OK, at least until I get my draft cleaned up and sent off, I’m giving myself the green light!
Enough dithering for one morning … I’m off to revise!
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