CornerScribe

Archive for September, 2006

I’ve been working on editing the novel (again). I’ve decided that the best approach is to start with an outline of the scenes I have so far. Then, I can decide what stays and what goes.

To complicate matters, I’ve decided to add three new characters. They’re going to add quite a bit to the plot, so that’s even more rewriting.

Even with all the editing, I still really like this novel. The plot is good, and the characters are people I’d like to know more about, even if they’re not the nicest people all the time. Face it, who wants to read about those, anyway?

One technique that I like is outlining scene by scene and then looking at what conflict (if any) is there. If the scene doesn’t move the storyline alone in some way, then it either needs rewriting or removing. I know some people don’t like a conflict-packed novel, but I think if you take a broad definition of conflict, it works well. Conflict doesn’t have to be action-oriented.

I also find that I have to make myself not jump in to rewriting. I can easily rewrite the first fifty pages dozens of times (editing!) and never look twice at the rest of the novel. My first step has to be taking a look at the novel as a whole, and doing an outline is the best way for me to do that.

So, we’re back from Virginia Beach. We took a week off and knew we were going to do something, but we decided to be spontaneous and not plan it out. It turned out great, and it turns out that mid-September is a great time to visit the beach.

Here’s a picture of the beach at sunrise. The wind was pretty strong,
and cold, but we were comfortable just in our long sleeves. The picture
doesn’t do it justice.

This was taken about 4:00 or so in the afternoon. There were only a handful of people on the beach, although the weather was really nice. The water was warm enough to swim (no pics!).

Here’s a shot of the fishing pier. We did see people out there pretty frequently through our vacation.

I took a notebook and got absolutely no writing done, but that’s okay. We had a blast, and we both needed the down time. If you’re looking for a great fall vacation, I’d highly recommend Virginia Beach.

I spent some time (and money!) in the bookstore this weekend, so it was a pretty good weekend, and pretty normal too. I think I might collapse in a heap of withdrawal pain if I went to a bookstore and didn’t buy anything. This weekend, it was Pride and Prejudice, perhaps my favorite novel of all time. If you’ve never read it, you really should, and DON’T think the movie is any sort of substitute. It’s hilarious.

As for other things that are keeping me busy, here’s a handful of links I’ve been following, and though all aren’t writing related, they’re pretty cool anyway.

I enjoy knitting and crocheting in my "spare" time. (Yeah, yeah, what’s that?!) If you’re interested in either, or thinking of learning, check these out.

1. Yarn Harlot. Very funny and generally cool. I have her book "Knitting Rules," and I was able to follow the sock pattern in it with only a couple rip-outs. Considering that I’m still a beginner, that’s pretty amazing. The socks turned out really cute too. See my sidebar link if you want a closer look at her books.
2. Knitty is an online knitting magazine, and the new issue just came out. There are always a few patterns that I’d like to try out.
3. Paperback Writer. Okay, a writing one. I really enjoy the blog, and she posts LOTS of useful links. It’s definitely worth taking some time and browsing the archives.
4. Self Publishing Blog. I just ran across this one, but it looks interesting. (Sigh.) Yet another thing to distract me from actually writing.

I painted this evening, and no, not the artsy type of painting either. I painted a wall. Well, actually, I FINISHED painting a wall that I had started a while back. It’s amazing what I can get in to when I’m doing my writing-avoidance routine.

I did manage to post another article to Constant Content. I’ve sold over half of what I’ve posted there, so I can’t complain. At least its a few bucks for yarn money, another of my writing distractions. Besides that, there’s just something so darn FUN about it, though I’m not sure I can explain what exactly.

Here  is an interesting article on "Stretch Goals" that I found intriguing. I enjoy reading LifeHack anyway, but this one was particularly good. Here’s an excerpt…

1. Bring out your personal mission statement, or write down on a 3×5 card what matters most to you, in all the roles of your life.
   
2. Set a HUGE goal for each of those roles that matter to you. (For
   instance, if you’ve said your fitness matters, and you’ve just started
   working out two or so times a week, the HUGE goal could be “Sign up for
   a Marathon 10 months from today.”)
   
3. Set stretch goals to get there. In the example listed, the first might be to schedule a run/walk program, and start it.
   
4. Set dates for each small segment, each stretch goal. Dates matter.
   
5. COMMUNICATE the dates with someone that will help you be accountable.
   
6. Boil the goals list down into something that fits into your context/execution system (like Getting Things Done).
   
7. Execute against the plan.
   
8. Schedule goal reviews every month. Correct your course accordingly.CELEBRATE goal milestones reached.

Of course, I’d apply this to writing. I’ve got that novel trying to worm its way out of my head (now there’s an image…), and I really, really want to just get the editing finished and start trying to publish it. So, there’s my Step #2 I suppose. (I won’t torture anyone with my #1).

So.. next step is to set some goals and dates that will get me there. Oh yeah, and actually stick to them. That’ll help too.

Yep, I’m still around. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted, but things do tend to slip away sometimes, don’t they?

I have been busy, and writing has been one of the things keeping me hopping. I’m editing a previous Nano novel, in the hopes that I can get that well underway before this November. This one has percolated for over a year now, and I still feel good about it. That doesn’t mean, however, that it doesn’t need a lot of work!

I’ve been doing a little freelancing on the side for Constant Content. It’s no way to get rich, but I do enjoy making a few bucks off the writing from time to time. There’s also another benefit; it has helped me learn to sit down and write, quickly and efficiently. When you’re getting paid only a few bucks per article, you learn to pull it together pretty darn fast.

My real job (my day job) has been keeping my busy too, which unfortunately eats into my writing time. Blogging has been one of the first things to fall by the wayside. I’m hoping that can change now, since this is something I really enjoy doing.

I’ve been attending a writer’s group twice a month. They’re really nice people, and the crits are good, but I have to decide if it’s worth giving up my already severely limited writing time for. Oh well, I guess I can’t have it all.