Writing and a Wrapper

And so I wait to hear back from my sister/editor believing that what I have written is actually better than what I read before I sent it to her. It is like taking pictures. When you download them onto your computer days or weeks later, they seem a trifle less spectacular than when you snapped them.

Writing and edits

Today, I sent off the last chapter of my 345 page novel to my editor. I wish I could say that it is exactly the way that I want it already. But what I have found is that in places where it feels right it usually isn't far off. But in those places where I feel most confused are the spots where my returned chapter will hold all green ink. Questions about a scene, concerns about reality, prods that I've been lazy and instead of describing what is happening glossing over it.

Every time she sends me the chapter back, I dip slightly into a depression. By that evening, I say, "She doesn't know what she's talking about."  By the next morning, I open the file again and look at the sea of green ink staring back at me. By that evening, I'm ready to work on it. 

Word by word, line by line, I go slowly and review her comments and also what I really wanted the flavor of this scene to taste like. Within a week, I have something even better than I thought possible.

Here's a gown that I worked on for three days, watercolors and ink. It is not up to the caliber that my daughter's gowns are. But it was fun to do. 

Inspiration visits

After brainstorming on how to tie up all the lose ends, I began to write. But I felt again that it wasn't right. So I spent these last five days thinking. Which let inspiration take form.

Out of the five scenes I need to wrap up this book. I have an outline for each. And an outline I feel I can develop.  I'm excited to write again. With each line, I feel like the scenes are coming together.

I know. I know I've said this before and my editor sent it back to me ripped to pieces. Such is the life of the aspiring writer.

Did Inspiration Die?

Trying to write but only see dead ends. Inspiration has to come soon, right? I keep inviting it over and it keeps saying it will stop by. So far he has not. I won't talk bad about him just yet, but if he doesn't show this week, I will have to call him up and have a serious talk. Maybe an intervention. We'll see.

Back to work. There are two things wrong with vacation.

                1. You look forward to it all year. 

2. It is over so quickly. 

“Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!”

Psalm 66:5 

 

Troubles with Writing

I am having trouble finishing the last chapter of my book. I thought I was done back in May, and so I haven't been doing too much with it. However, after a critique from my sister/editor, she let me know that I am far from done. In this last chapter, I need to tie up every single question that arose from the other chapters.

My problem is that I know this story so well that I am assuming my reader will be able to link their questions to the answer without having to spell it out. My editor tells me that that may be true, but they need confirmation that they have the correct answer.

So after brainstorming how to answer every question using conversations and events, I will be working day and night for the next two weeks to bring it about.  Wish me luck.

I wish my vacation was not already over for the year.

Writing

Back from vacation. I was able to work on polishing the first six chapters while camping. I have Chapter Nineteen at my editors and should hear back from her next weekend.
I'm having difficulty working on the last chapter, and so reading the entire novel should give me the proper perspective to finish strong.

To try and become better in the craft of writing I have been working on an exercise using the five senses.

 Looking at something and then describing by feeling it, looking at it, listening to it, smelling it and lastly describing what it would taste like. It it much harder than you would think. Try it, and let me know what you think.

Writing process and Colorado camping

We are editing the last two chapters. The ending is tricky because it has to answer all the questions and do so quickly and concisely. It may take a couple weeks to get them right. I could not have made it this far without my sister/editor. She changes the wording to make the scenes clearer and has polished every single section she has touched. I think it is finally coming together. And the amazing part about it is that even if no one else reads it but my family, I still feel that she has made it so much better.

I cannot say that it was fun. It was hard work on top of more hard work. After we finish going over the last two chapters, we will reread the entire book and polish it one more time before sending it to a publisher. That will take a few more months. But my hopes are high. Once it is sent off, then I will start on book two. I wrote this book about five years ago and it is the second in the series. I look forward to seeing how that story will transform in the days and weeks to come.

I'm going camping for now in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.