I’ve been a bit absent from things lately. Fecklet’s been poorly, for one thing: he’s had a virus and now a cold, and his sleeping has been erratic, at best. Last night is the first time he’s slept through for nearly a week now, though he’s still getting up very early because he wakes himself up coughing. I got to sleep from 9.30 last night to 5.00 this morning, though, so I feel like a new woman.
I’m also revising rewriting oh, let’s just say doing major surgery on the first third of my manuscript, and my brain has been obsessively stewing on that. I’ve rewritten the first page several times, moved chapters around, considered deleting several characters, angsted about my heroine’s profession, removed a plot thread, a raven and Prince William, cut nine pages because the pacing was too slow and then worried that the pacing is now too fast.
In short, I’m caught in the Snide. But I’ve made a decision to make it the best I can, and then get some feedback from my crit partners, because I have absolutely no perspective. I also have faith that my agent and editor will be able to pinpoint any difficulties right away, and give me some help.
I was chatting with a writer friend of mine the other night, who is as of yet unpublished, and she reminded me that I’m in a very fortunate position in that I have several professionals who are determined to help me make my writing the best it can be. When you don’t have an editor yet, when you’re still trying to get it right, you can feel very alone. It’s harder to know what’s right to do, and you know that if you don’t capture that magic, the best feedback you’re likely to get is a rejection. Whereas I know this book will get there, and I can ask for as much help as I’d like. I’m very lucky.
In better news, my kid took out his bricks this morning, lined them up, and sat on them. Sitting bricks. Get it?
Oh Jules I can relate. I made lots of stops and starts with this one as well. I made the decision to write it dirty – as in, not obsess, just get it down and make sure i’m moving forward. My CP is getting it quite rough but after struggling it’s no time for modesty.
But you are right that we are very lucky to be in the position we’re in.
Hugs to fecklet.
Wow! Fecklet’s going to be a furniture designer! Glag he’s better.
(((hugs))) on the book. It’ll get there and be brilliant and you’ll wonder why you were fussing.
LOL on sitting bricks.
You will get there. The thing is that you want it to be as brilliant as you first imagined it and to have this wonderful flow etc etc etc. Once your agent and editor see it, they will pinpoint the problem straight away.
You do need to get some poison for those Crows though. It seems like they have built a whole rookery this time.
My old wip-cracker boss at the slave pit used to say that we only worry about the work because we care about the quality.
If we didn’t care, we would not be who we are – and it would show in everything we produced.
Poor fecklet. So pleased that he is on the mend. Just like his mummy. Hugs.
Julie, you need to go shoe-shopping. For bright pink Doc Martens that you can use to stomp on the crows.
Glad Fecklet is better – it’s tough trying to write with a sick littlie.
And remember you have an agent and an ed on your side. They’ll show you what you’re too close to see needs fixing – and they’ll also point out the good stuff.
Sending you a hug xx
Poor Fecklet. Hope he’s better soon and here, here for good agents and editors. Mind you, I don’t write as freely as I used to when I had nothing to lose. Now I tend to worry more about if my agent or editor will like it which I sometimes think can make it a bit bland. Double-edged sword anyone?!!!
I love this discussion esp about writing dirty – and Amanda’s point about writing something more freely when you have nothing to lose.
I would like a shotgun for the crows too.
You are lucky, but hey, you are talented and devoted too. As a “wannabe” thank you for the compassion of knowing how it sucks to only ever be faced with rejection. I am hoping to get into the RNA scheme this coming year. Have looked up other “crit” services but they are out of price league. Happy crow stomping.
Oh,no. Not Prince William. Have you put Harry in instead? He is the sexy one.
Love the bricks. Do you think he might build me a house? Very cramped in mine now the Prince of Darkness has split with lovely girlfriend and is back home.