Writer On The Go…

I’m trying to axe the side trips, but I’m beginning to think they’re something that will be with me for a while yet. However, I do need to put a lot more order into my projects, not to mention stick with the deadlines I set myself.

Recently, I entered two contests. One was a short story centred around a meeting of two long-lost lovers. I didn’t win, but the good thing is, that story will likely be published. I’m waiting for confirmation on that. The second contest is for romance writers. I entered two novels for that competition and I’m feeling positive and taking that for a good sign.

Meantime, I’m doing edits…just in case. We writers are never satisfied, so while I wait, I continue to ‘top-dress’. There are other projects that need editing for a competition at the end of April and another at the end of May.

 I don’t feel as stressed as I used to since I took the time to pace myself using my diary. It works a lot better to assign completion dates for each story/article and at any given time, I know what I’m supposed to be working on. Not to say I stick religiously to any one project, but at least I know where the goal post is and what I need to put in to get there.

Makes life a lot easier.

I first approached writing in the same way I used to take on random projects - a challange to be overcome. Once I gain mastery of a particular thing, I lose interest. The difference with writing is that it is not something you ever master. There’s always more to be learned.

Without a doubt, my writing has improved over the past four years and I continue to read books and articles pertaining to the craft. The articles, short stories and novels I’ve written to date are testament to the discipline needed to write, edit and then edit again. And still there is room for improvement.

But there comes a time - and for me that time is now - when you realize that you are moving in too many directions. This year, I’m using a diary to track my progress with all my projects. I’ve set myself the task of writing an article a month, editing the works I have languishing on my computer and finding an agent. Added to these projects, there are the contests that I have in mind to enter.

This blog post is a means of diversion while I work out where to go next - not that I don’t know. I simply need to get one thing finished before starting another. But that’s easier said than done. As a writer, you understand what happens when your characters grow insistent and won’t be ignored. You simply have to write.

I think the online workshop where I’m a member helps complicate matters. I’m participate in the romance and young adult forums, where we exchange indepth critiques of each others novels. That takes a fair amount of time and then there are the other novels I’m reading for those people who review my work.

Is it any wonder I don’t get enough done?

I need to sit down with the diary and trim away some of the side trips.

Wish me luck.

I think it’s a case of familiarity breeding contempt. The places, flora and fauna that get written into my script are all part of the landscape that defines Jamaica, but somehow I write over them, paying no special attention to how they add colour, not to mention uniqueness.

The first question a non-Jamaican critiquing my work asks is ‘where is Jamaica?’ The next comment will be along the lines that while I do have descriptions in there that convey something of the island, a bit more detail would create more vivid pictures.

You’d think I’d learn after having written several novels and short stories. It’s usually on the second or third editing pass that I add shades of colour to the canvas of the story.

Currently, I have two novels under consideration with different publishers and will be sending out another shortly. I’m banking on the fact that to many, Jamaica is an exotic location and that that will help sell my manuscripts.

Meantime, I’ve read more than several articles on the subject of setting as a reminder to myself that I have a gem of an island which may very well help swing a decision to publish in my favour.

NaNo might be a memory, but my workload is still here! 

I’m now working on two projects.  One of them, I’ve edited several times already, but I know it’s due another final read before I’ll feel content to let it go.  I should have been working on it consistently during November, but got carried away with National Novel Writing Month.  Not that I regret a minute of that adventure, because I feel I’ve got a winner-to-come out of the fifty thousand words I wrote.

But to come back to the present, I’m working on a second project which was requested by a publisher ten days ago.  Though I worked on it recently, I’m still going through it again.  The good thing is, I’ve made very few changes.   

I’m trying not to get impatient over the first project, but I’m at the point where I’m sick and tired of reading and working on it.  I’m hoping that a few days away from it will give me a new perspective and I’ll be all bright eyed and ready to make the necessary changes before sending it off.   

Wish me luck!

Now that the madness of NaNo is over, I can get back to life as I knew it before the start of November.  Thankfully, I was able to get to my word count of just over fifty thousand last night.  It felt good to finish ahead of schedule, which means I get some free time this weekend.

Not that I have the luxury of goofing off.  I’ve had a request from a publisher based on a partial I sent in October, so that’s my next project.  No sooner do I close the book on one project do I have to start moving on another. 

But that’s okay, it’s what we writers do in the quest for publication.  I’ve had some successes during this past month as well as a major disappointment, but more anon…

The NaNo project is going well. I ‘m at just over 18,000 words.  I’d started plotting the novel in October, so I had a good idea of where I needed to go before I started. 

Six chapters in, the way got a bit fuzzy and I needed to stop and chart my course again.  I got some great suggestions from my writing pals at thenextbigwriter.com so I’m off and running again. 

Tomorrow I’ll do the next chapter when I’m feeling a lot less tired. 

Hope you’re making waves if you’re participating in this crazy thing called NaNoWriMo!

Four days in, I’m making strides with my current project.  The ideas are constant, the juices are flowing and the words are coming out in the right order.

I hear some of my pals complaining about writing crap, thankfully, I don’t have that problem.  Could be because I know where I’m going with this story.  Plus I have the good fortune of having the sentences fall in place where they should.  If this keeps up, I may actually make it to fifty thousand words come November 30.

Last time I got to 48k.  I hope that life continues to be kind to me this month so that I get ahead of my target and stay there.  I have to work two full weekend days mid month.  If I’m lucky, I’ll win a scholarship I applied for and will also have a three day workshop weekend. 

Soooo, I’m signing off to go add to my word count. 

Good luck to all fellow NaNo writers.

Here I am still wondering if I’ve lost my mind, but anyway I’m gearing up to see how close I come to writing Fifty Thousand words by the end of November.  For those of you who haven’t heard November is National Novel Writing Month - NaNoWriMo for short. 

I know where my story is supposed to go. My main characters are in place and I have a general idea of how they get to where they’re going.  It’s almost time to  get to the starting post and start filling in the journey.

Wish me luck with this.  I’ll be rooting for others on my writing site who are as crazy as I am to take on this monster challenge.

More anon…

It’s amazing what fragile egos we writers possess.  I’ve been fortunate to have the first article I ever wrote published.  I sold several after that and I’ve had some short stories published.  But I still have a shy, cringing place within me that hesitates to say ‘I’m a writer’.  Yet I know I am.   

I’m a purist, so somewhere along my journey I started to believe that I couldn’t classify myself as a writer if I hadn’t been paid.  I’ve got past that.  Whether someone is paid or not, if he/she loves what he/she does and have some skill at it, then that person is a writer. 

I’ve yet to work up the audacity to come out in public – by that I mean in real time, not the net – and say ‘Hey world! Lookee here!  I’m a writer!’  This non-progressive attitude is what kept me from going to the Calabash Literary Festival earlier this year.  I thought I’d feel like a hypocrite to call myself a writer among so many illustrious people. 

Having missed that great gathering of literary minds for no good reason, I think it’s time I got over myself.  If I’m alive and kicking next year, it’s not something I’ve going to miss.   You can be sure I’ll be smart enough to take along samples of my work too…just in case.

So, how d’you plan to put aside your reluctance and blow your own trumpet?

Having jumped on the NaNo bandwagon, I’m preparing myself to burst out of the starting gate come November 1.

I have my project bible all bound and waiting for my daily input.  I’ve done my character charts and even made notes as to how the first and second scenes in the story will play out.  

Strangely, I haven’t named my characters yet.  I know what they look like, what they drive, who they’re married to, but no names yet.  Still, I have no doubt they’ll come to me when the time is right.  I think I’m constrained because the novel will be loosely based on persons I know and I wouldn’t want to get anybody in hot water. J

I’m having a ball with outlining.  I hope it will make writing a breeze come November when there will be no time to do anything but write.   If all goes well, I’ll make my 50,000 word count with ease.

If you’re taking up the Nano challenge, what have you done so far to ensure you succeed?