It’s Thanksgiving week and so I plan to be brief. I also know many of you are writing that 50000 word novel this month.
I’m at 35000 words in my 75000 WIP. I’m getting closer to bringing in a huge upset to the story. Not the black moment, but a change that will affect the MC in a big way.
Then the downhill slide begins to the end.
But this time, I’m taking my good old sweet time. You see, I’m hoping book number five is better than all the previous four. I’m hoping that I’ve learned something and I’ll put that knowledge into play in this one.
But I’m also more realistic now. More than I was maybe six months ago.
This book might show me new need areas to work on. Not be the one.
And that’s okay.
So here’s my brief post with my brief question to you: What did you learn from your last writing effort?
Happy Thanksgiving!
39 comments:
Happy Thanksgiving!
With love,
Yolanda
That one needs to cultivate Patience for writing what one can. Lack of it spoils it all....Ugghhh!
In my case...not to give up on it yet. But I can see a difference in my writing as Im working on the sequel. That's the best thing I learned.
Happy Thanksgiving
So far, that writing is hard when you can't turn off your inner editor. Someone tell her to be quiet for a while!
Happy Thanksgiving!
That writing a novel is fairly easy. Writing a great novel is a long labor of love.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving, Terri!
I've learned VERY recently that competition can get me writing. (Have done a few 15-minute "word wars" with some NaNoers, and it has really gotten me going!)
Not to freak out when I think the writing's not going well. :-)
Happy Thanksgiving!
that after you give birth to the baby and send it to the publisher it takes a looonnng time to hear if they like it!
Congrats on your progress, Terri. Have fun shaking things up for your characters. =)
I'm still licking my wounds from the last "snarky" judges review. I am scouting out submission possibilities to get another opinion but haven't written much beyond the blog since. Happy Holidays!
I'm learning that life is a waiting game! You wait nine months to have a baby...waiting for this "baby" may take longer and you may have to have "re-do". Sure glad that doesn't happen with the real birthing process! But it will be worth it...when the crying stops!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Give thanks in all things...even the not-so-good things! It all makes us stronger.
Happy Thanksgiving week! You are tenacious, and that is a virtue I am still developing with my writing.
I love your indomitable spirit and mature outlook, Terri. You always get up. That's a sign of a godly woman.
I learned that no matter how many times I say, "There. That's the best I can do," there is always room for improvement.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jen
I'm glad you're back.
Great comments from everyone. I learn so much from all of you.
Yay! Good progress. I'm about at the same point in my WiP--I'm at 31,500. Big changes are about to happen...!
What have I learned from my last novel? That you should NOT rush the ending. Resolution has to happen. I had to rewrite the last 2 chapters!
If you mean my last book, I learned that I need to do more research when doing a story.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Praying a happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. :O)
You're making some good progress, Terri! I think I learn something new with every novel I write. In fact, I've already learned a lot writing my current WIP and I'm not even finished yet. It's kind of making it hard to get that first draft down because I keep revising the first few chapters! But...it's all to make the story better, so I guess that's good.
Great word count! I love that point in the book because you've already tackled most of the middle. The rest is gravy. As for my last WIP we had a love/hate relationship. I'm thrilled to be done with it, but it was a blast to write. It was something outside of my comfort zone. I'm letting it cool until after New Year to edit it. My new WIP and I get along much better. ;)
Congratulations!
I've learned that writing, like anything else that you want to do well, is an up and down process, and lifelong!
Ann
Nice word count! What did I learn last time? I have no idea. I am constantly learning something new. With each critique I get the more I evolve.
Wow!! Congrats on the word count! I learned that I had a LOT to learn about the craft of fiction. I doubt I'll ever know "everything" but perhaps that's the joy of writing? :) GOOD LUCK!!
Persist. Keep writing. Do your best, but don't be a perfectionist (or it will never see publication). Enjoy the process. Write some more!
Good post! Have a great Thanksgiving. wb
Terri, my last writing effort taught me a very harsh lesson. It taught me the benefit of a long brainstorming session and thinking about my character's motives before every scene. My first few drafts of this WIP were crap.
Wising you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Terri,
Welcome back from your break. It's good to hear that you're writing with such enthusiasm. I know this work will reflect your teachable heart and writing passion.
I haven't written a lot lately...but feel inspired to get more focused after visiting here. One thing I constantly learn through my writers' group is that nothing I write, no matter how good I think it is, is ever beyond critique that makes my stories better and reveals flaws I don't see.
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
What I learned...hmm. That I need to keep the conflict going throughout the book - and on every page.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Hi Terri -
Great progress!
I've learned character motivations, creating tension, and moving the story forward keep the reader engaged. Also, the first line of a book either grabs an editor/agent or sends them running in the other direction.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Happy Thanksgiving Terri,
I learned to sleep on it. I always have a fresh perspective in the morning.
I learned that it's possible for me to write more than 1k in a day. LOL
Happy Thanksgiving!
Woo-hoo! You're winding up to the mid-point--yeah!
I learned that both my hero and heroine needed specific, current external goals in addition to their main external goals. I never would have seen it on my own!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I'd say my last book taught me to think my plot through. I also need to write a little, rest a little. I can't dump the whole thing out too quickly.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Just wanted to stop by and wish you a happy thanksgiving. I've finished the nanowriter thing. Learned to keep a story moving..you need some good conflicts and a few good characters. ☺
I learned slice of life stories are a hard sell...even if they have a great topic and rhyme really well.
Have a lovely holiday! Congratulations on the 35000 words...
Happy Thanksgiving, Terri, and congratulations on your good progress. I'm another Wrimo... using the month to finish up something I started earlier.
I've learned that I need to trust my judgement more. I don't plot in great detail, but I do enough pre-planning that I know where scenes are supposed to go. Sometimes instinct pushes toward changes that I resist because they aren't in the plan. When I give myself permission to explore those changes I'm often pleased with the difference they make to the story.
That it's about blood and sweat and tears and listening to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit is THE reward to writing Reclaiming Lily.
That teaming with two soulmate writers produced the very best book I could've written before turning it over to foster care parents at Bethany House.
That it's got to be the going, not the getting there, that's good.
Thank you, Harry Chapin, for letting me borrow from your killer lyrics in "Greyhound."
You go, girl. You're there already.
Sounds like you're growing as a writer to me! I can't participate in NaNoWriMo because my books are never even 45,000 words...middle grade. I did write a young adult novel this month, though. 44,000 words. I just am not official! I love the way NaNoWriMo gets us all writing.
It sure sounds like your blogging break helped you in a number of ways, including your thinking about your writing. We can only do what we're able to do, and to trust that each step has its own purpose.
I learned with my first book that unless I'm willing (or able) to give my whole heart to the writing, the truth and power will be diminished.
Love that you took a much needed break and that perspective was birthed in that time. It's so easy to get bogged down in the cyber world, all the while to the neglect of the "in the flesh", every day world. I've learned my lesson along these lines. That being said, I'm grateful for the connection of my blogging friends. You all have been an invaluable source of outside support to me in this season.
Since I'm not "out" much these days, I love logging on and finding out what's going on with everyone.
You are a blessing, friend. Take good care of your heart; I pray God's favor, love, and joy rest upon you as we pilgrim to the manger to behold his faithful Light.
peace~elaine
I learned that I need a lot more practice and I could use the assistance of an editor!
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