Tuesday, April 6, 2010

WIP Whack

Yesterday I barreled through the first 150 pages of the WIP. I tried to focus on the global changes and not on the micro changes. I managed to do so for the most part. How? I used my handy dandy "insert comment" button in WORD.

When I am writing on a big scale, I don't work in Scrivener. It's a fabulous program for individual scene work, but a bit wieldy for me for large scale tracking of changes and comments. Right now I have a huge document on WORD that has lots and lots of tracking blood and blue comment blood. I don't want to stop and make small editorial changes yet, so I'm marking the areas with those changes along with the page numbers in the MS they are located in.

Sometimes I want to fix the scene right away, or make notes straight into the document. That slowed me down a bit yesterday as my goal was to move through to the end. I was also baffled by the fact that 100 pages of edits I had saved were gone for moment. A FRIGHTENING MOMENT. But I found it almost immediately and saved again under a new title just in case.

It's important to save a lot during this process or all those brainstorming moments will be lost. The moments where free writing is occurring and grammar be darned. Yeah, I had a few of those yesterday and that is a great time for a writer. I like to work fast and quick so I don't over think my creative bursts of energy or my inevitable cutting of scenes.

I haven't lost too much as far as word count is concerned. I started at over 68,000 words. I'm down to 67, 211 now. I am sure I will lose more today as I head into the last act of the book. But that's okay. I have TONS of ideas about how to add more delicious words to the document.

I have about 120 pages left work through for this part of the revision. I also have the real world pressing in: calls to make for the darling FIL and handymen coming to the house. I am structuring my workday to write first, call during the "hurry up and wait for us to show up" time period this afternoon.

This is the part of the revision that I love cause it is quick. Generating new ideas and writing them is fun for me as well. Finesse work? Not so much. But I will do it. I've got less than two weeks before I have to bring bits and pieces of this MS to a writing workshop. Good times. I have less than a month before I have to start reworking the synopsis and the first twenty-five pages for the MAGGIES.

Having a wee fire under my behind works wonders for my motivation to get the job done. Perhaps that's why I procrastinated so much.

What helps motivate you to write and get the job done if you don't have an editor hanging over your head? I use contests and writing workshops to give me deadlines. Learning to write as if one has a deadline is vital if one wants to survive the post "call" period of one's career.

10 comments:

Gwen Hernandez said...

Good job! I'm going back and forth between the new WIP and the editing. Trying to slowly fold in the new plot ideas.

The only thing that keeps me motivated is having a daily goal. It makes me feel accountable. Otherwise, I might just read other people's work all day. ;-)

Christine said...

I'm focused on the current WIP, but am eager to work on something new as well.

Back at it in a few minutes ;-)

Saumya said...

Lovely post and blog!

I get motivated by conferences because I want to attend them with a completed idea. I also try to give myself weekly goals. Every day begins with just writing freely and then revising what I wrote the previous day. Good luck to you!

Wendy S Marcus said...

I use contests to motivate me as well. Also, when I'm editing, I create a Deleted Scenes file, cause I never know if I may change my mind at a later time.

Christine said...

Welcome Saumya. I love your writing process. Weekly goals are very important. And I am also targeting two conferences this year. Which ones are you going to attend?

Christine said...

WendyM: I have a cut scenes file for every draft I write. I usually farm the first cut scenes file for the final draft--so it is good to keep the words--never know when you might need them.

I finished up the first global edit and pass through. Cut about 5000 words (not as horrible and painful as I thought it would be). Tomorrow I'll do some more global tone fixes and edits. Woohoo.

Still need to work on that YA idea I have--that will be my free write time.

Talli Roland said...

Thank you for dropping by my blog and becoming a follower!

Your question is very relevant to my current life: I write under a different name for non-fiction and I'm under deadline for a project! It's a really tight deadline and what keeps me motivated is my fear of letting others down. I must meet the deadline or perish trying!

Christine said...

Talli: I love your blog. Thanks for popping in and taking the time to share your thoughts. Sounds like you've got a tight deadline--you'll get it finished.

But yes, that's how we need to be as unpublished writers. We need to treat the writing as a job--and be aware of deadlines so we can fulfill the paying deadlines.

Ann said...

Sounds like you are really motoring along. I am in awe. I too need workshop deadlines and contests to keep me on task. Otherwise I just sit and stare! Not good for the morale or the soul.

Christine said...

Hi Ann: I have been pushing hard. The workshop is next week. I have to bring the first five pages, and two scenes--yikes! I've rewritten the beginning, but it's rough. I may have to bring the older version for critique purposes.

Deadlines are important. There's not getting around it--once we get the call, we will have to work toward them all the time. And I did read an agent blog that said while she didn't necessarily look at contest wins as part of her vetting process, she did look at them as proof that we take our writing seriously and treat it like a profession.