Before I head into the ring again to wrestle my WIP in revision into shape, I had to have a meeting with myself to determine just how nuts I'd go with my wrestling technique. I've been banging this WIP's plot hard, punching holes into the plot, taping wounds in the words and sending out 911 distress calls for medical intervention via contests, workshops, brainstorming, and CP/beta reader feedback.
The WIP lies on the desk, a pile of 250 printed out pages in a crooked, yet ordered 1-250, jumble. On top of it I've stacked the current short story sketch, two newspapers with articles about tornadoes, contest feedback with useful and constructive criticism and the original GMC charts I planned a year ago.
In front of me, on the wall above my laptop and desk, are about a dozen Post-it notes with little jottings about the book. They include tidbits about ongoing word counts, reminders about what I want to read and do for my writing, a workshop class list that I am moderating (in HOT pink), the Twelve Stages of Intimacy, a few agencies I plan to query (in BLUE -- no reason why) and my RWA membership number. I also have another workshop's lessons about achieving believable romantic resolution taped to the wall.
Surrounding my desk, on the walls and door of my closet and in my bookshelves are my 3rd Revision's story poster board with notes on it in ball point to show the new changes I plan to implement, other craft books, mounds of paper ready for the printer and my collage that I created while brainstorming the first draft of this book (over a year ago!).
In my computer, under the book's title, I have a bunch of files containing all the drafts, in WORD and SCRIVENER. I have my contest results (the ones that are helpful), my CP's comments, and my character interviews.
Sigh. The visual clutter is making my mind rebel.
Here are the results of the meeting with myself:
1) I'm not ready to straighten out this mess within my mind. Oh, I've got dozens of ideas and my story is semi plotted again. But I'm not ready to plow into the pile of papers on my desk and make it all work.
2) I will be ready to straighten out this mess by the end of the week. My butt is in the fire. I entered the MAGGIE with this story. I have to find a way to carve out 30 decent pages of writing and a new synopsis reflecting my story's evolving plot. I've got to do it by June 1.
3) I've determined that this is my final lob of the revision ball. After I enter the MAGGIE with what I put together, I will focus and keep on revising till the end of June.
4) During the first part of July, I'm pulling together my pitch for Nationals and the M&M Conference.
5) But will I continue to revise this book after July 1? Yes, but only AFTER I GET A REQUEST. If I don't get a request, what is the point? I need to take what I've learned and apply it to the next book.
6) It's time to Keep It Simple Silly. It's time to focus on what I can fix, not worry about rewriting the entire plot again, and toss the book out there to see if there is any interest in it by people who will represent me or pay me to fix it.
If I stay mired in this book, I'll be writing four books and only have one to show for it. Not going to work. Not anymore. I got to finish it to the best of my ability, but I don't have to keep reinventing the wheel. This summer I need to move on so I can write the book that MIGHT be the one that gets my foot in the door.
I'm keeping it simple so I can free myself for the next idea and the next book.
Showing posts with label end game. Show all posts
Showing posts with label end game. Show all posts
Monday, May 3, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Reading, Relaxing, Reflecting After a Big Day
Yesterday as a momentous day for many of my co-writers, some I knew and some I didn't, but the excitement about the RWA Golden Hearts and Ritas filled the day.
No. I didn't final. I never expect to final. I know it's a lottery to some extent. Sometimes it is not about the writing, it's about the judges. Sometimes it's about the writing and the judges aren't the problem. I'm certain my writing is decent; one of my entries was a MAGGIE finalist. And the second entry, despite the "tone" problems, was critiqued by a published author with tons of experience. The things she asked me to change had much to do with finesse, not craft. So there you have it.
Does this detract from the GH finalists? Absolutely not. My CP is a finalist. She's entered 4 years (or 5) and this is her first time finaling. She was very low last year after not finaling, and I don't blame her. She wrote just as well then as she this year. But this year, she had the right combination: a great book and great judges who loved her story.
And that makes me happy for her and hopeful for me. If not the GH, then it will be an editor or an agent. The GH is a great feather in one's cap, but it doesn't guarantee publication or lack of rejections. In fact, one of the most dangerous times for a writer to quit is after finaling in the GH. Why? Because of the expectations: her hopes and the hopes of her fellow writers. When the elusive publication call doesn't come, the GH finalist can plummet very low. So for those of you out there who finaled, enjoy the high and glory of being a finalist: you've earned it. And it will be fun to see who wins.
But remember, it's like a wedding. After the big day, it's back to reality. And reality isn't always easy.
Which brings me back to me. Here's my reality: a story with a tone problem, another revision waiting for me to tackle it, an underlying doubt that this story is even worth the effort given the content, a desire to kick the bloody thing out the door and start again, a stubborn streak forcing me to stay the course regardless of the outcome.
But I have to have an end-game. I call this my exit strategy. At what point to we say "stop?" I did this when I was trying to get pregnant. I had a stopping point. I knew how much pain and anguish I could bear, how much money I could lose and then I made my decision. We stop trying at this point. Fortunately, we were lucky. We had our baby. Our one good egg. I was lucky indeed.
I've had this for selling houses, building houses, starting new ventures and more. At what point do we cave on the dollar amount? At what point do we walk from the deal? The same is true for this MS and for my writing as a whole.
I've been at this game for 5 years now. I've come close, very close, but still not there. Do I ever quit? In this case, no. I can't NOT write. But I have a daughter going to college in two years and a household I'd like to contribute to. Is it fair to ask my husband to carry the FULL burden and SUPPORT my crazy dream financially? No. For now, in our 1-End list, we have a strategy. The strategy is to keep going till 2013. Then reevaluate. Then it will be not if I write, but when I write. If DD is in college, I can easily work and write. It's not like DH needs me to hold his hand and stroke his ego on a regular basis. So the end game is write without a full time job for now, reevaluate in 3 years, decide then where to go based on where I am as a writer professionally.
That's the big picture. The smaller picture is the current MS. At what point do I say it is time to move on? I've wrestled it back from the brink twice in a big way, once in a smaller way. Now I am going back in--on Monday--armed with author critique and my brainstorming notes. I am reading all I can get my hands on to reestablish what I want to write and why. I am eliminating a LOT of directions and zoning in on the key direction.
My end game for the current MS is July 1. This gives me 3 months, with interruptions like visits from folks, recitals and year end school stuff, to revise the current jumble. Within that 3 month period, I have a contest I want to enter (maybe 2) and a new synopsis to write. After the 3 month period, I am setting it aside and moving forward.
I have learned a lot about myself as a writer and as a reader. I know where I want to go. It has been great to take relaxing break and read the books I've read. It has been great to evaluate my direction. It has been great to come up with a plan.
Come Monday the micro plan is in place. Come Monday, the macro life plan is in place as well.
What are your strategies? Do you reflect upon what your end game is? Do you adjust your thinking about when and where you write?
No. I didn't final. I never expect to final. I know it's a lottery to some extent. Sometimes it is not about the writing, it's about the judges. Sometimes it's about the writing and the judges aren't the problem. I'm certain my writing is decent; one of my entries was a MAGGIE finalist. And the second entry, despite the "tone" problems, was critiqued by a published author with tons of experience. The things she asked me to change had much to do with finesse, not craft. So there you have it.
Does this detract from the GH finalists? Absolutely not. My CP is a finalist. She's entered 4 years (or 5) and this is her first time finaling. She was very low last year after not finaling, and I don't blame her. She wrote just as well then as she this year. But this year, she had the right combination: a great book and great judges who loved her story.
And that makes me happy for her and hopeful for me. If not the GH, then it will be an editor or an agent. The GH is a great feather in one's cap, but it doesn't guarantee publication or lack of rejections. In fact, one of the most dangerous times for a writer to quit is after finaling in the GH. Why? Because of the expectations: her hopes and the hopes of her fellow writers. When the elusive publication call doesn't come, the GH finalist can plummet very low. So for those of you out there who finaled, enjoy the high and glory of being a finalist: you've earned it. And it will be fun to see who wins.
But remember, it's like a wedding. After the big day, it's back to reality. And reality isn't always easy.
Which brings me back to me. Here's my reality: a story with a tone problem, another revision waiting for me to tackle it, an underlying doubt that this story is even worth the effort given the content, a desire to kick the bloody thing out the door and start again, a stubborn streak forcing me to stay the course regardless of the outcome.
But I have to have an end-game. I call this my exit strategy. At what point to we say "stop?" I did this when I was trying to get pregnant. I had a stopping point. I knew how much pain and anguish I could bear, how much money I could lose and then I made my decision. We stop trying at this point. Fortunately, we were lucky. We had our baby. Our one good egg. I was lucky indeed.
I've had this for selling houses, building houses, starting new ventures and more. At what point do we cave on the dollar amount? At what point do we walk from the deal? The same is true for this MS and for my writing as a whole.
I've been at this game for 5 years now. I've come close, very close, but still not there. Do I ever quit? In this case, no. I can't NOT write. But I have a daughter going to college in two years and a household I'd like to contribute to. Is it fair to ask my husband to carry the FULL burden and SUPPORT my crazy dream financially? No. For now, in our 1-End list, we have a strategy. The strategy is to keep going till 2013. Then reevaluate. Then it will be not if I write, but when I write. If DD is in college, I can easily work and write. It's not like DH needs me to hold his hand and stroke his ego on a regular basis. So the end game is write without a full time job for now, reevaluate in 3 years, decide then where to go based on where I am as a writer professionally.
That's the big picture. The smaller picture is the current MS. At what point do I say it is time to move on? I've wrestled it back from the brink twice in a big way, once in a smaller way. Now I am going back in--on Monday--armed with author critique and my brainstorming notes. I am reading all I can get my hands on to reestablish what I want to write and why. I am eliminating a LOT of directions and zoning in on the key direction.
My end game for the current MS is July 1. This gives me 3 months, with interruptions like visits from folks, recitals and year end school stuff, to revise the current jumble. Within that 3 month period, I have a contest I want to enter (maybe 2) and a new synopsis to write. After the 3 month period, I am setting it aside and moving forward.
I have learned a lot about myself as a writer and as a reader. I know where I want to go. It has been great to take relaxing break and read the books I've read. It has been great to evaluate my direction. It has been great to come up with a plan.
Come Monday the micro plan is in place. Come Monday, the macro life plan is in place as well.
What are your strategies? Do you reflect upon what your end game is? Do you adjust your thinking about when and where you write?
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