May 1, 2011

Focus On What's Important: Me!

Nap time's over people. Back to work!


My break from writing is over. The world came crashing down on my shoulders last weekend when I realized I would need to rewrite the ENTIRE MS I'm currently revising and received 2 rejections the same day. These are things that wouldn't normally bother me separately. Rejection happens and I've grown as a writer so much, that I deem my book crap :) Together? Not such a good combination.

I wasn't physically working on the book, but I still made a lot of notes to figure things out.


Welcome to my way of getting things done. It may look like a mess, but this is my outline. I keep very detailed step-by-step outlines so I can review them quickly if I need to go back. Of course, Tracking Changes is on because what I think will work better may not actually and I'll need to revert to the old. I hear the newer OS X.7 Lion will have a feature called Versions (I use a Mac), but not for Microsoft (I use Word for Mac). The program will automatically save "versions" of your work like a backup. Until then, Tracking Changes it is.

The book is kicking my ass. I have come up with a lot of solutions, I hope, but I have a lot of work to do! Sent out a few more submissions for LET ME OUT after revising the letter AGAIN! I'm on...4th round of submissions? Still have 9 queries open.

Are your outlines horrendous like mine? Or simple? Where are you at in Revision Hell?

5 comments:

  1. The MS I'm rewriting is DEFINITELY kicking my butt. Draft Five (ish) still feels like a first draft, where I'm getting to know my character. She's so different from the characters in BV that it makes her hard to write. I think we're getting there, though.

    Maybe.

    I actually outlined this one recently using the Snowflake Outline technique and I think it's helping.

    We'll see...

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  2. Chelsey, what is the Snowflake outline? I've never heard of it, but if it makes my life easier I want to try!

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  3. I use a whiteboard and a notebook for my outlines. I'm working on getting the basic structure of the book right. I think it's the hardest part of revisions.

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  4. I am currently revising a manuscript I had on the shelf for nearly three years. It appears I needed that long to get the proper distance from it. Does that apply to all writers? Absolutely not. But what does apply to all writers is that it is a tough, long-haul process when it comes to novels. No way to get around that. I wish the best of luck + wisdom.

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  5. Lynda - I wish I was that organized. I keep a notebook for my writing, but mostly to use as an "agenda" to stay on top of things.

    Suze - Every writer is different. I agree 100% - it is a tough, long-haul process. Good luck with your revisions :)

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