WIP Wednesday

Thanks for all the great suggestions yesterday! You guys are awesome. The wheels are turning now and I have a few posts brewing, but nothing that's ready today. So I figured, why not do a WIP post, as per Dawn's suggestion. Thanks, Dawn!

I was looking back over my posts and noticed I haven't done one of these since mid-November. And that post was all about finishing my revisions and sending out queries. After receiving a couple of rejections, I realized that even though I'd done countless revisions, there wasn't any way to get that version of the story into shape just by doing revisions. So I decided to start over from scratch—same concept with better writing (I hope), stronger voice, and major plot changes to improve the characterization and tension throughout. 

This decision was made around the middle of December. Since then I've managed to squeeze out a measly 8000 words. And it's not like the very first draft where I had no clue where I was headed. I have a basic idea for the whole story in my head, I just can't seem to get it down on paper. Granted, I did have the move to deal with, but I also had a whole month without internet. I should've gotten a lot of writing done, right? In theory, yes.

BUT.

I'm finding that my process has a lot to do with stress and my need to use my writing to escape it. Since we've been here, my stress levels are much, much lower. Don't misunderstand—lack of stress is awesome—it's just another thing to adjust to since being here. You learn to live with something long enough, good or bad, it's going to take a while to adjust to living without it.

So I guess I'm figuring it out, and getting back into my regular blogging schedule will help, I think. It keeps the brainstorming going, which often leads to new ideas and solutions for plot issues that direct thinking can't always find. And reading all of your blogs sparks new ideas too.

What about all of you? Any progress to report? Any awesome news you want to share?

And if you'll kindly look to your right, you'll see that my followers have reached triple digits. I can't believe it! Be sure to check back Friday. I'm going to try and come up with something awesome to celebrate. Maybe even something involving flying monkeys. :)