Wednesday, February 10, 2010

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. :)

11 comments:

  1. Dude, I think 8000 words in only a couple of months is great! I've written, um, zero. So yeah! 8000 is AWESOMESAUCE.

    Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL, I've written a grand total of ZERO words this month. (Elana, maybe we should form a support group!) I'd like to think I'm just letting my current projects rest a little, but it's really an issue of avoidance and laziness/possibly drunkenness.

    8000 words is amazing with everything else you've had on your plate!

    ReplyDelete
  3. 8000 words is an amazing accomplishment - good for you! I don't think I've done half as much in three months. Need to get cracking... I tell you, these winter blues are slowing me down!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Holy smokes! Starting over? You are BRAVE!!

    Congrats on the triple digit followers. NICE!

    As for me, um. Haven't done much writing this past week. But my WiP is a healthy 30k right now, so it's going along just fine.

    Good luck Abby!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fabulous that you got 8000 words done!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Hell. I wrote about 40K words in 3 months and then came to a spectacular screeching halt. Nothing, nada, zilch in the last two months. I can't even imagine a rewrite, not to mention 10 more words right now. This doesn't include the two memoir/short story books I've started and not finished. Really need to get myself about four days alone to kickstart everything. Elana and Tere, I will be your third wheel in the support group.

    So to me? Your 8000 words KICKS ASS. Way to go. Because it's another 8000 words down the path to the finish line.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Moving is a huge upheaval in life, so I'm impressed you wrote 8k in the midst of that. Sometimes I find that I have to give myself a set goal, like I will write 1k today and that works. Otherwise, I'll find all kinds of stuff to do.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm with everyone else. 8K is a great number. Don't discount it. And welcome to the world of rewriting. I loved your comment on my post. Here's to making our stories better!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm way proud of you! 8K is no small feat! Be so proud of youself because we are!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You're amazing, Abby!! Congrats on reaching 100 followers!

    Also, I'm so proud of you for coming to such a hard decision about your book. Let me know if you need a beta reader--I'd love to help!

    ReplyDelete
  11. glad there's less stress. that's always a good thing. can't wait to read the next version of your novel.

    ReplyDelete