I think I have a small problem. :) Some of the feedback I've gotten regarding Thirst sounds like a lot of people seem to think it's PnR. Or at least expect it to be. Erm, whoops. I'm not a HEA kind of writer and I never intended Thirst to be anything close to romance. The bigger whoops here is that I'm working on the sequel during ROW80 and I cannot get the romance thing out of my head. I keep looking at every sentence differently - which is sooooo not productive. My update is not much to update, basically. :)
I've been trying not to force the word count so I've put more effort into editing. Bloody hell. The kids are like my little shadows this week. I ended up taking my ereader into the bath to try and edit (touchscreen is the best invention ever) but that didn't last long. Every two minutes the eldest was knocking on the door to boast about learning another "tricky word" (senior infants homework stylee) and then I could hear the baby giving my OH grief so I gave up. I fell asleep early last night but then I woke up at around three and got about two hours editing done so I'm happy with that. The baby is still asleep and the twins are amusing themselves so after this post I'm going to try and get something else done.
So mid-week update - very little in the way of actual word count on Taunt, edited a moderate amount of cringey cheese from Verity but most importantly I made an effort to work each day so overall I'm quite happy. I've gotten past the forcing myself stage and I'm just getting on with it and trying not to get frustrated when everything else gets in the way. Hope everyone else is feeling good about their goals. :)
When my kids were younger, much younger, I didn't get much else done. My heart goes out to you. It's so much easier now that they are older. :) Give it a few years. Until then, no worries. They grow up fast.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on edits. That's my weakest area,
I live in hope. ;) Some weeks are just more . . . trying than others. LOL.
ReplyDeleteEditing is my weak point too but sure, it has to be done. Unfortunately. :D
Well done on even getting that much progress. I don't even have kids and sometimes *I* struggle to manage my time hehe And though it may not seem productive now, editing will help in the long run - the more you do now, the less you have to do later :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebeccaj - I feel like I'm getting better at editing and I'm writing cleaner drafts too. Verity was written a long time ago so the amount of editing needed is on another level. LOL.
ReplyDelete*Rebecca even. Maybe I'm not so good at editing. :D
ReplyDeleteIt's great to read what everyone else is doing...it makes me feel surrounded by encouragement and great ideas.
ReplyDeleteI feel a bit weird because I enjoy editing, but then again, I approach it in stages: first time through, it's just typos and rearranging a few sentences here and there; second time through, it's more about analyzing the characters, story, and trying to see it from a reader's point of view...
By the time I've finished two or three "tweaks," I'm ready to send it to my "readers."
In the past, I would e-mail chapters to colleagues with different tastes, to get a variety of opinions. I'm not sure what I'll do with my current work.
It's just great to get back into the habit of writing everyday, as I lost my mojo for awhile...sidetracked by blogging, reading, etc.
Laurel - I probably do it the other way around, I leave the typos and things until last. I'm hating it less than I used to which feels like a good sign, maybe it's because I have more of a plan now.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying reading about everyone else's progress too, if nothing else, I feel like I'm not the only one who finds it hard at times. :) It's nice to be around like-minded people who are all working towards something and get the frustration and elation that inevitably goes with it.
I remember when my sons were little. I couldn't even go to the bathroom without hearing "Mom!" So I can totally relate. It sounds like you're getting things done anyway, so great job!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about "forcing yourself" Just keep doing what you can physically do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments ladies, I had a bit of a breakthrough today after reading them. :)
ReplyDeleteLauralynn, it would probably freak me out if there was five minutes silence so I probably shouldn't complain so much. :D
I feel your pain with the baby and the little ones. Wow, how do we get anything done. (I probably get more done when I go back to work!)
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm right (write?) there with you on the kids thing. They just don't want us to be productive, do they? Find time when you can, and don't force it. Sounds like you're doing really well.
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying the encouragement from the other ROW80ers, as well as reading about everyone's progress. It helps, doesn't it? Makes it seem like we're not *quite* so alone in this whole writing thing.
@ jessica, some days I wish I was working again - I always got a few minutes to myself then. ;)
ReplyDelete@Cate - Definitely feels a lot less lonely, I don't have anyone in my life who is interested so it's been fun to share this month. :)
I hope readers aren't being turned off to Thirst because it's more urban fantasy than PNR. And don't let that change your vision for the story. If you force a romance you weren't planning, readers will know. Besides, who wants HEA? That means the story's over and I don't want Ava's adventures to end just yet.
ReplyDeleteLike I said in our interview, I don't know how you juggle it all. You're doing awesome. And thanks for adding me to your blogroll, I just noticed.
I already knew I would have a much smaller audience - people love romance. :) I'm not good at romance (or HEAs for that matter).
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, also.