Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic. We'd love for you to participate! Just answer the prompt on your own blog and leave a link in the comments - or, if you prefer, you can include your answer in the comments on YA Highway.
Today's Question:
What has your writing road trip looked like so far? Excitement? Traffic Jams and detours? Where are you going next?
There are lots adjectives I could use to describe my writing road. I can't complain really. I started this road in April, 2010. I wrote and wrote and wrote the first draft finally finishing it October. Then, I took a few months off to think about the WIP and to figure out where it needed to go next. I knew it was full of plot holes and beginner mistakes.
In January 2011, I began my revisions. I spent months fighting with the WIP. I sent it off for critiques. I fought with it some more.
In May 2011, the story took on a whole new form. This meant that my first WIP was nothing more than a practice run to see who my characters really were and I essentially needed to start from scratch, but that I will not complain about.
In September 2011 (last month!) I finished the first draft of this second WIP (it's really just too different to even put it in the same category as the original one). I took a few weeks off again, letting the story move through me, getting to the heart of the story once again and now......now I am revising it. Now, I'm liking what I see when I'm revising. Now, it's coming together--at least that's what I'm hoping is happening.
In summation, I wouldn't call my writing road long, windy and dark, but it hasn't been very quick either. I'm certainly not one of those writers (yet) that can sit down, draft a novel in six weeks and have it ready for querying a month later.
That being said, I am still proud of the fact that I've completed not one, but two first drafts.
So how about you? What has your writing road been like? I'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment and I'll be sure to visit your blog.
Your journey sounds great so far. Always better to revise thoroughly, even if it means starting over sometimes!
ReplyDeleteMy novel went through numerous revisions and serious editing before I felt it was ready to query. And even now, as I deal with rejections and wait anxiously for other agent responses, I second-guess my editorial work. Perhaps it's not really ready? Perhaps I need to edit it more? Take your time with the edits and get them right. Make your work sing. And all the best to you, Cindy!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on your writing endeavors! Revising is a beast, but once you get the hang of it, it actually becomes easier. Or so I think. I'm no pro, but I know what it's like to look at one of my WIPs and think, "Dang, you need a major haircut/nose job." Sometimes they're offended, but most of the time they agree with me.
ReplyDeleteI take my time with drafts, too, so I feel you on that! And good for you being brave enough to start over with what you knew was a better idea! And to have finished two WiPs since April 2010 is AMAZING. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI definitely get the plot holes and beginner mistakes. That's pretty much where I'm at right now. Thanks for sharing your story and giving me hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel :)
ReplyDeleteLovely photo! Good luck during your revisions!
ReplyDeleteI started writing in July 2009. I'm querying my second manuscript. The first one is shelved - not quite done...it needs rewrites, revisions, etc. It was great practice & I wouldn't have gotten to novel #2, which is complete & I LOVE, without first taking almost a year to write the first one.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Cindy! I love the new look of the blog, too!
Congrats--sounds like you've put in a lot of hard work. Better to make sure you've got it the way you want it than to rush things!
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny--as an English teacher, I tell my students all these things--"Don't worry if the draft is sloppy! That's what revision is for! The important thing is to get it down!" (Also "I can't grade it if it's planned IN YOUR HEAD; please plan it on paper so I can give you credit," but I'm less proud of that one). Anyway, the point is, it's taking post after post of people today talking about their own struggles for me to start to believe it myself. Thanks for helping me take my own advice!
ReplyDeleteJust saw this post, Cindy! I have a road sign on my blog today. Golfer: Proceed with Caution. Could also apply to writers. :) My journey has been a lot longer than I expected it to be, but that said, I'm not sure what I expected. It's been curvy, but a pretty fun trip. And I love meeting new friends along the way.
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