The TBR List vs The TBW List

Like majority of you, I've steadily been increasing my To-Be-Read list over the years.

The books broadly fall into three categories:

1)  Books I need to read for research purposed, to see what's current, what works well in terms if style, and pace, etc.  (Admittedly, this also falls under the pleasure category too, but If I'm honest about it, then all books fall under the pleasure category.)

2)  Books  that help me with my craft.  Editing, etc.

3)  Books that I want to read because they are calling out to me to be read.  They aren't in the MG/YA range, but (as you know) just need to be read.

I know you're all probably rolling your eyes about now, and thinking 'Tell us something we don't already know about a TBR list.' and I don't blame you.  I'd be rolling my eyes too if I was you.

If you're still with me, here's the point where I get to the real reason for this post.  This morning, I woke up with a new book idea firmly planted in my head.  The main points are there, and all it needs is a bit of work to tease the details out.  On the whole, the story is there waiting to be written.

Obviously, I jumped out of bed and noted it all down to ensure that nothing is lost.  It then occurred to me that this is one of a few ideas that I have sitting in a virtual pile waiting to be fleshed out and written.  A To-Be-Written list of you like.  It turns out that there are nine books on the list.  These are (imho) strong stories that have outlines written down, and just need to be filled out and given life.  There are also a further two that are hints of ideas that, given a bit of thought could also end up on the TBW pile. 

All I need now is someone to volunteer to go to work for me, do the household chores, and invent a pc that turns thoughts into typed words so I can get the pile into a manageable state. Any offers?

Exciting Times

So, I’ve been working on two projects simultaneously for the last couple of months.  Firstly, I’ve been doing the final final edits on my MS.  I wasn’t going to do another round of edits, but I discovered a few flaws just before I sent the first three chapters out to a few carefully selected agents.  After making the first three chapters even more sparkly, I have been slowly going through the rest of the MS, just in case I get a request for the rest of the book. 

In between doing these remaining edits, I’ve been working on the first draft of the new book. 

When I originally came up with the idea and mapped it out, I was really excited.  But, when it came to writing the story out in full, I seem to have struggled in the excitement department.  All sorts of doubts have nagged away at me, and I started to wonder whether the story should be allowed to see the light of day, or whether it would be better for it to stay trapped inside my head, free from the harsh glare of potential readers.

That was up until yesterday.

Ysterday, I finally completed round 10 of edits, and I know that without the help of an editor, I cannot make it any better than it now is.  I have finally laid the story to rest.  Having reached this conclusion, I picked up the new WIP and started to write the next bit.  And then I realised, I LOVE THIS STORY!  Having finally stepped away from the two years of being immersed in the finished book, I can now let the new one take centre stage. 

The problem was that I knew the old book inside out.  I knew how every character felt, how they talked, moved, racted, and generally lived.  The new book and characters are only just starting out.  Although I know what happens in the grand scheme of things, I haven’t been through the experience with them yet.  How could they compete with the old ones?

With the added bonus of getting my old writing routine back on track, I’m really looking forward to the new journey ahead.

Once More Into The Breach...

I've finally done it.  I've taken the plunge and submitted Odd Squad to some Lit Agencies.

For the past few weeks I've been compiling my list of agents.  I've spent an absolute age trawling through their websites, searching for interviews they may have given elsewhere, and narrowing my list down the ones that I feel will suit my needs in an agent.

Feeling rather smug about the preparation work now behind me, and bracing myself to take the plunge, I gave my MS a final read through.  All I can say is , I'm so glad I did.  In making the story closer to my MC's point of view, I seem to have gained some new favourite words! 

In the first two paragraphs I had used the word "very" 3 times, and "every" twice.  What kind of impression would that have given to my prospective new agent?  OK, that was a poor question.  We all know what impression it would have given, and it would have been a wasted opportunity for me. 

So... after another round of revisions - that makes ten in total - I took the plunge this afternoon and fired off four test submissions.

All I need to do now is try and bury myself into a new project instead of my current adopted pose of staring at the screen thinking: Oh My God, What have I just done? and trying to hold my breath.

How are your projects coming along?

Update

It was brought to my attention recently that I haven't posted for a few months.  All I can do is apologise.  If it would help, I could provide a rather feeble excuse combined with some outlandish story about the dog eating my laptop, or something, but somehow I don't think you would believe me.

So, what has really been happening?  I've been writing!

Last summer the drama group that I belong to performed some medieval plays at a couple of medieval festivals.  Being on the inside looking out was an interesting experience.  The surrealest part was when I was wandering around the castle grounds and catching people taking photo's out of the corner of your eye.  The immediate reaction is to think you need to get out of their way so you don't spoil the photo, and then you realise that you are the photo!

The performances were of a good enough level, that we have been invited back to the England Medieval Festival to perform again.  Realising that we need some new material, I have managed to write a short medieval play based on a legend called The Lambton Worm.  Rehearsals start next week. 
It's quite a rush thinking that people are going to be watching, and reacting to my work.

We've also started production meetings for the Pantomime Cinderella that I've written for this years main production.  The publicity has already started, and I was jumping up and down when I saw that the drama website is already naming me as the author :o)

At the risk of getting boring, there's more to tell you...  

I've been writing the new book, Ghost School, and I'm about half way through the first draft.  It's been slow going, but I'm pleased with how it's going.
I've also finally produced a list of agents for me to start sending Odd Squad to.  Hopefully next week I'll get the first batch sent.

What have you guys been up to?

Surprise progress

I've felt for the last six to nine months that I've struggled with my writing.  That the mucked up routine, and general 'ups and down' that life threw at me, slowed me down.

Last night, I caught up with a friend whom I hadn't seen for ages.  I mentioned that I had an MS out with a handful of Lit Agencies, and she asked if it was a couple of chapters, or a whole book.  I explained that the book had been through 8 revision/edits, and was as polished as I could get it.

I then remembered that so far this year I've written a pantomime (including two revisions), a radio play, and I'm a quarter of the way through the first draft of my new book.

It turns out that I'm doing a lot better than I originally thought.

How are you guys doing with your projects?

A change of perspective

I've always struggled with articles I've read where a successful author is being interviewed and they've been asked the question:
What is more important, Character or plot?
They always answer: Character. (With a mention that plot is also important,)

What???
How could they not see that without a plot, then nothing happens? 
If character was more important, then why can't I get it? 
And, if I can't get it, then am I destined to be a wannabe author, never managing to produce anything of a publishable quality?  (That's the insecure writer coming out there.  I have managed to put in the emotional arc into the books, but it's always been added after the story has been written - but the doubts still remain, have I done it well enough?)

When I say always struggled, what I actually meant, was until this week.  I finally settled on the notion that I should write something new.  I dug out my copy of Save the Cat, and started to map out the beats for a vague idea that keeps rising to the surface on odd occasions.

I know it's a bit cliched, but I have to say, it's like someone has turned on a light and now I can see exactly what they mean.  In filling out the beats, it draws out the characters emotional journey that they embark on as well as the physical journey.

It looks like I'm finally getting closer to catching up with the rest of you guys.

Where next?

So far, I've not received any rejections from the agencies.  I'm viewing this as a positive thing, and hoping I've managed to pass the first hurdle and had my work added to the "To be read" pile.  The thought that it's still sitting in the "Not yet looked at in the first place" pile hasn't even entered my head.  No, really!

Now that I've (finally) been brave enough to send Odd Squad out into the the world, it's left me with the dilemma of where to go next.  At the moment, there are 4 options crying out to me:

1) Carry on with the sequel.  The next two books are already outlined, and I have already written about a third of the first draft of Odd Squad 2.  The problem I have, is that the doubts are creeping in on whether the first book is strong enough.  What if I never get a deal for the first one?  Am I going down a road where the results are never going to see the light of day?

2) Write something new.  There are several ideas for different stories queued up waiting for me to breathe life into them and be captured on paper (or, at least on the screen of my laptop).  I'm thinking of using the Save The Cat framework to map one of them out and see how it develops.  The problem is knowing which one is going to have the strongest plot lines.

3) Go and try and fix Ghost School.  I know that Ghost School has an original and strong story, but I also know that there are some big problems with it.  Should re-visit it?  Wade through the issues using the things that I've learnt while writing Odd Squad and try and make it a viable project?  Some of the areas that need attention, I now know that I have the tools to be able to address their short comings.  But others..?  I get the feeling that maybe I'm not quite there yet.

4)  Go back to bed.  Ok, so this isn't really an option.  Then again, if enough people suggest it then I may give it a try ;o)

What do you guys do when you reach the end of a project?

A Self Help Book Tale

As you may already know, I'm getting close to finishing my revisions for Odd Squad, and teetering on the edge of making my first round of submissions.  The closer I get, the more nervous I'm becoming about sending it off. 
So, in an attempt to make sure I don't miss something critical, I've been reading a book that I picked up recently called: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.

The book covers a wide range of areas to look at, and provides a good selections of examples to back up the lesson.  On a personal note, I was quite pleased and re-assured that I knew most of the things mentioned, but it also helped sharpen and remind me of things to check on my (hopefully) final round of revisions.  It's been a great help.

What about you guys?  Have you found something that has helped you edit your work?

An Imaginary Problem?

I'm hoping that this post doesn't come over as a whingeing entry.

You see, I'm struggling with the latest rounds of edits.  The first few rounds were quite straight forward.  The repeated words, the glaringly obvious telling rather than showing.  You know the drill.  The next phase was made simple by my fantastic Crit Partners who pointed out things I'd missed, or suggesting neater and cleverer ways of putting something across.

It's now, with what I'm hoping are the final rounds, that I'm having problems.  I'm trying to concentrate on one specific area at a time and weed out the last few remaining bits, that when fixed, should make my MS shine brighter than a shiny thing that really shines.  You know the thing, making sure that the showing is done in the best way, that the perspective is close to the protagonist when it needs to be close, and steps back a bit when required, etc...

I know what to do.  It's just that when I start reading, it starts off good, I notice a bit here, make a change there, and then...I've read five or six pages and haven;t even noticed that I'm turning the pages. 
I'm immersed in the story.
I keep trying to kid myself that I'm turning the pages because it's good, and carrying me along, but there's another voice just under the surface who keeps reminding me that I know the story so well that I'm reading what I want to read and not seeing any problems.

So... the big question of the day is...

How do you guys get past this?  Or, do you even have this problem?

Who are you? And what have you done with my WIP?

I'm coming to the end of yet another round of revisions on my WIP, and it's interesting to look back and see how my attitude has changed towards this process.

Initially, it was a chore. 

With previous WIP's, the thrill of getting the idea out of my head into something tangible is always an enjoyable part.  The way that the details present themselves as you expand on an idea and the story starts to run away from you as it gains momentum, gives me a really good buzz.  But the revisions...?  These always seemed to be a long slog. 

This book, however, has changed everything.  It's probably because I've learnt so much while writing and editing it, but the revisions have been fun, and every change has made me feel like I'm getting closer to making this piece a viable candidate for publication.  It's also because I have some great Crit partners who have made the process so enjoyable.  Being able to discuss some of the changes to find the best way of wording something or the most impact has helped considerably.

This morning, it struck me that I'm going to reach a point where I feel the book is where I want it to be.  Obviously, that's when I'll be trying to get someone else to think the same.  So, for arguments sake, if I do manage to get a book deal and the editor starts to suggest changes, will they be taking my book to somewhere new that isn't where I left it?

The big question is..... do authors who get their work published still feel as connected with their work, or do they feel it's been hi-jacked to make it as commercially successful as possible?

New and frightening places

I find myself in a very strange place.  Not physically, but emotionally.  It's not somewhere I ever expected to visit, and not a place that I've even skirted around the edges of.

Where am I?  I'm extremely close to sending off  a batch of submissions to some agencies, and I'm having doubts about whether my MS is good enough.

I'm aware that a lot of people have been here before me, but it's a bit of a shock finding myself here.  About 18 months ago, before I learnt all of the stuff that would help make my book into a potentially publishable piece of work, I just thought that it was a numbers game.  That it would resonate with someone, and we'd move forwards from there.  At the time, I'd avoided the 'how to' books, as I was under the misapprehension that they were a 'painting by numbers' approach.  When I think back to then, I'm surprised at just how naive I was, and how embarrassing it is to think that I didn't need any help. 

Sorry, I seem to have wandered off track a bit.  Where was I?  Oh yes. Submissions. 

Like I said, over confidence in believing that I could write ran rife through my head back then, but now... now I can't help thinking that maybe I could give it one more going through.  Buff and polish it one more time, just in case.  And then I find myself wondering; When will I know that it's finished and ready to send?

Carry on regardless?

I was in the final stages of my revisions of my WIP, when I came across a book that used the same major plot point for it's central theme as I had.

I couldn't believe it!  All those months of work, and someone had beat me to it. 

So, what should I do?  Carry on and hope that no one notices?  Start the sequel, but write it as the first book?  Give the whole thing up as a bad job and write something new?

In the end, I decide to carry on with the WIP.  I was aiming at the YA market, and the existing book was for adults.  Having made the decision, I finished the revisions, but the knowledge that this book was out there kept niggling away at me.

Yesterday, I read an article in Writing Magazine that put the nagging doubts in their place.  Apparently, what happened to me is not uncommon. For example, how many stories are there about the Titanic?  We all know how the story is going to end, but it still doesn't stop new books being published about it.  That's because it's about the characters, and the different angles that the event is approached, that makes the books so different, and therefore unique.  Providing your work isn't a facsimile of the published work, then it will be of interest to third parties. 

Having read the published book, I can categorically state that other than the main event, it's nothing like my book.  (Cue big sighs of relief!)  Realising this has lifted a weight of my mind, and restored my misguided belief that I can get my work published.

Have any of you guys found yourself in this situation?


(Thank you Carrie for the awards.  I'll tackle them during the week)

Feeling a little bit smug

Last week, I had one of those days where I realised that I have developed as a writer. 

I’ve been struggling with my synopsis for Odd Squad for a few weeks now.  I’d managed to get the story down to one page, kept all of the key plot points in, but there was something else missing. 

That morning, I started again from scratch.  Ran the whole of the story through my head, listing out the key points, and then it struck me.  There was no mention of his emotional journey. 

One of the things that I'd finally managed to get my head around this year, was that it wasn’t just about the plot.  There had to be trials and tribulations for the protagonist.  (You can all stop rolling your eyes now, and screaming at the screen “Finally, he gets it!”)  What can I say?  I’m a bit slow at times.  I’ve now managed to weave the emotional arc into the synopsis, and I’m a lot happier with the result.  I’'ve put it aside for a few days, and I'll see what it looks like with fresh(ish) eyes.

Are there any parts of a synopsis that you find troublesome?

More drama in my life than I expected.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a radio play.  The plan was for our drama group to perform and record it in front of a live audience.

Unfortunately, this was the year when the volcano in Iceland threw up a shedload of volcanic ash, and grounded most of the planes over Europe.  This resulted in some of the key people being stranded abroad, and combining this with other bits of life that got in the way, the idea had to be shelved. 

To be honest, I wasn’t too upset that the project didn’t go ahead. it would have been great to see the reaction from the audience, but the experience of writing for a different media had been a big eye opener, and good fun.

A few years have passed since then, and the momentum to record the radio play has started to gather pace.  The initial plans are for us to do it in September/October.  The only problem is, that the play is quite short and only lasts for about twenty minutes.  Let’s face it, we can’t expect the audience to turn up, sit through the play and then go home again.  We need at least one more play to perform.

Luckily, I have a couple of ideas that I’ve been mulling around for a while.  It looks like I am now writing a couple more plays, with a deadline of September.

As they tend to say: Watch this space!

A little more thought required?

My writing group meets once a month.  At the end of each meeting we set homework to be written and sent to the group for review at the next meet.  We mail the completed pieces out to each other in advance so that we can give our critiques at the get together. 

This month, it fell upon me to set something. 

What should I suggest?  Obviously, it had to be something inspiring, not too restrictive, and hopefully challenging.  Here's what I came up with:

This won't be much fun, thought Jessica, as she opened the door.
This is the first line to your story. I've decided to set the word count at 1000 words.
So, tell me:  Who is Jessica?  Is she going in or out?  What isn't going to be fun?  

I have to admit, I was feeling quite pleased with myself.  That was until I realised that I had to write something as well.  It's taken three weeks to come up with an idea, let alone actually write it.  I just hope that once I've written it, it doesn't come over as a shoddy piece of work with a feel that it's been thrown together to meet the deadline.

I'll let you know the outcome.

Are distractions the answer?

I thought I'd finally discovered the art of being patient. Unfortunately, it seems that it's only in some areas, like making sure my WiP is as good as I can make it.  It most definitely doesn't go as far as waiting for my Betas to read it and offer their comments.

It is so hard not to keep asking them every five minutes what they are doing, and if it's not reading my book, then WHY aren't they reading it?

Fortunately, we've had the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations going on to distract me.

What do you guys do to prevent yourself from hassling your Betas?

In with the old and out with the new?

One of the differences that stands out the most between querying agents here in the UK, and over in the States is that for the majority of UK agents, we still have to send hard copies.  To be honest, I don’t think that this is a bad thing.  Ok, so it means that process is probably quite a bit slower, and there’s the additional effort of making the presentation is just right, but there are some plusses in doing it this way.

A typical submission package consists of a cover letter, a synopsis, and the first three chapters of your MS, and if you want the work back, then an SAE.  There’s something very satisfying about physically preparing the package, going down to the Post Office and sending it. 

One of the other positives is that if your cover letter does manage to pique the interest of an agent, they have the first three chapters to hand already. 

What do you think?  Is the submission process in the States the way that they should be going over here?  Or do you long for a return back to hard copies?

Playing patience?

What do you know?  I finally seem to have learnt how to be patient.

I have just finished my 6th round of revisions on my WIP, and finally believe that it’s ready.  A large part of me is screaming at me to shove it in an envelope and to get it ‘out there’ as fast as possible. 

BUT

A smaller part, which I’m finding is being a lot more assertive, is saying hold on.... if it’s as good as I believe it is, then a few more days or weeks isn’t going to make any difference.  Let’s get it right this time.  Let’s make sure that the synopsis is spot on,   Why not have a couple of Beta readers take a look and confirm what you think.  In the mean time, I can check that my agents list is still up to date, and hone that covering letter so that the agent has no choice but to look at my accompanying chapters.

The small voice is winning so far.  And I have to tell you, that if I wasn’t already sitting down, I’d have to go and sit down before the surprise makes my legs give way.

Are you guys already there with the patient thing?  Is this yet another thing I’m playing catch up with? Let me know :o)

I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky.

I have always considered myself as a lucky person.  I seem to blunder through life with probably far too little thought about what I am doing, and where I am going, and still seem to end up landing on my feet, and finding that I have arrived at the best possible outcome.

I know that this could just be the result of me looking at the word through rose tinted spectacles, (and if that is the case, please don’t tell me – I like the view), but, yet again, I seem to have had a stroke of luck that has saved me a fair bit of work on my WIP that I would have had to do later, if I ever manage to get representation.

I tried to do some research on our nuclear defence in the UK.  For obvious reasons, the information is virtually nonexistent.  So, undeterred by the lack of information, I decided to make some logical deductions based on what I had managed to find.  My reasoning went that my YA readers would be unable to find out any more information than I had, and for the purpose of the story, it seemed credible enough. 

So far, so good, you might think.  I was feeling quite pleased with the story.  I passed a synopsis to my writing group, and it turned out that one of the members has written military articles about this subject!  I had been completely off track with my assumptions.  Luckily, he gave me a few pointers, and I now have a credible part to my story.

The question that I’m left with is...

Do you think that I was lucky that he knew exactly what I needed to know?  Or do you think I am finding things that aren’t there?

Vague routine related post.

It's surprising how routine can set us up for tasks ahead. 

I had a routine for when I would try and write, or at least think of an idea for my next post, when I would write the next part of my MS.  Unfortunately, circumstances have meant that my routine has been turned on it's head, and now I'm finding it a bit difficult to find a new one. 

Luckily, I had already mapped out the scenes for the Panto, so I'm still able to do a little bit on that, but where as before, when I sat down to write, I knew that this was writing time, and it just seemed to flow out of me.  Now, I find that even when I am sitting down to write, that other things are competing for my attention, and inspiration for blog posts are not appearing. 

Looks like I need to get a new routine in place as soon as I can.

(I've just found out something that amused me.  The spell checker in Blogger doesn't recognise the word blog)