Tag Archives: manuscript

The Trouble With Writing

25 Monday Jul 2016

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Well this is certainly an unfamiliar sight. I haven’t done anything with this series in a long time. Well, I’ve actually been away from blogging for a month, but that’s besides the point. So sorry!

Unfortunately, I will not be doing blog posts for a couple weeks after this, but that is because I will be out of town. I’ll be in Hawaii!

Anyway, today we are looking at the trouble with writing again, after so long of being away from this. This week, we’re looking at editing.

Oh, editing. I can’t stand it. Well, I mean, I tolerate it because  a lot of writing is editing, but it doesn’t mean I actually have to like it.

Currently, I am focusing on a major rewrite for one of my manuscripts. Ugh, right? I mean, I’ve already done a major rewrite of this manuscript once. I hate the fact that I have to do it again. Life of a writer.

The fact is, sometimes it seems like we are writing a whole new book (or is that just me?). It’s a pain, but it’s all for the betterment of the book. And this is before the editor gets ahold of it!

I’m guessing it’s for the betterment of the book, anyway. I’m just hoping the editor doesn’t tell me to put everything I’ve cut out back in! The beta readers have said a lot of negative things about those chapters, so I guess that’s something.

But don’t pay much attention to that last part. It’s late and I’m tired and my mind is everywhere.

Anyway, sometimes we feel frustrated with our manuscript, but we can’t give up. It will be all worth it when we get that book out. I would know!

Well, I guess I’m off to maybe get some sleep now. Maybe I’ll feel rested enough to write on the plane! Until then, keep on writing.

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Lesson 63

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Before we get started today, I want to say that prompts will be making a return. I hope. I’m afraid I’ve gotten a little lazy with those. Summers are good for that. So sue me.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday, so that means it’s time for another lesson. This week, we’re talking about not tearing our manuscript apart too much before the editor takes a look at it.

I admit it, I’ve done this multiple times. My manuscript is about to go to an editor, so I freak out and look over it again. I think, “Well, maybe I can get it just a little bit better…” In reality, I probably only succeeded in making it worse.

It’s hard to do, I know. Maybe it’s harder for me because this is my first time to ever go through this, but it’s still tough. When editors have your manuscript, you know they’re going to tear your baby apart (to make it better, that is!).

I’ve had a couple editors look at my manuscript before (well, one was a free sample, and I couldn’t really afford her, so…), and they both made it better. I’m sure that the final editor that I have look at it will make it even better. I did manage to get the major wrinkles that were bothering me out, so that’s one good thing, and now I’m trying to not look at it again until the editor is ready for it, and get the other wrinkles ironed out.

Like I said, it’s tough, but maybe we should try to just take our minds off of the manuscripts for a while when the professionals are about to take care of it. Focus on something else for a while. Ready for a break? One, two, three, go.

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Lesson 55

20 Wednesday May 2015

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Another Wednesday, another lesson. This week, we’re talking about being really committed.

I know, I know, I’ve talked about this before. I’m only one person and I run out of ideas quickly. but hey, at least I always put a little different spin on it, right?

So we’re talking about being committed to writing. I’m actually just starting to get really good at committing myself to just sitting down for a few minutes every day and writing. In fact, I started another manuscript just three days ago, and I already have just over 4,000 words written! Talk about making sure you have time to write.

I’m trying to write at least 1,000 words a day. I know, that can be a lot. But, I really want to make sure that I get it done in a timely manner. I only work on new material every other month (weird strategy, I know), so I try to get as much done as possible in that moment.

Of course, I always try to edit whenever I get the chance. I try to make sure I have time at least twice a week. But on the months that I’m not writing new material, I really buckle down and edit. I try to make sure I have an hour or so at least once a week, but try to get a few minutes every day. It does help.

I’ve heard the excuse, “I just don’t have time” more times than I can count. I hate that excuse. Do you have just five minutes to spare? Yes? Get to writing. You’d be surprised at how much you can get done. It will take longer, yes, but it can get done.

I can’t tell you how much it bugs me when people say they don’t have time. I’m guilty of it as well, and I hate it.

If you’re committed, you’ll make time. Even if it’s just for about 30 minutes at the end of the day, I try to make time. Even if you have less than that, you have time.

Ready to commit? Then here’s you’re countdown: Three…two…one. Get to writing!

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Lesson 54

13 Wednesday May 2015

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Another Wednesday, another lesson. This week, we’re looking at being realistic.

It’s actually not about money this week? The world must be ending…

No, it’s not about money. It’s about being realistic with your goals.

I used to think that I would be publishing by the beginning of July. Well, that’s not going to happen. I won’t be done saving up for an editor by then. Oh, well. That’s why I made the more realistic goal of by the end of 2015.

It’s okay to change your goals if you don’t think you’re going to reach them. Believe me, it’s okay. I know, you get set on one date. I was like that for a while. I was so set on hitting publish in the beginning of July. I had to change it. I wasn’t happy about that at first, but I’m so glad I decided to change it. As it turns out, my manuscript still needs a lot of work.

Don’t worry about the date so much. That’s one of the worst mistakes you can make. I realize it’s hard to not focus on the day that you’re publishing, but I also happen to know that you don’t want to just rush through it. I may not be published yet, but I know enough to know that rushing through can cause you to make many mistakes.

So, don’t get too set on a date to change it. Sometimes, you have to change it and there’s nothing you can do about it.

How many times have you had to change goal dates? Let me know!

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Lesson 36

17 Wednesday Dec 2014

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Once again, I apologize for not getting a post up on Monday, and I’m going to tell you right now that I don’t expect to get one up on Friday. My laptop is currently at the shop, so it’s more difficult to get one up. Unfortunately, I won’t get it back for a couple weeks. Not having a laptop is how I came up with today’s topic.

Today I’m going to talk to you about having a backup plan. It’s easy to say you have everything under control and that nothing could ever go wrong, but then your dog destroys the only thing you have. Or something like that. It could happen. Trust me. I know from experience.

Let’s say hypothetically that your dog destroys the one thing you can access your manuscript on. Your laptop.  Sure, it’s backed up and you have it on a flash drive, but then you can’t write because your laptop is getting fixed. That certainly puts a dent on things, doesn’t it? Let’s also say that you have a computer in your living room, but it doesn’t have Microsoft Word on it, and that’s what you were using for your manuscript. That doesn’t help much. So, you can’t work on your manuscript until you get your laptop back. That certainly puts a dent on things when you were trying to get a draft done before the end of the year and you get basically nothing done.

It could happen. Trust me.

This happened because I didn’t have a backup plan. I have to say I don’t like it much. I wish I had. I wish I had the foresight to put Word on the PC in the living room. I wish a lot of things, but it’s not going to happen. So, I’m out of writing for the time being.

You have to have some sort of a backup plan. Put whatever your choice of tools is on more than one computer. Don’t be like me. Have a backup plan so you don’t have to put your writing or editing on hold for a while.

Keep the faith, writers. I believe in you all.download