The neglect here is because I am proofreading. I also have a grammar retreat at work next week, and believe me, you haven’t lived until you’ve done all the preliminary work for a grammar retreat.
The good news? The sample chapters are off to the agent who asked to see my new project, based on the strength of the old project. I’m proofing so much because there is also a publishing company who wants to see the entire manuscript based on the strength of the old project as well.
This? Is nothing. I mean, it’s cool, and I’m happy, but nothing happens in publishing until it happens, if you know what I’m getting at. So no cause for jumping up and down and going squee just yet.
***
Um…I did mention that there was probably a post in here somewhere about plodding. Guys, it took me QUITE SOME TIME to finish The Winter the Troll Danced with Old Nick. I have a very full professional life, and a somewhat demanding social life. I had some set backs this year. (For example, I learned what tracheitis was this year!).
What I did was spend time writing, as much as I could. I planned times to write, and I stuck to them. I wrote when I didn’t feel like it, and sometimes I had to throw crap out, but sometimes I was given the gift of awesome prose. I looked at things with a critical eye, and I backcombed that story. Characters lived. Characters died. Characters went into limbo. I waited for feedback. And sometimes, I even felt like I was in limbo with those characters.
Sometimes it seemed like I was moving backward. But EVERY SINGLE STEP I took, EVERY SINGLE MOMENT WRITING was a step forward.
The process wasn’t fast, and it wasn’t pretty this time. It was steady. I made it. And believe me, you can totally do this. There is just one secret, one magic bullet that will help you get to the end of the novel.
Write it.
That’s the entire secret of the writing universe. It’s the only thing you can control. The more you write and practice and study, the better your writing gets. But no dreams of glory can even come close to being true if you want to write, but you don’t.
***
And the other thing? I’m so happy to have something to send out again! I feel a little fake if I’m not circulating something. I want to send the best story I can, but I think at some point, you have to commit to sending it out, if you want to publish. If it doesn’t work out, you can always write another one, or you can morph the old one (see Substance of Shadows, coming again to a writer near you.) No dreams of glory can come close to being true if you keep your story on your hard drive.
So. That was my break. Here I come, chapter 12. Let’s do this thing.
Catherine
ps More cool interviews forthcoming. Just as soon as I get this sucker proofread, I have questions to send to a couple of authors. Until then, hang out, and be inspired. Or write. Fish gotta swim, bird gotta fly, turtle gotta move in slow and frustratin’ increments.
Whoo on the possible agent good news!
Grammar retreat, eh? I want to hear more!
Also, totally à propos of nothing, I’ll be e-mailing you. 🙂
Grammar retreat: when a bunch of teachers get together and decide what kinds of grammar should be taught at what levels of English language learning. Also, tips for teaching grammar, assessing grammar, and grammar textbooks!
I look forward to your email.
Catherine