I’ve made the notes for where chapters/scenes are missing in the manuscript and I’m ready to start the rewrites. The question now is whether or not I print the manuscript and do it on paper or do it all digitally. I’ve done it both ways in the past and honestly I get two different things... Continue Reading →
Plot Work and Adding Backstory
While working on the plot of MS:D last week and getting ready to begin writing in the manuscript again, I found a few issues that needed addressing. When I'm writing a story, I know why my characters are doing what they're doing and I know why they are stressed about the outcome of whatever situation... Continue Reading →
Vulnerability and Working through Plot
Here's a thing that I don't think is said enough. It's a truth I tried to impart to each of my students during my time teaching and it's a truth I remind myself of everyday. Here it is: just because you don't do something the same way as everyone else, doesn't mean you can't do... Continue Reading →
Crawling in Sprints to the Finish Line
Finishing this manuscript was challenging in ways I just didn't expect. But, after many ten and twenty minute writing sprints where I watched the word count slowly creep up, I can finally say that the first draft of MS:L is complete! This last week, the last week of writing this manuscript, proved to be a... Continue Reading →
Writing after a Break
Last week I wrote about 9,000 new words in MS:L. It took a minute to get back into the rhythm of working on it, but it felt really good to move the story that much closer to its’ ending. Getting back into a story after taking a break from writing can be a really refreshing... Continue Reading →
A Word to Lean Into, Quarter 1 Reflections
My word for 2021 is culminate and it has served to both motivate my work and motivate my rest this first quarter of the year. This week I especially leaned into it as I navigated how I was going to leave my period of rest after a few weeks off from writing and set goals... Continue Reading →
Managing Writer Fatigue
There are points during the year when writing fatigue kicks in. Deciding how to react to it, whether it's time to push on through a deadline like during NaNoWriMo or to take a break from the relentless pace I've set myself on, is important both for my own balance and for my stories. I've found... Continue Reading →
Ignoring the Siren Call of Things Not Known
When I am writing a story, I love to research what I'm writing. This is true when it's a subject I'm fairly familiar with, like cooking or crafting, and it's also true with subjects I don't have much experience in, like outdoor survival skills or variants in algebra. When I run into those things I'm... Continue Reading →
Self-Doubt, Realigning, and Pups
Last week presented a few bumps in the road that required realigning of the goals I’d set for the week. Normally, that’s a fairly uncomplicated process. That is, until self-doubt invites itself to the party. 🤦🏻♀️ The self-doubt arrived when I completed the one chapter I was able to write before I needed to realign... Continue Reading →
How Goals Change
Every time I go from one month to the next, I take a moment to look over what my goals were, versus what they became, versus what I focused on. It happens, quite often, that those things are very, very different. Setting goals and planning is always important because it gives me an idea of... Continue Reading →