First Draft Stitching

So I'm first-draftin'.

It's fun.

Because I turn off spell check and grammar check. I sort of have issues ignoring those green and red wavy lines so I had to turn it off. I use fun, furry fonts in first drafts. My first draft is single-spaced, so when I go through it for the second or third time, I will double-space Times New Roman it. (Times New Roman just got verbed) This also helps in keeping track on what stage I am in. Because sometimes I might forget!

I have a sidebar with character names and words I overuse. Right now, I'm filling in holes, making things match, developing some characters, stitching up the ends. You see, it's a puzzle. I start with the end pieces (also know as key scenes that pop into my head) and work toward the middle (fill in the details, work on characters, add necessary scenes...).

Stitching is a slow process. Basically because I've got to think now. I know. The horror. Imagine it. THINKING! Now as I go through, I've got to wonder WHY I threw in the pink unicorn running down the football field. WHY, Lisa, WHY? Because it was cute and fun at the time, of course. But, hence, sadly, during my stitching phase, the unicorn must go bye-bye. Unicorns just don't belong in YA contemporary. I know, it's so unfair! Perhaps I'll add in a dream sequence...unicorns are perfectly acceptable in a dream sequence...=)

Happy Wednesday!

Music!

Does your book have a song? My new WIP (31,000 words! Woot!) has a song! Yeah! Okay, it has a soundtrack, but this one song I listen to a ton. Can't get sick of it yet. And the video is also adorable.

Take a look/listen!

WIP in Photos

Hi!

So I saw this on a few blogs, SeeSaraWrite for one, and I love the idea. I love looked through photographs for inspiration. And so, I give you, my NEW WIP (27,000 words and counting) in photos:












Okay, so there were may more I wanted to include, but these all remind me of my story! Try it out! It's fun!

Happy Monday!

Yeah!

So I did it. I was very productive this week. I finished my critiques, so, all you betas out there, if you are waiting on some feedback from me, you should have it!

20,000 words in the new WIP. It doesn't even feel like I've written that much. Aw, to be young and in love...looking forward to the inevitable break-up with the new WIP. But so luvin' it right now.

This weekend, I do believe I will up in a balloon. Looking forward to that.

And is anyone else as obsessed with The Tudors as I am? I finally got to watching this show on Netflix, and OMG, it is like chocolate. Plus I am sort of obsessed with that period in time. What a screwed up family. Anyway. Yum. I'm now onto the third season. Can't wait for my DVDs to arrive.

So Pretty...

And to all the Fathers out there for Dad's Day...thanks for not being like Henry VIII!

And what I refer to as my old WIP is ready for some fresh eyes. I'll be sending that out as well! (Is it bad that I want to change that from YA to MG? Seriously. I want to rewrite the whole thing...muhahahahaha.)

Peace out.

Hi!

Hello!

I am going to have a very productive week! Yes, I am! I'm just going to keep telling myself that.

I finished off my WIP this weekend, well, sort of. Just a bit of polishing left, including using the wonderful suggestions from my critique partner, then ready to send out for more fresh eyes! It's 47,000 words. Yikes. A bit short, but maybe I'll flesh out some characters, build suspense, and that could stretch it out. Who knows. But I am very happy to be done with another draft of it. This draft was a major, major rewrite. And it was torture. Smile.

I'm also going to catch up on reading/critiquing/adoring another beta's manuscript.

I keep getting new ideas. I'm writing them all down, but I've decided my next WIP will be a YA Contemporary. I'm 13,000 words in, which sort of just happened, which I am going to take as a good sign. I'm writing in third person, which I haven't tried in a long time, and I think this works better for me. It's so much easier for me to see the character from the outside. I have trouble doing that so much with first person.

Anyway, after this new project, I'm going to head into MG territory. I've got two ideas for those and would love to give that a try! Yeah! And I've got about three or four screenplay ideas I'd like to try...maybe possibly an adult novel...

Too many imaginary people dancing in my head! I keep dreaming about beaches. I've got to get to a beach. And soon!

Happy Monday!

Bruised

Okay...so...slow day at work and...I get punched in the face. Again.

I know I posted already today, but I've got to tell you that these new characters seriously keep punching. me. in. the. face.

Why?

Now I've got two, TWO, ideas that I really want to pursue. The MCs are, like, battling for my attention. And I don't know who to choose! Oh, gosh. I am having a Bella moment.

I need to just finish my WIP!

PUBLISHED!

Ha! Fooled ya, didn't I?

But I am getting published. Did I tell ya that?

Not my book, no, but a flash fiction piece I wrote will appear in PANK Magazine's September Online Issue (or somewhere around there.) Check out PANK. I love, love, love all of the pieces on there. They are massively, wonderfully, hyptonically original. Some just break my heart. I am seriously honored that I was even accepted.

I'm excited! I submitted stuff to PANK several times before I was accepted. They were very encouraging and so I kept trying. A little encouragement goes a long, long way.

I'm also finishing up my WIP, which is going to be a lot shorter than the original draft. But a lot of it just isn't necessary anymore, as I made major changes. That's okay though. I like to think of it as short and sweet. =) I'm guessing it's going to clock in around 6oK.

And I can't wait to be done with this draft. Really. Because then I will set it aside and continue onto my new WIP, which I am actually excited about! I sort of hammered out 10,000 words over a few days because I couldn't stop writing it. I don't know if that's a good sign or not. I didn't write in order either, I skipped around, so the 10,000 words aren't only the beginning. They are scattered, beginning, middle, end, which helps me have an idea where I'm going with the story.

It's YA Contemporary. And I'm writing in third person, instead of first, which I enjoy as well. I like changing it up a bit. I had about 3 different ideas bouncing around and then, suddenly, this one punched me in the jaw. So, I had to listen, in fear of my life...Nope. I'm not crazy. Just in denial. =) And there are no paranormal creatures! What the heck?

I've got tons of beta reading to do as well! But I like doing that, in fact, I prefer reading others pages rather than work on my current WIP. =)

Happy Wednesday!

HOW CAN THIS BE...?

I watch The City. And, yeah, I might, possibly watch The Hills before it, although I don't find it nearly as interesting.

I think I like The City more because the characters on the show actually have jobs. They work. I'm not sure what the people on The Hills do other than wine and tan.

Anyway, I've really enjoyed watching Whitney's journey as she tries to establish herself as a designer. Now, yes, I know, the fact that she is on the show gives her a massive leg up. She has a fan base already which is helpful and I'm just waiting for her YA book deal announcement.

But on last night's episode she faced some criticism about her collection. She responded in a way that I have before. She said something like:

"I don't know how much more criticism I can take before I can't handle it anymore. I don't understand how I can love something so much and no one else gets it."

AW! I have felt that way soooooo many times. No, I am not a fashion designer, I pretty much dress like a bum most of the time, but I could totally relate. Big time. I love my story. I love my characters. Why does no one else love, love, love it like I do?

It's frustrating. But, as I saw on the show, this is obviously something all creative people have to deal with at one point.

Le sigh.