And yes, I took one float picture -- I couldn't resist and knew I had to post it for
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
brian_ohio even though his blog is on an official hiatus :(
2. This week I've been working a lot on revisions of previous novels and writing my WIP -- except it seems I keep coming back to this one scene in my WIP and rewriting it. I've got about 5 versions of the same scene now and can't decide which is better. This character could easily react different ways if pushed, hence the different versions. I think I'm feeling insecure about myself as a writer. I've read some really awesome stuff by many of my lj friends and others the past two weeks (kudos to
olmue for one -- her ms was super amazing) and I'm doing that icky comparison thing that comes as human nature. I know all I can do is my best and hope it's enough, but still . . .I am truly inspired by you guys and your talents. You all make me want to be better! I've had fun working on the revisions even if I feel in a bit of a Groundhog Day rut with my WIP. :)
3. I ran into one of my Colorado friends here on Tuesday. It was so fun to see her! And such a surprise! Then on Wednesday morning, my son's best friend growing up (since they were like 4) came with his family to stay with us. I only got to visit with his mom for about an hour or so because they still had a long drive back to Colorado ahead of them that day...but it was lovely. I miss her. She is also one of my best friends. And I keep looking at my son's friend and sighing. I told him I feel like I should hug him everytime I see him (luckily, he's a very good natured teenager and knows me well -- he just grins and says it's a mom thing). Then today, my dear friend
robinellen is off to ALA. I'd really hoped to join her but it didn't work out for me (long before my son's friend decided to come). I'm so very excited for her and hope she has a great time. But as much as I want to go meet all of you that are there and some of my favorite lj authors and get new ARCs (which I really, really wanted to do), honestly, more than anything, I wanted to go just to see Robin.So to sum it up...I've been quite homesick this week. I really miss all my great Colorado friends...which seems kind of odd to be homesick when I am in theory home. :) But just know I'm thinking of you and so grateful to have such awesome friends. Hope all you ALAers have a blast.
4. Summer! I love the freedom of summer. Yesterday, we just blew everything off, went swimming with cousins and friends, BBQd with my family (my sister and neice are in town from Florida), played night games with all the kids outside in the neighborhood...and just enjoyed summer! I feel a field trip coming on...I need to go see what fun things we can do next week.
Hmm, I guess I only really have four this week. I should change my title to Friday Four.
5. DH is off traveling again . . . gone for several weeks. Maybe I'll actually finish my WIP and my valances (blushes, I've had the fabric for a year). But ah, here's my number 5...I did finish getting the wild jungle known as my yard all ripped out, mulched, planted and whipped into shape this week (it was the project on the burner as soon as I finished camp). So success! Ha! I guess now it's kind of a Friday Six! Wish I'd taken some before pictures so that an after picture would mean something. Oh well.
I'll stop while I'm ahead and don't completely bore you.
Enjoy your weekend!
- Mood:
contemplative
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Comments
Um, don't compare your ms to mine! Every story is different--and they all have a different reason to be there. I don't think that stories are mutually exclusive. Only you can tell the story inside you the way it should be told. (Even if it takes 5--or 10--tries at the same scene.) The answers for this book will come to you as you work--they really will.
And it's not so much comparing stories...ours are so vastly different which is what you want as a writer (you wouldn't want to find your story identical to anothers).
I guess it's easy for me to compare anothers strong point to my weak point -- just to look at the depth of characterization or setting detail or lovely prose or something and want to brighten mine so that it shines too. (Not a bad thing as long as I don't let it do me in).
Characterization is particularly difficult for me. I don't know if it's because I'm a very private person and struggle to open up or if it's simply because I can see where the plot is taking them and rush too quickly to get there, but either way, it's so easy for me to see others beautiful characterization and wish I knew how to get to that level.
But all hope is not lost, lol, I just keep plugging away and doing my best and hoping that somewhere in my novel the reader falls in love with the characters like I have (even if I struggle to show them my characters as vividly as I see them). Of course I would love for the reader to do that on the first page...but um, first chapters are difficult for me too. Sigh! Good thing I love writing so much.
You write beautifully, Rose. You should be so pleased and proud when you submit your manuscript.
I can't wait to hear how it goes. I'm very optimistic that there's a nice deal out there waiting for you.
Plus I take comfort in reading quotes from Markus Zusak, who at one point when asked how his new book was going, said that he'd finally gotten past the first sentence. And that he rewrote the beginning chapters for The Book Thief at least 100 times.
And great story about Markus Zusak -- definitely gives me hope that my million chapter rewrite might not be in vain, lol.
Have a great weekend.