tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post1978398761363841994..comments2023-05-24T08:06:43.882-04:00Comments on Romance Writer's Revenge: Minor RenovationsTerri Osburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-56392007163493808652011-02-02T19:53:57.000-05:002011-02-02T19:53:57.000-05:00They did that to a Taco Bell I frequent.Yes, I lik...They did that to a Taco Bell I frequent.<br><br>Yes, I like the Bell. And I'm not ashamed to SHOUT it. Even if they don't really use meat. Meat is over-rated. I doubt their beans are really beans, too. Don't care.<br><br>Anyway! What was the question? Oh, yeah!<br><br>As I discovered this week in looking for little things to tweak in the MS before it goes to the print side of things...given a chance, I'd do a lot of renovation. Good thing I didn't have the chance. I did tweak, and correct and substitute a word here and there...<br><br>But yeah, after re-reading the sucker...I don't know, six times in the last few weeks... I wanted to tear it apart and do it all over again. But I think it was more from the near point of boredom with it because I'd read it six times or more the last few weeks.<br><br>Something to consider. Does your MS really need major renovations or is it just that the honeymoon is over? And though you still love it and imagine spending the rest of your life with it, as is...you're just a little, just a smidgen...bored.<br><br>I wish I'd come up with a better word for it than bored...but it's the idea, not the absolute definition of what I think creeps in.2nd Chancehttp://www.maureenobetita.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-56280491225623815712011-02-02T23:04:27.000-05:002011-02-02T23:04:27.000-05:00Hal, I'm intrigued that you are submitting you...Hal, I'm intrigued that you are submitting your novel as a thesis (for a higher degree?).<br><br>If I could have written a SciFi novel for my PhD thesis I would have been over the moon. So much easier than Unitary groups and Lie Algebras.<br><br>You youngsters don't know when you're well off!<br><br>Or am I misunderstanding something. :? <br><br>Seems to me that there are many roads to Nirvana. The hard road is like a fly traversing the surface of a sphere and getting back to the beginning periodically (rebirth).<br><br>A better road is to spiral upwards towards a distant summit of perfection. You never get there because its a limit. But you can stop when its good enough for fulfillment.<br><br>Having a deadline is a great way of stopping the spiral.<br><br>I would submit the damned thesis now and drink a few celebratory pints! *grin*Quantumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-45936030059246011382011-02-03T03:30:46.000-05:002011-02-03T03:30:46.000-05:00This is really funny. I wonder if they couldn'...This is really funny. I wonder if they couldn't find the "real" sign to put up, so they figured, "Aw, heck, nobody will notice if we use this one we have on hand". LOL<br><br>I think we'll always want to change our work. When we get some distance, we can view it differently, but we've also gained a little more skill, so we know other ways to make our books "new and improved". I'm sure the goal will always be to make "minor renovations" but the temptation will be to start over from scratch.Donnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-30046319340344187782011-02-03T04:35:08.000-05:002011-02-03T04:35:08.000-05:00given a chance, I’d do a lot of renovation. Good t...<i>given a chance, I’d do a lot of renovation. Good thing I didn’t have the chance</i><br><br>Chance, this is what I need - someone to take it away! <br><br>I think bored is a good word. You get to that point where, while it's still a good story, you just don't care anymore and want to move on to something fresher, more exciting, etc. And after a while, if you've read the same thing over and over again, it loses its power. I think it's normal to want to change it then, because it doesn't read as powerfully, though we forget that to a reader seeing it for the first time, it likely IS still powerful. It's just hard to know how different your reaction is from what a first-time reader's will be.Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-63280900083865464042011-02-03T04:39:37.000-05:002011-02-03T04:39:37.000-05:00Q - don't panic. It's a Masters of Fine Ar...Q - don't panic. It's a Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing, so the thesis is...well...a creative writing project. They're not handing out scientific degrees and allowing fiction to fly in place of research. My boss keeps pushing me toward getting my PhD (social sciences), and I have to say, it would be much more appealing if I could do a novel there too!Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-58730441588567788752011-02-03T04:42:14.000-05:002011-02-03T04:42:14.000-05:00Donna, that's a good point too. I've been ...Donna, that's a good point too. I've been working on this for two years, and I'd certainly like to think that my skill has improved in those two years. So sometimes when looking at a scene, it is a matter of seeing now what I couldn't have seen originally, just because I've improved as a writer.Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-54940055315499316702011-02-03T04:51:17.001-05:002011-02-03T04:51:17.001-05:00ASK! I wrote a hell-a long comment and it got eate...ASK! I wrote a hell-a long comment and it got eaten! Give me a few minutes to try to recreate my former genuis...Scapegoathttp://sabrinashields.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-43834460686316757302011-02-03T04:51:17.000-05:002011-02-03T04:51:17.000-05:00Oh ugh. Sorry scapgoat (though now I'm curious...Oh ugh. Sorry scapgoat (though now I'm curious what you wrote :))Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-88927976676862569842011-02-03T04:55:47.000-05:002011-02-03T04:55:47.000-05:00Ok - totally scraping trying to recreate. Hal - Ha...Ok - totally scraping trying to recreate. <br><br>Hal - Have you given off your manuscript to a beta reader or critique partner? Giving it to them will give you the chance to step back. Plus, hearing their thoughts on what changes are needed could help you focus in on the real revisions and not nit-pick stuff.Scapegoathttp://sabrinashields.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-63732718196842994662011-02-03T05:05:07.000-05:002011-02-03T05:05:07.000-05:00I love the image of a completely flattened buildin...I love the image of a completely flattened building with a sign reading "minor renovations". LOL! <br><br>I realize I threw a party, but I'm not even close to the end point. LOL! Ironically, Hellie's issues were mostly in the first 50 pages, which are the only pages sent for the GH. LOL! But it's all stuff I can see and feel good about fixing. So far.<br><br>I would definitely submit this puppy for a grade now. You've worked and reworked, gotten feedback along the way. Now you just need a little faith that she can stand on her own, and I believe she can.<br><br>You want to tweak it before seeking publication, then you have time. But your brain cells are about to be totally sucked out of your brain, so I'd use these last remaining days to get this thing on the teacher's desk. :)Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-40048567557651257432011-02-03T05:08:49.000-05:002011-02-03T05:08:49.000-05:00Scape - I wonder if I've gone too far the oppo...Scape - I wonder if I've gone too far the opposite direction. I have professor's feedback, critique partners, beta readers....there may be a line *g*<br><br>I think most of what I'm doing now isn't even really making changes, it's just re-writing scenes to make them "just a little better." Which is all good and well, except at some point, I have to STOP! lol.Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-6791459797307406262011-02-03T05:10:57.000-05:002011-02-03T05:10:57.000-05:00Ter - that's my goal. I'm off work now, an...Ter - that's my goal. I'm off work now, and likely have a few more days, so I'd like to just plow through and get it turned in, so that I can concentrate on more important things *g*<br><br>I think it's important though, to throw parties when we get to a milestone. Cause if we all waited for the actual end, we'd be waiting forever to party, and we definitely need the parties!Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-76650920669686595302011-02-03T05:12:55.000-05:002011-02-03T05:12:55.000-05:00My impulse is not so much to tear down and rebuild...My impulse is not so much to tear down and rebuild as it is to add on a wing here and remodel the kitchen there. However, "endless revisions" is a fair description of the greatest part of my writing process. I found that as true with my dissertation, Hal, as with my fiction. I'd probably still be revising if my director hadn't said quite firmly, "End this now. Don't look at another source; don't recast another sentence. Just end it." LOLJanganoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-45510780985976599502011-02-03T05:18:59.001-05:002011-02-03T05:18:59.001-05:00Janga - sometimes we need that person to just take...Janga - sometimes we need that person to just take it away *g* I love the description of your director. I do a lot of writing with my boss, and he's one of those how, when I'm trying to do the final editing, pops up with, "I found one more source!" Or "I found one more person to survey!" <br><br>I think knowing our own writing processes, and knowing how we approach revisions (whether it's hating them, or not being able to let go) is an important part. I know next time, I need to plan extra time for revisions, cause it doesn't look like a "quick fix" is something I'm capable of *g*Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-6297561057285101162011-02-03T05:18:59.000-05:002011-02-03T05:18:59.000-05:00I did find with a short story I wrote years ago th...I did find with a short story I wrote years ago that my first efforts to revise it only made it worse. Grant it, I'd yet to take a revision course so had no idea what I was doing, but the harder I tried to make it read and sound better, the more damage I did. <br><br>It's quite possible that what you have is perfect as it is. I think you need Janga's director's voice in your ear. "End this now."<br><br>*shoots steely eye at Janga* That goes for you too.Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-26511650497297139852011-02-03T05:20:04.001-05:002011-02-03T05:20:04.001-05:00I'm off to run some errands -- I'll be bac...I'm off to run some errands -- I'll be back in a bit!Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-69746372849744035782011-02-03T05:20:04.000-05:002011-02-03T05:20:04.000-05:00haha, Ter. You can be our revisions police. We'...haha, Ter. You can be our revisions police. We'll get you a little badge. You get the fun task of wrestling things out of our hands!Halnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-48365722082867051762011-02-03T05:24:19.000-05:002011-02-03T05:24:19.000-05:00I get a badge? So now I'll have a whistle AND ...I get a badge? So now I'll have a whistle AND a badge?<br><br>I'm so excited!Bosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-86014798538290155982011-02-03T05:42:42.000-05:002011-02-03T05:42:42.000-05:00Terri, I hope to finish PLAYING FOR KEEPS today. I...Terri, I hope to finish PLAYING FOR KEEPS today. I'm enjoying that small town, and I would be thrilled to have my very own Nate. :)<br><br>Then I hope to be swept off into the world of THE KRAKEN'S MIRROR. I got to read the first few pages before I was forced to return to reality.<br><br>I also got to work on my book, and hope to get more revisions done today. I can see snowflakes outside, but there may be a chance for a short escape too.Donnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-38349586660123301062011-02-03T05:51:35.000-05:002011-02-03T05:51:35.000-05:00This cracked me up, Hal. Minor renovations, indee...This cracked me up, Hal. Minor renovations, indeed. I think I did this when I cut a quarter of my MS last year. :(<br><br>I wish I had a better plan of attack. Planning isn't really conducive to my life right now, though. LOL!! Maybe next year (in five years????). LOL!!<br><br>I would like to finish a book this year. I'd like to enter the GH in the fall, if possible. That's kind of my end date right now.Marneenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-43435465927914399962011-02-03T06:00:17.000-05:002011-02-03T06:00:17.000-05:00Donna - So relieved to hear you're enjoying it...Donna - So relieved to hear you're enjoying it. And it helps that you are my fellow manicorn lover. LOL! I tried wearing my contacts for two days and the eye burning returned with a vengeance. Vengaence? That doesn't look right.<br><br>Anyway, didn't read last night because it hurt. But yours is the only book I'm reading right now. Kraken is next and then hopefully I'll get my B&N gift cards I won. Still haven't gotten those yet, which is saving me from downloading more guilt. LOLBosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-25969925427709677272011-02-03T06:01:17.000-05:002011-02-03T06:01:17.000-05:00Marn - I'm with you! I'd love to have the ...Marn - I'm with you! I'd love to have the next one done in time to enter the GH again. Should we make some kind of pact? I don't have the distractions you do, but you're way ahead of me as I've barely started plotting. We can do itBosunhttp://www.romancewritersrevenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-87190654537829823012011-02-03T06:11:29.000-05:002011-02-03T06:11:29.000-05:00Bo'sun, you're on! Maybe you don't ha...Bo'sun, you're on! Maybe you don't have my "small distractions" but you work full time on top of doing the mom thing. I suspect that keeps you busy. *understatement alert* LOL!<br><br>So, way I figure it, if I have the first draft written by mid-summer, that gives me time to revise. Think 6 months is enough time to write a first draft? Anyone else wanna jump on our bandwagon?Marneenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-43340762972814240772011-02-03T06:19:30.000-05:002011-02-03T06:19:30.000-05:00I'm not jumping on any bandwagons right now, b...I'm not jumping on any bandwagons right now, but I'll be happy to give advice! LOL<br><br>You should do a NaNo thing for one month this spring, so you can have a 50k first draft to work with. It keeps you moving, on a daily basis, and it's nice to know you have that kind of word count at the end of a month, rather than several months.<br><br>Terri, I haven't been able to wear my contacts since mid-December. It's almost like the prescription changed in those little boxes or something. Drives me nuts to wear my glasses all the time, especially since I can't wear my sunglasses when driving w/o contacts.Donnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416913236621309814.post-51778628181896604732011-02-03T06:24:02.000-05:002011-02-03T06:24:02.000-05:00Robyn Carr just showed up at my blog, so if you...Robyn Carr just showed up at my blog, so if you'd like to stop by, come on over!<br><br>www.AllAboutTheWriting.comDonnanoreply@blogger.com