Monday, June 7, 2010
Juggling 101
So, last time around we celebrated the completion of my first full-length manuscript. It was a swell party. Rum was shared, hotties were molested, fires were started and quickly put out. Life was good. But now.
Now, it’s revision time.
I know what you’re thinking. What is she doing revising?! Why, she’s only just finished. That MS should stew longer, percolate in a deep sea hyperbolic chamber where she can’t reach it. Alas, that is not the case this time around, for I have immediately jumped into a revision class.
This is not your run of the mill month long e-course through some chapter. No, my fellow pirates, this is an in-depth six week course including a one hour live class once a week and a very active student forum. This is PRESSURE, but with lots of good stuff thrown in, I hope.
The coolest part about the first week is that the assignment is basically to read our story start to finish (WITHOUT EDITING) and create a storyboard with post-its. Aha! I already did that. Bwahahahahaha….I’m finally ahead in something.
Who’d a thunk?
I’m clearly off course of where I was going with this. Oh yeah, there was that week between when I finished and when the class started. What did I do in that week? Well, I did what every other self-respecting writer (who is dying to dig right in and mess everything up) would do, I started plotting my next story.
I didn’t set out to get too deep. Make some notes. Get some ideas. Have them ready to go when the time came. Right, like my newly talking muse was going to make it that easy. No, my friends, they never make it that easy, do they?
This means I’m now reading my completed MS and making notes for what needs fixed, where my strong points are *cough*haven’tfoundanyyet*cough* and where my weaknesses are *cough*foundplenty*cough*. But I’m also trying to get down all the great info my new characters are throwing at me.
It’s like when I did the happy dance for the first WIP, the new characters busted out of the gate and yelled, YIPPIDDY DOO DA IT’S OUR TURN. And though I’ve been rational and tried to explain not just yet, they ain’t hearing it. They’re out, they’re playing on their island and hashing out the scenes as if I’m not even needed.
So, here’s how these next six weeks could go.
Scenario A – Smooth Sailing
I could find all the holes and weak spots in the first MS, plug them up perfectly, polish her to a shine and come out smiling the week before Nationals with nothing left to do but practice my elevator pitch. All the while humming away on the new story, getting to know my characters and maybe even putting a few scenes on paper.
Or…
Scenario B – Tempest Raging
I could attempt to do everything, revise one and plot and write the other, and wind up with nothing but a mangled MS, mutinous new characters who are so pissed that they haven’t received 110% of my attention they sail off to Aruba never to return, and a head full of gray hair to rival Einstein. (Was his hair white or gray? I’m never sure.)
I’ll admit, I’m trepidatious and oddly excited to see what comes out of all this. And this is what being a pubbed writer is going to be like anyway, right? Promoting one while revising another and writing yet another? It’s like I’m throwing myself into writing boot camp for reals!
How many stories have you ever worked on at one time? Are your characters good at waiting until you get to them? Any amazing secrets or tricks you’ve figured out for revising? As for reading, anyone read more than one book at the same time? Personally, I’ve never been able to do that.
Now, it’s revision time.I know what you’re thinking. What is she doing revising?! Why, she’s only just finished. That MS should stew longer, percolate in a deep sea hyperbolic chamber where she can’t reach it. Alas, that is not the case this time around, for I have immediately jumped into a revision class.
This is not your run of the mill month long e-course through some chapter. No, my fellow pirates, this is an in-depth six week course including a one hour live class once a week and a very active student forum. This is PRESSURE, but with lots of good stuff thrown in, I hope.
The coolest part about the first week is that the assignment is basically to read our story start to finish (WITHOUT EDITING) and create a storyboard with post-its. Aha! I already did that. Bwahahahahaha….I’m finally ahead in something.
Who’d a thunk?
I’m clearly off course of where I was going with this. Oh yeah, there was that week between when I finished and when the class started. What did I do in that week? Well, I did what every other self-respecting writer (who is dying to dig right in and mess everything up) would do, I started plotting my next story.
I didn’t set out to get too deep. Make some notes. Get some ideas. Have them ready to go when the time came. Right, like my newly talking muse was going to make it that easy. No, my friends, they never make it that easy, do they?
This means I’m now reading my completed MS and making notes for what needs fixed, where my strong points are *cough*haven’tfoundanyyet*cough* and where my weaknesses are *cough*foundplenty*cough*. But I’m also trying to get down all the great info my new characters are throwing at me.
It’s like when I did the happy dance for the first WIP, the new characters busted out of the gate and yelled, YIPPIDDY DOO DA IT’S OUR TURN. And though I’ve been rational and tried to explain not just yet, they ain’t hearing it. They’re out, they’re playing on their island and hashing out the scenes as if I’m not even needed.So, here’s how these next six weeks could go.
Scenario A – Smooth Sailing
I could find all the holes and weak spots in the first MS, plug them up perfectly, polish her to a shine and come out smiling the week before Nationals with nothing left to do but practice my elevator pitch. All the while humming away on the new story, getting to know my characters and maybe even putting a few scenes on paper.
Or…
Scenario B – Tempest Raging
I could attempt to do everything, revise one and plot and write the other, and wind up with nothing but a mangled MS, mutinous new characters who are so pissed that they haven’t received 110% of my attention they sail off to Aruba never to return, and a head full of gray hair to rival Einstein. (Was his hair white or gray? I’m never sure.)I’ll admit, I’m trepidatious and oddly excited to see what comes out of all this. And this is what being a pubbed writer is going to be like anyway, right? Promoting one while revising another and writing yet another? It’s like I’m throwing myself into writing boot camp for reals!
How many stories have you ever worked on at one time? Are your characters good at waiting until you get to them? Any amazing secrets or tricks you’ve figured out for revising? As for reading, anyone read more than one book at the same time? Personally, I’ve never been able to do that.
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76 comments:
*tosses cookie overboard so Undead Monkey will chase it*
*splash*
Congrats again, Terri. This is such an exciting time -- and I think it's awesome that you will be taking the revising course now -- perfect timing.
I always say I hate revising, and I really don't. But for me it is the hardest part of the writing process. It requires more mental concentration, and it takes longer as a result. So I whine and complain the whole way through it. LOL
However, it's thrilling to see things taking shape, even if I have to take a few times through the manuscript to accomplish it.
I'm not sure I have any amazing tricks for revising, but maybe I'll think of something!
And I've worked on more than one story at a time, and I've seen looks of amazement over that statement. LOL But, does anybody just watch one TV show? Since the characters are all different, I don't have any troubles keeping them separate. The hard part is not rushing over to a different set of characters when the ones I'm revising refuse to cooperate. LOL
I'm so excited for you.
I try not to think about what I could do or what I should do. I do what I have to do.
Ideally, I would have one ms waiting for revisions while I revise one and write the first draft of another. BUT, that is not happening right now. Since I spent several weeks with bronchitis, I didn't get the revisions done that should have been done by June 1. So now I'm revising two manuscripts (July 1 new deadline). And I'm not writing on the one I should be writing on. BUT I have written story ideas for, not one, not two, but FIVE, new stories. And one of those wants to be written NOW! Can you say the muse is on speed?
For now, I'm staying up to the wee hours and getting up early. But that is what I get for seeking publication in two completely different genres. I should have killed off my other me when it birthed and now it's too late. :) Not that I have a contract in the works, but I can't see dropping one for the other, it'd be like choosing between children (actually choosing between children might be easier depending on the day of week ;))
Good luck. But I know if anyone can pull of writing and revising- You can
First, I must apologize to Santa. With all this juggling, I've lost track of the days and thought this was the FIRST Tuesday in June. Of course, if you'll look at the calendar, it is the SECOND Tuesday in June. So I swiped Santa's day. *hangs head in shame*
But, Santa will be shining all day on the 22nd so mark your calendar now and remember to stop by for some extra fine Lemoncello.
Now, back to the comments.
Donna - I had a sneaking suspicion I was going to like revisions. It was always my favorite part of writing school papers. But I did not foresee the insistence of another story while trying to do the revisions.
It's not so much a problem keeping them straight, since they are both straight contemp and the characters are quite different. It's more a time issue.
I'll be expecting at least one good tip from you soon!
Renee - Hold the phone! You have a contract? I know I've been behind on catching all the blogs, but HOW did I miss this?! Details! I need details!
You are one of the fastest, most dilligent writers I know. If you say July 1, then it shall be July 1. I just hope your body doesn't start shutting down before then from lack of sleep. LOL! If I'm too tired, brain won't work. So that's not an option I could handle.
Mmm, you want a good tip from me? Like, don't use skim milk in your coffee because it will turn it gray? LOL
Oh, a revising tip. . .well, let me see what I know that might translate into a tip. :)
This is a really great blog, Bo'sun, so it hurts me to say this: you've frightened me to death and now I'm going to go hide in my cabin and pretend I don't exist. Shouldn't be hard.
Only tip I have for revising is to read your book aloud. You'll catch more awkward sentences and errors that way.
And I read more than one book at a time frequently. I get bored easy.
*holds cookie out towards Hellie*
What's so scary, Hellie? Don't be frightened!
Oh, and I read my stuff aloud constantly. Often right after I write it, depending on how quickly I'm moving on. Years of reading commercial copy instilled that in me.
No no no! This is not the scary stuff. This is the fun stuff. And you won't even face this stuff because you revise as you go, so you're a step ahead anyway.
Hundreds of dreaded folders and chits calling all day long wanting answers they should already know is frightening. You face that every day. This is the good stuff, the non-folder stuff!
I can't read my stuff aloud -- not sure why.
BUT I do like this tip: change the font before you start revising. It seriously changes the way you read it, and I noticed some things that seemed a bit "off" when I did this recently.
That was mentioned in the class Monday. If you can't or don't want to print out your MS, then at least change up the font so it *looks* like something totally different than what you've been seeing all along. Helps your eyes notice stuff it might not notice otherwise.
Guess I scared everyone today. I didn't mean to, promise.
Terri, I don't think you scared them off. I think everyone's working on revisions. :)
Which is what I'm supposed to be doing. And I will. In just a minute. Or thirty. LOL
Was it the picture? LOL! That is a pretty big knife...
I'm at the day job trying to figure out which "needs to be done yesterday" task to tackle. At least I'll get more work done today.
Where did you find that picture? I keep thinking you asked 2nd to pose with her sword and manuscript or something.
I thought it was a sword too! Guess I need to do more research before I start working on my pirate book. LOL
It was a Crocodile Dundee joke? Big knife?
Oh, nevermind.
Found that when I googled images for "revisions writing". LOL! Too perfect to pass up!
But I bet Chance could recreate it in her house. With a bigger sword.
LOL -- I joked recently that doing revisions was like using a dull butter knife on a chunk of granite. . .but, never mind. That might scare people off.
*erases comment and then piles on the whiteout*
Nothing to see here. Keep the line moving!
Yeah, not helping, Donna. They won't even come out of their cabins now!
LOL -- sorry about that, Chief!
I *did* revise my comment though! That should help. :)
EEEEEK, no I don't have a contract! That's what I get for posting when my eyes are heavy from lack of sleep.
I just wanted to make that clear. NO CONTRACT, yet. Sheesh, I haven't even started querying these latest stories. July 1.
Renee - Don't be giving me heart attacks that early in the morning thinking I missed the party somewhere. LOL! I'm shooting for querying as soon as I get back from Nationals. So I'll be a month behind you!
What genres are you working on?
I'm posting this link, there are two blog posts listed written by Renee Ryan. If you have the audio from Nationals last year her workshop is there. These posts are a break down. I really like how she goes into revisions. It's something to keep in mind.
http://seekerville.blogspot.com/search/label/Layering
I have a Western Romance, and a Biblical Inspirational Romance.
This is my western set in Kansas, Love At Twenty Paces.
Pinkerton detective Garrison McGuire is a man on a mission: find his orphaned nieces, ensure their well-being, and return to Chicago's darkest alleyways where he can appease his conscience.
Abandoned by her parents, Darbigal O'Donnell believes her only purpose in life is to carry on the legacy of the man who rescued her from a life of prostitution by saving young girls in similar situations, even if it means breaking the law.
And my biblical
For seven years, the kingdom of Judah has been raped and pillaged by their queen. She ordered altars to the God of Jacob destroyed and has erected in their places asherah poles and temples to Ba'al. Seeking to destroy the line of the King David, she killed all of her husband's descendants. Save one.
Having spent nearly seven years as a bond-servant, Yours for Eternity opens with Commander of the Temple Guard, Ariel en Kohen, expecting a message from Jerusalem requesting his and the young king, he has vowed to protect, to return. He knows his time with the family he's come to love, especially his master's daughter, is ending, but he also knows his duty to God and his beloved Judah.
With no brothers to carry out her father's legacy, Sh'mira, the crippled daughter of a prosperous farmer, knows she must marry a capable man, but she has only found one worthy of such an honor; the honest bond-servant who has captured her heart with his integrity.
So, hopefully both will be ready to send out for submission come July 1.
Great link, Renee. I took a layering class way back when I first started writing, when I had no idea what I was doing. I need this refresher stuff and I like her examples. Always learn better from examples. Will be bookmarking that link for review over the next few weeks. And probably beyond.
Thanks!
I definitely have to learn by examples. I need to be shown, not told.
Funny that you Roundtablers are talking about finding new ideas, because these are two of the freshest, most unique ideas I've heard in ages. I wasn't sure if you were considering the second one Inspirationals due to the limitations on that genre. Are they loosening the bounds on that one at all?
I guess it depends. There are some that are very straightlaced; no dancing, no smoking cigars, no drinking. Steeple Hill kind of pushes the bounds, and from what I've read Bethany House will consider each book case by case. My inspirational is truly an inspirational and the story line comes straight from the Old Testament. Queen Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (I'm sure you heard of her). Ahab was the king of Israel and his daughter Athaliah married the king of Judah (at the time of King David the two kingdoms were one). After Athaliah's son died she had every one of her husband's male descendants murdered and set her self up as queen. There was one child, an infant, that had been rescued and hidden by her husband's daughter which happened to be the wife of the high priest ( I know, more than what you wanted to know, huh?)
Anyway, if they think the story line presses the bounds they need to go back and read the Old Testament. :)
Oh, and thank you! I'm always seeking to have fresh ideas. I think that is why it was so easy to come up with 5 new storylines this week. One of them is demanding to be written. I'm going to try and plot it out today. Maybe then it will leave me alone. :)
Not more than I wanted to know! Sounds so interesting. Which makes sense since it's pulled right from the most popular book in the world. LOL!
An editor would be crazy to pass on this. And I've often heard it said these strict limitations on Inspirationals are ironic because even the Bible doesn't fit in the guidelines. Which is CRAZY. But not surprising.
Are the five new ones in these same genres, or are you throwing yourself into more arenas? LOL!
Two ideas floating around at the same time is enough for me. I actually have the hint of a story that would connect to the one I'm revising, it's the sister of the heroine. But other than her and her hero, I got nothing. No external plot. So that one will have to wait.
Renee, those are very interesting stories -- AND fresh. When you start querying, I'll get my fingers crossed for you. :)
And thanks for the Layering link. I'm fixin' to add some more emotion to one portion of my manuscript -- The Bleak Moment (the rest of you guys probably call it The Black Moment -- LOL). I think it needs to be deepened. Right now there's a lot of buildup to it but maybe it has a premature--um, well, it finishes a little too early. :)
I must love revision since it is a perpetual stage for me.
I really do think I need to declare a moratorium on books and articles about the writing craft until after I have finished the query process. Everything I read makes me aware of the imperfections in my ms and sends me back to revise one more time.
*turns sword in Janga's direction*
Step away from the MS, Janga. Perfection is an illusion. You have to stop aiming for perfection. Nothing is perfect. Jane Austen was not perfect. JK Rowling is not perfect. Hemingway, Mitchell, Fitzgerald were not perfect.
Your work is beautiful and moving and the world DESERVES to read it. You know, you're not too far away for us to stage an intervention.
Wow, doesn't take much to bring the swords out around here. LOL
Janga, she's right though. Strive for excellence, not perfection -- perfection is not attainable. So get it sent out in the world for others to admire. :)
Okay, I'm gonna abandon ship so I can get some REVISING done today. I'll be back later to see how the sword battles are going!
Hey, the Capt. Cha code was meant for ME. It's 4D5D. Cool. (I'm not supposed to keep that secret, am I? LOL)
Renee, I love the second one. It reminds me of the stuff like "The Red Tent" or "Queenmaker." I don't think either of those were published by Bethany House or Steeple Hill. They were published by St. Martins, I think. :)
(And I love the first one as well too! But wanted to agree that they'd be crazy not to snatch it up!)
Sorry I'm late, crew! Reg. the picture, my swords are much longer, though I do have one black blade that is about that length...rusted into it's scabbard. (The curse of living so close to the ocean.)
So! I'm taking this revision class with the Bo'sun, taking the very first book I wrote into rewrite with a hope of saving the story. I think...no, I know it can be done. It's going to take some major rewriting and revamping, but it will work!
And multiple books going at the same time? Both, in reading and writing. Fer writing, it helps. When one group starts acting mulish and I'm stuck, I toss them the finger and move to another story. screw 'em. By the time I move back, they be ready to behave.
I also like to have different genre things going. Usually a third thing that is for my eyes only, chock full of all the disgusting and vile things I'd never try to see published. These will be in a box under the bed with a letter to my estate lawyer to burn upon my death.
Yes, the bo'sun is ahead of the rest of us. Probably...hard to say, there's one guy who seems to move at lightning speed, so we'll see. I just bought the post its on Sunday and have parked the dog in daycare, my ass at Starbucks and it's time to...read. And record scenes. I think this will be a challenge as I write very episodic and and episode tends to contain more than one scene at a time. I think...
I'm a total dweeb when it comes to techniques and technical how to and how should... Sigh.
Layering?
I don't want to know!
LOL, Terri, do you really want to know? Okay, one story is connected to the biblical one. It's based of the Philistine guard that had vowed to King David to preserve his line. The story will take place much later than David. They took their oath seriously and I don't doubt that there is some secret sect today in Israel, kind of like the Knights Templar (Hey, there is another story idea hmmm. . .) It's not mentioned much in the bible but they did exist. Of course, I'll find a good heroine to match him.
Three of them are connected Inspirational suspense. This is my knew passion. These will all be set in Kansas revolving around a mounted posse that we have here.
The fifth, another Inspirational Suspense, the one that won't leave me alone is about an archeologist (hero) with a reporter (heroine) interviewing him while he's on a dig when he comes across an artifact (have to think on this)that proves something (have to think on this-but it has to be something that someone would kill to keep it a secret). :) This is the one I will hopefully get plotted today.
Donna, thank you for your kind words. I'll let y'all know when I send them off.
This is what happens when I take so long to post in the day. I blather...
I did hear from agent. Half way through the indepth read and loving it! Whoohoo!
Hey, what is this about no such thing as perfection? Why didn't anyone tell me that before?
Thanks, Hellie. My big dilemma is trying to figure out which agents to query that might represent both. I need to get those books but I wanted to wait until I was finished.
Chance, you heard from an agent? Details?
Renee - While all of those sound interesting, my MASSIVE RESEARCH bells went off just reading the little snippets. LOL! Would LOVE to read them. Would NEVER write them.
But I did print off a ton of pics from Ocracoke Island yesterday, which is where the new story is set. So apparently, some research I will do.
I like the archeologist one best, but the others are good too. This inspirational suspense thing is a new twist? Are there inspirational suspences already? Would be so cool to start something new. Does that mean all the crimes or mysteries would revolve around something religious? Killings of church members or items being stolen from religious sites?
Perfection is a myth perpetuated by inner critics who want to keep you waiting until it's too late. Throw them to the Kraken!
Chance - I've barely dug into the reading and making notes so though I have the board done, I'm not sure how far ahead I am. You're going to do great. As I told you, knowing those characters better than you know yourself is going to make polishing up their story a breeze.
See, I knew you had weaponry.
Renee - I signed with e-agent, Saritza Hernandez with the Lori Perkins Agency. She fell in love with my strange piratepunk story, with the seasoned hero/heroine. The one I've babbled about here, The Kraken's Mirror.
Love the western story idea! I'm not all that enamored of Biblical stories, but the history of your idea sounds fascintating!
Bo'sun! Congratulations on stealing away Santa's day! Very nicely done. Pirate.
I want the record to show that I went out in search of a grilled chicken salad. Instead ended up with chicken nuggets because they didn't have Thousand Island dressing.
WHO doesn't carry Thousand Island dressing? (Besides Wendy's that is...)
Chance, that is awesome!
Terri, there are inspirational suspenses all over the place. One editor mentioned he'd love one without the typical DEA, FBI, so I thought why not an archeologist. When I was so sick all I did was watch Criminal Minds, Law & Order, NCIS, etc, etc. It hit me, that hey, I've always loved these kinds of shows, so why not? Suspense isn't necessarily about solving a serial priest murders. It's about the evolving relationship between hero, heroine and God. I'm determined not to make mine preachy, but at the same time, I don't want the faith aspect just thrown in there kind of like some people just throw sex in for word count (seen it done and it doesn't work well).
Research is my favorite part of writing. I post a lot of my research on my renee blog and I'm beginning to post my biblical research over at my other me. :) It's tough building one name, and I'm feeling this whole split personality. Like which day will I be Renee, which day will I be the other me (the real me), Christina. LOL Two facebooks, two blogs. Confusing at times.
You've split yourself in half?! LOL! You should have cloned. Cloning is the way to go. No splitting, that's the harder way to go.
I don't know how you get all this stuff done with your hectic life and family. Seriously? I have one job and one kid and can manage the minimum of research and writing. Compared to you, I'm a total underachiever.
That sounds like lofty goals, but I believe you can do it. Mostly because your passion for the topic is coming through in these comments alone.
NO, absolutely no cloning. I firmly believe that if I were to be cloned then everything would more than double.
I don't sleep much, and so far I haven't gone to the shop yet this summer (dh is letting me write). The boy and I were doing Algebra at midnight, but we were wide awake, so why not?
Algebra at Midnight...sounds like a rock band.
Or a DRINK!
Everything is better with rum...
Can't go without the sleep these days. And you're right, if we cloned ourselves, we'd just end up doing twice as much work.
LOL, Chance, I like it.
Actually wouldn't we be doing four times as much work? We want to clone ourselves because we already believe we're doing enough work for 2 people, or twice as much work. So if we clone ourselves, each one would be doing twice as much work, resulting in a four times the amount of work we ever wanted to be doing in the first place.
This of course implies we wanted to work. Personally I'd rather just hire servants and take credit for it all.
Hellie, I was wondering how long it would be before anyone mentioned the 4x. I can't afford to hire help, and unfortunately the natives don't do their chores, which means my house gets cleaned about once every two weeks. Now if only I could remember when the last time I cleaned was.
Forget clones. Robots are the way to go.
Congrats again, Bo'sun!
Finally my story has started flowing again. My goal is still to have the first draft done by Nationals.
Renee-Love the story blurbs! Can't wait to read them.
Di
Hel - Saw a movie premier yesterday that made me think of you. A movie about the racing horse, Secretariat... looked like a good movie and I know you have an appreciation for horse flesh...
Four times the work? *shivers*
I don't even want to think about that.
Oh, that trailer for Secretariate looks good. Diane Lane and John Malchovich (sp?). I had no idea there was a woman behind that horse.
Thanks again, Di. You let us know when you hit THE END toward the backside of July and we'll throw you a party!
And Chance and I will take you for a drink in Orlando, of course. Don't forget about that.
Damn, that reminds me...must send money to Ashli for tickets to Disneyworld...
Di R will be at Nationals!? I need a headcount so I know how many Romance Writers Revenge buttons might be wanted...
Only one drink? I can have more though, right?
2nd: I do love horses. I can't bear to watch horseracing. I lose my mind if their fragile legs snap. Thoroughbreds are twitchy and twiggy--like supermodels--I prefer to watch draft horses pull or mustangs or something.
I remember reading King of the Wind when I was little and crying.
I googled the movie though, and it sounds like it might be good without being heartbreaking in the extreme.
Yes, Chance, you can drink as much as you want. And Di and I get to laugh at you though we promise to get you back to the room safe and sound.
Hellie - Then don't watch Black Beauty! At least not the version kiddo insisted on watching over and over again when she was younger. So heartbreaking. My gosh, I can't even talk about it without wanting to cry.
But you know Secretariate is a happy story with no snapping legs. So maybe you could do that one.
I'm with you, rather not watch it. But I can appreciate the beauty of a horse running for the joy of it. Same with greyhounds. But the trailer did look good.
I *read* Black Beauty. It's a SOBBER. And as bad as King of the Wind. The Black Stallion--movie and book--always made me cry too.
I watched the trailer. It looks like a good movie. I'll have to see it.
It reminds me a lot of Hidalgo--which was a GREAT movie--but when Hidalgo falls into the hole and get a spike in the middle his chest, I nearly clawed the hell out of whoever I was with.
Dog movies where they die--that doesn't bother me. Marley and me? Not a sniffle. But horses? Ah! I'm a goner. I cried at the end of MASH when Mr. Potter rode his horse out of camp.
I won't overdue with the booze. But I must do research and bring back good stuff to the ship...
I am diligent about sacrificing myself for the greater good. ;)
But Hidalgo survived, didn't he? To be set free? I loved that movie.
How could you not cry at the end of Marley & Me? LOL! You're a tough one, Captain. Then again, I cry at just about anything these days. Finally got around to watching the season finale of Castle last night and nearly cried in that split second where she broke his heart. That look on his face damn near did me in. And I felt it. Dang.
I cried at the end of the book of Marley and Me (a sniffle) so the movie wasn't as gutwrenching.
Hidalgo survived and was freed, but I thought I was going to not live for the next 15 minutes until that happened.
Budweiser commercials. Those make me cry. Even the ones with dogs in them.
Depending on the time of the month, a slight breeze can make me cry.
Yes, well, those El Nino winds are awful about blowing shrapnel into one's eyes.
Good point. And we've watched The Holiday way too many times. LOL!
Nah, I'm too far north for the Santa Anas. Used to love those... El Nino brings rain, not so much wind...
Shrapnel? I must watch that movie again next time it shows up on Lifetime...
Yes, well, I love The Holiday. I might have to go home and watch it tonight.
Great blog. Wish I would've had time to participate today. Is it time for my vacation yet?
I like editing my writing. I tend to do it as I go though (I know it's a no-no) and have tried to ween myself from the habit. It helps me to read the five pages before the spot I stopped so I can get back into the feel of what I was doing. But then I have the tendency to go back and start reworking more things and adding in and subtracting.
Sorry it was such a busy day, Sin. And it's not a no-no to edit as you go. Lots of writers do. If it works for you, then go for it. (But you might want to cut back on that subtracting stuff. *g*)
I'm way late... computer probs and newborn/toddler probs....
Way to go Ter! I have nothing to make revising easier. I wish I did. I revise as I go so that helps. But it does nothing for the big picture problems. I still have to adjust all that at the end, just like everyone else. And that's the stuff that takes the most time, fixing GMC stuff.
Good luck with your class!! Keep us posted on how it goes.
Hey, Marn. Hope the kids and the comp stop giving you hassle soon.
If I revised as I went along, I'd never get to the end. And I still haven't even thought about GMC stuff for this revision. For me, that had to come in the first pass. Now it's making it sound good.
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