Dropping like flies

Talk about tightening up, man, I've eliminated over 8,000 words from my book. It's getting so tight it's starting to squeak. I made up a new file called "final outtakes." It's the size of a short story.

I'm pretty pleased with myself and happy with the way the book is shaping up. However (sounds better that 'but') However, I'm starting to get those doubts again. I'm waiting until I finish this edit before letting anyone read it. I don't want to get ahead of myself.

On another note, there was a meet-up this week. A new writers club is starting in my vicinity. I wanted to go and be a part of it's inception. I didn't go. Why? you ask, and rightfully so. I didn't want to get distracted. I want to stay focused on finishing this up before I receive new input, you know?

My first book, which I finished and which I thought was pretty good. It needed a ton of editing and revising, but I was done with it. Then I joined a critique group. It was a great group and I became a better writer, but I got detracted and confused. That was five years ago. That book doesn't even look like the original book. I would love to get back to it and maybe dig out the original version and finish it.

Anyway, that's why I didn't go to the meeting. I know, some of you are saying I have no backbone. You are right. I know my limitations. I crumble under pressure. Just let me finish, then take a deep breath and brace myself, then I'll join the group.

Here's a contest by a really special blogist Click here

Done, Not Completed

I typed, "The End" today. I made my April goal.

She sighs. Now comes the fun part. I've been looking forward to the rewrite. It's going to take a couple more months at least. I really rushed the ending, so lots of work still to do.

Now I can get organized a little better, pay more attention to detail, look for inconsistencies, there are a few, and tie up loose ends, so I can't break my arm patting myself on the back just yet.

The fight scene

Aw, the fight scene. I've got three of them and I just wrote them to get through it. Now I have to go back and make it right. So I looked it up on the internet, my one-stop shop, and came up with good advice from many different sources. You get conflicting advice, but this is what I took away from my quest:

1. Use short sentences


2. Put each action into it's own paragraph unless it's just a one liner (I got conflicting stories on this. It's up to the writer)


3. Don't choreograph it, you tend to distance your character and leave the reader uninvolved.


4. Use realistic, sequential, logical moves


5. Use imaginative verbs(Of course)


6. Experience the fight through a character's pov, preferably your MC. He's the one the reader identifies with.


7. Follow an action with a reaction. Don't put the horse before the cart


8. Get the pov character emotionally involved.

Now it's your turn. Add to the list. I can use a lot of suggestions in my rewrite.

Thanks

Just Write

It is fun to just write. For me it means un-writing. When I'm having doubts about a chapter or even a word, I know I'll be revisiting it. I try for avoidance and delusion knowing full well, I'll be making that change.

So why do I leave it unchanged the minute the feeling haunts me? Because I don't have a solution. This frustrates me, but the only way I'm going to resolve that un-loving feeling is to just write. Eventually it comes to me.

That's what has happened to me just today. The solution is so amazing, the inclusion of it will make the ending so much better.

And why haven't you been able to jut finish this masterpiece, Liz? Because, unlike the beginning of a story where you have the whole thing ahead of you, the ending is where everything is behind. The ending means, there is not much left to say, but it's the most important nothing in the book, so it's harder to hurry up and be done.

So if anyone else is having trouble finishing a book, and I know some of you are because you've told me, don't despair. I believe it's an evolution.

Was, were, and that

I'm going through my MS doing finds on "was." I was careless a little. Every now and again I'd sneak one in because it's just easy, isn't it. But I found I've been a very lazy girl. Next I'll attack some other words that are considered Passive.

I'm not as overly concerned about using these words as I was when I belonged to a critique group. I haven't found a writer who doesn't brake every, so called, rule in the book.

After I've scoured my WIP, I'll go through one more time and look for passive sentences and paragraphs. It blows me away how many less words (how many less?) one uses without passive verbs.

I still haven't written the ending. Man oh man, what am I waiting for. Oh well, I'm making progress, but if I'm going to make my goal of ending it before April, I'd better make some headway.

This award was given to me in January. I've been out of town for a month, so haven't properly accepted it. Thanks goes to Emma from the Emma Michaels blog


Okay, Drum Roll. Here are the five I have picked to receive this award.

• Jan Cline..freelance
• writer..author


• Author Blog Glynis Smy


• L. Diane Wolfe, Spunk On A Stick's Tips


• DellGirl Publishing

This one come from Windy AKA Quillfeather at Should you choose to accept this award it comes with rules. You must list 10 honest things about yourself before passing it on to seven people.
I am 5'1"
I never watch TV
I dislike drinking water
I love drinking wine
My house just got paid off
I have a daughter and a step-son, both grown
I loath working
I loath the telephone
I love gadgets
My entertainment is my computer

I think I'm going to dole the seven honors out as I see fit.

Another Excuse To Procrastinate

As if I don't have anything else to do, I brought up Photoshop and made a new cover for my book. It's not really "the" cover in case someone wants to publish the book for me. But if I self-publish, it's in the running.

As for my progress. I'm not making any. That's not entirely true. I'm just not making any forward progress. I'm at the precise detail portion of the book. The ending--fitting all the pieces together if you will. As soon as these little details iron themselves out and begin to flow in a linear fashion, I'll be able to move forward.

That's all for now. My next post will be awards. Yay.