Monday, November 7, 2011

ProgLess Report...During NaNoWriteMonth

That's kind of what it is. 

200 words.  Yes, that is two-hundred words.  In seven days.  
Instead of participating I have managed to withdraw from the event.  Revising my WiP has proven to be challenge - as much as I insist that I want the work to please me first and foremost, as I am revising I keep getting sidetracked by evaluating whether others (agents, editors, readers) would like what I am putting to paper.
So, I have decided to put it aside for a week while I clear my head and fight the urge to meet others' expectations.

Does anyone else struggle with this?  I can't be the only one!

It's not all hopeless, though.  In October I revised one chapter, which I think absolutely rocks, and I ended up entering it into a contest.  And there I was not even trying.

In the meantime, I'll be reading!

12 comments:

  1. Revising can kick you in the butt, but don't be too hard on yourself. It's meant to be put aside for a time and then you can dive right back in with new and fresh eyes. Critique partners are great if you need motivation. I always send them an email when I start to doubt myself.

    Keep it up!

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  2. Thank you Cassie! Revisions are hard, aren't they? More so than the first draft...

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  3. Are you kidding?? I'm totally going through what you are going through. I finished my manuscript about a year ago and have slowly been editing and revising. Distractions always sound so enticing!
    I wish you luck and hope it goes well.

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  4. I'm kind of in a rut too, E.D! I created an account, but I've yet to write even one word! :(

    I guess I have to get busy sometime. I'm rather enjoying just thinking about my characters for the moment. At this rate, I'll never even have anything to revise!

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  5. I'm so glad I'm not alone!! I actually ditched my NaNoWriMo idea for another short story that I am working on (and another one that I am STILL trying to find an ending for...still currently in my head). Plus, I'm getting ready to take part in a second blog (not hosted by me). So, this book idea took a back seat. I wasn't too attached to it anyways. :)

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  6. I am glad I am not the only one :-) but I wish we all had an easier time with this!

    Thanks for taking the time to visit & comment!

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  7. E.D. I let the ghost of Ernest Hemingway say something similar on my blog : http://rolandyeomans.blogspot.com/2011/11/hemingway-ghostnanowrimo-is-litmus-test.html

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  8. Setting it aside for a week is a good idea. But don't get too discouraged. I've been reading this book about self-editing and revising your manuscript, and in there he states that EVERY writer feels like that with EVERY book they write. I'm sure even people like Stephen King and J.K. Rowling have felt that way, too!! You can do it. :)

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  9. Thank you Roland - great post! It made me feel much better!

    Thank you Belly Dancer for the follow.

    And thank you Vicki for your kind words.

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  10. I set out to do ANYTHING but nano this month, and ended up with a shiny new idea.

    SO, you know . . .

    It doesn't always work out the way we want it to.

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  11. No, you're definitely not alone. I have two novels and two screenplays I wrote a few years ago, and I've been scared to death to start the revision process. The whole process seems quite daunting. One of these days I'm just going to say, screw this, and dive in.

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