bumps in the violas

Despite my cold, I came down to write tonight. The edit's been progressing well, and I got done several more pages tonight, and then realized that my wordcount is still way too high.  I'm five pages from the end, which is going to be rewritten more or less. I had a brainstorm on eliminating a character that really truly isn't neccessary. But he did serve an important part that can be transferred to another character, but that means adding a scene and removing a scene. It might end up being that this change will not alter the word count, but I think it puts my MC in a better position of seeing the crap that's about to happen and not just get it from someone else.

This could be good, but it means I'm NOT done tonight.

And I still need to dig through my To Edit pile for some short stories for my viable paradise application. 

I need more time in my day...

still revising

Violas is going well. Too bad I only get 1 - 2 hours at a time, but tonight I made good use of it. I passed the halfway mark, I'm reducing the word count, and winding the story tighter.  I'm up early with the kids tomorrow, but hopefully can stay up late in the evening to finish this off. I've got to get this out to my readers/critiquers quick, and start looking at my other short stories.

Hubby and I finally agreed that I can apply to Viable Paradise, and I need to choose the right stories to include in my submission package. Then there's the letter. I've been working on it with the intent to apply for the 2011 workshop, but things just seemed to fall into place this year.

Violas coming alive

Last night I stayed up late to complete the rewrite. Not the revision: the rewrite. Sent it off to a few friends who I know enjoy SF, and sure enough when I read it over lunch today I realized how far I had veered off course in the last five pages. This is major. And this always embarasses me. I know I need to wait 24 hours before sending it anywhere.

I figured out what it lacked, that was all I had time for. But the amazing thing of driving home from work, without the radio, without screaming kids in the car, is a focus for me. I connected the dots of what was wrong to how to fix it. And that's what I'm doing now. Just finished the final redlining, and am launching into a screen edit.

Will I finish tonight? I sure as hell hope so!

Revising Better

I knew this revision for Black Violas is the toughest one I've done a long time. The biggest issue was the viewpoint (written in 3rd, revising in 1st) and that the wording/verbiage was rather pathetic.  I'm making serious progress, and am rewriting the last of the scenes. At this point, actually, the ending is completely new. Yet, I still have a page of notes, details I need to work into the story.

Why is this so difficult? Why is it taking me so long?

And it just hit me today. I've improved. I'm doing two or three drafts worth of revision in this one revision. I'm seeing my problems all at once instead of revising for problem A, then revising for problem B.

This is big. :)  I'm thrilled. I'm growing!

still going...

Lots of battles this week with work/lunch/sleep issues. We're resolving much of it, and the writing improves as we do. Aiming to finish this revision by tomorrow night. I'm doing a scene to two per session now. It won't be the final version, but close enough event/plot wise that i can have some readers give me some realistic feedback. Then I get to work on the Tiger story.  Growr!

Query: Titles

So what's the deal with short story titles? I'm not so worried with my novels because all I've heard is that the publisher will change it on you anyway, you just need one spiffy enough to get their attention.  So how about short stories? No one ever talks about their short stories being renamed upon acceptance/publication. 

I also want to know how you come up with your titles. I tend to pick an element from the story, and while my titles tend to be about something from within the story itself, they don't seem to carry the weight of the stories I've read.

What do you think about titles?

Writing writing writing

Progress has been slow, writing time is not abundant, but I'm finding it in little bits and pieces.  That's the hazard of weekend writing, but we're back in the week so I should have a better chance of getting time in.

Goals for my week - I intend to get a lot of things done.

Black Violas - two nights of computer time to bring these edits/rewrites into existance (Monday and Tuesday); then I can send it off to my readers.

Nighthunter's Bite - revision again, probably Wednesday and Thursday.

Two crits, one on Monday, one on Wednesday.

And, if this goes well, I can jump back into Tiger Princess by the weekend.

So we'll see. My eyes might be overestimating what I have time for this week, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Hopefully, the muse will be along for the ride.

violas in progress

Spent a few hours on Black Violas today, and put together a game plan on how to fix it. I was afraid it wasn't fixable.  I didn't understand why the voice wanted to be in first person, but it did, desperately, and today I figured out why.  I figured out why the ending didn't work, and came up with a better one. I found a couple of muse bombs and I am exploiting the hell out of 'em. This is going to be a kick ass story when I'm through with it. I would love to share specifics, but heck, that'll ruin it for when you read it.

honor subbed

It's out, it's gone, it's in the email, no taking it back now.  Revision wasn't too bad, but took about three hours and a cupcake's worth of sugar. Here's thinking good thoughts.

hunter finals

Final fixes for Hunter, cutting some wordage... tonight is it.  Still love the story, and I think it's better than ever.  Submission email goes out *tonight*.

Hunter done, again

Revision was a blast.   My dear sweet hubby took over kid duty at 6:30pm and I had all night to write instead of my usual hour and a half.  I spent four and a half hours on the revision yesterday, and gave it a quick proofing today, and implemented the final changes.  I think it's good. I think it's ready. :)  It's awesome when things work.

Hunter again

Reworking Hunter.  I received a few crits back and it was rejected from the first market I submitted it to (with some interesting comments), so I figure, why not, let's make it better.

That pesky first scene a few someone's commented on, turns out didn't live up to its potential because the finale didn't really zing.  I'm adding zing. And my hero, Daymar, misses a huge opportunity to confront his commanding officer who is essentially his role model.  Adding that.  Then there's a mysterious chameleon that was neat in the first version, but should've gone by the wayside when the griffon did about four revisions ago.

I'll find another home for the lizard; this just isn't it.