My revisions are due to Claudia in two days
and I’ve still got lots to do.
I’m cutting some stuff I hope to use later,
adding new material to make the story flow,
and moving scenes around.
Claudia said during our last meeting,
"I think I’m better at structure [than you]."
I had to laugh because this revision process
has proved something I already suspected:
while I’m a very good writer (meaning, I use words well),
I have to work harder to be a good storyteller.
I have to consciously think about structure and pace
so that I do my characters justice in the way I let their stories unfold.
However.
I am learning.
All this work with Claudia is helping me think
about my writing in a whole new way,
and I’m confident the lessons I’m learning while
revising CLOSE TO HOME
are lessons I will carry with me on every book to come.
And that’s what being a writer is all about:
bringing your always-improving game with you to each and every story.
Tracy Abell 
Awesome! I hope you are journaling about all of this, because it is a real discovery of your process and you will need it for all the books and stories to come!
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I’m using my cool notebook to record much of this and then these Monday posts are also good markers along the way. but you’re right, it is a real discovery and I must document!
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random commenter
good luck getting that done!
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Re: random commenter
Thanks so much for the good wishes. I need them since I didn’t get much done today at all. Yikes.
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That’s so nice you have a mentor. How did that come about? I too am working on the storytelling aspect: pacing and plotting.
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My SCBWI chapter started a mentor program last fall and so I applied and was accepted. I’m learning so much in the process and would highly recommend it if your chapter has a program.
Here’s the link for ours: http://www.rmcscbwi.org/html/mentor.html
Wishing you well on your storytelling aspects, too! 🙂
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WOW!!! I would love that kind of program here. We don’t have that, but what a great idea!
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Someone in our chapter heard about it while at the LA conference and came back with the suggestion for our RAs. They gave her their blessing to run with it and she set up the program. Maybe you could do that?
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Something to think about. I’m in a weird location where I belong to one chapter but attend meetings of another chapter. Still…thinking…
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That is a different situation! If you decide you want to go forward (or at least investigate it), let me know and I’ll put you in touch with our program coordinator. She can tell you about time invested, etc.
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Good for you – for learning lessons and not beating yourself up! YAY for progress!
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Thank you, Debbi. I know you know how hard it is sometimes to keep all this straight in your head. That little voice likes to sneak in and blow all that progress apart. Hope you’re keeping with the pact, too. 🙂
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I am so glad your getting somewhere with your revisions! Keep at it, girl!
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Thanks so much for the encouragement. I’m behind schedule but will achieve whatever I achieve by Wed. And it’ll have to be enough for right now.
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So how’s it going, Tracy? Are you making good progress?
PS Forgot: Which of your kids drew a picture on your notebook? Thinking I might need to cajole him to create one for me, so I can glue it to my notebook and/or incorporate it into an art journal…
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I got a lot done yesterday but need to get lots more done today before I send it off to Claudia. We meet tomorrow! Yikes.
Wildebeest drew the pic. He’d probably be happy to scribble a pic for you, too. Then again, he’s my unpredictable 16-yr-old….
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