Most days the Dark-Eyed Juncos are chased from the feeders
by the other birds (mostly House Finches) but today the juncos
are holding their own.
I had great fun watching this one hop and dance about the tree
(I know it's crazy but it seemed as if s/he was clogging).
© Tracy Abell 2012
And now I'm headed back into the revision cave although I'd prefer hanging out at the feeder. . .
I. Must. Stop. Looking. Out. The. Window.
© Tracy Abell 2012
Yes, there's blue sky and sunshine and oodles of birds and crazy squirrels . . .
But I have an opening chapter to rewrite. Again.
This second draft is giving me fits
and I'm suddenly the Queen of Procrastination
as I look for something, anything to do besides revise.
But my project is like this shark:
if I don't keep moving foward
there is a good chance the book will die.
image from morguefile.com
Must. Give. It. Oxygen.
1) I am ever so slowly making my way through the second draft of my middle-grade,
2) revising, rewording, reshaping, and re-visioning the story
3) that seemed so straight forward when it whispered in my ear, begging for attention,
4) but for some reason is now taunting me and laughing at my attempts to rein it in.
5) But the joke’s on my feisty muse because I WILL COMPLETE THIS SECOND DRAFT!
image from morguefile.com
May all you also prevail in your wrestling matches, literary or otherwise!
Have a grand weekend!
It's a whole new week filled with possibility.
I've got blue sky and sunshine outside, and a manuscript to revise.
Time to get to it.
How about you?
© Tracy Abell 2009
Wishing everyone a fabulous week!
I'm working with a premise I think is timely and thought-provoking
but cannot seem to wrap my head around the story's tone.
I'm on the second draft and have written and rewritten
the first two chapters a whole bunch of times,
each version feeling incrementally closer to
what the story needs yet not close enough for that Aha moment.
Part of the problem is I'm used to writing funny
and this premise doesn't easily lend itself to humor
although it could probably be done; I'm just not sure I want that tone.
Another issue is maybe this story would be better told
as a young adult novel rather than middle-grade.
So.
I've already switched from first-person to third
and now I'm thinking maybe go full-blown creepy dystoptian YA
rather than slightly funny middle-grade.
Sigh.
I need to focus, dammit.
image from morguefile.com
Because I spent MANY hours in pool halls, I'm channeling my inner shark
in hopes of zeroing in in on what needs to be done.
However, if anyone has sage advice on how to successfully wrangle a story idea,
I'm happy to put down the cue and listen.
Last June I wasn’t sure I could keep on writing,
and the thought of attending my local SCBWI conference again
without any professional/career progress to show after another year
of effort was horrible to contemplate.
I needed to accomplish something that would help me hold my head high.
So I set two goals: I would apply for a conference manuscript critique AND
finish the revision of BIRD BRAIN before the conference.
A few weeks ago, I found out I’m having a critique with Bruce Coville.
(Goal One: check!)
And today, just a few moments ago, I finished my revision.
(Goal Two: check!)
There are still days when I doubt my sanity in all this,
but I have to believe I will prevail.
Saturday was the official end-of-Mentor-Program picnic in the mountains.
I gave my mentor, Claudia Mills, a little plaque that included this:
CLAWDIA
This morning I ran on the trails and fell.
But it was the best fall, ever.
When I told Zebu that, he asked "Did you stick it on the dismount?"
I did!
Today I start my new plan for BIRD BRAIN,
which is to rewrite chapters from scratch.
I’ve been working on voice/characterization but it feels as if I’m
nickel and diming the story.
So….time to get serious and write it anew.
Zoinks.
I hope everyone’s Monday is off to a stellar start, and that the week just keeps getting
better and better.
I want to check in here since I haven’t been around much lately,
but don’t want to completely fall out of the habit of blogging
while I’m hunkered down in the revision cave.
So here’s where I’m at in my collective health:
Emotionally speaking, I’m feeling good about the positive changes I’m
making via my revisions and choices for my career. I feel in control
of those factors I can control.
Physically speaking, I’m doing very well. Last Friday I graduated from
PT after seven weeks of no running. I can now run again on a limited basis
as I work back to where I was before. I’m also able to hoop again!!
My daily plank routine is going well, and I just finished a three-minute plank.
(I’m telling you, if you haven’t tried them, they’re a great way to firm up your core;
you see results very quickly).
Parentally speaking, in this exact moment I’m doing a better job of remembering
I already navigated my high school years and that it’s up to my boys to do the same.
(But, oh, it would be so nice to have a magic wand to keep away the hurt and angst).
Friendly speaking, I miss everyone here. And while I have glimmers of guilt for not
keeping up, I know you all understand. You get why it’s important to keep my head
down and push on through. But please know I’m thinking of you and sending good
thoughts your way.
Am dashing off in a few minutes for a full day of basketball.
Zebu’s in a tournament and so I’m packing up the laptop
and hitting the bleachers.
Here’s some Agnes outlook to get you through the day:
AGNES by Tony Cochran
Let’s hope Grandma went easy on the pine nuts.
Am hard at work in the revision cave,
but wanted to share a tip that might help others.
I had concerns about continuity within a relationship
between two characters,
so I went through my entire manuscript and used the Highlighting function
to color code everything having to do with that relationship.
I used one color for interior thoughts
and another for direct interaction between the characters.
The colors made it very easy to track the progression in the relationship,
and I’m now confident the ms isn’t suffering from emotional ping-pong.
(I thought I’d already eliminated that stuff but apparently my emotionalism dies hard).
There’s a good chance you all know about this computer highlighting trick
(I’ve done this before with hard copy but never within my document),
but I’m a big believer in putting info out there.
May this tip reach the right person at the right time…
I’m missing this community, but am sending good thoughts for all your writing and life projects!
Earlier I responded to regarding her suggestions for finding my last lines,
by saying I’d try her methods but would probably also end up howling at the moon.
(image from http://www.morguefile.com)
Care to guess how it’s going so far today?
I’m working on my final chapter, and feel good about most all of it
except for the last few lines.
I know I’ll get there but it’s a bit maddening to have come this far
only to be flummoxed.
I’m not quite sure why, but this photo from last summer feels right for this post:
© 2010 Tracy Abell
Maybe because I found out via this link, that younger ants usually take care of the queen and brood,
while the older ants typically have the more dangerous tasks of foraging and defense.
I’m definitely an older ant,
and writing towards The End can sometimes feel a bit dangerous. Scary.
But I have to keep crawling around my final page, foraging for those just-right words to end my story.
(And for a little off-topic Ha-ha, here’s a snippet from the above link: "Ant colonies are grossly divided into queens, males, and workers. The job of the queen is to lay eggs. The males generally do nothing for the colony. They wander around accepting food from the workers until the time comes for mating. They die almost immediately after mating." Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the ultimate fantasy?)
I just printed out the latest draft of my final chapter.
It’s not quite where I want it to be, but it’s definitely getting closer.
Wow.
I’m not yet giddy with excitement, but I’m fast approaching goofy.
Or maybe that should be daffy.
Punchy?
Loony? Nutty? Dotty?
Guess the only thing I know for sure is that whatever this is I’m experiencing, it ends with a y.
I’m in the home stretch on my revisions.
When I last met with Claudia, we decided my final chapter would be
a kaleidoscope of three small scenes.
So that’s what I’m working on this week.
I want my scenes to convey this kind of intricacy and balance:
(image from http://www.morguefile.com)
But if I don’t immediately get the scenes just right,
I can treat them like a kaleidoscope and make a slight adjustment,
and maybe that new view will be just what I’m looking for.
Yesterday I worked on a scene that was hard to face:
I put a 12-year-old girl in a dangerous and scary situation.
When I reached the point at which someone steps in to help her,
I stopped writing and took a nap.
I often take 15 minute power naps.
But this nap was a deep, all-the-way-asleep kind of nap.
I think writing that scene took it out of me.
So that’s the scary (and tiring) portion of this post.
The funny portion?
Earlier this week, Melodye ( ) asked that we share belly laughs with each other.
Since I can’t find Garrison Keillor’s hysterical booger excerpt from LAKE WOBEGONE DAYS
and Youtube doesn’t have the Stuart Smalley Halloween clip,
I offer this mockumentary about the first men’s synchronized swimming team:
Are you laughing yet?
I met with Claudia yesterday to go over revisions.
The take-home quote of the day?
You’ve done an excellent job building tension in the story; it builds and builds and builds.
Like an orgasm.
That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, I create orgasm-worthy middle-grade fiction.
But I don’t think I’ll mention that as a selling point when it comes time to schedule school visits.
In case anyone wonders where I am today,
I’m hunkered down in the revision cave.
Thank you for the kind words of support yesterday.
I made progress and feel good about it even though I feel a bit like this. . .
© 2010 Tracy Abell
(I don’t, however, have the catfish-like facial hair and anyone who says different is lying).
I’m about 110 pages into my revision,
and am officially in love with this story.
Often when writers love their projects,
they go into some euphoric state in which they crank out words and revise like mad.
I’m not that kind of writer.
For the past week or so, I’ve been fine-tuning a couple chapters
in order to strike the perfect emotional balance.
These chapters are pivotal and are very different from the original,
so I’m charting new territory here.
I told Zippy it’s as if I’m sneaking up on my story,
getting one part "just right," and then tiptoeing up to the next moment
that needs to be just right.
Lots of times I stop at the point of decision, and do something else.
Nap, work on a crossword puzzle, watch birds. Watch clouds.
That break gives my middle mind a chance to do its thing,
so that when I get back to it, I know how to strike the emotional balance.
Revision truly is a thing of beauty.
(Crocus from my front yard) © 2010 Tracy Abell
Okay, so this doesn’t fall in the environmental tips category,
but this post is not only a reminder to myself but also a way to hold myself accountable.
My kids in Florida PLUS my mate at the office EQUALS writing opportunity.
I have revisions to complete, darn it.
So I am not going to waste this opportunity for making headway on CLOSE TO HOME.
If you see me around the LJ-playground, please send me back to my pages.
But hopefully you’re seizing your own writing opportunities,
and wouldn’t notice even if I started hooping next to you.
Here’s to us accomplishing a whole mess of literary feats today!
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.
I’m a bit sad that most photos I took while in Florida
didn’t turn out too well because of my lens limitation.
But the images I captured are enough to revive memories.
They help me remember the laughter and oohs-and-ahhs
I shared with my sister, brother, and nephew.
As I look at this Great Blue Heron taking flight,
I’m not only grateful for the gift of Kapok Park and time spent with family
but am also inspired to get back to my CLOSE TO HOME revisions.
© 2010 Tracy Abell
I’m going to flap my wings and soar into literary greatness.
Or something like that.
It’s official.
I simply loathe adding scenes during revision.
That’s what I’m working on now, and yesterday
it took The Grackle’s penetrating gaze to keep me on task.
I’ve been thinking about why writing new scenes is so hard for me,
and the best I can come up with is that this manuscript has already been worked so much,
the storyline and characterization feel set in stone. Solid.
(Note: solid does not preclude shitty-in-places).
So even though I know the story will be stronger with the additional scenes,
it still requires a huge shift in my writing brain to insert new stuff into my characters’ lives.
My friend, Pam Mingle, recently told me
she loves writing new scenes during revision.
And that she prefers new scenes to tinkering with what’s already there.
Clearly, opinions run the gamut from Loathe to Love.
Where do you fall on the spectrum?
Last week I promised to share some insights
from my mentor, Claudia Mills.
Claudia is helping me revise a middle-grade novel
about two girls, one homeless and the other, not.
The first time I met with Claudia, she praised my
"wonderful sense of the shifting terrain of interpersonal
dynamics and psychological nuance."
But, it turns out my sensitivity and attunement to my characters
is also the main stumbling block in my story.
Claudia went on to write in her comments:
"It’s that you are SO good at psychological nuance that I sometimes
felt as if I were watching a ping-pong match . . . feelings were shifting
back and forth with such frequency that I lost sense of where
we were in the overall shape of the story."
She was absolutely right.
And I have a feeling some of my earlier readers had that same issue
(whether or not they were able to articulate it that way).
So that’s what I worked on in my opening chapters
(plus some other issues regarding initial conflict).
I focused on the psychological dynamics in each scene,
watching for the ping-pong effect.
I wanted to build tension in each of my story’s relationships.
I worked and worked.
Last week I met with Claudia to discuss the revisions.
While I nailed the revisions of the initial conflicts,
it turns out I’d written some more emotional ping-pong.
I was frustrated with myself,
and as we talked, I wondered if I’d ever fully grasp what she was saying.
I mean, I’m a hyper-sensitive person and I feel lots of emotions all the time;
I wasn’t sure if I could write characters any other way.
And then Claudia said this:
Your task is to give yourself room to build.
Cue the epiphany music!
I cannot write scenes in which characters’ feelings
jump all over the spectrum from one moment to the next.
Even though they might feel that way inside,
I can only allow their emotions to move incrementally within each scene
so that there’s somewhere for them to go as the story progresses.
For example, if I write a character expressing full-blown anger
toward another character in the opening chapters,
there’s not a lot of room to maneuver the emotions of their relationship.
I need room to build.
It’s as simple as that.
(This was taken yesterday afternoon and somehow the imagery feels right for this post). © 2010 Tracy Abell
I met with my mentor yesterday.
The good news is, she loved what I did with the opening scene.
Bad news, I continued to make some of the same mistakes
she’d pointed out after the first read.
I’m going to share her insights with you next week.
For now, I just want to say I’m looking forward
to when all that sad, dead-looking foliage
outside my window comes back to life.
In the meanwhile, here’s a clematis from my patio last summer:
Wishing everyone a lovely weekend.
Tracy Abell 