revisions

Guided Revisions

/ Tracy Abell / 28 Comments

                

I’m nearing the end of BIRD BRAIN revisions, 
and have called upon my spirit guide.

                                                                                 Image from morguefiles.com
Methinks I’m home free.
                    

Where I Write

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

           

 
I’ve been thinking about my writing process lately,
and how I need to be in different spaces/places
at different points in a project.

A while back,  wrote about walking on the beach
and how that inspires her writing.
I commented that I was currently working in a closed room, 
back to the window, 
facing my whiteboard,
earplugs inserted.

It felt a bit pathetic to admit that,
but it was what I needed at that point in my BIRD BRAIN revisions.

No distractions.
Just me inside my head,

But for the past week, I’ve been sitting in my chair in front of the
sliding glass door, watching as 
birds fly past,
land on the wires,
or hop about the plum tree branches. 


Eurasian Collared Doves                                                                                         © Tracy Abell 2010

I’m still doing BIRD BRAIN revisions
but maybe it’s because I’m so much closer to being done
that I need the visual inspiration that got me started on this project.

I need birds.
A couple weeks ago, I did not.
And I’m not sure why.

Do you have different work spaces for each stage of your projects?
          

Bird Brain in Gear!

/ Tracy Abell / 16 Comments

            

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.
It was lovely here and we had many feathered visitors.


                                                 © Tracy Abell 2010 

I’ve received helpful feedback on BIRD BRAIN
and am madly revising.  The book is already so much stronger!

Hugs and smooches to  ,  , and [info]lorrainemt!
You guys are the very best.  

So I’m headed back into the revision cave,
but wanted to extend wishes for a glorious Monday filled with
happy writing and maybe a bird friend or two.
                

Girding My Loins

/ Tracy Abell / 20 Comments

        

I’m ready to wade back in there
and begin reshaping BIRD BRAIN’s opening chapters.

And then complete another (final?) round of revisions.

I’m equal parts anticipation and dread.


                                                                                                                                                          Image from morguefile.com

Cue whatever music it is I need to hear right now . . .
                   

Mentor Monday: Trusting My Gut

/ Tracy Abell / 6 Comments

    

I heard back from Claudia yesterday on the two chapters I sent last week.
She had much good to say about the stuff that worked,
and offered a couple excellent points about places I needed to lay a little groundwork.

She also had some thoughts on how to handle a certain plot point.
I’m mulling over her suggestion, taking notes in my trusty notebook as I unravel my thoughts.
So far I’m thinking I need/want to go with my initial idea for this story line
but am mindful that part of me might be rebelling against outside influence.

The thing is, Claudia has had lots and lots of good ideas during this revision process.
I’ll have an idea and she’ll tweak it just a tiny bit to make it an even better idea.
I’m thrilled that my story is so much stronger than before
but I’ve also had a few insecure moments in which I wonder if the improvements are because of her or me.

I’ve never worked one-on-one before to revise an entire manuscript
and am wondering if anyone else has experienced any of these feelings.
Have you ever worried your story is better only because of someone’s input?
Or have I just gone out and invented a whole new brand of writerly neurosis?
               

She’s baaack . . .

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

     

I checked the thermometer and it read 51 degrees.
So I stopped work on CLOSE TO HOME
and changed into my hooping togs.

There on my dry-concrete patio,
surrounded by snow piles,
beneath the blue sky,
bathed in sunshine,
I hooped.

As I gazed up into the sky,
I saw a red-tailed hawk soaring and gliding.

Instead of thinking "Oh no, it’s Claudia!  She knows I’m not working on my chapters,"
I smiled and watched her until she was out of sight.
Then I finished my thirty minutes of hooping.

Now I’m ready to get back to those chapters.
            

Not-so-new habits

/ Tracy Abell / 6 Comments

 

I used to smoke.
I know, I know.
Dumb.

And even though it’s been a looong time
since I stuck one of those in my mouth,
I’ve realized I haven’t completely lost my oral fixation.

The whole time I’ve been working on revisions,
I’ve had my trusty pack of gum next to me:

And every time I reach for a new piece
(full disclosure, I chew a half-stick at a time),
I have an overwhelming sense of deja vu.
See, I used to buy cigarettes in the hard pack.

Back in the day, my desktop would’ve contained this:

But now, I’ve got this:

Old habits die hard, I guess.