Archives for August 2007

Well, I don’t really need to say anything more do I? You can plainly see.
Whadaya think?

You may have noticed, in previous posts, that I’m working on a first draft. And I may have mentioned that I find them to be one of the more challenging parts of being a writer.

But I stand here today (sit here today?) feeling rather chagrined because of this post over at Meg Cabot’s blog. Her words reminded me that writing a first draft should be the most exciting part of writing. The part where the story unfolds before you and your characters come to life. The part where the possibilities and paths in front of you are nearly infinite. (Hyperbole alert!)

So from now on I’m going to approach first drafts from a totally different angle. I’m going to try to be as creative and have as much fun as possible. Maybe I’ll even pretend I’m Meg Cabot. Hmmm… I think I may need a tiara and a boa.

I am officially done with copy edits for THIRD GRADE BABY. Now it’s in the hands of those super talented people at FSG who take a manuscript and make it into a book.
They do stuff like choose a font and…ummm…well, i have no idea actually. Book design is a complete mystery to me. The only thing I know for certain is that I am extremely excited to see my book!

I am also excited for Fall!

It is my absolute number one favorite season. Just this past weekend the weather turned brisk, and I had a very strong urge to buy school supplies. Unfortunately, I no longer need school supplies. I do get to buy office supplies, which I enjoy, but it’s not quite the same as the big back to school shopping spree I had back in my elementary days.

Maybe one day I’ll write about a character buying school supplies.

This fall, however, I am going to go back to school. Some wonderful teachers and librarians that I have agreed to let me into their classrooms and libraries to practice my school visit presentations. I am very excited for this opportunity. I’ll be sure to post more as the time draws near!

Hmmmmm…I wonder if there is any such thing as school visit supplies…

So, I’m finally taking a break from my current work-in-progress to post.

Right now, I’m writing a first draft. For me, this is the absolute hardest part of writing a novel. I mean, really, imagine closing your eyes, concentrating really hard and conjuring up a lump of clay with nothing more than your measly 10% brain power. Now you kind of know what writing a first draft feels like.

Whenever I’m writing a first draft, I try to get it out as quickly as possible, otherwise I lose my train of thought. Then I have to go back and reread everything I’ve written before, and as the book gets longer and longer, that takes longer and longer and then Boom! the baby wakes up from his nap and I have to stop writing and I haven’t even written anything yet.

So, if I could, I’d like to take a whole week and write non-stop, maybe at some beautiful writer’s colony or five-star-hotel. The only problem is that I can’t really manage more than 1500 words at a time, even though I want to write more, my 10% is kaput.

Maybe someday I’ll unlock the secret 90%. Maybe then I’ll be able to simply telepathically transport my book into other people’s brains rather than having to write it and get others to buy it. Do you think that would be illegal?

Now, back to work! Because once I get that lump of clay, then I can really dig in and have fun. Get my hands wet and slimy and sculpt and sculpt and sculpt. (Revise, revise, revise!)

But first I have to get there. Which means I need to go hit my 1500.

Bye.

P.S. Sorry, still can’t tell you what it’s about.