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The diary of the birth of a novel by a very green writer. Writing tips and tricks, tested.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'rewriting'
Paper Edit/Screen Edit
Taking a short break from the paper edit of my seventh story, as the underused handwriting muscles in my fingers are aching after their first proper workout in ten years - about as long as I've writte...
Why I Don't Skip
Decided to break the monotony of editing by designing a new blog banner. Let me know what you think.Will Knott suggested I should write about the slog, wondering why I don't skip. Here's why:1. There ...
The Writing Zone
Our four day weekend has started - The Ours took today off and Monday is a bank holiday - but I still rewrote 600 words this morning.I'm really trying to write every day if I can. It seems like most p...
Writer's Lobotomy
I finished my paper edit yesterday and began the rewrite today. Eventually the 1000 word limit was reached but it was a painful process.Not so much writer's block than writer's lobotomy - I could visu...
Third Story - Done
I was so determined to finish this story that I wrote over 2000 words this morning. It is finally done.The feeling of relief is amazing! I knew even when I finished the first draft that the story need...
Research
I'm back in business - amazing how much you can get done if you've been bored out of your skull for a week! My hand was a blur, scribbling down ideas, twists, motivations, descriptions...My fingers ar...
Training
One of the reasons I started this blog was to hopefully dispel some of the myths that surround writing. When I started my novel many people I spoke to thought I would have a publishing deal before I s...
Post-Edit Glow
Well I've gone and done it lads. The second story is finally done and dusted. Just in time too, as my head is as empty as a well in drought. I'm feeling light-headed - and very happy.Tonight The Ours ...
Hairy Edits
I've hit a rough spot with the edit that I'm trying to work through at the moment - which means I'm moving a lot slower than I'd like.Having to analyse specifics (such as metaphors, dialogue and gener...
Brainwaves
I finished the paper edit/rewrite of my second story yesterday - changed quite a few things, but haven't cut everything thankfully.So now to the laptop part. This takes much longer as I often just not...
What I Learned The Hard Way
Half-way through my paper edit and I think I've got the hang of this editing/re-writing lark. Editing the first story was a baptism of fire - this is what I've taken from it:I immediately banish those...
Dear Muse
How's it hanging? Or floating? Or whatever you do where you are.Anyhoo...it's been a tough few days I admit. Out of the blue, after months of no contact, I expect you to turn up and just do your thing...
A Start
I started my rewrite today, managed exactly 1008 carefully chosen words before I started producing nonsense. Not a bad beginning...I'm going to aim for 1000 well-crafted words a day for the time being...
Methodical
Started editing my first story today - a little nerve-wracking but surprisingly manageable.I'm starting with structure edits. I've decided to drop a character from the first story and rearrange the ov...
Duh
I walked to work and back - didn't drown! Result!My mood has suddenly improved, and so has my outlook for the next few months.Now I reckon that the rewrite will go well.When I think back to what I've ...
Flummoxed
Still plugging away at Solutions for Writers by Sol Stein - but my mind keeps wandering off to other things. He's a good writer no doubt and his subject matter is relevant to me but the urge to skip a...
Thank you
Thank you very, very much for your responses to my rewriting queries and subsequent wobble. You\'ve all been incredibly supportive and helpful, and for that I am very grateful.I\'m now over my fit of ...
The FEAR
I\'m a little down today. I\'ve been reading a few articles recently that were beautifully written; instead of spuring me on, they\'ve made me feel small. How can I compete with that? I can\'t be that...