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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Oct 2, 2008 10:03:23 GMT -5
Miki,
I don't read my stuff to my husband, but he does see it after it's as "done" as possible. Actually, nobody sees it until it's as complete of a story as I can make it, which is both good and bad. I can hear my own voice and direction _first_, which is crucial, but the downside is that if I've taken a wrong turn it takes a lot of work to correct. {frown}
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Post by miki on Oct 3, 2008 10:07:57 GMT -5
Thanks!
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Post by miki on Feb 14, 2009 22:15:01 GMT -5
Hey Vick,
How many drafts does one of your manuscripts go through? And what is your process on revisions/edits? Do you go chapter by chapter from first to last or just dive in where the biggest issues are first?
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Feb 23, 2009 20:09:29 GMT -5
Hey Vick, How many drafts does one of your manuscripts go through? And what is your process on revisions/edits? Do you go chapter by chapter from first to last or just dive in where the biggest issues are first? Miki, "Multiple" is the short and sweet answer. "It depends on the book" is also true. "This b*tch won't die" is oft heard.  Let me think about CoS... I write linearly, straight through, draft by draft. Get the story down, fill the holes, then tweak the language. So at least three drafts there. Then my first readers see it. Tweaks depending on their comments. Then my editor. Rewrite as necessary. Usually twice. Then copyedits. Then proof pages. So what is that? Eight? At least. I'm sure that doesn't help at all. Smart writers may be able to wrap it up more quickly, but my gift is doggedness. I'm a pitbull. ;D |
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Post by miki on Feb 23, 2009 22:26:16 GMT -5
Actually that DOES help; thanks! ;D I write linearly too, Ms. PB.  |
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Post by Raven on Feb 24, 2009 11:59:47 GMT -5
Smart writers may be able to wrap it up more quickly, but my gift is doggedness. I'm a pitbull. ;D It's not that you aren't smart. It's that you are tenacious. A perfectionist. And yeah, you do listen to the advice of your pre-readers. I think that makes you über-smart. You don't just put it out there and assume it's perfect on the first go. You polish that shit until it SHINES!And that is why you succeed. |
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Feb 25, 2009 18:52:12 GMT -5
Aw, thanks Raven. But getting good feedback is important too. (Though I don't feel anywhere near perfect...)
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Post by deathlynx on Mar 5, 2009 19:22:09 GMT -5
So, does depression effect anyone's ability to write?
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Post by miki on Mar 5, 2009 23:26:31 GMT -5
Do you mean clinical depression or just feeling the blues? I remember in my teens when I felt the most depressed or down was when I wrote the shit outta some poetry. But that's as far as depression goes for me. |
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Post by deathlynx on Mar 6, 2009 3:34:46 GMT -5
Never actually been diagnosed...and I know what you mean about poetry, I've written a lot like that myself...
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Mar 7, 2009 10:06:42 GMT -5
Mood absolutely affects your ability to write, yes! Look, after the crafting issues are fairly well under control*, 95% of this writing game is about controlling your mind. Getting to the page no matter what else is going on in your life. Oftentimes it's not about getting everyone else on board with your efforts (though often it is {wry g}). It's about taming your own mind once you have that time. Fears and doubts and hopes crowd in ... but they have nothing to do with the writing. Maybe you just didn't get enough sleep. Not a horrible thing, but it can affect the words. (Which is why I always write a line or two in my working journal about what's going on that day, if I'm sick or particularly busy or what. If I had a bad day, I may be able to intuit why. If I have a good one, then I can try to rinse and repeat.)
I attended a writer's group last month, and heard a ton of reasons why people weren't getting words on the page. All good ones, too. But all ones I've had as well. The difference? Actively creating that bubble of time, and then managing to block out the static long enough to pound words. Serious depression is different, though, because one may need counseling or chemical assistance. I'm not at all downplaying the seriousness of that. But if it's about regular life stresses interfering with the work? I haven't met a writer yet who doesn't have that.
*Not to say you don't continue growing -- a writer should always be reading and striving to improve their craft.
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Post by deathlynx on Mar 7, 2009 16:38:17 GMT -5
Very good advice and good answer, thank you Vicki! As for the reading, that does tend to be my single biggest distraction from writing  Okay, next question,for everyone...I'm certain we've all had a book that we simply didn't want to put down...we just keep reading through the night until we finish (or at least wanted to)...So the question is, anyone have the same thing happen with writing? You simply don't want to leave it until you see what comes next and see it finished? |
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Post by elle on Mar 7, 2009 17:11:37 GMT -5
when a story is new and fresh and it's just started to poke at me, that'll happen. I woke up yesterday morning for about an hour, before the sun had even come up, and just sat and wrote for a while, working on world building stuffs. even still, I didn't really want to stop writing so that I could type up what I have so far.
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Post by miki on Mar 25, 2009 12:51:20 GMT -5
Oh yeah for certain. When the words were flowing during any particular scene, I didn't want life to interfere and make me have to stop. Sometimes if I was on a roll and just HAD to stop (to cook dinner or be engaging when the hubby was talking about work stresses. lol) as soon as I could, I would get back on it working till bedtime some days. And then if I couldn't finish the thought because I had to get to bed, I'd write myself little notes about what I wanted to write for the next day so I wouldn't forget.
Vicki, that was great advice, BTW. I guess I mostly don't take into acct. some of my feelings; I truly don't think I have much stress in my life since I'm at home most of time and don't work. I always had an excuse when I was working about not having time to write. Then when I wasn't I had to kick myself in the ass and just do it. Now it feels sort of weird if I'm NOT writing or doing something pertaining to it on a daily basis.
I have a question. This may seem odd but when do you know when it's time to start a new chapter? I have several really long ones and looking back through it seems they could be separated into several smaller ones.
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Post by dducknbelle on Mar 26, 2009 0:44:12 GMT -5
Miki, I don't read my stuff to my husband, but he does see it after it's as "done" as possible. Actually, nobody sees it until it's as complete of a story as I can make it, which is both good and bad. I can hear my own voice and direction _first_, which is crucial, but the downside is that if I've taken a wrong turn it takes a lot of work to correct. {frown}  I have tired to include my husband on my writing, ha,ha. He is the best cheerleader in the world but, feels to ignorant to offer an opinion on my stories, even when I ask for the male prospective. I love him anyway. ;D |
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I have tired to include my husband on my writing, ha,ha. He is the best cheerleader in the world but, feels to ignorant to offer an opinion on my stories, even when I ask for the male prospective. I love him anyway. ;D