101 Things--Update!

I haven't blogged about my list of 101 things in several months. It seems almost cliche to talk about goals in the first week of January, but here I am.

Obviously, I knocked several things off the list in November. I published His Good Opinion and started work on my next novel, the as-yet untitled Colonel Fitzwilliam story. I began reworking that story on Sunday, and I can't wait to see how it turns out--and what it ends up being called. (Offer your suggestions in the comments!)

This month, I want to finish off the organization category. I think that'll set me up in a much better position to tackle some of the FiNancy goals in February and March. Oh, this is just so boring boring boring, but these domestic things are a part of life too, aren't they?

In a more fun vein, I'm knocking off Shakespeare's plays right and left. I've been listening to them on my way to and from work, and I'm really enjoying it. I've also begun another fun reading challenge, which I'll share with y'all next Thursday.

What kind of goals do you have for the year? Are you going to spread them out over 12 months, or will you try to do everything at once?



His Good Opinion can be purchased in e-book format from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, and Amazon FR. The paperback is available from Amazon.

Success by the Numbers

I told you last Thursday to come back today for an announcement on my revision progress, so here it is: I'm not done yet.

When I realized I wasn't going to make it, I had a mini-melt down. For one thing, I hate it when I don't achieve goals I set for myself, and for another, I needed a celebration and a break. The first revision pass is always a long haul, and I'm ready to be done.

I started beating myself up, wondering why I hadn't been able to do this. Then I looked at the last four weeks since I declared I would finish by June 15th. Here's what I came up with:


102 Number of days I have gone without taking more than one day off in a row
25   Number of hours, on average, I have written each week since May 19
10   Number of chapters that required a total rewrite, rather than simple revision
3     Number of surprising and exciting emails I've gotten this week
25   Number of chapters, approximately, I had left on May 19
8     Number of chapters, approximately, I have left today

I'm counting this as a win. Did I complete the draft? No. However, I did work as hard as I could to get as much as I could finished. The number of chapters that needed to be rewritten took me totally by surprise. Those require way more work--way more time. If I'd known that number, I never would have aimed for June 15.

I'm still very, very close. Tonight, I'm wrapping up the section where Darcy confronts Wickham in London. That brings me to the final quarter of the story, and back into territory that's fairly clearly outlined by Pride and Prejudice. I believe I will finish on Saturday; I'm going out to celebrate even if I don't.

When to Adjust Your Goals

Three weeks ago, I announced to the world* that I would finish my draft on June 15th. For those who don't remember my editing process, that means I committed to completing two editing passes--big changes in purple ink, and smaller adjustments in pink.

June 15th has drawn ever closer, and my progress did not keep up with the steady march of time. Other things fell to the wayside, things like sleep and exercise. I forgot a promise I made to a friend, because I was so focused on finishing this draft. I had a sneaking suspicion that I had bitten off more than I could chew.

Yeah, something like that.

So, Tuesday night I made an executive decision. (As an indie author, I am my own executive.) "Finish the draft" now means getting through the purple revisions. That's the hardest part anyway--I've been flying through the pink edits like nobody's business. If I can at least make it the whole way through my novel and  have a solid, working draft, I will be happy.

Tune in next Thursday to see how I did.

*AKA Facebook

Need a Motivational Mantra?

I've got one: Done is better than fun. I shamelessly stole this from Erin Blakemore, author of The Heroine's Bookshelf. Even if it is stolen, I think it's excellent advice.

I've blogged more than once about my attempts to focus and get actual work done. I tried the Cone of Silence, I tried balancing my schedule so I didn't feel overworked, I tried avoiding the computer so I wouldn't be stopped by pain. None of it really worked, and here's why. I kept putting off editing in favor of fun.

Now, before you jump on my case and tell me I shouldn't be writing if I don't love it, notice I said editing. I do love to write, but if you find someone who says they love to edit, I will say you found a liar. It's certainly rewarding to see your raw story transformed into something fit for human consumption, but it is not fun.

But here's the thing: The only way I can publish this book in November is if I buckle down now and do the work. That won't happen if I watch a movie, or read a book, or check in with my Twitter friends. Done is better than fun.

I've been trying this for a few weeks now, and it seems to be working. At least, it doesn't seem to have slowed me down any. I need to finish this draft by June 15th--that's less than two weeks away. Repeat with me, friends: Done is better than fun!

It's Not a Radioactive Meteorite, But...

Look, in the sky! It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's... SUPER NANCY!!!

Super Nancy types faster than a speeding bullet. Her prose is stronger than a locomotive. She edits long chapters in a single session. But, just like Superman, Super Nancy has a vulnerability. No, not Kryptonite--let's call it Descriptionite.

A few weeks ago, I blogged about my tendency to recycle settings. In the comments, I confessed that part of this stems from my struggle with physical description. Sensory details just don't come naturally to me; as a result, my rough drafts are almost all dialogue, action, and internal dialogue. In this draft, Descriptionite sucks the life from my writing, just like Kryptonite kills Superman.

I didn't realize how much of a problem this is until my last beta reader (hi, Paige!) kept pushing me for detail. "I can't see this scene. You should mention what it looks like/what he's doing/what the food tastes like," and etc. Finally I created a system, which became my turquoise draft.

As I'm doing my final pre-critique edit, I keep a check list beside me with these categories: Color, Shape, Texture, Object, Sound, and Taste/Smell. My goal is to include at least three in each scene, and focus on one. I also try not to overuse the simple ones like color and sound. Texture is my new favorite--I love adding a tactile layer to the book.

Do you know what your Kryptonite is? How do you compensate for it?

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

I have had this song stuck in my head for two days now, and it is driving me a little crazy. For one thing, it's a catchy tune that just will not go away. For another... I don't want to look on the bright side!! What bright side??

Yep, I'm in the middle of edits again. For three days, my twitter hashtag of choice was #chapterelevenorbust, which had a certain delicious irony to it. This is the chapter of the Netherfield Ball--the moment Darcy realizes he loves Elizabeth, and then circumstances make him choose to leave Hertfordshire, and her, behind. It's the first major turning point of the novel, and I needed to nail it.

I thought once I finished Chapter 11 I could move on to easier things, but alas it was not meant to be. I spent two hours last night rewriting Chapter 12, which I now get to go over with my purple pen. When I'm done with that, Chapter 13 awaits. Oh joy.

But you know what? All this editing is there to make my story stronger, hence my new hashtag: #strongerstoryyadayada. I wince when I cut large sections of my novel, and spending long hours on the computer rewriting is actually physically painful. If I can just remember though that all the hard work serves a greater purpose, I'll be able to look on the bright side.

So, to paraphrase:

Some things I write are bad,
And that really makes me mad--
Then other parts I find are even worse!
When I'm reading all this gristle
I grumble (I can't whistle)
But I get a stronger story, yada yada...

 

And I'll leave you with the video, just in case the song isn't already stuck in your heads. Are you editing, friends? Cheer up, you know what they say!

A High-wire Balancing Act

Last Tuesday, I mapped out a plan to finish my novel by June 16th. After that, I'd take two weeks off from my story--no writing or editing of any kind. It was a great plan, but as with all great plans, it was massively flawed. (Think of the Death Star, if you don't believe me.)

So what was my flaw? Where was the tiny exhaust port that would allow a small, one-man fighter to penetrate my outer defenses?

My schedule allowed for no time off.

No days off, no afternoons off, no free hours.

I would work every day from dawn until dark. I'd rise early to write, go to my day job, and then come home and write until I dropped. Then I'd get up on my weekends and write all day long.

Let me tell you, friends, by the end of last week I was already exhausted. But did I abandon the plan? No! I blamed myself--if I had more discipline, I'd be able to keep this schedule. It's only until June after all, couldn't I punish myself for that long?

Yes, my logic was seriously flawed.

On Thursday, I read an older post on Nathan Bransford's blog about balance. I nodded the whole time, especially when I read this:

The thing about this is that I know full well these are the problems of someone who is very blessed and fortunate, and I'm not asking for, nor do I deserve, sympathy. I know I'm lucky! Oh - gee, my hobby that I love is too time-consuming. Woe is me. There are people out there who are working far harder and who are struggling and for whom the idea of finding "balance" in their life is an abstraction.

"Yes!!" I thought. "He gets it! I shouldn't complain about being worn out, because I'm so privileged to be writing!!"

The very next paragraph shot that idea down. In very concise terms, he pointed out that this is simply the way authors justify pushing themselves too hard, and talk themselves out of taking time off. Well, okay. I'm taking that time off in June, that counts--right?

On Friday, the weekly email from Holly Lisle arrived. "Everything takes longer" was the subject line. Gulp! Wasn't this what I'd been flailing myself over all week? Only three days in, and I'm already behind schedule! The opening paragraph nailed me.

You plan your writing time like you're setting up for D-Day, you
have materials laid out and organized, you have your story ready to
start...

And then you remember that thing you forgot.

For me, time off was that thing. I was behind because I'd come home every night, worn out from the getting up early, from the nine hour work day, from just thinking that I still had to write more. So I'd put it off in favor of other things, and then started the next day even farther behind.

Therefore, I announce to you my new schedule. I will write 3-4 hours a day Monday-Friday and five hours on Saturday. My goal each week will be to revise six chapters. If I reach that goal, I will give myself a treat on Sunday. Even if I do not, I will take Sundays off from my novel.

Want to know the crazy thing? I think I'll actually finish the novel earlier!