20 Weeks to a Book - Week 9 (or there abouts)

I am far behind in my weeks for writing. I have been lax and have not written anything for my book. I have been writing, though. I finished a devotional and sent it on to Penned from the Heart. I believe it will be published in the 2011 edition. I have also been organizing myself to work on 2 articles for Moms and their children's health care. I hope to have those done this month to be sent out by the end.

Here's what Maeve has to say in week 9: Visualize Success...Sounds simple, but it's not always. The mind is powerful. It has the power to think some into thinking they are ill, doctor's encourage patients to visualize being well again (which does help), if your mind believes something has happened, your body can have all the sensations that it has happened. It can be scary thinking of all the power your mind has over you! Maeve encourages us to think about what it will be like to be successful...How will you celebrate when you publish that book? Who will you tell? What will you wear? How will you announce it? Detailed dreams of what it will be like to finish your book can spur you complete it during those times when writing is the toughest.

Get out there and visualize your success. I know I am!

20 Weeks to a Book - Week 8

It seems every time I post a new week, it's actually been more than 1 week. I've had a busy couple of weeks. Went to OH and KY with just my husband. It's been awhile since we spent that much time together, just the two of us, so it was a trial at times, but worth it! Then I spent the last week at the Montrose Christian Writer's Conference! What a great time. Saw old friends, made new friends, grew, renewed, and learned a ton! Thanks especially to Bryan Davis and Ginger Kolbaba! Both gave great critiques, gentle yet honest. I have a lot of work to do, but I've made some short term goals that will help me along the way. I also was able to write a ton, not having any kids or responsibilities can help with that. On to week 8!

"The Writer's Journey" - A short chapter, but filled with little tidbits of advice. Maeve speaks of writing as a journey, as made obvious by the title. During this journey you discover things about yourself you never knew, solidify ideas and concepts you've had, and actually become different people by the end. She gives a warning: "If you don't [finish] then it's no journey at all, just a series of stops and starts and eventual disappointments." Maeve encourages us to keep going, to finish what we've started. Otherwise, it's just been a waste of time. And just think, someday you'll be able to say to all those people, "Of course I finished it."

Keep on writing, I plan to!

20 Weeks to a Book - Weeks 6 & 7

Disclaimer - I did indeed read week 6 last week, but completely forgot to blog about it!

I finally finished up the 20 pages and sent it off to be critiqued. Prayed it would get there in time! I've written almost another 10 pages. My goal is to have 340 pages rewritten by the end of the twentieth week. Going to need to write more than 10 pages a week! (but not much more)

Here they are, weeks 6 & 7:

Week 6 - "Sustaining Progress" We've all been there. A great idea inflames our imagination. We sit down and pound out the introduction. Soon - hours, days, weeks, months later - the passion dies. The enthusiasm is gone. Unfortunately you cannot write on passion alone. If you did, nothing would be finished. This has been me. What do you do when the passion is gone?

This is where true authors persevere and wannabes quit. As Maeve says, "It's all a matter of discipline." And when discipline gives out "a series of threats and rewards" may help. Bribe and punish yourself. For example: If I finish my quota for the week, I'll be able to go out with my girlfriends. If I don't, I won't get to go (and miss out on all the fun) and I have to clean the bathroom during that time instead. What rewards/punishments work for you will be different, but set them up and see how much writing you can achieve!


Week 7 - "Finding Your Voice" What is your voice? I can assure you it's not J.R.R. Tolkien's, J.K. Rowlings, Maeve Binchy's, or any of your favorite author's. You won't get far attempting to copy another's voice. Maeve says, "It's finding the method to tell your story that seems natural and unaffected." Continue to study the techniques of other writer's, but don't attempt to write like them. No one will read your story in someone else's voice if they can read the real thing! In writing there is a difference between generic and brand name! Write what you are passionate about and write in your natural voice. You'll go farther and be more apt to have your story published.

20 Weeks to A Book - Week 5

This weeks reading was very informative, but I'm not sure if it applies to me. In week 5 Maeve speaks of Agents. She is very clear on the fact that one is needed. Basically she says that agents are more likely to be heard by a publisher and is in your corner. Two very important things. They also know the markets and what sells. They are good resources and can be very encouraging. Searching for an agent? Maeve suggest doing your homework when it comes to choosing agents to contact. Like publishers, not all agents accept all types of work. Check out this website: www.aaronline.org for a list of recommended agents.

I've officially completed the bare bones of my book. Now to fill in the details. I've rewritten the first 20 pages. I will be sending those off to be critiqued for the writer's conference. I will continue to rewrite and edit during the next few weeks. Maybe I'll have a complete book by the end of these 20 weeks!

20 Weeks to a Book - Week 4

Here we are at week four. I've written some, but not as much as I wanted to! Also need to get to editing 20 pages to send on a head to the Writer's Conference. I need to finish that this week.

This week Maeve speaks to us about writing short stories. In this chapter she goes through her thought process when she writes a short story. While informative, the "8 Steps to a Short Story" by Ivy Bannister gave some great advice for any kind of story. Here are three quotes that struck me...

"Finally, enjoy! If you don't, your reader won't."

"Dump everything you have to tell onto the page as fast as you can, not bothering at this stage with polished sentences or choosing exactly the right word. Aim for you goal."

"Producing a Polished Draft This is the bit that separates the writers from the scribblers, and it takes a long time...Good stories are not written: they are rewritten."

Goals this week: edit the first 20 pages to send off to the Writer's Conference, write 5 hours, and do so before Thursday of next week!

20 Weeks to a Book - Week 3

Here we are on week 3. I did not fit in 5 hours of writing last week. The inspiration to write seems to come when it is most inconvenient for me - while I'm doing laundry, when I need to go to bed, while at work, etc., etc. I'm working on disciplining myself to write right after the kids are in bed. I'll let you know how successful I am with that. I did find a good friend to set a dead line for me every week and to bug me if I am tardy with sending her the next part of the story.

This week Maeve encourages us to write about interesting people. People who interest us and who grow as the story is told. We need to remember the story is a journey and things change as the journey takes place. She also expects us to know what kind of pace the story should have. We need to decide what kind of story we are telling to determine that pace. The story I am currently working on is a medium speed story, not adventurous nor lyrical, but with a mix of both.

Next week, we will explore week 4 and see if I have stuck to my goals.

20 Weeks to a Book - Week 2

(If you'll note the calendar, this should be week three. I had a brain lapse and forgot to read my chapter last week. We'll just continue on as if nothing happened.)

Writer's Groups

This week Maeve encourages the writer to join a writing group. In a Writer's Group you can learn from others mistakes, sharpen your skills, speak with people who do not think you are crazy, and be kept accountable. Maeve does warn that Writer's Groups can also be discouraging and devolve into gossip sessions. Still, she thinks they are worth the effort to find and be involved in a Writer's Group.

I have tried to be involved in a local Writer's Group, unsuccessfully. I did learn a lot and enjoy the other writings. There were many difficulties with this group. None wrote in the same genre as did I. Which shouldn't be a problem, but they had a difficult time grasping my stories. Fantasies of talking dust bunnies and habitable planets other than Earth eluded them. While their comments on my grammar and word usage were helpful, their overall critiques of the story were mean and nasty. While they were encouraging to the other members, they ripped my stories apart as being unclear and nonsense. I also ran into the fact that none of them were looking to be published. They just wanted to write and meet together with other writers and have their words read and praised.

Maybe I'll find another Writer's Group that will be more helpful, but for now I'll write alone. I still need someone to keep me accountable with my writing though, so if anyone wants to help, let me know!