Writing resolutions

So, I am a uselss blogger, but I plan to make 2010 the year I rectify that. At some point I'm going to sort out a blogging schedule for this blog, but for this post I shall apologise (sorry!) and do a quick update on my writing progress and my writing resolutions for the year =]

So, at present I have written thre books, all in various draft stages. Family Portrait is on draft six; Snap Shot is on draft two; and I'm currently doing the first round of edits on Oh, Brother. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out - especially considering I ended up writing it in 22 days! Still, it needs work of course. I've also started writing Camera Shy, the third in the Family Portrait/Snap Shot trilogy (I really need some overarching term for that - the *something* trilogy) although I know I need to polish the others and stop starting new things!

So, my New Year's Resolutions for writing:

1. Blog more. Yes, I need to keep it more up-to-date - I enjoy it, it's just finding the time!
2. Polish up the finished drafts I have, with the aim of having one ready this year to query.

So, I hope you all had a good Christmas, and Happy New Year to you all! I shall be blogging again soon!

Writer's Block

Perhaps I shouldn't set goals; since I posted this I have been suffering from writer's block (which I blogged about here) and so have not managed to do that well in writing.

The first chapter of FP has been edited twice, however - including a whole rewrite of the first paragraph. Quick excerpt time, I think: please let me know if you feel this would or wouldn't hook you as the first two paragraphs (possibly prologue) of a book, and why!

When she ended up climbing from her window sill to the first branch she could reach, Imogen Meyer felt no guilt. She’d never much liked living by the rules. Sure, it wasn’t the easiest exit route from her new home, but she didn’t fancy running into her new family, which she undoubtedly would if she took the traditional way out. Besides, she reckoned she needed the practice; it wouldn’t be long before the Kingsleys were doing her head in – she knew it.
It was only a short period of escapism – she didn’t want her new family to notice she was gone – but it was enough to satisfy her for one evening. The house felt stuffy, overcrowded. There were so many new people she had to get to know, and pretend to like; she wondered for a moment if all the hassle was worth it. Angrily she dismissed this thought; she knew it was worth it. As much as she hated the prospect of living in this house, with these people, she’d have done it twice over if her little sister had needed her to. Abby had always been the most important thing in Imogen’s life; Imogen was not going to let her down just because she was faced with a difficult decision.

And, my word count for this week (well, just over a week, since I set the goals on Friday and it's now Sunday): 4000 words. Half my goal, but the goal was really a stab in the dark - and I have had writer's block. Now that it's cured, however (see the blog post here for how I managed that!) I'm off to write! =]

Goals

Ok, so, a couple of writing blogs I read set out weekly goals every week, so I have decided to do the same thing - it seems like a sensible way of getting motivated, although I'm actually pretty motivated writing-wise at the minute! I wish some of that motivation could be for school work, but unfortunately it's not :s

It'll also give me a reason to blog twice weekly! So, my goals for the coming week - a little premature, I know, but hey - are:

8,000 words on Snap Shot.
Now, the amount I write a week varies ridiculously, so I'm not sure how I'm gonna get on with a set number of words to hit, but we'll see what happens!

Edit chapter one of Family Portrait
I have a lot of friends reading FP at the minute, so I'm waiting for any feedback, but I've got some great feedback on Absolute Write, so I think I'm going to attempt to improve Chapter One this week, and make it a more exciting opening to the book.

So, I'll let you know how I get on with those!

Quick Update

Okay, so I have finished my first round of edits on Family Portrait! Basically, I read through the whole thing, making sure it made sense, changing words that seemed wrong and fixing punctuation/grammar/typing errors. It's now with a couple of 'beta' readers - some who I know in real life and some which I don't - and so I will let you know what they say! For now, I will let it rest for a while, perhaps using my time to study...or start a new book. I wonder which idea will win.. =]

Now, it's nearly 2am, I probably should go to sleep! Before I do, just a quick link - check out the Teens Writing for Teens (TWFT) blog, that I am now a part of =]

Name changes and good news!

Ok, so since the extracts were posted on here, there have been some major changes in Family Portrait - and that's because I decided the names just didn't work. Having begun editing, I decided that the names weren't quite right, and so now the main character is called Imogen. Hopefully this won't be too confusing when I next post an extract!

Now, the goods news: L has emailed me, and he liked it!! I thought I'd post the email here for you, because, hey, I'm happy!

Dear Becky

Just to let you know that I have read your Chapter 1 and am very impressed with the verve and vitality of the writing. You have a voice, which is the absolutely essential component of writing talent - the rest can be learned. I liked your story because it appeals so strongly to the heart, and does not let up in that respect. I imagine the ongoing story will reveal the domestic and family environment history that Imogen and Abby have lost, as well as showing how the two evolve in their relationship with Ella's new adoptive family [with all its crossflows and undercurrents]. I have the impression of a book which tells of a tragedy and explores the courage and spirit of a teenage girl/young woman who has yet to come to terms with what has happened. A see-sawing perhaps between two family environments - the one lost, the other found, and the search for a point of balance. There is bags of room here for development, and there seems to be a strong gestalt. You should definitely have faith in your writing.

With best wishes
L

He also put a PS saying he'd be happy to read some more, so I'm planning on printing off the next couple of chapters for him when I go back to school after study leave.

Right, off to edit some more now - 15 chapters to go!

He liked it!

So, I gave the first two chapters of my manuscript to the professor guy - from here on known as 'L', because I have a feeling his surname begins with an L - and then wandered over to a different table in the library in order to do some revision. About five minutes later he came over, and said he'd only read the first couple of paragraphs but that he loved the opening and thought I had a really great voice! So, I was very pleased, and got back to my revision with a smile.

Then, about five minutes after that, he came over again, and asked me for my email address so that he could email me some feedback. I gave it to him, and then he came over again and asked whether it was based on my life. I said no, it's purely fictional, and he said that that was even more impressive, as it seemed so realistic and plausible that he thought it was! Eek!

Saw him again today, as I was in school for an exam, and he said that he hadn't got round to reading the rest yet - he assured me it wasn't that it was unimportant, he was just very busy - but that he was going to read it over the weekend and give me some feedback. So I'm looking forward to what he has to say!

On other book news, a friend of the family heard I'd written a book, and begged to be able to read it - so I'm sending him chapters as I edit them. He's loving it too, which is really positive, as he's definitely not the target audience, and said I paint a very vivid picture, and he can't wait to find out what happens next. It's great to know that people don't just think it's rubbish!

The editing's going well - having someone badgering me for chapters is really useful - and I should have it ready for some beta readers ready soon! 14/38 chapters edited so far! I'll update as soon as I hear back from L :)

Interesting Development!

I was sat in my school library the other day and, surprisingly, I wasn't revising. No, I was discussing the recent edits I've made to 'Family Portrait' with a friend J, who has been reading and editing it for me. We were discussing the idea of introducing a prologue (something a nice Twiftie on Absolute Write suggested!) when a man interrupted us.

This man is (I think) a Professor, but all I know about him is that he comes into our school to work with years 9-11 on English skills, in one-to-one sessions. I also had heard that he'd been published, but thought nothing of it. So, he interrupts us because he'd heard what I'd said, and asked "have you written a book?" so I said yes, and he asked some more questions (it's title, genre, how long it is, etc.) Then he said he was always very impressed at young people who manage to finish a book. Then he asked if I was at that sixth form, and I said yes, and he said he'd love to have a look at some of my novel and give me some feedback! So, I got on with my work, thinking that it would be great to get some feedback from someone who works in English and has been published - although more than a little scary!

Then, as I got up to leave, he said "I'm here again on Thursday, if you want to give me the first few pages I'd love to take a look. And I have a lot of friends and contacts who are agents, so I could really help you out." !!!! So, I'm giving it to him tomorrow - I've been editing it manically, so here's hoping he likes it and wants to help me! :)

Motivation for Editing

So, it's been a busy week - exams, revision and homework are, very rudely, encroaching on my writing time! I think it's a positive I finished my first draft before the exams started, however - there is less of a pull to edit than there is to keep writing! I have some shiny new ideas, but I'm trying to just outline them briefly and then ignore them, as I need - and want - to get editing.

So, I've bought three A5 ring binders. I type on A5 (don't know why, I just prefer it!) I have several friends who want to read 'Family Portrait', and when they do, I plan on printing off three copies - hence the ringbinders. Hopefully having them sat there will force me to edit, as I will not be letting anyone read the first draft until I've edited it!

Now, I have some free lessons tomorrow: revision, or editing? I'm afraid of which I may choose!