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By Ellie, December 28, 2009 11:47 pm

It’s finally happened.

No, I haven’t abandoned my current project for another. With luck, that will never happen.

It’s the second worse thing that can happen to a writer. The dreaded writer’s block. The refusal to go on in the face of crippling plot confusion, bad characterization, and just plain too many ideas.

Except that this time, I’m not despairing. In fact, scratch the “refusal to go on” stuff. I’m already diving in again. And this time, I’m recycling the first draft. Which is, oh… maybe an entire small chapter. So… about 1/36th of the first draft.

Hey, it’s still some writing I don’t have to do.

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By Ellie, December 21, 2009 5:54 pm

Short note: I’ll be updating only on Mondays from now on until I think it’s a good idea to update twice a week again. Fridays are busy days, and I’m lucky if I can find the time to do my regular writing. So Mondays it is.

It happened.

Nearly 30K words into my novel. I couldn’t tell if I was halfway done or 3/4 done. I might have to write an additional 10K or 20K words just so I can have the final showdown and wrap up everything. That shouldn’t be too hard. Just keep going as I am, keeping in mind that I’m writing from an eleven-year-old male’s POV.

Then the wriggling happened. A project put on the back burner for the timebeing started to poke my brain.

Hey. Hey, remember me?

Yes, I do. You’ve been with me for nearly six years now. You’re kind of a permanent fixture in my life.

I felt that spark of an idea you got when you read a synopsis of that Anne Bishop novel. Pretty great idea, huh?

Yep. She’s an author I wouldn’t mind following. There are so few authors I want to keep an eye on these days.

While you were thinking of checking out that book from the library, a part of that thought snapped off and traveled all the way to that section of your brain that comes up with all these story ideas.

Usually happens, yes. Happens with all other writers. I like to call it symbiotic creativity.

Mm-hm. Well, it just so happens that there’s a character who could use this idea. It would round out his character nicely. Give him more substance.

I’ll file it away.

But this is so interesting! Don’t you remember how excited you got when you kept coming up with ideas for me? Every little thing you found had to be imported to me, no matter what it was. Some newly discovered plant or clue about animal behavior–it had to be a part of me in some way. But now you’re… you’re concentrating on this one project. You’re sticking to your plan. You’re… finishing it. What the hell?

It’s refreshing!

But I’m being ignored! And so are all the other projects!

But I’m actually going to finish something for once! Aren’t you excited?

No! I’m being ignored!

So will this project if I decide to work on you.

At least you’ll pay attention to me. For a while.

And the cycle begins anew. Look… please, be happy for me. I’m finally going to finish something. It’s a rough first draft, and a lot of work will be needed to make it just right. But I’m finishing something! You know how long it’s been since I’ve finished something longer than 10K words? That novel I wrote when I was 9 was the only thing I’d finished. Dammit, this thing has an actual plot! I’m proud of myself!

Okay, calm down. It’s just that… I’m… I’m lonely…

I know, dear.

We had so much fun. I mean, you’d stay up past midnight, just pacing the room, whispering into your digital voice recorder so you didn’t wake up your husband, spilling out all the ideas from your head.

That’s not a pleasant image.

I’m trying to be artistic.

Let’s get back to the issue at hand. I’m writing the first draft of this middle-grade novel. The second draft will take a lot of work, but I’m looking forward to it. But when I’m finished with this first draft, I’ll get to you. I will work on you. I will think of you when I’m not working on you. I will dedicate nearly every waking hour to you… while I’m brainstorming ways to improve the second draft for this first novel.

Damn!

You should be used to this by now. I’m always thinking of each project in some manner. I’ve thought of you from time to time. But a current project stays in the front of my mind. And for the first time in several years, it’s staying there, never budging for another. I hope it stays that way.

Okay. I see where you’re coming from. But I’m going to keep bugging you until you write me.

I just said that a moment ago.

Oh.

Get back to where you were and let me write.

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By Ellie, December 14, 2009 9:58 pm

I’m over 23K words into my project. At first, I thought this was going to be a 30K-word project, since that’s a nice, average length for a middle grade fiction novel. But the further I get into this world, the more I realize I’m not finished with it.

I’m not talking about a sequel. But since this is a middle grade novel, and it seems that all middle grade works are turned into trilogies or series these days, I probably should think of something. (I’ve heard that it’s a good idea to have at least one other project in the works when you’re querying. One visiting author told me that agents and editors like that; it means that you’re serious about writing, and not only are you going to keep working, you’re also going to help the agent and editor stay in business.)

But that’s not the point of this post.

Would it be egotistical to say that I’m amazed at the world I’m building, or amazed by its potential? This is only a first draft and there’s a lot of editing in the future, but I’m surprised by all the little ideas I’m coming up with. Each character’s history is slowly being pieced together. Characters are showing their personalities a little more. And the world feels a little more real (which is very good, considering that most of the story takes place in two real cities).

But this was supposed to be a 30K-word novel. At the rate I’m writing, this might turn into 50K words–which is the average length of an adult novel.

I’m not too concerned. After all, many novels for kids and young adults are 50K or longer. (Twilight and The Mysterious Benedict Society come to mind.)

I don’t think I’m writing too much filler. At least, I hope I’m not. Everything I’ve written so far has pertained to the plot or will come into play later on.

But my narrator is eleven-years-old, and most middle schoolers can be talkative.

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By Ellie, December 14, 2009 9:56 pm

Dear Author,

If there’s a hell and I’m bound for it, surely I’ll find copies of you there… glaring around the brimstone caverns, arms crossed over your barrel chest, just seething for reasons unknown.

Well, there’s one reason why you’re so angry all the time. We learned that at the little get-together we held for all of our local authors. In fact, I learned many things about you that I’d have rather not learned.

Like the fact that you’ve had problems with the local newspaper. Most people do, whether it’s with the content in the feature stories or the fact that they never get their subscriptions. But when one of the writers announced that he has a weekly column, you just had to jump in about how you rarely get your paper delivered. What the hell did that have to do with a political column?

How about when another writer talked about his wife? Why did you have to jump in with, “Well, I’m about to become a single parent”? Just put a damper on an otherwise fun time, why don’t you?

And again with the stories about going with a “good publisher” (printer) who gives you an advance (doubtful) and is the best one you’ve been with (you laughing stock).

You were supposed to be there promoting yourself and your books. Why don’t you steer away from your bull sob stories and try making your “pitch” a little flawless? Every time you describe the premise of your first novel, you sound bored and restless. I doubt you even like your stories. You just want to publish something and make money. And you’re not even good at that.

The other authors were having a good time, promoting their books and making new friends. But you? Guh. Craving attention, that’s what you were doing.

It’s sad when a guy nearing his 50s still hasn’t figured out that people generally don’t like to hear about super depressing things when they’re at a pleasant get-together. It’s even sadder when he’s more interested in talking about himself than his own books.

It’s not supposed to be about you. It’s supposed to be about your books. Yes, you did write them, but unless you’re an engaging personality, people aren’t coming for you. They’re coming for stories. Damn good stories. Which you can’t provide.

What can I say? Miserable people usually write miserable stories.

No love,
Me

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By Ellie, December 11, 2009 6:36 pm

I just couldn’t decide what to write for today’s post, so I decided to take the day off. I think I’ll do a double post Monday.

As for my project: over 19K words in. And it feels so good.