<–The State of the Writer: 12/10/16 The State of the Writer: 12/24/16–>
A weekly post updated every Saturday discussing my current writing projects and where I stand with them. This will include any and all work(s) in progress (WIP) be they creative writing, essays/analyses, or reviews of any type.
Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction (FFVII) Novel
Current Word Count: 277,650
Prior Word Count: 277,823
Word Difference: -173
Status: Editing
Progress: Second edit of Chapter 7
I’m still plugging through the second edit of this chapter, and the above was another potential picture. I like how the rose could be seen either fading into color or fading out of it. For this story, it would obviously be fading into color, but it is all about perspective.
There’s also a sweet (literal) flower part in this chapter so showing more of them seems appropriate.
Quote: “Do you truly believe their heinous crimes could diminish your purity? You are innocent forever, my Aeris. No brutal act of a thousand cowards can change this unalterable truth.”
Project: Essay
Title: Half a Tragedy Is Worse Than Whole
Subject: FFVII Comparative and Meta
Status: On hold
Progress: Outline Completed
I think I’m going to put all other writing/edit on hiatus until after the holidays, because there’s just no way I can find time to get anything else done. I know I could play less of World of Final Fantasy, but we all know that’s not going to happen.
After Christmas, I want to sit down and figure out a New Year plan for writing since I’m really struggling with getting essays worked on and out, nor have I done anything with The Editing of Northern Lights in months. I’m also going to do some year end analysis stuff, but I haven’t worked out the details on that yet.
What are you currently working on? Is it a creative writing project, essay, review, or something else? Have you just started something new or are you wrapping up a long term project?
<–The State of the Writer: 12/10/16 The State of the Writer: 12/24/16–>
The Shameful Narcissist Speaks 
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I spent the summer doing a “final” edit of the first book in the YA SciFi trilogy my writing partner and I had reworked at an agent’s request so we could re-submit it to her. Tomorrow marks 90 days since we offered it exclusively to her. Because I wrote, edited, and beta tested a new first chapter during the month after we sent the manuscript off, I’ve spent the last two months doing a final “final” edit in anticipation of querying 3 – 5 other agents after the holidays. I’ve also worked and re-worked and RE-worked our query letter, and now I’m finally more than a little happy with it. I’ve also begun a humorous short story for next year’s To Hull and Back Short Story Contest.
We’ve also entered our book (ENHANCED) in the 2016 Book Pipeline contest to find new literature suitable for adaptation for film and television. On my own, I entered the humorous short story that was published in this year’s To Hull and Back contest anthology in the 2016 ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Contest.
Now I can get back to work on the second book of the trilogy. It’s 25% of the way through its first draft, but I think my writing has improved so much since I last worked on it that it’s going to need some major re-writing before we can go much further.
But first, let’s just get through the holidays. Have a joy-filled season celebrating Christmas, the New Year, and whatever else you may celebrate. I hope you’re surrounded by love and laughter, friends, and family. 🙂
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I have learned that there is no such thing a s a “final” edit hehe. You’d think I’d know this already since my favorite series is Final Fantasy and there are fifteen of them, and that’s if you just count the original numbered ones! It doesn’t matter how much I go over something with a fine-toothed comb, I will always find more tangles at every look.
I think spending these final weeks in planning and coasting phase is a great plan. Good luck with your publishing submissions though since they’re already out there!
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Thanks! You’re right about always being more to fix. I kind of relish that — I like to think it just keeps getting better. 😉
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And if you come back after not looking at it for a while, you’ll notice even more. I know when I dive back into my novel, I’ll probably do a lot of groaning hehe.
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Amen to that. But every change seems to make the work better. It’s probably a surprise we can ever call anything finished.
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Great job on your writing! I actually started a new story too, but I’ve only written a couple of pages!
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I love the beginning stages of story writing! It’s that fresh new idea getting onto the page. Granted, I always have a backlog of notes a mile long that’s been in existence for at least a year before I begin, but when I legitimately start, it’s still something new 🙂
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That’s great!
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Reblogged this on Getting Through Anxiety and commented:
The Shameful Narcissist (who was kind enough to share info about my book on her blog) has some interesting writing projects in the works! Please check out her wonderful blog!
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Thank you so much!
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I do love that picture Adrienne.😊
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Thank you! I wish I could make art like that. All I can really do is make macros and do some picture editing. The original creations are amazing.
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Awesome! Love the picture of the rose, too 🙂 I can see how it’s fading in to color, but when I think of Aeris, it seems like the color goes the opposite way. Perspective, indeed!
Since you asked… writings include thesis (always… sigh), editing my Dragon Age fanfic, and writing Mass Effect drabbles to help me sort through my life (haha?). Also, I’m outlining an actual original story idea to work on when thesis is no longer owning my entire existence!
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You’re writing a Dragon Age fanfic? Is it going to be available to the public? I’m constantly and diligently working on my FFVII fanfiction. In fact that’s what accounts for most of my time. I have an original novel, too, as well as a short story I’m going to start subbing next year. The original novel has been shelved for a while since I subbed that, but met only rejection. Not a good time so I’m going to reedit at some point in the future and try again. I’d love to read those Mass Effect drabbles, too if you ever put them out there! I’m in the midst of watching an ME Let’s Play (on 2), and I absolutely love that game.
The world of writing what you have to instead of writing what you want *sigh* I was an English grad student for a few years before that and working full time became too much so I understand your pain.
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I toy with the idea of posting my DA fic on Fanfiction or Archive of Our Own, and then I panic and decide to keep it safely on my computer where no one can hurt it…Ditto for Mass Effect, *especially* since I’m dabbling in writing an original character and I alternate between really liking the overall idea of the story and hating it. Maybe one day I’ll take leave of my senses and post something!! (I’ll let you know if/when that happens). I’ve been slowly working my way through your Northern Lights and it’s really very good!
That’s really awesome that you wrote a novel, too! Don’t give up on it, because you have a lot of talent! (and, of course, let me know when it’s published so I can find a copy).
Ever since I started this blog people have been telling me to try my hand at “really writing” (whatever that means), but… yeah. Thesis. And then maybe I’ll be ready for a new writing adventure! haha
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Well I’ll tell you Archive is a wonderful site that I’ve had no issues with. Everyone there is super nice and if there are any trolls, I haven’t run into them. I definitely understand the need for safety. I had to shelve that novel I wrote after I submitted for about a year due to what all the rejections did to my mental health. It’s why I solely concentrate on fanfiction right now, because I feel safer doing it, and I’ll tell you this: the fact that you’re worried about it probably means it’s phenomenal. There’s a lot of fanfiction out there, and I’ve gotten praise solely for the fact that I care enough to edit and make sure it cohesively flows, so you’re already a step ahead. Fanfiction.net isn’t terrible either, but it’s so large that I find smaller ones like AO3 can yield more hits. I also use tumblr and Deviant Art. I hope you decide to throw it out there one day! I’ve never read a Mass Effect or Dragon Age fanfiction (I stick with FFVII – Aeriseph) so it would be a new experience for me 🙂
What the hell does “really writing” mean? Ugh, I really hate how some writing is deemed worthy while other writing isn’t. Don’t get me started on what people think about fanficiton and how it’s not legitimate grrr.
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Thanks for the encouragement 🙂 Maybe I’ll add posting my fanfiction to my list of new year resolutions (takes deep breath).
I think it was meant as a compliment to my writing. They meant not writing solely on a blog or writing stories no one will ever read (haha) – trying my hand at writing as a career or something. I usually joke and say my real job doesn’t pay the bills now, so I might as well go for another job that won’t pay the bills, either… Pessimistic of me, yes, but to be fair I haven’t completely tossed out the idea! And I know we’ve talked about the legitimacy of fanfiction before!! 🙂
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Certainly! Writers need to encourage each other, and I know what that fear feels like. When I finished up Northern Lights, I had that moment of “What am I doing?? ” and I was so irritated because I’d purposely written the fanfiction in order to escape those feelings, but there they were again. If you need someone who knows how to give gentle critiques (if any critiques are needed) and you’re okay with doing it, you can send a chapter or two my way as maybe a test run or at least to get some encouragement if you’re worried 🙂
Ah I got you! I always get wary whenever I hear “really writing” because I worry it’s a dig on what writing people ARE doing as if it’s not legitimate writing. Heck, even fanfiction is legitimate writing (and that’s something I have to tell myself because sadly many disagree), and there are writers out there who have no interest in “traditional” publishing for many valid and understandable reasons. It is nice to hear that what you’re working on is deemed good enough for that route, bumpy though it is.
I consider writing/blogging the second job I don’t get paid for (yet). My first job kind of pays the bills…barely, but that’s more the bills’ fault than the job’s.
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Thanks for the offer! I might take you up on that if I really start to panic! haha
Ah, yes,the elusive balance of work/bills/writing… sigh.
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Being a creative type is tough!
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Aw! Literal flower part sounds like it’ll be touching. Can’t wait to read Chapter 7! 😀
My novel aspirations have been shelved for a few weeks now. I have two wannabe writing phases: “OMG, my story is so epic! I need to finish it right now! *drops every other hobby*” and “Why am I wasting my time on this massive mess of incomprehensible words?”. I am currently in the latter phase, lol
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I finally finished the second edit late last night, but I made so many changes I have to do a third. I’m also currently fixated on this part in Chapter 6 for some reason even though I’ve posted that already ughhh lol. If I do any meaningful changes, I’ll update it. Nothing is set in stone.
I’m pretty sure that that’s all being a writer is about. You bounce between those two extremes like a crazy ball. You know what though? I read some pretty stellar advice about the latter phase, and it’s that you’re used to the story. You see it and think about it all the time, so to you it can become a massive jumble of incomprehensible junk because you’re so close it. I also remember seeing this post on tumblr or somewhere and it was. “So what do you do as an artist?” “Look at my work until I hate it.” Because you’re so close to it, you get used to it, you become nitpicky (like I am with my three or four edits), but someone else will think it’s amazing!
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The beauty of internet publishing: Edit buttons! 🙂 Yay! I’ll have to catch up on your Northern Lights editing notes while I wait.
Oh wow. I had no idea this was a “normal” thing, lol. My characters have become really important to me, and I do want to see them to the end of their journey, even if my words are inadequate. I suddenly feel like writing a bit again. Thank you for this!
I’d also like to try and write an essay or something too. You keep mentioning all the awesome ones you are working on and they seem fun to write. I have a title for one in mind: “I Am Lightning; In Defense of Final Fantasy’s Fearsome Female Protagonist”. Okay, I’ll just stop pretending to be a writer now… *sighs*
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I really need to figure out time for all my projects. I haven’t had any to update the Editing posts in months! I try to work on any essays during the week and weekends, but the week sessions just haven’t been working out. I think it’s because I’m so interested in editing The Broken Rose. I just have to follow my writer heart I suppose 🙂
Erm, yes, working on essays (forget what you read above). I have way more plans to work on them then I do time and wherewithal to do so, but I persevere!
I love this Defense idea! Another fellow blogger writes defenses for Game of Thrones characters, often picking the more dastardly ones, and of course I have my Defense of Sephiroth. You’d have to pretend to be a non-writer to be a legitimate pretender ;p
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I’m also planning on making writing goals for the new year. With my current writing habits I can barely get anything done. The manuscripts I’m working on now are posted on my blog https://katiemdeanblog.wordpress.com/ if you wanted to check them out 🙂
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I find I get so much more accomplished when I write down my goals, and even then it’s difficult due to time constraints. I’m hoping to figure out how to get to the things I’ve been pushing off!
I did and followed 🙂
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