<–The State of the Writer: 5/21/17 The State of the Writer: 6/4/17–>
A weekly post updated every Sunday 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: 267,039
Prior Word Count: 268,194
Word Difference: -1155
Status: Editing
Progress: 1st edit of Chapter 10
What should be purely editing and figuring out where additional text fits has of course turned into something else. I want to expand on a latter occurence, create a catalyst, if you will. I still haven’t figured out where or if I can break this chapter up. There’s not really any viable part for it, but I may not have to since I am cutting things out. The main issue comes later when Aeris has yet another nightmare, and I use the * chapter break indicator, but it’s not really so much a chapter break as an introduction to a dream sequence. Also, the catalyst I’m adding has to do with her terror.
I’ll tell you a secret. When I get into idea mode where I cant stop taking things down, often the same thing just said in a different way, I write it all. Even the most outlandish and inappropriate ideas I put in my notes. Because while I’m not going to utilize the more risque, I can still takes pieces of it or remove the more over the top sections for use. If you ever find yourself in this mode where ideas just flood, write it all down. It doesn’t matter if it’s weird, gross, unconventional, or off the wall, you never know where you might be able to use it even if it has to be modified first. No one should see your notes unless you want them to. This is why we edit.
Quote: “The wheels are in motion. The task has been set. Judgment is calling their names.”
Project: Book Reviews
Title: Various
Status: Planning
I’ve been finishing books like a fiend, which means I have quite a backlog of reviews to complete. These are the four I have left in order from top left to bottom right (I do reviews in the order I finish the books), and I can’t wait to review Radiance and its sequel Eidolon more than any of them. A Father’s Protection will be easy since it’s so short, but I’ll have to think about what to say about The Raven Boys.
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: 5/21/17 The State of the Writer: 6/4/17–>
The Shameful Narcissist Speaks 
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I’m always working on something, even if for no one else but me. But everything I write is small. I have to step away from what I write, no matter what it is, before I can properly edit it, though on wordpress I don’t spend much time refining anything until I’ve already published it. Somehow letting the world see something before I’ve refined it makes the errors stand out to me more quickly.
I just write little stuff for fun, but I’ve always wanted to write something substantial. I’m afraid I don’t have the patience to let a piece grow, though.
How do you manage to stay interested in one idea long enough to see it through?
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Ah, I’m such a damn perfectionist that I have to go over everything with a fine toothed comb before I let the world see and scrutinize, and I’m horribly ashamed if I make some silly error especially if I’ve edited it multiple times. You’re right though. You find so many errors once you hit the send button.
Hm, well for me, I didn’t write my first novel until it had marinated in my head for a decade. I had known the characters for such a long time that they were old friends, and I was able to tell their story. Granted, I need to do a mega edit of that novel now, but I tend to go by major plot points. I write in order and I have certain points I need to get to so when I reach there, I feel accomplished. I’d been thinking of the ending of this novel for years, so I wrote with the motivation that I’d get there. Of course I changed it utterly one I arrived, but that idea still got me there.
For my first novel length fanfiction, that was a labor of love based on something that bugged the hell out of me in the original narrative. It wasn’t a flaw, but rather a heartbreaking plot point put in to make you question things, and since this narrative is my favorite story, I knew I could see it through. Again, it was in my head for over a decade, though I didn’t even know how I was going to end that.
I think you’ll eventually find something that’s worth your time to write! It just seems like you haven’t found it yet. I’m a big proponent of not forcing yourself if you don’t feel like, and there’s nothing wrong with short stories, flash fiction, blogging, or whatever. You write; therefore, you’re a writer.
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I like that last statement. I might use it.
I have a dream of something that doesn’t fit me. If that makes sense. I can’t focus long enough to write more than a tiny post. I’m not a good storyteller, and I dislike nonfiction for the most part. So I guess I’ve pigeonholed myself.
Oh well.
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I like how your blog shifts gears between book reviews and writing and discussions.
Good stuff.
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Someone told me a variant of that once when I was feeling completely discouraged. He said “Writers write,” and I’ve never forgotten in. The powers that be can stop me from being a published author, but no one can stop me from being a writer.
No, I understand it. I have quite a few dreams like that myself. I think you’ll find your niche though. There’s more than one way to tell a story.
Ah thank you! Really what I’m trying to do is always have content. It’s why I have my thrice a week status posts with the extra one on Friday. The reviews are something I can always talk about and they’re quick enough that I can usually get two done a week if necessary. I really wish I had time to write essays, because those and stories are my main goal, but that pesky time thing gets in the way.
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I look forward to your reviews. 🙂
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I’m on a roll! I just drafted one this evening, but I’m going to review it probably tomorrow. Give my brain some time to rest.
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Oh cool! The * thingy is a chapter break indicator (yes, I am a reading n00b still, haha). “Write it all down” is perfect advice! I do that all the time and often find I can reword my rough thoughts into something usable.
I’m having trouble keeping up with your awesome book reviews 🙂
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Yup! I usually just use the asterisk, but other writers get more fancy. Some published books have some awesome doodles they us, but an asterisk suits me perfectly find 🙂
I finished all these books in such a short amount of time o.O I still have 3 or 4 in my backlog to do!
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I am so, so happy to see this is still a thing.
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