Friday, March 30, 2012

Novelution

Happy Friday! Can you believe it's still sunny here?

I can't remember exactly how many novels I've written now, but as I finished Draft 2 of Construct A Couple, it struck me how my emotional writing journey usually remains the same -- even with all I've learned along the way.

Planning stage: This will be the one novel where I actually stick to my pre-planned plot. I've definitely got it all spot on this time. It's going to be easy!

Draft 1: This plot sucks. What if I just do this . . . or this . . . or maybe this . . . I'll fix it all later. Hey, this is going well, isn't it? Oh great, another new character! Sure, I haven't mentioned them until 3/4 of the way through, but that's okay... I'm done! Well, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Draft 2: Oh. My. God. What have I done? What have I done? I have written a huge pile of crap. This can never be a novel Never. What am I going to do? Okay, deep breath. Small steps. Here I go.

Draft 3: Phew. It might just work. Maybe. But there's still this to fix, and this, and this... oh yes, and THIS! How on earth did I miss that?

Draft 4: Okay, I think I'm finally getting there. But why is this sentence so long? And why is there a comma there? And why do all my characters roll their eyes? Where are there eyes eyes eyes everywhere?

Draft 5: Holy crap, there's a typo on page 1. I must do another 10 read-throughs.

Draft 6: If I read another word of this, I'm going to be sick.

So there you have it! Novelution!


What is your emotional writing journey?

(I will likely be on a blog break next week as I try to dig into Draft 3 and get as much work done as I can. Best of luck to everyone starting in on the A to Z Challenge!)
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67 comments:

  1. Jessica Bell30 March 2012 at 12:45

    Happy Blog break! :) My process changes all the time but one thing stays the same: self doubt!

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    1. Cathy1 April 2012 at 07:30

      It was very interesting reading about your Novelution Talli, and also Jessica's comment about self doubt. Writing is not easy - that is for sure.

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  2. Paul Anthony Shortt30 March 2012 at 12:45

    Wow, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one to have that "What the hell is this crap?" stage!

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  3. Kyra Lennon30 March 2012 at 12:57

    Oh wow, did you just crawl inside my head? :D Good luck with Draft 3!

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  4. writing and living by Richard P Hughes30 March 2012 at 13:02

    Too bad it's that way for you. I sit down with a blank computer page, start typing, never make a mistake, (I never have to hit backspace), love the plot (wouldn't change a thing), the characters are amazing and the conflict is riveting, and when that first draft is done, I type "The End" and bask in the glory of how easy it is to write a novel. I send it to the first agent I happen to find in Writer's Market, she loves it, we sign a contract. The first publisher (one of the big 6) swoons over it and offers me a mega-deal, and I sleep contentedly for the rest of my life. And I never tell a lie.

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  5. RHYTHM AND RHYME30 March 2012 at 13:23

    See you around The Challenge,
    Have a great week-end.

    Yvonne.

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  6. Leigh Caron30 March 2012 at 13:27

    Novelution? What a great term! Have a great weekend and I hope it's sunny. Here in Akumal, Mexico it's the opposite, it's rare to have a cloudy day.

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  7. S.A. Larsenッ30 March 2012 at 13:29

    I think my journey is similar to yours, although a bit slower. lol I still second guess myself all the time, which tosses me into turtle and self-loathing mode.

    Have a fantastic blog break!

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  8. Sangu Mandanna30 March 2012 at 15:25

    This sounds eerily familiar! I think my novelution is very similar, only with much more swearing and hair-pulling. :-)

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  9. William Kendall30 March 2012 at 15:39

    So I'm not the only one who has characters rolling their eyes a lot?

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  10. Writer Pat Newcombe30 March 2012 at 16:17

    Sounds very, very familiar!! Why do we start with such high hopes and then dwindle to a nervy pessimism? That is - until we reach 'the end' and then it's back to high hopes...

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  11. Aidyl Ewoh30 March 2012 at 16:22

    Um… I pretty much get sick and tired of my book long before the sixth draft. I just let it sit for a little big then come back to it and find it’s not as bad as I remembered. =)
    ~Aidyl
    www.aidylewoh.blogspot.com

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  12. Anita Chapman30 March 2012 at 16:37

    Know what you mean about the 'eyes', his piercing blue eyes, her eyes brown like chocolate, he looked into her eyes...do you also have any-',she said, picking up her cup of coffee?/ she stirred her coffee/ she opened the sachet of sugar and put it in her coffee....

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  13. Sally Clements30 March 2012 at 16:50

    I'm really curious now, Talli - count em up, how many novels have you written?

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  14. Unknown30 March 2012 at 17:01

    OMG! We must be writers! That's exactly what I go through. Around draft 23 million, I'm like, "I don't care if they hate it, they can read it just as is. I'm never reading it again! NEVER!" and then when I finally hand my manuscript over for the last time, I'm like, "I should have read it through again. What if they don't like it?" Sheesh, this is why it's so hard to be a writer.

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  15. Heather30 March 2012 at 17:14

    LOL! I love that, it sounds exactly like my journey. Novelution, love it!

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  16. Laura30 March 2012 at 18:34

    I'm at the Oh NO!!!! I'm going to put it on kindle this weekend... will everyone hate me forever.... moment - and that's for just a blog prompt book!
    Good luck with draft 3
    Laura xxxx

    (Ps - thanks for the joke :))

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  17. Julie Dao30 March 2012 at 18:38

    I'm on the draft 2 stage!! I think I've gone through these feelings with every story I write, short and long. GREAT summary, Talli!

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  18. Scribble Spud30 March 2012 at 19:13

    My characters never role their eyes. They just keep making mental notes. i don't know why and I seem helpless to stop them...

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  19. Amy Saia30 March 2012 at 19:31

    Well, but at least y our'e steady. I get frustrated and switch to other projects. Sometimes I drive myself crazy.

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  20. Rosemary Gemmell30 March 2012 at 19:47

    Sounds about right, Talli! At least you're getting stuck into yours - I keep being determined to finish the current WIP but then move on to something else. I WILL finish it over the next two weeks!

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  21. Anonymous30 March 2012 at 20:09

    Great journey. I like the last one LOL!

    Happy Blog Break. I'm planning one too.

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  22. Carol Kilgore30 March 2012 at 20:28

    OMG! You've been in my head! And I didn't even know you were there. We could have had wine :)

    Happy Weekend - and crunch on that draft next week.

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  23. Pat Tillett30 March 2012 at 21:13

    Hi Talli!
    That was pretty funny! Maybe that's why my projects are just sitting... Too much concentration required...

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  24. Old Kitty30 March 2012 at 21:47

    For me it's draft 4444446,9999 stage as in - erm.. what time is it and where's the rest of my chocolate bar!?!?!

    Have a great weekend Talli! Take care
    x

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  25. Carrie Butler30 March 2012 at 22:44

    Get out of my head, you mind-reader, you! ;) Have a great weekend!

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  26. Norma30 March 2012 at 23:13

    All of it sounds SOOOOO familiar!

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  27. Angela Brown30 March 2012 at 23:23

    Oh, Talli, this is so priceless. It's nice knowing I'm not alone. Right now, I've passed "first draft sucked" to "rewrite complete" to "first revision done". It's off to betas to get doused in gasoline and shredded into itty bitty bits of itself then sent back to me to, I don't know, cry then rewrite.

    I must go gather tissues in preparation lol!! And yes, I must laugh out loud now since they'll be some crying later. But my story will be the better for it, I'm sure of it.

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  28. Jemi Fraser30 March 2012 at 23:51

    Love it! That pretty much works for me - except for #1 - I never do an outline :)

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  29. Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte31 March 2012 at 01:45

    I have helped daughter with her drags. She's done and I await the printed copy. Good luck to you.

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  30. Kittie Howard31 March 2012 at 02:16

    Lots of wisdom here. Thanks for sharing. I'm always amazed at how what seems so simple I'm the mind gets screwed up on paper.

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  31. T. Roger Thomas31 March 2012 at 04:56

    My process involves a 1,000 monkeys typing at a 1,000 typewriters, an excellent cleaning crew and a lot of frustration.

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  32. D.J. Kirkby31 March 2012 at 07:20

    Loved this post as I just finished going through all of that with My Dream of You! Wishing you luck with CaC, can't wait to read it! What is the A to Z challenge?

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  33. DL Hammons31 March 2012 at 14:32

    Is it possible to experience all six phases in a single day? :)

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  34. Scarlett and James31 March 2012 at 15:07

    We're still on draft one... time goes slowly when you start to get distracted by each other, after all....

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  35. Cat Lavoie31 March 2012 at 19:44

    Your journey sounds a lot like mine! lol It's quite a roller coaster.
    Good luck with Draft 3! I hope you have a productive break!

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  36. Talei31 March 2012 at 20:10

    Oh, firstly - belated birthday wishes, and you are so lucky to spend it in Paris - gorgeous city! Your pics looked fab.

    Secondly...'draft-evilution', indeed. Your journey sounds similar! I found that I cringe at my drafts after leaving them for awhile but eventually I do fall back in love with it. Happy drafting next week. I've had to put blogging on a semi-soft break (if that makes sense, once a week) for awhile to re-focus on life and writing.

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  37. Len Lambert1 April 2012 at 00:32

    I've left my first complete MS on Draft 3 because I wasn't going anywhere, LOL. Belated happy birthday wishes, Talli!!! :)

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  38. Sarah Tokeley1 April 2012 at 03:45

    I'm on draft two, working towards the next stage. I'd say you have those spot on :-)

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  39. Unknown1 April 2012 at 04:32

    I'm on Draft 1 of my very first novel at the moment and am looking forward to the journey :)


    ---Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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  40. Romance Reader 1 April 2012 at 07:26

    Hi Talli,

    Good luck with Draft 3. I hope you have a productive break!

    Riya

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  41. Diane Fordham1 April 2012 at 08:57

    Hello I am a new follower and very much looking forward to following this blog. I wish you a very productive week :-)

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  42. Glynis Peters 1 April 2012 at 15:38

    Good luck with Draft 3 and enjoy the typo hunt...I mean Easter Egg hunt in the UK. (Ours is the following week). :D

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  43. Deniz Bevan1 April 2012 at 18:38

    Sounds a lot like me. I'm glad we all go through this!

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  44. Scribble Spud1 April 2012 at 22:52

    Hi Talli
    For more displacement activity,I hope you don't mind but I've tagged you in the Lucky Seven meme http://novelsandonions.blogspot.co.uk/
    No pressure to take part - it intrigued me though.
    Cheers
    Sue
    P.S. Maybe it isn't strictly displacement though.

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  45. Anonymous2 April 2012 at 03:36

    I'm real excited at first, lose steam at various points when I think I've written garbage, and once I think of a way to improve the manuscript I'm up again, and then down. It's an emotional roller coaster.

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  46. Jennifer Joyce2 April 2012 at 10:22

    My characters are constantly rolling their eyes or tutting.

    *rolls eyes and tuts at herself* Must sort it out.

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  47. Anonymous2 April 2012 at 12:01

    Haha, those drafts go on and on don't they?! There comes a time when we just have to say "right, that's it, done!"

    CJ x

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  48. Karen Lange2 April 2012 at 15:33

    It really is a journey, isn't it? Good, bad, up, down - any way you look at it, we are learning something! :)

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  49. Rebecca Emin2 April 2012 at 17:18

    This made me laugh so much! I'm already at stage 6 with my second book but I keep forcing myself to have "one last read". I'd like to mention my own little stage 7 which is when you are thinking it's utterly rubbish and everyone will hate it and should I push the button that says publish or the button that says delete. That could just be me. ;o)

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  50. A2 April 2012 at 17:42

    Thanks for the laugh Talli and enjoy your blog break!

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  51. Deborah Carr (Debs)2 April 2012 at 20:20

    I'm at stage 5. Hope you enjoy your blog break.

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  52. Joyce3 April 2012 at 00:26

    I missed your birthday but if you were in Paris I'm certain it was wonderful : ) I've been in China for a couple of weeks and am now trying to recover. It's slow going. Have a good break!

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  53. Susan Fields3 April 2012 at 02:38

    Your journey sounds a lot like mine. I'm in the "it just might work" stage right now, I think.

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  54. TL Conway3 April 2012 at 05:13

    The good news is that according to your noveloution, there is an end to this madness.

    The bad news is that I've been firmly entrenched in the doubts of Draft 2 for a number of weeks now. :(

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  55. The Divorced Lady's Companion to Living in Italy3 April 2012 at 08:09

    It's crazy isn't it, the power your characters have to glare at you and demand that you get it right. And then one morning it happens, there is a new bloke on the block, a fantastic cadence, and new theme weaving through. It's so complex, story-telling. Let's not even mention EDITING which is where my eyes start to burn and my back seizes up.

    Hope Paris was fabuleux!

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  56. Jenny Woolf3 April 2012 at 12:12

    So long as you get out of it at the end! :D

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  57. Chubby Singson3 April 2012 at 13:25

    wow! how i wish i could have a novelution myself but i guess i still have a lot of things to learn.

    good luck.

    : )

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  58. Flowerpot3 April 2012 at 18:24

    VEry cheering Talli I've just been going through that exactly!

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  59. Denise Covey 3 April 2012 at 23:28

    Ah Talli, good to see you're so popular you can get readers even if you're not in the A-Z. Congratulations.

    These steps sound awfully familiar! I'm posting about the editing habits of the golden oldies later for the Insecure Writers Group. Hoot hoot! Those were the days.

    Denise

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  60. Susan Oloier4 April 2012 at 04:31

    I enjoyed reading about your writing process, Talli. I can so very relate to the typo and countless read-throughs follows the finding of one :-)

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  61. Emma Pass4 April 2012 at 14:29

    OMG. This is EXACTLY how it happens for me, too! :D

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  62. Carol Riggs4 April 2012 at 19:38

    Heheheee, love Draft #5 especially. Been there, done that. And definitely #6, hating the whole thing and never wanting to see it again!!

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  63. Theresa Milstein5 April 2012 at 02:29

    I don't have to tell you my writing journey--you captured it in the novelution.

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  64. Anonymous5 April 2012 at 03:33

    I can relate... though I'm yet to publish one!

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  65. Elana Johnson5 April 2012 at 19:52

    I usually get stuck in Draft 2 for a while. I don't think my work is good for about 10 drafts. Then I pick up where you do with Draft 3. It's a sickness.

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  66. J.L. Campbell11 April 2012 at 23:22

    This looks familiar all right. I'm on what I promise myself is the last read before this novel leaves my hands. It's almost there now, I think. I'm past the stage where I'm taking out the commas I put in last time. Minor, minor tweaks and I'm done. Hope you sail through your edits.

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Coffee and wine for all!

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