I got a bit of a start on my chapter 1 rewrite on the weekend but I have too many distractions at the moment, including a short story I'm trying to get finished for a short story comp that closes next week.
I need more time! But where I get it from is a problem. Still, it's a problem most writers face so at least I know I'm not alone.
I really, really want to finish this short story. And I only have another week to do it. So, maybe the chapter 1 rewrite will have to wait just a little bit longer. After I finish the short story, I'll get into the new chapter 1 in a big way. Definately. No doubt about it.
Well, at the very least I have to have written a new first page to present for group critique on 6 December.
Looks like I've got clashing deadlines... such is life.
(maybe I'll take a mental health day!)
27 November 2007
21 November 2007
Back to basics
I have yet to embark on the big rewrite. Instead I've been working out relationships between the girls and having another look at their characters/backgrounds. This, I'm hoping, will help me add that extra detail and depth that the manuscript assessor thinks I need.
I'm also looking at the character of Tash's father. I know it's meant to be bad form to write characters that are all bad, but let's face it, in real life some people are just a**holes. Not everyone has redeeming features. But I suppose I can stretch to allowing him to be a generous boss (as long as his employees don't cross him...).
Apart from the character work I've been doing a bit of research into the 'assignment' notes that will replace Tash's diary entries. I'm still not 100% sure on how this will work, but I'm trying out a few different ideas.
Maybe I should just start writing it & see what happens.
I'm also looking at the character of Tash's father. I know it's meant to be bad form to write characters that are all bad, but let's face it, in real life some people are just a**holes. Not everyone has redeeming features. But I suppose I can stretch to allowing him to be a generous boss (as long as his employees don't cross him...).
Apart from the character work I've been doing a bit of research into the 'assignment' notes that will replace Tash's diary entries. I'm still not 100% sure on how this will work, but I'm trying out a few different ideas.
Maybe I should just start writing it & see what happens.
12 November 2007
Killer beginnings
Last Friday YA fantasy writer, Alison Goodman, ran a workshop for our master's group on writing killer beginnings. She is a great presenter and teacher and I'm really sorry I missed her earlier workshop on killer endings (but hey, I wasn't leaving New York early for anyone!).
An outstanding first page is a necessity - many publishers/editors don't read beyond the first paragraph, let alone the first page.
To help us create our own killer beginnings, Alison worked through a list of 'must haves' for any work of fiction to get off to a great start, including:
An outstanding first page is a necessity - many publishers/editors don't read beyond the first paragraph, let alone the first page.
To help us create our own killer beginnings, Alison worked through a list of 'must haves' for any work of fiction to get off to a great start, including:
- genre markers
- empathy
- setting
- tone
- dilemma
Alison also said it's vital for the author to show authority, that is, show that you have control over your manuscript. Perfect grammar and spelling is a part of this - you don't want to be making amateurish mistakes on your opening page. No matter how brilliant it is, an error like that is going to plant a seed of doubt in the editor's mind.
Alison's other main piece of advice was to make each word and sentence work harder. With my distaste for slabs of description, this is a particularly important rule for me to follow. And Alison was able to show me how just small changes can have a big impact on your work and make sentences as effective as possible.
So now I have no excuses for not writing a brilliant beginning to my manuscript!
6 November 2007
How much more rewriting?
The manuscript assessment has arrived and I'm not in a state of shock, depression or about to throw my manuscript in the bin. So that's a positive!
I've read through it a couple of times but I think I need to read through it a couple more before I get stuck into the rewriting. The assessor has made some good suggestions and some interetsting points, and although I don't agree with everything they said, I agree with most of it. A couple of things I don't quite understand, though, so if I still don't get it after another reading or two I'll ask the rest of the cohort what they think the assessor means.
Going by the feedback, I think I've got another 3 months rewriting to do, maybe 6 months. I'm not exactly sure what 'finished' state the manuscript has to be in to submit it for my Masters, but that's really the least of my worries, seeing I haven't even made a start on the exegesis.
Oh well, maybe I'll write that in February!
I've read through it a couple of times but I think I need to read through it a couple more before I get stuck into the rewriting. The assessor has made some good suggestions and some interetsting points, and although I don't agree with everything they said, I agree with most of it. A couple of things I don't quite understand, though, so if I still don't get it after another reading or two I'll ask the rest of the cohort what they think the assessor means.
Going by the feedback, I think I've got another 3 months rewriting to do, maybe 6 months. I'm not exactly sure what 'finished' state the manuscript has to be in to submit it for my Masters, but that's really the least of my worries, seeing I haven't even made a start on the exegesis.
Oh well, maybe I'll write that in February!
2 November 2007
Manuscript assessment
The manuscript assessment by Driftwood has been finished & is waiting for me to pick it up from Sharyn's office.
But she's not in today so I have to wait until Monday! I suppose a few more day's suspense won't kill me.
I'm hoping that it gives me some clear direction about what to do with my next rewrite. The manuscript has gone through a lot of changes already this year and I specifically asked for feedback on whether it all held together or was too disjointed, particularly the last few chapters of the book, which I completely rewrote.
Whatever they say, I'm eager to take it on board and make this story the best it can be. I really believe in Girl in the Shadows - I think it's a timely story that covers some important issues and themes. But I also hope it's a bloody good read that will capture the attention of teen readers and that Tash and Mal are characters that they bond with.
Here's hoping!
But she's not in today so I have to wait until Monday! I suppose a few more day's suspense won't kill me.
I'm hoping that it gives me some clear direction about what to do with my next rewrite. The manuscript has gone through a lot of changes already this year and I specifically asked for feedback on whether it all held together or was too disjointed, particularly the last few chapters of the book, which I completely rewrote.
Whatever they say, I'm eager to take it on board and make this story the best it can be. I really believe in Girl in the Shadows - I think it's a timely story that covers some important issues and themes. But I also hope it's a bloody good read that will capture the attention of teen readers and that Tash and Mal are characters that they bond with.
Here's hoping!
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