On taking beta feedback

So I talked to a beta this weekend, who is about a third of the way through my most recent manuscript. Even though I've just started outlining a new novel, I'm getting excited to implement her feedback once she's finished. This last book was a bit of an experiment for me in several ways for me (small cast, unusual setting, different story structure, wrote it from beginning to end, etc.), and I tore apart and rearranged the structure during the first round of revisions, so I really needed someone to go through and help me catch continuity errors and plot holes and so on. It was interesting to hear her preliminary thoughts on what needed more description, what didn't make sense yet, what did work, and some issues I suspected but was unsure of so I left them in on purpose to see whether another reader would notice.

I've got a lot of work ahead of me, and I need to learn to write on a tighter schedule, but I'm looking forward to working on the third draft of this story. (Actually, I'm getting better at getting first and second drafts done in a timely manner, but I've got to remember to allot time for further revisions.) Like I said in my last post, one of the perks of still being unpublished is that I can take my time! But I think in many ways I almost enjoy revising more than first drafting, because most everything is already in place.

We'll see if I feel that way when I start the third draft. I'm riding high on a few positive comments right now, but I'll probably lament my writing abilities for a day when I get all the notes and see everything that still needs improvement. This beta is harsh but fair and, unlike me, actually went to school to study this. My goal is to write better first drafts so that fewer critiques are needed, and those critiques are on superficial things, not giant story matters. And I've got to get over this idea that first drafts can be trash, but second drafts should be perfect!

What about you? What's your favorite part of the writing process? And how do you deal with feedback on your work?

A confession and an "enjoy the time you have now"

I must confess to something shameful, especially for one as disciplined as I:

Last week, and probably this week too, I've been taking a break from writing.

Now, before I hang my head in shame, let me offer my excuses: I know I've mentioned several times how crazy grad school is this semester. Well, it is. I lost a huge amount of data and hours of work on a massive project right as I was going to back it up. The reading and work loads are crazier than anything in the first two years, and it got to the point where I literally (and I mean that in the correct sense of the word!) did not have time or energy to balance work, school, and writing. When I only have to handle two of the three, I excel. With all three growing more demanding, I was beginning to resent everything. On top of that, projects were piling up at home, creating even more metaphorical weight on my shoulders: sewing left undone for months; piles of things to throw out, donate, or sort through as I fall clean my apartment; multiple rooms that need scrubbing, and so on.

So I decided to give myself a short break, as some take vacations from their normal jobs. Sure, writing's my dream, but it's proven beneficial so far: I've been able to get miscellaneous projects out of the way, and am close to finishing several others. I'm making tremendous progress on the largest school project I will have this semester, and its completion will relieve a tremendous amount of stress. And best of all, it's rekindling my previously-seriously-threatened creativity. I had just finished revisions on one novel, was still waiting for beta feedback on another, and was struggling with revision ideas for a few short stories and what to do for my next novel. I had only a vague idea of the world and characters, and now that I've had a little time to miss writing, they've begun whispering. I think I'll need to watch a lot of Life After People. For research purposes. Yes.

And see, the thing is, if I were already a published writer, I probably wouldn't be able to take this sort of little vacation. (Of course, I'd also be finished with grad school, but something else could threaten my sanity.) But once deadlines, other than self-imposed ones, become a reality, and people are counting on you and money and your reputation are on the line, you have to deliver. So, unpublished writers, as much as you aspire to see your books on the shelves, enjoy the time and flexibility you have now, when you can take a week or two to recharge if need be!

That's not to say you can slack whenever things get a little tough. Writing takes discipline, and you have to learn to write even when you don't feel like it. In my case, the benefits of taking two weeks off and getting other things out of the way outweighed the consequences of not getting anything writing-related done (other than thinking about my next novel, and getting excited about it). If I needed these vacations frequently, though, I'd have to reconsider whether I was really following the right path. But for now, I'm just going to count it as a blessing that I have the time and flexibility to take a breather before diving back in. And next week, to mix metaphors in a horrific manner, I will get back on the horse.


It'll look sort of like this.

When did you start?

Inspired by Rachelle Gardner's post (about why you don't need to put "I've been writing since I was two!" in your query letter, because we've all been doing that), I thought it'd be fun to share when I started writing. Share your stories with me, too.

Before I started kindergarten, but after we moved to the house where I spent most of my childhood--so I must have just turned five--I was very frustrated that I didn't know how to write. My parents always read stories to my sister and me, which was a real blessing, and dang it, I wanted to make stories like that, too! But Tikki Tikki Tembo and The Velveteen Rabbit would have nothing on my stories! But of course, when I looked in the books, none of the letters made sense. Still, I must have thought I could teach myself to write through sheer willpower, for one day, MagnaDoodle in hand, I set out to write a letter to my dad.

Which he couldn't read. Because my letters were squiggles.

I'm pretty sure he just quirked an eyebrow at me and went back to organizing tools or something.

I was nonplussed.

Remember these? I should have saved mine. And framed it. For posterity.
I've mentioned in a previous post how I always used to make up stories as a kid. The first story I can remember writing, though, was for my third grade teacher. It was about a sea anemone detective who got framed for a murder by a man who had hair that looked like a sea anemone. (Ahh, the early nineties. Remember when guys used to wear their hair in flattops? I had marine biology on the brain even then.) Anyway, my teacher didn't know what a sea anemone was. I thought this was a silly critique, and brought in a picture to show her.


Then, in eighth grade, some kid gave a bad critique to my story because he'd never heard of The Empire Strikes Back. Such knowledge wasn't even important to understanding. It's not my fault you've got a basic ignorance of life, man.






And I've loved making up stories, if not writing them, ever since. Although I do still get annoyed when I get critiqued for silly reasons!

What about you? When did you start?

How did I get to five drafts?

As I grapple with the demon-infested waters of grad school and a full-time job, I am finally--finally!--nearing the end of the fifth draft of my first novel. Finally! Note: I haven't been working on it this whole time. Actually, I took a break after the third draft, gave it to betas, and made a few changes based on their feedback, which I'm pleased to report was positive but fair. And then I let it sit for a long time and wrote other books before deciding to give it one last look, now that time has passed and my skills are--in theory--improved. Or so I hope.

And I'm glad I did! Although I'm still pleased with the story, reading old writing is weird, and you always notice a few choices or quirks of the language or whatnot that you can't imagine making in the present. There were also some minor instances of head-hopping that seemed a little amateur, even as much as I like to play with POV. So yep! I think after this round, the book will be about as ready to submit as I can make it, and I intend to try next year! I'd try now, if I weren't so busy my eyeballs might melt. (Lovely image, right? My brain feels like one of those "this is your brain on drugs" commercials with the egg from the '90s, that's how busy I am lately!)

To think that when I started on this endeavor, I never thought five drafts was a realistic thing. Surely I'd have it figured out after two or three! How naive of me. At least the changes are getting more minor with each round. Of course, if this novel does end up selling, it could even go through eight or nine drafts once agents and editors get through with it.

So (presuming I survive), fingers crossed for next year!