Comments on: Thinking about What to Write

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:38:22 +0000

@Cathy I never trash anything. You never know when or where you will use it during the process of revision. So, hang onto it and keep moving forward… Just check out my post from today where I mention specifically that the latest chapters I wrote will go somewhere else in the book when I’m reconstructing it. Also, thanks for the kind words!!

@Amy Great comment about staying on course! Thanks for sharing your switch as well. I wouldn’t call editing unthinkable but if you crank out a couple thousand words I’d save the original. You may want to go back to that later after your thoughts have had a chance to settle. I always make copies of files before I start revisions.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:12:04 +0000

Hi Cathy,

I think the point of the exercise is to continue on this course and stick it out. That being said, I MUST be honest and say that yesterday morning, day one, I wrote 762 words at home and then headed to the official writing kick off for our region (Buffalo/WNY). On the way, I scrapped the novel idea I’d just started and began a new one and made my word count for the day at the write in. I’ve continued with it today, gotten up to 3682 words and will stick with this one no matter what although I expect it to get quite tough. I am also dong the UNTHINKABLE and editing some as I go, revising, etc. I know I’m not supposed to, but I am doing it a minuscule amount compared to how I normally do, so I figure I’ve made progress! This is my first attempt at a novel, so I do feel quite lost at the moment, but am hoping I’ll get more comfortable as the month progresses. More comfortable? Naive thinking I am sure!
Good luck to you!

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:42:53 +0000

I agree with those above! I love your posts here! I searched for a few hours for some getting started tips, haven’t found any yet. I followed you here from Twitter, where I am also enjoying your tweets (hence the reason I bothered with the blog)

I am a newsy sorta girl, repeating facts, no personality in my writing really. So I’m struggling a little bit. I’m mixing a couple stories from youth as you’d sort of suggested in a blog post here. It’s when the time changed from then to now, that I froze up and came surfing, I’m actually on target word wize.

Now is the time to resist the urge to trash what I have and start again.. do you do that? Do you just maybe save a few chapters for another time and start again? Or is the point of this excersise more to continue on this course and stick it out?

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:44:41 +0000

@Amy LOL I understand your fear. If you want to learn to get along with that editor on your shoulder, you might want to check out this article about dealing with your inner critic.

I’ll be looking forward to your blog starting up in December. Your first post will be about the fantastic new novel you just finished drafting in November, right?

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:13:28 +0000

Well, if writing what I know and what I feel isn’t the most terrifying thought! Must be why that editor on my shoulder (in the guise of an older sister who found my writing at my tender early teenage years and admonished “Why would you want to write this stuff? You should be writing HAPPY things!”) always seems to kick in. Gotta find a wan in the next short days of October to dump her for the month of November somehow…

Thanks to all for their great comments and tips – don’t have a blog to post…maybe come December I’ll start one? Jamie – can’t wait to hear what’s coming…

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:10:56 +0000

Rough day. Just sitting, reading quietly, drinking it all in. For about 10 minutes; and then I have to turn on the afterburners to make deadline at 11pm. Deb´s last blog post..Ohio wind storm of September 14

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:34:16 +0000

@Matthew Keep rocking! The first book I tried to write went down in total flames (as did the most recent), but the only way to find your voice is to write. You’ve got the right attitude!

@Jason Thanks, Jason. By the way, I can’t wait to read your On the Road book!!!

By: Jason Rehmus

Jason Rehmus — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:34:12 +0000

Jamie, I'd like to second Karen re: your NaNo posts. I, too, am encouraged to really participate this year. Thank you! I'm curious about your "true topic". I can't wait to hear what you'll be writing about. For me it's "the road". I know this not because I have always wanted to write about the road but because I have always wanted to live on the road. And I've tried, in my head and in real life. So, even though I have no idea what my book will be about, I at least know it will take place in motion. Jason Rehmus´s last blog post..Seth Godin says:

By: Matthew Dryden

Matthew Dryden — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:02:11 +0000

I'm scared of NaNoWriMo. I tried last year and only got 1/10 of the way. But I will not be deterred (much)! I think writers should write what they feel, as they're feeling it. It helps to find your voice. Matthew Dryden´s last blog post..A Warm Place

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:48:08 +0000

@Diane Glad to hear that you haven’t given up! It can be hard. I know because I’ve tried to quit a few times too, but I always come back stronger. I’ll keep my response short because you said it all.