Apr28

Deadline Dithering? (IDK. I just like alliteration.)

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Deadline Dithering? (IDK. I just like alliteration.)

First, thanks to those who offered their editing opinions in response to my last post. Most significantly, I amended that troublesome sentence to: “One way or another, we would’ve wound up The Crazy Freshmen, aka Space Cadet, me, and Beaker Brain, Isaac.” That takes care of that, yes?

I had combined short paragraphs, as instructed by the editor, but most of you agreed they were better separate. Later, I went back and looked at the combined sentences, and it just didn’t feel right. So, I separated them back a little more.

The comma after “Hopefully” will come over my cold, dead body!!! Okay, fine, maybe not, but what about here: “Hopefully Ben could avoid being named publicly.” I need a comma after that one? Really? I might point out that my blog editor friend didn’t flag either of these on his read… I might point that out, but I won’t because that would be rude.

I have until August 16 to turn in my final draft of Wish YOU Were Here. Shouldn’t be a problem. But do you know what I AM seeing as a problem?

Friggin’ Book 3!

I sent this to HRH, commenting that these were the only appropriate socks to wear while writing. They were a birthday gift from her. Laptop in foreground if you’re struggling to work out that brain teaser.

Remember how I was told to have Book 2 turned in when Book 1, Wish I Was Here, was in presale? I sweat that task pretty hard, but did complete it. That was when I already had most of Book 2 written or at least knew what was going to happen.

Book 3? Pish! Scoff! I’m screwed. I had three different opening scenes written–get this–years ago. They were all terrible. Seventeen pages in one Word doc featured a new character I now realize I don’t actually have a use for. Aside from a few witty lines I might rehome, this opener is useless except as a “bonus feature” for super fans, though they may take scissors to their fan club membership cards after reading.

Book 2 may go into presale in December–good news for Christmas gifts–bad news for me being ready with Book 3.

After hiding in my room Sunday to write, I asked Hubby how long I’d been in there. He said about three hours. Three hours?! All I’d done was edit a few pages for my “fourth time’s the charm?” opening pages.

That’s!

It!

Why am I sooooooooo slow at this?

I also had a snack with me. If you’re wondering if I’m including this for a particular blogger who once wrote about the merits of Dot’s pretzels, “You Know You’re Right.”

I decided to start this book with a bang, so, a couple pages in, explosion. Talk about an inciting incident! And, oh, the places book research has taken me… Still keeping a look out my window for the Feds to show up.

You know how we writers do.

What’s that other thing I do? Oh right…

Jiu-Jitsu! I love that the book’s fight scenes don’t require any special research. That be straight up first person knowledge, yo!

In one class, I did a move with Instructor. “Yes!” he said. Then, “Guys, check this out.” The dudes turned to look, but of course I didn’t know what I had done so well. When I tried again, Instructor had to tell me to go back and do it a particular way. Figures.

🤪

Instructor has multiple skills. Another time, there were two guys waiting on the benches for the next class. Their loud voices made it hard to hear Instructor. He paused and turned to them. I internally cringed for their imminent reprimand. Instead, Instructor said, “Hey, guys, watch this. It’s really cool.”

They stopped talking and watched. It was masterfully handled. What a guy.

I have this bizarre uncontrollable habit of making sound effects when I do a lot of the moves. Some people have called it hilarious. I wonder if those who say nothing are secretly annoyed.

I also made the mistake of talking out my strategy while rolling (sparring) with Thoughtful One. Surprise of all surprises–he countered my move.

“I probably shouldn’t talk through what I’m trying to do,” I said. He merely smiled.

However, I finally pulled off this cool technique called Bow and Arrow. I like it. I think it’s one I’ll keep in my… quiver.

Snort. Eye roll.

Another fun thing: I was working with Thoughtful One when Instructor walked over with my attendance card and pointed out, “You’re getting close to your first stripe!”

Aww. He cares. Once I get that stripe; however, it’s back to an empty card and a long haul to the next stripe. Whew. This Jiu-Jitsu stuff is a long distance swim.

Much like writing novels. Ah, full circle.

Q: “I had a lover’s quarrel with the world” is the epitaph engraved on the gravestone of this mid-20th-century American poet.

Andrew answers correctly in 5, 4, 3, 2, …

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61 responses »

  3. Good for you, you’re making great progress on completing the final draft of your second novel! Starting book three with a bang sounds great. Funny that you should mention the Feds showing up 😀 I woke from such a nightmare this morning. As writers, book research can definitely leave dangerous trails on our search record.

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  4. In your quiver — ha, ha, ha! Good one. I think you are just letting go of the things you don’t want to write for book 3 and when you get those out of the way, it’ll all flow. I’m sure of it!

    And I’m laughing about telling your moves out loud — hmm, definitely don’t play poker!

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    • That’s such a nice thought, Wynne. Thank you! Another “problem” was, after I wrote the fabulous Seattle chapters, I realized, “Wait! That new character isn’t here. How will I explain that?” Now, since I’ve exiled her to the discarded character bin, that problem is solved. 🙂

      I know it will all come together, eventually, but oh, the challenge! It will be a beautiful thing when it’s complete. Such an exciting hope!

      I love how you laugh at the things I laugh at! You’re often the only one who points those bits out. Thank you, friend!

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  5. “Why am I sooooooooo slow at this?” Oh it’s all about perspective!!! You’re further along than someone who never started or never finished a novel. Yes, deadlines suck, but you’ll get there!!! Plus, you need to finish so I find out the ending!!!! Ha ha. 🤣🤣🤣😎😎😎

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    • With the thought firmly in front of me of: “Brian needs to know how this ends,” I will write like the wind! Thanks for that motivation, B!

      BTW, have you chosen sides? I have people in both the Ben and Isaac camps. Some friends are going to be disappointed either way. Eek. Oops.

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  7. Well, with all the hints about book 2 I am getting excited. As to the Feds, well, I think it’s a known fact around the internet that you are an author so I wouldn’t worry. Much. Umm, there haven’t been any strange, black Suburbans cruising your neighbor hood, have there? (Cues up Secret Agent Man theme song.)

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  8. The reason you’re so slow is because you are eating Dots instead of Snyder’s Honey Mustard and Onion Pieces 😉

    The right pretzel at the right time makes a world of difference.

    Almost congrats on almost getting your first stripe. I will give you a real congratulations when you get the real stripe. Because I can tell that you’re a words of affirmation kind of girl.

    The only poets I know are Shakespeare, Wordsworth and Frost. So I’m going with Frost.

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  9. you would breeze through if you were eating flamin’ hot cheetos or cheddar chex mix, just saying… you are a multi-tasker/book writer supreme and sounds good that you ju-jitsu-ed that unneeded character out of your future book!

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  10. So much to love here…but I’ve gotta pause and offer this — now, now now. My biggest giggle/nod by far!
    “Seventeen pages in one Word doc featured a new character I now realize I don’t actually have a use for.”😜😜😜
    Keep going…pretzel powered, lucky socks. Go, girl, go! 💝💝💝

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  13. Robert Frost — never ask a poet a question about a poet … 😉

    and I agree, you should always wear socks when writing. I always do. Well, I wear other clothes too, not just socks. Just so we’re clear on that.

    Glad to hear your getting near the junction of book 2 and 3. It’s not an ending or a beginning, just a change in name, phase and possibly socks.

    When I was an engineer we had a saying, “I love deadlines, especially the whooshing sound they make as they go past.” I think the only deadline I’ve ever made was my wedding, I managed to show up on time for that one.

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  14. You did an excellent job letting the old manuscript get stone cold, which really helps when editing LOL. And don’t beat yourself up about being slow–you have kids and a job, it’s amazing you get anything written. Huge kudos!

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    • Thanks, Autumn. And you’re so right about letting a ms get cold. I was shocked, when I read the formatted version of Book 1, to find mistakes–still–after so many drafts! But I definitely had “fresh eyes” on it at that point. Certainly helps.

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  17. One step at a time, Betsy. Good luck getting to your August 16 deadline – it’s a significant date: Madonna was born and Elvis died. It’s a sign of important things to come.

    Book 3 will undoubtedly spill out of you once you get through this editing journey. Good luck!

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  18. Do I currently have Dot’s pretzels in the pantry? Why, yes. Yes, I do. But I also still have some of those South Dakota Pretzel Company pretzels too. I have no idea why the Dakotas are such a hotbed for great pretzels, but I guess that’s a mystery we will never know.

    Thanks for the Nirvana earworm btw. 🙂

    Hopefully [insert comma] I won’t overlook those missing commas in book three. Would it help if I said I was being nice?

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    • Maybe you didn’t think of the commas early on because they don’t need to be there! (I wanted to write that last part in caps, but it was a bit much.)

      And, dude, I was so proud of myself for the clever song reference that NO ONE ELSE would get. (That was short enough to cap.) But seriously, reference upon reference for you. I impress even myself sometimes, like doing not one but two hikes in the rain!

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      • NICE TRY! (There are your caps.) They do belong. But, there’s a point where you can be too nit-picky! Ultimately, your editor is right. If you despise them so much, you can leave them out. I’ve read many novels with far more glaring errors than that. Come on, now…you know I’m right.

        I was impressed with all the subtle references too. It almost felt like this blog post was written in a secret code that only I could decipher. Which is TOTALLY COOL! I may not ever get the trivia (Andrew wasn’t even first this time), but by god, I’ve got all these subtle little nods that nobody else will ever get!

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      • “Come on, now…you know I’m right.” Ach! How dare you throw my own words back at me like that? But also, LOL.

        Yes, yes, feel special. And fine, because you are, I’ll put the blasted commas in after hopefully. I mean, hopefully I will.

        Like

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