Linda spent the day finishing up her reading of my manuscript.
So I have 3 out of the four copies I gave out, back sitting on my desk. (Not sure what's happening with the 4th.....)
Anyway, I'm going to make another attempt to improve the book. I'm not going to say the "last" attempt anymore, because who knows? But a good solid attempt.
It may not be fixable, but I've got to try. Then on to the next book...that's all I can do, is try.
I may not start for about a month, because I have traveling to do in the meanwhile, but I'm willing and able to get going again.
Linda's comment was, "You write really well, but the story has problems."
It's funny. When I first started writing years ago, almost all the focus was on the writing -- that is, the stringing of words together, the choice and sequence of words. The story? That just seemed secondary.
Now -- I'm not as worried about the words, but much more concerned with the story. So much so, that I think I probably need to at least try to work out the story before I start, to some extent.
Problem is, I really do discover the story through the process. Which may mean that I'll always struggle with structure and background and plot.
But at least I'm back to writing.
I'm thinking that writing comes from the writer -- not from the response.
I'm self-identifying as a writer again, and I like it.
***********
I may have mentioned this before, I can't remember. But gardening is a more expensive activity than you might think.
My garden looks rather sparse, despite spending a fair amount of money on plants. Of course, I'm measuring it against my Mom's fabulously lush garden, which is an impossible goal; I'll never have her green thumb, or her passion, or even the time she had to invest.
Still, for all the work, it seems pretty skimpy.
I used to be able to get plants from Mom, and always filled the much smaller gardens I had in the rentals I lived in. Never realized it was expensive. (Mom owned a nursery.)
I figure in another few years, it will look better. But right now, it's more like a "first-draft" version of a garden.
**********
So I have 3 out of the four copies I gave out, back sitting on my desk. (Not sure what's happening with the 4th.....)
Anyway, I'm going to make another attempt to improve the book. I'm not going to say the "last" attempt anymore, because who knows? But a good solid attempt.
It may not be fixable, but I've got to try. Then on to the next book...that's all I can do, is try.
I may not start for about a month, because I have traveling to do in the meanwhile, but I'm willing and able to get going again.
Linda's comment was, "You write really well, but the story has problems."
It's funny. When I first started writing years ago, almost all the focus was on the writing -- that is, the stringing of words together, the choice and sequence of words. The story? That just seemed secondary.
Now -- I'm not as worried about the words, but much more concerned with the story. So much so, that I think I probably need to at least try to work out the story before I start, to some extent.
Problem is, I really do discover the story through the process. Which may mean that I'll always struggle with structure and background and plot.
But at least I'm back to writing.
I'm thinking that writing comes from the writer -- not from the response.
I'm self-identifying as a writer again, and I like it.
***********
I may have mentioned this before, I can't remember. But gardening is a more expensive activity than you might think.
My garden looks rather sparse, despite spending a fair amount of money on plants. Of course, I'm measuring it against my Mom's fabulously lush garden, which is an impossible goal; I'll never have her green thumb, or her passion, or even the time she had to invest.
Still, for all the work, it seems pretty skimpy.
I used to be able to get plants from Mom, and always filled the much smaller gardens I had in the rentals I lived in. Never realized it was expensive. (Mom owned a nursery.)
I figure in another few years, it will look better. But right now, it's more like a "first-draft" version of a garden.
**********