WiP Wednesday

First of all, thank you to everyone who stopped by the blog tour of love on Monday! I've been conversing with Mary Pearson - I feel so cool just saying that! - and she has agreed to personalize the signed book and send it directly to the winner. Is she Made of Awesome or what? So be sure and read the last post and enter if you haven't already. You have until noon mountain time next Monday.

I've decided to jump on the WiP Wednesday bandwagon. I think it will help keep me on track and accountable. I've been going through some personal challenges lately and my writing has taken a nose-dive, partly because I'm deep in an everything-I-write-is-absolute-crap funk.

But I do know that I'm a much better re-writer than I am a writer, and I'm a firm believer in the idea that you can't revise a blank page. So, I'm ready to get back to work. I might even *gulp* send something to my critique group this week. And those of you who were at Elana Johnson's boot camp table or took her killer query workshop a couple of weeks ago know how scary that is! ;o) It's not just her, though - our whole group is pretty blunt about telling you when your stuff sucks.

My goal for this week is to get something ready to send to my group, and to work on Free Agents every day. I've also decided to start first-drafting by hand. I'm hoping this will help me in several ways. 1- I won't be able to obsessively check my wordcount every 5 minutes. 2- I won't be able to obsessively check my email every 5 minutes. 3- I won't be as likely to obsessively re-read and tweak what I just wrote every 5 minutes.

Are you starting to see a pattern here? :-D

I also hope it will help me let go and really feel like this is a first draft and it's not set in stone and it's okay if it sucks. I get so hung up on trying to write it perfect the first time, but by writing by hand, I know I can change it as I'm typing it in. It gives me a built-in second draft, basically.

We'll see how it goes, anyway. I'll report back next Wednesday.

Now get off the Internet and go write something. That's what I plan to do. :o)

6 comments:

  1. I might have to jump on this bandwagon too. I need some accountability. It sounds like you've got some great goals. :) Good luck with the writing!

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  2. I'm a huge listmaker, and I find setting goals for myself helps me get a lot more done. Good luck with everything!

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  3. "I get so hung up on trying to write it perfect the first time"

    Me too... I think sometimes that technology can be a curse when it comes to distractions for writers.

    I need to just write, and know it is meant to be perfected during the next few rewrites. *sigh*

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  4. Goals are the ONLY way I get things done - that and amazing crit buds!

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  5. I love having goals! I can't imagine writing without them. Sometimes I think I drive Laura crazy!

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  6. Sounds like a good plan. I might need to jump on that one, too. Good luck with your goals.

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