Last week was a bit of break for me, writing-wise, which was great because I needed it. I just finished a revision and I needed to get it out of my head so I can start another revision fresh. This week I'm going to read over my work and jot down places that need work. That's not to say I haven't done any writing - I've brainstormed ideas for my YA short story (sorry, I don't feel secure with any of them to talk about them where others can read. I'll likely change my mind) and I worked on my other novel some.
Yes, I have 2 novels in the works. My thesis is the one I'm revising like a madwoman. But I have another one I've worked on for almost 4 years and am trying to get published. It's been rejected a lot, so to cover my bases I gave my manuscript to some readers. One woman sent back some great tips for strengthening my writing, so that's what I've been doing. She also stayed up until 3 in the morning to finish reading my book. Best compliment ever!
Her tips included some places in the plot that were weak and a little pointless and she advised me to get rid of as many adverbs as I can. You bet I will, just as soon as I get a chance. For anyone wondering, this other novel is called "Nightshade" and is about a high school senior who goes into other people's dreams at night. Because of this gift, he sees things he wasn't meant to see and has to decide how much of what he sees is fact and how much is fantasy.
I think this week will be a big one for me, aka, I will do a LOT of writing. I did some reading the past week: "Matched" by Ally Condie and FINALLY "The Beyonders" by Brandon Mull. Both were good for different reasons. "Matched" reminded me of a more militant "The Giver," with a spin for teenage girls. "The Beyonders" satisfied me and I admire Brandon Mull's ability to mix humor with people dying left and right. Sounds weird, but I think it's a good skill to have.
ha ha . That is funny--humor and death all wrapped up together. Nightshade sounds great and that is a great compliment. When someone can't put a book down, you know you're onto something.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Nightshade! Sounds fascinating! Have you ever read "Of Two Minds"? (by Matas and Nodelman) It has been a long time since I've read it, so it might be terrible...but it does the same kind of mental/reality driven exploration. It is such an underutilized theme! Get it published! I want to read it already!
ReplyDeleteAllison, thanks for sharing with us your post. I can think of nothing more difficult than writing a novel, and the fact that you are working on two right now gives me the same feeling as the time I watched a pregnant lady try to keep her twin two year old boys in line at the doctor's office. The two kids were running around switching on and off lights, wrestling, and running and screaming. The entire time, I just sat their and said to myself "Could I do that?" Good luck with them both.
ReplyDeleteI currently have The Beyonders sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. Sometimes it gives me one of those I'm lonely and want pity looks, but I just ignore it. After all, I'm the one who taught my books how to do that look in the first place.