In the past few months I haven’t touched my current WIP, nor have I started another. I’m determined to learn more about the craft of fiction before I take another crack at it. My plan is to read and study, then plot and map out a story, and then start writing. After I finish my draft, I’ll pick up “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers”and polish it up.
Good plan, right?
My biggest struggle has been deciding WHAT to write – improve something I’ve already written or start something new. I haven’t been looking forward to making this decision, but I don’t need to worry about it anymore. My brain already decided! It didn’t consult my heart, nor did it let me debate or analyze my options. It just started working.
As I read “Plot & Structure” I’m experiencing one “ah-ha!” moment after another. Those “ah-ha!”s are in the form of, “That’s what’s wrong with Callie – make her do this!” and “That’s why the plot wasn’t flowing – change this!”
Every page I read shows me an error in my most recent WIP, then I figure out a way to correct it. I could start a new story, but I’ve got this stuck in my head now. The more I learn, the more I apply it to what I’ve already written…I just can’t help myself!
So there you have it – at some point in the future I’ll be returning to my WIP.
And on that note – HAPPY SUMMER! I’m switching my summer background to cherries in honor of The National Cherry Festival (which happens every July where I live).
adorable background..so summer-y
glad you are feeling motivated – that is such a great feeling, isn't it? As writers, we go in cycles (I think) and it's always fun to feel the fire for a project again.
run with it 🙂
I love those ah ha moments. Hope they keep showing up.
adorable background.
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Good for you, Karin! The cool thing is once you have an idea of where the storyline is going or what you're doing with your characters, the words start pouring out.
Love the cherries! So you live near Traverse City, right? Hope to take a trip up that way soon. It's beautiful in the summer!
How exciting! I hope your revisions go smoothly as you go back to the WIP 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement. I don't know when I'll get to the novel again, but I will.
Yes, I'm up near Traverse City! (Past TC, actually). I don't think there's any place prettier than northern Michigan in the summer…it's the rest of the year that has me pining for the south 🙂