Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Promises, promises (or Novel 101)

Hello out there . . . anybody still reading this blog? Can't say that I'd blame you if you're not. I have all these good intentions . . . and I'm apparently busily paving a new road to hell with them.



Anyway, my apologies for so few posts this spring. As I might have mentioned a few times, I'm in the midst of writing a book. Note that I left off the prefix "re-". That was on purpose. I've rewritten/revised/re-imagined this particular MS several times over the past two years. And in April, after some soul-searching, and some "poor me/why me" complaining, and some wine, I decided to undertake it all over again. I blathered about that here.



And ever since, that's what I've been doing. Every morning I trundle up to my 3rd floor office, coffee cup in hand, open my laptop, put my scent-of-the-day candle on my candle-warmer thingie, and start writing. 1000+ words later (or more. Today was 2106!), I run spell-check, hit save, and jot down some notes about where I'm headed in the MS tomorrow. I've told my agent she'll have a finished draft by the middle of July. And now I've also told you the same thing. So I urge you to nag me about it. Seriously. I'm approaching this with more discipline and focus than ever before. Not that I ever thought writing a book was easy. (No, I've done it. I know how hard it is.) But, I'm learning it's not just the book or the writing or the ideas or any one thing. It's all of it and more. The timing has to be right, the story has to be true, and the writing has to have its own voice. Do I think I've hit that trifecta? Yes. Could I still be wrong? Of course. I certainly have been before. But this is what I do. I'm a writer, ergo I write.

Two of my writing pals have recently posted about their own writing processes (and hey, here's a shock, more eloquently then I have), so I urge you to check out Kristy's post and Patry's whole cool new blog.

Now, I ask for a bit more indulgence . . . I'm off to make myself some iced coffee so I can go sit on my porch and read what I wrote this morning. I'll be back to posting more regularly one of these days, too. But for now, my writing energy is focused elsewhere.

12 comments:

Katie said...

Novel = more important than blog posting. Good luck, I know it will be fabulous!

Kristy Kiernan said...

Thanks for the link love, Judy, and I can't wait to read the new book!

Judy Merrill Larsen said...

Hey Katie and Kristy--thanks for the positive thoughts!

Janet said...

Good for you! I've been rather stuck, myself.

You made me promise to come back and tell you when I got a book deal. I'm not there yet, but I do have an agent now, so I'm feeling optimistic.

Judy Merrill Larsen said...

Janet-What fantastic news! Thanks for letting me know . . . continue to keep me posted, okay?

Janet said...

*salutes* Yes, ma'am.

Bev Marshall said...

Judy, you may recall that I wrote Right As Rain FIVE times before I got it right. I admire you more than I can say as I certainly know what it takes to keep on keeping. If the stuck day comes (and shoot maybe it won't) remember that I'm your fan knowing the gift of your talent in print is something precious to look forward to. ONWARD!!!!

debra said...

Good to see you again, Judy! Am so glad you're continuing to move forward. Iced coffee on the porch sounds good.

I stayed home from the studio today to do some shopping and to continue to plant Garden Henge. I've been working on a new body of work. Feel good.

Tomorrow morning will bring iced coffee for me to.

larramiefg said...

If you focus and Just Do It, Judy, we'll reap the rewards when reading your next novel.

Here's to summer writing!

Daisy said...

Keep at it! When it's ready, let us know so we can head to the bookstores. The local independents, of course.

Kathryn Magendie said...

Gawd, I understand - I'm writing the second one and neglecting all manner of things....lawdy be.

You nag me; I'll nag you....laughing.....

Carleen Brice said...

That's what I need: a deadline and nagging! At the risk of totally distracting you, why aren't you on Facebook? That's where the cool kids are hanging out lately. :)