I wish I had more facts today, but sadly, I don't. My daughter was sick most of the week, and since I live in the Arctic now, snow has made us house bound. Hopefully, I will get out today. I thought I could get some writing in, but, yeah, the monsters attacked.
Okay, so I squeezed in a tiny bit of time. WiP #1 is stubborn right now. The revision process is still pretty much at a halt. I'm not sure if I'm just not liking this certain part of the story or I'm not focusing enough. I've had several other ideas hit me, teasing me to write them. I've written some scenes and jotted down notes, even started outlines. But WiP#1 is what I want to finish. One revision, at least. I'm trying to even skip over to other chapters just to feel the MCs again. Argh.
Another issue is my constant need to revise as I write. Yes, you heard me. I think I'm over-analyzing or over -thinking as I go through it, instead of feeling it, like I normally do. I'm re-writing sections of WiP#1 and I keep going over each sentence as I write it. It's kinda frustrating and makes the process feel like it's taking a lifetime. See, that's the impatience talking.
Probably if I just get the right conditions to write, that will help. I get all panicky when this happens. It's the whole impatience thing. Maybe my stubborn competitive spirit. Maybe my flippin' determination. Maybe my insecurity. I also think when I over-think it, well, it just makes my mind a little mushy.
So what's my point. I know you are really confused right now. I'm not only an overwriter, I'm an overthinker. What is the cure to this lovely condition? Not sure. I did do something that might help.
I stepped back. Just like an artist stepping back from a canvas to see the whole picture, I stepped back from the problem chapters to look at the whole story. This made an incredible difference. I planned out how the rest of the revisions/re-writes should go. Since my story is from two POVs, this method is helping me see which MC should speaking in which chapters. I surprised myself at how far I still have to go. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn't wind up being a 500 page book. I also saw where I could go in a totally different direction to possibly make the whole thing shorter. I hear ya, stay on track finish this revision first. I know, I'm keeping my options open.
So, how do you get through problem chapters in revisions?
I wanted to mention a couple of posts I found interesting.
I get this newsletter from Holly Lisle. Here is the blurb on the class she is teaching which, funny enough, has to do with revisions and when you get stuck. The blurb gives you some great info.
This one on voice from Book Ends, LLC. It's short and to the point. Makes sense.
Two posts from Frankie- One on editing yourself, and a photo from Philly Lit Night.
This post from KM Walton --Great advice on what Kate wishes she knew before she queried.
For all the coolest links go to Stina. She's got them all.
This week, I'm trying to also cut down on my internet time. Facebook, twitter, blog. I need to focus. I will be posting just not commenting as much. Not that it's been much lately. So sorry. How this will work will be interesting.
Have a great weekend! Stay warm.
