What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly themed post for readers and writers, so y’all know what I’ve been up to and I find out what you’ve been working on! It was created by created by Jaime and Erin.
Wanna join in? Leave a link to your What’s Up Wednesday post in the widget on Jaime´s blog.
What I’m Reading
I’m reading LOVE LETTERS TO THE DEAD right now, which has a lovely voice but isn’t too gripping. I recently finished THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA, which I absolutely loved, and HALF A KING which I reviewed here.
What I’m Writing
Just settling back into writing now that the move has settled, and I’m building up some good forward momentum with my big revision. Looking forward to getting that moving!
What Works For Me
Over on one of my usual haunts, AbsoluteWrite, we got talking about what process works for us. It got me examining my process, which looks like this:
My Ideal Process:
1. Write a very quick, rough first draft. I aim for 50k words in 30 non-consecutive days, and bulk it up significantly in edits.
2. Leave the book to rest for at least a month. Write a fast draft of another story in the meantime.
3. Majorly revise the book
4. Give my awesome beta readers the book. It’s not worth getting distracted by other projects here (I have quick beta readers!) so this is prime video gaming/TV catch-up time.
5. Majorly revise based on beta feedback.
6. Polish the story with a round of copyediting.
7. Query book to agents.
Then…
ROUTE A:
8a. Edit the fast draft created in step #2 or another resting draft, following the process from step #3 onwards while keeping the first polished project on submission.
ROUTE B:
8b: Start a brand new rough first draft, following the process from step #1 onwards, while keeping the first project out on submission.
NEVER STOP READING AT ANY POINT. ALWAYS FIND TIME FOR BOOKS.
Does it always work out as planned? Hell no, almost never. Life gets in the way, fast drafts get left for so long I lose the connection to them, or edits carry on for so long I get sick of the project, or I get too caught up in my own world and neglect my reading pile. These factors all affect whether I choose ROUTE A or ROUTE B at the end of things.
But the above process is what I try to aim for: a constant cycle of forward momentum,
What Else I’ve Been Up To
Not much at the moment. Just reading, editing, and getting comfy in the new home. Still got a ton of boxes to unpack, but we’re all settled in now (and I *finally* have my desktop PC back! I can write properly again!) and it feels grand.
Here’s some photos from our new neck of the woods! It’s a beautiful area.
Oooh, so pretty! What a lovely home you have.
Life has a way of interrupting the perfect writing routine. I agree that fast drafts are the best. If something lingers, it doesn’t tend to work out so well for me ^^;
Have a great week :D
Yeah, I have the exact same problem! Once I’m done this revision I’m actually going to have to kick-start the love for a manuscript I haven’t touched in over a year… eep!
Have a great week too!
I try to always have a draft on the go, too. I hate that uncertain between-project stage, so I’m always working on a draft even if I have to put it aside when edits/ beta notes on another project come in. It’s the reason I’ve written so many drafts this year, even if most of them are in dire need of serious revision!
Lovely photos! ^_^ Glad to hear everything worked out with the move!
Thanks Emma! Your process is miles ahead of mine, I hope to reach that level some day. :D
Oooo… the scenes from your new digs look absolutely idyllic, Emma! I’m glad your settling in and can get back to your writing schedule. All the best with it! :)
Thank you Colin! :D
I wish I could fast draft, but I’m a slow writer. I need to take my time to mull things over. A “constant cycle of forward momentum” is a great goal to aim for! I’ll have to remember that description. Love the pics of your new home. Gorgeous! Have a super week! :)
Thank you Erin!