The best ideas I ever had were always born during nightly hours. Few nights ago, at 3.30 AM, it all of a sudden clicked in my mind! Suddenly it became crystal clear how I should connect the different story lines, how to model the book. Do you know the feeling being in the middle of reading a great, interesting book and not being able to put it aside? That is exactly how I feel about writing now. I simply cannot stop anymore! Words, sentences, paragraphs, chapters... it feels like they have been there all along and suddenly got the start sign to come out.
So household, social events and social media are all on hold (never having too much trouble with the first one, by the way): I am a writer with a mission now. With new self- esteem and a clear story to tell. The comments of my friends did me lots of good as well. It gave me just the confirmation I was looking for. What is nice as well is that these people actually know what I am working on now. I have created expectations, on purpose. Now it is up to me not to let people down. Exciting!
The one who has not read anything yet is my Italian friend, on who's life the novel is based. In the whole process, this might be the most scary step I have to take: letting her read it. Even scarier than handing it to a publisher. Will she be happy with the way I describe her, her life story and the people in her life? Of course I have chosen fiction to be able to add, enlarge or leave out things to make the story more interesting, but in the end it is about her and the people around her. Maybe you can imagine this idea makes me pretty nervous. That will be the test of all tests. But first... some more writing to do! Love, M.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A Push, Comment & Boost
Every writer has his/her own speed and structure to work. Some are very disciplined; they write a steady number of hours or words each day. I also intended to do that, but unfortunately, that kind of structure and discipline just isn't me. Sometimes I am writing several hours a day, other days I do not put one word in writing. Go with the flow, that's typically me. The good thing is that I am not bound to any deadlines yet, so I can take it easy. But easy is usually no good for me, I know from experience. When deadlines appear in sight, that's when my mind works full speed. That is when I am most creative and productive!
Last week a friend of mine asked me how much I had written so far. Good question, because, as I am writing on more than one storyline and chapter 'at the same time', it looks more like a jigsaw puzzle than a book at the moment! Was I interested in letting a publisher have a look at it and give some specialized feedback, was his next question. Ok, now he had my full attention! What is more interesting than to have an expert give feedback on your work? What a wonderful opportunity! So when would I be ready, he kept on pushing. I hesitated a little more to give a hard commitment at once; I had to think carefully about what would be doable. Few minutes later we agreed that I will hand him 150 pages by May 1st and he will take it to the publisher. This was exactly the push I needed!
I found out last week that it is pretty scary to let someone read your work! I have given the first two chapters to few of my best friends to read. Friends that I trust to read it in a critical way and to give me serious feedback, not to spare my feelings. My objective is to make a great book, not to be flattered. As writing is something you very much do in your own small world, you simply don't see things anymore at one point. I got back some very valid and valuable tips that I will definitely process! Luckily the general description on what they had read so far was 'very cinematic', 'written in an attractive way' and 'I would like to read more'. This is what friends are for: a push, a comment and a boost at the right time! Tnx, my dearests! Love, M.
Last week a friend of mine asked me how much I had written so far. Good question, because, as I am writing on more than one storyline and chapter 'at the same time', it looks more like a jigsaw puzzle than a book at the moment! Was I interested in letting a publisher have a look at it and give some specialized feedback, was his next question. Ok, now he had my full attention! What is more interesting than to have an expert give feedback on your work? What a wonderful opportunity! So when would I be ready, he kept on pushing. I hesitated a little more to give a hard commitment at once; I had to think carefully about what would be doable. Few minutes later we agreed that I will hand him 150 pages by May 1st and he will take it to the publisher. This was exactly the push I needed!
I found out last week that it is pretty scary to let someone read your work! I have given the first two chapters to few of my best friends to read. Friends that I trust to read it in a critical way and to give me serious feedback, not to spare my feelings. My objective is to make a great book, not to be flattered. As writing is something you very much do in your own small world, you simply don't see things anymore at one point. I got back some very valid and valuable tips that I will definitely process! Luckily the general description on what they had read so far was 'very cinematic', 'written in an attractive way' and 'I would like to read more'. This is what friends are for: a push, a comment and a boost at the right time! Tnx, my dearests! Love, M.
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