What I've Been Reading
I took Jaime's idea to read a chapter a day through a classic. My choice: Jane Austen's Persuasion. I have to admit, I am having a tough time getting through it. A lot of people love this book, so I will keep on keeping on, but the beginning especially is a bit tedious.
I'm reading a Jill Shalvis book on my ereader. Her books keep being on sale and I keep snapping them up. She's writes contemporary romance, usually with quirky characters in interesting settings. I'm still listening to Longbourn and also reading Amanda Sun's YA contemporary Ink, about an American teen transplanted to Japan.
What I've Been Writing
I just set writing goals for #WriterRecharge, a writing motivation challenge for February hosted by Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Liz Parker, Elodie Nowodazkij, and Sara Biren. I plan to get through draft 2 of my NaNo novel (I'm more than halfway), write an ending, and come up with a list of what needs to be addressed in draft 3.
What Inspires Me Right Now
Reading RWA Golden Heart entries to judge (Romance Writer's national contest for unpublished manuscripts). I entered two manuscripts myself, both YA, so I am ineligible to judge the YA category. I received entries in my last preference category--nine of them. I was hoping for a little variety, but what can you do? So, I was pleasantly surprised when the first entry I read was awesome! It had a great opening with action and a hook. The pacing was great. The writing was really good, which helped given I don't have a lot of experience reading this subgenre. I was so inspired by this unknown author and their very excellent submission. I hope whoever wrote it gets to the finals and eventually to publication. It's hard not to be inspired when you see evidence of a writer doing what we are all trying to do, and succeeds.
What Else I've Been Up To
I'm taking an online course through RWA taught by THE Kelley Armstrong (her urban fantasy book series was just adapted into a SyFy channel show called Bitten). The course covers opening scenes and how to craft a compelling one that hooks. She's using examples from her own work. It's interactive via RWA's webforum, which is pretty cool.
Beginnings are so tough; I rewrite mine all the time. I'm hoping to revisit mine in my current project once I get through my second draft.
Come back Friday for the I See London Blog Tour! The tour includes a $50 Amazon giftcard and London-inspired necklace for a giveaway.
What's up with you this Wednesday?
I've seen this around for ages, but it's my first time posting for Insecure Writer's Support Group! This is a blog hop with a lot of participating blogs, so visit the link to check them out or learn more.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Tonight I'm heading to my in-person critique group (as long as the weather permits! Snow, snow, more snow.) We've been meeting for four or five months now, and I really look forward to sitting down to hash out story details.We submit our pages ahead of time and turn in our in-line text comments in hard copy at the meeting, then discuss.
I'll admit though, it never stops being nerve wracking. Sharing a draft for the first time--yikes. Sometimes what we think is great, isn't. Or what makes sense, doesn't. Our group total is four, which any more would probably be too much. Three of us write YA, one writes New Adult and contemporary romance. We all have different strengths, and it's so interesting what each of us lands on as a critique. After each meeting, my head spins--in a good way! I want to take all the feedback and work in it. I usually TRY to let the feedback sit a few days before returning to my manuscript to tweak.
A strength from our group, besides obviously, the feedback, is I feel like I'm growing as a writer the more I critique. I see what works and what doesn't, and also what is a style choice versus what I would do. I might phrase something different, but I need to be sure my own writing style isn't overtaking someone else's. I'm learning to see bigger picture, and also smaller plot details. Not so much with phrasing and nitpicks--unless the entry is so good that it forces me to nitpick :)
Do you have any writing insecurities on your mind?
Do you have any writing insecurities on your mind?
Posts
Reading a chapter a day of a classic sounds like a great idea. I've read Pride and Prejudice, and most of Sense and Sensibility but I haven't gotten to Persuasion yet.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like an excellent critique group to have. Stay safe in the snow!
What makes Persuasion tough is there isn't a main character like you have with Elizabeth in P&P. This is a collective group and it never gets that much in anyone's POV, it's more like arms-length storytelling, which is very different than what we are used to with modern books. Also, it's starts so slow. The story is in there, but I'm finding I have to dig to get to it. I might see what Netflix has to offer for movie versions and see if that helps!
DeleteI wish I had a critique group, or even critique partners. I've had a few missed connections with would-be critiquers or betas, but nothing that developed into what I constantly see on other writing blogs. I'm relying on people's comments on the excerpts I share in my weekly Sunday hop, and from the former Saturday hop I used to participate in.
ReplyDeleteI've read all of Austen's an embarrassing number of times, lol. I can see what you mean. Also, Persuasion is just painfully awkward for so much of the book, the poor girl...
ReplyDeleteAlso. Your blog header just makes me super happy.
I'm a huge Persuasion fan- it's one of my favorites. Persuasion was the last book she wrote and I think she was even sick while writing so I wonder if maybe it didn't get the same attention or revision that her other books got.
ReplyDeleteThat TV show, Bitten- I assume it's based off Armstrong's adult series?
Yes, Bitten is based on an adult urban fantasy series; I think the first book is called Bitten but I can't remember. She writes a LOT of books.
DeleteSorry to hear the weather got in the way of your weekend. Hope it clears up soon!
ReplyDelete...Okay, confession, I can't stand Austen. My professor at college found it hilarious that the only British person in her English Lit class wasn't a fan. I'd much sooner read Dickens.
I need to follow Jaime's example too on the chapter a day challenge. Les Mis has been sitting on my coffee table untouched for too long now, because I've been having trouble getting into it.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on story beginnings. I think I rewrote the intro of my last ms at least four times. Good luck with getting through the second draft of your NaNo project and with judging all those contest entries! Sounds busy (but fun)!
I've participated in WriteOnCon, the online writers' conference, for the last few years, and one of the things I've really appreciated about it is the fact they have critique forums. Not only do they offer a chance to get feedback on your query and pages, but they give you an opportunity to critique others in a helpful, constructive way. I've learned a lot not only from suggestions offered about my own work, but also from reading other writers' work and trying to figure out why I liked or didn't like what they'd written.
ReplyDeleteAll the best with Writer Recharge, Stephanie! :)
Yes! I love Write On Con. I received a lot of feedback on my query and first page in 2012 (a LOT which was overwhelming) but it helped me see not only what other people saw, but that listening to every voice wasn't always the best answer either. I had to make decisions on which critiques worked. One drawback with internet feedback is you don't know the people and their backgrounds. It has perks though, not all bad by any means. With my in person group, I know their writing background and their strengths and weaknesses.
DeleteI really like Persuasion, it's definitely worth carrying on with.
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky you get to meet your critique partners in person, I'd love that. I'd probably throw up before each meeting from nerves, but it would be nice to meet them :)
Good Luck with WriterRecharge, I'm doing it too, hoping it will motivate me!
Welcome to IWSG! Finding a good critique group is not only really important, but also really rare. Keep hold of them!
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you along for IWSG! Great group of folks behind it for sure...
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, I don't think it EVER gets easier sharing your work. The one thing I've noticed, however, is that I get more confident in dealing with the feedback after. When I first started doing crit groups and such, I was nervous before and positively terrified after. LOL I'd get all this feedback, and it sounded great, but I was never really sure what to apply and how to go about putting it to good use. I was always afraid I'd make the same mistakes over and over.
As I learned, I realized my critters were just guide posts, and their insight was more useful to me as points for reflection and study--if that makes sense. Instead of trying to take every little suggestion or thought and directly apply it, I learned to read between the lines a bit more. Really helped grow my confidence and craft.
Great points. The idea of critique partners as guide posts, yes. It helps to have a few people look at it to note trends and overall impressions in addition to the smaller nitpicks. In our group,it's helped to confirm verbally to each other that we are all capable writers. The focus of the group is crafting the best story, which helps to not take critiques too personally.
DeleteHiya
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about signing up to Writer Recharge. Once I have gone through the rest of the hop, i am going to read some more about it :) Have a great week.
Angel
Welcome to the IWSG!
ReplyDeleteFour sounds like a perfect number. I have three critique partners and that's a good balance of input. Hope you make it with the snow tonight.
I did! It was a welcome change given how much time I've spent shut inside lately.
DeleteThe class you're taking through RWA sounds so great! I hope you get a lot out of it. I think it's super-rad that you're such an active RWA member, too.
ReplyDeleteI used to belong to have a critique partner who lived a few minutes away. We'd meet up about once a month for coffee & critiques or (our favorite) wine, chocolate & critiques. It was such a great relationship, and I learned A LOT. Mostly, I got over my terror of sharing my work, which has helped me so much. I later joined a critique group for kidlit writers. It was a good experience (more of that exposure to the terror), but not a perfect fit.
Wow - that's a ramble! I'll end by saying that it sounds like you've found a great critique group! :)
A chapter a day of a classic sounds like a great idea. My daughter tried to start reading War and Peace this week. I'm not sure she even made it through a chapter! Lol. I saw the writers recharge idea - it looks great! I may be jumping in over the weekend. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to be in a face to face critique group, although it does sound scary. I bet you get so much out of it. Welcome to our group of the insecure! Together, those insecurities seem far smaller. :)
ReplyDeleteshahwharton.com
Love your blog. I thought about doing this Wednesday thing, but decided not to right now. Too darn busy~! But just wanted to let you know that Kelly Armstrong is going to be at my local Sci-fi/Fantasy con in March. I am so excited!!!! I will try to get pics and post them at my blog.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! So far the online course is great, though I missed yesterday so I have to catch up.
DeleteGood luck with the contest! I don't think sharing your work ever gets less scary, but at least everyone's in a similar position! I'd love to have a local writing group.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great group! But, man, it's nerve-wracking enough to get feedback over email. Face to face? Whew! Sounds like a wonderful experience though...lots of room to grow as a writer (not to mention developing thicker skin) :)
ReplyDeleteGood to 'meet' you via IWSG and thanks for commenting on my blog. I'd be so nervous about reading aloud in public something I was working on - even if it was a group I knew well. Good on you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a chockablock post. You sound so focused and busy! I love Jane Austen and her books. Yes, they are slow going by today's standards, but all the more refreshing for that. Try checking out Sparks Notes or some other commentary to help you understand where it is going.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to IWSG . It's a great group and I get a lot out of it. Your crit group sounds awesome.
All the best with your writing projects.
Denise
My writing group disbanded last year. I miss it. I made up the difference by taking novel writing classes, but now that's on hold too. I'll have to find another way to critique and be critique! I'm over from IWSG. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteWriting groups are awesome. I don't have the nerve to go to a face to face but I've participated in a few online. I learned a lot!
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty cool that you've started the Chapter a Day Classic thing. I've been failing epically at that lately, not gonna lie. I'm reading WAR AND PEACE and it's...not super exciting. I really can't wait until I'm done it so I can read something a little slimmer and more interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat Kelley Armstrong course sounds good! I didn't realize that SyFy had put out a series based on her books. I've read her Darkest Powers trilogy and enjoyed it. I'm definitely going to check out her show. That Lady Jane/chocolate shop things sounds AWESOME. Wish I had something like that around here. Have a great week, Stephanie! :-)
I'm another fan of Persuasion, well anything by Jane, actually. It does get more interesting, at least I think so. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you're doing the in-person critique thing. I've mostly had online critters lately, but I was part of face-to-face group once. We all were so different in what we wrote, and it really inspired me to try new things. Plus, it's much more fun to share rejection letters and news in person.