WHAT I'M READING
You guys, I'm FINALLY reading Jane Eyre! This has been on my list for ages, and lately I've been feeling some author shame that I haven't red such an important classic. I meant to just read a chapter or two, but read through the first 100 pages Sunday afternoon.
What kicked this off was the YA book Always Emily, a fictional account of the lives of Emily and Charlotte Bronte--and they solve a mystery!
WHAT I'M WRITING (+ A WRITING GOAL)
I see the light ... the light at the end of the manuscript. I keep thinking it's near, and then I go back and nitpick before moving forward. My goal this week is to either write to the end OR at least make progress by filling in what's needed. Of course I'm going to need to go back, but right now, I need to move forward. For my own sanity.
If you're looking for writing inspiration, hop over to #PitMad on twitter today (3/11). You will either be inspired by the ideas writers are pitching to prospective agents and editors, or it will light the fire beneath you to finish a project so you can pitch. Add me to the latter. OK, to both.
My RWA chapter is hosting a workshop this Friday and Saturday--we're bringing in agent and author Donald Maass for Writing 21st Century Fiction. His book Writing the Breakout Novel was one of the first writing craft books I read, and the sage advice to get characters out of the car and out of the kitchen is one I regularly apply and pass on (it's painfully true). I've heard one of his speaking engagements from an RWA conference recording, and he has some really interesting writing exercises to pull as much emotion out of your characters and plot as possible. I'm looking forward to it, plus it's a chance to hang out with writer buddies :)
Please share what's going on with you this week!
WHAT ELSE IS NEW
My RWA chapter is hosting a workshop this Friday and Saturday--we're bringing in agent and author Donald Maass for Writing 21st Century Fiction. His book Writing the Breakout Novel was one of the first writing craft books I read, and the sage advice to get characters out of the car and out of the kitchen is one I regularly apply and pass on (it's painfully true). I've heard one of his speaking engagements from an RWA conference recording, and he has some really interesting writing exercises to pull as much emotion out of your characters and plot as possible. I'm looking forward to it, plus it's a chance to hang out with writer buddies :)
Please share what's going on with you this week!
Posts
I'm a big fan of Donald Maass and his craft books. I attended one of his week long Breakout Novel Conferences and it was so fantastic, I'm going to another one. :)
ReplyDeleteJANE EYRE is one of my favorite "classic" reads. :)
I chose Jane Eyre as my novel for the novel unit in my seventh grade English class, which was on the eighth grade honors level. I got as far as Chapter 35 before I just couldn't take it anymore, and pulled an 82 on the test by picking the essay on how Jane is an early feminist. I got an 80 on the essay, and two extra points for character IDs. I don't know if I'd be less bored if I attempted rereading it as an adult, though I'm still no fan of the flowery, unnecessarily descriptive language in 19th century literature. It also still squicks me out how Mr. Rochester is old enough to be Jane's dad.
ReplyDeleteSo far, most of Jane Eyre has been accessible, save for the very first page I couldn't quite figure out what was going on, and a few times the description gets very detailed in long sections of text. I imagine based on what you write that reading this again as an adult would be a totally different experience. I started Pride and Prejudice two times as a teen and once in early 20s and couldn't get more than a few chapters. I read it in my mid-20s and loved it.
DeleteIt is quite a bit of a shock in our modern times with the age differences. I really liked the most recent film version--Michael Fassbender certainly helped edge me to favor Mr. Rochester.
Writing the Breakout Novel is one of the best writing resources I have. So helpful!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the manuscript! :)
I hope I have time for some PitMad retweeting later.
ReplyDeleteGood luck reaching the light ;)
Yay for finally getting to read JANE EYRE! I need to read it, too. Along with checking out ALWAYS EMILY. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting to THE END! Always a great feeling!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun weekend! Enjoy.
Your workshop sounds AMAZING. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteThat workshop sounds great. I remember going to his website and looking at all of his prompts. They were very helpful. Have fun!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, that Donald Maass workshop sounds fantastic! I wish I lived somewhere that had writing workshops, conferences, and so on. Hope it's great! And good luck powering through to the end of your story. I know what you mean about the need to move forward for sanity's sake. That's me too. I will often leave a note to myself to [insert something here] just so I can move on without getting hung up on one part of the story. It means more work later, but at least you're moving forward, right? Have an awesome week, Stephanie! And have a great time at that workshop! :D
ReplyDeleteOooo, I definitely need to read Always Emily. Awesome. Hope your writing goal for the week is creeping closer!
ReplyDelete