Friday, October 29, 2010

November News

Heads up! I'm doing Nano this year.




That's it. The end.




No sir. Just kidding, crickets.




Anyway, I've been struggling to stay motivated in my penning of Dropping Like Flies. I believe NaNoWriMo, with its call to writers far and wide to ink out 50,000 words in one month, will lead me to the finish line...or almost. Yeah, I know, I know, you're supposed to start with a NEW book, but I've only written 4 and a 1/2 chapters AND I'll only include NEW content in the word count dump on the site. What do you think I am, a cheater? Like A-Rod with his Whaaat??? slap? Okay. Maybe I'm a little bit of a cheater, but I really need to finish this novel, and isn't the main point of Nano the word count anyway, or accomplishing that goal? For me it is. Once I get my badge, I can then get some feedback on my work.

I think the main thing that slows me down is that I stop to edit everything as I go, and I toil over the chapters I've written again and again. And with Nano, you just write, plow through, get it done. With Nano, you're allowed to write junk. You're allowed to be stupid and ugly with words. You're allowed to let loose.

I'm still seeking representation for Kings & Queens, and I've revamped my query letter, again, since my newest one wasn't getting many bites. Hopefully the new one hooks, but I have a feeling it's the concept and not the plot description. I've spun this thing in multiple ways, heavier on character, heavier on plot, hints of the conspiracy, total exclusion of it, ending hinted at, ending revealed, plot scaled down to bare bones, and it still gets the same results.

That's the main reason I want to finish Dropping Like Flies. Then I can get it critiqued and start editing it. It's just a bit higher-concept than K&Q and I think I'd have an easier in with that one.

Are you doing it this year? If so, add my as a buddy. I'm majesticmadness over there.

I may pop in to update you on my progress and groan about my football team, but if not, catch you on the flip side when the dust and leaves settle.

~ Signing off and sending out cyber hugs.

6 comments:

  1. Hey, Courtney,

    I'm in for the NaNo madness this year, just because. I know how it is with wanting to finish something you've started so badly, 'specially when you seem to have hit a snag with it.

    Wanted to finish last year's NaNo novel by now, but that's not gonna happen. Besides I don't want to finish it in a rush.

    Keep the query percolating 'cause you never know, but again, I understand that your current WIP might be an easier sell when the time comes.

    Gonna go dust off my account at NaNo. See ya at the starting line! :)

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  2. Thanks. Yeah, I'm gonna keep querying as I go, and I do still have one partial outstanding. :)

    Have fun and much success in reaching your goal. Maybe we can do some writing sprints again this year.

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  3. When I saw Wordpress had released this theme I knew, KNEW, you'd be all over it. ;)

    Good luck with NaNo this year. And I guess it's better luck NEXT year for the 'Boys, eh? Hehehehe. Sorry, sorry ... being nice now. :)

    Happy Halloween! :) And I guess I'd better say Happy Thanksgiving now, too! :D

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  4. All over it. I really want to go with some blue and black pic, cuz you can change the background, but then I'd have to convert articles again. This white one has a bit more pizazz than the last, and everyone knows I like to stand out.

    Yep. Boys are done. Get the fork out. They'll be lucky if they get a couple wins in for good measure. I don't expect Kitna to pull a Castle. And the brass likely won't play the 3rd string guy, McGee, even though some fresh blood could be a boost because they're rigid in sticking to the hierarchy and big money players. I guarantee Miles Austin would not have graced the covers of any magazines if draft-pick-costly Williams hadn't gotten hurt.

    Happy New Year to you too! :)

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  5. Good luck, Courtney! I'm definitely not signing up for NaNo because, well, I'm a stay at home mom to a high maintenance/engery 2.5 yr old boy. So, uh, yeah. NaNo + potty training = Everyone Unhappy.

    Look forward to hearing about your progress when you surface again and, hey, I don't consider it cheating if the goal is 50k new words. New words are new words, right? Right.

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  6. Thanks so much, Kimberly, for stopping by and for the cheer. Good luck with the potty training.

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