Reading my manuscript in wonderment and horror...

Hey all,
I've been going through my manuscript (slowly) and at times I'm amazed at how FANTASTIC some scenes are. However, other times I want to take my lap top and throw it across the room to destroy the terribleness that some chapters have turned out to be. I know how important the first few chapters are in a novel - especially in a debut novel! They're supposed to be the hook that makes my readers never want the book to end, yet when I read the fourth and fifth chapters, I was highly unimpressed. They lacked the darkness and action they needed and I know that any reader would roll their eyes and drop my manuscript in a second if I didn't do something about it. Luckily, I've been struck by a muse! Fantastic (and frightening - which is what the chapters call for) ideas are rolling through my head and onto my computer screen.
That's the beauty of editing! You can get ideas that you didn't have before that will make the storyline better and cut the crap that's holding the story back.
Well, time to get back at it!

Hello All

I have nothing new to report on the novel front. I've had some changes in my personal life that have left no time or energy for writing. I'm getting back into the swing of things university-wise after a month of holidays. Back to doing a billion readings, essays and other homework... Sorry folks! Hopefully once things settle down, I'll have some news for you.

Happy New Year!

Hello all! I hope you had a great holiday, I know I did. It was so nice to spend time at home with my family and relax. I've had tons of time to work on revisions and I've come up with all sorts of new ideas to improve the story. I'm really excited about it and I can't wait to rewrite those scenes that need some extra spice and get rid of the ones that, well, suck. Yesterday, I worked on it all day until I was mentally exhausted, but it felt really good to get a lot of work done.
My New Year resolution is to have my book completely finished and mailed out before 2011. It's a lot of time, but with school and life in general, who knows where I'll be in a year.
What are your resolutions?

A tentattive title

Hello folks. I'm happy to say that I've been able to work on my novel today and I've picked a tentative title for it. I think I'll call it Black and White because it's the tale of two girls; one girl who's very dark natured and a little crazy and the other is down to earth and real. What do you guys think? Let me know.
I'm going to get back to work :)
Later.

A contest at Bloody Bookaholic and other stuff

Hey all, Sorry it's been so long since my last post but I've been busy with essays, midterms AND finals! University is crazy... I'm busy all the time! I haven't been able to begin revisions on my book yet but my last final is tomorrow so after it's finished, I'm going to get cracking! I'm going to try a new process of revision that will help sort out what needs to be clarified and what needs to be tossed. I actually saw it on Rachel Vincent's blog and it's a tactic she uses to begin her books. She maps out the story using post it notes and puts up every possibility the story has on this board. I think it might actually work for me so I'm going to try it out and make my book as great as it can possibly be.
On another note, there's a fantastic contest going on at bloody bookaholic with tons of great prizes. If you're a broke student like me and christmas has killed your bank account, it would be nice to win a few books, wouldn't it? Just click here and it will take you to the contest.

Till next time! If I don't post before christmas, Merry Christmas!

Celebration time!!!!

Last night I stayed up really late and finally finished my novel! I'm so excited and want to get polishing the manuscript right away. Hopefully I'll have time for that soon.... SO, here is the final word count and chapter count and what not, though it isn't set in stone:
Word count: 56 666
Chapter count: 30
Not as many words as I was hoping, but the important thing is that the story is there and complete! I'm still having issues picking a title, though... I'll let you know if I come up with anything,
Ah, it feels good to finish a project :)

My life in University involves essays, essays, reading and, Oh ya, essays...

Well... I still haven't finished my book, which is really depressing considering I had planned to finish it at the end of August before school began. I'm in my third month of University and things are speeding up, leaving me breathless and with no time to do anything but homework. I recently had an essay handed back to me and my TA said, "Your writing reads like you're talking to an old friend. Stop it." I had to laugh out loud... I find it so difficult to separate myself from my writing in professional essays. When I do, the writing feels boring and sluggish. I really don't like conforming in my writing, but if I want to get a good grade, I'll have to. Lets just say that I'll be happy when Christmas holidays roll around. I plan on sitting around, finishing my book, writing a few shorts and eating Christmas cookies. Oh ya, and candy canes, too. Hopefully I can read a couple good books, too.
On another note, I'd like to congratulate my dad, who has broken into the publishing world by writing articles. I'm very proud to say that I take after him as a writer :) . Good job Pops!
Till next time!