Time for critiquing was in short supply, but I was back at it today. I had two novels to critique before the conference this month (I'm well on my way). You know what's hard about that? We were asked not to fool with our own manuscripts while we work on the others so that we'll have some perspective when the workshop rolls around.
I'll tell you what, I'm going nuts. Reading the other MSs, I keep noticing things I did or did not do. I have little virtual sticky notes all over my screen to remind me what to fix when I can get back to it. It's making my eyeballs itch.
I decided to distract myself by diving into my new project. A bit. I'm taking character and world building notes, naming people, and starting to recognize songs I'd like on my new soundtrack. Here's what I've got so far.
This one's gonna be fun.
How was your weekend?
Thems definitely some fun songs there, lady. What kind of world are you building?
ReplyDeleteThis one's taking place in this world. I'm going urban fantasy.
DeleteOh man, that would drive me nuts too. Good idea to frolic about in the new story. And fun music!
ReplyDeleteIt's terrible, isn't it?
DeleteI love when I accidentally click the comment box before I've written anything and it says "Comment should not be empty." I always read it as "Content should not be empty," as if it's judging me. I would completely compare my MS with the others. I do that everytime I read a book!
ReplyDeleteOh, The Psychedelic Furs! Nostalgia mixed with horror as I realize how fricking old I really am.
That's right, missy. You just make sure you have some substance to those comments. ;)
DeleteI lurve The Psychedelic Furs. They hold a very special place in my iPod. Also, you can't be fricking old, because you're only a few years older than me and I'm so very far from old. Right?
Very smart to distract yourself. That would be hard. Fun choice of songs.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the new story going to be about?
I'm still fiddling with the story right now, so I'd rather not say. (Me? Superstitious? Nah!) I will say that there will be teenagers involved. And a love triangle (sort of, but not really) and some revenge (sort of) and death (but not really). How's that? ;P
DeleteLol, I love it when you answer like that! So mysterious. ;)
DeleteAnd yet, surprisingly accurate.
DeleteI've been trying not to think of the critiques I'm going to get from you and the other person. I'm just concentrating on giving you the best critique I can. The deadline is looming. I'd better get some more reading done!
ReplyDeleteI can't help it. I see stuff in your stories and I think, "Why didn't I do that?" or "Crap, my turning points aren't this strong." or "See...they didn't lose their voice through the whole middle of the story." You know, stuff like that. And then I want to run back and fix it right away, but I can't. Ugh. The deadline is looming, indeed.
DeleteI love that you get songs for your book soundtrack right at the very beginning! I'm a little jealous, actually.
ReplyDeletePeggy, I'm a soundtracker by nature. They form in my head when I'm reading other people's books, too. Thing is, I always have music playing. So when I'm, say, doing the dishes and working out a character's personality, if a song comes on that makes me think, "Oh, this character would LOVE that song," or "Wow, that's just like this other character," into the soundtrack it goes. I add very few songs after I've started drafting.
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