About Killing Your Darlings

I don't guess the advice ever really sank in for me.  I mean, I never had a problem cutting text -- even huge chunks if I knew it'd improve the story.

Now it's different though.  I'm working on another revision and I'm having to cut some of my very favorite lines.  It hurts.  No, it more than hurts, it's eating away at my soul.  (Or maybe I just enjoy being dramatic.  You know.  It's more fun that way.)

I guess I've finally discovered the real meaning of the advice to kill your darlings.  My book *will* wind up stronger because of these cuts, and I have no delusions about that, but I still find myself trying to find places to slide the clever little turns of phrase in elsewhere when they just need to DIE.

DIE, DARLINGS, DIE!!!  *jabs them with red pen leaving blood stains on the page*

Ehm.  Getting carried away now.

My point is, I've learned that not everything I write can be considered my darling -- because some of those words?  Well, I don't like them a bit, and they're fun to rip through.  Then there are the ones that sting as you drag a line through their perfect letters.  Those are the darlings.  I have to keep reminding myself it's okay to kill them.  My story will be better for it.

How do you handle killing darlings? 

About Those Edits

With heavy revisions done comes the final phase for a WIP -- the edits. The time where you get to spend hours debating over comma placement, verb usage, and page formatting.

Yay.

So, not the most exciting part of writing is it? No. Admittedly not.

My first thought when I got to this stage was: How can I make this more exciting?

The answer? Having the whole MS printed and bound. It has a cover page and all! It cost me about $30 at Office Depot to have the whole thing printed on good quality paper, comb bound, with card stock front and back covers. Not too shabby. I also bought myself a new red pen.

I get so excited over office supplies. I can't help it.

Something I read a while back that I put to use for these edits -- before I printed the pages, I changed the font. I had read on kidlit.com once that changing the font can trick your eyes into seeing more errors because you're not used to the way it looks.

It works! For real!

What do you all do to get excited over edits? Just push through or try and make it fun?

It's really so interesting to go back and read the whole story through. There were even parts that surprised me -- that I'd forgotten about. It's surreal. I still find it odd to say, "I've written a book." To go back and read the whole thing -- well, it's just plain amazing.

Now, back to being a nervous wreck about making sure it is perfect. My goal is to have it done by Sunday so it can go through one final beta read-through before the conference.

Mommy Monday - No!

Here's my thought. It seems like every weekend I have plans to finally sit down for a whole day uninterrupted and finish my final read-through.

But I have the "yes" gene.

I say yes way too much, and only because I don't want to make someone feel bad. Not because I mean it. This weekend for example. Wednesday evening I got a call inviting me to a birthday dinner Friday night. So, I said yes I'd love to come. And I enjoyed myself and celebrating a birthday is always necessary.

Then Saturday morning I got a call inviting me to the movies. Like, get up and go right now. It was with my sister and we haven't hung out as much lately as normal, so I reluctantly said yes. Did I have fun? Absolutely. Was that 5 hours wasted that I could have spent on my MS? Yep! *headdesk*

Saturday night there was a party at my BFF's house. Sunday I got up and had to clean the house and do laundry.

By the time I was able to do any edits, I only had time for a chapter.

I need to take lessons from Super Spawn. If you offer him something that he doesn't really want to do he says, "NO!" If you try to coerce him into it he says, "NO!" No matter what you say to him if the child doesn't want to do something he just by darn isn't going to do it.

Maybe there's a lesson there for mommy. If I really want to get through these final edits I need to start telling people (and myself) no.

Friday Fun

Well, my lovelies, I'm almost to 50 followers now! I've got some really great ARCs (and chocolate!) for a giveaway once I hit the magical number. They're not YA, but they're full of awesome.



Speaking of awesomeness -- I got a new job this week! It's a step forward for me career-wise, but I'm so nervous! My point is, I don't know if it will effect my posting habits or not. I have set up mobile blogging (yay!) so I can post on the run, but it will be without images until I can get to a computer.

Fair warning.

The new job starts July 12, so wish me luck!

I've also delved into some deep revisions of the ending of my novel. *sigh* Decided to change the whole thing, which means the word count is about to sky-rocket. Maybe not since I'll be taking a bunch out. But my goal is to have it finished before I start the new job. *cringe* That's an overly ambitious goal, but I'll do my best to stick to it.

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July weekend. Try not to get sunburned. It's supposed to rain here, but it always rains in Florida during the summer. Seriously. Every day. Maybe Super Spawn and I will finally make it to see Toy Story 3.

Tipsy Tuesday- A Good Critique

A good critique is so much more than reading someone's work and saying, "I love it!" It's more than comma placement and sentence structure. Sure, those elements are involved, but a good critique goes so much further.



Here are a list of a few things I really focus on when giving a critique:

1. Tone - Does the character "sound" the same through the MS.
2. Pacing- Do I need more information to make the scene stronger? Do I need less?
3. Plot Holes- Mention anything that doesn't make sense. A quick "Where did this come from?" or a "I didn't know spaceships existed in ancient Egypt" will help the author see the missing link.
4. Sentence Structure- Sentences need to flow. If you stumble, note it.
5. Grammar- Yeah, yeah, we all need grammar help now and then.
6. Characterization- Do you connect with the character? Or need something more to make them "pop" for you?
7. Consistency- Suzy can't start the story with mousy brown hair and brown eyes to end it as a blond, blue-eyed goddess...unless there's an explanation for it in the story.
8. Interest- Hey, it needs to be interesting. If you're snoozing through a chapter the author needs to know! Everything is fixable in draft form.
9. Positives- Everyone needs encouragement in this business. So when I see something I love, I note it. First, I don't want the author to change it. Second, it helps soften the blow of all the other comments.

Critiquing can be hard. You don't want to make the author feel bad about their work, but you don't want to not mention things you notice are wrong either. So, I follow the sandwich rule. Something nice, something to work on, something else nice.

And you have to remember when you get that critiqued file back not to panic. They don't hate your story, they want to help it be all it can be.

Do you guys approach a critique the same way? What works best for you? As authors, do you appreciate this kind of in-depth evaluation? I know I do!

And what's best in summer time? Lemonade -- with a little vodka!

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 8 cups ice
• 4 ounces vanilla-infused vodka, recipe follows*
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 lemon, sliced into rings
• 1 lime, sliced into rings

Directions

In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a simmer. Cook until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool.

In a large pitcher, fill with ice. Stir in simple syrup, vodka, juice, lemon and lime slices.

*for kid-friendly version, omit alcohol.

Vanilla-infused Vodka:

• 1 liter vodka
• 2 vanilla beans

Split beans lengthwise and add to vodka bottle. Let infuse overnight in a cool dark place. Strain into another sterilized bottle.

Friday Fun

Turns out I'm a cupcake!! See! (It's because of my affection for exclamation points, isn't it?)

Holly's Result: Cupcakes

on quiz: What Kind of Writerly Snack Are You?

Who: Industry insiders. When: To celebrate. To sob. At meetings. Whenever anyone's headed out for an errand - Hey! Grab me a Sprinkles on your way back! Why: Tender cake and lush frosting? Yes, please. You know what makes the publishing world go 'round.

Fun quiz! Thank you YAHighway for always bringing the awesome! It seems fitting -- we're having cupcakes at Super Spawn's party tomorrow.




On another note...don't you love it when your crit partner is EXACTLY right and you have to go back and change a bajillion things in your MS?

I do!! lol Sure, it's work, but it's so worth it. A special shout out and thanks goes to Susan today! She is so right.

Cupcakes for her too!


Okay, before I get distracted by more yummy snack talk. Most helpful post this week came from agent Mary Kole at Kidlit.com. This post is about tricking yourself for better revisions. A genius idea, really. She says to change the font on your MS and print the pages. It makes you slow down because the words look different, which helps you see errors more easily.

I'm totally trying it, once I finish this round of revisions, for a final polish.

That's all for today! Have a great weekend, my lovelies, and I'll see you on Monday.

Tipsy Tuesday- Character Development

Here is a simple list of questions I ask of each character to help form them, and their personalities, in my mind.

1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Good, bad, or in-between?
4. How would you react to a family member's death?
5. Are you vengeful?
6. What motivates you?
7. What is your goal?
8. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
9. Do you have any tics or habits?
10. If you could do anything, what would it be?

Obviously there are many more questions that go into character development, but these are my basics. What I start with when a new character arrives.

What about you guys? What kind of things do you want to know right off the bat about your characters?

And for your tipsy pleasure...



Mai Tai- Myer's Rum, melon liqueur, triple sec, pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice, and grenadine.

Mommy Monday- Tantrum Hell

It was one of those mornings. Super Spawn was acting like the spawn of Arch Nemesis instead of his sweet-as-pie self. Screaming, crying, throwing himself in the floor...it was full-on tantrum time. I wanted to scream and rip my hair out as I rushed around the house struggling to get ready for work.

I begged. I pleaded. I threatened. I promised toys and cookies.

Nothing worked.

We drive up to the sitter's house and then it is total melt-down: I-cannot-live-without-mommy-so-I-must-scream-and-make-her-feel-as-guilty-as-possible.




I was forced to leave him, hysterical, in the sitter's arms and dash out the door.

Boy do I feel like slime.

Then the wheels started turning in my head. Don't manuscripts do exactly the same thing? I think they do. I've seen them referred to as "teenagers" before. In my humble opinion, I must disagree. They're more like rotten three-year-olds who don't want you to ever leave them alone so you can work or sleep or eat.

Your characters bug you in the shower, in the car, at the table -- taunting you. Then they won't just behave and have all these wild ideas about where a scene should go.

Eventually you get so fed up you don't know what to do with them. So you thrust them into the hands of a trusted Beta and drive away to the sounds of their cries, with tears stinging your eyelids.

But when you go back to get them, that manuscript is all smiles and cheer. It runs to greet you and characters fling their arms around you with reckless abandon.

And you remember again why you do it all.

So, in a way, my manuscript is like having another toddler in the house. Now that's a scary thought.

Mommy Monday- Sleeping In

So, obviously, I've got a young child at home who often finds ways to hinder my writing time. He also finds ways to inspire me.

I was sitting there last night, watching him sleep, holding my notebook and pen. I don't know why, but when I'm having a problem getting the words out -- or my plot has backed me into a corner -- all that helps is a notebook and pen.

There I was, staring at his peaceful face, when it came to me. The perfect beginning for my next project. I wrote several pages, getting all the starting details out of this story that continues to whisper to me. Try as I might to put off writing so I can finish my revisions, I just can't seem to do it.

Do any of you have that issue? When you try and focus on one story, you get bombarded by new ideas? I've come up with three novel ideas since I told myself I wouldn't write more until I finished my revisions. lol One of them is already over 30k words.

The point, Holly! Get to the point!

Okay, I went way off topic there. Sorry, this is how my brain works...and it does this while I'm writing especially. One idea leads to another to another to another. Before I know it I'm 60 miles from where I started, in a whole different book!

My question today is this: Where do you think best? Where do your best ideas come from?

Mine come quietly, once Super Spawn is asleep and my eyelids threaten to close.

Friday Fun

Hello, my lovelies! I hope you are all having a wonderful Friday!

So, I was tripping along the internet this morning to my usual haunts, and came across a most excellent article (at the YAHighway, thanks girls!). It is about invisible tension and was written by Donald Maass.

Linky.

Now, I don't know if you have ever read his book Writing the Breakout Novel, but you should. Also, he's super nice in person. And funny. I had the pleasure of meeting him at a conference this year. Definitely check the article out.

Also, agent Mary Kole had an excellent blog post this week about Newer vs. Established agents. Anyone considering finding an agent in the future should read it.

Another? Yes, yes, I have another. The GotYA ladies had an excellent post this week on Titles, Queries, and Pages everyone should check out.

In other news -- I've made it half way through revisions now with super critique partner Susan! It's all fun and stuff, but I can't wait to be done! lol But then, when I'm done -- well, then what will I do? Oh, yeah, maybe finish that other WIP sitting on my hard drive. It glares at me once in a while and I'll placate it with a few words. That won't work for much longer though. And the query -- I'll have to write the dreaded query. Dun, dun, DUN! ;)



Have a great weekend everyone, and I'll catch you on Monday!

Tipsy Tuesday- Computer Woes

Well, seeing as I experienced the writer's worst nightmare this weekend, I thought I'd share some resources to help make it not so nightmareish.



There are a couple places I've found that will store up to 2GB of files for FREE:

Dropbox

Mozy


They also both offer upgrades for larger storage space at pretty low rates. I use Dropbox...I didn't know about Mozy until I started compiling this list, but it looks just as good.


Carbonite was recommended by a commenter on Saturday. It offers unlimited backup capacity for $50 a year. That's probably a better deal than both Dropbox and Mozy if you have a lot of files to save.

Geek Squad also offers online backup- 25G for $50 a year. Again, Carbonite is the better option if you have more than 25G.

So, even if you only back up your novel files and the most important pictures -- please, please, please do. You just never know when Mr. Murphy will visit you for a day!

Are there any other good places out there to back things up that I missed? Grated, this isn't an all-inclusive list.

Tipsy Tuesday- Keep it Up!

For today's Tipsy Tuesday post, I thought I'd give you bits of inspiration. Keeping up a writing life can be hard. Especially when you're working full time, have kids to take care of, husbands to pay attention to, or any number of other major life involvements.



So, today, I will regale you with ways to keep yourself interested and NOT burnt out on your writing. (They work for me anyway.)

1. Take a break if you need it- I list this first for a reason. Sometimes you just really do need a short break from your WIP to recharge your batteries. As long as you come back to it, it may do you a world of good.
2. Post inspirational phrases near your writing space. I'm always seeing them posted on Twitter, and they really do help me keep my drive to achieve strong.
3. This may sound weird, but-- outline! I really love FreeMind, and I use it to make charts of my characters, chapters, scenes, whatever else I need to keep me focused and moving forward in my WIP.
4. Talk to other writers! Huge, huge, huge one! On Twitter, on blogs, in person -- wherever you can find a writer -- talk to them. They understand what you're going through, and may even be there themselves.
5. If all else fails, take your mom, sister -- someone who will tell you they love even your crappiest writing -- your manuscript, and let them build you up. There is so much criticism (even if constructive) and rejection as a writer, sometimes all you need is someone to say, "Hey, this is really great."
   
   
   And last, but certainly not least, you can always have one of these:
   
   

Red Apple Margarita (YUM!)

Sauza Gold tequila, DeKuyper Luscious Red Apple liqueur and margarita mix served over ice.

Friday Fun

I've got a question for you, my lovelies.

How do you manage your files? Do you handle them differently for a work-in-progress than a revision?

I was reading a blog the other day- this one on GotYA- and a commenter mentioned the way they keep their files. It got me thinking.

A writer friend of mine houses each chapter in it's own file- all files in a specific folder for the project.

Me? I have one file for the novel, a file for the query, synopsis- you get the picture, and all of those are kept in a project folder on my desktop. I also back them up on jump-drives. I don't save multiple formats of my novel's file, I simply save over it as I revise.

There is no BookRevision1, BookRevision2 for me. I'd never keep it all straight. I do keep a file of scraps if I delete a large chunk of text. Just in case. And I have a copy of the original first draft for posterity. It, however, is saved in a different place.

What about you? How do you keep your files? Perhaps I'm the oddball, I don't know. (Wouldn't be anything new!)


On a rather humorous side note- Super-spawn has gotten to where he can recite the first three Harry Potter movies. (The parts I let him watch anyway.) He's not even three yet! I'm raising him right. ;)

The re re edition

I'm hard at work editing my novel, for the umpteen gabillionth time. That's right, I had to make up a word to express the number of edits I've done. Truth is, I don't think I'll ever "be done" editing. I thought I was, until I joined another critique group. I'm glad I got their feedback, but man! I thought it was ready to go, obviously wrong. So, I sent it to my sister, to get an outside perspective, and told her, "I've re re re re re re re re edited, please read it and tell me what you think." Therefore, today we have the re re edition blog post to celebrate editing.
Yuck. I do have an excellent recommendation for that manuscript you're cleaving to so desperately. A book called The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman. All that random advice you see on blogs, agent websites, Twitter, and everywhere else is compiled and expounded on in this book. Seriously helped me to understand everything I was reading. It even has exercises at the end of each chapter. I know you're thinking, "But Holly, it's only the first five pages." You're right, that is what it focuses on, but you can apply every lesson to all parts of your MS. So go read it, now!