The Parts To Leave Out

This week's writing quote is:

"I try to leave out the parts that people skip."
- Elmore Leonard

Such simple words. Well Duh! Right? But most of us are guilty of skipping over passages, even when we really love the book. As a writer, that's one of my biggest fears. Will I bore the reader? Will they skip this part?

So ask yourself: Is this really necessary? Does it move the plot along? Does it create conflict? Does it develop the character? Would the reader miss anything if you took it out?

No?

Then get rid of it!

(Is anyone still reading this post?)

Have I bored you yet?

Well, if you're still with me, go check out my website. I've got a special offer for The Write Planner going on now.

For the next two weeks they are on sale for just $12. 


That's only $1 per month to keep you focused on your writing!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Today's writing quote was taken from The Write Planner, a day planner designed for writers. To learn more about The Write Planner, click here.

A Time To Write

This week's Writing Quote:

"Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, 

I don't feel I should be doing something else."

- Gloria Steinem

Is that how you feel about writing?

For me: Not usually.

I always feel like I should be doing something else. Even when I'm working on the very thing I should be doing. There is just so much to do!

Unfortunately, writing usually falls pretty far down on the priority list. I hope to change that soon. (You know - New Years Resolutions and all....)  ;)

But one thing is for sure. When I do actually write, I feel successful. Even if I've only written garbage, I wrote!

I love the feeling of creation that comes with writing. I love the sense of accomplishment.

I love writing!  So why don't I do it more often?


This writing quote was taken from The Write Planner, a day planner designed for writers. To learn more about The Write Planner, click here.

The Write Planner - Special Offer

I've had a great beginning with my new product,

The Write Planner

and want to give a special thank you to all those who helped me spread the word.

Thank you!!

My resources only get me so far, but you've helped me extend my reach.

If you haven't heard about The Write Planner yet, listen up!

It's a day planner designed especially for writers. It includes:

1. Sturdy Cover with inside pocket
2. Weekly motivating quotes
3. Full 2011 Yearly calendar
4. Monthly Calendars
5. Weekly layouts with daily goals
6. Monthly writing goals
7. Card stock dividers
8. NaNoWriMo tracking sheet
9. Track your progress
10. Visual progress bars
11. New contacts
12. Critique group info
13. Notes
14. Upcoming conferences (blank)
15. Built-in Ribbon bookmark

Check out my website, Writer Remedies and see sample pages here.

As a special offer, if you order before November 30th, 2010, in addition to the full 2011 planner, you'll get the month of December 2010,  included for free. That way you won't have to wait until the new year to organize your writing.

I only have 12 more of these special edition planners left in stock, in the following color options:

• (5) Blue
• (3) Green
• (2) Tan
• (2) Cream

Get one as a gift and one for yourself! (Especially since shipping is the same amount whether you buy 1 or 2 planners!)

Included in the planner are weekly quotes from famous authors to motivate and inspire you, and sometimes just make you laugh. This week's quote is,

"I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, 

and took out a comma. 

In the afternoon I put it back again."  

- Oscar Wilde

Crunch Time

While driving across town last week, I was stopped at a stop light. I watched as two rather strange men used the cross walk in front of me. I was trying not be be obvious as I stared rather rudely, and I hope they didn't notice me. Though I'm sure they must have been used to it. EVERYONE was staring.

Lucky for me, I had a distraction. It wasn't the kind of thing that would have distracted most people. It was a small twist of irony, in fact. Another - much more normal - man was crossing the same street, in the opposite direction. In his hand, he held a copy of a book. (One of these days, I hope to be able to write a post about how it was MY book he held, but no - not today.) But it was the book that caught my attention.

It was a copy of the book Nauvoo, Kingdom on the Mississippi. I've had a copy of that very book on my desk for the last couple months. I was supposed to be reading it, researching for my novel that takes place in modern day as well as old Nauvoo. Supposed to being the key word. It's a library book, and every time it comes close to being due, I just click on the renew button, and I'm good to go.

When I saw this guy with my book, it made me curious. What was he doing with it? Why was he reading it? How did he like it? Was he reading for work or for pleasure? I'm technically supposed to be reading for pleasure. I've chosen to be a writer. I've chosen to write this particular book. I even like to learn about history. So why can't I make myself read it!

A couple of days ago, I got an all too familiar email from the library, once again telling me the book was approaching it's due date. I once again went to the website and clicked on the renew button, promising myself I really would read it this time. If some random man walking down the street is reading it, surely I can too.

The problem was, I'd renewed it one too many times. It's due this Friday, and I have to take it back to the library, or I'll start building a fine. I know I could take it back, and then re-check it out again. Maybe that's what I'll end up doing. But I'm hoping that the pending due date will be motivation enough to bare down and do the stink'n research! (Honestly, you'd think someone was twisting my arm to get me to write this book!)

Optimistic Mondays – Failure Creates Opportunity

I can hardly believe it's already May! I had set some goals for April, and posted them on my sidebar - shamefully so. I didn't do very well.

Okay, so my writing goal came up way short. I hoped to write 20,000 words, and only came up with 7,000. I spent a lot of time working on my first chapter, to get it ready for bootcamp. I'm glad I didn't write much more than that, because after what I learned in bootcamp, I will be changing a lot.

My personal goal for April was to not weigh myself for the entire month. It was an idea I got from another blog, encouraging us to monitor our weight by how our clothes fit, rather than obsessing about the ups and downs on the scale.

I succeeded at this goal, mainly because I sent my scale home with a friend for the month. The result? Not good. Apparently I need the numbers on the scale that tell me to stop eating so many sweets. (I'm a sucker for anything sweet.)

But the good news about failing at something, is that it creates a new opportunity. I've redefined my goals for May, and hope to do better.

My writing goal is to revise my first chapter, applying what-I-wish-I-would-have-known-before-bootcamp. Also, I need to research and create an outline, before beginning chapter 2.

My personal goal? Reverse the damage I did in April, by staying in frequent contact with my bathroom scale.

What are your goals for the month of May?

January Writing Goals

I signed up for a January Writing Challenge, sponsored by Tristi Pinkston. She is a published author of several books, and I'm excited to take this challenge. It is a set-your-own-goal challenge, but gives you a sense of accountability, knowing you're going to be reporting your progress.

It is a month long challenge, and my goal is to complete my first draft, about 10,000 more words, and then majorly revise my first chapter. I'm planning to enter it in a First Chapter Contest in March, and it needs lots of love.

I want to write at least 1,000 words a day, until it's done. That should put me finished by January 10th. Today, being the first day, I wrote 1,077. I'm off to a good start, but look forward to an even better finish.

First chapter, prepare yourself. You will soon be undergoing a major operation. I'm going to have to cut you into pieces, re-arrange, and add new pieces, and then do my best to put you together again. I only hope you come out of this surgery looking better than when you went in.

A Failure or Success?

My original goal, for finishing the first draft of my book, was my birthday in February. In early December, I got the idea that it would be great to finish by the end of the year instead.

On December 12^th, 2009, I reached my 50,000-word milestone. Estimating that my first draft would come in around 70,000 words, I had 20,000 words to go. I counted the days on the calendar, and was pleasantly surprised to learn that there were 20 days left. That meant if I wrote 1,000 words a day, I could finish by December 31^st.

I kept up with my schedule pretty well. I’d fall behind a couple hundred words one day, but make it up the next. In the end, did I pull it off? Yes. And no.

I did complete my 20,000 words in 20 days, placing my manuscript at 70,000 words. But it’s not finished yet. Upon further review, I now estimate another 10,000 words to finish it off.

My goal was to reach 70,000 words by New Years, THEREBY completing my first draft. I accomplished one of the two. Fifty percent. Did I fail at my goal, or succeed?

I’m chalking this one up to a huge success. I could have rushed through the final chapters, in order to finish the draft, but I didn’t. I took my time, trying my best to do it right.

I wrote a total of 29,450 words in the month of December. That’s 16,000 words more than any other month. There is no way I’m going to say that I failed.

I have so many revisions to do, once I do get it finished, that my head starts to spin just thinking about it. But it’s a first draft. My very first, first draft.

I’m just excited to be allowed to hang out on the writing field, with so many accomplished authors. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again; the support system for aspiring authors in Utah is amazing!

I’m so excited for 2010. I have so much to learn, so much to grow, and so much to write. It’s going to be wonderful.

Optimistic Tuesday?

Okay, so I missed my Monday post yesterday. Sorry "K" for not giving you the lift you need for the week. :)

But it's Tuesday now, and I'm feeling very optimistic, or maybe it's overwhelmed, terrified, and slightly insane. No, it's definitely optimistic...

Today is opening day for registration to the LDStorymakers Conference. I've been so excited about this, and had it on my calender to register December 1st. And... I just got done. I'm officially registered. But I didn't stop with a simple registration, oh no! I signed up for a few extras. That's where the "overwhelmed, terrified, and slightly insane" come in.

I'm attending "Boot Camp", which is an intense kind of critique group. My writing will be reviewed by others like me, as well as a published author, and I can only hope to live through it. (My writing is just as nervous as I am.) It sounds terrifying, but I know that I need to get comfortable with other writer's critiques, so I'm going for it.

I'm entering a "First Chapter" contest, and my first chapter needs serious revision to even come close to being acceptable. It's in first draft form now, and I know of several changes I plan to make. Luckily I have until the first of March to make those adjustments. But first, I want to finish my first draft.

I've also signed up to meet with a publishing agent, to pitch my manuscript. I'll have 10 minutes to basically sell the story idea, and see if they are interested. They will also give advice on what they want me to change, in order for them to be interested. Can you say, SCARY???

So, I've got to finish my first draft, revise my first chapter, and figure out how to pitch the story. The conference isn't until April 23-24, so I can only hope to get it all done in time.

I'm so excited, and Optimistic!! (Wish me luck!) ;)