Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wednesday Work in Progress #2

IN THE NEWS: Man accused of stealing coins at mall fountain. Read more HERE.

Ok, it's Wednesday and well, I have good news, bad news, and good news as far as my work in progress report goes.

Good News: My critique partners really liked my sample chapter. Whew!! What a relief, because I was SO NERVOUS to try something new.

Bad News: I didn't like my sample chapter.

Well, it's not like I didn't like it, but something kept nagging at me, and I couldn't write any further. I felt like the princess in the Princess and the Pea story. Something wasn't right... Then I saw it. My MC's goal would be achieved about halfway through the book. Um, not good. No wonder it wasn't working.

Good News: Well, the good news I realized the blunder of my story before I wrote too much of it. And after working on a new blurb all yesterday, I finally feel happy with the new direction of my story.

The rest of this week I'm going to spend tweaking my plot and then I plan to change a few things in my opening chapter. That's all I hope to get to--which actually is a lot when you think about it. :)

How's your work-in-progress coming?

40 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm glad you were able to figure out the problem and that you weren't too far into it! Good luck!

Glynis Peters said...

It is good that you saw your error. I found something in my MS that needed tweeking. It led to a complete turn around for my storyline, and I found I could move forward.
Happy Scribbling
Glynis

PS: Love your bedroom!!

Tina Lynn said...

Not so well. I did get far before I realized that there were quite a few elements missing. I'm reworking the entire thing. Just finished up the first chapter.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Thanks, Glynis!! :)

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I'm in editing pergatory. I've had that niggling feeling too. It's good you figured it out quickly...I agree.
~ Wendy

Kristen Painter said...

My work in progress needs a lot more work and a lot more progress.

Chicki Brown said...

I loved the opening chapter, but only you know what it should contain. It's good that you saw what needs to be tweaked at the beginning.

My WIP is coming along great, not that you could tell from my blog. I couldn't post pictures this morning. Anyhoo, I'm at 30% (27,500 words), and I'm going out to work today. I always do better with the word count when I'm away from the house ...

Linda Kage said...

Yay, thank goodness you found a path you like for your story. All my WIPs are currently going the speed of molasses.

Tamika: said...

I'm glad your headed in the right direction! It sounds like the plotting is working well for you.

Joanne said...

It's always a relief when you see these plotting issues early enough to change them without too much already written. I try to outline as much as I can, carrying the story out to make sure all the threads weave well. Happy tweaking :)

Unknown said...

Having been the recipient of said mall coins when I used to work for a non-profit, all I can say is, "yuck!" Those things are slimy and filthy.

lainey bancroft said...

Glad you discovered the problem early in the game.

I'm working toward picking a work in progress so that I can get to work, and, um, make some progress. :0

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

It's good that you realized it early!

I haven't been able to work on mine yet. So I've just been thinking a lot. Still trying to figure out where it's going.

Catherine Denton said...

Fairly well, but I have a patch about one-fourth of the way in that needs major re-working.
Winged Writer

Jessica Nelson said...

How great that you figured it out soon enough. :-)
I wrote a solid amount yesterday and I hope it continues. LOL

Sarah Forgrave said...

Congratulations on figuring out your problem! :-)

I'm editing the first few chapters of my wip so I can turn them into a freelance editor. Then it's back to drafting the last third of the manuscript.

Kristi said...

Congrats on getting your problem solved! There's only one word for my current WIP: slow. I've been editing my other work. *whine*

Happy Hump Day!

Classic Passion said...

I must start a wip, but where to begin?

Laura Pauling said...

Yes, that is a lot to accomplish. Now comes the easy part - writing it. :)

Susan R. Mills said...

Why can't it ever be good news and good news?

Tana said...

Glad you spotted the plot hole before you fell in! I hope you have fun strengthening your story. That's the most important part. After, writing it should be cake.

Eileen Astels Watson said...

That is a lot, Jennifer. Good for you if you accomplish all that this week!!!

Got your response on my blog. Thank you! I actually do have her boxed in to working on directing the pastor's youth group with a play, but like you, it doesn't run the whole novel, her trying to get out of it or get it over with, unfortunately. I guess I'm with you on trying to get something to run the duration of the novel.

Terri Tiffany said...

Always better to catch it early! I've done that same thing before. Actually, I am doing great! I've written 9000 words this week alone and I am over half way so my conflicts are well set. Now to start working them through and then on to the finale:))

Cindy R. Wilson said...

I'm glad you got your story worked out.

I am sort of having the same dilemma. I wrote my chapter by chapter outline but had a good majority of the conflicts already thrown in by the middle of the book. Soooo...I went ahead and started writing and it seems like my chapter by chapter outline had the story progressing much faster than it actually should. I've written the first 7,000 words and feel a little better about it. I'm going to have to see how the next 7K words go, though.

Jemi Fraser said...

Good for you! It's such a relief to realize where the issue is - and knowing you can fix it is awesome!

Katie Ganshert said...

Where do you get these news stories? They are hilarious.

Awesome that your crit partners loved it. Not so awesome that you don't love it. But AWESOME that you know how to fix it. Two awesomes outweight the not awesome. :)

Shannon O'Donnell said...

You crack me up. My WIP (well, WIP revising) is coming slowly...very slowly.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Susan: LOL!

Eileen: Gotcha. something will click for you soon, I'm sure.

Terri: Glad you're doing so well on your wip!

Kimberly Franklin said...

Good luck with your WIP. It's definitely good news you figured out the problem before writing too much, or you might have to do a "bad news, bad news' segment. I've had to do that before. : )

Happy Wednesday!

Anonymous said...

At least you found the problem before you were half way though the book. I've one sitting in my hard drive, halfway finished because I didn't find it. I do now but I'm working on another one.
I'm on the last chapter but it's going slow. Don't know if it's not knowing how to end it, or not wanting to end it.
I love these characters.

Walt Mussell said...

My WIP has lots of tension, but not enough romance. Need to add more.

Anonymous said...

Okay, as a kid I once stole fifty cents from a fountain and feel terrible about it. I confess, I repent, and now I feel much better. Thank.

Stephen Tremp

Clementine said...

Love this post! Had to chuckle about your MC solving his problem half way through. What we would do without our critique partners? I'm thrilled to have found your blog and I look forward to reading more!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jennifer, It's always good when you figure out the problem early in the story. I'm glad you got it fixed :) My WIP is going well at this time :) I've got a couple and I'm writing on one while editing the other and happy with both :)

*hugs* Jordana

Karen Lange said...

Glad you are happy with the new direction!
Blessings,
Karen

Stephanie Faris said...

I am the world's worst at "writer's remorse." I always love whatever I'm working on RIGHT NOW. But when I read over things I've written before I want to redo everything.

Jeanette Levellie said...

Wow, you are one diligent, smart lady. I'm glad you found the boo boo before you added too much to the story. Good job!

In theory my WIP is done, but I'm adding a chapter at the end garnered from other PW's, so that depends on their input. Then I have the index. Then revising, which never ends...

Thanks for asking!

Jill Kemerer said...

Good for you! Don't you hate/love when something nags at you? It's always a sign something isn't right.

VR Barkowski said...

So, so much better to find out you're heading in the wrong direction early rather than later in a project.

I'm convinced my WIP is brilliant - but that's only because I've had other writing tasks to tend to and haven't been working on it. :)

R.M.Gilbert said...

Great you realized it quickly. My first contemporary I realized when I was 85% done that it wasn't strong enough to sub.

Doing better now though. This post is a good reminder to check ourselves as we go. To save time and tears.