Wednesday Work in Progress #3
MOOD STATUS: "THRILLED". (see below)
Oh, it's Work in Progress time, but due to my trip to Disney (and Facebook), I haven't gotten much done on it.
But guess what?
I've done something--or rather I'm doing something--I've never, well, done before. I'm quitting my story.
Yeah, I know. This is so NOT me. I'm one those stubborn anal retentive types who will stick with a project until the end--even when I can't stand working on it anymore.
So after reading some really encouraging posts from Joanne's blog at Whole Latte Life and Patti Lacy (thank you, ladies!), I did some soul searching (and praying) and decided to stop fighting what I wanted to do and make myself a happy pappy. So...
And I feel really happy now! In fact, I feel so comfortable and at home with my writing again that I feel as if I'm putting on my comfy warm bunny slippers and drinking a cup hot of chocolate (the low carb kind because I'm watching my weight since getting back from Disney) But you catch my drift. :)
So I'm back at writing another sweet romance. I'm not saying I'm turning away from my first person POV chick-lit forever... It's just that I need a little more romance in my writing life right now. I missed it! :)
And yesterday I wrote over 1,000 words into it.
So that's what I'm working on this week. In fact, my word goal is 4,ooo, so I'm already 1/4 of the way there!
Have you ever tried a different POV or genre and felt the need to go back to the one you're more comfortable with?
So how's your work in progress coming?
32 comments:
Oh yes honey! I think it is so important to explore genres/POV's cause it really helps you find what fits yourself as a writer.
I never thought I'd write a thriller, my last manuscript, but my goodness I loved it! However, I am now back to my very first manuscript and amping it up and adding some more romance as well, nothing like a charming warlock! =D
Glad you're back writing to something you enjoy! I am itching to do my YA Mystery, but need to finish revisions of Chapter 4 in my Fantasy before I can allow myself to do it! I hate juggling projects, but I'm too excited for both!
You know I love first person POV, but I have to include the hero's POV in the story. After reading Eric Jerome Dickey's MILK IN MY COFFEE and Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez' DIRTY GIRLS SOCIAL CLUB, I saw how these authors alternated POV by chapter, and it worked beautifully.
It's good that you at least tried a different way of writing. Maybe it's just not for you.
Good for you!!!
I agree, first person is hard. I have a few pages of a first person urban fant. sitting on my hard drive. I love the story but trying to write in first person really drained me. And the funny thing is that all my first attempts at novels were 1st person, but my finished ones are third.
You rock at sweet romance so I'm glad you're sliding back into what fits you best. :-)
Jessica: Yes, I did feel a little drained. How funny.
And I have to say, I'm SO glad I did change it up a bit, because now that I've reverted back, my writing feels SO EASY. LOL!
YAY, I'm so happy for you It's nice to find joy in writing. It doesn't matter if you had to set one project to the side; this new one will probably be even better.
Yes, what happened to the cowbell?!
and - good for you. that is a difficult decision to make but you'll be rewarded for your sacrifice in the end.
I, too, have sacrificed half manuscripts to the writing gods. sometimes they just have to go.
If something is so hard, its a good time to reassess the reason why. Glad you did not get discouraged and jumped right back in to what you love. :O)
Kudos to you for following your heart! You sound energized and excited with your new work, all good things you'll bring to the page. The heart never steers us wrong, does it? Happy writing :)
My progress is limping along, but at least it's limping in the right direction.
Glad you are happy with your new work.
I just saw you already rec'd Butterfly Award so sorry but giving you another one. :)
I've nominated your lovely blog for the Sunshine Award. To accept just visit my blog and follow the rules. Don't worry - if you don't have time to do it.
You know, that's funny you mention that about first person b/c my WIP is in third and the other two I wrote were in first and I miss first. I feel like slipping on comfy sandals in first. Third is more like wearing high heels and it's rubbing on me a bit.
Way to discern.
And you got direction from two cool people.
~ Wendy
I'm glad you figured out what was wrong and went against your nature to fix it. Write what you love, right? I can't imagine trying first person so kudos to you!
Jennifer, praise God if anything I said encouraged you. That just thrills me!
He is SOOO good to give peace and manna when you write His way!
I LOVE this blog for your honesty, fun, and creativity.
Bless you.
Patti
I'm happy for you Jennifer! Prayer always works, and thank God for friends.
When I started writing I attempted third person- terrible! I cringed everytime I sat to write. Now I'm using first person, and I love it.
Ha! I'm the opposite. I have a hard time writing in third. I just can't get away from sounding like a narrator. Maybe I should hang out with you:D
Yay for you! There's nothing like fighting a story and then finally ending it. You show them who's in charge!
But I must say that I absolutely adore writing in first person. All of my writing is first person. But I do YA, so maybe that's why.
Good luck with your new story. :)
I'm glad you had the guts to stop and start something new. I'm sure you didn't do it at the drop of a hat. But sometimes, that's the best thing to do. We have to be excited about what we're writing!
I've done that. Twice. It feels liberating to understand and pull away but at the same time when the going gets ruff in my new WIP there's a tiny voice in the back of my mind that says, are you leaving this one too? I'm not though. I'm adding tension and problems galore, that's always a great fix too.
You never know, maybe you'll go back to the chick-lit book in six months and convert it to third--and fall in love again?
Have fun with the new book!
I've definitely done it. I've also switched it all and then switched it back. Sometimes it helps just to see it from a different perspective. I'm glad it worked for you!
Writing 1st person pov doesn't come naturally for me. Neither does present tense. I've tried them, but I keep going back to 3rd person pov in past tense. :)
I've never ventured outside of YA, but I'm a firm believer in writing what makes you happy. Good luck on your new story!
Yay! Congrats to you for having the nerve to put it down and start something more inspiring!!!
And I LOVE the Cowbell!
BUT really, what are we doing? It's time for American Idol...thank goodness for DVR or I would have missed it!
I've had the same issue with 3rd person. I started my current WIP in 3rd person and after 8000 words I had to start over completely and write it in 1st person. It was hard, but so far it's been worth it.
You've got to do what you are comfortable with.
Oh I hear ya Jennifer, I've done this before. I had a story I was really just not feeling, and it was a total change for me and as much as I wanted to write the story, I knew I just couldn't because I wasn't happy. Once I gave it up and went back to a style I was happy with I was on a writing binge :)
I'm glad you are back in your zone!!
My wip is going well, and I have interest from an editor on another piece I am working on so I need to get my little tooshie in gear!! hehe
Jordana
I've written in first person, but I can only do it for a short story. A novel is way too much. As far as genre, I can do romance or mystery. I am not sure I can write anything different.
I enjoyed your post and it gave me something to think about.
Yay! It's so hard to make those decisions sometimes... You know what's right for you ;o) BTW Love the Cowbell pic ;o) I have one on my blog too!
I've only tried first person, but I have written a Mystery (well most of one) and an adult paranormal. I like YA the most ;o)
Great post!
You have a little goodie on my blog today! :-)
Jordana: Oooh, congrats on the editor interest!
Thanks, Diane and Kristi!
isn't it funny how sometimes quitting is the hardest thing to do? It sounds like you made a great choice - why fight the voice that works best for you?
Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, right? I tried a story in first person, which was a little tough at first, but I thought was going quite well - my teenage daughter hated it and told me to write a "normal story". It may seem silly, but I'm not at the point where I want to write something she hates (she's my target audience and my first beta reader), so I set it aside and moved to something else.
I figure I'll go back to the other story once my girl's had some exposure to 1st person POV so I can better know if it's the verb tense, or the story that she actually disliked.
Have fun with your new story!
Glad you're back writing to something you enjoy! I am itching to do my YA Mystery, but need to finish revisions of Chapter 4 in my Fantasy before I can allow myself to do it! I hate juggling projects, but I'm too excited for both!
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