Can You Eat Too Many Cookies?
Things around the Tiki Hut may be a little wild and crazy this week, what with Christmas on the horizon. And maybe a little sugar high by both readers and me :)
I am happy to report, however, that gifts are wrapped - with the exception of two last-minute ones Live-In Handyman ordered, which have not yet arrived but are on the UPS truck. Somewhere.
Since I'm not hosting Christmas dinner this year, I don't have major housecleaning to do. Yea! Even so, there are still plenty of Christmas-related items on my agenda. But not so many that I can't find a few little chunks of time here and there to work on my manuscript. At least that's the plan.
I've indulged in some heavy thinking about my manuscript while I've struggled with ribbon and tape. One of my goals for this round of revisions was to make my heroine more in charge of her destiny at the climax.
As it was written, she did take charge of the situation, but only after the villain surprised her. Yesterday, I finally figured out a way for her to initiate the events that lead to the climax and be in control of the same ending without those events being planned by the villain. In the new version, it will be the protagonist - and the plan she makes - who outsmarts the villain. The genre is romantic suspense.
I'm pumped!
Of course I'm not at the climax yet revision-wise, but now that I have an outline for how to handle it, getting there should be fairly clear sailing with no major storms in the forecast.
After this draft, I'll be ready to start on regular manuscript clean-up and polishing. Yes! Finally.
This has been the manuscript from hell. Part of the reason has been LIFE. But another part is everything I've learned about putting a novel together while I've been writing this one. I've basically started over and redone major portions of it more than once.
So as happy as I am to have learned all that I have, I'll be equally as happy to say "I'm done!" when I finally do finish.
Well ... done except for the synopsis.
And the query.
But you knew that. Right?
I think I may have eaten too many cookies :)
I am happy to report, however, that gifts are wrapped - with the exception of two last-minute ones Live-In Handyman ordered, which have not yet arrived but are on the UPS truck. Somewhere.
Since I'm not hosting Christmas dinner this year, I don't have major housecleaning to do. Yea! Even so, there are still plenty of Christmas-related items on my agenda. But not so many that I can't find a few little chunks of time here and there to work on my manuscript. At least that's the plan.
I've indulged in some heavy thinking about my manuscript while I've struggled with ribbon and tape. One of my goals for this round of revisions was to make my heroine more in charge of her destiny at the climax.
As it was written, she did take charge of the situation, but only after the villain surprised her. Yesterday, I finally figured out a way for her to initiate the events that lead to the climax and be in control of the same ending without those events being planned by the villain. In the new version, it will be the protagonist - and the plan she makes - who outsmarts the villain. The genre is romantic suspense.
I'm pumped!
Of course I'm not at the climax yet revision-wise, but now that I have an outline for how to handle it, getting there should be fairly clear sailing with no major storms in the forecast.
After this draft, I'll be ready to start on regular manuscript clean-up and polishing. Yes! Finally.
This has been the manuscript from hell. Part of the reason has been LIFE. But another part is everything I've learned about putting a novel together while I've been writing this one. I've basically started over and redone major portions of it more than once.
So as happy as I am to have learned all that I have, I'll be equally as happy to say "I'm done!" when I finally do finish.
Well ... done except for the synopsis.
And the query.
But you knew that. Right?
I think I may have eaten too many cookies :)
Comments
Manzi xo xo
Manzanita - Same to you :)
;)
Glad that you're working out your plot to your [& your heroine's] liking.
The good news is that once you have a complete 1st draft then you'll be in a fine position to write that synopsis & draft a query letter.
Meanwhile, be glad you don't have to do loads of cleaning! :)
Enjoy your cookies and the Holidays.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I love those “Aha” moments when something suddenly clicks into place, so I understand how good you must feel.
Congratulations on the breakthrough and Merry Christmas!
Lisa - I like 'lots' :)
Joanne - So true. Maybe writers invented multi-tasking.
Maryann - Maybe your friend will come wash mine!
Glynis - Not only difficult, but very high on the List of What Is Important.
Mason - Let's hope so. I have a couple more items on my list for today.
Elspeth - Decisions, decisions :)
I think the bigger win is solving the plot problem.
Andrea - Best of luck on your project, too. Merry Christmas!
Holly - I hope you grabbed a cookie. I was pretty excited when the answer popped into my head.
Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
RaShelle - Whew! And thanks :)
Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Why is it the word query sends chills down my spine? I'm pretty ok with it used as verb, but as a noun... very scary.
TOTALLY read 'thinking' as 'drinking'... *snicker* Seriously though, plans for revision sound great! I always like the MC to be more ACTIVE rather than REactive. (in fact I love a book where they are initially REactive but grow into the active part.
Hart - Well, there might have been a tiny bit of that going on, too :) I love books like that, too. I hope this will turn out to be one of them.
I'll eat some cookies while I wait.
Enjoy the cookies.
Perish the thought, Carol!
Have a great Christmas!
xx
Talli - May you have a wonderful Christmas, too.