How to Simplify the Written Words? A Writer Impossible-to-Answer Question!

While looking at the computer screen, struggling with my seasonal down-with-the-writing-motivation, trying to get on with revising the YA paranormal project (I think I have a title, hooray!), I wonder.

I wonder about many things. Among them, how to simplify my writing in the first draft. In order to spend less time revising – or so I wish.

Of course, the novels – most of them anyway – we read are polished work. Writer, editor, proofreaders have work on it. It’s as good as it can get.

After I’m done with the revision, more work will have to be done. There’s more revision to come, and proofreading. Hours and hours of proofreading.

End my wondering. How to simplify my writing? Is it a simple matter of writing shorter sentences, or outlining more thoroughly?

The good thing about toying with a Christmas rom-com writing project is I get to try out different writing approach.

I like the pastiche method very much. Putting myself in the shoes of successful authors I like and don’t like, all with very different voices, just to test out the chosen rhythm, words, general treads of the story.

It shakes up my own writing rhythm. It forces me to think more and to get as far as possible from writing comfort zone.

But it’s also a very good way to procrastinate on the revision…

A Good Bad Idea

With the revision, I had a good bad idea. To rush into action second characters. No matter what I tried, it sounded forced. And the writing was baaad.

Back to the original idea, which still need to be re-written, but now, the goal is clearer.

Deleting paragraphs of legitimate bad writing, strangely enough, usually gives my writing motivation a second wind.

Dear fellow writers, I’ll keep you posted.

Once more, thanks for reading the rambling. More than ever, I’m grateful for your time. What a crazy quest writing novels is!

I hope you’re well, healthy and I hope all the good words are with you.

Take care!

Revising a Novel Before Christmas

Deadline.

For a writer, it sounds either exciting or dreadful, doesn’t it?

This year, I took the leap and hired a very good, trustworthy, no bullshit and hidden-fees freelance editor and a proofreader. As for the grammar corrections, oh well, it falls on me.

This writing adventure will more than probably end in a self-publishing one, so I really need to invest a bit in order to present to readers the best version of the YA paranormal writing project, a novel I’ve been working on for a little more than a year.

A novel with a title (yeah!) that I’m not sure about (dang!).

Said deadline is: January 4th, 2021. That’s tomorrow, or close enough !

The only way I will be able to finish the revision and the corrections in time is if I make a plan and stick to it.

And I need a plan about the day job… and the to-do lists… and the Holidays prep…

Continuer la lecture de « Revising a Novel Before Christmas »

Weekly Writing Diary: How to find time to write when you have young kids?

Note to the readers: Thanks for taking the time to read this. I try to answer that impossible question at the end of this post. I’m no expert, just a parent and a writer on a crazy quest. Enjoy!

Monday, Day 72

Labour day today. Will I’ll be able to take advantage of it and write all day?

Noooope ! For a day-off, when you have kids, means doing some activity or some sort.

Today, family is coming over to enjoy an windy lunch.

Talking movies with the family today had me realized why I’m writing in the before-internet era.

No, no, it’s not only because I’m a 35 to 44 years old mom who was becoming quite the misanthrope even before… well, pick your nightmare, dear fellow writers.

Continuer la lecture de « Weekly Writing Diary: How to find time to write when you have young kids? »