Catégorie : Writing project

Diary of a writing project. Day 113​: dear book market

These days, sometimes when I’m writing, constantly when I’m revising or editing, I’ll listen to some podcast about writing and the book industry.

It helps me keep my high hopes in check.

When editing, it’s the best. It’s easier to edit when you’re listening to professionals’ advice or listen about how many revisions a book got through even before being sent to a literary agent, let alone a publisher.

Should you write to the market is always a big topic among those kinds of shows.
Back when I was studying literature in college and working as a bookshop clerc to pay the rent, I remember thinking while putting the best-sellers on the shelves « why don’t I write cheesy romances and be done with it?« . It seems so simple, easy…
How naive, how cocky of me!

I soon learned that writing a novel, any kind of novel, is never easy.

Writing for the market is not the answer.

Writing for an audience you love and you get is what matters.
Writing an original, well-paced, well-told story never hurt either.

Can’t help but wonder thought, especially with the MG writing project, if it’s gonna be well received.

At it’s core, it’s a fantasy novel… with some tweaks.

In this final editing tour, I’m making the story almost dance to the story-beats. It is as close to a « commercial » book this novel can get without losing what makes it, in my very humble opinion, unique.

But is it really unique? Is this just in my brain? Am I wasting writing time on this project when I could be working on other writing projects?

With those forever questions in mind, dear writers, I wish happy writing, happy questioning, happy sleeping’ !

Diary of a writing project. Day 112: it is getting funnier

This day actually started at 3:30 am.

Not in a good way. In a crying, yelling, whining way.

But no worries, I know where to go to make all the mama exhaustion, guilt, frustration go away. That’s right, the MG writing project!

(now, I won’t lie, a whole bowl of fudge brownie frozen yogurt for lunch will also help a bit to make the bad feelings go away)

I had to day job in the morning, but decided to work on the MG novel in the afternoon. I needed a break.

The shiny reward did not disappoint.

It is going well, especially since I got to a really fun scene. What I need to accomplish with the revision is focus more on the fun.

This book is a fun adventure.

A bit grim, a bit sad, a bit « what the heck », but overall, a fun novel.

Writing the book you wanna read

What I loved the most about books, back from when I was a kid up to these adult days, is their ability to transport me somewhere else. To leave reality far behind.

I re-read this MG novel over and over, and honestly, I still love it.

Well, not true. There was a time I could not look at it. Both because I felt like I failed the story and the characters, and I felt like a general writer failure.

Stories kept coming back, and that MG novel was a good novel… that needed more work.

Speaking of the writing project this post is supposed to be about.

I love writing dialogue, and the fun scene I’m currently editing is also the first dialogue the main character has with her sidekicks and, spoiler alert, future friend.

With a MG novel, I feel you can have more fun with the police characters, or big strong metaphor or blunt description.
I had a blast, heehee!

On that cheerful note, good night and good writing, writer friends!