tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post8758328333194672748..comments2024-02-12T15:15:51.364+02:00Comments on The Five Year Project: An important announcementMisha Gerrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-38919447819520386082011-12-22T00:51:16.655+02:002011-12-22T00:51:16.655+02:00Yep, get it finished, send it out into the world a...Yep, get it finished, send it out into the world and begin a new project to complete! Sweet.Terry W. Ervin IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561009802388207515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-35904055749371231222011-12-22T00:11:49.551+02:002011-12-22T00:11:49.551+02:00I don't know what everyone else said, but do n...I don't know what everyone else said, but do not over rewrite the book. At this point, you have to think it's as good as it can be. It's your first book, you will eventually have to look at a blank page and write something else. Be prepared to do that. I would go through it ONE more time, revise, edit, whatever, and then LEAVE IT ALONE. Work on the query letter, work on synopsis, work on hook. That will take you months to figure out. Then do your best to sell it. Write the next book in the process, while you wait to hear back. DO NOT GO BACK TO THE FIRST BOOK AFTER YOU QUERY. And above all else, hope for the best!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10688873662201583987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-11026080870179175432011-12-21T18:57:05.035+02:002011-12-21T18:57:05.035+02:00You can do it Misha. I look forward to owning Door...You can do it Misha. I look forward to owning Doorways.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-35727735997259485732011-12-21T10:53:32.526+02:002011-12-21T10:53:32.526+02:00It is fun to set yourself a challenge and hard wor...It is fun to set yourself a challenge and hard work.Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625543235578144620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-61607507144127766372011-12-21T09:57:00.882+02:002011-12-21T09:57:00.882+02:00At least you are in the edit part, I am still work...At least you are in the edit part, I am still working on it! Good luck and thanks for visiting my blog this year! Happy Holidays Misha! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11970598232649255008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-68686300767249608372011-12-21T09:28:55.198+02:002011-12-21T09:28:55.198+02:00I think half the battle is setting a goal, so you ...I think half the battle is setting a goal, so you are well on your way! Good luck and don't be so hard on yourself. JulieEmpty Nest Insiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10074223969046687064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-45583100868895328412011-12-21T09:07:15.160+02:002011-12-21T09:07:15.160+02:00Good luck with the deadline...I think you have sat...Good luck with the deadline...I think you have sat long enough on it..Send it out. May this new year bring you success. Happy holidays.Rek Seshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13484322426994645221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-16340375241607901652011-12-20T22:42:20.601+02:002011-12-20T22:42:20.601+02:00I am wishing you the best on this plan. Based on r...I am wishing you the best on this plan. Based on reading your blog I'm sure you can finish this project.<br />Deadlines are funny, some people recoil at them while others thrive. You now have a certain motivation and can do this.<br />Plan well though. Decide where and when you will write. How much time you will invest each day. <br />Give an honest effort, ask for help when necessary, get the words on paper (or whatever your medium is) and worry about changing it later, perhaps a weekly read-through. Easy to change writing, not easy when you don't have much.<br />Don't torture yourself, keep in mind that you must do it because you want to and have something to say.<br />Come June, a lot of people will be enriched because of what you wrote.<br />If you get in trouble prayer has always helped me, and will you too.anthony stemkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15666462157746049139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-5225312759991668532011-12-20T21:12:21.388+02:002011-12-20T21:12:21.388+02:00Is it like writing on a deadline? I'm trying t...Is it like writing on a deadline? I'm trying to finish my first draft of this one by January 31. The only other novel I've written to completion was my grad school thesis, and that was finished in 2007. So, when I finish this one, it'll have been 5 years, too, even though I just started it in November. Let's both make 2012 a great year for writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-83936498726985830332011-12-20T20:37:20.765+02:002011-12-20T20:37:20.765+02:00I agree, setting a closer deadline with a smaller ...I agree, setting a closer deadline with a smaller goal might make it less overwhelming. And then find someone intimidating who you promise to give the mss to to read! If you don't give it to them they're allowed to punish you in some way.Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03971798802079783209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-8618707377746825602011-12-20T19:29:46.522+02:002011-12-20T19:29:46.522+02:00Wow...all I can say is that I'm so excited for...Wow...all I can say is that I'm so excited for you, and can't wait until this book is available. Keep it up!<br /><br /><a href="http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Sarah Allen<br />(my creative writing blog)</a>Sarah Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-5024661963141874432011-12-20T19:11:17.594+02:002011-12-20T19:11:17.594+02:00I write and edit my best on a deadline! Best wishe...I write and edit my best on a deadline! Best wishes.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-91957109609743216202011-12-20T17:41:34.652+02:002011-12-20T17:41:34.652+02:00Well don on setting a deadline. I also have some m...Well don on setting a deadline. I also have some mss (shorter children's stories) that have been hanging around on my 'to be completed' computer file and they make me feel slightly sick when I open them up again. I ought to make some decisions about them just as you have about your novel.Rosalind Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363027308436257933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-9868859797581138662011-12-20T17:40:38.302+02:002011-12-20T17:40:38.302+02:00Go for it! I always write and edit on a deadline. ...Go for it! I always write and edit on a deadline. I print it out and read it, usually in a week--slashing plot structure and scenes that don't work. Once I get that done. I go through it digitally and tighten, add dialogue etc...while I check for typos, so about 2-3 weeks. Then I give 4-6 weeks for my crit partners to have it. When they give it back, I pull both screens up and go through it making changes at my discretion. I usually keep 80% of their suggestions. Then I do a search/replace for overused phrases and words. Then send to my agent. Editing takes about 8-10 weeks. (Of course that doesn't count suggestions from my agent after she's looked at it and those changes!)<br /><br />I'm cheering you on! Good luck!Jessica R. Patchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13614501794157211301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-33038027644273560252011-12-20T17:25:37.437+02:002011-12-20T17:25:37.437+02:00I too have a bad habit of missing my deadlines. Bu...I too have a bad habit of missing my deadlines. But, I am sure you will not miss it as I feel you have had enough of working on this manuscript for five years. Good luck with your deadline :)Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-80866427539392805242011-12-20T16:41:14.313+02:002011-12-20T16:41:14.313+02:00I've given myself deadlines on my most recent ...I've given myself deadlines on my most recent WIP and I've consistently missed them :)<br /><br />I think you'll do better than I. I look forward to following your progress through next summer.Dr. Mohamedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13673867214475179890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-33262968312922511792011-12-20T15:25:27.309+02:002011-12-20T15:25:27.309+02:00I generally break the whole project down into smal...I generally break the whole project down into smaller jobs and assign those smaller jobs deadlines too. Also, since life has a way of "interfering" I schedule a couple of "blank" weeks into my schedule.<br /><br />Good Luck!!Connie Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-23049511113470651422011-12-20T14:56:15.888+02:002011-12-20T14:56:15.888+02:00With an editor, you always have deadlines. :)
I l...With an editor, you always have deadlines. :)<br /><br />I like deadlines, it helps me focus. Generally, I divide the time by 'job'.<br /><br />For instance, I might decide to read through and polish in a week. The next read will be for continuity. The read after that will be for technical aspects like grammar, looking for weasel words, and making sure everyone and everything is spelled correctly (and the spelling is consistent).<br /><br />Breaking it down into little bites makes it go faster. <br /><br />PS You can probably polish in less than three months.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-25728446576048190452011-12-20T14:42:25.634+02:002011-12-20T14:42:25.634+02:00I have failed to meet every single personally-set ...I have failed to meet every single personally-set deadline so far this year. :-(Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-65019831113487232362011-12-20T14:22:40.038+02:002011-12-20T14:22:40.038+02:00I can't get anything done without a deadline. ...I can't get anything done without a deadline. I think setting a deadline is a fabulous idea... if I were you, though, I'd push the date even closer. Six months seems like a long time. But no matter what, get 'er done! Good luck!Cathy Olliffe-Websterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12729578896443750402noreply@blogger.com