Yesterday, I was thinking about my writing life so far.
As I was pondering, it occurred to me that next year, I will have been working on Doorways for five years.
That's half a decade of writing and tweaking.
I don't think that it's healthy to continue sitting on it, so next year, come hell or high water, I will start querying it. If no one's interested, I will start preparing it for publication.
Either way, I'm not going to be thinking about this again this time next year.
In fact, I should probably put up a date by which I want to get the edits done, so I'm going to say... 30 June 2012.
That gives me six months to polish it to a shine.
Maybe that makes me insane, but I have to try. The longer I wait, the more I will postpone on taking action.
So... anyone else tried to edit on a deadline before? Any advice for me?
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!
ReplyDeleteI have failed to meet every single personally-set deadline so far this year. :-(
ReplyDeleteWith an editor, you always have deadlines. :)
ReplyDeleteI like deadlines, it helps me focus. Generally, I divide the time by 'job'.
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).
Breaking it down into little bites makes it go faster.
PS You can probably polish in less than three months.
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.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck!!
I've given myself deadlines on my most recent WIP and I've consistently missed them :)
ReplyDeleteI think you'll do better than I. I look forward to following your progress through next summer.
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 :)
ReplyDeleteGo 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!)
ReplyDeleteI'm cheering you on! Good luck!
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.
ReplyDeleteI write and edit my best on a deadline! Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteWow...all I can say is that I'm so excited for you, and can't wait until this book is available. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
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.
ReplyDeleteIs 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.
ReplyDeleteI am wishing you the best on this plan. Based on reading your blog I'm sure you can finish this project.
ReplyDeleteDeadlines are funny, some people recoil at them while others thrive. You now have a certain motivation and can do this.
Plan well though. Decide where and when you will write. How much time you will invest each day.
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.
Don't torture yourself, keep in mind that you must do it because you want to and have something to say.
Come June, a lot of people will be enriched because of what you wrote.
If you get in trouble prayer has always helped me, and will you too.
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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. Julie
ReplyDeleteAt 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! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is fun to set yourself a challenge and hard work.
ReplyDeleteYou can do it Misha. I look forward to owning Doorways.
ReplyDeleteYep, get it finished, send it out into the world and begin a new project to complete! Sweet.
ReplyDelete