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Nonfiction project
I now have the first drafts of three chapters almost written. And coming soon -- exciting information about my nonfiction project -- plus, ways you can help me with it! (I know, that would be more exciting if you knew what it was. Don't worry, more info soon. Stay tuned!)
Contemporary fantasy/paranormal romance
I'm starting to get antsy about not having sent my manuscript back to the agent who requested the rewrites. The agent requested rewrites back in January; I wrote frantically in January and February, and then started finding readers to help me out. Elana's edits helped me a great deal, and now I am anxiously awaiting two other readers' thoughts to see if I got the characterization and so forth working again.
Do you think I should be getting antsy, or am I just being paranoid that too much time is passing?
NaNo novel
I've been slowly editing my NaNo novel, and I have the feeling I know what part of my problem is. My characters are fairly healthy, angst-free people. They have problems, sure, but their problems are external. These are not characters tormented by things they are or have done.
What do you think I should do? Start creating tortured backstories? The characters do get...well, mistreated as the story goes on, so I think it's going to gain momentum for me. Maybe I should wait and see if that happens before I get out the thumbscrews. Try something new and all that...
So dear Reader, what are you working on? Are you using psychology in your project? I'd love to hear about it, either way!
Labels: wip
My biggest surprise has been that my characters' emotions are less prominent than i expected. I thought i was good at angst-ridden qualms and so on. I imagined the 'murky depths' of the soul would be the main feature of my novel - they often are in my short fiction - but it's coming out as a romp through a series of bizarre situations, far more light-hearted than i envisaged.
Maybe light-hearted will turn out to be the way to go with this one. Maybe i'll be able to deepen it later, in the way i know i'll be able to tighten the dialogue and strengthen the structure to make the surprises more surprising and the climaxes more, er, climactic.
I've read about novel-writing for so long that it's wonderful and fascinating and thrilling to find how different it is from the brochure, now i'm on the journey for real.
BTW, I have a psychology question...maybe I'll shoot you an email.
Am also excited to help out with your nonfic project. I can't wait till that book comes out.
I would imagine that if an agent asked for significant rewrites that they would understand if it takes you a couple months to get through them.
Hmmm... characters with pyschological problems. Yeah, I think my MC in my WIP has those. Her father was a serial killer, so I think that might qualify:P
That's a tough one. I'm struggling with whether or not to start querying. I just don't know yet.
What do you think I should do? Start creating tortured backstories? .
Always. Conflict= good.
Are you using psychology in your project?
Is there any other way to write?
Kate -- yes, I think a serial killer father qualifies as psychological!
Christine -- For some reason, knowing you're a therapist makes that comment not seem weird at all...
Yeah, a backstory, even a little taste of a character's vulnerability, always spices things up in a plot, I think.
My WIP is going well. I'm towards the last push and shove of revisions on a YA historical novel set in 18th century Philippines. Can't wait to finish so I can do some edits and then query.
;0)