Chick-Lit

Okay, so since I’ve finally moved and everything is back to a somewhat kind of normal (FINALLY HAVING INTERNET), so I’m happy in my Writing World once again, and it feels great!

Now that I’m writing again, I see the hunger, the need and the passion for writing coming out stronger than ever before.  In some ways, it’s that powerful drive I had when I began Redefined Dreams. When I was writing my first book, there were  days when I had no idea what I was doing, whatsoever.  Having known what I know now about the pressures, the stresses, the joys, the sleepless nights that come with writing a book, I wouldn’t trade any of it.  I find it funny that I usually work better after knowing what and how things will go, and what’s going to happen.  Is that odd?  Anyway, the second time around, I feel more prepared for what’s ahead, and am willing to deal with what ever situation I’m in, I will write, Write, WRite, WRIte, WRITe, WRITE!!

Hello, Book #2 (Somewhere Down In Texas)! As I begin writing you, I want you to know that I am going to write you very differently, than with Book #1 (Redefined Dreams). I’m going to do my best to organize you as best as I know how, pay closer attention your characters and words, though I will care for you just as much, as I did when I wrote my first book. Also, this time, I will be using Scrivener, which I’m hoping will be helpful!

I feel though as if I’ve grown from way back when, from when I first began, in March of 2010. Whether it be knowing the difference between “passed” and “past,” the layout of writing a MS, or learning to deal with the daily pressures of getting it done, this time I know what to expect. I’m willing to take the challenges that are ahead, and even push myself more, whereas I didn’t in the year process of the first book.

My goal for finishing Somewhere Down In Texas is December 12th…

The carpet installers have been here for about an hour and a half, and while I have boxes behind me that are begging to be opened and glassware that is staring me in the face, I’m sitting here at my new kitchen island, reading writing blogs…though I know that I should be writing Book #2!

I’m wondering if it is really so bad that I’m reading instead of working, but I see it as being a kind of inspiration, maybe even a little nudge. I have come across some wonderful, inspiring and powerful blogs that all have one thing in common, they all make me want to write! I have learned a lot from these bloggers (whether they are authors, editors, or even book lovers). Since I have completed “Redefined Dreams,” I’m looking forward to maybe trying to go about Book #2 in a different way, who knows…

This weekend, my husband and I moved, and we’re still packing from the old place and unpacking boxes at the new place. During the midst of this crazy and busy time, between breaks I am editing my book, and I’ve come to realize that editing is a lot like moving and versa.

Where do things go in the house? Where does that comma go in the story? Does this piece of furniture look better here, or does this sentence go better before or after this one? It’s all in a matter of organizing so that things are not cluttered, and about having nice flow. Editing, it gives me a slight relief from the stresses of seeing scattered boxes around the house. By unpacking, I am relieved from seeing the sentences I typed, as I shake my head wondering what I was thinking when I wrote that.

In the end, when both the house and book will are complete, it will be then that I can step back and look at something beautiful that has been created, each out of patience, care and of course, love…

Oh, the joys of finishing a book (GASP!), but then there’s the next step, finding an editor.  Where and how do you do this?  I had no idea, no idea at all, on how to do this, until I finally looked at something that had been staring me in the eye…for months.  One of the blogs that I frequent, which focuses on the Chick Lit genre, offers an editing service.  Duh! After filling out the required information, I felt very eager to get a reply back from the editor, and later that night, I did!  We’ve been e-mailing each other for the past few days, and today, she gave me her proposed price for editing my work!  I was overjoyed!  “Can this really be happening?”  I felt professional, it’s almost as if I’m a “real” writer.  If I do decided to have this editor edit my work, sending it to her will only be one step closer to being a Writer.

Before I began editing on Tuesday, I printed out a page of editing symbols.  I was a little nervous at first, but I decided to just relax and take it word by word.  So far, I think it’s going pretty well.  The first paragraph took my twenty minutes, but after that, everything came together and it’s all I think about.  I decided to edit on paper, so when it’s all done, I’ll see if I still like it that way.  It’s funny, because when I’m not editing, that’s all I want to be doing!  I know that it will take a few weeks to get finished, but when I do, it’s going to be quite a change, one for the better!  I know I still have a lot to do and a lot to learn, but I’m ready for the challenge!