Scene #16 Done

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it

– James Bryce

World & Character Inspiration

Just a quick post!

UPDATE: I just re-read the whole post and it’s more along the lines of a quick-ish post

1436 Words.

I was happy with how the scene turned out, but I need to revisit my outline and see how solid the next few scenes are and if they are right for the story I have in mind. I have that voice in the back of my head that is telling me something is not quite right. I have learnt from experience – do not ignore that voice! Know of the one? It tortured me only last month.

Also, I read a great book today by Kristen Lamb called Are you There Blog? It’s Me, Writer.  It was definitely a mind opener to me for three main reasons.

1. It reminded me how much I LOVE to read. I struggle reading works in my own genre when deep into my own writing process (YA, paranormal fantasy) – but others? Absolutely! Why did I not think of this sooner? In moderation Anushka, in moderation…you have to finish your WIP don’t you?
2. Platforms. The social media kind, not the kind you jump off when you see an oncoming train kind.Have I been using them to my full potential or have I been hiding behind them? As I glance through my website I do not see my name anywhere visible. I guess I should just publish my works under Finding My Creature then?
3. Being a writer and social media go hand in hand, you are you brand. I always knew this…I just thought I could put it off until later, like the gym – or think ‘seriously’ about it once I reach a milestone.

I’m curious to know your thoughts are on social media. Have you been using it to connect with others under a pen name, your own name…no name? Have you been putting it off until you land an agent/book deal? Do you actively think about the brand you are portraying?

Food for thought. But now I need sleep.

Love and light,

Anushka xx

Scene #15 Done!

It’s kinda silly to say you don’t read YA cuz you’re not a kid. You’re not a hobbit, but at least a few of you read The Lord of the Rings – Bill Cameron (@bcmystery)

Scene #15 Inspiration 

I’m excited to be getting into the middle of my story arc and I am very aware that the middle is where most stories fall flat on their face…and die. Maybe that’s why my expectations for my scenes are growing, thus driving me crazy. Refer to my Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog post if you feel like capturing the general gist of what this scene did to me.

Despite the rough start, I’m eager to sink my teeth into the next scene.

1990 words.

Love and light,

Anushka xx

Insecure Writer’s Support Group Post #1

Insecure Writer’s Support Group 

Where do I start?

Dear Revision,

I hate you. I love you. You drive me crazy, but not always in a good way. Take today for example,  it took me eight hours, eight hours to fix a scene today. In revision time, eight hours feels like three whole days without sleep or food to my brain so in theory you almost killed me. I have had no experience with a newborn – or pet – to be adequately prepared for such a thing so that was plain mean.  I would understand if the scene was say, very long, or very broken, but it was neither of those things. It was a fresh rewrite with limitless shiny possibilities in a new world I could not wait to explore – a world you could not wait to have written in so you don’t look pathetic. I understand that a blank page presents its own challenges Revision, but don’t you think NOW is a bit too late to tell me over 150 hours of research, planning and dissecting was not enough to get me though this rewrite? Really? Can’t YOU read the information clearly stated on my index cards and just write it says? No you cannot. Sometimes I wonder if you even graduated kindergarten, you clearly never learnt to read in the first place. Maybe I’ll finger paint my outline next time.

You. Like. To. Drive. Me. CRAZY! Don’t you?

In fact, for a solid five hours today I think I thought I was a saucepan, one I planned on hitting over my head. If that doesn’t make me sound like a crazy person I don’t know what does! You know Revision, I TOOK BREAKS. I actually took breaks today and I cleaned my room and writing space and even snacked healthily. Unless you count those cream puffs I found, but my muse (yes I’m bringing my muse into this now) told me it contained strong traces of protein so I feel no guilt whatsoever for that!

Now where was I…

That’s right I remember now –  I hate you. Today I truly hated you.

But somehow in the last 20minutes of this revising ordeal you transformed the piece of crap you called a scene into something worth having. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but couldn’t this epiphany happen like say… yesterday? I was so calm and relatively normal before all this. Don’t you want a calm and level-headed writer who actually knows she’s a human being and not a kitchen appliance to polish the story of your dreams?

Clearly not.

I guess this is the path of a creative person… something I hope to deal with better over time. Until then I shall question my sanity every single day and experience an ongoing identity crisis.

That is all Revision. In fact I already feel better for lashing out at you.

Now muse…I have a few words to say to you too.

– Crazy Person

Scene #13 and #14 Done!

Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to keep

– Scott Adams

Scene #14 Inspiration

These scenes were heavily linked so I worked on them both like they were one very, very long scene.

I struggled to bring these two scenes from rough to polished but got there in the end. It always works out somehow even though things looked so dire at one stage I wondered if it was even possible – maybe all the other scenes have been a complete fluke?

These are two important scenes which lead into another world, so I needed that lead-up to be good. So naturally when I want something to be good I come up with crap. I look forward to reading these scenes later to see how they compare with the previous ones.

1243 and 1871 words respectively bringing the grand total to  *drum roll*  24,677words.

I still live in hope that I will stay within my word count. Anything is possible after all 🙂

How do you deal with transforming a stubborn sub-standard scene?

Love and light,

xx

PS: HAPPY CANADA DAY TO MY LOVELY CANADIAN READERS. My year in Canada was the BEST. It was the most  fantastical and creatively enriching experience of my life  and I cannot wait until the time comes for me to move back there again.

     Scene #13 Inspiration

Scene #12 Done!

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go

– E. L. Doctorow

Scene #12 Inspiration

Short, sweet and very fast paced. Pacing wasn’t something I actively paid much attention to when writing but being more aware of time and how it moves between your fingers has really helped me in this revision. Since I knew this scene would be fast and short I chose to type it over longhand.

Took me an hour, the shortest rewrite so far.

704 words.

How are your words and pacing going? Do you think of time and how it passes?

Love and light,

Anushka xx

Scene #11 Done

Writing is an escape from a world that crowds me. I like being alone in a room. It’s almost a form of meditation – Neil Simon 

Scene #11 Inspiration

Had a revision free Friday yesterday so I am a couple of scenes updates behind. I was going to indulge and engage in the real world today and take today off as well but I just wanted to work on the scene which has been a little bit of a trouble maker – Unlucky #13…of course. Why am I even surprised?

Just a quick update today.

2079 words.

Love and light,

Anushka xx

Scene #10 Done!

If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it. 
–  Toni Morrison

Scene #10 inspiration 

It feels like I reached a mini milestone – double digits!  I was meaning to post this soon after my last post but got caught up in my other scenes. I normally just work on one at a time then polish it, blog a quick update and never look at the scene again. But this time I just kept on writing and writing. These scenes are written completely from scratch so maybe that’s why. There are no where near up to standard though but it feels nice to have the bones of the scene there ready to work with.

1904 words.

Love and light,

Anushka xx

ps- I just want to take this moment to say that I have been enjoying reading about everyone else’s updates and that you all inspire me with your progress 🙂

Scene #9 Done!

Little by little one walks far.
– Peruvian proverb

Scene #9 Inspiration

Just a quick update because I want to get some headway into scene #10 before bed. Like all new rewrites this scene took me completely by surprise. It was fun to write once I let myself just write and not think too hard about it. I have found that handwriting a scene really helps my process. If I’m not feeling inspired by the pen I will type it out then print it before transforming it completely…with a pen. It’s hard to describe, but if writing longhand is not something you do normally you should definitely shake things up a bit and try it. You might surprise yourself. 

This scene was longer than anticipated but I feel like it is the perfect length it needs to be.

2656 words revised.

How are your words?

Love and light,

Anushka xx

Scene #8 Done!

A novel is a rare place you can simultaneously find yourself and lose yourself – Stephen Parolini 

Scene #8 Inspiration

This scene officially gave me biopolar.

In the first draft this scene was rather clean and one that I loved. So I went into it – rather stupidly – thinking that revising this scene will be a breeze! RUBBISH! I had put so much pressure on myself to make this scene dazzle and sparkle. Since this scene was already pretty much in tact, I didn’t have much to do which then made me paranoid. Maybe I was cutting a corner and not giving it justice? Or maybe I was just missing something important hence the fact it did not take me that long? Maybe the WHOLE DAMN THING WAS JUST STUPID TO BEGIN WITH.

I should obviously delete it and burn all remaining evidence.

I should feed it to the cat.

I should get a cat so I could feed it to the cat.

Amazing what a goodnights sleep and distance can do 🙂

I printed the scene out and read it like a ‘reader’ would. And I surprisingly enjoyed it. It wasn’t even as bad as my head made it seem.

This revision is turning me into a crazy woman.

But I can happily say 1756 words revised.

Ever had any of these scenes that make you question your mental sanity?

Love and light,

Anushka xx

Scene #7 Done!

We must risk going too far to discover just how far we can go

– Jim Rohn

I really loved writing this scene. In the first draft the character introduced in this scene was a HE…but round two finds him officially a SHE. Same name and far less stupid. I love how this gender swap has added a richness to this character. I also cleared up the murky back story I had for her which was an unexpected delight and something I hope to sprinkle in later scenes. 

It took me two sessions to overhaul this scene and 3.75 hours all up. Again, it felt like I was revising it for much longer.

1753 words.

A quick coffee break (overdosed a little too much on the green tea yesterday) and onto scene #8!

Then…I shall enter the world we call real life.

I hope today is an inspiring day for you all 🙂

Love and light,

Anushka

xx