Breath Deeply

Wow, what a busy few weeks it has been. For 2 weeks I have been on Bootcamp... while I probably need the commando, this was Bootcamp 101 - Beginner Romance Writers.

Thanks to some absolutely wonderful people (organisers and presenters) my knowledge of my craft has dramatically increased. I will be posting more about bootcamp and the lovely ladies involved later.

Unfortunately, their efforts have meant the flaws in my writing have become much more apparent.

My next goal to cross off my list is the Valerie Parv Award. This closes in just 2 weeks. I am still going to enter, but it makes me cringe when I realise it is going to be going in warts and all. There are some big issues (post-bootcamp) that just stare at me now, but being time poor, I don't have the luxury of changing them at this time. But at least I can fix it all before my pitch in August.

Pantser or Plotter?

Plotter: One who organizes, plans, plots, outlines, synopsizes, characterizes, takes copious notes, and researches before putting pen to paper. Before they sit down at the computer, they know exactly what’s going to happen in their story and feel confident that every scene flows into the next and all loose ends are neatly tied up.

Pantser: One who writes by the seat of their pants, and who does NOT plan, plot, outline, or do character studies ahead of time. They generally get a basic idea for a story and/or character(s) in their head, sit down at the computer, begin writing, and trust that everything will work itself out in the end.

(from The Plotter and the Pantser - A Writing Chat About Characterisation http://www.hodrw.com/ppii.htm)

I always thought I was (well, wanted) to be a pantser. I liked the idea of flying by the seat of my pants - and, ok, it seemed like much less work without all that planning.

But I guess it's not something you can choose... it's what you are. And, yep, you guessed it, turns out I'm really a plotter.

Every time I start a new ms I have a general basic idea and characters and sit down and go for it. But before too long I am starting to take notes, establishing conflict, writing out notes for chapters and... well, basically plotting.

Sigh.

I guess next time I should just bite the bullet and save all that time by doing the planning before I start.

Bits 'n' Pieces

Phew what a week it has been. And I think the whole month is going to be the same.

Let me see....

1. First Kiss - I am entering the RWAustralia First Kiss competition so that has meant rewriting and rewriting my entry. It is now all a blur. I'm not even sure what I think about it anymore.



2. I have signed up for Bootcamp 109 (woohoo) where I get to interact with some absolutely fab authors, learn amazing things and become part of what will hopefully be a great support group. Of course this means lots of work, work, work. Our starter packs have arrived and our pre-bootcamp homework issued. I switch between sheer excitement and absolute terror.



3. I've been critiquing like crazy, helping my fab CP with her ms to make her deadline (which she is going to do!!! So stop reading my blog and get to it, lol), plus a few others with various chapters. I have to be careful of my subconscious during this as during the process I question whether I can really write as I compare my work with others and I wonder at my ability to offer meaningful suggestions.



4. In between times I have been trying to progress my own ms, which is rapidly falling behind. My First Kiss entry (see above) is from this ms, so I have to remember while new words may not have appeared, some has been polished until it shines.



5. Finally, my big goal is to enter the Valerie Parv competition, which I realised today is only 6 weeks away. Oh my gosh! Of course, this isn't helped by the fact i have decided to add in a new chapter 3, pushing all current chapters back. The comp requires ch1-3 of course, lol.



6. On top of this, naturally, is everything else that falls into 'life'. You know, family, friends, housework.

Everything is making me so squished and squashed, I'm amazed my weight isn't falling off (another New Year's goal, but we won't go there). But I know that I will come out the other end of February with new friends, new skills and hopefully close to a new ms.