So...I kind of have a reputation for being a starter and not a finisher, especially when it comes to writing. I lack the ability to resist the next bright, shiny thing. I have a lot of ideas that I get excited about, and I have a hard time sticking with previous projects, making revisions, and … Continue reading The Novel: Which Novel?
Category: Works of Fiction
The Novel: Which Critiques (Don’t) Matter
I now have a complete manuscript of my debut novel, a contemporary young adult story. Complete, of course, means that I still have another full edit to do over the summer...and then probably another one after I start to query in the fall. My first task is to incorporate the remaining comments I have from … Continue reading The Novel: Which Critiques (Don’t) Matter
The Novel: To Query or Not to Query
As this entry posts to my blog, I am wrapping up my third year at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers retreat. This is a wonderful annual event held at a Franciscan Retreat Center in Colorado Springs. The center is in the perfect location, easily accessible from Boulder but far enough that I really do feel like … Continue reading The Novel: To Query or Not to Query
The Novel: Half A Novel And Proud of It
I'm back from an intense month of novel writing. How did I do on the distraction front? I only logged in to Facebook three times, and each time was for a specific purpose, such as updating my notification settings to stop getting text messages from Facebook about photos my friends were posting. They were trying … Continue reading The Novel: Half A Novel And Proud of It
NaNoWriMo
Today is November 1st and that means National Novel Writing Month. I signed up two years ago and didn't get very far, but this year, I'm all in. I went to two Boulder region kick off parties, I have eleven write-ins on my calendar, and for the past eight weeks, I've started attending the Friday 500 … Continue reading NaNoWriMo
Kill Your Illogical Darlings
Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it—whole-heartedly—and delete it before sending your manuscript to press. Murder your darlings. - Arthur Quiller-Couch If you've taken a few writing classes, you've undoubtedly heard this piece of advice. I heard it many, many times, but didn't really grasp its application until … Continue reading Kill Your Illogical Darlings
The Novel: DOA at DIA
The novel is no more. If the possible reason that first comes to your mind is that my co-author is no more either, you are correct. I ended my relationship with Ironman a little while back and with it, the collaboration on our novel. When we first starting seeing each other casually last May, I … Continue reading The Novel: DOA at DIA
The Novel: The Real Writing…Doesn’t Begin
This was not a very productive month. We only wrote about 3,000 words total. Ironman was working full force on a side project and I, well, I have no excuse. I was in a massive slump from the time I got back from Spain until my birthday. I didn't feel like doing anything. I didn't … Continue reading The Novel: The Real Writing…Doesn’t Begin
The Novel: Tough Topics
Progress continues, full steam ahead! We have written 31 total scenes now, and we started doing some compilation and review work. I've also been doing some more research and thinking in general about this book. Our book deals with some heavy themes, so I've been reading some of the most popular YA books from 2017 … Continue reading The Novel: Tough Topics
The Novel: 16 Drafted Scenes
It has been one month since I posted about the New Year's resolution that happened to me, so it seems to be a good time for a status update. Posting about the novel and talking to people about it helps keep me accountable and working on it, though my co-author is also doing a really … Continue reading The Novel: 16 Drafted Scenes
Jennifer A Swallow 