I've been working a new novel. The idea came to me last summer and the thing with really good ideas, well, they poke at you with pointy objects until you notice them. The jabs were getting quite painful so I created my bullet pointed list of ideas and let it simmer for a few weeks or so. Then I cranked out sixty pages in three days. I knew I was on to something.
Freeze here.
I'm the kind of writer that once I start I can't stop. I need long chunks of time to get the first draft out of my head. That sixty page dump took place last October on a weekend where I had the Monday off. Tuesday, my old job took over and the book jumped in the back seat until May 19th.
By the end of May I had a completed first draft, revision notes from my brilliant agent, and I was stuck. The novel was only 30,000 words.
What to do? What to do?
Sarah (my brilliant agent) gave me solid advice: Kate, give it time to breathe, then go back and read it through. Anyone who knows me personally knows I have a difficult time letting anything breathe. I am a "get it done and get it done now" kind of gal. I've been told no moss grows on me - by multiple people. I love progress. I love the feeling of accomplishment and I really love a challenge. The challenge for me this time was to let the manuscript get a damn breath.
But I did.
I started at page 1 with my re-read and mid-way through - KABLAM - the breakthrough. The missing character detail for my MC tapped me on the shoulder and then headbutted me. I actually yelped at my desk so loudly that my husband came running in. My grin and fist pumping alleviated his fear and then he called me a spaz.
I love this book. I love my MC. I love everything about writing.
Do share your breakthrough stories - and they don't have to be about writing - breakthroughs happen all the time for all sorts of reasons ; )
P.S. I did a google search on "writing breakthrough" to find something I could link up to in this post and I found THIS -- go give her a shot in the arm....
11 comments:
Congrats on your breakthrough. I usually have to go running to find mine. :D
Squee-- you know I *LOVE* this book too (and can't WAIT to see what the breaktohrough is). *taps foot* TELL ME!
I think one of the reasons why we get along and why I love hanging out with you (well, there are tons of reasons why I love hanging out with you) is because this post sounds JUST LIKE ME. I have a hard time letting stuff breathe too. Once I start a project, no matter what it is, I want to work at it until it's finished. In fact, I just wrote a post on this last week. My breakthroughs usually come from days and days of thinking and thinking and more thinking, then bouncing ideas off of other people: I have to play the "what if" game but with other people (as you know from receiving a few emails from me...)
Great job and congrats on your breakthrough!
Stina: Oh, running. I should be running. Miles and miles!!
Christina: I shall email you ; )
Kelly: I definitely do the thinking - mostly as I'm falling asleep - but I never bounce my ideas off of people. Not that I'm secretive or anything (I'm kind of a blabbermouth), but I always just think it and then do it. I find writers' processes fascinating, because we all come to the task differently. It's awesome.
I like to get it done too, but I start to dwell on why it's taking so long and that only results in writers block. Since I write out of order, it like putting apuzzle together. I have to just get through it and realize it will come. I just had a breakthrough on how to connect my missing part to the end. So excited. It's just fitting it in with the kiddos.
Congrats on the break through.
Haha, I'm glad to know others sit at their computer, pump their fists, and yell into the room in excitement. Your happiness is contageous and I can't wait to get back to my writing today! :)
I was just talking about this with my critique group last night - I'm also a get it done type of person, and I'm really bad about waiting for inspiration to hit. It's been my goal on my latest WIP, however, to walk away and let the ideas simmer when I feel myself forcing the writing. As a result I've had INFINITELY more fun writing this piece because I'm only really writing when I feel the story coming on. Good post!
Christine: I still marvel at how you write out of order. That blows my mind! Congrats on your breakthrough : )
Juliana: That's cool that my happiness has inspired you. I like that.
JEM: I hear you - I love when it flies out of my head and onto the screen. And forcing the writing was exactly what my agent didn't want me to do.
I had to learn to wait. Right now I've made a wip wait two years. In the past I would have been querying soon after the first draft and a few quick revisions.
I love those moments when the words come fast. I write in chunks.
Very cool, Kim!! I know those break-through moments, too.
Happy writing!!
Medeia: TWO years? That is a lesson in patience, my friend!
Paul: Thanks. I still wish I had as cool of a writing setup as your treadmill desk! Maybe I'd have breakthroughs more often.
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