Finished Buffy last night. Wow! No more Sunnydale. Didn't see that coming! Honest. And I've been to some Buffy panels, too (during Dragon*Con). Have to say, I really enjoyed the series. I think it's given me a lot to think about when it comes to writing my own stories.
As for writing…In talking with my daughter about my next writing project, she came up with a good idea. Not a story idea, a writing idea.
I've been told I write fast. Whether that's true or not, I have no idea. I have nothing to base it on. But more than one person has told me this, so I will accept it as fact.
The first draft of my first book was written from April 2009 – June 2009. Yeah, it was crap – which I realized when I started READING it, but the story was basically there in three months. I gave it to my daughter and she said it had potential (I was thrilled!). I learned a lot from that first book. Took classes (and classes and classes), revised, rewrote, etc. By April 2010, I started querying and I had begun the sequel.
The first draft of the sequel was completed in August 2010.
I started Book 3 in September 2010, took a break to edit Book 2, and completed the first draft by the end of March 2011. While it may seem like it took longer to write, my writing had improved TREMENDOUSLY and the edits weren't as extensive. I was querying by July 2011.
Books 1-3 are my vampire stories. For Book 4, I decided to challenge myself and write a non-vampire book. Sticking with paranormal (because I think that's what I want my brand to be), I featured a ghost, but not as the H/H. They were human, so I had to be careful and not KILL them, since they didn't heal as quickly as my vampires. Yeah, it was tough!
I started Book #4 on April 1, 2011. I finished the first draft on January 2, 2012. No writing occurred on that book in June, so it basically took me eight months to write that first draft.
While I love the book, it was harder to write. I wanted a challenge and I got one. If I go another way for Book #5, it will be another challenge. I'm sure of it. My daughter suggested I take a break.
But not a writing break. She said for me to write another one of my vampire stories, since I write those so fast. It will give me more practice writing, too. If they don't sell, they don't sell. But she's right. I need the break. I need an easy project.
So, it looks like I'll be going back to my vampires. Now I just have to figure out which couple (I have three from which to choose, so far). Who knows, maybe during that time I'll come up with an awesome idea for Book #6. Or better yet, sell Book #3 or #4! Yeah, wouldn't that be something?
5 comments:
Exciting stuff and always fun to be writing. Have you read Stephen King's On Writing? I loved that book. Tim and I have read it a bunch of times. He reads out loud before we go to sleep - and I love that. But anyway, great read if you hadn't.
Happy Writing :-)
I'm a HUGE Stephen King fan, so of course I had to get that book. His suggestion to read all the time is the reason I ALWAYS have a book in my purse.
I just changed my post to Honey is Yummy. Thanks for the idea. It will bug Ray and be true at the same time.
Thanks :-)
Glad you like that book. Me too.
Congrats on finishing your 4th book, Stacy! It doesn't sound to me like you write too fast - really, there is no such thing as long as we make our books the best we can make them, however long they take to write. I can write a first draft in about 3 months. Unfortunately, it takes me twice that long to whip it into something others might want to read - and that's with me outlining first! It's all a learning process, which is one thing I love about writing.
Jennette - I don't think I write too fast (is there such a thing??), just that my last book took way longer for me to write than any of my vampire books (and I probably have a lot of work ahead of me when I start on the edits). I like that I can write fast, if that's what I do.
And a first draft in 3 months sounds about right to me, so maybe I DON'T write fast!! :)
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