Sunshine and Rainbows

In case you missed Friday's post, I'm looking for a few readers. If you're interested, click HERE.

 

Last Thursday I met with one of my writers' groups. This group actually does critiques, but only three pages worth. It's fair, because there's no time for more. But when your story is longer, it can make for a difficult read, especially if you bring in something from the middle of your story. I really hate critiquing those (it's like reading three pages out of context), but I do what I can.

That's why I usually just stick to bringing in the beginning of my stories (whether from a novel or short story). If the beginning's not right, or it's not hooking the reader, it really doesn't matter what's in the middle. Of course, when I bring these pages in, sometimes I end up re-writing the whole beginning.

I did that with the short story that's included in "Home for the Holidays." I thought I had a great beginning. Turns out it was confusing. It also made my story too long (if it didn't, I might have reworked it so it wasn't so confusing). Scratch! I found a better starting point and it worked tons better.

This past meeting I brought in another short, which I hope will be included in the next anthology my RWA chapter is putting together. It got some good comments (yay – not confusing), but one person suggested something. Nothing major, but enough to put a bug in my head, apparently. I slept on it, and WHAM! It hit me. Rewrite! It's so much better now and has helped me to see how to END the story (which I was struggling with).

Can't say I get lucky like that all the time, but when it happens, it's like sunshine and rainbows and joy all around! I just love that feeling. Only writing has ever done that to me.

What gives YOU that kind of feeling?

My first writers' panel is coming up THIS SATURDAY! And I finally figured out how to make the flyer into a jpeg. See – isn't it pretty?

Why is the easy stuff so hard to figure out, though? I've been trying to do this for I don't know how long now and all it took was to copy it to a clipboard? Yee gads! Oh well… At least I can say that I'm not shaking in my shoes any more. In fact, I'm kind of excited about it. Gee, did someone put something into my water? Because that's just not LIKE me! But I should have some pictures next week (if my husband takes any good ones, that is!).

I'm hoping to finish up with the edit/revision of BITE ME, I'M YOURS this week. Yes, THIS WEEK! I only have about ten pages left. I should be able to do it. I should, I tell you. Well… I hope, then. This is what happens when I want the ending to be perfect. I'm S-L-O-W!

Hope your Monday isn't Monday-like! Cheers!