The Wednesday Writing Worktable: Turn Your Book Into A Diamond

So you've written a book. Where do you go from here?

If you're like me, writing the book is the easy part, so to speak. It's so much fun meeting new characters and letting them take you for a ride. I love writing new stories. I'm not such a big fan of editing. Not because I can't cut or rewrite or am afraid of the hard work. I'm not. It just bores me.

I'm trying my hardest to change my mindset. Here's my new take:

Editing is like a gem.  When they first uncover a gem, it's a hot mess, right? It's surrounded by rock and is dirty and cloudy. Then they remove it and polish it. Bam! You have a beautiful diamond. Who doesn't love and appreciate a diamond. That's editing. Your first draft is ugly. But after much work and polish, you get a beautiful treasure.

I love diamonds. Can't ever have too many? hehe How to get there? Many people finish their first drafts, but don't know where to go from here. I didn't just starting out. I wish I had a list like this. It would've saved me a lot of headaches. So, I'm sharing my experience with you.

What now?

10 Things You Need to Do:

The Wednesday Writing Worktable: Get Off Your Butt and Write

So you have two weeks of writing under your belt, you may or may not be on target to finish 50k in a month. Something happens during Week 3 though. You may think the story your writing is crap, or there are holes that you've fallen into and can't escape, or you think you've fallen too far behind to meet the end of the month goal. It happens to all of us.

I'm here to tell you to GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND WRITE ANYWAY!

It is perfectly okay to write garbage—as long as you edit brilliantly.

- C. J. Cherry

If I were a lion tamer, I'd whip you until you wrote. If I were a personal trainer, I'd stand by you and tell you to stop whining and just do it. 

The Wednesday Writing Worktable: Hit in the head by Your Writer's Block

Did the writer's block hit you in your head? Are you staring at a blank screen? Are you throwing things around, screaming at the top of your lungs, and haven't written a thing?

Yeah, then I'm diagnosing you with writer's block. It happens to everyone. It happens to the best of us. 

I'm telling you, it's not your fault. Blame it on your story.

Here are 5 of the most common writer's blocks and how to overcome them.

The Wednesday Writing Worktable: JuNoWriMo Week 1

I'm documenting my JuNoWriMo experience through here. I started off the whole experience with the kick-off at midnight on June 1st. I've been feeding off the energy of the participants and focusing my energy on this. I'm off to a good start. Not ahead of the pack, but definitely getting it done. 

At the end of Day 3 of JuNoWriMo, my total was 9,575 words, which is 19% of the goal of 50k. But, I'm reaching for more than that. I'm trying to actually finish my WIP, which will definitely be more than 50k words.

Here's some things that have been helpful for me so far:

The Wednesday Writing Worktable: JuNoWriMo Take-Off is Almost Here

Two weeks in a row, I'm working on my Sony Vaio Fit14.

Okay, this week is again on JuNoWriMo. We are days away from the Take-Off.

I'm hellbent and determined; I will finish this WriMo. :) So, what have I been doing?

The Wednesday Writing Worktable: Preparing for JuNoWriMo Take-Off

“Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.”—Ray Bradbury

So, I came up with a new series for the blog beside the Finding Fantasy Friday. Yes, I know...more alliteration. It works for me. If you have other suggestions, I'm all ears. I have one other series coming soon, so you guys know what to expect throughout the week. Also, I've gone through the blog, labeling other works that could work in this series, so you can find what you want easier. Now, to the post...

My writing worktable these days is whatever digital device I have in my hands at the time, be it a phone, my Nook, or a computer. Today, I'm working on my new Sony Vaio Fit14, which I love b-t-dubs. Feel free to contact me on here or Twitter or Facebook if you have questions about it. ;)

I've done NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) to write book 2 for the Meridienne Drake Series two years ago. Geez, can't believe it's been that long. I didn't finish it then (only about 35k); I filed it away a few months and finished it in April of the following year. I can't wait until November to write this novel plaguing my brain.

Next month is JuNoWriMo (June Novel Writing Month). Yes, I know many of these are popping up. I know NaNo puts on another one in April. There is also a July one. I'm sure there's more. Why so many? Ernest Hemingway says it best:

"Writing, at its best, is a lonely life."