I. Am. Crazy.
by Kym on June 25, 2008
I’ve had a strange slew of experiences lately. I keep encountering blog posts that have similar messages. Thoughts pop into my head seemingly at random. The TV, my inbox, and the bloggers on my blog roll seem to be conspiring together.
The recurrent themes?
Think positive. Pursue your dreams. Write.
Now, I’m a pretty stubborn gal, I’ll admit. I don’t like being bullied and harrassed (I had enough of that during my stint in the public education system, thank you very much), and I tend to dig in my heels when I feel ganged up on.
Still, the number of coincidental happenstances has steadily climbed to the point that I can’t shrug it off anymore. Which is too bad, because shrugging things off really is one of my favourite things to do.
So I finally gave in and started writing again. Well, not so much writing as rewriting. I pulled out the first draft of a YA Fantasy novel that I wrote in November. 50,000 words in 30 days. Yup. It’s kind of a mess. A plethora of spelling and grammar mistakes, an appalling lack of attention to detail, and a fairly shallow storyline that could really use filling out.
I pulled up the Microsoft Word document on my screen first thing this morning. Twelve hours later? I’ve hammered thirteen of the chapters into eight and fixed some of the more hideous typos.
It felt a bit strange though, writing without an audience. And since I’ve enough natural strangeness to be going on with, I decided to fix that problem. So, I started a blog and started posting chapters.
Simply put, I need feedback. I can’t just sit here silently clicking and clacking away and feel content and peaceful about it. I need the occasional poke from a passerby and for someone to say, “Hey, that was actually more entertaining than gouging out my eye with a blunt stick!”
I don’t like being needy or feeling like I’m begging for favours. I’d hate someone to read my work if they didn’t enjoy it a wee little bit (Young Adult Fantasy isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, of course). But I’m feeling all nervous and unsettled about this process. Like that I might be dedicating a huge chunk of time to something I’ll end up scrapping anyway.
So even though I might wake up at 3am in a cold sweat over this, I’m giving out the link to my work in progress. Because I’m crazy like that.
21 comments
I haven’t been able to read much lately, but I can read at the computer while holding the baby. I will give it a read soon…
by Heffalump on June 25, 2008 at 6:42 am. #
Would you like input from the younger set? My preteen – who reads YA – was bemoaning the fact that there’s no GOOD YA books at our library.
He’s too old for children’s books, and most adult books have content that’s inappropriate in a lot of ways. A tough place to be.
I’m so excited for you!
by Cheri on June 25, 2008 at 11:13 am. #
Sue Guiney is an author who just finished her first book signing tour. She posted today about what it is to write a book, and a little motivation behind it. You can read what she says at her blog, http://sueguineyblog.blogspot.com/, or I’ll just take the liberty of quoting here:
“…there’s no such thing as a novel that needn’t have been written. The writing has performed some function for the writer, and somewhere, if given the chance, it will work its magic on some reader.”
Now, Sue’s no billionaire author, but she has a good point. You have to believe that someone, somewhere will like what you write.
And at any rate, the act of producing a novel is quite the feat, and should make anyone proud, whether it sells or not.
by Ryan on June 25, 2008 at 1:12 pm. #
I’ll go check it out! I haven’t had a lot of brain for reading lately, but I will when my brain agrees! (Or maybe just a little at a time!)
by Tirzah on June 25, 2008 at 1:51 pm. #
Yay! I liked what I read before. I will be happy to peruse this and let you know how you are doing.
by Sandra on June 25, 2008 at 2:02 pm. #
Ooo cool thanks for sharing the link! I’ll open this up and read it this afternoon! I’m going to share with my BFF too because she LOVES (read: addiction) to read! ;)
by Shanna on June 25, 2008 at 2:08 pm. #
More from Kimberly? I can’t believe your mind and the capacity of how it works. It must just spew out ideas.
I will check it out. Your not crazy though. I can spot crazy. I live with crazy remember.
Have a great Positive day. I just had to throw that one your way…
Oh a rhyme. I am so clever.
by Jan on June 25, 2008 at 2:52 pm. #
That’s funny, all the posts I’ve been seeing lately have to do with donuts.
by Memarie Lane on June 25, 2008 at 2:55 pm. #
ACK! You are so brave! I’m a big chicken. I’m even afraid to attend a critique group. But to share your in progress novel with the world? That takes cajones, my friend. I’m off to read it. :>
by Sue on June 25, 2008 at 5:25 pm. #
Kim, I will read this soon. O loved it before. I won’t read tonight though as my head is spinning like Becca’s.
by Jo Beaufoix on June 25, 2008 at 9:06 pm. #
Good for you!
btw – I tagged you :)
by belle on June 25, 2008 at 9:52 pm. #
Total synchronicity. As I logged onto your blog I had just finished writing an intorductory segment to my own YA novel, which I”m also planning to post in installments on a separate blog. Wow!
Can’t wait to read what you have up.
by charrette on June 25, 2008 at 10:01 pm. #
Where the crap did you find 12 hours to work on this? You amaze me.
by Jenna Consolo on June 25, 2008 at 11:24 pm. #
i only just read the title, and i’m already saying : yes. okay, i’ll continue now…
ooooh i’m excited to go through this again. i can’t wait to see the changes. yay!
does the butler still do it though? i mean i didn’t see that coming at all…
by holly on June 25, 2008 at 11:47 pm. #
Go Kim!!!
by Dedee on June 26, 2008 at 12:08 am. #
I can’t read it just yet. I’m up to my eyeballs in worries and work, getting ready to move.
But in time I will check it out.
And. AND. This is the first two in maybe two weeks that I’ve been able to comment here.
Hooray.
by Lisa Milton on June 26, 2008 at 12:10 am. #
Glad to hear you’re back at it. I need to pull my 50,000 back out and get back to work too.
by Stephanie Humphreys on June 26, 2008 at 5:20 am. #
Crazy? I think not. Courageous! Why YES!
I’ve been reading it and loving it by the way. Your gift of writing is a beautiful thing!
by heather on June 26, 2008 at 1:37 pm. #
Good for you…putting your writing out there. I remember the first time an editor massacred my writing that I had a really tough time with it. But in the end, constructive criticism made me such a better writer!
by Amber on June 26, 2008 at 1:47 pm. #
Sometimes the world tries to tell us things…
I’m glad you posted your writing, I’ll definitely be checking it out in the next few days. (I’m still trying to catch up on my blogs from being out sick last week) I promise to read and comment very soon, I’m looking forward to reading it. :)
by Jaina on July 2, 2008 at 4:01 pm. #
“Hey, that was actually more entertaining than gouging out my eye with a blunt stick!” Hahaha. That was funny. I bet you one trillion dollars that it’ll be TONS more entertaining than that!
Glad you put the link up. Can’t wait to read it! You are talented, girl!
by Rebecca on July 3, 2008 at 6:16 am. #