Self-Critiquing Vs. Editing Your Own Work

In the past I've always taken the approach of editing my own work. You know, altering my documents with each read through and when I think I've got it as clean as I can possibly manage on my own, it's then that I send it off to fabulous critique partners who find so much more wrong with it. :) They wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't, right!

But since it's been a long while since I looked at my first draft of The Unlikely One (actually, I've never read this one through it's entirety as I wrote it in full during NANOWRIMO a couple years ago and then set it aside), so I decided I might be distanced enough from it now to actually critique it as is before starting in on the extensive edits it's sure to need. I feared if I delved right into editing it I'd, 1)feel overwhelmed, and 2)do needless editing on pieces that will have to be massively altered or even deleted once I get the full picture of the novel again. A critique seemed like the way to go at this stage, but I realized I'd never critiqued my own work before.

I'm finding this critiquing strategy quite invigorating, actually. By putting comments and tracker on and sticking to using them to note areas of trouble, I can review my work through much more impartial eyes than I ever could when in editing mode. I know that when I'm done this self-critique, and subsequent required editing, I'll still get lots of suggestions and comments from my critique partners during their go at it. But I have a feeling I'll be much more capable to discern which suggestions to follow and which won't work for me or my story as a result of this first self-critique.

Have you ever critiqued your own novel(s)? If so, did you find it beneficial in the long run, or just a wasted step?

Surrendering to Him,

Eileen

What Step Are You On?

I'm hovering between step two and three myself.

By Monday, May 2nd, I hope to begin my journey of bouncing from step three to step four until I earn a firm standing on the prestigious top step.

Goal setting is not new to me, but by laying all of it out here, having all you dear writing buddies witness this, and thus giving you the ability to call me on it is terrifying. I'm thinking I'm more vested in this goal planning now than I've ever been before or I wouldn't be so scared.

Okay, so while inhaling a load of earth thaw and horse waste outside the stable this week as my girls rode, I created a pros and cons list to make a wise and informed decision on which story I should really be tackling first. Turns out it isn't the one I've been working on since returning from my sabbatical. Hence the change in the meter on the side bar.

So, I'm truly starting from scratch for my May goals.

May's Writing Goals:

1. Assess merits of GMC of my first draft of The Unlikely One. (I'm a SOTP writer, need I say more?)

To do this, I need to:

• Read first draft--it's been well over a year since I looked at this novel


• Create road map of story as it stands


• Note weaknesses and highlight desired fixes in road map

2. Rewrite The Unlikely One reflecting new story road map


May's Writing Related Goals

• Post on Blog minimum of 2x/week


• Keep up with critique submissions


• Research agents and editors attending the 2011 ACFW conference to figure out who I would like to try and meet with there


• Register for ACFW Writer's conference, book hotel room and flight

May's Reading List:

• Emily March's Heartache Falls


• Catherine West's Yesterday's Tomorrow


• Laura Frantz's Courting Morrow Little

May's Personal Goals (I have lots, but I'm only sharing a few here)

• Exercise 5 days a week (walking or working out--minimum 30 minutes/day)


• Intake minimum 4 cups of water per day


• Stay away from processed foods

So that's my goals for May. Now, how can I help you stay accountable to your goals? I'll be lifting us all in prayer with a special emphasize on God sending us Angels to help us "stick to it".

As the May flowers bloom may our writing sprout in leaps and bounds as well!

Surrendering to Him,

Eileen

A New Month Approaches

And with it comes goal setting.

For May, I want to put a little more effort and planning into my list of to-do's. I've become incredibly fearful that I will never meet the requirements of becoming a published author. And I'm not just referring to being able to write a compelling, flowing novel with characters that really do seem to breath and talk and muddle through life with a sense a purpose or lack thereof only to discover a valuable one.

I'm concerned I don't have it in me to create worthwhile faithful romances in a timely fashion as editors would require of a budding author who tends to write novels in the 60k range. Am I alone? Or do others find this concept of writing publishable novels on a quarterly or semi-annual basis daunting?

Regardless of whether I'm alone on this or not, I'm trying to place myself in the writer's seat of a published author for LI's (Love Inspired). And I'm goal setting with that in mind to see if I've got what it takes to be one of their authors.

Have you ever tested the literary waters of tasks and deadlines that a published author might face? If you're game to try this out with me (at least we don't have to incorporate marketing in our tasks yet), please join me by creating an aggressive May Goals list and lets see how we measure up. I'll post my goals on Friday. I hope you'll join me in creating your own goals for then, too.

And for those published authors reading this, with all your wisdom, is there anything you feel the need to warn me about? I'm all ears!

Surrendering to Him,

Eileen

Man Help Needed Please!

And, no, I don't mean I need help in getting a man. Got one of those and I'm quite blessed with him, too, thank you!

What I need is help in writing in the male POV. I had a very exhausted male doctor lean against the cement wall outside the next case room door he was to enter, and was told that that was a very effeminate move for a hero to do.

I write romance. I'm thinking writing a hero with effeminate gestures isn't in any one's best interests, least of all this ladies-man type hero I have.

So I asked my dear sweet hubby, who is very manly, what he would do if he was exhausted and had to wake himself up fast. I'm still in disbelief with his answer.

"I'd tickle the roof of my mouth with my tongue."

That was his answer.

He'd tickle the roof of his mouth with his tongue? Okay, I'm thinking this judge might just really slam it to me if I had my hero doing that, when leaning against a cold cement wall isn't considered masculine in the least.

Any one have a truly manly suggestion for me? He's in a hospital in this scene. Rushing from one delivery room to another. Knowing he's about to enter a room where an unviable baby is about to be born. He's frustrated with the situation, feels compassion and sadness for the mom-to-be, and he's exhausted, being it's near the end of his 24-hour shift.

What would you have your hero do before entering the room?

Surrendering to Him,

Eileen

Happy Easter!

I love the life and freedom I feel inside on Easter Sunday morning. What a change from the grief and sorrow I experience on Good Friday.

May this Easter Sunday be the start of life renewed for you and me, and may we walk in the path that the Lord has graciously painted for us! Be still. Listen for His direction in the songs of nature. Hear His guiding. Honour His will!

HAPPY EASTER!!


Surrendering to Him,

Eileen

Blessed Good Friday

May the gravity of this day not weigh you down, but rather offer opportunity to release the weight of your sins, knowing the price for forgiveness has been long ago paid.

May the gift of our Heavenly Father and the sacrifice of the Holy Son, Jesus, be accepted and glorified through you as you do His will.


Surrendering to Him,

Eileen

Kindle Any One?

My husband purchased a Kindle a month or so back. He can't say enough good things about it, and I must say after being a die hard could-never-see-me-reading-from-one-of-those-things I'm changing my mind.

The highlighting feature, which basically takes the pieces you highlight and copies them into a separate document for easy access, is one of the main reasons for my change of heart. Just imagine what you could do with a document filled with "new" words for you to use in your own writing, or samples of wonderful transitions to study for replicating the style in your own work. The list can go on of wonderful uses for this feature. Thankfully Mother's Day is coming up and I'm leaving hints for hubby and the girls! :)

I'm not saying I'm giving up on purchasing traditional books. Can't see myself ever fully doing that, but if a novel I'm aching to get is available in Kindle version, I'd probably choose it first.

If I'm being honest, though, if I discovered I loved the read on Kindle, I'd likely buy it in traditional form, too. So, maybe this e-publishing isn't all that bad after all?

Oh, and the free sample chapters is an awesome feature too, and the fact that you can get your book sent instantaneously to you is another. Now I really can't wait for Mother's Day!

What about you? Have you got a Kindle? If so, how are you liking it? If not, what's holding you back?


Surrendering to Him,

Eileen