January 19, 2015

And Thus, A New Beginning...Or An Overrated Ending

No, it's not THAT. It will never be THAT. So please, do not worry about THAT, because THAT, will not happen for at least a year (or longer). And if you have to ask what THAT is, then you haven't been around the blog world for a while, have you? But, if you click on any of the six THATs, you will receive a very brief explanation of what I'm talking about.

Now, on to bigger and better things.

I am on a staycation this week, because to be brutally blunt, 2015 is the year where the real world revolves around me. And because the real world revolves around me (thank you very much), I decided that I needed to get off my twin buttock cheeks and do some writing.

However, the muse overruled my plan attack and instead, took off my glasses, sat down and straddled my waist, draped her arms on my shoulders, kissed my forehead and said in a voice that implied in no uncertain terms that I'm just a conduit in this little adventure, "You...........are going to dust off that punk ass novella and get busy with another round of editing. Why? Because I don't want become just another footnote in your writing journey. I want to be the one that you turn to for each and every story that you write. Understand?"

I raise an eyebrow, but she moves in until I'm forced to look up into her fiery hazel eyes. With cowardice being the better part of valor, I acquiesce.

She taps my face a couple of times, then like in my previous novel, disappears back into my subconscious so as to better monitor my progress.

So as per her request, I pulled out the punk ass novella, sent the dust bunnies out to pasture (where they were promptly eaten by a Dirt Devil), and got busy with another round of editing,

It's kind of weird performing hardcore editing again. To be honest with everyone, not counting the tweaking I had to do for The Inner Sibling in order to have it ready for public consumption, it's been over a year since I did any kind of hardcore editing. Even weirder, the last manuscript that was touched for editing, is the one that is the subject of today's writing update (what, you think I write this kind of whimsy just for kibbles & bits?).

Anywho, as per my usual custom, I pulled out a few c.d.'s to listen to while I was editing. My c.d. collection has grown by at lest 15% since I last spoke about it, and this is directly due to the fact that the local Friends Of The Library have used c.d.'s on sale for $1 to $2, and thus whenever I go to the library, I always walk out with at least three c.d.'s. Used c.d.'s are a great way to expand one's musical horizon. The c.d.'s in question were: Fil Campbell (fellow blogger and fantastic singer); 3rd Eye Blind, Matchbox 20, Indigenous, and Better Than Ezra.

I immediately dove into the deep end and got down to performing yet another round of edits. This time, the focus was on grammar, wordiness and sentence structure, and for the most part, I was making really good progress. Music has a way of doing that for me. However, midway through chapter 4, I came across a serious continuity problem, which even though is very simple to fix, requires a lot of thought in order to fix it.

Back when I was the high school of my childrens (14 thru 18), I would have continuity problems with essays. In other words, I would be so far of what ahead of what I wanted to write, that I often would forget to write a key paragraph or two. The end result would be something like this:

It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly, a shot rang out. There was a trial. There was a guilty verdict. The end.


So my friends, that is where I stand with the current state of my writing: another round of edits as per the instructions of my muse, then, for those who aren't squeamish, a chance to become a beta-reader for my novella. Let me know if you're interested, because there is an added incentive to become one.

(c) 2015 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

14 comments:

  1. well you've just described the life of either a schizophrenic or a writer. I trust you are a writer. :)

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  2. In other words, you have some details to fill in.
    Just don't wander into that pasture with the dirt devil.

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  3. I want to read more about your Dominatrix Muse slapping you around. Yeah, baby, yeah.

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    1. Hurt me, hurt me. :D

      In all seriousness, I used to write these kind of posts back in the day at my other blog. Not sure why I would participate in public BDSM, but hey, whatever floats my boat, eh? :D

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  4. Good to be in the groove I think. CD's from the library? I used to check them out sometimes, but I don't know if they ever have sales. Cool.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Yup. They have book sales at least two to three times a year and on a daily basis, they have used c.d.'s, books and videos (not dvd) on sale. Definitely goes a long way towards the annual budget.

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  5. Editing is always the toughest part--and it's my weakness. I'm better at writing! I need someone to just follow me around and edit everything I write.

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    1. I've gotten better at editing (I start editing while I'm writing) but an extra pair of eyes definitely comes inhadny.

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  6. What is a beta reader? Email me and possibly sign me up!

    Enjoy the staycation. You deserve some time off.

    I love our local library bookstore too. CDs and books for less than a buck, usually.

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    1. A beta reader is what you did for me for my 1st book: critique and offer suggestions on how to improve the story.

      I've definitely been enjoying my staycation that is for sure.

      Most of the c.d.'s at my library are a dollar, unless its a double c.d., then it's two.

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  7. Okay, I'm still laughing over sending the dust bunnies out to pasture where they were promptly eaten by the dust devil.

    Yay on the next round of edits being done. One of the good things about putting down a MS for a *rest* is when you come back to read it you do spot those pesky continuity problems. Isn't it amazing how those gaps find their way into your story? But, now, of course, your author narrative isn't running ahead and filling in the blanks. Nope, now you see the gap and realize you have to fill it. Just blame it on the muse. She was in a hurry. :-)

    Sia McKye Over Coffee

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    1. Thanks. I thought everyone needed a small chuckle for the week.

      It's funny, but that was the one thing that I didn't spot in the past year. I would periodically bring with me to work and do a little note taking while eating lunch. Fortunately for me, I was able to bother the muse and she was kind enough to help me fix it...after I was forced to get down on bended knee and grovel....:D

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