Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Feeling Better

All right, my identity crisis is over-- at least for now. I met with my critique group last night and I just remembered how much I love the writing process, regardless of whether I ever get published. I love the contacts I've made through this process, I love learning to write, I love thinking of different story lines. I really have LOVED the whole thing.
So, I've turned back to finish my synopsis with renewed energy. Luckily, I have finally completed a first draft, so it's now just muddling through to make it tighter and more interested. I'm sure I'll want to throw my computer out the window again, but at least there's been progress.
There are also some writing conferences coming up that I am looking forward to. I am surprised at how many want-to-be writers out there don't go to conferences. As far as I can tell, it is hands down the best way to network and learn about the publishing business-- which is kind of important if you want to, you know, get published.

Friday, January 8, 2010

My Major Identity Crisis

Ahh! So I like my story. I mean, I think it's good, compelling, exciting (at least I hope it's all of those things). What I'm really worried about, however, is that it may not be that original. There are so many stories about a girl who unwittingly steps into a magical and dangerous world and falls in love with the hero/bad boy/whatever. My hero is not and was never the bad guy, but other than that it plays exactly the same. And mine is years away from being published. How many more stories like that can come out-- will come out-- in the next couple years? How many before the market is saturated (which it seems like it is already) and there is no place for my story?
Hence, my identity crisis (did I just use the word "hence"?). Should I change my story? Rehash it? Make it different than what I envisioned when I wrote it? Should I still try to get it published? It's frightful to think of the hundreds of hours I have put into it being for nothing. No, I will still work to get it published, even if the experience is just that... experience. That alone will make it worth it.
I used to think I knew how to write (I do have a degree in English Lit. after all), but that I was never creative enough to come up with a story. Then, I thought of a story, and realized how little I really knew about writing. Now, to see that my story wasn't that creative to begin with.... ah, it hurts.
I know that I may be a little slow on the epiphanies. "Twilight" and it's knock-offs have been around for years. But I have only just started to get sick of the genre myself. I find myself losing interest in the stories that fervently held my attention a couple years ago (sigh).
I guess what I'm saying is, I'm feeling a little.... lost.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Dreaded Synopsis

All I can say is, I was warned. But after countless days of attempting to write a synopsis, I'm about ready to give up writing altogether. Either that, or throw my computer out the window.
Seriously, it feels nearly impossible to condense my 350 plus page manuscript into two pages, DOUBLE SPACED (don't think that little detail hasn't caused me major grief).
So that's where I'm at. Trying to figure out what details are crucial and which ones I can leave out (and if they aren't important, then what are they doing in my manuscript anyway?), and how to possibly introduce all my characters, my voice, my story, and any subplots in two pages.
If anybody out there has any suggestions, I'd love to here them! Maybe even a suggestion on a book about writing a synopsis-- as long as it is only two pages, double spaced, and includes all the pertinent information...