Last Updated on September 29, 2020 by ThoughtsStained
Hello, lovelies!
Thanks for tuning into another installment of Novels and Narrations, where I interview myself (*shrugs* it works) about how my writing is going, what progress I’ve made in the past month and how things are going!
Did you meet your deadline?
I DID.
*throws celebratory balloons*
I sent the 6th draft of Natanni’s story to my editor (that is still one of the coolest things to say) and I should receive it back in mid-Octoberish. I’m quite excited to see what she has to say and if she enjoys the rest of the novel like she did the beginning (and by excited, I mean ultra terrified, but also, still excited).
Well, it’s a been a month since that happened. You took that time off to rest. Didn’t you?
Seriously?
Well, I did want to take some time off, but of course, I got a new idea for that fantasy romance I’ve been teasing and….well…I may have mapped out character profiles for my band of eight heroes And made a map. And did some really rough worldbuildling outlines with history and races. And made a rough outline of major plot beats for the first book. And a Pinterest board.
BUT, before you yell at me, I did all of this in like, a week or so, and haven’t had the time to work on it since, because I’ve been so busy with my day job, so I sorta took a break by force.
At the same time, though, I really want to start writing this, yet I’m hesitant to, because I also want to work on BLOOD PRICE as soon as I get feedback on it, but I don’t want to have to leave one project to work on another. Yet, it’s not like I can’t go back to work on it. *facepalm*
I heard a rumor that you had your beginning critiqued.
I did! Like I mentioned before, I started graduate school, and, after some hiccups with my original class, I switched into a fiction workshop, which had been really great. I was offered a chance to workshop part of a novel and I couldn’t really turn down having eleven experienced writers critique it.
How’d it go?
Well, I may have been so sweaty and shaking I had to angle my camera away so no one would notice, ended up taking four pages of notes and then cried for two hours after class.
I’m fine now, and honestly, the critique went really well. Some people really loved it, some had a lot of questions and everyone had varying ideas of suggestions for improvements. After having some time to think it over, I have some changes I think I want to make, others I disagree with (which is okay!) and others I hope to consult with my editor with. Because, while I valued their feedback and their time, I also have to recognize that only a few of them write in the same genre I do and they were all coming at it with a very critical lens, which does affect the critique.
But, I did take heart that, despite the many questions, advice and conflicting critiques (for example, one person didn’t like X element, while the next person liked it), the fact that multiple people said they couldn’t wait to read more really was a confidence booster!
Goal for October?
I think…I’d like to start writing a little bit of the fantasy romance I want to write. Then, edit BLOOD PRICE again and prep it for querying. If, by the end of the year, I can have BLOOD PRICE back into the querying waters and then a substantial amount written in this fantasy romance draft, I think I can call 2020 a win for a writing year (though, honestly, the fact that I’ve written a SINGLE word during 2020 will be considered a win, because fuck this year).
I really liked the fake interview style, so I’m going to stick with it. Is it weird to interview myself? Yes. Knowing me, is that also oddly on brand? Also yes.
What about you? Do you write? What projects are you working on? Let me know in the comments, because I want to support more writers!! Also, if you follow any bloggers who post about writing, would you mind linking them below? I really need to find more of them!
Cheers.
![Not me needing to repost this announcement because my first post had a typo. I promise I can actually edit! 😅
REPOST of original message below:
I've been thinking a lot about publishing and the barriers it places, particularly on traditionally underrepresented and marginalized writers. As an editor, I wanted to try and break down those barriers a bit.
So, going forward from now and forevermore, if you identity as a queer, BIPOC or disabled writer, you'll receive 10% any full manuscript edit. No need to self-disclose how you qualify. I will trust you at your word!
Another stigma (that's being broken!) that still exists is that self-published authors write at less quality than trad--pubbed writers. We all know this is bullshit! But, to help support my indie badasses, your first edit with me for a novel you plan to self publish will be 10% off.
**Please note these discounts are for full manuscript edits, including: developmental edits, copy edits and proofreading.**
Curious? DM me or email me through my website, linked below!
Link here: https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/editorial
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#writing #writinghelp #editing #amediting #amrevising #edits #freelanceeditor #SFFWriters #fantasywriters #writingcommunity #writing #querying #amquerying #writersofinstagram #writersofig #WIP #editorial #developmentalediting #nowbooking #queerwriters #edits #CampNaNoWriMo #marginalizedwriters #BIPOCwriters](https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
You interviewing you on your writing is one of my favorite things about your blog! I think a lot of writers have similar conversations with themselves in their head. At least, I do, so your Novels and Narrations posts are really enjoyable.
I have a hard time finding bloggers who write about writing, but can think of K. M. Allen (https://kmallan.com/), A. E. Costello (https://aecostello.blog/), and The Winter Writer (https://thewinterwriter.com/).
Aww, Kat, thank you SO much! It’s such an odd thing, but it honestly works, so I’m just gonna run with it! 😛 Oooh, thank you so much for sharing those with me! I will definitely check them out! <3
Thanks for sharing this! I always like to see the process of other writers, and how they tackle potential issues I might have in the future, and stuff like that. It helps 🙂
So, I also write. I currently have one project that’s in its first draft, and one that I have been working on for quite a while, and have edited quite a few times as well until it’s finally the story I want haha.
I also write about writing on my blog (and books), in case you want to check it out. But don’t feel obliged or anything 🙂
Thank you so much for reading it! 🙂 I love reading about writing processes and writing posts, so feel free to link your next post like that in one of your comments, as I’d love to read it! 😀
Aw thanks! Well, this one is very recent. I’m thinking for next month I’m also gonna add more links to helpful writing resources & articles.
Oh, thank you so much!! I just added it to my reading feed, so whenever I have time to blog hop again, I will definitely check it out! Thank you so much for sharing! 😀
Loved this, and that’s fantastic you’ve made progress on both of your projects!! I’m so excited for your fantasy romance, it sounds amazing and I need it NOW THANK YOU 😀
I’m also trying to rip through a rewrite of my first novel, even though I abandoned my third novel before finishing the first round of revisions on it….SO I’m hoping that once I finish this rewrite (which I did for Pitch Wars, but also just in general because hoo boy it needed it), then I’ll finish the revisions on my third novel. And yeah, same, still keeping things flexible because 2020 has been a dumpster fire and we’re all just doing our best.
Keep doing these posts, they’re brilliant, just like you! <3
Thank you!! I am itching to work on something writing related again (since I don’t think I’ve worked on it in two weeks, now?) and your support is honestly inspiring!! <3 <3
Honestly, I am just so excited for ALL THREE of these novels that I am positively stoked. I CANNOT wait to read them!! But yes, we both gotta stay flexible. If any year was ever going to make us do that, it is this year!
<3 <3
Love your self-interviews! Also you have done so much in this hell-year so honestly you are clearly a hugely powerful writer. 😀
Exciting to think how much progress you’ve made on BLOOD PRICE and how close to finished it might be. I hope the editor’s feedback is super helpful (and easy to swallow) and energises you to do even more. 🙂
Ahh, thank you!! Hearing you say that made me really happy, actually, because I (once again) felt like I wasn’t doing enough. 😅
But thank you! I am supposed to get my feedback this week and I am positively terrified, but also super excited to work on it again and really nail it, this time, I think.