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Monday, April 14, 2014

April #WIPmadness Check-in, Numero Dos!

Does it ever seem that writing is a balancing act?


We all have our strengths, and, unfortunately, we all have our weaknesses as well. We might be strong with setting, but weak with plot. Strong with side characters, but weak with our protagonist. Strong in prose, but weak in theme.

Once upon a time I was pretty good with magic systems, but lacking in prose. So I worked and practiced and got my prose up, only to get my plotting down. Now I'm trying to get my plots stronger without losing any finesse in characters.

I suppose the point is that, no matter how far along on the publishing road you've driven, there's always room for improvement. When it comes to writing, there's always something to learn or relearn. We can never stop growing. And we can never stop writing!*

What are you working on this week? What elements are you trying to balance on the writing scale?



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*On my writing front, I finished the first draft of THE MATERIALS MAGICIAN!


Also, happy birthday to my lovely sister-in-law Chris today, and to my sexy manmeat husband tomorrow!

10 comments:

  1. So true that there's always room for improvement in our writing. Glad you're getting some writing done this month.

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  2. I'm attempting a new medium this month (screenwriting) so all of it feels like weakness at this point. LOL! But I'm pushing through and reminding myself regularly that if I pursue this, it will eventually get better. I'm finding the 120 pages of a screenplay much longer than anticipated though.

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  3. It seems like I have to focus on a different weakness in every revision! I'm not sure, but that probably means I need to do a lot more learning before I can even begin the balancing part. LOL.

    The new WIP I began in March is still moving ahead slowly, but it IS moving. This month I'm spending less time writing each day, but that's because I'm giving more time to Easter things, and gardening, but I'm okay with that.

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  4. Yes, writers need to continually improve. Me? I am just trying to work in a session of writing this week that will last more than 30 minutes at a shot.

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  5. Congrats on finishing that first draft!

    When we stop learning or being willing to learn is the day we should stop writing. Like our manuscripts, we will always be a work in progress.

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  6. Going over a first read on my rough draft. Printed out the hard copy and now attacking. Making notes throughout. My goal is to finish this by Saturday so I can start revising next week!

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  7. I sometimes find myself like a yo yo bopping about the place. This week, I'm just hoping to get in some writing time. Working on a first draft that has to get done much sooner than later.

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  8. I've decided everything in life is a balancing act.

    congrats on finishing the draft! That's always exciting.

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  9. Happy B'day Chris and and soon to come for Mr. Manmeat...ahem, Charlie's of course, Congrats on finishing the first draft. Right now I'm working on the first draft for my ghost writing gig. It's nearly complete and my dear customer and I will soon be discussing what was written and making all the necessary revisions.

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  10. That's so true. I would say my strength is in word-building and character development, but my main weakness is plotting. Writing is definitely a balancing act-trying to get all the different areas right is difficult. I often have to do different drafts focusing on one thing at a time! Congratulations on getting your first draft done.

    ~Tizzy @ Creative Therapy

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