I’m in the home stretch – or is it ON the home stretch? – Anyway, I’m hunkered down working to finish the re-write of my novel. Some of you may have been around when I celebrated (prematurely) the completion of my book. After my WTF Critique Group got through with it, I realized it was anything but complete.
I have been putting in long hours, bent over my computer trying to come up with new and interesting ways to “replace adverbs” and “fix the passive voice” and most devastatingly of all — rewrite the entire ending. I really thought ending everything with a hugely [adverb] large and devastatingly [repeated adverb] intense fire was [passive voice] a great ending. Unfortunately it’s been done before…and done and done and done.
WTF Critique Group challenged me to write something new and to dig deep and to…Oh, god, I hate to say it…open a vein on the page. That’s my standard line and can you believe it? They used it against me. I mean, WTF?
No really, What The F**K am I going to do?
CRAZIE TOWN 
Yes I realized that I misspelled skepticism…but “they” will correct that:)
Skeptism…what the f#$k are you thinking. You are are a great writer. I love your posts and you need to stop second guessing what “corporate” thinks about your publications. Get it done and be proud of what you do. We like it and are patiently wondering what is next?
Andy/Emily,
It’s nice to hear you kind cursing words. ;0 and don’t worrie abut the speling, its the content that counts!
Keep going girlfriend!! I know it’s in there….dig down deep and stretch!
As the Nike commercial says, “Just Do It.” Guess I should apply that philosophy to my own work, huh?
You can do it. I have faith in you.
It wouldn’t be worth it if you didn’t put some blood, sweat, and tears into it! You will do it. You have come this far afterall…:)
Sara no “H”
I definitely have the tears going for me today.
whatever you do, leave yourself open to a sequel. what would have happened if j.k. Rowling burnt down Hogwarts in book one? 😉
Serenelife,
I’m so glad you said this. I have a teeny tiny idea for an ending that worked like that. At least a direction – I’m going for it.
Open yourself to dream a little. But make sure you have a pen and paper handy to jot down that fantastic idea. A flashlight doesn’t hurt either, in case you might want to read it in the morning.
Sally,
I’ve always heard this as an idea but have never put it into practice. I received several journals and a tiny flashlight for Christmas and have been wondering what to do with them. Thanks!
what janet is saying is – put it in a drawer and do something else for awhile. Not forever, just awhile.
Maril,
Unfortunately, the critiques have been “in a drawer” since Christmas. I decided it was time to drag them out, hoping against hope that they wouldn’t be what I remembered. Didn’t work. The magic writing fairy did not change their words into the ones my mommy would have said. “It’s perfect just the way it is.”
It is by sitting down to write every morning that one becomes a writer. Those who do not do this remain amateurs. – Gerald Brenan
Writing is easy: all you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead. – Gene Fowler
Get black on white. – Guy de Maupassant
If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write. – W. Sommerset Maugham
Let’s face it, writing is hell. – William Styron
Who casts to write a living line, must sweat. – Ben Johnson
Dear Write Brain Trust,
So what you’re saying is…I need to passionately sit down and sweat, on a black and white page, dripping with blood?
No problem.
You can do this. You’ve come this far. What other choice do you have?
MJ,
You’re right. I’ve come to the point in my life where I can no longer NOT write. So plowing ahead is what I’m going to do. Thanks.
No really, What The F**K am I going to do?
Open the vein: bleed.
i.e. free your mind and daydream awhile. Doodle. Go dig weeds. Prune the roses. The trees.
Janet,
Thanks for the advice, but I feel like I’ve been doodling my writing life away already. 😦
Wishing you all the best! I just realized as I was reading your post that I forgot to go to my writer’s group yesterday. Oh shoot!!!! Sigh….Anyway, I hope all the hard work pays off.
Dear Middle,
Thank for the good wishes. As you can see, I’m frantically monitoring my blog instead of working on my novel. Thanks for helping me procrastinate. Hopefully there will be more posts that I simply MUST reply to. 🙂