Monday, March 7, 2011

(Work-in-) Progress Report: Steve

Word count (to the nearest thousand): 15,000
Status: On hold for the moment
Attitude: In love!

You’ll notice a couple of curious things about this introduction. First, Steve isn’t Judy. (Sorry, Judy.) Judy was great while she lasted, but I’m all about Steve now, my new MG historical with a dash of science fiction. The idea--actually, just a first line--popped into my head as I was falling asleep one night: “Mama said it was plum foolishness to keep Robby’s dog tags like that, with his blood still stuck between the tiny grooves and ridges of his name.” I wondered what kind of story would start with that kind of line, and Steve was born.

Second, even though I’m totally in love with this one (heck, I wrote those 15,000 words in about eight days), the project is on hold for now. Some things have come up with Bob (no, I don’t have an agent or even an offer of representation, but I do have some promising new leads), and they have to take priority. But I had to make a note of Steve, because he’s the book I’m coming back to after I rewrite Bob. (I’m rewriting Bob? What? WHAT? (More about that later this week…))

So what have you been working on?

23 comments:

Michael G-G said...

I love the names you give your WIPs!

I am working on two MGs at the moment, and one of them has taken control, rather like your Steve. Interestingly, it was the title that came to me while I was gliding to sleep.

Thanks, sleep!

Best of luck with all your work, Krista. Hope to hear the best news about Bob soon.

Vicki Tremper said...

Hey, I'm working on a MG too! Yours sounds really cool (and nothing like mine, not to worry). Good luck with the Bob rewrite!

Liesl Shurtliff said...

Steve sounds hot. Love the first line.

Writing queries. Trying to work up the guts to start a new project, but I should get going because housework is calling to me and I'd really like an excuse to ignore it again.

Chantele Sedgwick said...

I love the names of your WIP's too! :) So cute.

I'm actually working on two projects right now. The sequel to my fairytale book, (Sort of going slow on that one since I have to see if my first book sells or not) and a YA urban fantasy that I'm in LOVE with. I don't think I've ever loved one of my projects more than this one. The MC rocks, and her love interest? Swoon!! I'm in love, and hopefully I can keep writing it for a while! I can't wait to see where it takes me. :) Good luck on Bob and have fun with Steve!! Keep us updated!

A.J. Cattapan said...

I love Steve's opening line! Why don't I have great lines like that pop into my head while I'm falling asleep? :)

Cambria Dillon said...

The VOICE in Steve! *swoon* I can't wait to hear more about it when you send Bob out the door again. Good luck with your R&Rs!

I'm working on edits right now but can't WAIT until they're done so I can work on my new shiny WIP, which I will fondly refer to as: Everything But the Kitchen Sink. :)

Ben Spendlove said...

Oh! Oh! Pick me! I'm 2,000 words into a new project, and it's sooo delicious to be doing something completely different.

Speaking of which, exactly WHAT? Yeah, there better be more about that.

I love that opening line, by the way. Wondering what that dash of sci-fi is.

Esther Vanderlaan said...

WELL!!! That's a crazy first line. My novel is presently on hush mode. I am into other things. Including milking at 5:30 in the morning. Yup. Not joking.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Michael, Steve definitely took control. Actually, I knew he'd taken control when I got the urge to outline him:) Guess I really am a plotter at heart.

Vicki, yay for MGs! I think there's something really special about the voices in MG literature. I really hope I can pull this one off.

Liesl, I'm glad I'm not the only one who ignores her housework when a new idea comes knocking:)

Chantele, I think it's a good idea to work on something completely different while you're out on sub with NOT YOUR AVERAGE FAIRY TALE. That way, just in case NYAFT doesn't work out (not that I think it won't!), you have something to fall back on.

A.J., I'm glad you like Steve's opening line! I do, too:)

Everything But the Kitchen Sink is a fantastic name for a WIP, Cambria:) And thank you for saying you like the voice. That's one of my favorite things about Steve - the little girl who narrates him. (Her name is Ella Mae.)

Ben, hooray for starting new projects! I'm a little more than 100 pages into IN MEMORY now. Trying to catch up...

Esther, good job with that milking! I'm sure that's a big help to your mom. (Would you think too much less of me if I admit that I don't know how to milk a cow?)

Bkloss said...

Thanks for sharing your projects and how you tackle them! I always wondered if I'd love another story as much as the one I'm working, but it's possible to have more children and love them just as much ;)

Re-writing Bob? That's a tough decision to make. Good for you deciding what you need to do. It's not easy, but seems to settle surprisingly well once you figure it out. (I've re-written mine about, oh, 3 times.)

Best of luck to you!

Bkloss said...

OH and one more thing. Before you do that 're-write', you should check out "Anatomy of Story" by John Truby. It's FABULOUS

Shari said...

Don't you just LOVE when a shiny new idea takes hold of your thoughts and refuses to let go? It's the most invigorating feeling, and it definitely sounds like you have that with Steve. Best of luck with that and the Bob work!!

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Barbara, thank you for your words of encouragement, and for the book recommendation. I'll have to check it out.

Shari, so true. The difference between Judy and Steve is exactly that: Judy was just a story to keep me writing, to keep me entertained, but Steve is a story I have to tell.

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Oh boy, Krista, you're busy. But it sounds fun-busy. :) LOVE that first sentence.

Rewriting Bob? I can't wait to hear more about the exciting new leads.

I'm in final editing mode. Gearing up for querying sometime in the next couple months. Yeeek!

Amy

Myrna Foster said...

I'm excited to read more, especially after reading your first sentence.

So, was the main character in Judy a boy? And . . . do you think you'll ever go back to it?

On another note, Dad looked a lot better last night, and I liked his nurses better too. He's in the new hospital.

Kelly Bryson said...

Michael G-G- I wish titles came to me that way!

Krista- I love the first line. I want to know more! Good luck on your edits.

Esther Vanderlaan said...

No way. Of course I wouldn't.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Amy, I'm so excited you're almost ready to query! When you are, I have an agent I think you should query...

Myrna, so glad your dad was looking better last night (and that his nurses seemed more competent). If you need to make a pit stop in Mesquite when you bring him home for whatever reason, feel free to use our house as a home base. And the main character in Judy was a girl.

Kelly, yay! Glad you liked the first line! I'm definitely going to ask you to read him someday, so it's good to know you're interested:)

Oh, good, Esther. Maybe you can teach me someday.

Kristine Asselin said...

I have a feeling I'm going to love your books. I LOVE science fiction even though I don't think I could write it. And I can't wait to hear how your promising new leads play out.

Have a great day!

Kristin said...

Oooh. That first line is good!
And holding my breath over here about Bob. ;) Good vibes your way, Krista!

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Well, I hope they actually make their way to print someday for you, Kris:) You have a great day, too.

Thanks, Kristin!

Diana said...

I, like you, am working on a rewrite of my first book, leaving behind a forlorn WIP with only 12K.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Good luck with your rewrite, Diana! Sounds like you and me are paddling the same canoe upriver at the moment...