Friday, January 11, 2013

(Work-in-) Progress Report: Clyde

Word count (to the nearest thousand): 44,000
Status: Almost finished!
Attitude: Calm

After much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, I’m happy to report that Clyde is pretty much done (for now, at least). He even has a title! (It’s DUEL/DUET.) You KNOW my manuscripts are almost ready once I come up with one of those:)

This manuscript has made me dig deeper than perhaps I ever have, not because I had problems with the words but because I had problems with myself. There were days and even weeks when the last thing I wanted to do was stick my butt in that chair and write, when my own voice annoyed me and all I wanted to do was roll over and admit defeat. But writers write (especially if they want to get published someday), so I powered through it. I hope I’m stronger because of it. I hope Clyde is, too.

Someday, I’ll write a summary to stick up there with Steve’s, but right now, I’m kind of busy. (Also, I’m still basking in the knowledge that I don't HAVE to write a summary if I don't want to.) In the meantime, check out this post for a few more details if you’re curious.

I have no idea if Clyde will sell. As this post from Bryan Bliss and Boys Don’t Read so eloquently puts it, the publishing industry owes me nothing. Sometimes I’d like to think they do, but they don’t. So I’ll trim my fingernails (the writer’s equivalent of rolling up your sleeves), stick my butt in that chair, and write another manuscript. And some days I’ll think I’m a talentless hack, and other days I’ll wonder why no one’s handed me a million bucks for the honor--nay, the privilege--of putting my words into print (wink, wink), and hopefully, I’ll get there. I’m still not sure where there is yet, but I’ll know it when I see it.

Or maybe it’s been all around me this whole time.

16 comments:

Elaine said...

Go Krista! So excited to see all of your books on the shelves someday. :)

Kayeleen Hamblin said...

Yay for finishing! (Almost, any way.) I hope Kate can find a home for it!

JeffO said...

Congratulations, and good luck with the next step!

erica and christy said...

For now be happy the finish line is in sight! :)
erica

Rosalyn said...

I love your middle paragraph. I have moments like this too--I'm glad to know I'm not alone in alternately hating/loving my work.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Wouldn't that be nice, Elaine? :)

Me, too, Kayeleen! (And we need to catch up! How have you been since adding Baby Number Four to the mix?)

Thank you, JeffO! I hope your projects are coming along, too.

Great point, erica. If we can't be happy where we're at, we'll never be happy when we get somewhere else.

Rosalyn, I think ALL writers must go through that cycle, since so many of us talk about it. Why does self-doubt have to be such a part of the creative process? (Of course, if anyone out there has figured out how to bypass that part, let me know!)

Anonymous said...

Woot, woot! Good luck with it!!

Ben Spendlove said...

I approve of the title. (Not that you need my approval.) I like it a lot.

Myrna Foster said...

I like the title, too! :o)

Unknown said...

It's great to hear you're almost finished. The title is wonderful - really unusual and fun! Good luck! :-)

Unknown said...

I could sing you Don't Stop Believing. I'm sure it would completely inspire you. :)

Julie Sondra Decker said...

Heh . . . been there, done that. I feel your pain on that whole "Okay, maybe I am just a hack." Especially when I read a super good published book and think "Yeah, nobody is ever going to squeal over my stuff the way I just squealed over this." But you're right. Writers write. I hope you never stop!

Peggy Eddleman said...

Congrats on finishing! That's such a great feeling! I wish you all the best with it. :) :)

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Hooray for DUAL/DUET! That title looks great in print. :) I'm still envisioning the cover.

And good job powering through. You are an inspiration to me. I'm having to do my own powering through on my verse novel right now, so I understand. <3

Kristen Wixted said...

Good job on almost. I am a few layers back--still trying to figure out how to start the next one, what's going to happen, and feeling like reading blogs instead of writing.
But I haven't read blogs in SO LONG...

Okay. Back to work.
Good luck finishing!

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Thanks, Jamie!

Glad you like the title, Ben! I always appreciate your input, especially on titles;)

Thanks, Myrna! Happy to hear it!

Thanks for your comment, Lexa! Sounds like I picked a good title, and that makes me all kinds of happy:)

It WOULD, Jessica. Let me know when you post that on YouTube... :)

Thanks, Julie! Here's to persistence!

Thank you, Peggy! *hops on the submission roller coaster*

Amy, it's been a while, hasn't it? I feel an e-mail coming on... :)

Kristen, as you may have noticed, my blogging's dropped off, too. I just want to wrap up all these projects and get everything squared away, so something's got to give! I'd much rather it be the blogging than the writing:)