Attitude: Focused
It occurred to me a few weeks ago that, in the seven-plus months since I signed with Kate, I’ve written well over 100,000 new words and (almost) completely revised one full manuscript. That’s the most writing I’ve ever produced in a seven-month period BY FAR.
I suspect the reasons for this are twofold. First, I had two ideas come to me at about the same time. I feel pretty strongly about releasing a debut and a follow-up that will appeal to roughly the same readership, so I already knew I wanted to write another MG. But not long after I started
Second, now that I have an agent, I kind of feel like I have this obligation to write that I didn’t have before. Don’t get me wrong--Kate is supportive and chill and never makes me feel like I have to work harder. But I WANT to work harder because I know I’m not the only one relying on my efforts anymore. And because this lifelong goal seems so close I can practically touch it. I just want to get there, get there, get there!
Besides, I’m in this for the long haul; I want to sell many, many manuscripts over the course of my lifetime. And if that’s going to happen, someday I’ll have deadlines and multiple books under contract, so I figure this is good practice:)
How go your works-in-progress? Anyone out there juggling more than one project, too?
11 comments:
I love reading your progress reports. The fact that both of your novels are contemporary definitely piqued my interest.
I was juggling two projects as well, but I put both of them aside to work on my NaNo novel. I could have used NaNo to finish them, but I chose not to. I'm almost 8,000 words into my NaNo novel. I'm behind, but I'm having fun. :)
"But I WANT to work harder because I know I’m not the only one relying on my efforts anymore."
This is EXACTLY how I feel with my agent, even though it's been nearly a year (and she doesn't pressure me either; she's so awesome).
As for other projects, yeah, I'm juggling a couple ;-)
Tracey, have you done NaNo before? I must admit, I've never tried.
Adam, you are juggling a couple:) Speaking of juggling, I'm about to throw Steve back into the mix...
Yes, I have. But I've never won. :)
I should probably know this already, but is Bonnie MG or YA?
Hey, Tracey, it's not about whether you win or lose but how you play the game. A finished draft is a finished draft, whether it takes you one month or one decade to create:)
Myrna, Bonnie's YA. I think I'm only a page or two away from finishing the first draft!
Congrats on all your progress Krista! I'm excited for you. Your motivation is inspiring!
I'm juggling writing my second book while getting ready for my first book's debut November 29. It's difficult splitting my time between the two. They're both so important and I only have so much time. I'm a SAHM of three kids under eleven and time is pretty sparse.
While waiting on revisions from beta readers, last spring, I began a new WIP--which as of last Friday is finished.
So I now have the revisions for #1 and #3 WIP is in need of revisions. And I'm very anxious, because I have to get part time work. I worry I won't have time to work on these projects with kids and all, you know. I wish I only had writing to focus on--I'd be a productive dynamo! One day. :)
Today I feel like I'm juggling a million projects in all areas of my life. Friday night can't come soon enough!!
Thanks, Kimberly. Persistence, I've learned, is such an important character trait for writers:)
I hear you, Kelly. Oh, I hear you. I'm a stay-at-home mom of three, too, and my kids are all five and under. We must really love this:)
Karen, I've fantasized about the day when all the kids are out of the house and I can devote large chunks of the day to writing, too:) But you know, I wonder how much more productive I'd be. I think busy people get things done because they don't have time to procrastinate.
It's almost Friday night, Jamie! Hope you have something fun planned for the weekend.
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