So I started early on the revisions. But just two days early. I was scheduled to start on Tuesday, but now Tuesday I have a doctor’s appointment. And I needed the first day to be a long one, because the plan was to read the whole thing in one sitting. And Sundays are my longest work day. And, and, and…
I got to the usual cafe at 10:30 this morning and read straight through until I had read the last word of the last page (at 5:58. Billy is a toddler-wrangling hero and the most supportive spouse ever). I was expecting it to be a big mess, and was okay with that. It’s first draft, after all. They’re allowed to be as messy as they need to be to get the raw material out there. I hadn’t been allowing myself to read back over the old material as I wrote new, so I had no clear sense of the pages I was about to read. I just assumed mess. I assumed lots of heavy lifting to come. Just because.
Well… It’s…not a mess. It’s…well…it’s…good. Like, really good. (If I do say so myself.) It needs plenty of work still, but nothing close to what I’d expected. It’s closer to the book I’ve carried around in my head than I had any right to expect, and more itself than I’d had any right to expect. I am ridiculously, unbearably giddy. Proud. Optimistic. Raring to go. All that good stuff. I may have a second draft ready for my draft readers in a month or two, which is much faster than I’d planned.
So, um… Yeah.
Oh–and the borrowing someone else’s struggle for the purposes of the novel’s political theme thing? I’m especially pleased to report that I do believe I’ve earned the right to use that material. It does belong there, and it is handled well, and it doesn’t point too obviously to the person in question, this character being rather clearly NOT him. And if he does read the book, I think he might like it.
How was your weekend?
Congratulations from a long time lurker! Sounds like an amazing accomplishment-I hope you had a celebratory beverage tonight (or two!)
On a different subject, I’m de-lurking today with a sourdough suggestion–I use a sort of “ancestral” sourdough (I got it from my Mom), and keep it going by making waffles on the weekends-a tradition that my grown sibs and their families also keep. My sweet nephew calls them “sunny-day waffles”. Seems to keep the sourdough very happy to be exercised at least weekly. Anyway the recipe is SUPER easy, very rewarding and I’d be happy to email it to you if you’d like. It comes from my Mom, a copy of a typed recipe who made it to her from who knows where.
I enjoy your blog! Do with it what you like! You’re immensely talented and I appreciate your voice. And your patterns!
Congratulations from a long time lurker! Sounds like an amazing accomplishment-I hope you had a celebratory beverage tonight (or two!)
On a different subject, I’m de-lurking today with a sourdough suggestion–I use a sort of “ancestral” sourdough (I got it from my Mom), and keep it going by making waffles on the weekends-a tradition that my grown sibs and their families also keep. My sweet nephew calls them “sunny-day waffles”. Seems to keep the sourdough very happy to be exercised at least weekly. Anyway the recipe is SUPER easy, very rewarding and I’d be happy to email it to you if you’d like. It comes from my Mom, a copy of a typed recipe who made it to her from who knows where.
I enjoy your blog! Do with it what you like! You’re immensely talented and I appreciate your voice. And your patterns!
Yay! What an excellent thing to find out about your book. Hurray!
Yay! What an excellent thing to find out about your book. Hurray!
my weekend was fabulous (fresh wild blueberries and lots of sun at the cottage), so I’m glad others had and equal amount of joy…
my weekend was fabulous (fresh wild blueberries and lots of sun at the cottage), so I’m glad others had and equal amount of joy…
YAY! That must just be a washing over of emotions in an amazing way, Cari — I’m so pleased!
(Thanks for the comments on my blog, btw — I’m the one who linked to you yesterday)
YAY! That must just be a washing over of emotions in an amazing way, Cari — I’m so pleased!
(Thanks for the comments on my blog, btw — I’m the one who linked to you yesterday)
HOORAY!!! I’m so thrilled for you. It’s always so nice to be happily suprised, but even better when it is something that you have done!!!
I had a nice weekend! Thanks for asking!
HOORAY!!! I’m so thrilled for you. It’s always so nice to be happily suprised, but even better when it is something that you have done!!!
I had a nice weekend! Thanks for asking!
Yay – and congratulations! It was nice to read such happy news with my morning coffee.
And your Billy is one good guy.
Yay – and congratulations! It was nice to read such happy news with my morning coffee.
And your Billy is one good guy.
I meant to comment on your earlier post, but couldn’t articulate a thought. And then the attention wandered elsewhere. I’m happy you found peace with writing about someone else’s experiences.
My two cents for what it’s worth:
If/when this person reads your novel and recognizes himself, I think he’ll be reading more about your insight into his struggles than anything else. There’s no way that anything you write would be “accurate” to him. And you clearly aren’t attempting to be accurate, anyway.
So in a way, you could make the argument that by describing his experiences you are opening yourself to him. All of the subtle differences will be apparent to him, and probably to no one else. And that is sort of sweet and special. Not invasive, really.
Unless you made him a caricature.. but that doesn’t seem your style.
I meant to comment on your earlier post, but couldn’t articulate a thought. And then the attention wandered elsewhere. I’m happy you found peace with writing about someone else’s experiences.
My two cents for what it’s worth:
If/when this person reads your novel and recognizes himself, I think he’ll be reading more about your insight into his struggles than anything else. There’s no way that anything you write would be “accurate” to him. And you clearly aren’t attempting to be accurate, anyway.
So in a way, you could make the argument that by describing his experiences you are opening yourself to him. All of the subtle differences will be apparent to him, and probably to no one else. And that is sort of sweet and special. Not invasive, really.
Unless you made him a caricature.. but that doesn’t seem your style.
congrats! yay!
congrats! yay!
Congratulations! What a great way to end the holiday weekend. We had a wonderful 4th, a picnic and fireworks on the lake here in CT with tons of friends – our contribution was cup cakes decorated with buttercream frosting, raspberries and blueberries in keeping with the red, white and blue theme.
Congratulations! What a great way to end the holiday weekend. We had a wonderful 4th, a picnic and fireworks on the lake here in CT with tons of friends – our contribution was cup cakes decorated with buttercream frosting, raspberries and blueberries in keeping with the red, white and blue theme.
How exciting! It’s so nice when we surprise ourselves with our own ability to rise to a challenge.
I hope your happiness with the draft will continue to fuel your motivation for revision.
How exciting! It’s so nice when we surprise ourselves with our own ability to rise to a challenge.
I hope your happiness with the draft will continue to fuel your motivation for revision.
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
As someone who struggles with writing and finds it a big chore, it is a joy to read about your excitement about diving into writing your book.
I hope the revisions continue to go well.
As someone who struggles with writing and finds it a big chore, it is a joy to read about your excitement about diving into writing your book.
I hope the revisions continue to go well.
Congratulations! I am glad you are proud and energized by your recent work. Way to go!
Congratulations! I am glad you are proud and energized by your recent work. Way to go!
I can feel your grin all the way across the country! Congratulations!
My weekend was spent in the Adirondacks…Yay!
I can feel your grin all the way across the country! Congratulations!
My weekend was spent in the Adirondacks…Yay!