Apply Yourself

After what seems like weeks and weeks of preparation I have finally submitted my application to Tracy Locke's Summer Copywriting Internship Program. I am very excited at the idea of working, learning and growing as a creative mind and hope that I have the chance to join their team. Wish me luck!

Photo by Sally M

Revise

This week I had my first writing critique in grad school. My previous experiences with critiques were often filled with unnecessary praise and little actual critique, but this was the exact opposite. The students and the professor started out with a couple positives but then they dove right in to the negatives, as they should.

Much of what they said I agreed were issues. It was nice to have another voice confirm my suspicions. Some things, though, were issues that I had completely overlooked. I gave myself a night to mull over the good and the bad and when I woke up I decided that I was going to give it another go. I wanted to see if I could fix the problems while maintaining the core of my story.

What happened was amazing. New, interesting characters. Plot twists and seeds I could sprout later. After only one revision my story had gained so much.

I have always been a fan of revising my work, but I'm now noticing how important it is to have other writers give it a once over. I mean, having a friend or a parent look at what your doing can be great, but in my experience it is only the writer that can detect the most minute of inconsistencies and really help propel your story forward.

Down the line, when the work I am currently writing is completed, I look forward to my fellow writers tearing it to shreds because I think once I put the pieces back together the story will be stronger, more captivating, and better for having been broken.

Photo by Matt McGee

Keep the Business Side in Mind

Photo by modenadude 

This weekend I started writing the first draft of my first novel. Usually when I sit down to write I only think about the creative side. I think about what story I want to tell and don't really care too much about the other factors. Today, however, when I sat down to write I had a voice in the back of my head reminding me to know my audience, to make sure what I'm writing is marketable, and to still infuse my creativity into it.

Managing the business and creative side of writing can be a bit of a challenge. You don't want one part to overwhelm the other, but you also have to be conscious of both. I don't think I will ever be the type of writer to write something just because I want it to sell, but I think it is important to keep in mind. Whenever I think of potential projects I have to be passionate about them in some way in order for them to be successful. 

If you are writing only for yourself, write on, but if you have a vision of your book in that little book store around the corner, or on Amazon, it would be good to keep in mind that this is something that someone else will need to want to read. Ideally, even with this in mind, it will still be something you would read, too. 

Neglected

As my lack of writing on this blog would suggest, I have been a little missing in action as of late. The break from school, and writing, was much needed and I feel like I will have a fresh perspective coming into the winter quarter. The way my schedule if shaping up, it looks like this blog will survive in a weekly format. Hope everyone had a good holiday. I know that, for me at least, it is time to get back to my normal routine and to start writing again. Sorry for the unintentional hiatus.

Happy 2013!