There isn’t much to say except:
Well everyone, this week was a doozy on the writing front. In a nutshell, I felt like this:
So, last weekend I sent my beta reader my latest two chapters. She liked them, but she wasn’t crazy about their setting. “I wasn’t wowed,” she explained. “This is a big moment, and you nailed the emotions and the action, but the actual location wasn’t thrilling. I wanted…more.”
Always more, Mrs. Beta Reader. That’s all you ever want. More, more, more…
Yeah, yeah. I know what you’re all thinking: “It’s good your beta reader pushes you to do better–to give a reader more. That’s their job.” I know, I know. But, still. Grrrrr.
The problem is–and I know you’ll find this bizarre considering I’m passionate about novel writing–I’m not a fan of painting a setting. The sky, the clouds, the house, the trees…blah, blah, blah. If I could, I’d literally say, “There’s an old house that’s creepy and scary. Get it? Got it? Good. Let’s move on.”
Horrible, I know. But, unfortunately, true.
And these chapters my beta reader wanted “more” from are all about painting a setting. So, rewriting them this week has. Been. Pure. Torture! Compared to writing dialogue and action sequences, describing a location is hell for me. Going from blank page to vivid scene is a rough and frustrating process. There’s lots of writing, deleting, crying, screaming, writing, deleting, groaning, kicking, writing, deleting…
…punching my computer in the face. Apologizing to my computer for punching it in the face. Punching it again. Apologizing again…
Seriously, by the time I finished revising these chapters last night, I felt like this:
Okay, Okay, I wasn’t that bad. But I really wanted to curl up with a big bag of peanut M&M’s and wallow. Maybe chow down on some cookie dough ice cream, a slab of fudge, and an entire chocolate cake.
What? Every writer is allowed to gorge on chocolate once in awhile, right?
Right?
Fingers crossed my beta reader gives me the thumbs up on the new location I painted for her. If she doesn’t, then I will be buying a GIANT bag of peanut M&M’s and I will be wallowing….And then, after my pity-poor-me party, I will roll up my sleeves, gnash my teeth, and try again. Because, as the saying goes, “You fail only if you stop writing”.
Right?
Anyway, in honor of my rough writing week, here is today’s Friday Funny. Enjoy!
How was your week? Wallow worthy? Or full of rainbows and glitter and blah blah blah? 😉
Jen’s Weekly Roundup
In case you missed my posts from earlier this week, here you go!
Music Monday – Love The Way You Lie – Eminem and Rihanna
You Know You’re a Writer When…Alter Ego
8 Words to Seek and Destroy in Your Writing
Photo credits:
http://stevencee.com/author/stevencee/
http://giphy.com/gifs/b55x0VFpFKm7S
http://www.gifwave.com/3kSL/reaction-cameron-diaz-the-holiday-grrrr-gif
http://giphy.com/gifs/obG1fKl754GZ2
http://fivefootattack.wordpress.com/2013/12/24/the-five-foots-top-five-christmas-movies/
http://itsbetterblonde.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/hey-guys-learn-your-manners/
Jen's Pen Den 
Mine has been a mixture of both. I am wallowing because life has not allowed me to have my normal reading time. I’m dancing because I have finally realized that I am a ‘planner writer’ and I have made great progress on novel plot by outlining chapters! So, I’m trying to stick with the positive.
Oh, and I LOVE writing setting but am terrible at dialogue. I envy your dialogue skills because mine always reads awkwardly….
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It’s always a wonderful thing when you discover what type of writer you are. It helps move things along/not feel so daunting.
So glad I’m not the only writer out there who dislikes/struggles with a specific aspect of writing! I think we should have a Freaky Friday moment and exchange likes/skills for a couple of weeks. Yeah? lol
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I am all about the Freak Friday moment! I don’t want all my characters to sound as nerdy and social awkward as I do!
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