Friday, July 31, 2009
Ticket in hand, don't know where I'm going
I did something hold-my-breath scary. I put my first page of a YA fantasy on Writing It Out, Beth Revis' awesome blog. She is holding her first critique week, featuring query and/or first pages. I'm in two critique groups and have done round-table critiques at conferences, but this is a first for me--putting it out there on the World Wide Web. Just one more step if I am to complete the novelist journey. So if you want a glimpse of my WIP, hop on over. All advice welcome. It's like I'm in a train station, ticket in hand, with an unknown, but hopefully, exciting trip ahead. (I find even publishing this post is scary. What's with that?)
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I just wanted to let you know that I read your first-page excerpt on Beth's blog today... and absolutely LOVED it. I'm dying to read more. I'm not going to reiterate my comment on that post over here, but I just want to say great job and keep it up! With any luck, I will be reading your book on the shelves in the future. :)
Oooh, I'll go check it out. Mine was up on Wednesday! :)
Congratulations on your bravery, Tricia. That really takes guts. (Which apparently I don't have since the idea of it makes me tremble in fear.)
You had nothing to worry about! It's excellent! :)
Steph Su: Thanks! *blushes* Being on the store shelf would be a dream come true, and if I get there, I hope you interview me on your fabulous blog.
Elana: I was crazy about your story. I hope you found my comments on Beth's blog!
Melissa: My guts were all a'tremble, but I survived. You can, too.
Beth: Thanks so much for this. It's so awesome to take a chance. thankyouthankyouthankyou
OMG, are you brave. The thought of doing something like this makes my stomach lurch and tremble.
I am so glad you put aside what 'they' said and made it your own. Keep it up.
Wow, good for you. So brave!
Okay, just to throw a wrench in your critters over there... CREAKING is exactly the sound ice makes when you step on it and it is about to break. Sheesh. You were setting up tension, and layering ideas, just like we are supposed to. BUT you were brave, and there are a lot of nice words there too. :)
Sorry for the rant. I just thought that particular critique was unjust.
good for you!
Stephanie: Yes, I had to put on my brave hat and cross that line, but here I am on the other side. I'm gonna keep on going (and so are you, my friend!)
Corey: Thanks!
Suzanne: You seem to be the only one but me who sees the analogy to ice so unstable it is creaking. I soooo appreciate that you let me know that you did. But since so many didn't get it, I shall probably have to lose it. Sigh.
Shelli: I'm all grown up now. :)
Email me.
Definitely not ready to do something like this right now. But you have nothing to worry about. Now I can say I knew you when.
Yay! Great job, Tricia. Also, you got an award, visit my blog to see it :)
That's so exciting - good luck with it!! I've done this before and just know that all kinds will be reading and commenting...so take the comments w/ a grain of salt. It's not the same as a critique group where the members know your genre, understand writing, etc... Blog critiques can be wonderful, but sometimes people who have no clue about writing/critiquing weigh in as well.
Hope all goes swimmingly!! Have a fun weekend :D
Laura: You'll know when it feels right. And thanks for those really kind words.
Andrea: Thank you! What a cool award!
Tess: I hear you. It was good for me to stretch outside my comfort zone. The writer's world is a strange one--spending so much time alone in one's head and at the keyboard. And then having to step into a wider world. So I peeped out the door and now go back to revisions.
Oooh, I'll have to go check it out! And congrats for doing it!
Hey Tricia, you asked why I thought LAMENT was difficult to get into. Maggie's writing is splendid, and I loved all the characters, but the first half of the story was very rushed; we are thrown right into Dierdre and Luke's world, and we're not sure how he got there or why he's so important. I think that's a good example of how backstory--even just a small amount--can be quite necessary? Anyway, this is fun, talking about books from the writing standpoint with someone else! :)
I keep going back to this same quote, from Wayne Gretzky: "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take." When I was trying to get published 10 years ago I didn't know that quote but now I LIVE it. Congrats on taking your first step toward publication.
Steph Su: I agree--I love talking about books from a writer's viewpoint. I learn from these discussions. Interesting point you make about feeling LAMENT was rushed. In an earlier version of my book, the first page/chapter started much deeper into the story and I was told by some editors and an agent that I hadn't given the reader a chance to know the characters, so I backed up to a tense, but less action-filled, spot in the story to allow for character development.
Stephanie: Love the Gretzky quote (I used to go to Kings games. Live hockey is a rush!). It reminds me of something Helen Keller said: Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
Read your entry. Very nicely done. Let us see the rest when it's ready.
Here's a p.s. Love the matilija pic. These are my absolutely favorite flower, native and lush.
C. Lee: Thanks so much (and for commenting on Beth's blog)! I adore matilijas but I seem to see fewer and fewer. Maybe I'm just not getting far enough from civilization.
Ooops. I forgot to add that if anyone hasn't visited author C. Lee McKenzie's blog you are missing out on some cool challenges: http://writegame.blogspot.com
Don't be scared, be proud! It's a gutsy move and gutsy moves are usually full of rewards. Rock on!
Suzanne C: Thanks for visiting again! And you are right, I already feel rewarded for taking the step.
It is scary and I don't know if it ever stops being scary - I'll have to go check all the entries out! My first few pages are no where near share worthy :D
Hi Michelle--oops, I missed your visit. I doubt if I will ever get over being scared. But somehow it's reassuring to know most writers feel the same. I'd love to see your first pages!
Man you're brave. I wouldn't do this. Maybe share my writing, but not let people critique it publicly. No thanks.
But that's great if it works for you. I hope you got some good stuff out of it.
I did like what you wrote though. I thought it had a good hook. This king has me real curious.
BJW: It is scary to have a public critique and I won't indulge often but it was a worthwhile thing to do. Even the act of putting myself in front of others makes me see it differently.
Interesting thing about that king, he grows more fascinating, especially in the current revision. At first, he was just the Antagonist. Now, he's complex.
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