It's time for What's Up Wednesday, a weekly meme run by Erin L Funk and Jaime Morrow. Here's what I've been up to this past week!What I'm reading
I've been rereading the Mortal Instruments series, because it's awesome. ^_^ I've been doing so much writing, I haven't read as much as I normally do!
What I'm writing
I FINISHED SHINY NEW WIP!!! Yes - I somehow wrote a 78K word novel in 24 days. o.O I... wow. I don't usually write anywhere near as fast! Two 7K writing days? In a week? And this is the longest first draft I've ever written! :D (Perhaps I've broken the habit of writing ridiculously short drafts? I hope so!)
What am I doing now? Well, I'm doing my first self-edit. I'm also working on a spinoff prequel-type novella. I'm not ready to let this story go! I really hope my CP's/beta readers love it as much as I do! :)
What works for me
I'm working on a longer post for IWSG about how I wrote a draft so fast, but one of the things that worked was writing as much as possible down before I started. I've always outlined (at least, ever since I realised that I could never finish a book unless I had at least the main plot written down beforehand... both for motivational reasons, and because my memory is really horrific), but literally, everything I wrote down before I started saved SO much time. I spent two months outlining the whole 6-book series and figuring out the worldbuilding, with the most detailed outline I've ever written - one with whole scenes and bits of dialogue sketched out.
And it worked! I raced from one scene to the next without having to stop and head-scratch and agonise in between, and even though some extra scenes did arise and take me by surprise, I had enough detail in my outline to make sure the story didn't wander off track. It was like the dream draft. I didn't even experience the mid-draft self-doubt crash which usually sets in around 1/3 of the way through. It was pure magic from start to finish. ^_^
What else I've been up to
Well, last Wednesday, I went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour ! :D I don't want to spoil the magic by sharing too many photos... but it was AMAZING!!!
I am still in such awe of your amazing speed! And you're delving straight into editing, WOW.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great time at the studios, too :D YAY!
Have an amazing week!
Oh my gosh, HP world! I am so green with envy right now, all of your photos are amazing! Also, big congratulations on finishing your WIP! What a great feeling, you can slump back and wonder at your own amazing ability now, while the rest of us live in jealousy of your writing speed, haha :) Have a wonderful week!
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78k in 24 days is amazing! Great job :) I don't like self-editing at all, but it's a necessary evil, right? :)
ReplyDeleteMy What's up Wednesday post.
WOW you are speedy Emma! Great job on finishing!!!! And looks like Harry Potter World was a lot of fun. I am jealous!
ReplyDeleteI have that Marauder's Map mug too. It's perfect. :-) Congrats on finishing your WiP, Emma, and have a fantastic week!
ReplyDeleteholy cow! Can't believe how quickly your wrote! You're definitely inspiring me to get my butt in gear with my new WIP. I love TMI series, I really need to reread it! Congrats on finishing and also pushing through when things got hard!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! That's awesome you finished so quickly. And I am jealous you got to see the HP studio. It looks like you had a ton of fun. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Now that a stinkin cool mug. I want one!
ReplyDeleteWow, congrats on finishing your WIP! Good luck with edits :)
ReplyDeleteI have a Marauder's Map t-shirt that sadly has started getting a littly holey. I've worn it too much! The HP studio sounds so fun!
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on finishing your WIP! I can't believe how much you wrote in such a short time! That's amazing.
First, let me congratulate you for finishing your WIP so fast. That is incredible!
ReplyDeleteAnd second, Harry Potter Studio Tour? Call me jealous! That looks so fun.
Have an awesome week!
Cole - Thanks! ^_^
ReplyDeleteCaitie - Thank you! :) I'm definitely taking a few days off!
Majanka - Self-editing isn't my favourite part, but it's definitely needed!
Rachel - Thanks! :)
Katy - I knew I had to buy it as soon as I saw it! Thanks! :)
Prerna - It took me by surprise, I'm usually a slow writer! Thanks! :)
Christine - Thank you! :)
Crystal - Thanks! I do love the mug. :D
Jennifer - Thanks! ^_^
Melanie - Sounds like a cool idea for a t-shirt! Thank you! :D
Holy crow! That's super-writing speed. Congrats! And that tour looks like a lot of fun. Am I jealous? ...ummm...maybe just a little (lot)
ReplyDeleteEek! CONGRATULATIONS, Emma!! 78k in just over 3 weeks?! *bows* This lets me know I'm doing the right thing. I slowed down the drafting a great deal these last couple of weeks to outline. I really feel like it'll be worth it. :)
ReplyDeleteYAY Harry Potter Land! ^_^
I swear by outlining too. It makes things go so much smoother, even though there are still always some pitfalls along the way. Even with my crazy detailed outlines, I would never be able to write a whole draft as fast as you did though! That's mind blowing! Good luck with the first round of edits, and I'm sure your CP/betas will love it! ;)
ReplyDeleteLove the fun pics of you and your boyfriend at the HP Studio! I've been feeling in a very Potterish mood lately (happens every fall like clockwork) so I'm envious! Have a super week!
78K word novel in 24 days? Wow. That's impressive! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to get my head around outlining, and around the concentration it takes to freethink and corral the freethinking and freewriting into a cohesive outline. I am way too distractable, and need to work on my focus. Your post gives me hope that I could make this work! It would really help in the development of my mystery novel, for sure!
ReplyDeleteThe Harry Potter tour looks like a blast. Love that mug!
Congratulations on finishing your draft! That's fantastic. And awesome pics from Harry Potter world. I desperately need to go there someday.
ReplyDeleteYour drafting speed! That is incredible, and your whole outline sounds epic! Thanks for the insight, and I'm looking forward to your longer post about it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, omg the Harry Potter studio tour! So fun! I took so many pictures when I went, I still have to sort through and post all of them!
When I wrote my first story, I wrote a pretty detailed outline and just generally planned the heck out of the thing. Since then, I've strayed from that and it has been a constant source of frustration. With the story I'm drafting right now, I fully plan on taking the same route you did: outline in great detail. It really does make the process of drafting that much more painless, doesn't it? Even so, your 78K in 24 days is pretty darn amazing!
ReplyDeleteI'm envious of your HP birthday fun. I guess that just means we'll have to take another London trip sometime so we can see it too! Happy to hear it was lots of fun. :-) Have a great week, Emma!
Looks like you had fun. Congrats on finishing your WIP! That is fantastic!
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