I am notorious for never ever rewriting.
I could be known as Cait-Who-Has-Too-Many-Shiny-Ideas-And-Therefore-Struggles-To-Rewrite-Older-Stories. But, you know, that would be a mouthful.
Obviously I have done heavy rewriting and editing before. I did take my flying monkeys and ruby shoes and burn through the query process to get an agent. But of the 14+ novels I’ve finished I’ve only heavily rewritten 4.
I DO.
But I feel this burning need to write down these fresh stories bopping about my skull before I lose them. And, okay fine, here’s the truth: I’m a perfectionist and I always (secretly) hope my Next Book will be THE BOOK OF MILLION DOLLAR AWESOME.
I want to rewrite my NaNoWriMo book.
I hesitantly plan to tackle it in January (although January is my birthday month and I tend to give myself the whole time off writing…birthdays are nothing on birthmonths, I tell you).
My book for NaNoWriMo 2014 is titled The Dead Boy And The Paper Cut which is exhausting and a very bad life naming decision on my part. (I posted about this baby novel of mine here.) I’m going to answer the final (!!) round of Beautiful Books questions…all about editing!
Find the questions here and link up with us!
Because this isn’t at all scary and threatening.
1. On a scale of 1 (worst) to 10 (best) how well do you think this book turned out?
IT WAS DEFINITELY A 10!!!
Okay, realistically, I’d say The Dead Boy And The Paper Cut probably hits an 8. Usually I hate and loathe my books when I finished. But I had a blast with this one! My fingers felt furiously excited about it the whole time. There were no middle-book-blues. And (with a few variations from the version in my brain) it turned out like I wanted it to.
I could cry, I am so happy.
Of course it’s a complete mess, but we’ll get to that.
2. Have you ever rewritten or editing one of your books before? If so, what do you do to prepare yourself? If not, what’s your plan?
I have! I rewrote (to the point of bleeding from my eyeballs) my fantasy book which is now agented.* I also rewrote Boybots (an apocalyptic robot hot mess) and Six (sci-fi catastrophe) and a second fantasy book.
How do I prepare myself? I cry a bit. I say “whyyyy me” a few times. I d
espair of ever writing eloquently and compare myself to famous published authors and feel hopeless.
Then. I suck it up and start rewriting. I rewrite from scratch. Every. single. sentence. goes. It’s like writing a whole new book.**
*I STILL FLAIL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I CANNOT BELIEVE IT’S REAL LIFE.
** Sometimes I think of my first-drafts as just really detailed outlines because the second drafts are always so freakishly different.
3. What’s your final wordcount? Do you plan to lengthen or trim your book?
I finished up with 65,000-words. I want to trim! Honestly, YA books are best short and concise. Never say 10 words when you can say 5.
I queried my fantasy book at 80,000-words…after edits? It’s now 63K. And I am oh so happy with that.
4. What’s are you most proud of? Plot, characters, or pacing?
Characters! Don’t get me wrong: they need work. They need tidying and strengthening and I need to figure out their nationalities because I may or may not have changed that halfway through the book. (My bad.)
But I’ve struggled to write humour for ages. (You know that moment when you try to be funny and you suck? Me = writing books.) This time it was mildly acceptable.
5. What’s your favourite bit of prose or line from this novel?
I have instagramed and tweeted and facebooked a lot of lines and I’m sure you peoples are sick of them by now. I don’t have anything new, but here’s the beginning, which I love a lot:
6. What aspect of your book needs the most work?
Probably the parts where everyone sits around and drinks coffee and eats cinnamon muffins and makes useless conversation. I think I was hungry when I wrote it.
7. What aspect of your book is your favourite?
I have this seriously open ending. It’s the kind that would drive me BONKERS if I was a reader. I’m pleased.
I also quite like my beginning.
The middle?
8. How are your characters? Well-rounded, or do they still need to be fleshed-out?
Thomas and Moxie are my alternating narrators (in 3rd person). They aren’t too bad although Moxie’s voice is a bit insipid at the beginning. Thomas didn’t turn out quite as grouchy as I wanted him too. He was supposed to wreak havoc…but he cleaned the house.
My secondary characters need work for sure. Particularly Moxie’s best-friend, Khalida Gola. She was supposed to be in the finale, but ended up strangely absent.
9. If you had to do it over again, what would you change about the whole process?
I WOULDN’T CHANGE IT.
Okay, I probably wrote too fast.* (65K in 7 days isn’t wise.) I got very extremely extraordinarily tired and my fingers hurt and I felt like butter spread very thin for the next few days. Not pleasant.**
** My life in a phrase.
* I was on such a roll though and I didn’t want to break that stride!
10. Did anything happen in your book that completely surprised you? Have any scenes or characters turned out differently to what you planned? Good or bad?
Good changes: A teeny tiny minor character popped in at the ending and rocked the world when he wasn’t supposed to. Thomas also unexpectedly tried to kill Moxie’s uncle which was a much-needed action scene.
Bad changes: Moxie’s uncle had a nervous breakdown and wasn’t Uncle Awesome because…nervous breakdown. Seriously, someone glare at the ghost for me.
11. What was the theme and message? Do you think it came across? If not, is there anything you could do to bring it out more?
The theme was: listen to me. Because it was about a deaf girl who wanted to hear and a dead boy who wanted to speak. Oh these little adorable unfortunate souls that I tormented.
I think most people feel unheard, which makes it a relatable theme. I may have pushed too much about it towards the end though. EDIT IT OUT!
12. Do you like writing with a deadline (like NaNoWriMo) or do you prefer to write-as-it-comes?
HA HA. YOU’RE ADORABLE.*
My life is a deadline. I always write on insane deadlines (they’re all in my head….aaand that just made me sound crazy). This is my first NaNoWriMo, but I knew I could write a book in a month. I average a draft in 10 days.** But the fact of this question is: yes I like deadlines and I never just write-when-I-feel-like-it. If I did…I’d never write anything.
* Wait…I did half come up with these questions. But whatever. Technicalities.
** Seriously this sounds….stuck up. It does. I know it does. But I have the TIME to write like this and I type fast and I write messily. So please don’t think I’m bragging. I WOULDN’T DO THAT. I promise.
13. Comparative title time! What published books, movies, or TV shows are like your book?
It’s Inkheart meets Preloved meets Almost Dead. With the ghost vibe, yes, you could say there’s Supernatural influences.*
* Hence the Dean gifs. But honestly? I don’t need a reason to inundate you with Dean gifs.
14. How do you celebrate a finished novel?!
15. When people are done reading your book, what feeling do you want them to come away with?
It should be a process of feelings, really. Starting with fear.
Then a few tears because I MAKE BAD STUFF HAPPEN AND PEOPLE GET HURT.
And lastly, for the very last sentence…they should be feeling this. BECAUSE I RUIN THE ENTIRE BOOK WITH THE LAST SENTENCE.
What? A girl can dream, right? As long as my book evokes emotion (whatever kind) then my work here is done.
Breaking hearts, hunting tears, the family business, you know?
January should be back to the regular Beautiful People (or else we might have a super-awesome-special)…stay tuned!
ooookay! i am shamefully late posting this, but let’s talk about rewrites, okay?! do you prefer first-drafts or rewrites? (aaand…i’m considering posting a few chapters of TDBATPC on the blog. would you be interested in leaving a bit of constructive criticism for me?! let me know!)
Cait could be a superhero, you know. She could be the Super Lazy Writer and wear a cape and boots and cool mask! (Masks are terribly comfortable, you know.) Apart from thinking up this little fantasy, she’s also fantasising about rewriting TDBATPC asap so she can scoot it off to betas and get advice and edits.
Oh my gosh Cait! Your book sounds very interesting. I would totally read it. Was there an orange hardbackbook that you were specifically thinking of? I don’t like rewriting because all the shiny ideas seem covered in dust. I would love to read some sample chapters ;).
I think in the back of my mind, I was envisioning those old Penguin books. Like you know how they sell the super old ones at second-hand-thrift-stores?? THAT Is what I had in mind. XD
Sounds like you’ve got an amazing draft on your hands! 🙂 I’m still trying to learn to love redrafting — Ava Jae did a really cool vlog on this (http://avajae.blogspot.hk/2014/12/vlog-how-to-love-editing.html) — but since I’m just starting revisions, it’s really a rather weird mess. Good luck to both of us 🙂
Erk, YES, good luck to both of us. 😉 I shall check out that vlog too.
Oh wow. Being the emotional sort, I’m pretty sure I would sob and then possibly possibly throw the book down with the last sentence. BUT OMG I BET YOUR BOOK IS AWESOME BECAUSE LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF THESE BLOG POSTS!!!!
I have no doubt it’ll be awesome! 😀
I spend ages writing and trying to fit things in, I need deadlines and other people, which is why I like roleplay writing because co-writing makes me feel like I’m writing for the other person too. But the three days I did participate in NaNoWriMo this year (the first day, the second last day and the last day) I managed to write 15,000 words so….idk? Maybe if I had the whole month free instead of crowded with EXAMS *glares at the school system* I would be able to write a lot more, and probably start up a blog too to be honest.
Good luck with your writing Cait! Not that you need it you clever person you…. 🙂 xoxo
Haaaaa. THAT IS SO NICE BUT PROBABLY NOT TRUE. I actually write seriously different to how I blog. weird, right?! But hopefully it\’ll be a different kind of good??
*glares at the school system with you* It totally crushes creativity, doesn\’t it?
Can I just pop in and say i LOVE that ‘humour’ excerpt?
That’s all 😛
YOU MAY POP IN AND SAY THAT.
I MAY JUST SAY THANK YOU. THAT\’S SO NICE. EEEEP.
I love that you share snippets of your book with your readers – I’ve wanted to read it since you mentioned that you’d finished NaNo! (Does that sound creepy?? Because it’s just supposed to be enthusiastic… *awkward*) I’m slightly jealous of your imagination – I’d love to have so many ideas whirling around my head!
Anyway, awkward flailing aside, I’m a trainee proofreader and copyeditor. So if you’d like any help with your revising and editing, let me know! I’d love to work with you 🙂
Beth x
IT MAKES ME FEEL SPECIAL ACTUALLY. I do have a ridiculous amount of ideas, but trust me…they\’re no fun when you can\’t turn them off. Ergh. They exhaust me. Oooh, really?! That would be incredible! I SO will need help with this book!
Well, I’m definitely happy to help! From my point of view, it’ll be great experience (I’ve not edited a real book before *eek*), plus I’ll get to read more than little snippets!! Yay!
Beth x
Ever since you started talking about your Nanowrimo plot I’ve just really wanted to read it because it sounds so god damn great. And with that beginning, how could it not be? I would definitely like it if you posted some chapters on the blog in exchange for some constructive criticism. As long as you don’t plan on shouting “off with her head”, because, you know. I kinda like it!
fjaskdlfad I HOPE IT IS. Gawsh. I feel all nervous now.
I will not remove anyone\’s heads I PROMISE.
CAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT, THIS NOVEL SOUNDS SO AMAZING. <3 Because a) ghosts, and b) wonderful prose, and c) Thomas sounds awesome. So, in answer to your question at the bottom, HELL YES. I see what you mean about rewriting through. I've written 12+ novels (I don't remember how many at the moment, but it's something like that) and out of them all, I've only rewritten/edited a couple. Some I just know aren't going to go anywhere, so what's the point? In saying that though, the novels that I *do* rewrite, I rewrite, like, two or three times until I'm happy(ish) with them. xD Because I'm crazy like that.
Oh, and also? Love the gifs. 😉
We should make like a rewriting pact for next year, right?! REWRITE OR GO BUST. *nods* I kind of know what you mean though….I secretly hope all of my books can be revived to life but, well, to be honest some have got as much plot as a cricket in a cornfield and ain\’t going ANYWHERE.
You are incredibly late with your post, missy. But I enjoyed reading it anyway! I really like the sound of your book, I have ever since I learned what you were writing about (and then stopped writing because you FINISHED NANO IN A WEEK).
How many rejections did you get before you landed an agent, by the way? I’m at 11 rejections. I can play the rejection bingo game.
I know. *hangs head in shame* And look how late I am even answering comments? What even is my problem?
REJECTION BINGO. FUN FUN. I think I probably ended up querying 20 or 30? I don\’t know. I did write it down somewhere but…digging through the depths of my rejection lists isn\’t that fun. HAR HAR. Understandable, right? I think I queried for about 8 or 10 months, too.
It’s a thing! Hang on… http://justthrashtalk.wordpress.com/2014/07/30/fo… I’m pretty sure I’ve had them all by now. OH WELL. Keep going!
Omg. I do not know how to feel about that. o.o I got all form-rejection “nos” or SILENCE. It was excruciating. >_<
CAIT, I ADMIRE YOU. Your story sounds good and the dialogue seems really funny (I totally get that whole trying-to-be-funny-but-I’m-not-actually thing, but you’re definitely humorous!) and you write SO FAST – wow! It’s been a dream of mine to write a book since I was little but I always hit writing block after I’ve written the first few chapters and it’s quite frustrating. But hopefully one day I shall finish writing a novel!
Great post, Cait! <3
Trying to be funny is the death of me, arghhh. I don\’t even know why but writing funny books is HARD. *collapses*
Awk, I hear ya with the writers block. But seriously if you really really want it badly, there is nothing like finishing a book manuscript. It feels SO epic. 🙂
Your book sounds awesome! I remember reading both excerpts during NaNo, and loving them. I especially love the “Dead and attractive” one. I really want to read your book now. If you post some more of the story, I’m sure I’d be more than happy to leave some constructive criticism. Oh, and HAPPY EARLY NEW YEARS.
Aww, thanks, Samantha! ^_^ YAY FOR CRITICISM! I will be looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Okay, first of all: ASDFGHJKL; DEEAAAN. I love him so much. ;_; I started watching Supernatural again last week (thanks to you and your gifs) and I forgot how much I LOVE that show. *flailsuncontrollably*
Second of all; your story sounds so cool! I’d love to read it some day 🙂 I’ve written one novel, in the summer of 2011, during Camp NaNo, and I’ve been meaning to edit/rewrite it ever since but… well… the crying and “whyyy me” is quite accurate. I should really get my act together and just do it…
Loved your post! Maybe I’ll go back to it when I need some rewriting motivation!
THERE IS SO MUCH LOVE FOR DEAN I CANNOT EVEN. I am literally obsessed with it and crying because S10 has been awwwwful but good but awful. xD
EDITING IS HARD. Never underestimate how hard it is. XD Maybe there should be like a National Novel Editing Month?? I really wish there was. *sigh*
I’m not sure I’ve said this enough, but I WANT TO READ THIS. OMG. PLEASE. ;D
WELL THIS MAKES ME PLEASED. #justsaying
I want to read MORE of it!!!! I am changing jobs in January, and let’s just say this new job has no creative outlet to it, so I am going to be pulling out an old manuscript of a finished book, a half finished second book, and outlines for books three and four of a series and rewriting, polishing, and finishing them all. What I will do with them after that is still in question. I am also going to start a blog with a serial story, like they used to have in magazines in Victorian times. Seeing that it is called Hidden Magic, it will only be discovered by people who stumble upon it.
WOW. That is awesome though!! I realy hope you have good luck with your rewriting because it\’s haaaard. We\’ll have to throw things at each other make sure we work hard on our rewriting, eh?! 😉 A serial story sounds exciting!
Ok, I really need more of that book! It sounds really interesting, and I totally get why Thomas said “Don’t rip my book” because I probably would have said it too, priorities, you know? 🙂
PRIORITIES. Exactly.
Ah, rewrites. Pretty soon I’m going to have to rewrite Passing Phase (well, the little that I’ve written) and I’m sort of dreading it. Basically my response to rewrites is to drop everything and run away. So yes, I do prefer first-drafts (they’re so fun!)…however. Considering how first drafts, in my case at least, are freaking horrible I need rewrites. So I should best get onto it and stop complaining right?
YES YES POST A FEW CHAPTERS OF TDBATPC!!! Although I’ll probably flail instead of giving constructive criticism 😀
Hey, dropping and running can totally be a good plan of action.
For a zombie apocalypse.
*cries* REWRITING IS HARD. It\’s not that I don\’t enjoy it…it\’s the starting that\’s the hardest, I think.
I much prefer the rewriting stage. As you described them, I usually think of my first drafts as a really detailed outline where I blazed the trail, and then when I rewrite, the path before me is clear, so I can spend less time hacking away at the “where exactly am I going” and more of it focusing on deepening the characters and the world.
Normally I don’t like ghost stories, but I think yours, combined with the deaf girl, sounds interesting. I’d be willing to offer you critique on a chapter or so if you post it. Good luck with editing, by the way!
I\’m torn! I totally agree with what you said! It\’s nice when you don\’t have to burn the braincells, because the skeleton is already down….but….I find it really freeing to write first drafts, because I\’m that kind of \”write wild and messy\” sort of person. *sigh*
Oh YAY! I would very much look forward to your feedback!
I always rewrite books from scratch too, and I do prefer first drafts, because rewriting overwhelms me. With first drafts, I feel free to make everything relatively bad.
I’ve said it before, but I love your beginning! I’d love to read more of TDBATP and what is that last sentence???!
I like first drafts because of the \”oh if I make a mistakeI\’ll just clean it up later\” whole feel. XD I\’m lazy, yes.
Last sentence is…
SHUT.
OMG. THAT\’S SO BAD. IT\’S NOT EVEN A SENTENCE. *dashes away to edit*
You’re so funny. Love ’em gifs! 😀
EEK! Yes! Post the chapters! Post them, post em post em!!!!! After that first part, I NEED more! 😀
I don’t write whole novels, cuz I’m not patient. At all. And just writing a short story takes me FOREVER because there’s either TOO MANY paths I could follow OR I can’t think of what the heck might happen next. *sigh* It’s a tough world.
~Fari 0:)
OH THE TRIAL OF TOO MANY IDEAS, RIGHT? It\’s a struggle. I feel your pain. I DO.
I loved writing my first draft of my current project but, honestly, I wrote most of it purely because it was cute (judge me). I re-wrote a good chunk of the middle, and now I’m re-writing the ENTIRE SECOND HALF. It’s made me realise that A. I didn’t know most of my characters AT ALL the first time round (I thought I did, but nah) and B. I can do cute and funny so long as I can make it plot relevant (you would not believe the lengths I will go to to make cute and funny plot relevant). It has been December, so I have been unable to like ANY NEW IDEAS (or old ones) but now the December haze has lifted and I can write again (well, as well as I could pre-December). 😉
If you’re comfortable with posting parts of TDBATPC on your blog, then POST IT! POST IT! The synopsis sounds amazing, and I’ve loved all the little snippets you’ve posted. 🙂
I WON\’T JUDGE YOU. This wip here is the fluffiest thing I\’ve ever written (and yet still, everyone dies. Wait. They\’re already dead. WHATEVER.) Oh I believe the lengths you\’d go to. I WOULD TOO. I have an unbelievable amount of coffee drinking scenes with cute but pointless banter. gee. Cutting them is going to hurt.
yaaay! I\’m really excited (and freakishly nervous) to see what you think!
Sounds good! And yes, I would be happy to give you some constructive criticism if you decide to post chapters! 🙂
Let’s see… first drafts or rewrites… Possibly rewrites, actually. But I’m speaking as someone who just came out of the first draft and can see all the potential my story holds with much optimism. Once I get feedback and am really into the edits… look out. I will be a sobbing, screaming mess. XD
LASER came out with some Supernatural elements, too… and I’ve only ever seen one episode.
YAY! I would really like your comments Robyn. \’Cause, you know, you\’re awesome.
OH YES! Feedback is so awful but awesome, right?! Like sometimes it enthuses you and other time it\’s like \”omg, there is too much to do\”. -_-
HOW HAVE YOU ONLY SEEN ON EPISODE??? I have seen, like 200 episodes. And I still want more.
Aww! Yes! Yes, you must post so you will get awesome feedback! (That sounded so conceited of me…)
YES. That is exactly what feedback does! It’s also makes me think “*facepalm* How did I miss that?!” Or “I MY GOODNESS I’M SO GLAD THEY LIKED IT! I WORTE SOMETHING GOOD!” Good feedback will tell you both what could be improved but also what is good.
Okay. So, basically, I am a big fraidy-cat. And some of the strangest things freak me out. My sister Meredith watches Supernatural and she advised me not to because she is an awesome pineapple and knows what scares me. But there was one episode that she said wouldn’t be too bad, so I watched that one.
I love this! I love the idea of the book itself. The characters sound awesome. And I really like the theme. That’s a really neat theme, I would relate to that. Also open endings are the best! They’re so different, and I know you get angry readers, but even as a reader I kind of like a little ambiguity. I’m one of those people who like to keep my options open, so an open ending? It works.
Your answers for 14 and 15 rock. Just to say.
I can’t stand first drafts. I’m getting used to accepting them and the. . . obvious necessity of them. Even though I prefer editing, I have never edited a whole novel yet. Mostly because- since me and first drafts don’t get along, I don’t have a lot of first drafts hanging around to just go and edit. So I’m refraining from editing until I finish. . . Eh, I think I’m shooting for after I finish Oddball the Sequel.
You should definitely post some chapters of TBATPC! It would be magnificent! (The title did not strike me as long until I wrote its abbreviation. That doesn’t even make sense!)
I LOVE open endings as a reader and a writer…but I\’m sure people will be angry at me. Heh. It doesn\’t even have a sequel in the works at all, although I do have a tentative secondary ghostly story that I REALLY want to write. So who knows?! Companion series??
Oh it does make sense….*headdesks* It sounds ridiculous alliterated..whyyyy do I do this to myself?
Can I read this????? PLEASE?! Like seriously, I wanna read this so badly! Oh my goodness! 😀
AW YOU MAKE ME BEAM FROM THE ROOFTOPS WITH A CHESHIRE WORTHY SMILE.
Oh I really enjoy this post. It would be so cool to read one of your books, it sounds so interesting and I would read it! Did I said it again? … I DONT CARE. I would read it!
Okay sooo … I’m a little bit jealous of you. Not of your ideas, I think I have enough really good ideas. They came all in my head but never came out. In my brain are so many good ideas, so many good sentences. But If I’m sitting in front of my laptop there. is. nothing. Really, nothing. And when there is a time and I start to write maybe ten pages and make a short break and came back, I can’t write again. I can’t continue storys. And then I think about my first ten pages and hate them so much, because I think that’s all so bad.
Sometimes I think it’s only the beginning, that I only can’t write starts of books. All these things are so … depressing. I want to write a book and can’t do this. This is why I admire you! 🙂
AW, THIS IS THE NICEST THING, LAURA. I AM SMILE SO HUGELY RIGHT NOW. XD
Don\’t worry I know juuuust how you feel. I\’ve been through that too! Trust me, it\’s just practise and a whole lot of desperation. Writing is HARD. It\’s hard to just sit there and write sometimes…and making ideas come out on paper the way they sound in your head?! GAH. I still struggle with that. But seriously, have you tried like little challenges? Like write 100 words a day or something? Small and manageable but like in 100 days you have 10,000 words. 🙂
Awww, imagine a big kiss from me to you hahahahaha 😀 :*
Yeeeeah … It’s so: Since 2 years I want to make the NaNoWriMo. You do, or? But I never found the time, because there’s school and books I want to read and friends and homeworks – so I would never can write every day. But I want to make my own NaNoWriMo very soon. I think, that’s a good idea Cait. Maybe I really should try this …
Now I need more tips from you haha 😀 Ähm so if you do this little challenges, do you read what you’ve written the day before? Or do you only write and write. Because If I would read it one time, I never can continue my writing, because It would destroy me to see my bad text before 😮
I hope you understand what I mean, I don’t know how to say it in better english 😀
YOUR BOOK SOUNDS BRILLIANT! Now I have to read it. And you wrote it so fast! It takes me at least three month to write one novel. (I’m a big procrastinator sometimes.) I’ve critiqued a few novels with positive reviews, and if you want I can help you on yours. (But it looks like you already have a bunch of people lined up on that so I’m not holding my breath.)
The humor sounds amazing! Humor is one of my favorite aspects in books.
First draft or rewrites? It might be a tie. I love the freedom of the first draft, but polishing and editing is also fun. I may like first drafts a teensy bit more. I can make as many mistakes as I want and know I can always clean them up in the editing. Then I actually do have to clean them up.
I write really really fast beacuse I have a HORRIBLE memory. Seriously, I could throw my own surprise part. >.> So if I write fast I don\’t lose the plot. LITERALLY lose the plot, hehe.
I am so honoured right now. *dies* When I DO get to needing help, I will probably post online. Maybe figment or wattpad?? Squeeak. Just considering options still.
OH I AM SO WITH YOU! The freedom is awesome in a first draft…I also have a policy of writing super messy first drafts. It\’s so FUN. But it feels easier to rewrite sometimes because you\’re not digging everything up from scratch, right?!
Hahaha I love that snippet where Thomas said he’s dead and attractive. Man, I can’t wait to see your books hit the shelves! I think that’s amazing how you wrote a lot of books even if they’re drafts because I can never get myself writing anything pass 12 pages. I’m just too lazy and not in the mood when it comes to writing stories. I’ve always wanted a book that ended with a BANG last sentence so I wonder what the last sentence of your book is! It’ll probably torture and mind blowing!
I WISH THEY\’D HIT SHELVES TOO. XD I have like all my fingers and toes crossed, okay?!!
The last sentence is literally \”shut\”, but, I promise it makes sense in context. xD
Can…can I please just have your book now? Please Cait dearest? I just…asdfghjkl.
(Also you missed an opportunity for a LOTR reference.)
WELL YOU DID ASK NICELY. SO WAIT. THINGS ARE HAPPENIN\’.
Oh did I?!! WHAT WAS IT? WHERE WAS IT?!
Hey.. Love your blog… Of course posting a couple teaser chapters of your book is an awesome idea… The quotes from it are AMAZING!
Aw, thanks Karoline!! THIS MAKES MY DAY SO HAPPY! And book chapters are definitely coming to a blog near you asap. XD
YES YES YES CAN I BE A BETA READER PLEAAAASE?!?! I have yet to read a ghost story that I actually like and isn’t cliche (“Supernatural” aside, of course, though that’s TV) and yours sounds AWESOME. 🙂 But I get that your books are your babies, so if you don’t want to share it I’ll settle for snippets on your blog. 😉
Ugh, I envy you. I used to think I wrote fast, but on good days–and I mean really good days–I only average about 5,000 words. 😛 Though I do have an adorable dog that requests (*ahem* demands) my attention and treats. How has little Atticus Bean/Crowley respected your writing time?
You have the right to freak out about having an agent!!! That’s the most exciting thing that could happen to a writer, along with being published and getting 5-star reviews. I am seriously excited to buy copies of your books and shove them into my friends’ hands and fangirl about it.
SUPERNATURAL IS AWESOME. I promise this isn\’t too similar…I refuse to write books based off shows I watch! lol But it was originally inspired by like S1 episode..um, 3?? Whatever one they pulled that little boy out of the lake. Also Inkheart. lol ANYWAY. I\’M RAMBLING. I will totally enlist you, okay?!!
DOGS DO DEMAND ATTENTION. I am fast learning. Plus my puppy is seriously hyperactive. -_- Atticus *coughCrowelycough* is a little demon, I tell you. I haven\’t even TRIED writing while I have him yet. He\’s bad enough when I\’m reading…aka biting my books.
afjdkslafd I still feel having an agent is so unreal but HAVING A PUBLISHER WOULD TOTALLY MAKE MY LIFE.
I must admit I love writing the first draft much better than the editing. I always put that off for as long as I can! But it’s a necessary evil. Which is why for one of my goals this year I want to not only write a first draft, but edit it!
I’d love to read your novel! Post some chapters now. You’ve had me itching about it for so long. I really want to read it!
I kiiind of like editing, but then again, I think it\’s more pressure to be PERFECT. Whilst when I\’m first-drafting I\’m all, \”oh I\’ll fix that later\”. XD
I\’M GOING TO POST. PATIENCE, GRASSHOPPER. I gotta edit this baby first. XD
I loved the excerpts you posted, and would love to read a few chapters. Actually, all of the chapters!
Your blog has been a recent discovery of mine (not that recent, I started with the Notebook Sisters and trying to catch up with everything here), I love the way you write! 🙂
EEEEP. THIS IS SO MARVELLOUS TO HEAR, THOUGH. THANK YOU. I\’ll start with a few chapters, right?! But who knows… XD
I can’t even express how badly I want to read this book. Obviously I’ve only seen little snippets, but I’m falling in love with Thomas already. I hate editing, but to be fair, I’ve never finished a book either… Anyway, good luck!
I AM IN LOVE WITH THOMAS TOO. Moxie would not be pleased with me. *ahem* Ohhh, I hope you do get to finish a book one day though. It\’s hard, but it\’s still a good feeling know you did it, right?!
He’s your character, you could absolutely take Moxie on in a fight! It’s my New Years resolution to at least finish the first draft. And last years resolution. And the year before that. And maybe the year before that…
Cait, are you me? I feel the same way about all of the first drafts of my books. I don’t ever want to edit them or even look at them ever again because they are such wrecks, so I procrastinate by writing new books. And of course I always think that they next book is going to be THE BOOK that turns out perfectly. But that doesn’t happen. I’m finally jumping into editing this January, though, because I will be doing a JaNoEdiMo thing with a couple of writing friends. I’m so nervous! It’s comforting to hear that you completely rewrite your books, though, because that’s what I’ll be doing too, I think.
MAYBE I AM YOU. Maybe we are twins separated at birth and born many years difference. *shrugs* It could happen.
Procrastinating by writing new books is totally a thing. We need like a support group. And EDITING support group. *sigh* JaNoEdiMo sounds good. I totally thought about it…but it\’s too HOT to edit. (Heh, I\’ll clutch at any lame protest, okay?!)
I like your first opening bit! Good luck with the rewrites. I’m also a January baby – I have never taken the whole month off – wait thats a lie ….once I took off a whole month of work to play World of Warcraft. It was fabulous.
JANUARY BABIES FTW. In Australia it sucks to be a Jan baby because…it\’s too hot. XD Taking the month off is totally a legit thing and needs to be more widely acknowledge as normal.
Hahaha I literally just used the same Harry and Ron gif in my post today. Ron stating the tough truths for procrastinators all around thw world.
This post was insanely fun to read. I love hearing about people’s writing experiences. Personally, I’ve never attempted anything as ambitious as a whole book (okay that was a complete lie, there were attempts, but I DEFINITELY DEFINITELY prefer writing first drafts over editing. I HATE editing with the white-hot passion of a thousand burning suns. However, nothing beats the fierce pleasure of something finally coming together as it should.
*hi fives* GIF USAGE TWINS!!
First drafts are just…easier. FOR SOME REASON. I think (for me) it\’s because I can procrastinate fixing mistakes. I just say \”oh I\’ll do that when I edit\” and yeh. That\’s why editing is so bad.
Ok, I seriously want to read this book SOOOO bad!!!!!! Especially after the tid bits about the ending! You’re killing me, Cait! *falls to the ground in a heap, unmoving and not breathing* See, you killed me. I’m going to haunt you now. XD XP
Dean gifs are perfection!
*pokes you with a stick* <– DEAN REFERENCE, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
Oooo I like your style! It sounds lovely <3 I hate writing books…I'm really a reader, but I had always dreamed of becoming a writer someday, I want to be published by Harper, Macmillan or Atria HAHAHA That has always been my dream 🙂
That\’s my dream too! HarperCollins mostly. XD But really I\’d be happy if my book was just on a shelf in a bookshop. *flails forever*
These snippets from your book are making me want to read it so bad! And I get what you mean about the humour part. It’s like humour doesn’t want to be with you when you need it. Oh well. I think I’m going to adore Thomas. I mean, dead and attractive? YES, please. Exactly my kind. 😀 And yes, this definitely means you should post those chapters!
Writing has only been an on-and-off thing for me so far. Two chapters later you can find me procrastinating or over-analysing my story until I hate it. Then I fall into a sort of block and don’t feel like writing at all. I’ve tried, but I end up starting to write something new. Still, first-drafts over rewriting ANY day. Editing sucks, especially because editing = me hating everything. I cannught do et.
Humour is NEVER around when I need it.>__< STILL. It\'s pushing past that writers block that makes the difference. I hope you get through it someday!! EDITING TRULY SUCKS.
I VOLUNTEER AS BETA FOR THIS OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. And eventually I’ll finish this draft of The Daisy List so you can read it all over again. Aren’t I nice??
Back to Dead Boy. I LOVE IT SO MUCH ALREADY. That first page…I mean, I know you’re rewriting ALL of it (I do too) but that first page is excellent. But still, kill your darlings, right?
I like first drafts better because I don’t have to worry about everything, but then I also like third drafts because it’s like putting a puzzle piece together…then again I’ve only ever done two third drafts.
YES, YES YOU ARE NICE. WE CAN SWAP. Or Grizzly. x) I\’m flexible you know…ohhh, because you have totally like read 3 of my books and I\’ve only read 1 of yours. SO YOU OWE ME MORE AWESOME WRITING.
*looks shady* every time i visit your blog you make want to write A DARN NOVEL FOR GOODNESS GRACIOUS.
Seriously. I have never had the problem of re-writing a first draft BECAUSE I DO NOT OWN A FIRST DRAFT DEAR GREEN GRAPES CAIT HOW DO YOU DO IT.
Also I want to read that book, CAN I BETA READ?
Well, actually i wouldn’t be a very good beta reader if i’d never written a novel myself now would i..
ANYWAY,
I’m also very annoyed with myself because when you switched to paperfury[dot]com i thOUGHT i’d subbed by e-mail. turns out i hadn’t. so when i just went, oh, Cait hasn’t posted in..ages?..after posting pretty much every day..i visited your blog and FOUND MOUNDS OF AMAZING POSTS WHAT DID I DO WRONG.
It’s all fixed now though. I hope.
WELL. WRITE ONE THEN, HAWWA. WHAT ARE YOU EVEN WAITING FOR? You need to own a first draft. They\’re very nice and they make you feel very awesome. I promise.
I think I\’m going to start a Figment account! SO YES YOU CAN READ!! XD
Omg, I am sorry. *hangs head in shame* I did attempt to switch the email subscriptions but maybe it didn\’t work like I thought it did? Obviously. MY BAD.
Rewriting is tricky business, I will give you that. I kind of have the same problem. But here’s the thing: I have all these ideas so I write them all at the same time >.< Which means I rarely ever finish my brilliant ideas books. And currently I have only ever finished three novels in completion, due to Nanowrimo really. I hope you get to your rewriting and become one of those million dollar authors. For us both ^^
Check out my review and giveaway: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/12/part-time-princess-review-giveaway.html
ACK. I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM. I only ever write one book at a time, because I can\’t multi-task, but ahhhh, it gets so hard to figure out what to write! And I just want to capture all my little ideas so I don\’t end up rewriting and I NEED to do more rewriting. -_-
Uuuuh you have me curious. I don’t write much, nothing really big because I much prefer to read. I’m actually using writing about anything and everything in English to improve it, which means I’m more than a little ashamed about the fact that I can’t convey half of the things. lol.
Anyway, I’m really curious about the book now, sounds interesting! I didn’t follow much before so I’ll have to hunt down all the little quotes you left around? 😀
Reading is fun. Reading is really really fun and sometimes I prefer to read so much that I don\’t write for months. 😉
Yeeees! Please please post some of this book! I really, really want to read more. It’s awesome. 😀
SQUEEE!! I AM SO GLAD YOU WANT TO!!
“Cait-Who-Has-Too-Many-Shiny-Ideas-And-Therefore-Struggles-To-Rewrite-Older-Stories.”
Ohhh maaaan =/ This is me! This is me down to the last word. My sister suggested a writing schedule, and I am going to have to take that VERY SERIOUSLY now.
I love the beginning of your book, and I think it should be available to purchase now o_o If you decided to post some chapters, I would love to read them! c: And if I am able to stop flailing long enough to give comments, I will do that too. O_O Great post, i’m glad you were able to do BB3. (I still need to read like 2/3rds of those posts.)
OHHH. A writing schedule is a wise idea! EXCEPT. Schedules suck my inspiration dry. *sigh* Although I do really want to rewrite this THIS YEAR. Instead of procrastinating as usual. Ohhh, I totally would love to hear your thoughts/critiques on it. 😉
I LOVE THIS BOOK. I LOVE THIS BOOK AND I’VE NEVER EVEN READ IT.
Seriously, though. Never worry that you’re bothering us with the snippets. I don’t know about everyone else, but I LOVE them! And your humor totally shines through from what I read. SO FUNNY. SO GOOD. I would LOVE to read some chapters on your blog! Actually, if you’re in need of more beta readers, do think of me. I’m serious when I say this sounds beyond awesome!
Anyway, though–I love your theme, it sounds like a fantastic message! And my characters usually tend to need strengthening, too, so I’m with you there. 🙂 Also, totally irrelevant, but do I spy a LOTR reference? Perhaps yes, I think… 😉
I AM PLEASED. LITTLE WORRIED BUT PLEASED. Heh. Awww! I WILL ASK YOU WHEN IT\’S READY, OKAY?! Because I am in serious need of betas. Mine tend to flee…no idea why. XD
PLEASEEEE edit and publish this book. I’m not a huge ghost story or YA person but your book sounds fascinating. I want it. Please.
I hate editing, so I totally understand where you’re coming from. I’m always afraid my edits will make it worse (because the last time I edited, on a novella I wrote, it went horribly wrong). I typically hope the first draft will be spectacular and edits can be minimal but alas… the first draft always has other ideas. Sad day.
AW. I AM BEYOND THRILLED RIGHT NOW. Hopefully?! Maybe!? It\’s my dream to be published. XD
I can’t even word how much I want to read your book, Cait, srsly.
And also, I am Hulk-jealous of your first-draft-in-ten-days thing. You’re not human. That’s all there is to it.
I AM GONNA HAVE TO THROW IT AT YOU AND BEG YOU TO BETA, OKAY?
I AM NOT ARGUING. I WILL EAT IT WHOLE AND THEN ASK FOR MORE
(hey look I can poem)
“Never say 10 words when you can say 5.”<—– YES. This is like, my life mantra, and always has been. I was "that guy" in school who wrote the shortest essays, but always got the highest grades. Because I didn't just write for the sake of writing. Oh, your book is going to be splendid, Cait! Seriously, I cannot wait until we can buy and read this. Especially since you plan on destroying our souls. I like it.
I am so so glad you agree!! I feel like everyone is writing mammoth books these days and noooo! SMALL IS GOOD TOO.
I am dying to read this book! Seriously, it sounds great. I’ve never written anything that could be a novel so I don’t have any experience with rewrites… I do think it sounds horrible though xD I feel like I’d probably change everything. (which could be a good thing, I guess!)
ajfdlkasd this makes my day, Katie!! I do change everything, so I understand that feeling exactly!
One of these days you will become a published author and unleash all of your writing goodness onto the world Cait. I love hearing about the writing process and can definitely see how you would focus on writing new books instead of editing the old! It’s always the hardest thing cutting words out when there’ s a word count, and you did wonderfully cutting 20,000 words out of your fantasy book.
WELL. THAT IS MY DREAM. XD It might come 20 years in the future, but still, my dreeeeam.
I’m a terrible quitter of a writer, but oh Cait, I’m a really good reader. *nudges* And I could read your book. *nudges* And do my best to criticize and love it. *nudges* Because seriously, your book sounds awesome. *nudges* I love that dialogue you posted. *nudges* So why don’t you let me have a peek at this manuscript? *nudges*
*nudges* I think I\’m officially decided to post some on wattpad/figmanet and get ALL THE CRITIQUES.
I gave up on NaNoWriMo within the first week. And — holy crap! — I can’t even remember what I wrote about! It obviously wasn’t going well; it couldn’t have been memorable, at any rate.
I like both writing and rewriting/editing. Then again, I read books like an editor; I might as well have a red pen in my hand. I know some people really dislike that part of writing, but it’s so necessary. (I once got into an argument on a book forum with some twit who — rather forcefully and rudely — insisted that novels are never edited and that editing was only for non-fiction. Seriously… if that’s what he inferred from the novels he’s read, then publishing companies need to smarten up and hire some better editors.)
I sometimes read books like an editor too! >_< This is why I don\'t usually rate ebooks so high. My brain seems to thin if it\'s not a physical book it\'s not \"done\" and then quietly edits and reworks sentences. I feel guilty about doing it… ergh…
Girl… Rewriting and revisions is SOOOOOOO difficult!!!!! I’m revising one of my books and I love what I’m changing but it is sooooo difficult because it’s my baby and I cut away and shred it and hammer it out until I get the wording just right. It’s difficult. That’s all there is to it. Great post, girl!
Revisions suck the soul dry I tell you. DRY. Books are our babies…I totally understand that feeling.
Ugh Cait, your books sounds wonderful. Haha, have fun editing it.
..I wish I would come to that step where I would be able to do that *sighs*. I usually write about 10 pages and spend the next months rewriting it. I could cut my current story down to 6 pages I actually like.
So yeah, congratulations on writing something that sounds good AND made you happy writing it!
Nadja 🙂
Fun. YES. bah h ah aha. >_< I SHALL TRY! I used to never be able to finish books, but I kind of made myself just write badly and then edit later. And then I got over my writers block. XD
Your gifs are perfect! Especially number 7. I love it.
As for me, I prefer first drafts because I’ve never edited anything because I’ve never written a novel! I am still slogging slowly for the 50k mark (it’s in sight though, I might hit it tonight actually if I have a good run … or I could stay on the internet … life choices … ). I definitely work better with deadlines. Case study: my current novel. Started 1st July 2013 for Camp NaNo; 20k written in July; almost 30k written in the past *year and a half*. Yes, really. That is why I need a deadline. My only issue is I like to handwrite, which is obviously not compatible with the NaNo format, really.
Anyway, sorry for going on (Past Cait, you should have skipped reading that paragraph, we both know it now). I would 100% love to read some of TDBATPC because it sounds AWESOME!
I love rewriting so much more than writing. Writing is HARD. Writing is sorting out plot and characters and not being pedantic and bringing things back up in the story when they need it and figuring out whatever the heck else happens next.
Rewriting, editing, it’s hard too. But it’s 30 minutes to write a sentence that change the whole tone of a scene. It’s so *effective*! It’s cutting a scene and pasting it back in three chapters earlier that redefines a character’s motivation so much more cleanly. For me, it’s also pulling apart a really long sentence and turning it into like 3 sentences that are suddenly much more effective.
I think of writing like putting together this giant block of clay. And rewriting and editing is the actual sculpting into what’s it’s supposed to be after all. Personally I do enjoy it so much 🙂
this was so very much fun to read! I do hope we get to see the whole book, sometime!
You actually can. ;D It’s on Wattpad right here!
oh that is just swell! I’m gonna check it out!