Yesterday, I took some time to read through the prologue, and I decided to make it the first chapter. I wrote an extra 500 words, and changed about 1000 others, bringing the total to just over 2500. A lot is about to change. I'm going to further develop my characters and my world and see what I can salvage from what I've already written. Looking over it, I'll agree with Aaron when he says the way I've written it seems amateurish. I started writing it when I was 14, so I guess that's not a total surprise. Aaron had already read some of my more resent work, and in comparison, what he's read of Evergreen isn't what he's come to expect from me. I need to change that.
I also need to bring some more consistency to the tone of the narrative. Writing fantasy... it's either Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia. Yes, there is a middle-ground, but Aaron has pointed out that I tend to be going from one extreme to another. The overall tone seems to be more Narnia. I want to aim for more of a middle-ground, though if all else fails, then my own personal flavour of Narnia it shall be. But consistency is necessary.
Slow and steady wins the race. It's makeover time for Evergreen. This might take awhile. Wish me luck!
- Bonnee.
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Good luck Bonnee, i know you can do it.You don't get anywhere in the world without hard work and a lot of support, and i know you have worked hard on this novel and have all the support anyone could want.
ReplyDelete:) Thank you, whoever you are. I hope you are right!
Deletewow it's really amazing to read this... i have thousands of unfinished stories, sometimes the idea flow in like a waterfall and the next second i'm stucked... but i see it as a hobby, and not push myself too hard. hope you can finish your book soon, i'd love to read it when it's finished! <3
ReplyDeleteand i hope we can follow each other! ^^
I hope I can finish it soon too. Do you think your writing will always stay a hobby or do you think you'll make something big of it later?
DeleteFollowing each other sounds good :)
As much as it stings to hear that sort of thing about your 'baby,' it's necessary to the process. Sounds like you're handling it with the right attitude. Good luck with the revisions, I'm sure you'll do well.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit I'm tearing up a bit now and then when I think about it, but hey, it's my baby, can you blame me? I hope that I'm approaching it with the best attitude I can, because you're absolutely right: it's necessary to the process. Thanks for your support JeffO :)
DeleteI struggled with that originality factor, too. Admitting to myself that every story has already been told helped me understand that it's not the idea, but the execution that matters. Add that to a storyline that you've never experienced before helps. Keep at it! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right, thank you David :)
DeleteAh yes I know my writing flavor has changed a LOT since I was 14. Sometimes the re-writing CAN be tedious... :/ you'll do great though!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a good thing, of course, that my writing flavour has changed over the past few years, otherwise I'd probably have no hope of saving Evergreen. I'll do my absolute best! :)
DeleteGood luck with the writing. I've been writing my story for a while and I can see a difference in the writing. It's a lot of work to rewrite, but it will be worth it.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how quickly our skills can improve when we're writing. I'm more than willing to put in the effort, so hopefully you're right and the rewriting will be worth it. Thanks Patti :)
DeleteSo, I want to know who's Aaron :)
ReplyDeleteYour brother? A friend? A fellow writer? He's a hard critic, for sure - which is the *best* to have, so good on ya, mate:)
PS: Bonnee, here's my tip for today... if you want it :) Please don't beat yourself up with having to change Evergreen... I am blown away that you have a finished ms in your hands and you knew so early that you wanted to write... I only figured it out when I was 32... Yikes!!!
Keep doing what you're doing and don't forget, the world is your oyster, young lady :)
Aaron is my boyfriend. At the end of this month, we'll have been together for two years. So not only is he a hard critic (which is definitely a good thing to have), he's always easy for me to get in touch with. I'm glad I have him for many reasons; this being one of them.
DeleteThanks for your encouragement Mark :) I'll try not to beat myself up. I know that having a full manuscript (however shabby) is a great achievement for someone my age, and I'm glad that I know I want to do something with my writing.
:) Thanks for stopping by!
Last time I suggested for you and Aaron to decide if Evergreen is great or just good. Okay, so it's just good or average. No harm done. Many books get published by book publishers all the time: some great, some good and some just average. Don't put a pressure on yourself. Accept that Evergreen is your first book, make it as best as you can and hope that your future book will be the best seller. Ijust saw an an interview with Marie Lu who wrote LEGND. She's in her mid twenty. She said that during high school she wrote many things and got non stop rejections. Then one day she saw a movie set in France and got the idea to change it to YA fiction set in the future. So new ideas can come just like that. Unlike other talents, writing is something that you can imrpove with time. Singing, for example, you can't. So, you can be a great writer, especially after also get some writing skills in university. What to do with Evergreen now? (1) If the writing is too simple, you can cut words and and make it into a Middle Grade (MG) story. Many agents and publsihers look for MG fantasy. (2) Maybe you need to introduce a new story line or new character to make it better as YA. (3) Maybe you just need to go over the simpler writing and make it better .. but please not that both Mega Best Sellers, TWILIGHT and HUNGER GAMES are written fairly simple. Simple writing styple for YA is accepted. Writers get better with time, so at your age you are already ahead than 95%+ of aspiring authors. And just last week an Aussie author, Hannah Kent (27 yrs old) got over One Million Dollar (yep!) advance for her debut novel. Her agent was from Australia also. Ideas for new novels will just come to you, suddently. And you have many years ahead. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteFor now it's good or average, but I think I can make it better, at least a little bit better, before I try to publish it. I know it's my first novel and no matter what I've already achieved quite a big goal, but the better job I do at it now, the better I can do in the long run. I might have plenty of other ideas, but a first impression is important too and I want to make the most of this opportunity. I am crazy about some of the new ideas I'm going to add to Evergreen, so I understand what you mean about ideas just coming suddenly. I just hope I can do a good job of putting them across.
DeleteOne Mill advance for a debut novel... sounds bloody amazing. I'll aim for the stars and hope to at least make it to the moon with Evergreen. Thanks for your words of encouragement and for your advice and continued support Giora :) Best wishes to you as well!
Hey Bonnee!
ReplyDeleteit sounds like ur really serious about Evergreen! I haven't edited any of mine yet.....I am just working on getting them finished first!!
Hey EJ,
DeleteI am very serious about Evergreen. Definitely finish before editing. That way you can get all of the ideas out on paper and don't have to worry about backtracking and catching up with yourself again. Finish a first draft and go from there. Best of luck to you! :)
Hey Bonnee,
Deletethanks for the advice..I think if I edit first things will go all wrong.
Hahaha remember me when you become a multi billionaire with Evergreen, lol. :D
I'll remember you. Everyone here will be remembered by me.
DeleteAwwwwwwwwwwww <3
Delete