Ugh!  It happens to everyone.  You get to a point where your brain just doesn’t want to cooperate with your heart, yearning for some beautiful prose to materialize on the page.  Usually when I come to a road block, I listen to music to help me visualize what I am trying to convey and voila I can get something down.  Granted, it might not be pretty, but it’s a start. 

Tonight, the music wasn’t helping much.  It’s awesome new tuneage that my sister just gave me.  To inspire me.  Thanks KW!!  It’s Celtic music and should totally get me in the groove.  But - I think I’m feeling a little burnt out on the editing.  I have a self imposed deadline to get more of the MS ready for my beta readers sooner rather than later and now I’m just over it already.  My brain is not coming up with the beautiful prose.  It’s probably because my subconscious has found a couple holes that need to be plugged and subconsciously knows the work I do now might be for naught.  Ugh!!!

I think I need a good night’s rest…  Night Night…

I finished BALLAD last night and highly recommend it for the wonderfully self centered James and wickedly awesome Nuala. The dialogue is engaging. I found the story engaging and full of angst. I LOVE the angst. I was so scared for both James and Nuala throughout the last 150 pages. The chemistry between James and Nuala is amazing. I found a little of the fairie stuff confusing in parts, but just reread and got it or read through and figured it out as I got further along in the story.

So next on my list is LINGER. Another book by the superb author Maggie Stiefvater. This book has four POVs so I am curious to see how she differs the voices of the characters. One thing about being a writer -- now I can't just read for the pure joy of reading. I am also analyzing the work and the words. Taking notes about how the author does things right (and wrong). I have also found myself doing the same thing with plots in movies. Want to hear a secret?? I was in the movie theater with my family watching TOY STORY 3 and taking notes. Crazy yes, but helpful.

In writing news -- I am still sort of editing to widdle words and add some clarity to the story before I let it bake. I want it ready for my beta readers so they can read while I let it simmer on my shelf. This morning a scene for book 2 was itching to be written, so I have officially started on my 2nd project.

Well now I need to get back to my weekend guests. Happy weekend!!!

This weekend was a wonderful writing weekend.  I finished cutting everything I knew the MS could live without.  It was painful at times – but quite satisfying.  I originally had 163,959 words.  Crazy right?  Well now… it’s down to 134,500.  I chopped about 30,000 words.  My goal is 120,000 words.  I have a couple scenes I will condense and/or move dialogue elsewhere if it’s absolutely necessary to the story.  In reading it through, I’ve found areas of repetition that can be cut.  Redundant words.  Throwaway words.  I’ve combined two characters into one, and may do that with another couple characters. 

My husband has been reading the novel.  He knows the ending so he has been interjecting some other ideas as he reads.  “Hey – it would be cool if you did this,” or “Do you think maybe…”   It’s been great and he’s funny because he prefaces most of it by saying, “Would it be too much work if…”  And he’s letting me know when something isn’t right from a male’s perspective.  This is so helpful, as part of the novel is told from Aidan’s POV.

In other news… I’m still waiting for LINGER to show up.  Whoever said you can get things faster by pre-order was lying!  To hold me over, I’m reading BALLAD.  Another Maggie Stiefvater novel that’s been in my To Read pile.  It’s the sequel to LAMENT.  It’s about a boy at a boarding school for talented musicians who is sought after by Nuala, a faerie who provides inspiration for musicians, then steals their soul.  Nuala is not used to being denied and grows fascinated with James and his disinterest in her.  She starts to have feelings for James and little by little James finds himself falling for her as well.  I’m really enjoying the angst it’s giving me.  That’s what I love with YA… Lots of ANGST.  Anyway – James’ personality is a little over the top – but Maggie Stiefvater has written him brilliantly.  He’s an ass, but I love him and feel his pain, nonetheless.   Perhaps I’ll do a formal review once I finish.

Happy Monday to one and all…