Comments on: I Made It, but It Wasn’t What I Thought It Was

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:24:31 +0000

Haha, see the post I just wrote….you must have been reading my mind!

I always talk about writing, but never do it…eeks.

I’m glad you made your deadline…I can’t wait until August 1!

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:36:57 +0000

I’ve published 11 novels with a major publisher but there’s no better feeling than completing that manuscript. Good luck.

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:03:33 +0000

Yeah!! Congrats!! I think I need to make a deadline like you. That might force me to really dig into my revisions. I’m like you, I hate it. Thanks for the motivation.

By: jessica

jessica — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:37:36 +0000

Wow, congrats! What an accomplishment.

By: Carissa

Carissa — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:05:56 +0000

I’ve never written a novel, but I write articles every day and I think I get what you went through with this draft. I also hate revising or editing, as is more often the case with me, so I really try to get it right the first time. Or edit as I go. But when I do need to go back and cut (my main problem is writing long and wordy), I also find it helpful to do a rewrite in a second document so I can still see what I wrote before and I can compare. And once I get it the way I want it, I sub it in! such a simple trick, but like you said, a lot less stressful. I do the same thing when I have to reorganize a story by moving a bunch of paragraphs around. I just open a new Word doc.

finally, I totally relate to the third thing you learned. I am the master of procrastination, really, I am. But sometimes I just need to stop avoiding the unavoidable and get to typing! this is especially true on deadline! sometimes I find myself talking to my boyfriend (or mom!) about a tough story I have to write and while it can help me figure out what the most important thing is to say in my story and get things straight in my head, it is just like you said: there’s no way to complete an ARTICLE without just sitting down and writing it! :)

all that said, congrats on meeting your deadline! I know you expected more of yourself but writing the draft of your novel is a huge accomplishment and you should be super proud!

By: Stephany

Stephany — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:38:06 +0000

Awesome! That’s great that you made your deadline! You are giving me so much motivation to get SERIOUS about my own novel!

By: Katy

Katy — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:56:22 +0000

Amen to that last sentence! I definitely need to get back to writing the longer stuff (novels, etc). I used to do that a lot when I was younger (so of course the stories were rather pathetic), but still, if I could do it then, why not now?
Oh wait, I have more a life now with more responsibilities. Dang it.
Well, at least I know I could still do it if I made time.
Thanks. You have inspired me. :)

By: MinD

MinD — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:26:51 +0000

At least it’s *something*, right? Maybe it’s not the draft you wanted, but perhaps her feedback will give you that kick in the ass you need to truly perfect it.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:18:46 +0000

Congrats on getting it turned in! I’m sure you are feeling a rush of accomplishment :)

By: Amber (Girl with the red hair)

Amber (Girl with the red hair) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:12:43 +0000

You’re making progress though, and that’s a good thing! Writing a novel is a HUGE thing, you should be proud of yourself!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:28:59 +0000

I’m so excited!!!! No, really, I am. I want to read it now, but I don’t think I’m supposed to read novels at work.

By: Megan

Megan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:12:39 +0000

I hope to write a novel one day. That last part? Definitely hard. I can’t seem to MAKE myself sit down for hours on end to get things going.