I finished my revision! My next responsibility is to start the next revision (draft 7) as soon as possible. But before I do that, I’m taking just a few days off… from revising. Not from creating things. Those of you who were around the blog in January might remember Basil, the common house zebra. Well,… Read more »
revising
In Case You Are a Writer (or Any Other Sort of Discouraged Person)
Lateish last night, in the middle of the sixth revision of what will be my fourth published book, I inaugurated Notebook 24. It’s been a long journey to the middle of the sixth revision of my fourth book. First I needed to write all the other books, and revise them, and write this one, and… Read more »
Scenes from the Writer’s New Life
It’s hard to focus on a hard revision when my new home remains chaotic and I could be organizing, cleaning, and hanging up pictures, rather than fixing this book. The news, which is heartbreaking everywhere, every single day, also makes it difficult. But I am focusing and fixing the book, because it feels even more… Read more »
The Last Few Days in Pictures
I finished a major revision I’ve been working on since before Halloween. Whew! I took a trip to see my parents for Mother’s Day.Here’s a blurry picture of me and my Dad in Wanamaker’s Department Store in Philly, on a very rainy day.They have a famous organ in the store. My Dad talked aboutgoing to… Read more »
Three Weeks of Revisions, Shown in Nail Polish
When I began this revision, I was feeling a little vulnerable.I wanted my nails to make me think of claws, or maybe little shields. My palette. During the next week, things briefly got impossibleand I needed my nails to help me feel as hard as asphalt. My palette. This morning, I have gotten to a… Read more »
On Writing: Dealing with “I Don’t Wanna”
Sometimes, while writing, instead of feeling like, “Gosh, this is really hard,” I feel like, “Holy hell. This is AGONIZING.” I expect this happens to most every writer. When it happens to me, I call it the I Don’t Wannas, because, as it gets to be time for me to sit my butt in the… Read more »
Current Work Breakdown, for Them That’s Interested
As I’ve mentioned recently, I’m revising a manuscript. Here’s a breakdown of what this revision tends to look like on a daily basis: For one hour or so, I reread and ponder the responses of my early readers and my own notes (as I blogged about recently). For maybe two or three hours, I look… Read more »
On Revising: Embrace Tedium, Embrace Chaos
Note: Now that Bitterblue has been out for over a year, I’ve (finally!) updated my Awards and Reviews page to reflect it. Possibly my mother is the only person who will find this interesting, but after all, that’s reason enough for me to link to it 🙂 On to the matter at hand. Tedium is… Read more »
Pictures of a Book Being Made
To make up for my recent lack of posting — and to celebrate Bitterblue being named a New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of 2012 — this post will be about something :). Disclaimer: All the photos in this post are of my own work and are owned by me. If you use… Read more »
Writing Tools (Bright and Dark)
A few weeks ago, I showed you all the book map that I built for my office wall. This tool has proven itself to be invaluable. I consult it constantly as I’m working. It’s a stupendous structural aid as I reorder the events of this book and refocus the plot. I WANT TO MARRY IT…. Read more »
