Lily’s Contract

*throws confetti* This is the last installment! It's been 52 weeks! An entire year! I wrote the first draft of a novel by writing 500-800 words a week. You can do this, too. The draft needs a lot of work. Revising. Editing. Layering. But the bones are mapped out for me whenever I decide to … Continue reading Lily’s Contract

Catching Up

Penultimate - the last but one This is the penultimate post in my experiment with writing an entire first draft in public. I read on the twitters today that whistling in a theater is considered good luck because sailors were often employed as stagehands. They whistled to communicate, and their whistles kept the actors safe … Continue reading Catching Up

Old Friends

For most of the story installments, I've been able to cut the scene where it counts. Not so this time, so know that I know, and I'm sorry. This one lands with a clunk rather than a bell chime. First drafts are wild and unwieldy. The added restriction of trying to make each entry bite-sized … Continue reading Old Friends

Make It Rain

This is week 50, and I've got 51 & most of 52 written. I'm not happy about the dangly bits at the end of the story, and I'm having trouble bringing that last scene to a satisfying conclusion. That's the hazard of a first draft where I can't go back and tweak the past to … Continue reading Make It Rain

A New Job

Chewing the furniture. Wandering in circles with wild hair and wicked untrimmed toenails. That's a first draft, man. It is what it is, and if you can write a cleaner one, I dare you to do it. This one's about done, and it's been fun. I think I might be able to see the end, … Continue reading A New Job

“We”

*alarms blare* There are only five more installments of the first draft in public! For those of you out there who talk about writing a book or writing more or whatever - you CAN do it! Small bites. Little steps. One foot in front of the other. Good grief, I could write those all day, … Continue reading “We”

Motherhood

Before we get to the goods, an update on my Patreon. I have discovered the joy of Lens. This is an app that allows me to share 15-second videos of my life with patrons. It's a bit addictive! So far we've shared a blackout poem session, my morning coffee, the dog and cat being cute, … Continue reading Motherhood

Boundaries

Just a reminder, this is a first draft in public. It's rough and ugly, but it's me telling myself (and you) the story. It's me sitting down every week and typing out a scene. The magic happens in editing and revising. Thanks for reading along! Boundaries Lights flared illuminating the steps and a portion of … Continue reading Boundaries

Trickster

Last week, we left our intrepid writer feeling overwhelmed and standing in a virtual rubble-pile of her own edit-making. This week, I have conquered the hardest part. I've begun to rebuild. I'm now up to Chapter Three in the revision process, and while wary and suspicious, I am hopeful. You've all seen the cairns when … Continue reading Trickster

Tough Love

After being paralyzed for months, and doing all the advice I give others, I finished the revision of the first chapter of Ferals & Blights tonight. Dissecting my behavior and feelings afterward, I'm able to say two things: Professional opinions help. I was afraid to revise the wrong thing, and getting John's feedback helped me … Continue reading Tough Love