In which I vow to care less...

So, this post from Chuck Wendig: Ask A Writer: In Which I Exhort You To Care Less

It seriously hit me hard. Like hard hard. I encourage everyone to read it.

After reading it, letting it really soak in, I came to two conclusions.

1. I let things get to me way too easily. Then, I let those things dig their stupid, meaningless claws into my brain where they constantly bug the crap out of me. You see, I'm a worrier (I might have mentioned this before). Tiny things, things that happened years ago, still nag me. Most of the people that were involved in these insignificant happenings probably don't even remember them or remember them differently than I do, but still, they're there in my brain. This habit has got to stop because pretty soon, when TSIBAN is released, there will be people who like my book (hopefully), but there will also be people who really don't like it, maybe even hate it. I've already vowed not to read the bad reviews, like the really bad ones that might be super hurtful. I don't know if this makes me smart or a coward, but it's just the way I'm going to approach the whole thing because life is too short, dude.

2. I have GOT to unclench when it comes to writing. I have GOT to relax and remember what is wonderful about doing this. I don't know what it is that's causing this sometimes overwhelming feeling of fear and doubt. Maybe I'm trying to hard to improve, maybe I'm letting other people's writing intimidate me because there are so many awesome authors and am I even worthy of a place on a shelf even close to them and *PANIC*

... Deep breaths...

See how quickly the anxiety sets in?

So, here's my promise to myself (and maybe you want to join me on this):

I shall care less. 

Simple enough. Easy? Highly doubtful, but if by saying that over and over in mirror gets me another thousand words down then it is worth it.

And just to end on a happy note:

Shufflin' Saturday

Music is definitely inspirational for me when starting a new WIP. Sometimes I feel like the vibe I'm going for in a book can't be fully realized unless I find a theme song. This is why, last night, I asked my Facebook friends to suggest music. And I got a wide range of recommendations.

Commence the deluge of Youtube videos, Mr. Chekov!

THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD Playlist

I love making playlists for my stories. Here's the one for my current book, THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD. Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might Be Giants actually inspired one specific scene. Enjoy.

Has it really been almost a year?!

Ah, what to blog about? All the things? Only a few things? How about just one of the things? Yeah, let's go with that.

So, it's coming up on my one year blog-o-versary. Yep, I've been doing this crazy thing since December 22, 2010. Back then, I had an idea for a book. During the course of writing that book, I traversed a world I didn't know existed prior to December 22, 2010. I learned about writing via twitter and blogs. I learned about agents via twitter and blogs. I learned about the publishing industry via twitter and blogs.

Hmmm, I'm starting to see a trend here.

Now, I'm not a professional. Yet. I'm not the best writer I can be. Yet (and I'm sure that's something I'll forever be reaching for). But I wouldn't even be contemplating being an author if it wasn't for twitter and blogs. The internet is a vast and wondrous place rife with knowledge and support for people like me. The information is there, it just needs to be read.

Yes, the biggest step is actually writing. Twitter and blogs might help with the process, but they can't do that for you. And write, I did. Two manuscripts came from these fingers and this brain this year. One is on the shelf, poor thing. The other is my current WIP and I love it. I'm prepared to make it the best it can be no matter what. Of course, other parts of my life have suffered from my obsessive pursuit. Dishes and laundry have gone unwashed, floors have gone unmopped, flower beds have turned into weed beds, friendships have not been nurtured, BUT I'm making that step towards doing something with my life other than being a mother (which is the best thing ever, but still) and a wife.

This has all been pretty rambly, sorry about that, but my brain is fried from edits and revising. I guess the point is: twitter and blogs = awesome. Not giving up, still willing to go the extra mile = me even after a year.

Day 88: Random

Okay, so... Editing is hard! The first pages were especially hard. So much of the story has changed since I sat down that fateful Saturday to write those first 5 or 10 pages. I'm catching things that at the time I thought were genius, but now, I'm going "That character would NEVER do that" or "That comes off as an important detail at the beginning but never gets mentioned again. Delete!".

I'm sure there are better ways to do this editing thing, but my way has been working well for me so far. I printed out the whole thing and just went at it with a red pen and a notebook to take notes in. Most of my edits are about adding more description, rewording things, and making the sentences stronger, not so passive. Instead of "He began to make his way down her road." it should be "He stomped down her gravel road.". At least I THINK this is better.

I hope I'm right that I've decided to fix the most blaring mistakes first before starting on something like pacing. Right? RIGHT? Arg, this writing gig is tough.

How do ya'll approach editing and revising? What's your process?

Enough about that. I've been meaning to blog about this. Christina Dodd, an awesome romance writer, gave a speech a few years ago at an RWA conference. It is a super inspirational speech for writers and, really, anyone who's trying to succeed at something. Go here to hear it! My motto has seriously become "Keep walking!".

On another random subject, I've found that ever since I've taken this writing thing seriously, everything has a story hidden in it. Everywhere I look, I think, "That would make a great book." I've taken to jotting the ideas down. Does this happen to ya'll, too?

Okay, I'll stop rambling for today. Tomorrow is FRIDAY, thank goodness, which means it is FANGIRL FRIDAY! (*throws confetti and skittles*) I'll be addressing something very near and dear to my heart, so prepare yourselves and please join me for the geeky lovefest!