Happy new year everyone! Thank you for all your comments and support in the last year. Finding you all has been one of the best experiences of writing this novel.
My plans for 2009:
1. Finish the second draft of my novel
2. Brush up on English grammar/syntax/punctuation rules
3. Do a grammar/syntax/punctuation edit on my manuscript
4. Find a good editorial consultancy (preferably an Irish one) and send in my ms
5. Start the first draft of my second novel (better get an idea first!)
6. Accept the criticism from the editor with good grace without having a conniption fit first
7. Rewrite the manuscript of the first novel, taking the editor's comments into account
8. Submit final draft to agents/publishers
Just looking at that list exhausts me...
I'm hoping that these new steps will motivate me to post more, so please don't give up on me. I'll be counting on your help and support while I try to navigate this bewildering, fascinating and terrifying path that will hopefully lead to a published novel!
Saturday, January 03, 2009
2009
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21 comments:
You sound very focused and organised - brilliant stuff. I need to finish my first draft and start editing and rewriting this year, so I'll definitely be joining you on the journey.
"Conniption fit." What a great expression!
That's quite a list there, but a motivating one! We'll be here following your journey :o)
Hey Yvonne, Happy New Year to you!
Re your points:
2. Brush up on English grammar/syntax/punctuation rules
3. Do a grammar/syntax/punctuation edit on my manuscript
I'm not writing at the moment but am dead with you on points 2 and 3 (for my blog in my case). Any suggestions you have on where to find this out would be great.
Remember, there's plenty of people out there who'd be happy to give a hand, even just a review before you submit to 4 or your editor :)
Best of luck with the rest of the list!
That sounds fantastic. All the best to you. Keep in touch about all the stages...
Oh good luck with the list! Hope it goes well. I'll be following the stages.
Thanks all! I hope I can get it all done.
Darragh, I've looked into a few grammar books aimed at writers. I've found two so far that have had good reviews:
The Elements of Style by William Strunk
Write Right: A Desktop Digest of Punctuation, Grammar and Style by Jan Venolia
I'm hoping to get these books soon so I'll let you know what they're like.
All the best for 2009 and working through that list. I have one too and, so far, am not doing so well at it.
I'm with Karen; grinned at conniption fit :-)
You're going to do great this year!
Course we won't give up. We'll be cheering every step of the way.
All the best with it m'dear:-)
I am enjoying your focus too, Yvonne. With clear plans like those, success is just round the corner. All the best for 2009 to you and the Ours.
it's fascinating, watching you go through this process. i can't wait to see what happens next.
ps the elements of style is one of my favorite books of all time. it's by strunk and white, as in e.b. white, who is my favorite writer of all time.
Thanks again everyone for your lovely comments. I love blogging!
Laurie, good to hear you like Elements of Style. If you have any other favourites I'd love to hear them - as a successful editor I know you're the one in the know.
Sounds like a plan :-).
I have several books on grammar, punctuation and syntax lying around the house (curse of a previous job as a copy editor). One that's always good for giggles as well as useful content is 'Troublesome Words' by Bill Bryson. Also Usage and Abusage. But I can't remember who wrote it... 'The Penguin Guide to Punctuation' is a classic, as is 'The Complete Plain Words'. There are probably more - but those are the ones at the top of my creaky brain.
And if you need another pair of eyes, I'd be happy to help :-)
Jen, thanks for those great recommendations, especially the guide to punctuation book which is something I could do with. Thanks for your offer too, I might take you up on it!
Exhausts me reading it, too! But... if you fail to plan, and all that! Here's to a word-filled 2009!
It's great that you have such a detailed plan of action for the year. (I need to make one soon.)
I recommend 'Self-Editing for Fiction Writers' by Browne & King. It's basic, to the point, and aimed at writers.
We'll be here cheering you along!
Hi Yvonne,
stopped by through Lane, the thing with blogging is you begin to imagine what people must sound like and I put accents and voices in my head thinking that's how that person must sound, sad thing is I do that through my animals as well, do you think I need to get out more?
Frankie
I abandoned prose some years ago simply because of the enormous amount of ancillary activity that must attend its production. Poetry taxes me greatly, but I can at all times see the edges of the process. You have my unbounded admiration. Good fortune for 2009.
Ahhh...so I was passing by..and thought I'd check :)
How many did u achieve?
I'm just about finished number 3 - got engaged recently so have been planning a wedding at the same time!
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