tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post2099690632691801011..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: Why You Need to Step Away from Your ManuscriptStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-60107842874407810332017-12-04T19:37:47.953-06:002017-12-04T19:37:47.953-06:00I totally understand. I'm the same way.I totally understand. I'm the same way. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-32164181517637815032017-12-04T15:50:43.500-06:002017-12-04T15:50:43.500-06:00I recently looked at my project from last year'...I recently looked at my project from last year's NaNoWriMo, which I abandoned shortly afterward, and discovered that it wasn't that bad after all. This blog post really speaks to me, because I usually get disenchanted with what I'm working on, and looking back it's just because I didn't take a break from it.VioletKiranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1698321082959422832017-12-02T19:16:27.006-06:002017-12-02T19:16:27.006-06:00Absolutely! Our writing teaching us a lot about ou...Absolutely! Our writing teaching us a lot about ourselves. I wish you luck as you edit your baby.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-37296155703786529962017-12-02T19:15:50.821-06:002017-12-02T19:15:50.821-06:00Yes, exactly! Congrats on hitting your goal!Yes, exactly! Congrats on hitting your goal!Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-40557248706986317212017-12-01T19:00:37.942-06:002017-12-01T19:00:37.942-06:00Thank you for these tips! I am making my way slowl...Thank you for these tips! I am making my way slowly but surely through my first draft, and I am already thinking about how to edit it, since I have never finished a first draft before and I am very new to the whole editing novels thing. I wrote 9000 words for NaNo this year (I did the young writers' program) and although the reason I chose a goal that is so easy for me is that I knew that I had a lot going on and I would not have much time. However, I did not write for several days in the middle of November, and after that, I had to write a lot of words after that. It was a good lesson that I can write more than I think I can.<br /><br />~MilaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-82081142426564549542017-12-01T17:40:45.407-06:002017-12-01T17:40:45.407-06:00Lovely post! I did participate in NaNo--sort of--b...Lovely post! I did participate in NaNo--sort of--but made my own goal of 25,000 instead of the full 50. <br /><br />And I've definitely had that happen, where I've had to walk away from a manuscript to know how to fix it. It was several months before I cam back, but everything came together SO MUCH EASIER once I did, and it was actually <i>fun</i> again, whereas before I was almost sick of it.<br /><br />Great tips! Thanks for them!<br /><br /><br />Alexa<br />thessalexa.blogspot.com<br />verbosityreviews.comAlexa Mintahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865586987033390255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-34883926203429778442017-12-01T17:34:04.705-06:002017-12-01T17:34:04.705-06:00My advice is to make yourself a large cup of cocoa...My advice is to make yourself a large cup of cocoa and open that baby. Maybe do it when you have some time to just sit and read. Take some time to read the beginning and maybe your favorite parts and then be honest about what's on the page. All first drafts are messy, I promise. But you might find a few golden nuggets and surprise yourself. It's all part of the process, friend. No shame either way. You're growing every time you write. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-65638115755908389332017-12-01T17:20:59.986-06:002017-12-01T17:20:59.986-06:00I NaNo'd for camp in July and... I haven't...I NaNo'd for camp in July and... I haven't touched the doc since. I get what you're talking about because I've done it with other projects, but with Belles I have the opposite problem. I know it's bad so I'm afraid to touch it. I spent a month on it and now I don't want to look back and realize that the time was wasted. Any advice?<br /><br />-novelistinthedarkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-44519141289820097042017-12-01T13:58:03.341-06:002017-12-01T13:58:03.341-06:00Hooray! So happy to be helpful! Hooray! So happy to be helpful! Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-37158594943839708972017-12-01T13:57:26.508-06:002017-12-01T13:57:26.508-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-47427082666373894792017-12-01T13:44:38.954-06:002017-12-01T13:44:38.954-06:00I didn't do NaNo this year, but this advice is...I didn't do NaNo this year, but this advice is THE MOST HELPFUL. I find that all of these are true for me ... if I try to edit when I'm too close to my work, it's exhausting and unproductive and so not worth it! Space is a gift in more ways than one! Thanks for this :)Olivia Smithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248659353869417682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-47470217219389207072017-12-01T13:11:45.186-06:002017-12-01T13:11:45.186-06:00Have you read the book Jill and Steph wrote called...Have you read the book Jill and Steph wrote called Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft Into a Published Book? It's the absolute best resource for rewriting. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-46102379697008109812017-12-01T12:30:54.181-06:002017-12-01T12:30:54.181-06:00I was wondering if you could recommend a good book...I was wondering if you could recommend a good book on rewriting. I have a book I finished a long time ago. I keep coming back and trying to rewrite it, but I don't quite know what I am doing or how to implement the changes I know need to be made. Mostly, I am just daunted by how work I know the book needs. So do you know of a book that could help me with that?pgacnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01868397677690901418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-15844139561233677262017-12-01T11:55:00.141-06:002017-12-01T11:55:00.141-06:00That's just real, friend. This life is all abo...That's just real, friend. This life is all about trial and error. Giving one tool a try and then putting it down to give another one a go. It's a very good way to learn who you are and how you write. Wishing you the best.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-24823364747783312212017-12-01T11:54:06.328-06:002017-12-01T11:54:06.328-06:00Yes! Contracted projects come with their own hurdl...Yes! Contracted projects come with their own hurdles. Timing is always one of them. Any time off is time well spent, honestly. If you can sacrifice two weeks, you'll be better for it. Even a week can add a little gleam to your eyes.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-88827469427437907702017-12-01T11:35:18.357-06:002017-12-01T11:35:18.357-06:00Love love this post, Shan! Your reasons/suggestion...Love love this post, Shan! Your reasons/suggestions are SPOT ON. Alas, though, my book IS contracted and the MS is due for editing in February...and I already know the beginning needs re-working. Realistically, though, how much time should I take off from it before I edit?Taylor Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12317086617310384385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-76362416796535619642017-12-01T09:04:51.975-06:002017-12-01T09:04:51.975-06:00I didn't have the chance to participate in NaN...I didn't have the chance to participate in NaNo, but I have (what I thought was finished, I've wound up adding a new plot line and increasing the story so my 'end' is now in the middle) finished a first draft and stepped away. It really helped, but I'm also experimenting now with not doing it in drafts, editing as I go. I still haven't decided which is better for me. Maggienoreply@blogger.com