2002 Journal Entries

12/10/2002:  Writing . . . what's that?  I probably haven't even opened up my Microsoft Word program since the last journal entry -- although I'm happy to report I finally breezed past the 300-page mark in Chapter Eighteen.  But the book is definitely on the back burner as the Christmas season heats up.

Our biggest news this week is the successful completion of the Children's Christmas musical at church on 12/8.  My two sons and I, along with my mother, all had major parts -- that required memorizing lines, song lyrics and blocking.  We all practiced intensely for about three weeks, and finally did the performance.  It was a hit!  And it was lots of fun.  We still listen to the practice tape just for the fun of it.

11/24/2002:  I'm dreaming of the day I can report in this very journal that I have a new sale!  But alas, it won't be today.  I had two writing goals this year, and one was to get this website up and running.  Mission accomplished.  The other was to sell another book.  Time is closing in on me like those rooms with the contracting walls in the old Batman and Robin movies.  And I'm stuck in the middle of the room, wondering if I'll ever get out .... er, that is, wondering if that elusive second sale will ever come!

Oh well, enough drama.  I do have a few bits of writing-related news.  I got a letter from the publisher of my one published novel, Whispers of the Heart, and they informed me two bits of exciting news -- that they'll make a hardcover version of the book available for those customers who want it!  And that the book is now available with European book distributors for those customers overseas who want to order it.  I don't have too many hopes of anyone in jolly old England actually seeking out my little book, but you just never know.

I did some substantial work on Chapter 17 today, finishing about 11 pages.  And guess what -- I ended on page 299!  I'll have to wait just one more writing session to plow past another 100-page mark.

11/8/2002:  Keeper By Surprise.  That's the working title of my Keith book.  I started brainstorming about the title and started out with the obvious but mundane description of Unexpected Guardian.  Then I pulled out the Thesaurus and looked for synonyms of both those words.  I had all kinds of options, but I think I like Keeper by Surprise the best.  So that's what I'll go with for now.

And I finished Chapter 16!  On to 17, and the end is in sight.  Seventeen will take me beyond page 300 and that's a definite milestone for me.  If I had to guess at this point, I'd say the finished manuscript will be 375 pages, and that's probably stretching it.  But that's a good length -- not too long, not too short, and if a publisher shows interest, I can always go back and add 10 pages or so later.

11/2/2002:  Wow, it's been awhile since I wrote in this journal.  Unfortunately, I don't have much to report on.  My productive progress on this novel ended temporarily as life became much too busy for me to fit in much writing at all for a few weeks.  Work became insane, causing me to have to spend extra hours there, the boys are starting up sports again, and then there was Halloween. 

But I'm happy to report that today I was able to finish up Chapter 15, and I may even start Chapter 16 yet today.  Poor Dana (Keith's sister) was stuck wandering the streets of Philadelphia at night, waiting for Keith to come rescue her (the suspenseful part in this story), and here I was, unable to finish writing her scene!

Still hoping for word of a sale from my agent, either of Momentary Lapse or Legacy of Lies, preferably before the year is out, to achieve one of my writing goals for 2002.  But writers are definitely practiced "waiters", since nothing happens quickly in this business.

10/12/2002:  Not too much new to report in my writing world, other than I'm still cranking out the pages.  I'm about to start Chapter 15, which starts on page 250.  The story is coming fast and furious, which for me, is a wonderful time to be working on a story.  It doesn't always flow this easily.  I'm starting to stress a little over not having a title, but that'll come in time -- it always does.

I just got back from school clothes shopping for my two boys.  That's always a fun time of year.  Time to pack away the shorts and short-sleeved shirts and pull out the jeans and toasty sweatshirts.  We've been enjoying an Indian summer, but I believe that's about over.

9/30/2002:  Yippee!  I've moved past the 200-page mark.  I'm more than halfway done with my Keith book (still no title).

I conducted an experiment this weekend.  I wanted to know if I were a full-time author, with no other distractions, how fast could I write?  So I started Saturday morning and told my family that I was going to be doing a lot of writing this weekend -- trying to set the expectation that I wouldn't be available for all the dozens of mini-dramas that tend to require a mother's attention. 

I ended up writing about 4 hours Saturday morning-- then had to lend my expertise in picking out a piece of furniture we've been looking for, a task that ended up taking all afternoon.  Wrote another hour Saturday night.  Sunday was a busy day full of church in the morning and a cookout in the evening, but I did manage to write about three hours, too.  Today, I took a day off from work and ended up writing about three hours, amidst a dentist appointment, an oil change and a soap opera.

So, how much did I "crank?"  (Drumroll, please...)  Two and a half chapters!  A total of 43 pages.  All writers write at a different rate, and although I know I'm not among the fastest, I'm probably not among the slowest, either.  It was fun to put so much attention to the book, and I feel like I'm really moving ahead on it.  But back to real life.  I need to go pick up my kids from school, make dinner, and return to my hectic life as a Systems Manager tomorrow, scraping to find an hour to escape to my guest bedroom in the evening and play in my make believe world.

9/25/2002:  This week I've been taking an online workshop called, "Help!  My Plot is Drowning!  Somebody Throw Me a ... Spreadsheet?" led by St. Martin's Press author Beverly Brandt.  As I mentioned before, plotting is definitely a weakness for me, and I've learned this new method using a spreadsheet and plot points to help keep the ideas coming and yourself organized.  It's been very useful.

I'm almost finished with Chapter 9, ready to start 10.  My problem now is I have the inspiration and the desire to write, but not the time, since I'm swamped at work at the moment, too.  Such is the life of a writer with a demanding day job!

9/21/2002:  Plotting ahead the next few chapters has helped me be pretty productive this week.  In a week's time, I've revised Chapter 7, written Chapter 8 and started Chapter 9.  I always breathe a little sigh of relief when I hit my hundred-page increments.  One hundred pages means it's taking form -- it's more than just a whim.  Two hundred means I'm committed -- I couldn't quit now even if I wanted to.  Three hundred means the end's in sight.  Right now I'm at 160.

I've joined a workout club, and I'm trying to enjoy the process of making my body healthier and stronger.  So far, it's been really fun going to the club, going through my workout circuit and chatting with the other ladies there.  Unfortunately, I love eating way too much to not exercise!  So keep your fingers crossed for me that I keep it up.

9/15/2002:  This week I've been trying to plot out the rest of my Keith book (still can't think of a title, but I'm trying to have no fear -- the title usually comes to me in a blaze of glory when the time is right.  Hmmm, Blaze of Glory -- now that's a good title, but unfortunately not for this book!).   Plotting is one of my biggest weaknesses as a writer.  I know, how can you have a book without a plot?  I think most writers find themselves better at either plot or characterization, and I'm definitely a character writer.  When I get an idea for a book, it's always the characters who come to me in their finished form -- then I need to go through the agonizing work of finding something interesting for them to do for 400 pages.

I went to a huge writer's conference in July and after listening to many best-selling authors speak about their process, it hit home that there is no one way to write a book.  Some authors never write a word till they have a detailed outline for the whole book.  Others just start writing without a clue as to what's going to happen to whom.  I'm somewhere in the middle.  I know my characters ahead of time and a brief premise, and I start writing.  About 5 chapters in, I have to brainstorm about what's going to happen.

Hey, remember that critique group I mentioned in my last journal entry?  We have a website now, so check it out!

9/6/2002:  Writers definitely need thick skins to share their work with the world.  Most writers will receive dozens (if not hundreds) of rejection letters from agents and editors in their career.  In the last two years, I've received 23 myself!  It took me 13 tries to find an agent who was supportive and optimistic about my work, and even then, 11 publishers have rejected my book, Momentary Lapse.  With rejections coming in at that rate, you really have to love and believe in what you're doing to keep at it.

This week I attended my monthly critique group.  This close-knit and supportive group of writers are all committed not only to their own writing goals, but to helping guide the careers of their fellow writers.  We celebrate when one of us makes a sale.  We attend writing conferences together, and we appear publicly together, for booksignings, writer's workshops and the like.  

I brought five pages of my most recent work to the meeting, and the group gave me feedback that Keith is just too nice!  He's too "feminine" in his approach to life and I need to roughen him up a little more.  Although it's difficult to hear that not everything that pours out of my fingers onto the keyboard is absolutely perfect the first time <<big laugh here>>, it's important for writers to consider the feedback and decide if they agree that when the changes are implemented, it will improve the story.  The story is, ultimately, the author's baby, and she must only make changes that she's comfortable with.  But running a piece by an audience while it's still in the production stage is a great way to get back on the right track if you've somehow strayed off-course.  Thanks to my bunch of fellow writers who provide suggestions to keep me on target!

8/31/2002:  I finished updating my website!  I'm pretty happy with the new pages and it was fun doing it myself.  Thanks to Jesse Petersen for her help in teaching me Frontpage.   

In writing news, I've been working all summer on a new book (untitled, as of yet) about a young man named Keith Hanson.  Keith is a college student and his main pursuit in life is getting the woman of his dreams, Carly, to trust him enough to sleep with him.  Suddenly, an unexpected phone call shatters life as he know it.  His aunt calls with news that his parents were in a car accident, and both perish.  At the reading of the will, Keith learns that he is now the guardian of his three siblings -- seven-year-old twins, Leo and Linda, and his teenaged sister, Dana.  How his life changes, and hopefully, how he emerges triumphant, is what my story will explore.  I'm currently on Chapter 7, about 125 pages in.

Email Laurie.
Copyright© 2000 Laurie Larsen.  All rights reserved.