Tuesday, January 8, 2008

The work begins - and some enlightening entertainment



And so, the work begins, and what do I do, I venture to my blog. Tsk.

After a couple of days of procrastination, mostly as a result of "Oh. My. God! Where do I start?!", and another day of quietly shifting through the comments to my manuscript from my critique partners, I am now ready to settle down and begin work in earnest. The task, I think, will be less daunting that I first feared, and although I've never been terribly keen on editing, I have to say I'm suddenly very excited about making this story the best I possibly can. It helps that I like that story and that those who've read it feel the same. So the motivation is there, the energy is ready to tackle the job in hand and it's time to be focussed.

As I said in the previous post, this means blogging will become sporadic as I become more than a trifle goal directed - but needs must. I'll see you when I see you - I'll try to visit as time allows and I'll post when I can.

Good luck with all the things you're doing - I hope success and happiness flow hand in hand for you! Know that I hold you all in my heart and thoughts.

The attached shots were taken on a recent day out in the country and there's also a little something which I hope will amuse and enlighten! :-) Have a wonderful week!




In the words of Swami Beyondananda, that wise guru...



41 comments:

Mellifluous Dark said...

Good luck with it, Vanilla. Editing can be tricky but also therapeutic. Scythe and hone, scythe and hone, wise lady.

Rambler said...

hey wishing you all the best with the editing, I know it can be very tedious.
Hoping to see more of you over the blogosphere

Reya Mellicker said...

Love the first pic - the mountains and clouds in the distance ... wow!!

Much energy and love headed in your direction as you dive into your manuscript. Bravo!!

strugglingwriter said...

Good luck to you with the work on the manuscript. I hope to someday be at that point with mine (you know, after I finish a draft!)

Emperor Ropi said...

Good luck, I am good at time management.

Dave said...

I really love that landscape photo of those mountains. Be good and see you around as you drop in.

Take care! :-)

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Is Swami running for president, btw?

just kidding.

Your work will come easily soon, just after you start work on one little piece of it, and then another, and then another and then when you stand back and look at it, your finished product will be polished and coming along very well.

Best of luck with it!
Will miss you while you are busy.

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Absolute Vanilla (& Atyllah) said...

Thanks, Mellifluous - a lot of the scything has already happened in the first edit, now it's time for honing, it seems.

Thanks, Rambler, the support is much appreciated - like the new avatar!

Thanks, Reya. All support gratefully accepted and appreciated :-)

LOL. Yep, getting the first draft finished is just the first part of the challenge, SW :-)

Thanks, Ropi - and yes, I figured you were probably good at time management, you seem like a disciplined person.

Thanks, Dave - you take care too! :-)

I hope so, Scarlett ;-)
Well, I've made a decent start to it and it's all pulling together - so I remain optimistic and encouraged. Thanks for all the support, always.

Verilion said...

Hi Vanilla, I've just caught up with all your posts that I missed while I was away. Good luck with the edit. I'm sure you'll do a great job.

Baino said...

The way I see, it . . it's like ironing. Takes forever to get motivated but once that board is up and the iron plugged in, it's time to just get on with it and it's never quite the drudge you think its going to be. Frankly, I prefer editing to writing . . the hard work's just about done! Good luck my friend! Catch you when you can!

*~*{Sameera}*~* said...

Hope to see your work published soon,my future JKR :)

Hmmm nice pics as usual,you really are promoting SA tourism,are you not?!

Take care dearie.Love & hugs!

Jon M said...

I'm upwised...does this mean that I can't eat that big chunk of stilton cheese that is still lurking in my fridge?

Rob said...

Good luck with your edit. It's good that you're starting off enthusiastically.

Love that first photo. Great angle.

Absolute Vanilla (& Atyllah) said...

Hey, V, great to see you back - hope you had a fab trip. And thanks for the support!

You're absolutely spot on, Baino - just like ironing. But I got a good start yesterday and am feeling very positive about it all.

Aw, you're such a sweetie, Sameera! Thanks!

That chunk of Stilton playing hide and seek in your fridge might cause yet further upwising Jon, but perhaps in a different way! ;-)

Thanks on both counts, Rob! ;-)

Taffiny said...

shift happens. :)

walking through fields of lavender.

good luck, and fine focus, on your goal.
(editing sounds tedious, but moving closer to your goal, to fully realizing your story, sounds very exciting!)

Bonnie Jacobs said...

You asked for a reminder:
http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/2007/12/day-to-read.html

So here it is:
http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/2008/01/but-first-story-from-our-sponsor.html

Happy reading, even if you can't spend much time at it!

Bonnie Jacobs said...

I'm back to say I've found another place to spread the Upwising:
http://greeningtheblueplanet.blogspot.com/2008/01/upwising-begins.html

Le laquet said...

Best of luck and much willpower not blog instead coming your way petal!

Kat said...

Soldier on AV! I'd rather be flogged than do my own editing, but it sounds like you're heading out with a positive attitude and that rocks.

Deana said...

Good luck with you edits, yes I know what a chore it is. I'll send you some virtual fairydust for extra energy! And I look forward to seeing you here when you do have time to play!

Absolute Vanilla (& Atyllah) said...

Indeed, shift does happen, Taffiny ;-) I used to dread editing but I find each time I do it, it becomes a better sort of process and I now find it quite exciting.

Thanks for the reminder, Bonnie - I'll try to read something even if it's not a lot - it might make a nice break from the editing!

And I'll check out that other link too, thanks!

Thanks, Laquet, you're a sweetie. Hope you're doing okay? xxx

As I said to Taffiny, Kat, I used to hate editing, but increasingly I find myself enjoying it. So it's not too bad at all and is going quite smoothly - so far! ;-)

Thanks for the fairydust, Deana - and for the support and encouragement - much appreciated!

Emperor Ropi said...

thanks the compliment

nonny said...

Good luck with it. Take Care!

nonny said...

Good luck with it. Take Care!

booklady said...

Good luck with the revisions! Taking so much time to think them through should help.

Absolute Vanilla (& Atyllah) said...

My pleasure, Ropi!

Thanks, Nonny

Thanks, Booklady - it's all about a concentrated push forward! ;-)

Vesper said...

Good luck, Vanilla!
Just do it! :-)

Very nice pictures...

kimy said...

I always find myself engaging in a bit of procrastinating when I start up a new project, but then I get in a groove and things do get easier.

edit on!! and best of luck with it....lovely pics. xxxx

Debi said...

Ah now. I love the editing, when you've got the basic structure and now have to do the polishing and perfecting ...

Hope it gives you lots of joy!

Absolute Vanilla (& Atyllah) said...

Thanks and thanks, Vesper ;-)

I think a bit of procrastinating at the start of a project is normal, isn't it, Kimy - it's when the procrastinating happens all over the middle of a project that you know you're getting yourself in trouble! ;-)
xxx

I am enjoying it, Debi, thanks - but for me the first passion is always the writing - it's a total adventure! :-)

Marie said...

Good luck, Vanilla.

witnessing am i said...

Please don't read this comment. This comment is nothing but blah compliment blah good wishes blah. Work on that manuscript, buckle down and clean and edit and spruce.

We shall be here upon your return with more blah compliments blah good wishes and more blah.

Sam said...

Editing advice from a great editoc - "when in doubt, leave it out" !
Good luck!!

kimy said...

you make my day. there's something for you at the mouse.

Seraphine said...

Critique partners? You mean the complainers that find fault with every freaking thing and make me feel two inches tall? Those guys?

If I edited my life for everyone else, I wouldn't have any characters left.

steph said...

AV

To my shame, I've only checked you out today and now I find you missing in action :-(

I look forward to seeing you back on the beat. Good luck with the editing and thanks for all your 'upwising'.

btw That pic is truly amazing. Definitely a winner!

Wilf said...

Keep at it, Atyllah. Courage, mon brave!
A

Absolute Vanilla (& Atyllah) said...

Thanks, Marie, it's going really well and I'm feeling very upbeat about it all!

Aw, thanks, Witnessing - I'm still here and busy, just not overly active in the good old blogosphere :-)

Yep, that, very good advice, Sam, I did a fair whack of slashing on the first edit, now it's honing and polishing :-)

Aw, gee, thanks, Kimy - you're such a sweetie! You make my day too! :-)

Sounds like you must have had some nasty critique partners, Seraphine - happily my partners have been really constructive in their comments - and those comments I don't agree with, well them I just ignore :-) My crit partners have been really brilliant and working with them on their own stuff, as well as mine, has really helped me hone my writing.

No, not really missing in action, Steph, just a bit low key.
So glad you liked the pic! :-)

Thanks, Addy - it's going well and with it going well, it's also encouraging me to get it finished so I can get back to my new manuscript! :-)

A.Decker said...

Alwite! :-D Love both pics. Good luck, and come when you can! ;-)

Shameless said...

Goodd lucck. zith, your, edditing AV! :-)

mystic rose said...

that was quite humorous!

Good luck vanilla, dont worry about reading or returning our visits. I hope you are working with complete focus and you reach your goals for the year! Pray that your find happiness and joy and peace this year.