Back from the joys of Rotorua. Was lovely actually – the highlight being the spa in the motel (sadly heated by gas and not by hot volcanic rocks) and a night time visit to a wildlife park where we saw a kiwi. You’d think, being an NZ’er, I would have seen tonnes and tonnes of kiwis just running around wild right? Not so. I have seen them of course but only in zoos. They are nocturnal and keep away from humans so to see one in their natural habitat without any glass or bars was kind of cool.
Anyway, one of the other highlights was figuring out my hero’s internal conflict! Yay! Admittedly it was really my husband’s idea, so full credit to him. He’s a psychiatrist you see and this can be very useful when it comes to figuring out conflict and motivations. In the end it wasn’t that hard though – again, I have been over-complicating it (me? over complicate? Never!) and adding too much other stuff. I think I have a tendency to do this as I’m peeling away the layers of his character – I’m giving the wretched man too many layers in other words! Either that or the focus isn’t as sharp as it should be. Whatever the case, his dead mother is the key. Now all I have to do is avoid any pesky Oedipus complexes… 🙂
So, my mission this week is to continue editing the WIP and then, once I’ve pulled all the strands together, finish it. Which will then let me start writing my bright, new, shiny idea. Luckily with the new idea, all conflicts have been sorted and are ready to fly.
As to the partial – four weeks tomorrow. Not that I’m counting or anything. 🙂
What’s everyone else up to?
Hi Jackie. Sounds like the weekend away was just what you needed. Great news about your hero’s conflict.
I’ve been powering through my ms, but in a not so orthodox way. Random scenes have been popping into my mind, so I have been frantically getting them down. My mission this week is to link them all together so by the end of the week I should have a three quarters finished ms – then the fun of polishing begins!
Yeah, it was nice to get away. Sounds like great news re your ms. Nothing wrong with writing down scenes as they occur to you. I do that myself.
Can I borrow your psychiatrist??
HA HA!
Yes, well, at least I amuse myself 😉
I’m off to a verrry slow start with both of my WIPs. Each word is being ripped out of me and it’s neither pleasant nor fun and I can’t really work out what the problem is? Perhaps there’s something in the water??? Perhaps I’ve followed in your footsteps and made it so complicated my brain is hemorrhaging??
So disappointing about that gas heat…
Sure, I can hire out the hubby. For a fee… 😉
Yep, I know the feeling re the wips. Like wading through mud huh? Could re-reading it help?
The gas heat was disappointing. But on the up side, no smell! 🙂
Glad you had a good break. Well done on getting the hero conflict sorted (and double well done on choosing such a useful hubby).
What am I doing? Well, what am I not doing would probably be easier to answer…in that I’m not doing my re-write. Am really starting to panic now – all I write is utter tosh…and there’s only four weeks left before the RNA deadline. Aaargh.
As for the four weeks – NTAI, Jackie (look at me quoting your own good idea back at you) and you’re doing the right thing by keeping up with your work in the meantime.
X
It sounds like you had a great time. And no kiwis in your backyard…I am so surprised as I was going to swap you a kiwi for one of my kangaroos.
It is a good feeling when you get the conflict sorted….apparently. I am moving ahead very slowly on my manuscript. Due to my new job I have limited hours, but becaue of those limited hours, I am really enoying the time when I do get to write.
Look forward to hearing about your new manuscript
Yeah, I know Suzanne, NTAI. 😉 I’m hopeless at taking my own advice.
Good luck with the RNA stuff. Give yourself a couple of days and then re-read – I guarantee it won’t be as much tosh as you think it is.
Are you sure you don’t want a Kiwi Felicity? What with the sheep and everything, we could sure afford to lose a couple. 😉
Great news re your MS. Enjoying writing it is the main thing eh?
Great getaway Jackie, I’m so jealous. I did have my own spot in NZ picked out but life got in the way. It’s still a dream of mine though …
Yay on getting the conflict sorted. I’ve been doing masses of preparation before starting to write lately but it seems to be stilting my writing. It takes forever for the words to go on the page 🙁
I’ve been naughtily working on idea for the MH competition instead of editing/polishing ms for the NWS. *smacks hand*
Nothing wrong with thinking about a new MH idea, Joanne. You’ve got plenty of time anyway. 🙂
So glad you’ve got your conflict sorted Jackie!!!
As to what I’m doing?! Writing… very, very slowly! And still WAITING right alongside ya 🙂
Rach!! Argh with the waiting! If it’s been two weeks, email them again.