The timeline of writing my book:
July 2009- May 2011: Wrote what I thought was my book (but what was actually just a shitty first draft).
May 2011- October 2011: Wasted a lot of time editing passages I would end up deleting (“polishing doorknobs to empty rooms,” as one writer calls it).
October 2011– January 2012: Embarrassed myself by querying agents with shitty first draft.
January 2012– December 2012: Forgot about my book. Left the manuscript under my bed for cats to chew up. Got a day job. Blogged more.
December 2012: E-mailed Nic, a blogger my age who was also writing a book, to ask if he wanted to be critique partners. Held my breath, clutched my boobs, and pressed send. He said yes!
January 2013– May 2013: Exchanged weekly chapter critiques with Nic. Completed first revision of my book this way.
Memorial Day 2013: Got to meet Nic while in New York. Got drunk and ate cheesecake and talked about writing for four hours.
Memorial Day 2013– present: RE-REVISING THIS BOOK HAS EFFECTIVELY TAKEN OVER EVERY WAKING HOUR OF MY LIFE.
Meeting Nic was a huge turning point for me. I got super emotional after he dropped me off that night, and not just because I was drunk and full of cheesecake.
It seems unbelievable, but in 26.75 years of my life, Memorial Day was the first time I got to have a real conversation about writing with somebody who gets it. Friends and family have always been supportive, of course. They read my blog and ask about my book and listen as I explain agents and suggest that I self-publish because that one self-published book was successful that one time.
But Nic and I got to talk about memory and fear and the line between truth and fiction. We got to talk about the memoirs that were our gateway into this world and how we realized our calling. We talked about the experience of being fully exposed and what it will feel like if our ex-boyfriends read our books. We talked about what it’s like to be re-living the past all the time when nobody else is.
I hadn’t realized that connecting with a like-minded writer had been the missing piece all along. Writing is such a solitary pleasure. It adds up to a lot of time spent in one’s own brain. I wasn’t aware of the toll it had taken on me to have to experience/enjoy/obsess over my favorite thing all by myself.
And now that I don’t feel alone in it anymore, I am overflowing with writerly momentum. We both are. We are hard at work re-revising, with hopes of re-querying within the next few months.
My doodles from our last two phone conversations are accurately indicative of my excitement:
(Sidenote: I feel the need to point out that Nic is gay, which I only feel the need to point out because when I told a co-worker about our critiques, his first reaction was: “Sounds like an affair waiting to happen!” I thought that was a strange response. Now I’m always paranoid that people will think I’m having an affair. I’m not. Carry on).
This is why I recently suggested attending conference in order to have the ability to interact with like-minded people!
❤
PS (I still get to edit, right?)
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*attending A conference,
So, about that editing gig…
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This is great. I think sometimes it takes time. I started writing my novel in May, and am at a point where I just can’t even look at it. I’m hopeful I’ll revisit it sometime soon.. i just need a little inspiration.
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This is so great! It’s so helpful to have someone who “gets” you and to keep each other on track. yay. And thanks for the affair disclaimer lol
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Love it! Glad you have Nic … and I just checked out his blog and wanted to follow … win-win 🙂
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You can download a prroagm called Audacity , it’s freeware, allows you to change the pitch of anything, and allows you morph it in anyway possible, hope this is useful for you (Y)
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My name is Kathy Bernet and I never received my March issue of Light Spinner. Can you check to see if it’s been maelid out? My home address is 707 E. Spring Drive, Ozark, MO 65721
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Writing is always such a difficult (and lonely) task. Great you found a writing buddy that “gets it” and hope to see your literary masterpiece soon!
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16aec351ebHey would you mind sharing which blog poltfarm you’re using? I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask! 185
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Yes, it’s called “The Bueno Theme.” It’s free. I just started using it this week and I agree, it’s nice to have something unique. Hope that helps!
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Angela!It was so great to meet you in NYC!I think watching elxmpaes of pure possibility is always a good reminder that we can be more than we appear to be at times :)I appreciate you coming to the site and commenting!BIG HUG!-Bernardo
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core Cool…or a big nerd. You decide. A big reedar, even though I haven’t read many classics A big-mouthed scaredy cat who puts on a good show A feminist who’s not afraid to say
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Just so you know, I totes clutch my boobs EVERY time I press send in an email.
Also, connecting with other writers on the type of level that you and Nic have is so ultra important because nobody knows what the process is truly like unless you’ve gone through or are currently going through it. Everyone thinks it’s oh-so-easy. #Not.
I’m wishing you ALL of the luck in the world on your MS!!
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Starting my day with grateful tears thkans to your blog and this video, Bernardo. I have seen another clip of Nic and he is amazing. I love his approach to life so full of joy and optimism and the very life force itself not paying any attention to what he doesn\’t have, only do what he does have and more importantly what he can give. There is no guilt or shame in his presentation no making people feel badly that they were wallowing when someone like him has so much more to wallow about. The way he talks to people is all about just being who you are fully and without reproach or comparison. Because you can\’t compare one life to another, you can only live the life you have. Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing.
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Good to see a talent at work. I can’t match that.
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If only there were more clever people like you!
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The insured and household members who live in the same home. While at the same time the medicine pay part of the policy will pay for the treatment of your traumas, up to the extent of coverage, therefore, if QuotesChimp run a red light and cause an injury, your insurance will shield you against the monetary outcomes of your carelessness.
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