Another new kid on the block

DixieChic · May 7, 2005

Hello all!

I've been lurking around for a couple of days and thought I would venture into the "posting new thread" frontier and say hi!

I'm a magazine editor struggling to finish a first novel. My biggest problem is I get six chapters in and then decide to rewrite the whole thing from page 1. After five years, page 1 is pretty solid, but as for the rest of it . . .

Anyway, it's great to find a place with so many talented and enthusiastic voices. Writing is a lonely pursuit sometimes, and it's nice to find such a diverse supportive community.

DixieChic

Arkie · May 7, 2005

I believe the general consenus is that you are only writing the first draft anyway, so get it all down in as much detail as possible, then do the rewrite.

MacAllister · May 7, 2005

Hey--I spend ten years perfecting the first 40 pages of mine, too, Dixie--Arky is absolutely right: turn off the OCD-editor-voice inside your brain, and forge ahead!

Welcome to the cooler.

awatkins · May 7, 2005

Welcome, Dixie! :hi:

(from an Alabama Dixie Chick

)

chelle21 · May 7, 2005

Dixie Welcome Aboard AW!

Dear Dixie:

Welcome aboard AW I'm glad you're decided to stick around AW is a wonderful place to be if you're a writer or just here asking for help. Stop on by to the other boards in post we're welcome to have you at AW.

Chelle21:

Liam Jackson · May 7, 2005

Welcome to Sanctuary. (Or the asylum) Glad you've joined us.

DixieChic · May 7, 2005

Thanks so much for the warm welcome! And for the great advice . . . my commitment for this week is to write NEW STUFF every day, instead of rewriting the same chapters again and again.

I warn you -- I am weak. The temptation to go back is strong . . . I may be in serious need of moral support before the end of the week!

jdkiggins · May 7, 2005

Dixie.

sharon · May 8, 2005

DixieChic! Glad you're here!

aka eraser · May 8, 2005

Hi Dixie, glad you joined us.

Dunno if my own rule of review will help or not but I only allow myself to review the previous day's work when I sit down the next day. This serves to put me in the right frame of mind, though I do sometimes make a tweak or two to the previous day's stuff. Then it's onward.

Good luck.

CaoPaux · May 9, 2005

Welcome, DixieChic! :Sun:

Wendy J · May 10, 2005

Howdy Dixie! It's great to have you here at the water cooler!

Renee · May 10, 2005

Hi there Dixie Chic

DixieChic said:
I'm a magazine editor struggling to finish a first novel. My biggest problem is I get six chapters in and then decide to rewrite the whole thing from page 1. After five years, page 1 is pretty solid, but as for the rest of it . . . DixieChic

Welcome to the Cooler, DixieChic. I wish I was an editor because when I write I do the same thing that you do. I rewrite my chapters over and over until I get it as perfect as I (typically it's way from perfect hehe) can. So a lot of times it's hard to be able to continue and/or finish because I spent so much time rewriting that I somewhat get dulled from it. With my newest book I wrote it straight through, trying to prove to myself that I could finish something aside from my poetry collections. So far this is working for me!

Recently I read an article in Poet's and Writer's and they were talking about (inteviewing) three high profile editors and only one of them admitted to just writing straight through on her book, without perfecting it all. Your post made me think about it!

Anyway, being an editor you have an advantage!

And you'll find lots of inspiration here, and people you can relate to!

Welcome again!

Renee Bagley

Renee · May 10, 2005

WendyJ- are you ashamed? hehe

WendyJ -- (Sorry ya'll about hijacking this thread) Your signature line makes me light a cigarette up everytime, you're a bad influence (not) on me.

Just 'cause I'm on this strict diet and won't allow myself pleasures such as CHOCOLATE! Yuuuuuummm! I mean uk! See now the cigs and choco talk has got me all crazy. LOL

SeanDSchaffer · May 11, 2005

Welcome to AW, Dixie! It's nice to have you here.

:welcome:

Another new kid on the block

DixieChic

Arkie

a reader's ear and a writer's heart

MacAllister

Tired and worried.

awatkins

Not harboring illegal parrot

chelle21

Liam Jackson

Heathen Horde Elder

DixieChic

jdkiggins

Troubled-Talks with animals.

sharon

aka eraser

Fish Whisperer

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless

Wendy J

Life Is Like A Box Of Choc.

Renee

Renee

SeanDSchaffer