A Novel is Like an Onion

It has layers.

(Yes, I liked Shrek.)

I think that layers add depth and reality to a novel. I think they make the characters and the worlds and the situations more believable.

I don't think that layers are necessarily the sub-plots, though I think they can be.

When you write, do you consciously include layers? Or do the layers develop from the development of the story and the characters?

Are your layers subtle? Do you think the reader notices them? Or do they blend so well that the result is a life and vibrancy to your work that makes it seem real?

The Day After

Yesterday, I discovered the answer to one of the most important (and to that point, elusive) questions in my development as a writer.

How do you know when it's good enough?

Nothing is ever perfect. And, when I asked how did other writers knew when a piece was good enough, I didn't mean at what point did they stop and say, okay that's the best I can do, or just accept something inherently flawed.

To me, the question meant, how did they know, in their heart of hearts, when it was time to allow a piece of work the freedom to fly or fall.

It seemed so easy for everyone else.

Everybody always said, "You'll know."

You know what? They were right.

And, it inspires in me a sense of completion...completion of the process of writing, completion of emotion involved in a particular piece of fiction, completion of the knowledge that some day, the time would be right for me.

And, the time will be right again. I know it now because the fact that it has come once gives me the courage to complete the journey and know that I do have the ability to continue to grow and learn and develop as a writer.

And that is all I ever really wanted. The power to be able to believe in myself.

And, for once, the curse of being a perfectionist made me feel good about myself instead of making me feel like I'd never succeed.

Looking Back on January

Wow. First month of the new year down the drain.

It was a good month for me as far as writing goes. I can't complain.

My goals were simple:

Write 2,200 words/day (68,200 total)

Finish one novel -- Out of the Darkness

One crit/review for each of the four groups I belong to.

I think that was it. Maybe there was an editing aspect. I don't remember.

I hit two of the goals:

Word count for January was 94,042, so I beat that goal by 25,842 words.

I finished Beyond the Darkness.

I missed one goal:

I did not manage one crit/review for each of the four groups I belong to.

However, I did manage 6 reviews for OWW.

I went above and beyond my goals in some areas:

Edited/Revised the short story Spilt Milk.

Did a small amount of editing/revising on Beyond the Darkness.

Started a new screenplay.

Started several new short stories.

Submitted Spilt Milk to Glimmer Train.

Whew!

January was a busy month.

Looking Forward to February

First day of a new month.

That means...

GOAL SETTING!

I can't help it. I'm goal-oriented. It keeps me active.

So, here goes:

Goals for February

Write 2,225 words/day for a total of 62,300 words for the month.

Work on the novel, Xanali.

Complete the novel, Pawns of Destiny as part of olympic_writers.

Edit (first pass) novella, Beyond the Darkness.

One crit/review for each of the four groups I belong to.

That should keep me busy.

Not As Productive As Usual

Long day at work.

VERY long.

Hard, too.

Not many live brain cells tonight.

Wrote a little, but stopped cause I was frustrated that I didn't have live brain cells.

Started a short story.

Going to sleep.

Xanali

1,251 words today

31,928 / 125,000 (25.5%)

The Sleepwalker

264 words today

264 / 1,500 (17.6%)

Monthly Word Count Goal Progress:

1,515 / 62,300 (2.4%)

2006 Word Count Goal Progress:

95,557 / 1,000,000 (9.6%)

Good Night, Live Journal.