Hey! Sorry I'm posting a little later than usual today. Me and my mom were editing all morning and having all kinds of fun with that.
Now, I don't know about you guys, but when I was in the drafting stage of my novel, I really didn't have time for anything else. (Well, that's if I wanted to get any writing done.) Unfortunately, that meant using up my precious reading time at night to write instead. In fact, I think I only read two books over the entire summer! Whenever we'd pull up to the library, I never went in, knowing that even if I picked out a book, I wouldn't be able to finish it.
That has changed. Ever since I finished my first draft, I have had more free time (not a lot more, but still, more)! So anyway, when me and my family went to the library over the weekend, I decided, 'hey, why not? I'm not drafting anymore, I can spend the time to read a book.' When I walked in and looked at all the books, a strange realization hit me: all of them were written by other people!
Now, wait just a second. I knew that all of the books were written by people before (no I'm not that clueless!), but it never really hit me! Now that I know how hard all of those people had to work to just get the first draft out of their heads, it all meant so much more! To think that they had to deal with the same things I did was amazing and exciting! That was probably the best experience I've ever had at a library!
Of course, I've got all of you guys to look up to and learn from, but realizing that there are that many people out there on the same journey that the rest of us are... it was unbelievable!
And who ever thought I could have that much fun?
--Jess
Now, I don't know about you guys, but when I was in the drafting stage of my novel, I really didn't have time for anything else. (Well, that's if I wanted to get any writing done.) Unfortunately, that meant using up my precious reading time at night to write instead. In fact, I think I only read two books over the entire summer! Whenever we'd pull up to the library, I never went in, knowing that even if I picked out a book, I wouldn't be able to finish it.That has changed. Ever since I finished my first draft, I have had more free time (not a lot more, but still, more)! So anyway, when me and my family went to the library over the weekend, I decided, 'hey, why not? I'm not drafting anymore, I can spend the time to read a book.' When I walked in and looked at all the books, a strange realization hit me: all of them were written by other people!
Now, wait just a second. I knew that all of the books were written by people before (no I'm not that clueless!), but it never really hit me! Now that I know how hard all of those people had to work to just get the first draft out of their heads, it all meant so much more! To think that they had to deal with the same things I did was amazing and exciting! That was probably the best experience I've ever had at a library!
Of course, I've got all of you guys to look up to and learn from, but realizing that there are that many people out there on the same journey that the rest of us are... it was unbelievable!
And who ever thought I could have that much fun?
--Jess
16 comments:
Hello there! I am from the Campaign and am part of your YA group. I love this post and the sudden recognition you had with knowing there is a person behind every book. =)
I was your age when I started the first draft of my first big novel. Then I let life get in the way. This year, 10 years later, I'm returning to it. So we'll see what becomes of it!
Best of luck in all that you do and I look forward to continue reading your posts.
Howdie! I'm from the Campaign and in your group as well. And unlike your earlier commentor, I'm as old as mold--at least compared to both of you.
But I am excited to get to know new people, read new blogs, and hopefully improve my writing.
Great blog. I'm impressed.
you're fourteen and already writing a novel? woah.
What's awesome is that you've already come so far. If this is what you want to do, you're on the right track. Keep learning. We're here for ya! :)
Interesting epiphany.
I think writing a novel is the only way to really appreciate the hard work it takes to write it.
It's a wonderful realisation, isn't it? To know that there are so many other crazy people out there willing to throw themselves into writing. Hehe
This post just made me all kinds of happy. I know exactly the epiphany you had--I had it long ago, too! Happy editing!
Congrats on finishing the first draft! It is super amazing to think about all the work that goes in between those book covers.
By the way, we're in the same Dystopian group for the Platform Building Campaign and I wanted to stop by and say hi! :)
Thanks for stopping by everyone!
I'm a Campaigner, and just want to say thank you for visiting and following my blog! I can really sympathize with this: now, I have so much more respect for the writers behind books I read, even if I dislike the books themselves, because I know just how difficult it is to write one.
I know, this same thing hit me when I was in Chapters one day. I think something changes when we go from 'being writers' to 'being writers who network with other writers.' We go from thinking about our book being on the shelf one day to appreciating the work that went into all the other books--some written by people we know. :)
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse
Hi! What I love about the writing community is that we all go through the same things as we slog through first/second/thirteenth drafts and it's an amazing thing!
Was trying to post a comment on your Labor Day, but it wasn't letting me. I'm stopping by on the Campaign Trail to say hello. What a wonderful time to spend with your grandfather! We need to learn from him! Hope you have a nice getaway! ;)
Hey Jess, I'm in your YA campaign group. Making that switch from reader to writer is a crazy feeling, isn't it? I actually read less now than I did before I started writing because now I spend so much time analyzing and savoring what the writer did rather than just whipping through the story.
How's it going? I'm in your sci-fi group on the camptaign.
I like the way you are starting to appreciate the work that goes into a novel. I'm constantly impressed by the sheer volume that professional authors put out.
I've been learning a lot about story structure lately, so when I read or watch a film I'm actively looking for the plot points. My wife finds it quite amusing.
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