Melissa Barker-Simpson

Chained to my desk…ROW80 update

Published by

mbarkersimpson

on

Happy Sunday everyone 🙂

I’ve spent the last couple of days beta reading. Plus, I’ve almost finished the books I agreed to review in time for the upcoming tours on Writing Room 101 – so the spotlight section is on target! Before you get all excited about my progress though, I must point out I still haven’t written a post for my character blog Lance Legion. In fact, he’s sulking! This was a weekly target and I haven’t managed to achieve it, so yeah…I’d be sulking too!

My writing goals have taken an interesting turn. I managed to hit my weekly target, but most of it was…I hope you’re sitting down…spent planning. Hard to believe, right? I do have a specific reason though, aside from trying to find a little balance – I’ve decided to do NaNoWriMo again. Last time I stuck to my usual pantser ways, but this time I’m going into the adventure with a few new tools under my belt. I actually have a plan, as infinitesimal as it may be, it’s there!

Which leads me to my final set of goals – editing. I’ve been chained to my desk for the past few days (hence the title), because I got the notes back from my first round of betas on The Fifth Watcher. For that reason my focus will be on making revisions over the next few weeks. The feedback is positive, but more than one person didn’t bond with Audrey until the third or fourth chapter and this is not good. I need to change that, and so I’ll be banging my head against my desk until the answer comes to me!

So that’s me. I hope you’ve all had a good week, and look forward to catching up with you soon.

Mel

31 responses to “Chained to my desk…ROW80 update”

  1. www.ginabriganti.com Avatar
    www.ginabriganti.com

    I admire that you’re going for it with NaNoWriMo! Exciting times!

    You’ve made great progress in so many areas! Good for you!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thanks, Gina. I’ve finished the Fractured too (for the anthology). Still more editing to do, but it’s taken on a life of it’s own!

      Reply
      1. www.ginabriganti.com Avatar
        www.ginabriganti.com

        How exciting! I’ve written more of “Saunders’ Choice” and I read what H.M. has for the trilogy so far. It’s going to be good!

      2. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        Awesome 🙂 I’m going to have to cut it down before it turns into a full length novel and I have to start again! But I’m excited about the project so I’m going to work hard to polish things up!

      3. Gina Avatar
        Gina

        H.M. is doing the same, Mel. I appreciate how much time and effort everyone is putting into the anthology.

  2. callummclaughlin Avatar
    callummclaughlin

    Best of luck with NaNoWriMo! I can’t manage it this time round but I’m cheering on everyone brave enough to take on the challenge 🙂

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thanks, Callum 🙂 I’m using it as an excuse to finish a project I’ve been putting off, so I’m excited!

      Reply
  3. Jacqui Murray Avatar
    Jacqui Murray

    How do you fix a bonding problem? That comes up often in my writing group. Worse is when readers DISLIKE the character.

    I hope you still blog during NaNoWriMo. Tell us how it’s going!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      That’s the million dollar question! Nobody disliked her, but one reader said she’d didn’t particularly like her until half-way through. It’s a mystery to me! She doesn’t do anything differently, so I’m going to review the parts they liked and try to reflect on that. Also, I’m going to add a little more action, have her interact with other characters to see if that does the trick. If you have any other tips, I’d appreciate it!

      Thanks for the support with NaNo. I will still blog and, though I won’t bombard people, I will mention how I’m doing 🙂

      Reply
      1. Jacqui Murray Avatar
        Jacqui Murray

        I’ve begun collecting snippets from books I read where I (as reader) felt bonded to the main character. Sometimes it’s an emotion, or a reaction–I’m trying to analyze how this particular writer made me want to travel with their character.

        So far, it seems to be simply good writing.

  4. Conny Kaufmann Avatar
    Conny Kaufmann

    Hi Mel! You’ve made great progress! And I’m glad you decided to do NaNoWriMo as well! I’m getting really excited. I’ve got an idea of what I want the basic plot to be but not much else yet. Good luck!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Good luck to you too 🙂 And thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it.

      Reply
  5. mrschmoe Avatar
    mrschmoe

    Best of luck, it will be interesting journey for us all. Man I feel old, not to mention that I have a habit of making typos. You’ve made great progress, passes you a strong cup of coffee. At the moment I am drinking tea, extra strong, it helps with the cravings for a cup of joe.
    They say when in doubt write from the seat of one’s pants. Cue writing 100 words per a second, and at the end of the month, with the final tally uploaded and updated, passes out. anyways Naturally characters have a way of growing on you. Especially when those appear unexpectedly.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      I hope it’s a Chuck Norris label, I’m in need of a strong cup of ‘kick-ass’ coffee! I’ve been drinking tea most of the day too 🙂 Thanks for commenting, I look forward to hearing about your progress this week.

      Reply
      1. mrschmoe Avatar
        mrschmoe

        Oh yes, indeed. Coffee that has kicking ass spirit is what is needed for writers. I almost made a typo, (licking) now that would be embarrassing. I have a few thoughts, female characters, different tales, of course, I think strength comes in different forms.
        To quote from a movie King Pow enter the fist. “I have come to kiss ass.” Or this one, “I’ve got some ass kicking for you.”
        Happy writing, kick writer’s block in the butt.

      2. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        Thanks 🙂 I’m going to write a new scene for the novel I’m tweaking – let Audrey kick a little butt and see if that wins the readers over. It’s hard when people find it’s hard to relate to a character, especially if you don’t know the reasons. But I’ll solve the problem. I’m a stubborn sort 🙂

      3. mrschmoe Avatar
        mrschmoe

        That’s good. I made a slight typo, I typed kiss, of instead of kicked, “I have come to kick ass.” Sounds the groove and muses are working, the light bulb is turned on. 😉
        Ideas comes unexpectedly.

  6. John Holton Avatar
    John Holton

    Have fun with NaNo. Sounds like a good respite from the edits and all that.

    Maybe you can try cutting out stuff from the first two or three chapters and see if Audrey becomes any more bond-able. Sometimes there’s just too much stuff for the reader to get through.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      That’s a great idea. The information is a little heavy at the beginning, but it’s about alternative universes and I don’t want people to get lost in there! I appreciate the comment 🙂

      Reply
  7. Mishka Jenkins Avatar
    Mishka Jenkins

    I was sort of pleased with my progress, but looking at what you’ve achieved has me thinking I need to do more! 😀

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Not at all – you consistently do so much
      🙂 Thanks for the encouragement though and your support.

      Reply
  8. Tammy J Rizzo Avatar
    Tammy J Rizzo

    Hi, Mel! I’m doing NaNo, too – I’m Tammy J Rizzo, there, if you want to add me as a buddy. 🙂 I think you’re already kicking ass, though, with all the projects you’re working on! I admire people who set themselves so many goals and manage to reach them, or even to just get close!

    Well, I need to get some NaNo planning in today, so thanks for the reminder. 🙂 Best of luck to you!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Hi Tammy. Sorry for the delay in replying. For some reason I missed this comment. I’ve been visiting with family so I haven’t been at my computer. I’ll look out for you on NaNo – it would be great to share the journey with you. Thanks for your lovely comments. I really appreciate the support 🙂

      Reply
  9. rachelalsowrites Avatar
    rachelalsowrites

    Most of my words last week also went into planning for NaNo! I think you did well being so productive!! *pom poms*

    I’m doing NaNo too (as you may have guessed), and I’m RachelAlsoWrites there as well if you want to be buddies!

    I’ll be back on Wednesday to see how everything is going! 🙂 I might even bring chocolate!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thanks, Rachel 🙂 I’ll find you on twitter and catch up with you at the check in tomorrow. Hope you had a great weekend.

      Reply
  10. shanjeniah Avatar
    shanjeniah

    Great week! =D

    My suggestion for Audrey is to look again at her backstory, especially her goal, motivation, and personal conflict. Do these arouse an emotional response? If they do, people will go in wanting her to succeed, and then she can grow on them faster. If not, spending some time with her might help get deeper into her psyche…

    I’m four scenes from having my NaNo planned, and I’ve got one troublesome tooth less to get in the way. Also, on a side note, my new dentist, who is the son of the dentist I had as a teen, is a Voyager fan, and I think I’ve convinced him to give Enterprise a whirl (he likes how T’Pol wears a uniform – but then, most everyone does!).

    I’m guessing you can imagine how happy that makes me!

    If you want to connect at NaNo, I am Cthia there. ❤

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      I can imagine it very well 😉 And what a cool dentist he seems to be! Yay, on the tooth by the way. I’m glad it’s not bothering you anymore. Thanks for your NaNo (handle?) – or whatever it’s called! I’ll connect with you when I log in later. It will be great to share the journey with you.

      Thanks also for the advice about Audrey. I will go back through it and reflect on what’s missing – I’m wondering if there is just too much going on.

      Catch up with you soon 🙂

      Reply
      1. shanjeniah Avatar
        shanjeniah

        My early drafts are crawling with exposition. It’s still part of the way I go from open-ended plotting to finished rough draft. Maybe it won’t always be, I used to do it more, and with less awareness. But, for now, I do it, and most of it could go if I work out what’s “just enough” backstory to reveal to get the character worming their way into the reader’s emotions…

        Good luck with Audrey, and see you in the NaNosphere! =D

      2. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        Thanks 🙂

  11. Denise D. Young Avatar
    Denise D. Young

    I really enjoy beta reading. One of my critique partners just sent me the first part of her manuscript and I’m excited to read it and give her feedback. It’s so great to be able to help fellow writers make their stories shine.

    Good luck with your revisions and your NaNo attempt. I used to be a pantser but these days I’m doing more plotting than I used to–not a lot, but some. I think the blending of pantser and plotter is working out well for me. I’m still surprised by my stories, but not as lost in my first drafts.

    Have a great week!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      You too 🙂 Thanks for the support and enjoy your read – I enjoy beta reading too.

      Reply

Leave a reply to Jacqui Murray Cancel reply

Hello,

I’m Melissa

Welcome to my website and blog! I’m happy you’re here. Stay a while and look around. You will find information on my books, latest posts and information about the worlds I create.