The Cerebral Writer

I finished another redraft of Cinderella Eyes last night, ending at around 78,000 words.  I have redrafted this novel more times than I have any of my other works, as it is a narrative nonfiction, although written in a fictitious venue (names changed to protect the innocent and the not-so-innocent, alike), and family occurrences continue to mold the story.  The narrative nonfiction/written as fiction aspect gives me some creative slack to rework time-lines and various events, while still holding true to the actual story

I average two or three drafts on all of the works I submit.  A first draft, no matter how cohesive, will always need reworking somewhere.  A second draft is always closer; my third drafts are all polished enough for submission, although no draft is "final" until it gets published or produced ... and even then there can be room for improvement.  I take pride in my perfectionism; I want every work to come out a masterpiece.

I'm fortunate enough to have two phenomenal editors, as well.  They hold no punches in their critiques, and for that I am grateful.  No one enjoys having their work shredded and deeply, critically evaluated ... but real, constructive criticism truly has the power to make any good work great.  I never blow off a critique ... and, for that reason alone, I have been able to progress my work to the quality level that it is currently at.

I just spent half the morning at YouTube, watching trailers for the upcoming The Lost Boys sequel....

Anyone who has known me and my twin sis for any decent length of time knows that the two of us wrote and sent a sequel to Warner Bros. many years ago, when we were in our early teens.  We were huge fans of the movie, and we felt we had an obligation to write a sequel worthy of its predecessor as quickly as possible, so that no one else would write it and get it produced before us (and thus screw it up).  Richard Donner's assistant back then, a nice man named Scott Nimerfro, gently rejected our numerous pleas to have our script read.  We had no clue how lucky we were even to get a response, and we were both shattered with the rejection.  I think of what might have been, had Mr. Nimerfro decided to take a chance....

I am aghast from the trailers I watched this morning for The Lost Boys: the Tribe ... simply in utter shock at what appears to be a direct-to-video desecration of a cult classic.

Writing that was the springboard my sister and I both needed, however, to get the ball rolling on our amateur writing careers.  At fifteen, the two of us collaborated on a novel.  We finished it in a matter of months.  I have gone on to write several more novels, as well as short stories and screenplays, while Erin has turned to music as her storytelling venue of choice.

Still, I am frustrated that I think my sequel would have been better, but I didn't have the experience, age, or connections to get mine produced first.  I am frustrated that, in this business, it is all about who one knows ... and my network is small, at best.  I am frustrated because I have so many stories to tell ... and yet I have no audience.

I am a writer.  I want this more than just about anything else I have ever wanted in this world.  I know that we all go through this ... these bursts of impatience, when the years and the portfolio progress, but the doors remain closed....  I know I have no choice but to be patient, however.  I know my work will eventually catch the right eye.  I know "this" is where I truly belong....

I spend a lot of time on working on queries.  I actually enjoy it, as it allows me to reflect on my work beyond redrafts and the original creative process, to come up with better approaches to my synopses, and sometimes even come up with ideas for future drafts.  I see it as an opportunity to improve my writing, overall ... and I can only hope that those who pass on any given project of mine might see my potential and remember my name, just the same.

Rejection doesn't bother me anymore.  We all experience it, no matter who we are.  I've been receiving rejection letters for many years, now, and I think I've learned a lot in the process.  Some are form letters, but many are very positive, offering me tips, helpful critique, and encouraging me on.  Other than the few dozen I lost in a move eight years ago, I still have every one of them.  They are badges of honor.  They have thickened my skin, given me humility, and taught me just how much I want this.

I think writers should spend a good amount of time on query writing; to perfect the query is to perfect the work.