For the first time ever, I think, in history, I have TWO WIP's going. That is TWO picture books-in-progress simultaneously rumbling around in my brain at the same time. Two RHYMERS, no less. (And I shouldn't even tell you this, but they got into a fistfight today- both wanted to use the notoriously-hard-to-rhyme "teacher" in their own manuscript, but like any good writer, I denied them both. We just don't NEED that kind of stress, do we?). TWO books on two very different topics. And, I might add, TWO books that are now, well, not exactly stuck, per se, but sort of stewing about 3/4 of the way done. They just need some endings! Which I will get to (in the words of the immortal Watty Piper, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....)

But the big question here: Does this recent development of my ability to work on TWO books at the same time signal my growth as a writer, or that I'm becoming schizophrenic?

THAT is a good question!!

:)

Some days, I wish I was a novel writer. Like my crit partner. It sounds so exotic when she talks about her "process". She uses phrases like "character motivation" and "dramatic conflict" and "chronological scenes" and writes thousands of words and then revises those words thousands of times and the whole thing just seems so big and involved and important.

Me? I've been examining the pros and cons of using "and then" or "until" in a certain spot in my current WIP, which is a rhymer, for the last two hours and fifteen minutes. It's been really back and forth, with both options being in the lead at some point. I mean, they both work meter-wise, but have obviously different connotations and I'm just not sure which one works better in this particular spot. I need to figure out which one is funnier.

So, you see what I mean? Crit partner = big, important writing. Me = just a little bit crazy, huh?

But seriously, I wonder which one sounds better.....

In addition to the weather and who your parents are, there are other things you simply can't change.

I wish I was inspired to write by reading good books. I love to read, probably more than anything, and am addicted to that wonderful feeling of reading (and finishing) a really good book. Ahhhh. Nothing like it! But that never inspires me to write. In fact, it makes me feel like a complete hack. Untalented. A fraud. Nothing brings on a case of Writer's Doubt faster!

No, I get my inspiration to write from reading really crappy books. Boy, do I wish I didn't, because crappy books depress me and who actually wants to have to go find crappy books to read and then spend time reading them? But I know that if I'm screaming about an inane plot or premise or poor structure while reading a book, or a bad ending right after finishing a book, inspiration soon follows. Which is a good thing, right? Although it makes me feel a little like the princess who has to kiss all the slimy frogs to find the prince. Or open way too many oysters to find the pearl. Or whatever cliche fits. Ugh. See? Hack writing- you can tell I've read way too many good books lately :) Fun and satisfying, but not very inspiring...