You know, starting this blog and then disappearing for a week was NOT my plan. Unfortunately, about a week ago, I broke the charger for my laptop, which is my only computer, and that promptly put me out of internet commission. I WAS VERY SAD.
Though, I have to admit, the break has done wonders for my RSI issues. *grin*
I want to thank the people (hi, Stephanie!) who left tips and helpful suggestions. I am totally going to try them out. I have braces with immobilizing splints and am still trying to get used to sleeping in them.
Not having my computer has been SUPER frustrating, though, because we just got edits back on the book! See, Kate and I produced a complete first draft, which we sent in to our editor. I figured, from talking to other editor types and from my own experience, we had at least two weeks to recover. But 9 business days later, we are back in the business of working on this book!
It’s really an amazing process.
I want to write about our collaborative strategy (great question, Arwen!), so look for that tomorrow. Also, I have more to say about my novel project!
RSI, repetitive stress injury.
Three words no writer, in our computer age, wants to seriously consider. But the pains in my fingers/hands, wrists, and elbows that I experienced yesterday don’t seem like the sort of thing one should ignore. As of last night, as a result, I’ve acquired some supportive wrist braces, have started taking B vitamins, and make sure to stretch and relax my hands every half hour or so.
It’s easy to take typing for granted. I learned touch typing in the 6th grade - I thought it was later than that but reexamined memory proves otherwise. I was already pretty keyboard savvy, but proper technique increased both my speed and accuracy; I have barely stopped typing since.
It would be easy to ignore this sort of temporary pain. After all, it goes away if I stop typing for a while. But every time I have been tempted to pretend I don’t need the oh, so stylish wrist braces (these things are SO getting Bedazzled), I imagine not being able to type at all. And that has me taking a typing break with a quickness!
I’ve started another project, the novel rewrite I think I mentioned in my previous post. I’m considering some voice recognition software to use as I progress with that. I’d much rather talk to y’all about stories.
In the meantime, learn from my pain! Take frequent breaks when typing - this seems to be the best preventative. Also, make sure you are sitting with good posture and, if at all possible, use an ergonomic keyboard.
Our editor has acknowledged receipt of the manuscript and it will probably be at least a week or two (or three!) before we hear from her. That gives me plenty of time to start obsessing about some new project.
And I know just the project. I pulled out a novel manuscript a few months back and reading over it nearly killed me. It is so obvious to me that I wrote it 3 or 4 years ago. It’s also evident, though not nearly as obviously, that isn’t a complete los - I’d be silly to totally scrap it when it has the potential to be fun.
So, I’ve embarked on a rewrite. Honestly, total rewrites are sometimes easier than minor revisions. At least for me. I’ve got the old manuscript open in one window and my new manuscript in another and I’m, in essence, starting my story all over again while using the old as a roadmap.
Roadmaps are useful.
So useful that I’ve got almost 2000 words in today. And I don’t think I’m done. This is way faster than writing it from scratch! Here’s hoping I can whip this thing into shape.
Friday, August 1st at 7:13pm EST:
Holy crap.
I just sent our completed draft off to our editor.
*dead*
We’ll have edits to work on, of course, once our editor gets it back to us but OMG I JUST DELIVERED OUR MANUSCRIPT TO OUR EDITOR!!!
Now:
I posted that in my personal journal, and had about 20 minutes of pure excitement. Then, my usual tendencies toward worrying about EVERYTHING kicked in and I felt like throwing up. What if the book isn’t any good? What if I never sell another book? What if people hate this book and call me names and throw rotten fruit at me?
Eh, it happens - well, the rotten fruit thing might not happen all that often anymore. My husband and I went out for a celebratory dinner and, with a few days’ distance, I am a whole lot less freaked out. Kate and I wrote a book and it is going to be available in bookstores in May of 2009, if the plan remains the same as it is now. There is no good in worrying about this being my only book - I am going to enjoy this process and see what the future brings. Because, OMG, we sold a book! And finished writing it!
