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Writers Retreat > Student Talk > Course Lessons > Advanced Courses > Last Assignment for the Novel Course
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Author Topic: Last Assignment for the Novel Course  (Read 1543 times)
Mikki S
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« on: July 23, 2009, 07:58:14 PM »
I got back my assignment 9 from my instructor today.  I thought it was the last one, but it seems he wants to see the same assignment, with a few ( very few) changes again.  I'm really not sure why.  There is nothing major that he mentioned, just a few little things like some changes in punctuation, and not using "there was"...which he calls a "vampire phrase."  I was really surprised that he wanted to have me revise these little things and then send it to him again...if he had said he didn't like my ending so I should rewrite it, or something like that, that would be different.

The problem is...I have never liked the first chapter even though he does ( I think it's boring), so I have completely rewritten it....kinda behind his back, so to speak, since part of this assignment was resending the first chapter.  So...what I am going to do, is make the two small changes in the chapter I sent him, and then send him the rewritten version also, and see what he says.  And hope he doesn't get mad at me.

He did give me a nice compliment...actually, two.  He said that I didn't need any one to edit or critique my work, that I had all the tools I needed and that I knew how to apply them.  I LOVE my critique group and will always depend on them for help, but he doesn't care much for critique groups.  The second compliment was that he "rarely had a student who could summarize their novel as well and as concisely" as I did. Of course, he didn't know how many hours I spent slaving over that summary and how many times I rewrote it!  Grin Grin

Well, anyway, I guess it's back to the drawing board again...just when I was hoping to get my certificate in a couple of weeks!
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sharonda
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« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2009, 08:07:56 PM »
This sounds great Mikki  Smiley *Dances* Your instructor is very nice it seems. Like mine :Smiley It seems you are on your way to a very nice writing carrer. Good luck out there, girl Wink

Sharonda
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« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2009, 08:11:42 PM »
Mikki S

Finished the Novel Course? What an accomplishment! That says a lot about you. I'd love to be able to say I finished that course. As far as changes go, that's part of the business. We all fall in love with our work, but other eyes sometimes see things differently. We all have to live with that expectation, especially when our work hits the eyes of an editor. We all have to be prepared to accept their suggestions. It's the nature of the business. Relax, it's just the beginning of things to come in the publishing world. You'll do just fine.
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Z-Little-Lady
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« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2009, 09:52:08 AM »
Lucky you, I think that you have a great instructor just like me.  Revisions are a part of a writers life.  And with the compliments your instructor gave you I'd be flying high with hope right now.  I hope you let us know what comes next. 
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Mikki S
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« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2009, 04:47:58 PM »
Thanks for your comments, everyone!  Smiley Smiley

I PMed Jan and asked her about sending the completely new first chapter, and she said I should do it, so that's what I'm going to do.  I've reread it, and it has basically the same backstory he wanted, but just written differently.  Now it doesn't seem like such an "information dump" to me like it did before.

I had to laugh at his decription of phrases such as "there was", "there is" , "there are" and "there were" as being "vampires which suck the life blood out of your story."  However...in looking at his example, and then going back through some of my work, actually, he is right. 

His example was: (My writing) There was also the history project hanging over my head.  ( His suggestion) The history project was also about to topple down on me like a wall.

As you can see, his example is much more descriptive than mine is.  So maybe that's something for you all to look at in your work, too.

So I guess I'm back to work on this for awhile, but basically, I'm pleased with what he has said about my work.
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The Freedom Thief  (MuseItUp Publisher  11/2013)


What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
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jfields
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« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2009, 06:33:18 PM »
Here's mine: The history project hung over my head like a vulture reminding me of my coming doom.

Or: The history project hung over my head like a vampire verb sucking all the life out of my story.

 Grin
« Last Edit: November 14, 2009, 10:33:18 AM by jfields » Logged
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Mikki S
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« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2009, 07:01:34 PM »
Jan,  You are too funny!

I like the second example best of all...hmm...I just might use that Grin Grin Grin
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The Freedom Thief  (MuseItUp Publisher  11/2013)


What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
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« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2009, 09:14:45 AM »
I hope this is the right thread for this not really attached to Mikki S comments, but I'll add here a little Shocked hip hip hooray Shocked proud of you Mikki.
I too am on the last legs of the novel writing course and had a question about the synopsis.

Am I wrong to think that it should be a rather detailed sketch of every chapter? No surprises? The tease should only be in a query letter but not the synopsis right? Thanks anyone...
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Mikki S
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« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2009, 12:49:09 PM »
When I sent in my synopsis it was only one page, and definitely not a detailed sketch of every chapter.  I've heard/read that some synopses are like that, but neither of my instructors have ever asked for that kind, and the publishers that I want to send to have asked in their guidelines that it only be one page.  If you don't mind my patting myself on the back ( Grin ), my instructor told me that he had never had any other student able to put the important points of the entire novel in one page and as succinctly as  I did  Smiley  I was so happy at that remark, because I sweat blood writing that synopsis...I think most writers do.

I have submitted the novel as an exclusive to one editor, giving her a 3 month deadline until it becomes a simultaneous submission...I did this only because I  really want to work with her...however, I fully understand that for a first time author to be picked up on the very first try would take nothing short of a miracle.

Back to your question, I think it depends entirely upon whom you intend submitting to...usually the guidelines will tell you if they want a one-page synopsis or not, and you can't send a detailed sketch of each chapter in one or even two pages.  So check that out, and also, has your instructor mentioned what he/she wants to see in a synopsis?  Mine told me he wanted it in one page , but since that fit with the publishers I want to submit to, it was okay...just took me forever to do it  Grin

Good luck!

Mikki
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The Freedom Thief  (MuseItUp Publisher  11/2013)


What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
      Oliver Wendall Holmes

www.mikki-wordpainter.blogspot.com
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« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2009, 01:26:56 PM »
Thanks Mikki: One page, pithy important points, follow guidelines exhale and give yourself a nice pat on the back following survival. Wink

Gotcha!
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Mikki S
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« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2009, 05:35:49 PM »
Quote from: roundtuit2 on November 13, 2009, 01:26:56 PM
Thanks Mikki: One page, pithy important points, follow guidelines exhale and give yourself a nice pat on the back following survival. Wink

Gotcha!

Absolutely !  Grin Grin
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The Freedom Thief  (MuseItUp Publisher  11/2013)


What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
      Oliver Wendall Holmes

www.mikki-wordpainter.blogspot.com
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