… but also lots of fun.
My first Historical/Biblical novel consisted of 78,000 words, and was written in 4 months. Don’t bother to look for it, it needs a lot more revisions!
I know that now, because I just finished the Novel Course from my favorite organization - the Long Ridge Writers Group.
The second novel was written simultaneously with the Course, which promised to have 3 complete chapters ready by the 8th assignment.
My wonderful teacher, Mary Rosenblum, gave me free reign, and therefore I was able to finish the complete book – 120,000 words.
Now, THIS is a manuscript that will be revised till it’s ready to be sent out to an agent.
This book is about Huram-Avi, the skilled craftsman from Sur (Tyre) who is called to Jerusalem to create the bronze objects for Solomon’s Temple.
I started doing serious research for the story in February 2008, wrote the first chapter around the end of that month, and typed “THE END” in the third week of July this year. Pffff! At least it was out off my system.
The next step was to let it “cool down”, begin major (!) revisions and find people willing to “critique” the manuscript.
God is so good!
I’m blessed with three people willing to read the chapters and give me feedback – “critique” is positive, constructive feedback, to help make the book stronger.
I’m waiting for my second diploma to arrive and will post a picture of yours truly, with my “trophy”.
In the meantime, I’m debating whether to start revising the first novel (the blundering attempt) or start researching the other one that’s cooking in my mind. Ah! The wonderful, creative writer’s life. Never a dull moment!
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
FINISHED!
It was Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 that I was able to type “THE END”.
It was finished, the first draft of my novel about Huram-Avi, the artist from Sur (Tyre) who was sent to Jerusalem to create the bronze objects for Shlomo (Solomon’s) Holy Temple.
It was such a wonderful feeling, to have it finally “out of my system”.
The first finished draft contains 120,000 words in 29 chapters. I began seriously researching in February 2008, wrote the first chapter the end of February, and finished 5 months later.
I did it, but know that it wasn’t my doing for…
It was God Who put the story in my heart
Mary Rosenblum, my wonderful teacher, taught me to write strong prose
And again it was the Lord who gave me the desire, will and stamina to work hard and get it all on paper.
But this isn’t it. More work needs to be done. Tons of work!
I have to let it rest for a while, begin another book in the meantime, then return to the manuscript and revise, revise, revise. Then have to find some people willing to proofread a historical novel, do some more revisions, and when it’s finally presentable, the long, arduous journey begins of finding a literary agent willing to present me.
I have to trust the Lord to open the doors, for it’s quite a jungle out there.
We’ll see. First I’ll take another, very critical look at the manuscript of the “Eliyahu and the widow of Zarephat”, for I’m sure that, after this novel course that is almost finished by now, there will be more revisions on the way…. Sigh. A writer’s life isn’t easy.
But how I love it!
It was finished, the first draft of my novel about Huram-Avi, the artist from Sur (Tyre) who was sent to Jerusalem to create the bronze objects for Shlomo (Solomon’s) Holy Temple.
It was such a wonderful feeling, to have it finally “out of my system”.
The first finished draft contains 120,000 words in 29 chapters. I began seriously researching in February 2008, wrote the first chapter the end of February, and finished 5 months later.
I did it, but know that it wasn’t my doing for…
It was God Who put the story in my heart
Mary Rosenblum, my wonderful teacher, taught me to write strong prose
And again it was the Lord who gave me the desire, will and stamina to work hard and get it all on paper.
But this isn’t it. More work needs to be done. Tons of work!
I have to let it rest for a while, begin another book in the meantime, then return to the manuscript and revise, revise, revise. Then have to find some people willing to proofread a historical novel, do some more revisions, and when it’s finally presentable, the long, arduous journey begins of finding a literary agent willing to present me.
I have to trust the Lord to open the doors, for it’s quite a jungle out there.
We’ll see. First I’ll take another, very critical look at the manuscript of the “Eliyahu and the widow of Zarephat”, for I’m sure that, after this novel course that is almost finished by now, there will be more revisions on the way…. Sigh. A writer’s life isn’t easy.
But how I love it!
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