Revision: The Necessary Evil

This being March, it's commonly known around the writing universe as "EdMo." It's the month when all those word-vomit NaNo Novels get edited into something resembling an actual, well-written piece of work. I don't usually participate in EdMo, because I don't usually edit. I saw usually and that isn't entirely the case. I do edit. I edit as I write. As for revising, well, I do that too, sometimes. So here's the prompt for this month:

Easy Question: Why is it necessary?
Okay, some people will say it's because you want to be published. Well, I don't want to be published! So why is it necessary? Because I write crap! Well, it isn't ALL crap, but it can sure feel like it sometimes! I know there are plot holes and inconsistencies and that's why I have to go back and fix them, otherwise they drive me insane!

Hard Question: Do you enjoy it?
It depends. Sometimes I do, especially after it's been a while and I go back and look at a story and go "WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?!?!?!" I also like it when I'm looking at something I haven't looked at in YEARS! Then it's an eye opening experience to me of where I was when I wrote that! My favorite feature though is the "strike through." I love being able to "keep" my word count but get rid of things!

My novel "selfie" in mid-revision:

I use different colors for each verification period, so sometimes a novel can look like a crayon factory exploded all over my novel. But as I said above, I love the "strike" feature!

What's my motivation?!?!?!

Okay, so this month's prompt is on motivation. I keep picturing my characters looking at me and saying "What's my motivation?!?!?!" You know, like actors ask directors all the time? So I guess I'll break it down my my projects this year because I honestly don't think about motivation unless someone asks me.

What is the main motivation behind your characters?
NaNo14: Sari's motivation is initially trying to save the people of her planet but she also wants to save her boyfriend from his captors.

NaNo13: Um, I guess the Fringe crew has a few motivations in this story as to finding out what is causing the holes between the universes so they can stop them, but they also want to get everyone back to their own universe.

Untitled (YA): Jessen's motivation is overthrowing the aliens who have taken over the planet. Thankfully she's got the Resistance on her side!

Hush: The MC's motivation is to let Brian know the truth and NOT hate her. (Essentially that's it in a nutshell....)

I'll Never Break Your Heart/Revamp: I think the MC's motivation in this is to actually have a relationship, but I'm not sure because I'm reworking it.

Where do you come up with that motivation?
Well, in the case of my original ideas, oddly enough they are both from dreams! So I guess you could say I dreamed them up! As for the BSB fanfic (Hush/INBYH), I would say it's typical fangirl, girl wants the celeb boy, thing. As for the Fringe one, it comes from the show, I guess.

Do you tend to use the same motivation in every novel, or do you mix it up more?
Um, it seems to be the same, depending upon the type of novel I'm writing. Fanfiction is the same and the originals both came from the same place!

What is your favorite example of character motivation?
Well, I kind of like the one I'm doing for my NaNo14 novel. I mean, yeah, she's kind of motivated by love and whatnot, but there is also an underlying motivation of saving the people on her planet. But otherwise, I feel like I suck at describing this!

Projects for 2015

These are the main projects I plan to work on this year. This is list is by no means the ONLY things I will work on this year, but these are the things I plan on working on. There might be other things that pop up, but I don't know what they are right now.

NaNo14 -- sci-fi (WC: 23,533)
Two planets have been at odds with one another for generations. Now, intelligence tells the leaders of Aldera that Donteria is going to attack. Needing more information, they send out a scout ship. Only the pilot returns. What was a scouting mission soon becomes a rescue mission.

NaNo13 -- Fringe fanfiction (WC: 14,541)
A fatal car accident has very different outcomes for two friends. In one universe, one friend dies. In the other universe, the other. But now, with the barrier so thin between the two parallel universes, Sydney Holt thinks she sees her dead friend, Dakota Hunter. Only to find out that Sydney is now trapped in another universe and can't get back to her own. The Fringe Team is called out to investigate. If they can't get Sydney back to the other universe, what will it mean for their own?

Untitled -- YA/Dystopian (WC: 8,245)
The aliens have landed and tried to take over Earth. Now that most of the human race has been exterminated, those who remain must fight off the alien invaders.

Hush -- Backstreet Boys fanfiction (WC: 14,222)
Losing my voice right before a Backstreet Boys concert is never fun, but surprising things happen because of it!

I'll Never Break Your Heart -- Backstreet Boys fanfiction (WC: 46,797)
After meeting Brian Littrell and getting into a whirlwind relationship with him, Becca Carlson finds herself the target of a stalker.

I have actually started rewriting I'll Never Break Your Heart as an original fiction. So I'm not sure if I'm going to finish the "epic" fanfiction or the original story.

January Goals

So my overall goal for 2015 is to write 75k in words! I'll post about projects in a bit, but here is my monthly goals. (I hope to do this on the first of the month in the future and not the middle!)

1. Write 6,355 words. (2,249/6,355)
2. Write at 750words every day. (3/31)
3. Read the Bible daily. (3/31)
4. Daily Devotional. (3/31)
5. WriYe Blog Circle. (here)
6. January 5k Weekend Goodies and new Banner. DONE

I also plan to participate in the following challenges:

1. Full Moon Madness (213/1,000) FAIL
2. 5k Weekend
3. 150 word consistency (3/7)

So everything that has either happened or is ongoing has something behind it. I've pretty much already failed at the 750words thing, but I'm curious as to how many days I can get now. Anyway, that's about it for this post!

Goal

**blows dust off blog**

Hello, old friend, how I have missed you. I so need to go through and update this thing! Along with the blogroll! Why? Well, it's a new year and that means a new Blog Circle! So I must do that. And I must update my books and TV shows.

Okay, so now that those have been stated, let me answer this month's question:

What is your one main goal for this year?

This isn't as easy as you would suspect for me. Writing wise, I have several goals. I would love to actually win NaNoWriMo again. I would love to maybe have something finished. Well, that's probably my main goal: finish stuff! I'm only really focusing on like 4 or 5 pieces this year. I'm really hoping I don't get bit by a bunch of plot bunnies either! I usually don't, but every so often...

Anyway, I'll be listing the 4 or 5 stories I plan on working on in another entry later. But as for right now, my whole goal this year is to FINISH! I know. I know. That's my goal EVERY YEAR. But I mean it this year! I WILL FINISH!

Hey, that would be a good mantra! And here I was thinking I wouldn't have one! I WILL FINISH!