Sunday, January 13, 2013

Two Roads

It all began on November 1, 2011. My first NaNoWriMo had started, and so had my third novel - the one that would change everything.

(actually, if we're going to be really exactly correct, it all began sometime in June 2011, when I first started thinking about my characters. But I digress.)

Two Roads (which was originally titled "One Summer") took me three months to write (although I made the 50,000 NaNo word goal, the book wasn't finished until about 15,000 words/two months later) but has been a year-long editing and re-editing journey.

And it all ends here.

Just before I'd finished the rough draft of Two Roads, I heard from a friend about a novel contest run by Amazon.com. Knowing that my book wouldn't be ready in time for the deadline, I filed the information away and kept writing, deciding to wait until the 2013 edition opened to enter. Ever since then I've been writing and re-writing, and accepting critques and making changes and formatting...and dreaming about the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest January 14, 2013.

Now that the day is almost here, and the submissions window is three hours away from opening...I'm having a hard time coping with the idea that it's time to move on. I haven't written any new novels since Two Roads (although I've been outlining several new works over the past month or so) and this novel that I've spent a year and three months on is going to be difficult to let go of.

For one thing, it's been my longest-running novel project, to date. My first two novels were much shorter and (to be honest) not very good...but this one? Whether I win or lose with Two Roads I know that I've written my best book yet, and I'm very pleased with it. And I'm ready to move on, because while there is still stuff I could fix (isn't there always?) it's time to be done. There are tons more novels I'm hoping to write, and I feel like Two Roads has been a kickstart to that, because it's the first novel that I've been really happy about.

Which is kind of a strange feeling, to look at something that you wrote and think that maybe it's kind of good. But it's a good feeling...and I'm ready to take what I've learned through this experience and do it all over again. And again. And again.

And so I head into this strange and wonderful experience of submitting and letting go...and it's so exciting and terrifying...

Wish me luck?

read part II here

12 comments:

  1. Good luck! It's January 14 today. And I know you'll win something!!

    lyssa

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  2. Good luck! I'm positive you're story is awesome and will attract the judges' interest. : )

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    1. Awww, you're sweet. :) Your kind words mean so much to me!

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  3. Yay! How exciting for you! You are an amazing writer Olivia, and I'm positive the judges will LOVE your novel! :)

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    1. Thank you very much! :) I'm hoping so. Fingers crossed, lol.

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  4. Good luck! :) Two Roads is so awesome; it definitely has a great chance of winning! But whether or no, you're a fabulous writer, Livs. :)

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    1. Via, it's so good to see you! *squeeze* it's been ages since we talked. D: Thanks for being so kind. :) I really loved having you read it for me.

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    2. *squeezes back* I know! :(

      And I really loved reading it. XD

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  5. So exciting! I just looked at the contest's page - crazy amazing. And wow - just from the title, I can tell "Two Roads" is a novel I'd want to read! I bet it's awesome.

    You asked me if I'd like to do a guest post here on your blog - I'd be honored!! Anytime!

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  6. Hi Olivia! My email address is hmw.ireland@gmail.com - we could talk more about the details (like which day, what the post should be about, etc) on there if you like!

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