tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post3725750706167209859..comments2024-01-01T21:18:07.104-05:00Comments on Seekerville Archives: Melissa’s 7 Phases of the Writing ProcessGlynna Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914006944057671962noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-1453190649219423802014-10-09T01:19:10.485-04:002014-10-09T01:19:10.485-04:00Oh, Bonnie! I detest all that cleaning stuff too.
...Oh, Bonnie! I detest all that cleaning stuff too.<br /><br />I was just talking to hubby, saying, you know, I'm working a pretty full time job here, but unlike ladies that work out of the home, I have my three kids with me, can you imagine if you co-worker brought her three little ones with her how much work she'd get done? VERY LITTLE. That's what I get done....sigh.Melissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-40976473878265256252014-10-09T01:17:04.105-04:002014-10-09T01:17:04.105-04:00Preslaysa, yes, the first revision pass is for sto...Preslaysa, yes, the first revision pass is for story things only. I clean up sentences that are basically gobbledy-gook and make me go "what on earth was I saying" and anything else that just sounds like fingernails scratching on chalkboards, but I try not to get bogged down in any writing fixes, you have to "go fast" through it to see if the story is working or not. The longer it takes to nit-pick words, you lose the feel of the story.Melissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-51710884477982465492014-10-07T22:30:11.380-04:002014-10-07T22:30:11.380-04:00@ Melissa - Yep, it's Lady DragonKeeper --I st...@ Melissa - Yep, it's Lady DragonKeeper --I started a blog this summer, so I kind of rebranded myself.<br /><br />@*Ms.* Tina - I know, I was hardly here because I graduated in spring and just started grad school this semester. And I just started the blog I've dreamed of for years ... So life's been busy, but lots of neat things happening. :)<br /><br />@*Ms.* Ruth - ^_^ Thank you --eclectic feels like my whole life ... Eclectic schooling, tastes in music, movies, tv shows, books, etc. I enjoy it now ... ;-)<br /><br />The Artist Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13187257954496922578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-4267492556662911782014-10-07T15:33:41.153-04:002014-10-07T15:33:41.153-04:00What a fun post!! Love the humor and the pics!!
M...What a fun post!! Love the humor and the pics!!<br /><br />Melissa - I have no idea how you manage to do all that you mentioned in your writing process, the promotion of your books, care for a household and 3 young children, plus all the other things your busy life includes!! Writing looks like hard work to me (no matter the process) - although, less so if you love what you're doing, I'm sure - and I am SO grateful to all Christian authors for their dedication to their craft and their wonderful books that have so inspired me!! Thank you, all!!<br /><br />Cleaning toilets isn't the only form of housework I dislike - I pretty much detest most all of it, after the many years I've been doing it (since a child), LOL!! Since retiring, and living alone - I do as little housework as possible, and enjoy my free time reading and encouraging, praying for, or doing promo for you wonderful authors!! <br /><br />bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com<br />Shared post!!bontonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02852536941656729576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-22681279416313535652014-10-07T15:06:28.477-04:002014-10-07T15:06:28.477-04:00Oh, wow Melissa. This is excellent. I have been do...Oh, wow Melissa. This is excellent. I have been doing all these phases all at once and it's been making me crazy. I like how you break it down in separate parts. Question: Is your first revision pass for story structure?Preslaysa Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05584991724180861318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-72454180038947516632014-10-07T11:48:07.731-04:002014-10-07T11:48:07.731-04:00Awesome post Melissa. I use that word list thingy ...Awesome post Melissa. I use that word list thingy often. Your search seven phases look daunting, but, like others, if I really thought about it. I do a lot of them. (But definitely not all of them)DebHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685506948995225770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-53069525347078669202014-10-07T11:29:21.802-04:002014-10-07T11:29:21.802-04:00Walt, they COULD write a book...anyone can write a...Walt, they COULD write a book...anyone can write a terrible book. :)Melissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-84493577642930012442014-10-07T09:51:58.107-04:002014-10-07T09:51:58.107-04:00Melissa, I'm a day late but had to stop by and...Melissa, I'm a day late but had to stop by and thank you for sharing your process and the hilarious pictures. So fun!<br /><br />JanetJanet Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498270462296096254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-74186762363935803802014-10-07T07:58:34.908-04:002014-10-07T07:58:34.908-04:00Outstanding post with excellent tips of how you jo...Outstanding post with excellent tips of how you journey through story.DiAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09413983564525899122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-5834763754151852232014-10-07T03:10:52.485-04:002014-10-07T03:10:52.485-04:00A BRIDE IN STORE sounds wonderful. The hard work p...A BRIDE IN STORE sounds wonderful. The hard work paid off.Mary Prestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02201076939557413255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-8234574895365739002014-10-06T22:58:23.351-04:002014-10-06T22:58:23.351-04:00My funny story isn't tell me how to write a bo...My funny story isn't tell me how to write a book, but when someone says "I could write a book." (Actually, that annoys me a bit.)<br /><br />Melissa, love the pics!Walt Mussellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07252729944233200374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-10059056163000323742014-10-06T22:35:54.814-04:002014-10-06T22:35:54.814-04:00Melissa, I am amazed at this post. And with a one ...Melissa, I am amazed at this post. And with a one year old. Wow!<br /><br />I'm coming to realize that a book is about 25% first draft with a lot of edits. <br /><br />Thank you so much for this post which is so helpful as I'm entering one final editing push for one project and plotting my next.<br /><br />Tanya A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05906658024486668684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-30188430337192928682014-10-06T22:20:17.694-04:002014-10-06T22:20:17.694-04:00Wow Melissa, perfect timing. I'm preparing a p...Wow Melissa, perfect timing. I'm preparing a proposal for an agent and editing five chapters. Seeing your writing process is so beneficial. <br /><br />Love all your pics! They make a scary process look fun.Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18195716086187334305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-55649342525169302452014-10-06T21:38:14.351-04:002014-10-06T21:38:14.351-04:00Wow, what a party. Who put those streamers on the ...Wow, what a party. Who put those streamers on the chandeliers????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-61989870273238908492014-10-06T20:23:58.061-04:002014-10-06T20:23:58.061-04:00Thanks for sharing your writing process, Melissa. ...Thanks for sharing your writing process, Melissa. I'm keeping it.Cara Lynn Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06651056755810603606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-3015920838691896902014-10-06T19:57:25.029-04:002014-10-06T19:57:25.029-04:00I didn't coin it, but writing a story is like ...I didn't coin it, but writing a story is like sitting at the computer and opening a vein.<br /><br />Love the macro help.<br />thanks,<br />bAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-42381889376099949832014-10-06T19:32:13.419-04:002014-10-06T19:32:13.419-04:00Pam, hmmm, what I wouldn't want to do when I w...Pam, hmmm, what I wouldn't want to do when I was a teacher....morning hall duty because I hate mornings. ha.Melissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-44309782310681711042014-10-06T19:20:40.526-04:002014-10-06T19:20:40.526-04:00Thanks for giving us a behind the scenes look at y...Thanks for giving us a behind the scenes look at your writing. Thanks also for persevering; your books are very enjoyable. I'm looking forward to reading A Bride in Store.<br />I'm a reader, who works at an elementary school as a special ed para. I really like my job so had to think hard for something that would make cleaning toilets seem fun! I guess it would be a toss up between lunchroom duty (thankfully I don't have that this year)and recess or bus duty when it's really cold.<br />Thanks for the chance to win your new book.<br />pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05861727608969499537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-58377808327126979652014-10-06T18:58:48.791-04:002014-10-06T18:58:48.791-04:00LOL, Valri, I've got PLENTY of time! ;PLOL, Valri, I've got PLENTY of time! ;PMelissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-18132104639082557872014-10-06T18:08:56.750-04:002014-10-06T18:08:56.750-04:00Melissa, definitely go for the Pinterest photos! ...Melissa, definitely go for the Pinterest photos! You should be a motivational speaker! Just add something else to your plate - you can do it!!!!Valrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17236208798647610850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-62793383395855330592014-10-06T17:55:58.717-04:002014-10-06T17:55:58.717-04:00Donna, I don't see an email from you, make sur...Donna, I don't see an email from you, make sure you spell my last name right, it's a doozy.Melissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-6530165919198236582014-10-06T17:54:58.103-04:002014-10-06T17:54:58.103-04:00Jenny, my grandmother really struggled with losses...Jenny, my grandmother really struggled with losses when she went blind, all the things she loved to do were difficult or impossible. Lots of adjusting. Glad to know you're improving mentally!Melissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-69792238413774977142014-10-06T17:53:03.747-04:002014-10-06T17:53:03.747-04:00Donna, my first draft used to be really short. Lik...Donna, my first draft used to be really short. Like, when I rewrote it would be 1.5 times longer. LOTS of talking heads. Now I fill in a bit more as I go and roughly end up where I should-about 100k. I have a natural scene limit of about 1.5k so unless it's a really complicated scene that I know will take longer, I can kind of guesstimate by my scene list at the end of my plotting session on how long the story will end up being.Melissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-75604867478371144592014-10-06T17:50:07.857-04:002014-10-06T17:50:07.857-04:00Jamie, that's a great response to "how to...Jamie, that's a great response to "how to write a book" I often do that too. I say, give me your email, I'll send you some blogs, read all the archives, see you in a year....<br /><br />Donna, yep, I just write the story as if I'm telling someone what's happening. Then you don't have to worry at all about writing technique and you find out what the story is.Melissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100153895530582821.post-33570745481560931212014-10-06T17:48:12.539-04:002014-10-06T17:48:12.539-04:00Patti Jo, I was so happy to see you too, and I per...Patti Jo, I was so happy to see you too, and I personally think my children are the cutest ever, not that I'm biased. I find it a lot easier to be silly online, in person I mainly just stammer around for appropriate words and remind myself to make eye contact. :) And I haven't had peach cobbler in forever, I wonder if I have any canned peaches for a crisp or something, sounds really good and it's dinner time!<br /><br />Chill N, glad you found the photos fun, they were fun to do. And so glad the weasel word list isn't just something sitting on your computer but used!Melissa Jagearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07439765292197683329noreply@blogger.com