Posted in First Drafts

Laying Down the Bones

I’ve written two scenes so far in this restart of my WIP. Fifteen pages. So far, it’s got all the wonderful qualities listed in this trailer for Miracle on 34th Street:

Yeah, right. I don’t think so. More like the exact opposite.

And you know what? I don’t care. I’m getting the basics down. The characters and settings are on stage. The two scenes have conflicts, and very possibly the right conflicts. I’m getting the tiny seeds of who these characters, or will be, out of my head and into some words. I’m sticking in placeholders for specific details that I’ll need to research.

I’m writing the bones. No, the bones aren’t exciting yet. In fact, they’re pretty darned bland. But they’re on the page, linking the skeleton I need, so that I can add the muscles and blood and skin later on.

And that feels great.

Not to mention I finally figured out how to embed a YouTube video in my blog!

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Author:

Becky Levine is a children's book writer, working hard to strengthen her picture-books skills. She is the author of The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide, a book to help you get started with a critique group, learn to revise from a critique, and strengthen your own critiquing powers. She has also published two nonfiction children's books with Capstone Press. She is currently seeking representation. Becky lives in California's Santa Cruz mountains, where she spends a lot of time sitting on the couch, knitting needles in hand, thinking through the next revision. At her day job, she writes grants for a nonprofit healthcare organization.

14 thoughts on “Laying Down the Bones

  1. Hm. The word “groovey” entered teen lexicon about 20 years earlier than I would’ve guessed. I associate the word mainly with the late sixties and The Brady Bunch.

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  2. That was fun, Becky. I’m glad you’re making progress. Fifteen pages is excellent! I was surprised about “groovy” being on that trailer also. I thought it was a hippie word (60’s).

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    1. I think maybe it started a little earlier. Now I want to go back & watch some Gidget on YouTube. Cause maybe what I remember is the Flying Nun! 🙂

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  3. Learning to embed YouTube is one of those learning curves. I got inconsistent results at first and finally figured out I had to actually log in. Imagine that!

    Videos do help make a more dynamic blog, though. I should use them more often.

    Are you going to make a book trailer? I was thinking I saw a video of some of your critique group members once. Or was that someone else? Maybe you could create a “how not to critique” video. 😉
    I’m considering a book trailer for Blue and Comfort – right after I find the money.

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    1. Joyce, I’ve thought about a trailer, but it’s not high on the to-do list yet. I like to do these things myselves, but that’s one that looks pretty intimidating. If my son gets more into videos, maybe… 🙂

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