Journal

And Another Challenge Commences

Journal

Dear Friend,

Today, I started the process for the second draft. This meant reading through drafts of Books A and B, writing down changes on my hard copies and rewriting everything on a blank word processor.


Very Sincerely Yours,
Clarissa Choo-Choo Train



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Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, Heaven is her only Home. She desires to sow His seeds and to serve third culture kids, teens, and writers. Besides writing, she loves to wash dishes, chop ingredients into smithereens, and record hymns on her piano. Peek into her Christian TCK Email Ministry or read more posts.

Ameliorating Oneself

Journal

Dear Friend,

In my current and beginning of my writing journey, I soon found that writing is similar to playing a piano. One improves one’s skill and sound with daily practice. Good practice comes in a form of quality, not quantity. Applying this to my writing, if I desire to improve creativity, I should practice writing; that is, with firm concentration in this specific area. Similarly, if I wish to better my character descriptions, I would practice writing on appearances and personalities of diverse individuals.

Furthermost, I realised that if I fail to see anymore rooms of improvements, I would have extreme difficulties in bettering my words. Nothing I write is perfect.

So enjoy the blessings of the journey itself and trust the Conductor.


Very Sincerely Yours,
Clarissa Choo-Choo Train



~

Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, Heaven is her only Home. She desires to sow His seeds and to serve third culture kids, teens, and writers. Besides writing, she loves to wash dishes, chop ingredients into smithereens, and record hymns on her piano. Peek into her Christian TCK Email Ministry or read more posts.

Delaying Rather than Temporizing

Journal

Dear Friend,

Unable to formulate Short Story A’s results after reading its drafts, I chose to edit it alongside its sequel, Book A, when the Conductor says the time is right. Forcing myself to implement decisions may reap dire consequences on my characters and on both stories.

Perhaps, I have not learnt what I needed to learn yet for it to move forward.


Very Sincerely Yours,
Clarissa Choo-Choo Train



~

Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, Heaven is her only Home. She desires to sow His seeds and to serve third culture kids, teens, and writers. Besides writing, she loves to wash dishes, chop ingredients into smithereens, and record hymns on her piano. Peek into her Christian TCK Email Ministry or read more posts.

Cracking a Geode

Journal

Dear Friend,

Short Story A’s first and third drafts were not as horrendous as I thought. They merely needed to be set aside for time, cut, fused, smoothen, polished and cleaned.


Very Sincerely Yours,
Clarissa Choo-Choo Train



~

Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, Heaven is her only Home. She desires to sow His seeds and to serve third culture kids, teens, and writers. Besides writing, she loves to wash dishes, chop ingredients into smithereens, and record hymns on her piano. Peek into her Christian TCK Email Ministry or read more posts.

Edits upon Edits

Journal

Dear Friend,

Now that I had accomplished the first draft of Book B, I shift my focus to Short Story A, the predecessor of Book A. I wrote three drafts for it so far. The second and third were unlike the first due to changes in point-of-view narration and from being plot-driven to character-driven. Because I left the drafts alone since April, 2019 to work on Book A and B, I believe I will return to my drafts with a fresh mind. I will examine the first and third drafts for many days this time. Maybe I would integrate them. Alas, the challenge is its balance.


Very Sincerely Yours,
Clarissa Choo-Choo Train



~

Clarissa Choo is a vessel used for Christ’s glory. Although she has lived in four countries, Heaven is her only Home. She desires to sow His seeds and to serve third culture kids, teens, and writers. Besides writing, she loves to wash dishes, chop ingredients into smithereens, and record hymns on her piano. Peek into her Christian TCK Email Ministry or read more posts.