Wednesday, March 5, 2014

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

Thank you to Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting this great support group. Alex's awesome co-hosts are Tina Downey, ElsieElizabeth Seckman,and Julie Flanders



This month I've been revising and editing the ms that my agent declined on. I've come to the end and still feel more work needs to be done. Okay, do all writers do this---keep going back through you ms and rewording, changing little things.  One day I actually read and reread the same sentence and paragraph over and over. I didn't like it. I couldn't get it to mesh. Well that took a half hour. Then the ending. OMGoodness. I must've reworked that a zillion times. I needed to get it right, to make sense. It's a contemporary ya, murder mystery with elements of young love.  
Now it's being critiqued. And then off to my agent.

My neurosis is just recently soaking into my brain. And it comes in the form of a writers block. I've been editing sooo much lately between getting Tallas ready for print, and this new wip, that I can't think of a new tale. Nodda! I've started three new stories and stopped. There's nothing there. 

And then book sales...ARGH! Not much happening there either.

How Has Your Writer's Month Been?

47 comments:

  1. I'm deep in revisions, having completely pulled my book apart for the third time. Some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you. Us writers are truly insane!

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  2. I am almost done with my rough draft. I think that will be when the real insanity begins. Good luck with your WiP. I hope you get it like you want it soon.

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    1. Thanks, Robin. And congrats on getting the first draft done.

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  3. I write and re-write sentences a million times too sometimes. And then when I see the finished product I decide I still hate the sentence! I think lots of us do this and there doesn't seem to be a cure for it LOL.
    I hope you gets lots of great feedback from your critique and the agent will be happy with the ms now. It sounds like another great story from you.

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    1. Julie, thanks for confirming my suspicions that all writers re-write their work a zillion times, and still hate the sentence!!

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  4. I'm doing revisions too. I hate them with a passion. Okay, that's a bit strong, but, yeah, I'm not enjoying them a whole bunch. I had writer's block until I typed "The End" in my book. Then, a story that I'd been toying with suddenly blossomed…now to get it onto paper.

    Elsie
    AJ's wHooligan in the A-Z Challenge
    co-host IWSG

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    1. I wrote the end. Still waiting for something to Blossom!

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  5. I go through stretches of no ideas. I think it happens when we're drained.
    Hope the revisions knock the socks off your agent!

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    1. I think I'm drained. You're right. I need to rest the brain for a little while.

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  6. I wonder if writers are as much perfectionists in their regular lives as they are when they write. Book sales. The question is how????

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  7. Editing makes us ficus on little details. I think our brains need a break from that before they can come up with big new ideas.

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  8. oof, revisions are a beast, aren't they? I agree with Alex - block happens a lot when we're drained. It might help to take a break and do something to recharge: a walk outside, a nap, a good book, a day with good friends; whatever works for you!

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  9. Your rewrites and attention to detail aren't unusual, only necessary. Beta readers help to point out what doesn't work when you become too close to your work. I often miss holes in my plots, no matter how many times I read the words or listen to the story on my e-reader after uploading the MS.

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    1. Gail, so right. It's amazing when other people find your mistakes.

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  10. I think it's just normal to beat ourselves up.
    My brain goes dead quite often, even in the middle of talking to someone I have to say sorry my brain is dead, till I regain some kind of focus.

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    1. I'll let you know when my brain comes back......he said it is ok! :-)

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  11. Sometimes the fix for problem areas doesn't come. Usually it'll hit me when I'm doing something totally unrelated, like dishes. LOL I can give your muse a swift kick in the butt if you want me to. :P

    My month has been *busy*, and it's not letting up any time soon. (Can you say 'debut'. Gah! I can't, without nearly passing out or throwing up. LOL)

    IWSG #268 (until Alex culls the list again or I goof and get myself deleted. :P)

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    1. Yep. I understand. I usually take walks to clear my head, but when it's barely 5 degrees I tend to stay indoors. Melissa do you have a debut novel coming out?! Yahoo!

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  12. Isn't it strange how those who aren't writers think we have it so easy? That sitting down with a blank piece of paper in front of us is not work?
    Author of Wilder Mage at Spirit Called
    Facebook Wilder Mage

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    1. CD, I can't believe you said that! My sister doesn't understand why I'm frustrated or why I don't have more free time, just today I had to explain to her that writing is like my job, it's hard work.

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  13. If a fix doesn't present itself, distance and time will give you the clarity to know why. That's difficult if it's a sequel with a deadline, and that's when I think any author need a content editor. I'm SO grateful for mine.

    And hey, book sales pick up with time and as long as you're doing constant marketing. If the marketing drops off, sales will too. It's a sad truth.

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    1. Thank you for the advice Crystal! I suck at marketing, but I'm trying.

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  14. Your writing experience sounds similar to mine. I've rewritten the ending of one of my manuscritps so many times!! But I want it to be right and won't stop until it is.

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  15. Aww... I feel for ya, since I've sort of been in your shoes! You need to get your brain back into a creative mode after all that editing. Your left brain needs to take a nap because it's like a sleep-deprived guard dog. Give it a tranquilizer and enjoy the void of its incessant barking!

    Wishing you success. ;)

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    1. It's good to know I might snap out of this, thanks Cathy.

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  16. That compulsive editing does sound familiar, Constantine! But it's all the better for it. Good luck with the edits!

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    1. You're right. It'll make the ms much better, I hope.

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  17. I know exactly what you mean. I have reread the same sentence, changed it, changed it back, then sent it via email to my husband asking, "which one do you like better?" AHHH! The insanity of it all!! :)

    Good luck with the revisions and with your agent. Hope she accepts it this time!! And thanks for stopping by my blog today. I love your comments. It's so great to hear from someone who has raised five kids and knows how demanding it can be. I appreciate your words of wisdom, similar to what my mother has been telling me for a while now. They are only little for a short time...

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    1. You're welcome Kristin. I know what you're going through. Much Luck.

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  18. Sounds like you're due for a break to recharge! Hang in there! :)

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  19. I'm the same way--change this sentence, change it back, change again. It can drive one nuts. LOL. Good luck!

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  20. Nothing kills my mojo quicker than checking out my book sales. Sigh.

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  21. Hopefully things go well with this last revision. And may the gods of inspiration strike you! (Wait... that didn't sound very encouraging, did it?) May you discover a story that's just itching to claw its way out! (Hmmm, well, you get my drift.) :)

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    1. Everyone is striking my funny bone today! Thanks, Loni.

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  22. There is ALWAYS more work to do on a manuscript. I can't read any of my books once they've been published because I just know my fingers will itch to get in there and tweak more. Seriously, the final editor could've completely changed a chapter and I'd have no idea.

    Good job getting the MS to critique stage! It's fine to let your mind jump a little before landing on a project that sticks. Maybe you just need a well-deserved break from writing for a tiny bit.

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  23. Oh dear.
    Wishing you all the best with your editing. It sucks. I need to do it to. But... but... I don't have the will to start.

    And you're at critique! And agents! YAY YOU!

    anna
    Have a theme for A to Z? Reveal it with us on March 21 during the #atozreveal!

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