Well, that brings me to the question of the month. Which is:
When do you know when you're story is ready?
This really is a challenging question for me because I continually rewrite and look for improvements in all my stories. Even when I'm done, I usually will go back and rewrite. I've been writing a series for so long, I have finally decided I have it where I want it. How did I decide this? I came to the conclusion that I will NEVER be happy 100% with my writing. I wonder if this is just me, or a typical writer experience. So I had to finally 'call it'. Finish a final edit and let it be. If I don't/didn't tell myself to finally stop, I'd still be working on it and I can't do that. I have to stop looking back, I have to move forward. And that's what I'm going to do. As I mentioned above, a lot of my depression stemmed from things in the past. But I have to stop looking to the past. No more. I need to move forward. In my writing and everything else. Continuing to rewrite and be depressed? I'm done!
Goals and such:
New Goal:
Make it a full year, posting to IWSG, without going AWOL again.
Old Goals:
Test readers:
In the next few months, I'm going to be looking for someone to exchange a YA manuscript with, to test read. I have a few sites others have suggested for me to check out. I shall be doing so.
Find Writing Schedule:
Still looking to time my non-negotial time. Summer is a bad time for me. So much going on. Can I still find the time?
My Encouragement:
"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity".
- Albert Einstein
Questions to Ponder:
Outside of school, what was the first thing you wrote that others enjoyed?
Have you ever written something, put it away for a long period of time, then returned to rewrite it years later?
* * * * * * * * * *
The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.
Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.
The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!
That's a place all writers hope to arrive at - knowing when to call it done.
ReplyDeleteReally good to have you back, Jeffrey.
I'm going to take a few suggestions from others posting to this question, to help aid me when I should tell I'm done.
DeleteHi Jeffrey - well done ... and that's good you're looking forward with your writing and series ... many, I hope ... it's good to see you around again. I titled my blog as it is ... as I really did not want to depress myself ... and when I was in South Africa and wrote home to family and friends - people just said they loved the letters ... so that was my first pat on the back: so to speak ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteYou always have encouraging things to say. You are right, what you post is always entertaining. Keep up doing what you do best. It helps some of us out. :)
DeleteIt's not just you. In the beginning, when I first started, I was never satisfied. I had to learn to be confident. I think it's time for you to reach out to beta readers. That's when you'll really know if it's done, because they can spot things and offer you suggestions to make it the best it can be.
ReplyDeleteOh, and if you missed the last two IWSG days, make sure you're still on the list. You may have to sign back up. :)
Yes, it looks like I may have been deleted already. I will certainly look into signing up again, but for now I'll keep posting even if I don't show up.
DeleteNice to see you back in the Blogosphere, Jeffrey! ☺ Yes, we are our own worst critics and I can totally relate to this penchant for rewrites. Great idea to have beta readers. Wishing you much success!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. It can be good to be critical of our own works, but too much is not good. I'm going to be cutting back a bit on blogging this Winter to work on my actual writing, and actively looking for my betas. :)
DeleteSorry you've had a rough go of it, Jeffrey. Glad you're back. By now you must know you're like 99% of the writers in the world today. We're all insecure, and that's why we're here. Kudos to you for hanging in there.
ReplyDeleteYep, insecure is my middle name.
DeleteThanks for the kind words.
Good for you! I think sometimes you have to re-light your pilot to find your way out of the gloom. Doesn't it feel wonderful? I admire your strength and resolve, it's inspiring to all of us who have been there too. Can't wait to read about your next project!
ReplyDeleteHard to believe I can be inspiring to anyone, but I think you for the kind words. I'm hoping by January to have things well in hand to working on my next project.
DeleteGlad to see your back. We all have our trials whether they be physical, emotional, or spiritual, you can only do what you can do and nobody need judge THAT.
ReplyDeleteMoving on and not looking back it good advice indeed. The WIP I'm back working on a liking again is 6 years old, I really need to get it out to the world.
All of that being said, I'm looking for a critique partner or two and would be happy to exchange WIP's with you. Let me know.
Sorry it's taken so long to get back.
DeleteYes, I'd be interested in a critique partner.
As I've mentioned before, my story is a YA piece.
It's actually a pretty easy piece, but it's the first in a set of (currently) 8 stories.
I love that Einstein quote because it is true. I think any writer would edit and edit and edit and can rarely be satisfied because we are our own worst critic. Glad you are here and will move forward.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be back, I just hope I can get to my actual writing like I'm intending on doing.
DeleteLie throws us curves sometimes. And gets sidetracked. Glad you are feeling more sociable now. If my crit partners didn't tell me to "quit it already" I'd edit and rewrite forever - even missing deadlines. The desire to create something can be intimidating sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI don't write YA, or even read it much. Too much angst and self centeredness for my tastes. There are a lot of YA readers and writers out there though; I'm sure you'll find some good partners.
I'm sure I will. Thanks for the encouragement.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteIt is soooo nice to have you back. You know in many ways, I understand where you are coming from. Writing demands that we take an introspective look at ourselves and it is up to us to say okay, but the rules are made me. Sometimes or maybe the most of the times I am introspective, however, I have learned to turn that introspection to looking at the good things I've done and taking a good healthy look at my future. That's what I wish for you. To be able to look at your past and say regardless of what, those experiences have helped me become a better writer.
As for your YA book, if you're looking for readers after November (that is NaNo month). I will be more than happy to be a critical beta reader who takes a look at your structure and plot to make sure there aren't any loopholes.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you.
DeleteI appreciate your thoughts. I shall keep them in mind.
I'll let you know how things are looking in December, it would be nice to have someone else take a look and give me an opinion.
At least your smart enough to know you have depression. That is half the battle. I'm glad you are doing better.
ReplyDeleteSo true. Knowing is the first step in healing.
DeleteI just need to keep working on it.
Folks love to share and we're designed to talk and be social-able. I discovered something new recently. We need to share our inner most strengths with others. This generally includes experiences and achievements and all the good stuff. In return and I'm consulting my tricorder on this, hehe - one increases dopamine levels which in turn stimulates the reward center of the brain. So Jeffrey one can be quite logical about this. All you needed was a good shot of Dr McCoys Cordrazine! Its Great your back!
ReplyDeleteIt's always great and encouraging to hear from the resident Trekkie Fanatic. (But if you say it's 'trekker' we are going to have some words). LOL
DeleteThanks for the words of encouragement.
The perpetual edit and rewrite: it's a vicious cycle. I think you're smart to call it. And I think it is a writer thing, that we never are 100% happy with our writing.
ReplyDeleteI need to start reading YA: a psychic told me that I'd be good at writing children's books or YA. It's been percolating in my head. I commend you for finishing!
Michele at Angels Bark
Well, if you write some YA, let me know. We can exchange stories for beta reading.
DeleteWelcome back to the internet :) And yeah, I think most of us feel like the work is never 100%. "The perfect is the enemy of the good."
ReplyDeleteFinding the balance of editing enough and enough editing can be a fine line.
DeleteI usually don't have a problem when I consider a story to be done: three rounds of editing, then it goes on the shelf until I cobble together enough money to hire an editor.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to your question, yes, I have put a story away for a few (7) years and come back to it. My current project is a massive re-write of a slushie novel I wrote several years ago and decided to dust off the moth balls because I belatedly realized that I had a prequel to another novella I was rewriting.
Father Nature's Corner
I Are Writer!
I've been hearing the three time method frequently of late. I think it's a great idea.
DeleteWhat's sad, is I put a story away for over 25 years. So much has changed since then, especially in school. It's difficult to rewrite, but I'm attempting that now, and putting this to bed.