I've got a goal to be done with a round of edits on my book by November, but I'm at one of those places where I'm battling myself in getting it done.
I guess right now the mindset I'm fighting with is, I've become a much better writer since I started this project, and to bring it up to the level I want it to be at I'd have to completely re-write it again. I'm not willing to do that at this point as I have several other projects waiting, and I want to move on to one of those. However, I committed to myself that I would get this one done first. But since I've been struggling over it I actually haven't even looked at it in a couple of weeks.
Now as I'm writing this post I'm thinking that I should maybe change my goal and move on to something else and not work on this until I can feel excited about it again... if I'm not excited about it, why would the reader be? And I can't give my work the attention it deserves when we're not getting along. Then again, if we only wrote when we were excited about writing, we would never finish anything!
I need your help. What do you think I should do?
If you've written less than five full manuscripts and/or you've been working on your current project for a year or more, then WRITE SOMETHING NEW!
ReplyDeleteI went to a writer's workshop a year ago. Everyone brought the first chapter of a finished book for the group to critique. Our teacher encouraged us to write the first chapter of a new book while we were there at the workshop, then share it with the class. Four class members started a new book, and those new chapters were BY FAR the best writing we saw at the workshop, even though they were all first drafts! Moral of the story - you're a better writer now, so your next book will be better too!
And that book you've already written, that story you love? Write a new book and you'll learn so much more. Write a new book and you'll know what to do with your old one.
I agree with what Rebecca said. My current project, which is my sixth book is my best writing ever. My first book, although I love it, needs some love. :) I go back to it when I can, but only when I feel excited about it.
ReplyDeleteAnother agree here! I know if I ever wanted to get my first MS to a publishable state, it's going to take a lot of work—largely because I was writing it by the seat of my pants. I rewrote it, and even tried plotting a little, but it still doesn't really work. I got so tired of working on it, but I didn't have anything else to work on—and then a great idea took me by the throat. I plotted that idea out and started writing it before I even really "meant" to.
ReplyDeletePlotting it out made it easier to work and I knew that the story "worked" internally. I've changed a lot in revisions, and done a lot of rewrites, but the basic structure has been the same because plotting first made it a solid story. Because I was excited and knew where I was going, writing was super fast and SO much fun.
(Can you tell I just started a series on learning how to plot on my blog? I've been thinking about this all week!)
Wow, inspiring words from everyone!
ReplyDeleteI am going through the same thing as you are, Kristy. I've started this novel not too long ago and then, well, it all stopped. I have tried to bring it out and then I think, "I don't know what to write!" Then I put it away.
Something feels weird.
I have written six MSs and have never encountered anything like this before. Sure, minor writer's block like what am I going to do for this scene here? But never like this were everything just withers away. The characters stopped talking to me. Everything went dormant so suddenly.
I just decided to help others with their work and continue with my writing course.
I could try to write another story--but I am really a one-story kinda girl. It would be hard for me to do that.
One thing I know would help for sure is to go to the temple and meditate and pray there.
The Lord is listening. :)
My first book Pride & Popularity has gone through 11 rewrites and is getting ready to go through its 12. Pain in the bum, but every time I fix it, it only gets better and I only fall in love with it more. But I do need time away from it, before i can jump back in.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to imagine being so close to the end and not finishing, but that's probably because I haven't yet finished a big project like a novel. I'm getting close, though. I would let the spirit guide...
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of your feedback and encouragement. While I want to stay true to my commitment to myself, I have been feeling like I need to really give my novel the attention it deserves... even if that means putting it away for a while!
ReplyDeleteHere's my thoughts, do something else. And I don't mean writing either. I started working on a craft project this morning for our Super Saturday coming up in Oct. and I was surprised at how being crafty suddenly left me with words bouncing around in my head. I didn't write any of them down or anything, cuz that would be too productive, plus they didn't make much sense. But I think I just may try some more crafts, it seems to be getting my creative juices flowing.
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