Good morning Insecure Writers 🙂 Its that time of the month again and if you havent got a clue what I’m on about do check out the Insecure Writers web site.
This month i have been feeling very insecure about my writing. I ummed and arred about whether to take a Creative Writing course, and purchased yet more books on the subject.
But its also been a month where I’ve seen 4 of my fellow peers get publishing contracts and another self publish her novel. There is hope, and there are options…if only i could blooming finish something lol
And thats one of my many problems. Ive said before that i hate editing. I do a spell check and a reread…see exactly how much work there is to do…get demoralised and leave it there lol. I have 2 finished unedited novels and 2 not quite finished novels *sighs*
Im determined, this year, i will write a novel and stick with it. Edit it, rewrite it, really put the work in to get it the best that i can. Well, thats the plan anyway 😉
I think my problem stems from the fact that i enjoy the initial “creation” aspect of writing a novel, but when it comes to the detail, the fiddly bits, i lose interest and like a magpie spotting a shiny object I’m off onto the next thing. I’ll go back to the novel at a later date…wont i? *coughs*
So i need to get out of this spiral…i need to start a project, stick with it, see it through to the end…is it that i just don’t feel that passionate about the novel? Do i need to believe in it more, believe in myself?
Questions questions, and i have no real answer…i’ll try this coming Nano, i really will 🙂
What are you feeling insecure about right now?
The View Outside 
I’m feeling insecure about the short story I started last night; it’s one I’m totally re-writing but I’m finding that it have been better the way it was
x
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Thats always a killer isn’t it Peter 😦 Did you keep the original version? xx
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Yes I did, I try not to delete anything I’ve written. I’m definitely much happier with the original version 🙂 x
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Neither do i 😉
Good for you! xx
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I hate editing too, but it’s a necessary evil of writing unfortunately! Are you going to the RNA conference this year? Jo x
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Im glad im not alone then Jo….most people seem to love it lol.
No, sorry honey, I’m off to Swanwick again this year…cant do both 😦 I take it you’re going?
xx
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If it’s been a while since you looked at the two unedited novels why not have another re-read and see if you can pick any errors up. If you don’t want to do that why not see if you can find a decent editor at a good price. Maybe after an editing you’ll feel more interested in them again and submit them ( or Indie publish them). After all your effort it’s a shame to let your talent molder in a drawer. It might give you the impetus to finishing the other two as well before you hit NANO time this year.
You could even offer them to some beta readers to see if you need changes to the storyline before editing.
xxx Hugs Galore Vikki xxx
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Thanks David 🙂
I would LOVE to just hand them over to an editor and say “here you go, fix that!” but one of them need some major character development, the other has structure problems…not sure an editor would be able to do that for me or he/she would be writing the book 😉
I don’t think they’ve gone to waste, I’ve learnt SOOOO MUCH writing them, but yes, one day, i will sort them out lol
xx
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Getting something finished is a big help towards getting it published! Go on, tie yourself to the chair and DO IT!
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Ha ha ha, yes, thats what i need, someone tiring me to a chair lol…or a couple of weeks away on my own where i don’t have to worry about laundry, dog walking, supermarket shopping and cooking lol
Thanks Patsy, i hear ya! 🙂 xx
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I feel the opposite at the moment. Quite like the idea of editing, as it means there’s something there to work with, but am terrified of starting something. Blank screenitis lol!
Big hugs – you can do this! xx
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Oooooo, interesting Kate…i love a blank screen me 🙂 Have you tried using prompts, doing like a prompt a day, or once a week? I used to do one a day, but now i do one a week using a Facebook group (where a picture is posted weekly). Keeps my brain ticking over 😉
Good luck honey xx
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I just wonder whether I’m destined to be an editor rather than a writer
But…… I did try a prompt this morning – picked random words from the headline in the magazine sitting next to me, and…. it worked! Really enjoyed it. Thank you for the nudge – so much appreciated hun xx
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Brilliant Kate 🙂
Glad to hear you enjoyed it…i LOVE prompts!
xx
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Hi Vikki. Totally understand your insecurity and am right with you on the writing vs. editing. It helps to think of editing as the business aspect of the job and writing is the reward for editing. My editing is very systematic, so that helps, too. Good luck.
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Hi Sydney 🙂
Ahhhhh, well that would explain why i hate it so much….im not very business minded lol 😉
Yes, i really need to sort my self out don’t i lol
xx
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I find revision and edits much more difficult than writing the first draft too, and as a result have lots and lots of stories in various stages sitting on my hard drive! I do think that with everything you write you learn something new–I’ll bet if you look at your earlier efforts you’ll see how much you’ve improved. Don’t feel discouraged! I see how passionate you are, so I don’t think you lack that. It’s just that the road to a finished story is a rough one.
I’m always excited to see what you’re tackling next. 🙂
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Ha ha ha snap Kirsten! 😦
Awwww, thanks honey and yes, you’re right, i have looked back at stuff i wrote in 2010 and can see a HUGE improvement. I do look on all that unfinished stuff as practice 😉
Thanks honey xx
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I have the same problem – never finish anything! Which book do you think is going to be the one to finish? You should let as many people as possible know so they keep badgering you on how it’s doing. That’s worked for me so far. And getting second opinions on something can help to keep it fresh too. I know you’re a member of a writing group but I’m happy to read through stuff for you if you need it. Just give me plenty of warning.
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Awwwww, thanks honey 🙂
Im not sure ANY of them is the one to finish, and i think thaw the problem. I don’t feel passionately enough about ANY of them lol. Im usually a pantster when it comes to novel writing (thanks to Nano)…but this year I’m planning, and I’ve started already, soooo….could this be the one? Lets hope so 🙂
xx
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My Short is being released tomorrow and I’m very nervous.
Have you thought about writing a smaller project & revising it. 🙂
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
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Oooooo, exciting Anna….CONGRATULATIONS! 🙂
Ive written hundreds of short stories, submitted a few to competitions and magazines, but never got anywhere. Decided that i wasn’t really a short story writer 😉
Good luck honey xx
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I’m the same Vikki – hate editing. Therefore over the past month or so I’ve been revising my first ever novel by rewriting it. Not only does this get past the fact I’m a better writer than I was four years ago when this was originally written, but it keeps me in the creative process. Because I know just where the story is going thanks to my earlier draft, I can write in details and twists much more easily and feel confident of them.
Good luck with your efforts.
Take care, Cat x
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Hi Cat, how are you honey?
Oooooo, that sounds exciting honey! I think i will probably do that at some stage, but, I’m a bit bored with my first one now….perhaps in a couple of years time 😉
Good luck!
xx
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I’m good thanks doll, still ploughing away and hoping that it might amount to something worthwhile, eventually!
Know what you mean about getting a bit bored, I got the same with one of my short stories that I wanted to submit, but it took so long to get it to a point where I was happy with it I became disillusioned with the entire concept. Might go back to it one day…
It’s nice having you back blogging and writing again: I really missed your posts when you were on a hiatus. 😉 Don’t go away again! lol
Take Care,
Cat x
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Awwwww, thanks Cat 🙂
Ha ha ha, oh how often do i say “i’ll go back to it one day” 😉
xx
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I think it’s good to go back to something after quite a while because you really do see it with new eyes and – hopefully – cringe a little (or a lot!) and change what needs changing. It’s good to look at a first draft as just that – a first draft. probably best to keep telling ourselves it’s nowhere near finished while we’re writing it, so that temptation to leave it as it is isn’t there. At school we tell the kids a piece of writing is never perfect and can always be edited and improved – and this is right I thing, although obviously there comes that point where you just have to stop before you go crazy! Good luck with the novel, Vikki. When I get back to writing properly that’s what I’m going to do too – just concentrate on the one thing. xx
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Thanks Linda 🙂
Yeah, just concentrating on one thing is probably a good idea (although i know a few writers who write 2 novels at the same time lol).
Hope you get back to it soon honey, but in the meantime, enjoy your rest 😉
xx
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I need to go back and edit the above comment – typos! LOL!
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