So because of the holiday this week for all the bloggers in
the U.S. ISWSG, which is normally on the first Wednesday of the month, can be
posted on Tuesday or Wednesday this week.
BUT. I don't normally post on Tuesdays, AND I’ll be hanging
with the fam on Wednesday (which means no access to respond to comments in a
timely manner), so I decided to cheat a bit more and post my ISWSG post today
and leave it up until I’m back on Friday with Friday Fun.
IT HAS BEEN DECIDED!
Anyhoo, so I’ve recently gone back to writing on my stalled
WIP All That Remains. It was stalled out after NaNo 2011 because I really
wanted to work on Break Free. And I was just NOT feeling Remains at all. It was
not fun to write and I was really struggling with it, even after 30K words. I
mean, a little struggle at the beginning before you figure things out is
expected, but 100 pages of it was just a little ridiculous.
I was afraid I would go back to it and read it and it would
be terrible and I would have to start over. Or HORRORS ditch it
altogether. Though every time I’d read my query draft (I write a query before I
write a rough draft of the novel) I would get totally excited about it.
So I read it, and it wasn't as bad as I feared. Which is
also something that happens a lot. Sometimes that feeling that something is
terrible is just our Muse being a jackass or something.
So I’m back at it. It's slow going, mostly, I think, because
it takes me some warm up time when I switch from revising back to writing, or
writing back to revising.
So I think the moral of the story is, trust your instincts.
I really felt like I needed a break from Remains, and clearly I did. I know
it's a good idea to put your head down and push through things most of the
time, but sometimes you may just need to step away and regroup a bit. Work on something
else, or revise. The WIP will wait for you. It's not going anywhere.
19 comments:
I love that quote at the end.
I've never pushed myself through something I didn't want to work on, because I knew it would end in madness. I'd rather wait and be fresh than push through and have it be crap that I have to rewrite anyway.
Have a great 4th with the family.
I find a good break from an ms helps too. I catch so many things, AND gain a little more enthusiasm because it's like reading something new. :)
So true. The beauty of writing is that you're in the driver's seat and it has to wait for you. Ummm, that's the beauty and the beast, isn't it!
I agree that when it comes to writing, don't force it. Taking a step back and doing something else entirely can sometimes be the best thing that you do for your novel.
Hope you have an awesome 4th July!
I've heard people say that the best things come to those who wait.
I recently did that with one of my old manuscripts, and although the structure was all wrong, much of it still worked. Now I'm torn between spending time with it, or my shiny new idea. Decisions, decisions! :)
It's good to take a break from our work and get some perspective. I do love that quote in the end. Thanks for sharing it!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
There are a bunch of us who did BuNoWriMo who are still writing this month, continuing what we started, if you want some company. I'm glad it is working for you again and that what you'd gotten down was better than you worried!
That quote is fantastic, and I am a big proponent of taking breaks. The process for me is more about delaying until my story is going to pop out of my eyeballs, and then I write it, so I take breaks whenever I don't feel that (eh gad, I'm a lazy writer).
I completely agree about trusting your instincts. Sometimes we just have to put away a project until it calls to us again. :)
Glad you took some time away Sarah. I hope it pays dividends for you--now the creativity waterfall can flow again...
Pushing away from the keyboard is sometimes the wisest choice.
Too many 'experts' muddy the waters. I always trust my instincts first.
Trusting your instincts is critical in the writing process. It what really helps me with revisions!
Ooooh, I love that quote!!
Totally agree with you. Sometimes you have to take a step back. I had to do that with Novel 4, which wasn't actually stalled, but to really give Novel 3 the editing attention it needed I just couldn't keep writing 4. Now, I've edited my second novel, and I'm hoping, HOPING, to go back to 4 at some point. I hope you have a great Fourth of July Falen!!
Ninja Girl
You write the query first? Wow, I am impressed....
"Sometimes that feeling that something is terrible is just our Muse being a jackass or something."
Right on, sister!
(P.S.- Thank you sooooo much for your sweet comments on my blog. You are the best!)
I love it when you read back through your work and realise it isn't the rubbish you've been thinking it is. It's a great boost.
Yeah, I've had to temporarily put a hold on my WIP while I'm traveling. (writing this from Istanbul). I'll be doing Camp Nano Aug. If you are doing it too, and you want to find me over there I'll help cheer you on. Happy 4th!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who writes the query before I start the novel. I do it to make sure I have the goals and stakes firmly in mind.
I loved your Friday funnies!
Good luck on Remains! :-)
Post a Comment