Welcome to June, and another IWSG meeting. We appreciate Alex J. Cavanaugh and his gang who make certain IWSG runs smoothly. IWSG posts the first Wednesday of each month. Find the entire list of participants here.
Our purpose is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for this June 2 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Sarah Foster,Natalie Aguirre, Lee Lowery, and Rachna Chhabria!
Our optional question this month is:
For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt?
I sometimes shelve my work for years but I don’t think that is actually shelving. That’s probably closer to procrastination or losing interest. But to answer the question, for me every story is different. I guess my answer depends on how excited I feel about the story, how rough a draft it is, and if I’ve written it for a publisher, a magazine or a contest. Maybe it’s even a gut feeling thing.
As mentioned in a previous post, I have a series of four novellas that I wrote several years ago in quick succession. I haven’t looked at them since. I even made a Pinterest page for each one. I’m sure if and when I get back to them I’ll be appalled at the convoluted mess, or excited for the challenge. I’m hoping for the latter.
When it comes to revision, sometimes I’ll revise as I go, and then I’ll put the story aside for a few weeks.
I call myself an intuitive writer. Some of my books and stories spill out of me while others require an outline. Don’t ask me why. I think each story sort of has a life of its own and “tells” me how it wants to be treated. That sounds weird, doesn’t it, but I’ll bet some of you know what I mean.
I come from a journalism background so I’ve taught myself to write pretty fast. There usually isn’t a lot of “shelf” time when you write for newspapers or biweekly magazines. That’s helped my fiction writing, but it usually means more revision. Writing fast is great for just getting the story down.
For the past several days, I’ve been playing around with plottr. I think I talked about it in my previous blogpost. I’m really enjoying “constructing” my newest book and plottr is helping me pull together the middle where I often flounder.
If any if you have a manuscript that took off on so many rabbit trails that you lost your way, I encourage you to give plottr a try. I’ll bet you can get that novel back on track using their 30 day free version. And then, you’ll want to buy!
Now, a bit of good news I want to share: I entered a “hook” contest that Books and Such Literary Management sponsored in celebration of their 25th anniversary. The hook had to be 25 words or less. Today I learned I’m one of 25 semifinalist out of 317 submissions. I won a $10 Starbucks gift card and I’m invited to send a proposal based on my hook to them by June 15th.
How fun is that?
I’m curious: do you submit to contests? If so, what kind?
Oooo, I am playing around wiht Plottr too. I love it so far. I use Scrivener so I can import into Scrivener which is what made me get it.
Juneta, I never could learn all the ins and outs of Scrivener, and only used it as a word processing program. Plottr seems so much easier for my little feeble mind.
A book of 25 words or less? Did I read that right?
Larry, the 25 words or less is summing up what the book is about–like an elevator pitch. Here’s an example from Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke: “A Minnesota baker is pulled into the mix when a man from her past is murdered.” That’s only 16 words but it gives us what the book is about. Thankfully, I got to use 25 words. I find creating a hook difficult!
Hi Jessica, even I’m an intuitive writer. Like you even I’ve shelved a couple of projects for years (though I didn’t complete two of them as I got busy with commissioned books).
Rachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Good for you! Sometimes I feel I’m the only writer around that never goes back to a manuscript that’s shelved. Thanks for commenting.
“each story sort of has a life of its own and “tells” me how it wants to be treated.” Makes perfect sense.
That’s the beauty of the writing journey. Although bound by common challenges, the journey is different for each work-in-progress and also a unique experience for each individual writer.
Congrats on being a semifinalist!
Thanks Michelle! I knew there would be some IWSGers that are like me! 😉
Congrats on getting your hook in the finals! I’m usually working on more than one project at a time, so sometimes one might fall to the side. Usually it just means that I wasn’t ready yet for that one and often I go back and see it works now!
Thank you, Marie! And congratulations on being able to work on more than one project at a time. I’ve found that challenging at times.
I think it is hard for normal people-LOL. I’ve realized that my brain doesn’t work like others! It does keep me getting the words out though, if I get stuck in one project, I hit another one. ;).
Marie, are writers normal? Nooooo! We don’t want to be either. I heard someone say that musicians hear music everywhere they go and in all the noise around them. If that’s true then writers must hear stories in all the things we see and listen to. Other people’s conversations and troubles, challenges and victories end up our stories. What fun we have! Good writing to you.
You’re right, there is a distinct difference. I shelved two novels back in the 80s and early 90s. My publisher is publishing the one from 1991 this year. You know what’s weird? I’m actually more excited about this one than I have been for a while. I’m going to give plottr a try. Thanks, Jessica.
Wonderful, Joylene! How exciting that you have a book coming out. You have good reason to be excited. 🎉 Toot that horn! I hope you like Plottr.
Congratulations on being a semifinalist!
Many times, a book has been writing me instead of the other way around. It flows so naturally and perfectly, esp. when I’ve had that story memorized backwards and forwards in my head for years before finally getting a chance to write it.
Glad Plottr is working so well for you. I tend to outline to death so it’s rare I go off on a tangent.
Carrie-Anne, I love that… the story writes you! It’s heavenly when our stories flow so naturally. I’ve had a couple short ones do that.
Alex, I wish I had your outlining skills. That’s a gift. Since I’m more a pantser those rabbit trails can appear out of no where!😂
I don’t enter contests, but I do judge them. After having some really mixed results, including a horrible judge that said awful things back when I was just beginning, my goal is to give constructive and encouraging feedback. Which is not to say that I’m not going to point out the issues, but I will do so constructively.
Shannon, I’ve always loved entering contests but I’ve had some hateful comments too. It’s hard to ignore that kind of thing. I entered my first published book in a contest once; the judge wrote on my score sheet, “I hate this kind of book.” How did that help me? See, I’m still fuming. 🙂 I’ve judged too, but I enjoy entering contests more than judging manuscripts. I never want to discourage anyone with my comments. Thank you for popping in here … And thanks for being a caring judge! Always good to have encouraging judges out there. Not enough of them! <3
Congratulations! I send to contests too. Mostly poetry and short fiction. I enjoy the process. You have a lot of work done. Hope you find time to revisit it.
Thanks for commenting, Sonia. I have a lot of work done because I’m old, and I love writing. 🙂
As a natural pantser, what you said about some books just falling out of you and others needing plotting really resonates with me. I’ve been coming round to the value of plotting through my co-authored project, and am starting to use it for my solo ideas. I’ll take a look at plottr – thanks for the recommendation.
Debs, I think Plottr will help pantsers without taking away our sense of freedom. I’ve read that pantsers feel restricted when they outline. I never have experienced that because I have an eraser and a delete button. LOL I hope you like Plottr and that it works for you!
I do think the experience of writing each book is different. After all, the characters can’t all be the same, can they? Some are very demanding, while others are happy to let you push them along, but maybe the more assertive characters are the better ones. Congrats on the win – exciting news!
Thanks Nick! You make excellent points.
Congratulations! That’s an awesome way to start June! I agree that sometimes stories have a life of their own and “tell” you what to write. It’s super weird but I have felt that too!
Thanks Kathy, and I’m glad you’ve felt it too. It confirms most writers, if not all, experience super weird things! 🤓