I like that terribleminds has kind of become an inadvertent writerly community. People gathering around the campfire, burning their old trunk novels, weeping into cans of beans about this rejection or that bad review. As such, this seems like an opportune time to once more check in with you ink-fingered key-slingers and see:
How are you doing?
How’s the writing going?
Tell us some good news.
Trouble us with your problems.
Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk to each other about it.
Got a grievance? Air it.
Got good news? Celebrate it.
Progress reports: starting now.
Rebecca Douglass says:
How’s the writing going? It isn’t. I’ve been on vacation all summer. Been back physically for three weeks, but mentally. . . well, the kids are back in school so I’m verrrrry slowly getting going again, starting with some editing work for someone else. That’s actually good–it’s got me thinking about my own work, anyway. Next up: actually working on my own work. :p
August 18, 2014 — 1:09 AM
Jemima Pett says:
well, your brain needs a vacation too, you know 😉
August 18, 2014 — 8:17 AM
W. L. Bolm says:
Right now is going pretty darned good. I just got canned by my job due to lack of funds on their parts, but my previous job is letting me work full-time hours until I get a new one. I broke up with my partner, but in all reality, we weren’t very compatible.
An agent nibbled at my novel and then threw it back, so I’ve been relentlessly sending it out into the cruel, dark world so it can find a forever home.
I’m working on the sequel because the agent said the only thing she didn’t like about the novel was the protagonist, who “dies” in the first novel and isn’t in the second one, so if the first one never finds a forever home, I’m sending the second to that agent with a well thought out query.
I have some short stories that are in various stages of development, one of which is now with an anthology editor.
And, I’ve been working on my poor, neglected website again, which is very much a work in progress.
As a whole, I feel happy, healthy, and productive.
August 18, 2014 — 1:31 AM
Colleen says:
Wow, W.L.! And you still made progress. Good luck with everything.
August 18, 2014 — 4:32 AM
Lee Mountford says:
Keep going W.L. – it’ll all be worth it in the end!
August 18, 2014 — 7:53 AM
njmagas says:
I broke 30K over my vacation and pushed it past 33 today. The story itself is coming out much, much more easily now that I’ve written a detailed outline, but I have a secondary character who is threatening to take the lead by proving she is much more interesting than my protagonist. I’ve also discovered a boat load of intrigue going on behind the scenes that even I wasn’t aware of. No idea where that will go. I did some concept art that was well received, and had some great reach on a short story that went to a blog I contribute to. I’m going to try to scrounge up 5 full hours to dedicate to writing every day. I need this novel off my plate so I can work on the dozen or so others that are on the back burner.
August 18, 2014 — 1:40 AM
Michelle Hunt says:
I had the same problem — another character was more interesting than my main character — happen to me. I knew it as I was writing it, but I figured out that my other character is more interesting because she’s the villain and villains, if done well and not in a cartoon-y way, are ALWAYS more interesting than the protagonist. It doesn’t sound like that’s the case with you though — not a villain, but a secondary character. Are you SURE that secondary character isn’t the MAIN character? Maybe your WIP is trying to be something different than what you imagined, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
August 18, 2014 — 3:23 PM
njmagas says:
Well, this secondary character ends up working for the villain, but yes, I’m more or less sure she’s not the main character (as sure as anyone can be about these things in the first draft). She’s got nothing really to do in the second part of the book, but my protagonist does. It’s kind of a torch pass. In the third part they kinda come back together.
August 18, 2014 — 7:59 PM
M T McGuire says:
Seconded! My main character tueprned up half way through the book. He was a bit part and before I knew where he was he had seduced the female leas and turned into the main man. That’s half the fun of writing! You never know what’s going to happen next.
Cheers
MTM
August 19, 2014 — 4:02 AM
M T McGuire says:
How I loathe autocorrect sigh. He TURNED up and seduced the female LEAD.
August 19, 2014 — 4:06 AM
KT (@WildBilbo) says:
I started trying to write in May. I’ve got the planning done easily enough, but the actual writing is like pulling teeth. Apparently switching from writing technical tax advice doesn’t immediately translate into writing page-turning fiction.
August 18, 2014 — 2:31 AM
staceyapurcell says:
It will get easier. The more time you have yourself in front of the keyboard writing, it’s like greasing a rusted wheel. Sooner or later, it will give!!
August 18, 2014 — 11:03 AM
KT (@WildBilbo) says:
Thanks Stacey – I plan too 🙂
I’ve started with small goals – Month 1: 100 words a day (at least), 5 days a week, Month 2: 200 words a day, Month 3: 300 words…
The planning was a breeze, and I would often bust past the min words, but the actual story… all in good time.
Cheers
August 18, 2014 — 10:05 PM
Mozette says:
How are you doing?
God! I’m going well! I’ve been at my brother’s house at Brighton (it’s a coastal burb here in Brisbane) and I have loved the peace and quiet to get in and complete the last 3 chapters of Fry Nelson: Bounty Hunter – Book 3! It’s coming together well, and I’m tying up all the loose ends… I can’t wait to get it finished and re-read it! 😀
How’s the writing going?
It’s like playing leap-frog… I’m jumping between two lily-pads: one is a rough and dangerous Bounty Hunter book and the other is about Heaven’s Armies having a pissing match with a Knight of Hell as well as between themselves… and yes, there’s a bit of human bonding and loving and sex in there too just to keep it interesting. 😀
Tell us some good news.
Good news… well, I’ve found my groove again… it’s been wondering around on its own without my guidance to tell it what to do… *slaps it hard to keep it from screaming uncontrollably*… don’t worry, it likes being told what to do… weird thing that. Anyway, I’m writing up a storm and am able to keep both my genres of writing completely separate and able to work on them at the same time
But, shit, it’s exhausting!
Trouble us with your problems.
I’m being told by a proof-reading that I wouldn’t know how to write a good sex scene if I fell over one… I proofread another writer’s works (I’m not going to mention names just to be safe) and did a good job too. Her e-mail told us that her chapter was all about ‘getting some good loving and sex and her shy little female character was trying to trust the hottie of male one’ … but the chapter turned out to be nothing but porn, filled with smut and grotty. I told her so – in a much nicer way and longer too – and she snapped back at me in an e-mail gloating that she knew better than me because she has a psychology degree which she got with all honours… whoopie! …
Sorry guys, it just pisses me that somebody asks for my opinion on something, I give it and they end up snapping my head off when they don’t like what they hear.
Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk to each other about it.
Got a grievance? Air it.
I just did…
Got good news? Celebrate it.
It’s not about writing… I own a small hobby business in my off time called Lynda’s Crafty Pegs (you can google it under: ‘Crafty Pegs’ it’s on Facebook). And I have a new line of products I’ve been working my butt of on; and just in the last week, I found a very cool, gorgeous little blue vintage suitcase I’ll be using for a display for only $12 at an Antiques store not far from where I was staying last week!
And I have a craft markets at the end of this month (31st, August) and then another on 13th, September at night on the other side of town! Very cool! I’m hoping to make a good amount of money at both! 😀
*Performs the Snoopy Happy Dance around her office!* 😀
August 18, 2014 — 2:33 AM
Michelle Hunt says:
What some people think of as erotica, others think of as porn. Best not to offer your opinion on someone else’s sex scene or erotica, I guess, unless you know you are both on the same page as to what is good erotica and what is porn. Personally, I’m fine with either, but I know not everyone would be.
August 18, 2014 — 3:26 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
That’s how I feel, Michelle.
Mozette, perhaps reading sex scenes from various different authors to figure out what kind of style you want to aim for would be helpful. I’ve read everything from vague to flowery to raunchy and developed my own style.
August 18, 2014 — 3:34 PM
Michelle Hunt says:
Sara, I find that erotica is one of the “touchiest” subjects (no pun intended), especially in the US. Many people are okay with violence and fighting and all sorts of gore and mayhem, but get squicked out if they read explicit sex (or not even very explicit sex). It honestly confounds me, but I’ve come to expect it (even if I don’t accept it). But it’s why a movie with all sorts of violence in it can get a PG-13 rating, but a movie with even the teensiest nudity or sex in it gets an R or an NC-17.
August 18, 2014 — 3:48 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Yup, exactly. It’s quite interesting and sometimes frustrating. US society is both sexually repressed in some ways and sexually overt in other ways. It’s odd. But the whole uncomfortable mindset surrounding sex is the only reason that “Testarossa” is a pseudonym (I got it from a fictional character, and was later told it was a type of car, whoops). Anyway, I’m going to be writing some pretty hardcore erotic romance under this name, and young adult under my legal name, since it’s good to keep those identities separate.
August 18, 2014 — 3:55 PM
Mozette says:
Actually, girls, I’m one of this person’s ‘readers’ … so I have to let her in on what I think from a reader’s point of view and not another writer’s point of view… it was hard to do this and not feel as though I’m being a bitch about it.
But really I did say this in the nicest possible way; and she had been pulled up by other writers about how she’s writing her sex scenes as well – that they read like porn instead of sex scenes. When I read a book, I picture it like a movie or a television show, and when I saw this sex scene, it was shown to me like a B-grade movie… horrible, cheap and smutty. I like my share of good sex scenes in movies, but not this.
But it is difficult to write a good sex scene without it turning into a quick porn flick… 😛
August 18, 2014 — 10:15 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Mozette, I understand fully now. I guess you’re not the target audience for that writing style – some people enjoy their erotica to read like porn – at least in terms of how explicit it is. The things I write are extremely explicit, though I always twine the emotional and physical aspects of sex together, so it doesn’t seem like porn to me. It just sounds like what you’re reading may not be unilaterally bad, just not your preference. Granted, most readers I know like some emotion with their erotica. But many of the readers I talk to prefer erotica that, if it were a film, would be rated X rather than R.
August 19, 2014 — 10:50 AM
Michelle says:
I get what you’re saying, Mozette, but I agree with Sara. Some people like to read what you might describe as porn. Of course, since we can’t read what you read, we don’t know if it was badly written or just wasn’t your cup of tea. But I’ve definitely had the experience of reading something that I thought was very well-written erotica/smut/porn (whatever term you want to use here) and having someone else say it was “disgusting.” I like all degrees of erotica — from very explicit to not-so-explicit, and can see the value in and enjoy each, but I’ve tended to notice that people who don’t like the more explicit variety call it “porn” like that’s a bad thing — and to them it is. But if you enjoy that form of very explicit erotica, and many people do, then it’s not bad. To each her own — people just have to know what they are getting into before they get into it. I tell my alpha readers that what I write is VERY explicit and graphic and that if they don’t like that, they shouldn’t read my stuff because they won’t be able to evaluate it in any way that is helpful to me and it will likely just disturb them.
August 19, 2014 — 6:02 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Michelle, I need to track you down off this site, because I have a feeling I’d like your writing!
August 19, 2014 — 8:17 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
… there are several instances of “Michelle Hunt” on Facebook and Amazon and goodreads… could you prod me on FB or Goodreads if you want to connect? (I think I”m the only Sara Testarossa, but my website linked to in my name has my contact info)
August 19, 2014 — 8:31 PM
Michelle Hunt says:
Will do! But just a warning — I don’t have much to actually have much I’ve finished yet. First, very rough draft of a novel, and bits of stories here and there.
August 19, 2014 — 8:48 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
That’s fine! All I’ve got so far is a few hundred thousand words of fanfiction and the beginnings of the outline for my first novel, haha. Looking forward to seeing you elsewhere! Facebook is where I’m most active.
August 20, 2014 — 1:57 PM
Mozette says:
Thanks your insights here ladies. I appreciate them.
I’ve been writing for a long time; and find erotica difficult to write and read… I think it’s because I find it hard to describe my characters’ feelings on the page without it coming off as corny and weird.
The lady I’m reading for has put down a base for her female character where she’s just come out of an abusive marriage and is very shy, quiet and doesn’t trust any men. But suddenly, she a sex-hungry woman who is ripping off her clothes and horny as hell, acting like she’s ready to rock’n’roll with anyone. I find this kind of character in a book running hot and cold and I’m not sure what to make of them… it’s weird.
It’s not so much the erotica, but how the story is being written about the woman.
I’ve been in an abusive relationship and I didn’t want anyone near me… sex was disgusting to me and the thought of dating anyone was repulsive. And my relationship only lasted 9 months… so, this story really doesn’t add up in the way it’s written. And yet when I bring up this inconsistency with the author, she jumps at me telling me she knows what she’s doing.
So, really, I’m not sure what’s going on in her mind – as it’s a story about her really – really strange and unusual to place yourself in a story like this. Personally, I wouldn’t do this so soon after a marriage/relationship breakdown – but then, this is her, not me.
But how she’s written sex scenes just don’t ring true… they don’t feel right… they’re too erotic and too heavy too soon for her character. But when I told her this kind of thing as well, she hated me for it.
August 19, 2014 — 9:19 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Ahhh, I see, thanks for the clarification! That does make sense. Different people coming out of abusive relationships act differently – some the way you did, some the way her character does, but usually if they do the latter, there are negative emotional repercussions. And if that isn’t addressed in the book, it wouldn’t ring true for me either. Granted, I do have a friend who just came out of a bad (though not abusive) relationship who, as part of her healing, thinks a few one night stands would help her get over her ex. If that’s what will work for her, and if she stays safe, then, I’m not going to judge her. And fair enough that erotica is a challenge for you to read and write. It’s not for everyone. Thanks for continuing the conversation on this subject, it’s been quite interesting.
August 20, 2014 — 1:33 PM
A.n.k.H. says:
Well, shiiiiiiitttttt, it’s f***ing nearly 8 in the morning (and time for some writing!) I might as well have a go at this. 😀 Apologies for the ramble in advance!
—–
How are you doing?: Good, “I suppose,” would probably be a more appropriate answer rather than feigning all’s well with one of those whack-job sideways smiles on my face. Things could BE BETTER, but they’re GETTING THERE, at a snail’s pace, if anybody knows what that means. I got some overtime on the day job the week before last, so it wasn’t so bad, but it barely put a dent into some things. Just helped us stay steady. But it is what it is.
How’s the writing going?: GOOD! This one I’m much more prouder to say that towards, and I wish I had more time in the day to press towards this. I find it quite difficult to keep up with learning Ruby Scripting (for making games via RPG Maker), blogging (which, again, has seemingly been abandoned. I can’t do a running daily blog post, and I seem to have issues finding cool and unique things to say every day without sounding like some hermit living on Mt. Everest, away from society, all the time. Was never really good at feigning interest in the going ons of the world, unless they were extremely important in some way.) But despite lapsing on some parts of my writing, I’ve finally made a decision to go for Gabriela Pereira’s “Conquer the Craft in 29 Days” challenge. 😀 And I am quite impressed at what I’ve managed in about two weeks. I was going to commit to the novel I was writing to be my first venture into publishing, but a short 5-book novella series might be a better breakthrough point, (since, seemingly, there’s the buzz going around that starting with novellas or novellettes–the stuff people can chew on in shorter time than novels–are better breakthrough / debut weapons than novels, although no one has said novels can’t do the same task.) But, I figured between the time I have currently out and around the shitty day job, and the money it’ll take for me to push the novella into effect (such as, editing and cover making costs), less words I gotta pay for, the better.
Tell us some good news.: I’m not one to brag (and part of this I think is just convenience on my friend’s part, cause I’m like the only ‘artsy-fartsy’ person she knows who’s quite good at what she does), but my friend has personally come to me to help her out with her New Years’ Eve party fundraiser. She was pretty damned impressed with how I managed my whole wedding, including drawing and creating all the Steampunky stuff for the party and flower arrangements, so she wants me to do this too. >..<;!!!
Trouble us with your problems: I'll just number them out, makes it simplier that way.
1) Money. Who doesn't?–and hopefully I'll get some fresh air after next month when we're no longer hassled and pressed down with debt gained from the wedding–but that's the major one. Until then, we ride the wave of half-ass poor, half-ass doing 'a'ight', and somewhat spending too much weekly, even if it's just us going out for a nice meal on Sat or Sun. Trying to balance a budget and chequebook and still do nice things on occasion's the pits right now. :/
2) Too much shit to do, not enough time to do it in. This is a universally felt issue with a lot of folks, especially other artists and writers, but I must admit, this will probably NEVER go away. I struggle with not getting hooked on one thing or another, and although quite good at multi-tasking, I'm quite bad at juggling all across the board. I have naggings in the back of my mind that I need to critique someone's work every damned weekend and I need to get back to my blog, but I end up getting bogged down spending time on the CTC stuff and planning, and now I have my friend's New Years' fundraiser to write and plan for as well. @_@ It's madness!–and, unfortunately, NOT Sparta. I will just have to designate some time and do these things, although I generally like to have weekends just to chillax, I find all I end up doing (besides on occasion hanging out and playing Only War or D&D with the hubs) is…nothing! And that's the time I need to take to play catch-up, if need be.
3) I'm behind on the CTC challenges a tad. …I think I spent too much time on faux cover and inside design (sometimes doing the artsy shit to a book helps me get in gear with it, but sometimes…it's distracting, like the research part of the gig does.) THIS is why I'm postponing 'researching' until after a COMPLETE first draft and initial outlining, (seriously. Every time I get an itch to go on Wikipedia to look up a word or idea I don't understand, I go off into 15-20 minute tangents on the subject instead of writing! Hence why now I just put my internet on 'flight mode' when I start writing. …Somehow there's irony to that connection, lol!) I need to be much more concerned about keeping up with the challenges and just getting shit on paper (even if it's nonsensical or unrealistic) RATHER THAN worry about shit like 'if a person takes a shot to the gut, how likely are they to survive and still be conscious enough to talk shit and shoot someone else, without immediately going into shock?' I might as well vomit all the cool stuff on my hard drive, and worry about semantics later.
4) I've totally renigged on this year's New Year Resolution, and I haven't drawn much SINCE I bought my graphics pad and Manga Studio 5. :/ It's fucking terrible, but again, this goes with the 'not enough time, currently' bollocks. Been banging my head against the writing brick wall too hard to focus on drawing again…this is because:
LAST, but NOT LEAST, 5) I STILL cannot get any of my short stories published!–not even into Daily Science Fiction–and I think I've been kicked in the balls too much about it. :/ I tried again to put a short into Sirens' Call Publishing's monthly submission calls for their mag, but again, hadn't worked out last month. I'm kinda taking August as a reprieve month to just do my own projects, or work on, say, 365/52 prompts or Chuck's flash fic challenges, and now CTC (in which Chuck's stuff and 365 has once again been bogged and pressed aside for). So yeah, I'm really happy reading about those here with their updates who HAVE finally made the breakthrough and had their shorts published somewhere, but I still can't. Good thing about it is I am talking to one of the editors of Sirens' Call on occasion now, and she has given me some pointers as to why am probably having so much issue with getting stuff published, so hopefully talking to her will continue over time. 🙂 Also, I think I've found out that I'm a slow writer. :/ Hence why I seemingly can't do Chuck's challenges, 365 challenges AND my own project work simultaneously. Or, maybe I just suck that badly? I just don't know sometimes (lol) I'll try to go back to posting up my writing from the writing challenges on weekends, and mag-humping (as I call it) next month, when I can be bothered to get rejections flooding my inbox again, (it's never the rejects that's the hurtful bit, it's the seemingly neverending AMOUNT that is!)
No super fun-time good news yet. Will hope there'll be some in the near future! 😀 I guess some good news is I'm still fucking alive, and one can't complain about that. 🙂
I guess one grievance is I'm still dealing with the financial/legal aftermath of my Mom's passing, and thinking of her. Just thankfully doing either hasn't been disruptive to what I've got to do. I just deal with it internally, think good thoughts and memories of her, and move on. I still love her. I think she knows this. It's good enough for me, as long as she's in a better place, wherever that is.
Any of you guys have anything similar going on? :3
August 18, 2014 — 3:49 AM
The Glitzy Faery says:
OMG, research – I know that feeling! I love history, and just wanted a LITTLE background to get started, then found a map site, and bought a book, and found some blogs …. I’m with you, it’s time to just WRITE SOME STUFF, and tweak the research later, lol. That’s where Chuck’s blog comes in, where he yells at us to just shut up & write.
YOU’RE NOT MY REAL DAD, CHUCK
August 18, 2014 — 9:29 AM
staceyapurcell says:
Bwahahahahahaha that is TOO funny!
August 18, 2014 — 11:05 AM
Silent_Dan says:
Welp…
How are you doing? I’m doing alright. Pleased with myself, actually.
How’s the writing going? I hammered out 2000 words or so of a scene that I thought I wasn’t going to do well, and it turned out much better than I expected. I’ll still have to edit it, but it seems alright. This is off the back of probably the first time ever self-editing, or at least the first time in forever.
Tell us some good news. People want to pay money for the short story anthology I’m published in.
Trouble us with your problems. Not really a lot of problems, really, just editing.
Got a grievance? Air it. There’s still a while to go before the end of the road for this particular book. But I can see the end.
Got good news? Celebrate it. Is 300 copies shipped of an ebook good? I don’t imagine that’s a lot. But it’s better than just 3 copies!
August 18, 2014 — 4:53 AM
Sara says:
Hi all! Congrats to those celebrating successes, and best wishes to all of you, especially those struggling.
I’m doing well!
The writing is going slowly, but I’m at a good place in it. I’m in the outlining stage for my first novel (which will be my first fully original piece since college – I’ve written probably 200k on various fanfiction projects and am finally ready to write a novel). I’ll be cowriting with two close friends, one of whom who has had 3 novels and 2 novellas published so far, and we plan to submit to her main publisher. I’ve cowritten fanfiction with her before. We’re each going to work on character outlines and have all been contributing plot ideas. We have a general idea of how we’d like to write, sort of round robin style. This story is going to be quite a trip; it’s an erotic romance about a polyamorous triad of three men in their local BDSM/kink scene. Yes, we know plenty about those topics, haha.
I’ve been procrastinating on a “just for fun/practice” fanfiction project with another friend, which is sitting at 190k, after a year and a half of casual writing back and forth. The project has been helpful in getting me to write more often.
Problems? I’m working with my writing around a day job, which is 50 hours per week if you count my commute, and a body which requiresmore sleep than I’d like it to need. One of my cowriters is an author almost full time, with multiple projects of her own, but is willing to put this endeavor at the top of her priority list, for which I’m extremely grateful. The other person has a standard 40 hour per week job and is a slightly slower writer than the other two of us. For me, I struggle with making myself sit down and write if I’m not in a “good writing mood”, and need to change that. I’ve had success in the past writing when not in the mood, when I’ve forced myself, so I just need to take action every day.
Another problem is that I’m getting sucked into social media (facebook mostly) with this author persona. I’ve spent more hours on that than I think I should have, especially since I haven’t even got a book contacted yet. I’ve been networking and socializing with other writers and readers. That’s all well and good, but I need to take some of that time to write! I loved the recent post on self promotion, it’s helped me find balance in my posts.
Today I don’t think much is going on at the day job, so I should have time to write about 1k in my for fun project to send to my writing buddy, and also work on character sheets and outlining for the novel. Well wishes and good vibes appreciated. I’ll send them to you as well, fellow writers!
August 18, 2014 — 5:09 AM
Sara says:
Forgot to mention, the upside of my ten hours commuting weekly is I’ve been listening to a selection of other writers’ erotic fiction through the Nobilis Erotica Podcast in the car. There are many very talented authors who contribute stories to the podcast, and besides loving reading/listening to stories, I learn how to be a better writer in part by osmosis. I pick up tools to add to my repertoire, and the occasional awesome word I forgot was worth using.So, that’s helpful.
August 18, 2014 — 5:19 AM
Sara says:
One more thing (remind me not to reply to posts before I’m fully awake): I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of alpha and beta reading/editing for a few published authors over the last two years. One of them (one of my cowriters) has told me so much about her experiences in the industry that I feel pretty prepared for what’s to come after the manuscript is submitted, despite not having firsthand experience.
August 18, 2014 — 5:22 AM
Michelle Hunt says:
Whew! Sounds like you’ve got a lot going on! Congrats! Thanks for the mention of the podcast — I hadn’t heard of it and will have to check it out now. Good luck with all of your projects! (And I feel your pain about the day job — mine varies from 40 to 60 hours per week, so I know getting writing in can be tough.)
August 18, 2014 — 9:37 PM
Sara Testarossa says:
Thanks, Michelle! Best wishes to you as well.
The podcast has some great stories by a variety of authors. I’ve been listening through the archives. So far most of the stories are some type of sci-fi or fantasy. There’s something for everyone who likes erotic romance – from polyamory to monogamy, BDSM to vanilla, gay/straight/bi/pan sexual orientations, and there are gender-nonconforming characters and some who undergo magical gender transformations! Good stuff.
August 19, 2014 — 10:56 AM
Fi Phillips says:
Progress has slowed down. My novel is finished (as in the fourth draft). I’ve asked my husband to critique it and we’re working through it chapter by chapter, which is slow because it relies on him being up to that on a night time after work. He has a good eye for crit work and he knows me well enough to understand my writing process. There’s been a few tough words that have hurt my writerly sensibilities but mostly, he’s spot on. After this, I want to go through the whole thing looking at dialogue (make sure voices are consistent throughout) and seeing as this is a children’s novel, I’ll probably split the longer chapters into shorter ones. Then, as soon as I can afford it, I’ll submit my novel for a manuscript assessment.
Thanks for asking.
August 18, 2014 — 5:45 AM
Kay Camden says:
Husbands are good for this. I use mine as my final pass before it goes to the editor. Instead of have him read it, I read it aloud to him. So I get my husband beta read and my read aloud done in one go. Oh, and since I’m reading from paper, I get a different format read in there too.
The tough words can be hard. I feel your pain. Every time I start reading I have to psych myself up. He’s like, “Read!” and I’m like, “Okay. Gonna read. Here I go. Ready to read. You ready? Here I go. Okay. I’m reading. You comfortable? Nothing else you want to talk about? Okay. Ready?” etc.
The tough words are always spot on, like you said, so it’s all worth it in the end. Because by the time I have a published book, I’m proud enough of it that I could read it aloud to anyone. While naked except for a purple tutu. And a mohawk.
August 18, 2014 — 10:24 AM
Colleen says:
How am I doing?
Better. I miss writing as much as I used to, and it makes me grouchy, but I know where I’m going and I agreed to the price beforehand, so that’s okay.
How’s the writing going?
Not as well as I’d like. When I started my degree, I agreed to take a writing hit and knew that meant dropping from my planned release a month among writing heads… I just didn’t realise how much of a hit. I used to try for 7k a week. Now, I’m having trouble making 1k on weeks when assignments are due or tests or whatever, but I’m slowly working out the balance. I’ve gone from 1 release a month after the first quarter to maybe a total of four releases for the remainder of the year. Two went out in June, and I have one slated for October and one for November. The November is 5 poems off completion. The October release is 65 flash fiction pieces off completion. And I love them both.
Tell us some good news.
I am watching my sales slowly climb… and I mean slowly, but it’s commensurate with the amount of output and it *is* a climb.
Trouble us with your problems.
I have some problems, but I’ll get through them. It’s okay for now.
Got a grievance? Air it.
I don’t know if it’s a grievance, but I don’t like the attitude of the traditional industry and newcomer writers who think they need a publisher/editor/agent to tell them they’re good enough or their story’s good enough to be published. Actually, that’s not true. I don’t have a problem with the writers. I think it’s just that I have had a gutful of writers, newcomer writers, publishers, agents, small trade and so forth looking down their noses at me because I’ve chosen to go indie. It’s stupid, and I’m tired of people who expect me to try and justify my choice, but I am not planning on going traditional, now that I’ve tasted indie and I’m sick of people who imply it’s because my work isn’t good enough. I *have* been published traditionally. I’ve also withdrawn my work from a small publisher because it started behaving like a big one at its worst. I love the freedom that comes with publishing independently and that is… that is.. all. Enough. Finis. No more complaints. Just remember, you asked.
Got good news? Celebrate it.
I’m getting good marks in my degree. My current works in progress look to be completed on time for a rigorous edit prior to release, and I actually made sales last month that were greater than the month before even if still in the coffee money range. My 5-10 year plan is actually working – oh, and I still love my stories.
And thanks, so many thanks…
And, thank you, Mr. Wendig, for your encouragement, for providing us a place to come and recharge – even if we don’t get to come here very often, or to say very much. And, most of all, thank you for teaching me how much fun flash fiction can really be. You are the spark responsible for the flash fiction collection now so near completion, and for all the new story buds that collection has helped to strike and start to grow.
Even though you don’t know me from a bag of monkeys’ widgits, you are one of many writers who gave me courage to believe in myself and my writing and to keep going even when the courage ran away and hid, just by being who you are and by blogging your experiences – so there.
Okay, NOW I’m going off to write, like this other writer once told a bunch of faceless writers who crowded around the campfire of his blog to go and do. And don’t bother trying to hide the pens. You know we can find them faster than fruit flies in a banana fight.
August 18, 2014 — 6:16 AM
Alessa says:
Let’s see… I’m doing pretty well, thanks for asking! I just finished a one-week staycation and man, it was great. I ended up turning it into a poor man’s writing retreat. Concentrated on writing all-day, everyday. It was just what I needed to get back into the writing groove. Closing in on the second/third draft of my novel. (Some parts are third, some parts are second…) I think it’s taking shape nicely, and I’m getting to the heart of the story.
All in all, things are good.
Now that I’m back to work though, the trick will be to keep going!
August 18, 2014 — 6:32 AM
Caitlin says:
The short novel that was intended to be a short story prequel to my series is in the hands of my trusted beta readers, work has begun on the fourth book with a flash of understanding and frantic typing. This prequel has been a blessing and a curse, it completes the story but now there is editing to be done on the books that follow. My fingers are like Michael Flatley on meth as I switch between manuscripts, occasionally laughing at myself like the crazy lady I am. In short, it’s going fabulously well.
August 18, 2014 — 7:12 AM
gigi says:
Hey!
Just wanted to chime in with my thoughts because:
– I’m confused with Amazon vs traditional publishing. So many stories going around. I decided to wait and see what happens without forming an opinion just yet because I feel I don’t have all the facts;
– I’m confused about managing my stories. I’m working on three manuscripts right now and it’s damn hard to keep my thoughts together;
– I’m working on three manuscripts because I can’t work on just one. You know how it is, when you have an idea about ‘this part’ of ‘that story’, you’re going to write it down, right? Even though you should finish ‘this one’ first.
– Sometimes I feel that I’m too isolated, yet I don’t do well in general communities. I guess that’s why I’m writing this here and not in a writers forum.
August 18, 2014 — 7:14 AM
E.Maree says:
Maybe try cutting down to two projects? Might strike the right balance between managing confusion and distraction.
The AbsoluteWrite community is quite cosy if you ever want to try out a writing forum. The mods are quite strict that you have to be respectful to one another, which is a fantastic thing to see enforced and ensures discussions are almost always friendly. I avoid the political forum because that sort of stuff sets me on edge, but the YA subforum and fantasy subforums are lovely!
August 18, 2014 — 8:10 AM
gifrancis says:
Thank you! I’ll check it out.
August 18, 2014 — 11:30 AM
Kerry Ann says:
Week two of gluing my ass to the chair and staying there until I have two pages. Some days it’s like plucking hairs with dull, dirty tweezers, but the bloody words must hit the page. Book two will not write itself. And when I get it done each day, damn I feel good.
Book one still living in limbo. Queries and submissions somewhere in cyberspace (likely agents’ email trash bins). But that’s okay. Going to scale back because going indie might be better. Need much, MUCH more time to discover options.
Just. Keep. Writing.
August 18, 2014 — 7:28 AM
squee1313 says:
I went Indy and I’m very pleased with the results. See my comments below. Give Red Adept Publishing a try. They are small, but they have been super great to work with so far!
August 18, 2014 — 7:41 AM
squee1313 says:
I’m in the editing queue for a novel being published through Red Adept Publishing. My first! Woot! It only took me about 7 or 8 years to get here. I’m working on book two right now and the publisher is very anti-cliffhanger ending, which I’m fine with, but it means having to readjust my plotlines a bit.
There have been a few nights (more than a few) of me with steam coming out of my ears as the gears grind together with no solutions to lubricate them.
But this is a problem that I am thankful to have, and those 7 or 8 years of writing prior to this moment have proven that I will eventually find a solution. Probably at an inopportune time, which is why I carry pens and notepads with me everywhere (I hate trying to “write” on my phone).
August 18, 2014 — 7:39 AM
Kay Camden says:
I love cliffhangers. Both reading them and writing them. 🙂
As a reader, nothing gets me more excited about a book series than a good cliffhanger or shocking ending.
As a writer, I expected more readers to trash me because of my cliffhanger, but I was willing to take it. So far, no one’s upset over it. Why are publishers so against cliffhangers?
August 18, 2014 — 10:34 AM
Lee Mountford says:
Pretty good at the minute – just had a short story accepted for a horror anthology (first ever success!), my blog is building momentum and I’m writing more than I ever have.
I’ve decided to keep churning out and submitting short stories for a while until I think of an idea I love for my first novel, then dive headfirst into that.
Aaaaaaand I’ve just gotten engaged!
😀
August 18, 2014 — 7:57 AM
thejbru says:
Hurrah! Good news all ’round.
August 18, 2014 — 9:40 AM
Lee Mountford says:
Thanks 🙂
August 18, 2014 — 9:50 AM
Garnet Belial (N. L. McFarland) says:
After writing 60k words in July of my very first attempt at not only a genre I don’t write (young adult) but with a protagonist I barely connected with (female!) my juices have sort of… died. Decided to take pressure off August.
STILL haven’t finished my first draft of my April project. The 60k draft is missing three chapters, so it’s not ‘complete’ either, and the book I published in June isn’t selling at all.
All of which is leading into a downward spiral of depression funk I’m not being productive or doing anything useful type nagging self doubt and such feelings. All the little doubt and depression demons just jumped on me at once.
August 18, 2014 — 7:59 AM
E.Maree says:
Sounds like we’re both in similar spots of not-finishing-our-shit, complete with doubt demons chewing on us. I added you on Twitter (I’m @emaree) — if you need some cheerleading I’m happy to help. 🙂
August 18, 2014 — 8:07 AM
E.Maree says:
Having some trouble finishing my shit — I’ve gotta tie up the end of a big, ‘rewrite everything’ edit, but I keep steering away from it. And steering away. And steering away some more.
This isn’t the first time I’ve done this on an edit. I think I have some hang-ups about ending things (and hang-ups about never being able to get an edit ‘perfect’.)
I started a fun, not-for-publication project after seeing a few of my writing friends doing the same… and hey, whaddaya know, it IS fun. I’m conscious that it’s all just procrastination from tying the knot on that rewrite, though.
August 18, 2014 — 8:04 AM
Wendy Christopher says:
Y’know, these questions are the very ones I needed to have asked of me round about now. Thank you , Chuck – your psychic emapthy-thing never ceases to amaze me!
How am I doing? Better now I’ve recovered from some nasty insect bites I got while in my allotment, thanks. Ninety-five percent of people have little more than a few days of swelling and itching of said bites from these little beasties… but I went and fell in the five percent category of those whose legs swell up and go purple and temporarily lame until they get antibiotics *facepalm.* But that’s all over now. Got the insect repellent and been practising the Rambo Face for the next time they think about nibbling on me…
How’s the writing going? better than expected, considering I’ve had my eight-year-old son off on school holidays for the past three weeks (with two-and-a-half still to go.) I thought I’d get nothing at all done – and I’ll admit that productivity’s definitely taken a hit on the w-i-p – but in the times where I’ve been separated from my computer I have managed to hit ye olde pen-and-paper to get some outlining for the sequel to the w-i-p done, so that’s a bonus.
Good news? The aforementioned outlining on the sequel book. Like the Pantsing Heathen who saw the miracle with their own eyes, I now BELIEVE in the power of the Outline, brothers and sisters! I got me a stack of index cards and I’ve been writing random scene ideas on them as and when they occur to me, with a view to eventually shuffling them into some sort of order to make up the plot of Book II. And it’s flippin’ well WORKING – I’m amazed at how much of the story I’ve already got planned out.
Problems? Hmmm. I’ve hit a certain stage in my confidence levels. I know where I’m going with my current w-i-p now, and I even know how I’m going to get there, but the voices in my head are back, saying things like “You know this thing’s unpublishable, right? That no-one’s gonna want to read it? It’s too emotional and touchy-feely for proper sci-fi fans, and the people who like emotional and touchy-feely stuff don’t look for it in sci-fi novels. You’re writing a dud, girl – this could be years of your life wasted!” And yet I can’t give up on it. I feel like I HAVE to write this one before I can even attempt to write anything else. Is that a crazy/egotistic way of thinking? I don’t know – I was a lyricist for twenty years before finally turning seriously to novel writing, so this all feels like new territory to me.
And I would never have got this far in the novel-writing process without your words of wisdom, Chuck. Discovering your blog and your 500 Ways books was the kick in the arse I needed to finally Get My Shit Together. So thank you.
August 18, 2014 — 8:06 AM
Jemima Pett says:
Well, Chuck, my writing is doing ok, thank you – largely due to your flash fiction prompts. I’ve just spent July writing a full-length novel about those charming asteroid miners, Pete and the Swede, who got invented when I had the title Orichalcum Library sprung on me last October. And that came about because of a genre mash-up entitled Paradisio. And since I couldn’t let Pete and the Swede go, they got more and more flash fiction stories… until I finished the first draft now entitled The Perihelix.
But now I still can’t leave them alone, and there’s another flash fiction about them for this week’s colours title.
Deep sigh.
Such attractive characters …. they even have their own website.
August 18, 2014 — 8:24 AM
Leigh says:
What a wonderful idea to ask how we’re all doing. I learn a lot from you every time I read.
As for me… I decided recently that I will no longer write for free (unless there’s a very good reason). Since then, I’ve been pitching and been paid for one article so far. I have a list of hundreds of places to pitch that pay too.
Which, btw, to pass along the good will, I’m compiling that list and will be sharing it with other writers.
I’m also running a writing retreat for women in Costa Rica with another fantastic female writer. It takes place this coming February and focuses on self care as the first step for women to write.
All that on top of having a new baby. Lots to balance.
Thanks again for this space to share and hear what others are up to as well.
August 18, 2014 — 8:33 AM
Michelle Hunt says:
How’s it going? Hard to say. I’ve found I have no problem putting words on paper — I have over 190,000 words of a first draft of a first novel — but I’ve found I have serious issues with editing. I just cannot figure out HOW to do it! I know that sounds silly, but when I re-read my manuscript I feel like I know what needs going, but the idea of actually diving in and trying to make sense of this hot mess just is so daunting, I want to just scrap it and start all over (maybe on something new, maybe on this — who knows? Just something that is NOT editing this.) I know I shouldn’t do that — I need to learn HOW to edit, but I’m struggling. Words of advice would be appreciation. Words of commiseration would be GREATLY appreciated. Anybody else have the same “I hate the idea of editing so much I’d rather just start over” feeling?
August 18, 2014 — 8:51 AM
Allison Monroe says:
I don’t have a ton of experience here but have you tried transferring just a few pages at a time to a new document and just focusing on those pages? If something comes up that will effect things farther down the road just write it down and keep going. May help you feel less overwhelmed?
August 18, 2014 — 9:16 AM
Michelle Hunt says:
Allison — Thanks for the suggestion. That might help. For some reason trying to edit within the document is just overwhelming — maybe copying small bits to another document and working on it alone would help. I’ll try that.
August 18, 2014 — 10:44 AM
Ashlynn says:
Four years ago I published my first book through Elloras Cave, and had a stroke on the same day. Just last week, I finally finished my second book!! It’s short, but I finished one! Go me! I’ve decided to self pub, so, started my own pub company yesterday and emailed a lady about cover art. I also nailed my blurb. 😀 My MS is currently at a beta reader and a crit partner.
Today, I plan on working on characters for the next one in the series. 🙂 Have figured out the puke-and-edit-later technique works very well. So I’m going to keep going with that one. Can’t edit a blank page, right?
August 18, 2014 — 9:04 AM
The Glitzy Faery says:
Oh my goodness – your life certainly got “interesting”, didn’t it? Congrats on the recover and second book. I’m sort of a short-puke writer … I’ll puke up a chapter or so, and then take a nap because *whew*. To get back into the “groove” of the story, I’ll re-read what I’ve written, and sometimes edit while I do so. As it gets longer, I’ll just re-read the previous couple of pages. I’m a fast reader, though, and sometimes I’ll just read through the whole thing to see if it still interests me – making small edits along the way. I get ideas while doing so as well; I used to do it in a notebook, but Chuck’s idea of using index cards works MUCH better!
I think this is the type of thing that makes authors like John Scalzi say “I don’t do a first draft” – technically you DO, it’s just that you don’t have the whole story/book at the same level of “first”, lol.
August 18, 2014 — 9:40 AM
Michelle Hunt says:
Quick question if you care to answer it — why go indie with the second book if you were published by Elloras Cave for the first? Was there a problem with going with a publisher? You don’t need to answer if you don’t want to and I’m not looking for you to bash Ellora’s Cave — I’m just wondering.
August 18, 2014 — 3:33 PM
Ashlynn says:
No had nothing to do with EC, I had a good experience there. My new story isn’t erotic for starters, and I just wanted to have a little more control. I’m not in it for the sales, just wanted to get my story out there.
August 18, 2014 — 3:41 PM
mikes75 says:
I had thought I was about 3/4 done, and would finish at about 60k for a first draft. Then I realized my fourth act was only a third, and I’m probably going to end up with ~75K. So, yay?
August 18, 2014 — 9:06 AM
binkythebomb says:
I was writing but have hit a ‘fiction wall’. I can come up with dozens of synopsis, plan stories and get important segments and research down, but the actual guts and garters are eluding me. Two factors are Vitamin D and a toothache (and a bathroom rebuild, but I’m only needed for bits of that), I’m low on Vit D and need to get out in the sunshine more (meaning lots of AFK) and a toothache that is sapping my concentration whilst I wait for my appointment to roll around.
I can remedy one with a voice recorder (walking and talking helps) but the other is a constant annoyance that is sapping my creativity, but is doing wonders for my focus for learning new skills. I’m already a third of the way through a 250 page tutorial on 3D computer modelling because the way its written numbs the mind juuuuuust enough to kill the pain but lets me feel like I’m being productive with lots of 3D artefacts on to create on screen.
Yes, it is procrastination, but I can’t let myself be idle either.
Only another week to go.
August 18, 2014 — 9:10 AM
Wendy Christopher says:
For the toothache, here’s something you could try to dull the pain: mix a couple of drops of myrrh oil (you should be able to get it in a health food shop or anywhere that’s ‘into’ aromatherapy) in a shot measure of clear alcohol like vodka or gin, and swoosh it around the affected tooth like a mouthwash for a few seconds before spitting it out (DON’T try and swallow it – not that you’ll want to anyway ’cause it’ll taste godawful disgusting.) That should help you get a couple of hours respite from all but the most horrendous of tooth apocalypses.
I know the agony of such things though, so I sympathise. I remember having an abscess under a tooth where it split in half once… oy, not a pleasant memory…
August 18, 2014 — 3:10 PM
binkythebomb says:
Cheers, I’ll check that remedy out. Concentration improved slightly with a paracetamol today, along with some ritual blood letting by a local nurse (unrelated matter). Going to try and start one of these short stories this afternoon, see if I can’t get something down.
August 19, 2014 — 8:47 AM
Allison Monroe says:
Howdy, I thought I would chime in (for the first time on this site) because I am at a pretty exciting/scary point. I just finished my very first novel (yay!) and I am now in the revising process. I’ve been told by a few readers that I have a pretty clean first draft and should be ready to start pitching soon. Hearing this makes my belly do a little flip flop because I have never been here before. Now I have to make some decisions. Do I e-publish? Do I try to pitch it? Where do I even begin? I’m very excited but also shaking in my Nikes (kidding, I don’t wear Nikes).
It’s a trilogy so I have a lot more work to do but actually getting to this point is awesome. So, I guess I just wanted to share my excitement and open up the floor to any advice. It’s YA/Fanstasy/Dystopia (I know, I know, something new and different 😉 )
August 18, 2014 — 9:14 AM
Wendy Christopher says:
Well first of all BLOODY WELL DONE to the nth degree for getting that baby finished! Seriously, a heck of a lot of people don’t even get that far in their writing career, so pour yourself a glass of chocolate and eat a bar of wine (or whatever it is you do to celebrate.)
Whether or not you self-publish or trad-publish depends to a great extent on how much extra work you want to do. Going via the agent>publishing house route takes some of the work off your load, since they’ll generally arrange things like editing, book covers, setting prices and all that malarkey. However, the other way of looking at that is that it takes away some of the control too – you may end up with a book cover you hate, for example. Going self-pub will give you total freedom over every aspect of your book – but the downside is you’ll have to do it all yourself, and that’ll cost you time and often money too.
Whichever choice you make, a good editor is worth their weight in gold, so if you do decide to go self-pub instead of trad-pub, hiring a good editor will be money well spent. In both cases you’ll be expected to do a lot of your own marketing (even the trad-pubs expect you to have a good online presence these days for that purpose, at the very least a Twitter/Facebook account, and preferably your own blog or website.)
But don’t let any of that put you off. You completed a novel – you can strut the rest of the journey too! Do that Happy Dance! 😀
August 18, 2014 — 5:14 PM
Joshua Allen says:
I started writing again after a 6 month hiatus. On one hand, I’m making solid progress again, on the other hand, I’m still having some of the same fundamental problems of determining the “reality” of my fantasy world. I am nit entirely sure what is going on behind the scenes and vacillate between not wanting to know so that it can stay fluid, and needing to create consistency.
August 18, 2014 — 9:14 AM
jenphalian says:
I have a story that I want to self-pub, have been working on learning how to do that. Over the weekend it came back from the editor I hired, and I have this to say: Can’t write blurbs? Hire the shit out of someone to write a blurb for you. Wow. I was pretty much stuck on “these characters do stuff and it is fucking neat so buy this” and now, for a reasonable fee, I have not just a better manuscript but a great description of it. Yay editors!
August 18, 2014 — 9:15 AM
Sara Testarossa says:
Blurb writing is HARD, I’ve heard from my friends who have already been published. Great that you were able to hire someone to write a good blurb for you! Best wishes with your story!
August 18, 2014 — 9:26 AM
jenphalian says:
SO hard! I was very pleased to exchange money for this service. And thanks!
August 18, 2014 — 10:10 AM
bareknucklewriter says:
I’m starting a new novel today. Staring down the barrel of 3,000 words. Need to get them down before 1 pm and the brain forcibly switches to Stuff I Get Paid For Mode.
*deep breath*
*dive*
August 18, 2014 — 9:33 AM
Teddy Fuhringer says:
The more I learn, the further I get into the process of revising my first novel manuscript, the harder it gets. Why? Because I know more now, about why my work sucks vulture balls, about why my prose is weak, about what makes a story ‘good’, and I can see just how much more work is ahead of me. Everyone in my life seems to be eagerly awaiting my novels so they can enjoy them, but the work itself, however satisfying, is an exercise in ego-smashing. I’m pretty sure I’ve reached the ‘make-or-break’ point in my progress. Fear has its clammy fingers firmly wrapped around my throat.
August 18, 2014 — 9:33 AM
thejbru says:
Since completing Mary Robinette Kowal’s short story workshop in March, I’ve completed four short stories. I have another due for the writing group formed from the workshop participants on Sunday.
I’m currently struggling with plotting. In particular, coming up with plans and schemes for a story’s antagonist that seem to be something the protagonist would a) care about and b) feel the need to do something about. I’ve put together some initial thoughts on that and I think it will help with this week’s writing.
It’s been great working with the folks from the workshop. They’ve provided valuable feedback and the stories they work up are always inspirational. My next step will be actually submitting one of my stories for publication. I think I’ll be ready for that later this year or early next.
August 18, 2014 — 9:36 AM
Lee Mountford says:
Would you recommend the workshop? I’ve quickly looked it up after reading your comment an note that its online (which helps as I’m from the U.K.).
Sounds interesting.
August 18, 2014 — 9:54 AM
Rick Claypool says:
Thanks for asking! Still chipping away at the same beast of a novel that I’ve been working on almost every day for the past 3 years or so. Thinking I’ll have a draft — on version 6 at the moment — that is quite possibly fully coherent by the end of December 2014, which is exciting. Huzzah to you, Chuck — your blog has been hugely inspirational & motivational throughout this process. Also: Will have a short prose thingie published in MEAT STORIES at the end of this month, which a publication I feel like you & your readers can probably get behind.
August 18, 2014 — 9:51 AM
Michael Patrick Hicks says:
How are you doing?
– I’m good, sinus drainage issues aside. Ugh. Thank you for asking though! How are you?
How’s the writing going?
– OK, I guess. See below.
Tell us some good news.
– I just put the final touches on a short story I’ll be releasing in the fall. And I’m knee-deep in my first round edits of my second novel, and then that goes off to the editors next month.
Trouble us with your problems.
– I’m having trouble figuring out what to write next. It’s kind of a good problem to have, I guess? Too many different ideas are rattling around in that thick skull of mine, and I’m not quite sure which one to tackle. I like all the ideas just fine and have the vague sense of a somewhat complete story for each, but none seem to have the sense of urgency to compel me to write them right this minute. I’ve got another short story brewing that I’ll need to finish in the meantime for an anthology, and maybe the situation will resolve itself.
So, maybe that’s something others can help me with here. How do you pinpoint which idea to tackle next? Is it just something you start and hope the ideas will work themselves out along the way, or do you need to feel some sense of urgent importance about the work to get started? Maybe this is where the whole “business” of writing comes into play, and you just do it. Or maybe because writing that next book isn’t an immediate need, given my currently full plate of other projects and deadlines? I dunno. Kind of the first time I’ve had this problem. Thoughts anyone?
August 18, 2014 — 10:12 AM
R T Allwin says:
The writing is going…slow. I’m pushing myself to work on a very personal, very demanding project which takes a lot out of me but needs to get done, because it is stifling all of my other work. So it’s rough.
On the positive side I got the nicest, most helpful, most apologetic rejection letter I’ve ever seen earlier this summer, and my drawing and painting is plodding on in a decent fashion. Beyond that I have begun organizing myself and structuring my online presence, as well as keeping a fairly steady, fairly ambitious posting frequency on my blog.
So all in all – not too bad!
August 18, 2014 — 10:14 AM
Joshua Allen says:
I started writing again after a 6-month hiatus. On the one hand, it’s going okay and I’ve started a modest goal of 500 words/day for August that I have so far exceeded. On the other hand, I’m struggling with some of the world building, with how much I need to have set in stone before I finish the draft, and how much I will craft as I go and then clean up in subsequent drafts. I know basically what happens to the characters, but behind the scenes, supernatural stuff, is so far still up in the air. Plan to spend a few days thinking on it to see if I can sort it out before moving on.
August 18, 2014 — 10:25 AM
Joshua Allen says:
Mm, thought my original comment got lost in cyberspace, but now I see it. Sorry for the double post.
August 18, 2014 — 10:26 AM
Johan says:
Something weird happened.
Just this week, I found out that somebody has written and published an urban fantasy, set in the same small European town as my 6 months old WIP. Also, they are both centered around dreaming. What are the odds?
After a long and hard fight with myself – as usual I was soundly beaten – I decided to let my story rest, maybe forever. I am planning to have a bunch of beers tomorrow, and when I’m sober again I’ll dust off an old sword and sorcery idea. Looking forward to write something that lets my imagination roam wild, I was kind of stuck with the urban fantasy story.
August 18, 2014 — 10:26 AM
Sara Testarossa says:
That’s frustrating but sounds like a sign, if you believe in that sort of thing! Wishing you the best in your other writing endeavors!
August 18, 2014 — 10:30 AM
Johan says:
Thanks, i appreciate it! I decided to put my halfway done first draft in a digital drawer for the time being. There is stuff in there that could come in handy in other work and a couple of really nice characters that I really want to use in something.
I normally don’t believe in signs, but yeah, this was a bit like getting my behind handed to me by the letter-gods. I any way, I learned a lot and grew some fine ideas that I never got to use. They are in my little black book.
August 19, 2014 — 2:42 AM
Sara Testarossa says:
I gotcha! I have hundreds of thousands of words that I’ll never publish for various reasons, but they have helped me hone my skills! So, glad at least you’ve gotten something out of the work you did do on this piece before retiring it.
August 19, 2014 — 10:59 AM
Catkins says:
Welll – The new term is almost upon me and I am panicking because I haven’t gotten done what I wanted to get done during the summer. This last year was great cos I was home educated and I’ve always had time to write but now I’m worried that life will take over (the bastard) and I’ll have no time to work on anything. The thought of not being able to sit and write makes me miserable. And I, of course, have to work hard in my education. It is stressful. (I am considering partaking of the fine student tradition of alcoholism.)
August 18, 2014 — 10:46 AM
kbarrett says:
I’m polishing the second re-write of my first pilot. I basically feel like a hack at this point. I also have a graphic novel script sitting my desk in need of editing and rewriting, but I am dreading that path. I feel in need of some encouragement and constructive feedback on both projects, but don’t have a writer’s group. Winging it, basically.
August 18, 2014 — 11:02 AM
T.S.Chanz says:
Lets see. Submitted a Novella to an Open call for submissions, had a poemesque piece shared on a Facebook page and over 600 people read it. Some even left comments!!!!!!!! Have posted a few things online to overall positive response.
All in all things seem to be going well for now. Thanks for asking
August 18, 2014 — 11:03 AM
Kay Camden says:
I’m at the most fun part of publishing: waiting for cover art. If anyone hears a high-pitched squeal in the next week or so, that’s probably me.
Then I get to do the least fun part: proofreading three different formats, back to back. That’s when I’ll probably go blind.
This book is due “Summer 2014” and summer is winding down. Last day of summer is September 22. I think I just might make it.
Chuck, this community at terribleminds is the most unbiased space of all kinds of writers I’ve found so far on the internet. I’m not sure if it’s good moderation, just a smart group of people, or a great host. Or maybe I don’t get around enough to find anywhere else. You should open up a forum so we could make our own posts. 🙂
August 18, 2014 — 11:18 AM
Borzoi says:
Six weeks ago, I completed the first draft of my first novel. I felt entitled to a check with at least seven zeroes and expected the Nobel committee to knock on my door that very same instant. When nothing happened, I bought a bottle of ridiculously expensive champagne, finished it in less than an hour, took a week’s break and started the editing process. Or rather, the process of identifying crap, real crap, and unspeakable crap (in addition to all the BS that already made my toes curl while writing).
Here are a couple of findings from my first writing/editing experience so far:
1. Never, and I mean NEVER, will I write a 460k novel again. WTF, guys?! I already dropped 70k of pre-story (which I wrote more for my own enjoyment anyway), but editing that behemoth feels like mowing an 18-hole golf course with nail scissors. And no, before you ask, I haven’t done the golf course thing. I swear.
2. I love my main character. I really, really love the guy. He’s a hot piece of ass and a gazillion-years-old mass murderer. What’s not to love? But… just how many times can a man “fold his arms across his chest”? And when he doesn’t, he either “raises his brows”, “lifts the corner of his mouth into a lopsided smirk”, or “purses his lips”. Come on. I didn’t write that. I can’t have written that. Anyone asks, I’m taking the Fifth.
3. What possessed me to cut back on the alcohol?!
4. Back in the good old school days, I sucked at physics. And math. And chemistry. In light of that, can anyone please explain to me how I got the brilliant idea of basically reinventing the history and workings of the Universe?
5. I’m German. I love the German language. Duh. I love the English language, too, very much so, but neither did I grow up with it nor have I never lived in an Anglophone country for any length of time. What could hence be more idiotic than writing a novel in English? Okay, the golf course manicure, I agree. Still… whoever the poor devil is that will someday have to earn his or her bucks by editing this, ah, oeuvre, will certainly wish my parents had never met. Or used a condom.
6. What possessed me to cut back on the alcohol?!
7. This book… I love it. I hate it. I dream of it. I neglect my day job over it. It makes me want to throttle everything and everyone who takes up more than 30 seconds of my precious writing/editing time (with exception of the pizza delivery guy – and no, I don’t want to discuss my current eating habits). The bloody book makes me wonder why I haven’t taken up writing twenty years ago. It makes me wonder how on Earth I deluded myself into thinking I can actually write. It makes me believe I’m schizo. It shows everyone around me that I AM schizo.
Summary: I adore editing (*whatpossessedmetocutbackonthealcoholdammit*).
No, seriously – I’m in love with this whole process, even when it drives me insane. I’m proud of myself for finishing a first draft at all, and for doing so without getting fired from my job or being reported missing by friends and family. No matter how exhausting, I will edit the s**t out of it until I no longer feel like an insult to the craft of writing. And now… once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more! 😀
August 18, 2014 — 11:19 AM
Kay Camden says:
Cut all those useless gestures and you’ll lose another 70k. lol
I’ll plead the Fifth with you, on every single one of my first drafts. And I have so many of them printed and marked up–pretty damning evidence. Want to join me for a bonfire?
August 18, 2014 — 3:10 PM
martintcahill says:
Doing pretty well, all things considered! Just got back from the Clarion Writers’ Workshop out in San Diego, and despite my wishing I was there even now, back on the beach, writing and workshopping every day, I think my readjustment to Reality (TM), is going pretty well.
Wrote six new stories while out there, for some great thoughts on them, and really now, the goal and the challenge going forward is to really stick to my guns and try and sell some fiction. Oh, and finish a novel draft. Oh and get an agent? Maybe?
That’d be nice.
But Clarion was awesome and I must use my new Clarion Brain only for good, not for evil!
August 18, 2014 — 11:23 AM
Ed says:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Now you’ve got me worried someone has nicked MY dream story………………googled it and still cant find anything out there thats close to mine. How many books are out there that are fantasy fiction based on the interaction of the dream world and the waking world?
August 18, 2014 — 11:25 AM
Kenneth Jobe says:
I find myself stuck. I was abut 16k into expanding a novella I wrote a couple years ago into a full-fledged novel, then got sidetracked by stupid life. Now things are back to normal and I keep finding excuses not to pick back up where I left off, looking at a couple of the plot points at the beginning and wondering if I could/should make changes. I seem to be afraid to keep going with the story as is, then go back and do some rewrites. I guess just overthinking it all, in general.
August 18, 2014 — 11:44 AM
Kay Camden says:
Stop thinking. Start writing. Open the vomit hatch. Let it out.
August 18, 2014 — 3:13 PM
Kenneth Jobe says:
That’s what I need to hear, thanks. Vomit Hatch sounds like a band I would’ve seen on the Sunset Strip in the 80s.
August 18, 2014 — 3:28 PM
Kay Camden says:
OMG Vomit Hatch is an awesome band name.
August 23, 2014 — 12:35 AM
tazo85 says:
I’m doing well and making progress in writing — got some actual paid work, waiting to hear back from several major fellowships. Pushing out of my comfort zone into doing some acting.
Honestly, though, I’m actually feeling a bit shaken up — I was at an acting class yesterday and had the misfortune to sit next to a guy who set my ADHD off worse than it’s ever been set off before. I don’t believe he meant to by any stretch of the imagination, but he was about the most twitch, jittery person I’ve ever met.
Really shook my confidence in a bad way.
August 18, 2014 — 11:44 AM
cmariebissett says:
I’m fighting with anxiety and panic issues, but am otherwise doing good. I published the first of my erotic fairy tales (under the pen name Madeleine Shade) on Amazon and I have another erotic fairy tale on the short list with an editor at Cleis Press. Several of my fantasy short stories (under my ‘real’ name) have been accepted for anthologies and I’ve published a couple of poems and an essay. I feel that my progress has been acceptable as this was all accomplished since April. Now I’m finishing the edits on a fantasy novel (the first in a five book series) and am getting geared up to start a stand-alone novel in September. My biggest disappointment is my inability to connect with a critique group. I’ve made attempts, but haven’t found writers with goals and abilities aligned with mine. I’ve also tried finding beta readers and critique partners online, which has also been a bust. I guess I will just keep trying or settle for contentment writing in a vacuum. It’s nice to see everyone’s enthusiasm. Best wishes to everyone.
August 18, 2014 — 11:57 AM
William Grit says:
Damn girl! Do that thing do that thing do that thing do that thing
August 18, 2014 — 12:16 PM
Kay Camden says:
Fantasy comes best in a pentalogy. 🙂 Good luck.
August 18, 2014 — 2:00 PM
William Grit says:
How are you doing?
Me: I’m good. Over the past months. I feel like I have been changing as a person. Like evolution? I’ve developed wings but there small. Also, I got invited to a Skrillex concert. However, I am not going with… ha….
How’s the writing going?
Me: Holy shit! I’ve learned a lot about everything. I learned I could write a book super fast. However, editing takes–time. Ohyeah. Moreover, I found some cool magazines, etc., publishing houses I will be sending my stuff to. I don’t care if I get rejected. I thrive off that SHIT. A rejection letter is like a purple heart to me. blah blah blah
Tell us some good news.
Me: I think I’m falling in love with the girl that works at the gas station. Tsss–HOT!
Trouble us with your problems.
Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk to each other about it.
Got a grievance? Air it.
Me: I don’t know? I’m pissed time traveling was not invented yet. And this telekinesis thing is not working out. I’ve seen people do it on Youtube. But fuck! I cant figure it out.
Got good news? Celebrate it.
Me: I’m growing. I’m learning. I’m getting my ass kicked, which is a good thing. And I’m still on schedule. BOOYAH.
Progress reports: starting now.
August 18, 2014 — 12:10 PM
Ben Dodge says:
Good things: I’ve been able to knock off 22,000 words of a new novel since May, around a full-time job and blogging/freelancing for an independently-organized TED event. Two of the best short stories I’ve ever written are currently in the self-editing stages, before they get shipped off for (hopeful) submission. I’ve finally accepted that my ability to handle an ADD diagnosis with nothing save willpower and the shunning of aspartame products is severely limited–thus, I’ve finally decided to try out medication. It’s working, somewhat.
Bad things: It’s been four months, and I’ve gotten 22,000 words. September means a vast increase in the blogging/freelance journalism I’ll be doing–which leaves far less time (i.e. the silence between daily deadlines) for writing. I also haven’t been nearly as prolific as I’d hoped in regards to the short stories/web series I’ve been working on. Upping the dose on the meds is also a pain–I can’t write for the next few days. The blog currently consists of pixalated tumbleweeds.
Diagnosis: Things are OK. ‘Pit Stop’, my other manuscript, will probably get the editing overhaul between September and December. I’ll finish the new novel sometime before the new year. Things will happen. I hope.
August 18, 2014 — 12:12 PM
Kevin Lyle Dillon says:
I’ll try to keep this short and sweet as is humanely possible.
Last year around this time, I was unemployed (boo), but was able to write a heck of a lot (yay!). Alas, however, I finally landed a job this past March after looking for a while and working a temp stint at a B & N in downtown Philly. But I digress.
Since going full-time, I haven’t been able to write–err, edit and rewrite as much as I’d like. Here’s the breakdown:
I’ve been working on this novel for about a year on and off in between working, life, vacation, and nipping away creatively at more than a few short stories. This baby has gone through at least two rewrites and now I think I have finally have most of it (plot mostly) where I want it so now I’ve just been trimming it. Unfortunately (as well as fortunately), I haven’t been able to do much in the way of editing and rewriting in bulk due to full-time job. Twelve hr days and all that great stuff. Here’s my dilemma:
I’ve been editing and rewriting on & off since June. I’ve completed prologue and three chapters. It’s going too slow and recently, I’ve found myself trying a bit too much to push the story forward. This past weekend, I found myself debating whether to have boy meets depraved girl at tail end of chapter 3 instead of 6/7. One of my favorite pieces of writing advice (which I’ve likely read on this here site) is this: make every scene count. If a scene or paragraph or sentence doesn’t push the story ahead, then scrap it. I’m thinking maybe by pushing it the story ahead I’m trying to do too much of story pushing. But it may also have something to do with not being where I want in the entire editing and rewriting process.
So much for keeping it short.
tl;dr: I am pushing ahead too quickly in my novel. Any advice (aside from ‘be patient!’)
Thanks! (First-time commenter, btw!)
August 18, 2014 — 12:43 PM
Puck says:
Right now I’m (slowly but steadily) working on a translation project, which my brain keeps trying to derail, so I’m using the Fluent Self’s idea of proxies (http://www.fluentself.com/blog/habits/proxy/) to trick myself into working on it.
It’s slow progress, but it’s happening little by little in the time I snatch on weekends.
August 18, 2014 — 12:51 PM