Today is January's contribution to Alex Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group.
The fact that I find it so easy to come up with reasons why I’m insecure as a writer makes me feel insecure as a writer.
That’s my happy thought for the New Year.
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I spent much of Christmas vacation working on my book. I’m pleased to say I accomplished quite a lot – tightening up early chapters, fleshing out some of the middle ones, and outlining the last third of the book. In fact, it’s gotten to the point where I can now visualize the book as a finished product sometime in the (distant?) future.
Then why am I insecure? Because I’m gaining a better understanding of everything that is necessary to finish a book. Despite my recent progress, I’m a bit worried that I may be even farther away from finishing than I first thought. It seems the more I learn about writing, the more I realize how much more needs to be done before I can consider the book finished. I’ve spent two and a half years on this story so far and I despair that it might take another two and a half before it’s done. I just don’t know right now.
Nevertheless, my New Year’s resolution is to have it completely finished by next Christmas. Is this a realistic goal? I’ll let you know in June.
Patience is a hard thing to have while writing. It seems I'm always in the 'wrong' place, lol. When I'm writing first draft, I want to be revising. When I'm revising, I want to be querying. When I'm querying, I want to be writing another project without editing mind getting in the way. Writing is definitely a process and takes time, more time than anyone would like. But working toward that goal will keep you on track. I think come June you'll be telling us all that it's done! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm hopping over from Alex's site. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great goal!! I'm editing my novel that I started last November and the more I edit, the more I get scared about how much more I actually have to do!
Good luck!!
I wish you luck. I never do very well when I set goals for myself, but it sounds doable to me.
ReplyDeleteHi - nice to meet you. Yes - it's doable. And I guess the thing to remember that all of the work that you have 'discovered' needs to be done - it was all there anyway, and you have got to a better place because you can see what you need to do.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with it!
Lx
Crap, I know that feeling! The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know what the heck you are doing.
ReplyDeleteIt gets better!
Thanks for participating in the IWSG!
Isn't it amazing to know that in this industry, we can just keep learning? AWESOME! Thanks for sharing - new follower!
ReplyDelete"The fact that I find it so easy to come up with reasons why I’m insecure as a writer makes me feel insecure as a writer."
ReplyDeleteThat is such an awesome statement!
This is a really good thing. Only people who don't know anything think they don't need to learn anything :-)
ReplyDeleteCassie - thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteJess - How much longer do you think you'll be editing?
Sara and Laura - I'm sure it's doable for someone; just not sure it will be in my case. A year seems like such a long time, but I see how slowly things went last year and I worry.
Alex - Thanks! I hope it does get better with time.
Sarah - I just hope I'm not one of those people for whom a little knowldege is dangerous.
I think it's so doable and not only that, it shows what an awesome writer you probably are. And if you aren't, you sure have the capability to be, because you are willing to keep learning and growing!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your goals:)
I think you can do it. I have total faith in you. Whenever I worry about my writing, someone always reminds me that my worries just mean I will ensure the book is as perfect as I can make it. Now, I'm passing that wisdom on to you. You worry about your book because you want it to be good and therefore it will be.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a successful and productive break!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to tell you how I was able to find a crit. group. I found a couple of people from the WRITEONCON, and we had potential. But we never started helping each other out.
The best thing for you to do is find local amateur writers and start getting to know them. If they don't have a crit group then be the instigater and create one. Or if they have one then see if they are willing to let you join. It's best to go local because then you can meet once a month and discuss your novel.
I hope this helps!
Good luck, it sounds like your 2012 has started off great:)
ReplyDelete