Purpose: 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!
And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Question for October 5th: When do you know your story is ready?
Simple Answer: No clue!!!
Complex Answer:
I haven't published yet, so I really don't know when the story is ready. I'm a tinkerer and when I learn something new I want to apply it to the stories I've written.
Which means --> REWRITE!
And driving myself crazy. I think I have 6 (or more???) stories that have been written that have potential to be published. BUT, none of them are ready. Some are a lot closer than others, but none are THERE.
Will they ever be?
Some days I doubt it, but more and more, I think I'm getting much closer to answering YES!
How about you? Are you a tinkerer? Can you let a story be, or do you always want to dive back in?
49 comments:
Send those suckers to your critique partners, make one final edit, and be done! Stick a fork in it.
It's a lot easier to tinker with a manuscript than to send it on to someone else who may judge it, whether that's the public, an agent, or a crit partner. Still, there comes a point where you just know it's time.
That's the one danger of letting manuscripts sit too long - we learn stuff and then go back to fix them! LOL
I'd say set yourself a deadline for each manuscript and when you reach that time frame, send it out into the world. You can do it!
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Yes, I'm a tinkerer. Good luck figuring out when you feel your manuscripts are done.
I like Mason's idea! At least you know that you can finish projects...so many writers never finish their first draft.
But it's great that you apply what you learn to your stories now. I have stories that I wish I could go back to fix things that I learned after the fact.
What Alex said - get some feedback on those stories!
And well done for applying what you've learned, eventually it'll become second nature and all click into place :)
Hi Jemi,
I found my first face-to-face critique group on Meet Up. It's heartening to share struggles and triumphs with people going through the same process, even if their stories are in other genres.
I can let a story be, once I know I've done all I can do to make it the best it can be. The next step is getting it into the hands of someone - agent/editor - who can help me make it even better.
I'm definitely a tinkerer, but since I haven't finished any of my stories yet, I don't know yet if I'll ever be able to stop tinkering and just send it out.
I'm a tinkerer, so I have to set a deadline for myself.
My stories need plenty of tinkering and I am willing to keep going back until I can't see the forest for the trees. Then it is time to hand it over to others for more expert and unbiased opinion. Editing and rewrites usually smooth out the rough edges. I'm not a perfectionist (or even close), so at some point I mark it 'ready'.
I do tinker. But I've learned to let it go.
LOL - I will! I have! Working on it!!! (and that whole confidence thing too :))
My CPs are great - and they help. Getting there!
Exactly!!!
ACK! So scary - but you're so right!!!
We might need a support group for tinkerers! :)
Me too :)
I do have that in my corner!
That's exactly it! I'll get there :)
I've got great CPs and am working on that now! :) I'm hoping for that click!
Face-to-face scares the bejeepers out of me!!
Agreed- love my CPs!
Welcome to my world, Ken! :)
I need to do that! ;)
I HAVE to get better at that! All of your comments are helping! :P
Working on getting there - soon!!! :)
I can relate to the tinkering. Send them to some trusted critique partners. See what they say. If they only comment on the little things, then go for it!
Sounds good - I'll need to do some deep breathing too! :)
Deep breathing helps too. And chocolate.
Chocolate ALWAYS helps! :)
I rely heavily on feedback from other writers. Probably too, annoyingly much, actually. I think in the past I used to rush too quickly to finish a first draft and then wanted to be "done", but I've been slowly learning about what stories need to be "ready" or at least "readier" so now I don't rest until I FEEL like I've remedied all plot and character and story issues. Then I HAVE to have others read it. And right now that means (besides cps and beta readers) hiring people to really dig deep and steer me in the right direction. Christy
as someone who works in the publishing, my advice would be: check your story a hundred times before you send it to the publishers, make it a year, two, three longer... most of today's writers don't do it and we get crappy books
I like your 1st answer "No clue!!!" None of us really know for sure. But something inside says "It's done." I hope you'll get to the point where you feel that instinct, too. Best wishes.
You'll know when you get there--either because you'll know in your gut, or because someone you value as an expert will tell you so.
Great advice! I'm working with some very contradictory advice from CPs right now and that's making it tough! But, the story is getting stronger by the day :)
I don't mind spending the time to make sure it's the story I want to put out there!
I hope so, too! I know a lot of it is a confidence thing - and I'm working on that as well :)
That's what I'm waiting for! I know the CPs are telling me good things - so that's a big help!
Sometimes time tells us a novel isn't ready because it gives us fresh eyes and we get better/improve with time. I think there's a spot where we have to stop or the novel becomes like over-worked clay.
Happy (early) weekend, Jemi! :)
Hi Jemi,
You will definitely get there because you have the motivation and the "perfection" gene..... You will know when the time is right....
I'm afraid most of us could tinker with our stories for as long as someone would let us. There does come a time when you just have to take that leap. Whether that leads to publishing it, who knows? But it's a step closer. And it just might, too. You will get there! Your energy and passion is so refreshing.
I agree! At times, I worry I'm stepping over the line and playing with that clay :)
Thanks! I hope so!! :)
Awww, thanks Sheri! I feel I getting closer with every day of writing! :)
I am a tinkerer too. So I can totally relate. Sometimes you do have to just decide it it done and that you have done your best- but I keep picking away and making changes for a long time. :) Wishing you the best!
~Jess
Thanks! I need to find that letting go line!! :)
Definitely! You're on the right road.
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