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.
March 1 Question: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?
Short answer: Yep! And nope!
Long answer:
I have my first "Oh, maybe I can really write a novel," WIP sitting around cooling its heels on my hard drive.
Some of it is SO BAD!!!
Surprisingly, some of it is pretty good. There are a few scenes I really like and the overall storyline has lots of fun elements (mobs, witness protection, cowboys, Italian cooking, quirky characters, gunfights, romance). Now that I know more, I think I can pull this off... one day. The story doesn't fit in with the current story/series that's occupying my time, but it could either be a stand alone or part of another series that's simmering around in the back of my brain.
Now, to find the time to write them all!
How about you? What's languishing on your hard drive that might be fun to pull out?
33 comments:
Pull it out some day - it might surprise you!
All the elements sound intriguing, Jemi. You really should pull it out and rework it one day.
Sounds like something to pick up again when you're inspired. And my first draft was so bad too!
That's a fun mashup of elements. Let it keep simmering. The time will come.
that is like when you buy a book, don't read it and then ten years after find it in the shelf and establish it no longer interests you :)
Keep it just off to the side of what your working on. If your eyes keep drifting that way, give it a chance.
Ack - typo. The dreaded your/you're. I really know which it should have been. (hangs head in shame)
It is kind of fun to discover a few gems among the rotten stuff in old work. I'm a firm believer that nothing's ever wasted when you write, so let it languish but keep it around just in case.
My current story is languishing on my hard drive after three years. I may still be working on it, but the early chapters are complaining that I'm not showing them enough love.
My really old stuff is so old that is isn't even on a hard drive. It exists only in paper copies in three-ring binders. And yeah—there's some truly bad writing to be found in those pages.
Love it. I have a gargoyle story waiting for its turn to shine. And a series about death. Two actually. And one about multiple dimensions & blood feuds. And a dragon story. And a... I should just quit right there. I will NEVER be able to write all the stories in my head. =) But they're there, in case I ever do find time.
Sounds like a winner. That's what I see when I look at old stuff. Some good ideas but my mechanics were so bad it needs tons of work.
It might! It was a fun story :)
I think I might - it's a lot of fun!
It's fun to look back and discover that we've learned something along the way!
I think you're right! I hope :)
True! We're shaped by our lives at the time!
LOL - that's okay, Karen. I have about 7 on my drive!!! :)
I know you do! No worries - we need an edit button :)
And I will! :)
That's a plan! I've learned a ton from everything I've written so I agree, it's never wasted!
It's so hard when the story starts to complain! I've got a few yelling for my attention too :)
That's awesome! I wish I'd started writing on paper back then, but I only 'wrote' in my head :)
That's so much fun! I wish we all had an extra day a week just for writing - everyone else would never know it existed! :)
Yep! I think I'd be tempted to rewrite from memory so I don't get influenced by the really bad stuff! :)
Hi Jemi. I keep a Bits and Pieces folder where I keep all my 'bad' bits. Occasionally I check it and have used a paragraph or two, but mainly it makes it easier for me to 'kill my darlings'.
LOL - that's a perfect idea! Have to have somewhere safe for the darlings!! :)
I once ran a blog on my Indian life, Ireland/India life, I mean. I had to close it down because it was getting to be a bit TMI. But you know what? I'm planning to gather up those old posts, rework them and make an ebook. Well, recycling is good for the environment, right?
Love that idea!
I think it is awesome that your old MS has so much potential. When you have the time it will probably be fun to rework it so that the parts that are not up to your current standard of writing really sparkle. :)
Good luck!
~Jess
I have an adult book that I'd love to rewrite as YA. Someday!
That's a great idea! Recycling is the best :)
I think it will be fun! Looking forward to it :)
That sounds terrific! :)
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