Wannabe Writers #26

Wannabe Writers is a writing group for the un-published and anyone is welcome to join. It's a place where future authors can ask questions, share stories, and get feedback. Click ( here) to find more about how it works.

Where I am in the writing process: Working on my WIP that I started about 2 years ago. I'm in the 4th beginning draft. Meaning it's never had a full middle or end, but it's been started over many upon many times.

My current problem(s): No time to write! Between family being down, a wedding coming up - not mine, my best friend's - , stalking out twitter/Garrett Minds board for Comic Con updates, and now trying to plan my niece's 11th birthday in an Alice in Wonderland theme (WHY OH WHY DON'T THEY HAVE PARTY SUPPLIES FOR THIS!) I haven't touched my story in a week and a half. God help me hit that deadline!

This week's question: Character Flaws. Okay, I know I need those to make my characters realistic, but I also know the flaws shouldn't make the reader hate your character. So what are some good, hero-worthy, none-hateable, character flaws?

My answer: I think having self doubt is a good character flaw. I'm always for characters that aren't doormats, can kick some ass, but at the same time they can't be assure of themselves all the time. Most people, like myself, second guess themselves. Not just tiny things, but choices I've made in life, where this relationship is going, etc. I think a character having moments of doubt (please don't get that confused with whiny pity parties. I cannot stand characters that are boo-hooing all the time), make them more realistic and more relatable.

Wannabe Writers #24

Wannabe Writers is a writing group for the un-published and anyone is welcome to join. It's a place where future authors can ask questions, share stories, and get feedback. Click ( here) to find more about how it works.

Where I am in the writing process: Unpublished. Been writing since I was ten. Been serious about writing since 2007.

My current problem(s): Pushing through the block. I get stuck easily sometimes. I'm always wanting to find that perfect word or perfect action or perfect plot point. I forget that my story is at a raw rough draft, and it's okay to write crap. Instead in my mind I think it's the final draft and it has to be perfect.

This week's question: Quantity vs. Quality. Do you believe it is best to write/write fast, get it all out, and edit later? Or is it better to go slow, editing in the process? Is forcing myself to write 1,000 words per day really the best option?

My answer: This week's question completely goes with one of my main problems. It's okay to write crap. I tell my other writing friends this all the time, but for some reason I cannot see it. I used to write until my wrists were killing me and my butt was so numb that it hurt to stand. Now I get so frustrated on making things the exact way that I click out of my WORD document entirely way too early. So basically - write crap. You can go back and change crap.

50K in 50 Days? I'm in!

A while back I saw the 50K in 50 Days on Confessions of the Un-Published and thought it was great. The only downfall for me was that my fake deadline was August 11th, and it runs from July 12-August 30th.

But now my fake deadline is August 28th due to having a whole bunch of stuff going on at the end of this month giving me hardly any writing time, my lovely co-workers who are apart of my fake deadline let me push it back a couple weeks. (Well, except my boss. She told me tough crap, but she was out voted on this one.)

Anyhoo I decided to join up! I'm already about 43K into my novel, but most of that has to be cut and changed because I changed my plot and how my character needs to act about well everything.  I think about 50 more K will probably finish it so I'm pretty much game if you haven't caught that from this crazy rambling.

I'll be bringing this blog alive with writing updates, and I encourage everyone to go sign up and join in on the fun!

Yes, I'm still alive.

As of right now, I'm pretty sure no one reads this writing blog. Just in case any of my 15 followers might be wondering why I haven't updated when I said I would update last month (well technically two months ago since it's officially July), well...here is it. An update. I'm alive. I'm working a lot. I'm reading somewhat. I'm being entirely way too lazy with writing which is now kicking me in my rear. And that is really NOT a good thing.

I gave myself a fake deadline which was probably the Worst. Idea. Ever. Why? Because I was dumb enough to tell my co-workers about it. Now they are reminding of my deadline. One even circled the date on the calendar:

So what happens when I meet my deadline? I get to keep my story. What happens if I don't? I have to throw it away.

I announced that if my first draft was not done by August 10th then I would completely forget about Augustus and her crazy family and the crazy town of Yellow Falls. Not to mention I would store away hot boy Memphis Jack forever.Why? Because this story has been floating around in my head for two years and it MUST come out.

Yeah, I'm so screwed.

What's a writer to do? Well kick herself off the net again. Not just for writing but for the fact that my sister had to get a hold of me not once, but TWO different times via twitter to call her for important family stuff. How sad is that she had to tweet me to get a hold of me? Hopefully next month I can come back with an announcement that my novel is done, I'm 15 pounds lighter, and that I had an awesome time vacationing in Florida.