Wannabe Writers #34

Wannabe Writers is an internet writing group. Everyone is welcome to join. It's a place to meet other writers, ask questions, and get feedback. Click here to find out more about how it works.

Where I am in the writing process: Unpublished. Currently working on a novel I've been on and off again with for two and a half years. It will see the light at the end of the tunnel one day. I'm sure of it!

My current problem(s): Self-doubt. I having one of those self loathing I'M THE WORST WRITER IN THE WORLD weeks. I know my story. I know what I want to happen, and sure I've started it over 4 different times, but half way through it I realize what doesn't work. It's not a complex story, but when it's right - it's right and when it doesn't work - it stops you dead in your tracks. This whole week I've tried writing out scenes and they always end with..."what the crap is this? gah!"

Then on the other hand, I've been running on tired for the past 3 weeks trying to get used to this whole new life of balancing school, work, family, friends, writing, book blog, and trying to loose weight (shootmenow!) is just making my head jello.

........If it's not, can we just say it is? Please?

Question of the week: What are you thoughts on e-publishing? Everyone wants to get published through a major publishing house and see that final hard-copy in their hands and top the best-seller charts. But what if that's just not in the stars for you---would you ever go the e-publishing route? I mean e-readers are starting to pick up popularity...

Okay...this is soley my opinion so please do not take offense if you have done e-publishing or self-publishing. As of right now where I stand as a writer (and a dreamer), I feel if I took that route, I would be cheating my dream and the 10 year old girl who told herself she would one day have a book of hers in a store.

I'm not saying those that do it are - not at all. But I've also never shopped a book yet. I've never fully went back, revised, edited, critiqued a full length novel before, wrote a query letter, scouted agents, cried over rejects - you get my point here. So who knows down the road, I could give it a shot. I know the world of reading is turning into e-book and I don't like it. I'm one of those people who aren't a big fan of all this wonderful! new! shiny! everything in the world will soon be all electronic! things...but that's a whole other post for a day I doubt will ever happen.

I love this.

I spotted this over at Babbling Flow's blog, and I had to share it because this poster is oh so very, very true!

So today was the day I was supposed to have my novel done.

About three and a half months ago (or maybe it was four? I dunno - my memory sucks) I gave myself a deadline. I thought this deadline would lit a fire under my writing butt so much that I would stay up all night clicking away at the keyboard trying to give my character her ending that she's been dying to have for the past two and a half years. That's right people - two and a half years I've been messing around with this story. Changing the character's past, changing the plot lines, changing just about every single thing you can think of.

I'm not one to brag, but I'm a pro at writing beginnings. Beginnings are my things. I can write a damn good beginning but get me to the middle and the end - holy moly I've never really fully reached that unless you count fanfiction which you probably don't. This book though. Oh my. This book has had a total of 12 beginnings. 12! That might not seem like a lot to some, but this is unheard of from me. It's also had about four complete 100 page starts. That's 400 pages I've written in the past two and a half years that never even really reached the good middle. INSANITY!

I failed. I didn't meet my deadline today. After starting over completely three and half (or maybe four? who the heck knows by now) I wrote 100 new pages of stuff. And you know what I did two weeks ago? I started all over again. After changing this plot to that plot and trying to make my main character's damn boyfriend fit into everything (seriously this guy was a fiance then went to a boyfriend back to a fiance then I just made him break her heart at the beginning cause I had to have a reason why she's so damn angry), coming up with a few reasons of what happened the night that made my character leave town in the first place it ALL CAME TO ME! You know what those ideas were? The whole idea I had when I first started this story two and a half years ago.

So what does all this rambling mean? It means that sometimes when your story is frustrating you and driving you bonkers don't give up on that grand awesome epic idea you had that made you want to write it. Sure you should venture out into other ideas. Sometimes when you think a plot isn't working you just need to look through it all. Don't just drop it like a hot potato. Charge through it. Don't be like me and have about 4 huge main files, 8 random beginnings, and 2 files filled with notes that equal about oh 100 pages (holy crap that makes 500! pages!). Don't stray away from your story just because SHINY! NEW! FUN! ideas come along. Just write the damn thing already!

But in case you're wondering according to my little word counter I am 57% with my novel and on the right track at least I think for today.

I have no clue if this post made sense. I was supposed to be in bed over an hour ago.

I'm leaving on a jet plane....

On Wednesday morning I will be heading to the airport ready for the vacation I've been desperately needing for the past two years. The one thing I will not be thinking about as I hit up Sea World, Daytona, and where ever else my friend and I find ourselves is my novel.

Oh and work of course. Yeah, definitely will not be missing that place. (And if my boss is reading this I still heart you.)

When I get back from this epic vacation, my head will be cleared and the big portion of my novel (I only have 24K - I had way more, but then I decided to go back to my original storyline and everything changed) will be ready and willing for me to tackle it so I can meet that dumb fake deadline I gave myself - August 28th.

BUT before I head out Wednesday morning, I do want to try and squeeze in 10K. I don't know if this will be possible, but I'm going to give it a spin. Let's face it. Even though I say I won't be thinking about my novel, I still packed a notebook in my suitcase just in case an idea or two or twenty pop into my head.

I also added a few songs to my ever growing playlist:



When I heard the lyrics:

You always did kind of drive me crazy and pissed me off ‘cause I let it faze me
But I never wanted my time with you to end

I knew this was a Memphis song.



This complicated song of letting go but not wanting to let go is so.Augustus (better known as Gus in her hometown and YES she's a girl with a dude's name)



It's come to my attention any Gaslight Anthem song lately reminds me of Kaden. This one for some reason just keeps catching my ear.



Driving down the road, this song came on, and an idea for Conner just popped in my head.

That's all folks! Have a great week and hopefully my next post will be me bragging at my huge bump in word count.

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!