Writer Sanctum

Writer's Haven => Quill and Feather Pub [Public] => Topic started by: JRTomlin on October 14, 2019, 06:32:19 AM

Title: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: JRTomlin on October 14, 2019, 06:32:19 AM
Sometimes it seems as though I have to drag every damned word out like ... like... something that has to be painfully dragged out. (And no, I can't think of a good metaphor)

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed" only works if every sentence is a new cut to bleed from.  :rant

Thanks. Appreciate the chance to whine.
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: Cobbah on October 14, 2019, 07:05:13 AM
Words come out easy. Only the good ones bleed.
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: LilyBLily on October 14, 2019, 01:30:24 PM
Here's my whine: I've had to kill some of my best and snarkiest darlings this week because the plot could not sustain them. Yet the snark is what makes my character's voice distinctive. 
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: Lynn on October 14, 2019, 01:46:23 PM
Had to delete and rewrite the beginning of a story tonight, so despite more than an hour of writing, the story only grew by 56 words. Can't win them all, I guess. :D

Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: Simon Haynes on October 14, 2019, 02:55:18 PM
I haven't touched my WIP for three days now.  It's funny, because I posted a call for Alpha readers to my newsletter, got about 140 responses, and since then I've been consumed with not disappointing all those readers.

I'll get over it, I'm sure, and it's not just that. I've written two novels in two months now, and I need to recharge.
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: VanessaC on October 14, 2019, 07:24:38 PM
Oh, I hate those days! Usually at the drafting stage it means I've gone horribly wrong in my plotting, and major plot surgery is needed, which is a drag.

I'm editing just now, and at the final stages of finding those errant commas and missing words - I just want it to end! I hate that feeling of losing the joy of the story, and it always happens at some point in the editing process.

Grump / rant over.

 :tap
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: Simon Haynes on October 14, 2019, 08:20:15 PM
I'm back to writing again with a vengeance. I sent out chapter one an hour ago and have already had five people more-or-less demanding chapter two, with some nice feedback to boot.

I'm a lot more nervous about this novel because it's a switch of genres, so naturally there's a feeling I'm swimming in the deep end all of a sudden.
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: Lorri Moulton on October 15, 2019, 02:12:17 AM
Sometimes it seems as though I have to drag every damned word out like ... like... something that has to be painfully dragged out. (And no, I can't think of a good metaphor)

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed" only works if every sentence is a new cut to bleed from.  :rant

Thanks. Appreciate the chance to whine.

On those days, I make a book trailer or work on a different story.  Usually, it goes away within a day or two.  Hope things improve soon!  :dog1:
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on October 15, 2019, 02:23:22 AM
Oh, I hate those days! Usually at the drafting stage it means I've gone horribly wrong in my plotting, and major plot surgery is needed, which is a drag.

I'm editing just now, and at the final stages of finding those errant commas and missing words - I just want it to end! I hate that feeling of losing the joy of the story, and it always happens at some point in the editing process.

Grump / rant over.

 :tap

You know it's time to stop editing when you put back the comma you've just taken out  Grin
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: VanessaC on October 15, 2019, 02:51:25 AM
Oh, I hate those days! Usually at the drafting stage it means I've gone horribly wrong in my plotting, and major plot surgery is needed, which is a drag.

I'm editing just now, and at the final stages of finding those errant commas and missing words - I just want it to end! I hate that feeling of losing the joy of the story, and it always happens at some point in the editing process.

Grump / rant over.

 :tap

You know it's time to stop editing when you put back the comma you've just taken out  Grin

Oh, that's so true. Or when you find yourself staring at the same sentence for ten minutes wondering if there should be a comma or not. Happened to me earlier - the file is now uploaded and going live on Thursday and I'm not looking at it again!!

 :lalala
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: Maggie Ann on October 15, 2019, 02:55:10 AM
I always    :lalala   when my phone alarm goes off at 8pm and signals me to get down to it. I can usually find a few little things to do that help me avoid the inevitable for ten or fifteen minutes, but then the auto response kicks in. The next thing I know, I'm settled on the couch and writing. Once I get there, I'm okay and I don't stop until I have 1K words +.

 :dog1: sits with me which is always relaxing.
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: JRTomlin on October 15, 2019, 05:21:40 AM
I haven't touched my WIP for three days now.  It's funny, because I posted a call for Alpha readers to my newsletter, got about 140 responses, and since then I've been consumed with not disappointing all those readers.

I'll get over it, I'm sure, and it's not just that. I've written two novels in two months now, and I need to recharge.
True that. Sometimes you just need to recharge.

And I just received some feedback from a beta reader that led me to do some minor editing and if there is one thing that makes me bleed more than writing it is editing.

ETA: The pain of writing usually goes away once I am 'in the flow' and that is what makes it all worthwhile, that feeling when you can barely type fast enough to keep up with the words. But getting there can be painful.
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: LilyBLily on October 15, 2019, 05:34:21 AM
I haven't touched my WIP for three days now.  It's funny, because I posted a call for Alpha readers to my newsletter, got about 140 responses, and since then I've been consumed with not disappointing all those readers.

I'll get over it, I'm sure, and it's not just that. I've written two novels in two months now, and I need to recharge.
True that. Sometimes you just need to recharge.

And I just received some feedback from a beta reader that led me to do some minor editing and if there is one thing that makes me bleed more than writing it is editing.

ETA: The pain of writing usually goes away once I am 'in the flow' and that is what makes it all worthwhile, that feeling when you can barely type fast enough to keep up with the words. But getting there can be painful.

Yep. Currently avoiding both the major revision project and checking an edit pass and doing anything significant toward marketing the next book to release. The trifecta of procrastination. It will pass. 
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: Simon Haynes on October 15, 2019, 05:36:14 AM
Even after 26+ published novels, writing is still a confidence game. A bad review, a bit of self doubt and it can be next to impossible to sit down and just write. Instead of forcing myself I spent time with a good friend, watched some TV and just forgot all about my WIP for a little bit, and it definitely helped.

Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: BlueWren on October 15, 2019, 07:34:55 AM
I haven't touched my WIP for three days now.  It's funny, because I posted a call for Alpha readers to my newsletter, got about 140 responses, and since then I've been consumed with not disappointing all those readers.

I'll get over it, I'm sure, and it's not just that. I've written two novels in two months now, and I need to recharge.

It's actually so helpful to hear someone with so many books still struggles with this, because I. Am. Going. Through. It.

Protip to anyone reading this: Don't promise yourself that your next series starter is a make-or-break for your career. You don't need the pressure. It'll just scare you to bits  :icon_rofl:
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: fleurina on October 16, 2019, 07:27:40 AM
Quote
You know it's time to stop editing when you put back the comma you've just taken out

Oh, so true.  I hate comma-worry!
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: Maggie Ann on October 16, 2019, 07:38:10 AM
Quote
You know it's time to stop editing when you put back the comma you've just taken out

Oh, so true.  I hate comma-worry!

Word's grammar checker and I do not agree about commas. I think since I'm reading it to myself, I put the commas in the natural pauses, so I'm right and Word is wrong.
Title: Re: May I whine a bit about writing?
Post by: idontknowyet on October 16, 2019, 10:47:33 AM
I haven't touched my WIP for three days now.  It's funny, because I posted a call for Alpha readers to my newsletter, got about 140 responses, and since then I've been consumed with not disappointing all those readers.

I'll get over it, I'm sure, and it's not just that. I've written two novels in two months now, and I need to recharge.

It's actually so helpful to hear someone with so many books still struggles with this, because I. Am. Going. Through. It.

Protip to anyone reading this: Don't promise yourself that your next series starter is a make-or-break for your career. You don't need the pressure. It'll just scare you to bits  :icon_rofl:
I am afraid every book is going to feel like this.