I am the same way with my writing. The minute I get a new idea, I feel the urge to tell someone. And as soon as I begin writing the first magical pages, I am dying to have someone read them. Lately, however, I have been feeling that, at least with writing, that may not be the best move.
With my last two stories, I started out with so much excitement and was writing up a storm, only to have the momentum mysteriously die soon after someone had read the first pages. So I am beginning to wonder, am I letting my fledgling idea out into the world too soon?
What do you think?
15 comments:
Uh, I found out I was pregnant on Saturday. You may actually be the last to know because I have told every other living creature already! (after my edifying speech about being responsible and discreet and waiting till the second trimester)
Oh wow, congrats, Lora!!! That's so exciting. :)
I tend to keep stories close because I'm too afraid someone will tell me it's not as good as I think it is. I'm working on my insecurity issues. But also, I switch to other stories because new ideas are just so hard to shut up. Starting is way more fun than enduring the middle:)
It could be. The wrong reaction, or the pressure of the right reaction can both impede my writing. Every writer is different,but I find that I like feedback in the beginning from alpha readers who will encourage me, then about fifty pages in or so, I cut them off (as Renee with attest). I don't know why, but I just have to finish my books without the pressure of anyone reading them. But that's just me.
Lora- YAY! Congrats:)Some news is just too good to keep secret:)
R.S.J- That is a good point, maybe its just that new ideas are more fun to write.
Candice- Good idea. I like the idea of sharing, but then having some time to work on it without feedback.
I try to get people to read my new stuff. I even post bits on my blog occasionally if I'm really excited about them. I feed off of positive reinforcement. If I get good feedback it keeps me more motivated to keep going.
It could just be coincidence. I find that when new ideas hit me, I am full of that 'must write it down' fire for only a while. Then I either go back to something else, or more ideas for that story come later. It's strange how I can be so enthusiastic about a new idea one minute, and then just forget about it a week later. Generally if you tell your mind to keep working on it, you'll find more inspiration if it's meant to be.
Lora: congrats!
I always feel that way when I start writing a novel, like I want to go tell the whole world, but I usually don't tell anyone because I feel like if I do, I'll start to realize the flaws in the plot before I even start writing it.
I almost always share whatever story I'm working on with my best friend, usually on a chapter by chapter basis. Having her feedback throughout the process is a really wonderful and very helpful barometer for me. I think it's easy to get swept up in a bubble as we work, so sometimes getting another perspective adds a new dynamic to it all. That said, I don't share my writing on a wider basis until I'm at least halfway through (and often, not until I'm finished). I'm too big a perfectionist to put anything out there before I've gone through all the edits and revisions. I see it as having the best of both worlds - I have someone going along on the journey with me, reading as I write, but then I get to keep the ideas close to my heart and head, too :)
Hmm... usually if that happens to me it means I didn't do enough dreaming about the story before I wrote it.
That being said, I don't like showing people what I wrote before the first draft is down. I might read a passage to someone and ask if it makes sense, but anything more kills my momentum. I think that's because getting feedback turns on the inner editor in me. :)
Congratulations! And I thought I'd share the fact that I'm an identical twin. My sister loves to draw and I write. One project we thought about creating together is a children's book.
Okay...my pregnancy story. The day I found out I was pregnant with my first child (who is now 21 yo), I actually took the pregnancy stick to WalMart (where my mother worked) and showed it to her.
As for my writing...it may take me over a year before I feel ready to release it to the the world.
Charlotte- maybe that’s it. I definitely do love positive reinforcement. Don't believe me? ask my poor hubby ;)
Charlotte S.- True. Maybe it’s like working out; the motivation can be fleeting at best. The rest is just good old fashion hard work.
Writer gal- I just show Renee and my husband because they always lavish me with praise ;)
Shari- Very true. I guess my next move is to actually get half way through my book!
Miriam-very good point. Showing my work makes me aware of all the flaws and it does lose some magic.
Angela- You are a twin! Cool :) Renee and I have talked for years about collaborating on some project. I think it would be so fun!
I love the story about taking your stick to Walmart! haha:) I think we kept our first one waaaaay to long:)
I completely agree with you...
I absolutely do not talk about my writing until it's, um, published basically. (so never, so far? :P)
Betas and CPs can read it when it's ready, meaning revised 80 times by myself first.
The only time I ever talked about a novel was when it was a semifinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest and I had to drum up the popularity votes (gosh I hate those types of contests!)
I need that feeling of a secret bursting forth in order to carry the work through to completion.
Post a Comment