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behind the scenes of writing, Ernest Hemingway, Finding Nemo, Insecure Writer's Support Group, Peter Pan, The Vampire Diaries, writers journey, writing
Question of the month: When do you know your story is ready?
I’ve been asking myself a lot this past month. Writing stories for various competitions in different genres and lengths certainly caused a lot of insecurity.
When are they ready?
Freaking out and locking them up in a drawer won’t change anything. (I tried.) Trying to forget them by staring into Damon’s eyes as I catch up on season seven of The Vampire Diaries didn’t help either. (Though I am totally confused about the plot and I’m not even half-way through the season…)
Putting all the distractions aside, I took the story with the closest deadline and reread it. I made notes. I rewrote it a little. And I sent it in. I did the same with the next one.
Then I froze.
Life got in the way with health-scares (Emmett had a suspicious mole – thankfully it’s nothing to worry about), the day job totally sucking the life out of me, and relationship troubles (some writers can be a little blunt and insensitive when their fictional friends are in danger). And did I mention already that I’m easily distracted?
*shrugs*
Even working on my hobbies didn’t calm me.
One story needed to be really, really scary. The scariest books I’ve ever read were by RL Stine (I was sure the car was alive for quite a while…). I think the scariest thing I’ve ever watched was the first episode of Supernatural. I had nightmares for weeks and refused to go outside after dark… Now how am I to write something to rival that?
I couldn’t.
And I shouldn’t.
I don’t need to mimic anyone else. My writing doesn’t have to compare to that of a team of writers putting all of their fears into one story. I only need to write what scares me, what comes out of the dark corners of my mind.
Four days. Four days and the short story was written, rewritten, edited and still stuck on my computer. I’m not sure it’s ready yet. Still, I scared myself. In a good way.
A shorter piece I wrote was well-received yesterday, which gives me hope that I’m not completely lost in this horror genre.
And though the longer pieces still need work (they’re due at the end of the month), they’re getting there. I even finished a third of my grammar skills course (I know I’m using a lot of brackets in this piece, but at least I’m not misusing semi-colons).
So when is a story ready?
You’ll know it. You would’ve done everything you know to do to get it ready. You’ll read it, and just know. Like magic.
At least that’s how it is for me. How do you know when your story is ready? Do you sometimes feel that your words lack life? How do you get over your insecurities as a writer?
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patgarcia said:
Hello My Dear,
Yes, I believe that is how we all know. We feel it in our bones.
Congratulations on the piece that was well received. Keep working on your longer piece. You can do it. I know that.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
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miladyronel said:
Thanks, Patricia 🙂
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Reprobate Typewriter said:
I’m a perfectionist, so I think I can safely say I NEVER feel anything is ready. but I have a few good friends with great taste, and I can believe them, when they say it’s ready.
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miladyronel said:
That’s what friends are for 🙂
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C.D. Gallant-King said:
Sounds like, despite your fears, you’re actually making progress. Keep it up! One step at a time, one story at a time. Once you get more and more out there, and get more positive feedback, it will become easier (hell, you’ll get used to negative feedback and rejection, too, for that matter).
Just keep swimming…
IWSG October
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miladyronel said:
Thanks 🙂 The positive feedback totally makes the rejections and negative feedback worthwhile (and sometimes a little sought-after, knowing that for every rejection or two there’s something positive waiting). Ooh, a thing…
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Jacqui Murray said:
This is probably the best advice: I’ll know. And I agree. Definitely after I’ve finished all my lists.
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miladyronel said:
I have a few things that have to be ticked off my lists, but overall when I know it is done, it usually is 🙂
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Stephanie Faris said:
It is tempting to compare ourselves to others. I try not to do that, but it’s also useful because it helps us determine why WE are unique.
Stephanie
http://stephie5741.blogspot.com
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miladyronel said:
Thanks, Stephanie 🙂
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emaginette said:
When, after a rest, I can do a read through on my ereader and not make notes. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
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miladyronel said:
That sounds like a good way to know 🙂
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Susan Gourley said:
Sometimes I know and sometimes I need reassurances from my publisher. Love your Dori meme because that is me. You made me think and laugh today.
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miladyronel said:
Thanks, Susan 🙂 Just keep writing…
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cluculzwriter said:
My 3rd novel is being released Nov 1, and I’m still not sure it’s ready. LOL. Someone said recently that writers are weird. Whatever did they mean? Happy IWSG, Ronel.
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miladyronel said:
Thank you 🙂 Congrats on your 3rd novel’s release – and good luck.
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Lynda R Young said:
You’ve gotta love it when the magic hits and you just know it’s ready.
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miladyronel said:
Absolutely 🙂
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kellygriffiths said:
Super post! I can identify. I could rewrite forever! A short story I wrote for a contest took me three months working only on that… I knew I had to get quicker or Ill be dead before I publish a book. 😀 BTW, I’m using your eggs CFF story to teach a lesson on flash fiction, I so love it.
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miladyronel said:
Thanks, Kelly 🙂 That moment of weird inspiration that caused the eggs flash piece was fleeting, but brilliant – I’m still chasing it 😉
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Angela Wooldridge said:
Grammar skills course… Now there’s something I need!
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miladyronel said:
I thought I knew everything even as rules from one language tried to interfere with the other – now I know exactly where to use what and why. No more interference from the weird voices in my head (except for story). Totally worth it 🙂
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Alex J. Cavanaugh (@AlexJCavanaugh) said:
If you scared yourself, that’s pretty good! Keep working on it and then let it go.
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miladyronel said:
Thanks, Alex 🙂
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