Insecure Writer's Support Group is a blog hop hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh where totally insecure writers can get together and share the things that are making us go argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm getting stuck into edits at the moment and aside from the usual frustration that I'm so slow, I'm starting to get insecure about the quality of my work. It's funny how when you're actually writing, things seem to be so rigid. There's no way for you to say what you want without writing it a certain way. Then you get a little distance and come back to edit and it's almost embarrassing how many typos, plot holes and general inconsistencies there are.
What if the writing is actually terrible? What is no one wants to read my book? What if there's too much Aussie slang for anyone to decipher? These are all the things running through my head at the moment and I thought it would be better to share and not just bottle it all up. Would love to hear from others who have had the same insecurities.
I dont know if I'll ever get over those doubts and self-horrors Lan. I've published four books now and I still cringe when I read them, still see stuff that I would change if I could. Maybe its a good thing? Means we wll always be writing and working to improve?
ReplyDeleteI think those doubts are often parts of editing. I get them when I am editing that- 'what the hell am I doing? This doesn't make sense! arrrgh!' Where I want to toss something. When the self doubt kicks in I go and do something else for a little while, then get irritated at myself that I am not working on it- then I come right back like magic.
ReplyDeleteBeth ^_^
Ughh!!! I totally agree!!!. I just got back to working on my book, and I had to go back to get into the vibe and remember where exactly I was and saw A TON of inconsistencies and typos and general horribleness (lol). I have no advice for you here.
ReplyDeleteOMG. I do the same thing. Take a break from my work, come back to it and realize how much of it needs redone. The fact that you notice your mistakes shows you are a great writer. A great writer will make mistakes and learn from them. A terrible writer will think everything they write is gold and not take advice. Writing isn't an overnight process. For some of us it takes time. It means we care about the finished product.
ReplyDeleteI'm always an advocate for being yourself. So what if there's slang included? There are a lot of books that feature local slang from the country it is set in. It's like how my best friend uses the word 'soda' and I use the word 'pop'. It's minor, but it shows which part of the United States we grew up in. No matter where your book is set, there will be a necessity for some slang.
Your writing isn't terrible. People will read your book. Believe in yourself and you can achieve anything. ^_^
My post is similar today in thinking my work isn't good enough, but we need to realize that our work is good. Sure, we can get better with more practice and writing. That's the beauty of it! :D
ReplyDeleteWill anyone ever be happy with their final works when their published? I guess that's something we just have to tolerate. We can only do the best we can at any given time. Maybe noticing those errors is a sign that you've grown since you've written the passage you're editing.
ReplyDeleteBut, I get ya as far as that is concerned. My work never feels perfect and it's so frustrating. I look at it as growth and that's a good thing, but I hate to have to publish something that's not as good as it could be. >_<
P.S. You don't have much Aussie slang in Seeders', so no worries there. It's perfectly fine in that regard. :)
I totally just went through this. I re-read through my WIP about a week ago, and, well, I remember it being a lot more awesome than what I read. Haha. No, but seriously, I love my book, it just needs a lot of TLC, and I think that's okay. It's not going to be perfect on the first draft. Heck, it may not even be perfect on the 5th or 6th edit! Okay, so maybe it's never going to be perfect, but I am determined to get it as darned close as possible!
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes it's really hard to see typos and inconsistencies in our works while we're working on them. A lot of great editing tips I've read say you should walk away for at least a week (but most say a couple weeks) before diving back in for an edit. You'll be able to catch so many more things that way. And here's the thing: it does not make you a bad writer to have plot holes and inconsistencies in your WIP! I struggle with this a lot, but it's really true. :)
Keep working Lan! I can't wait to read your book!
Heh. This totally happens to me with everything I write. I think I've got something two hairs short of brilliant, then I turn it over to my crit buddies and they rip it a new one. (In a good way!) Don't worry, this is totally normal. The good news is, things can always be improved with each subsequent draft. :) Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteAhhh, I have SO been there, thinking "man, this is GREAT," then going back to re-read/edit and going, "Oh LORD, what was I thinking?!" It's something all authors share, I imagine, so you aren't alone!
ReplyDeleteI, for one, would love tons of Aussie slang. I think other countries' slang is totally fascinating :)
ReplyDeleteJust remember, we're always our toughest critic. And, quite frankly, being overly critical will make your work better. Just don't stress to the point of giving up. ;)
ReplyDelete*hugs* not a writer, but I am SO sure many people go through it. And seriously, if folks can understand Crocodile Dundee and Melina Marchetta, they'll undestand you ;D
ReplyDeleteAh, I totally get it, Lan! It's simple insecurity that leaves you in such a mess. Don't know if I can help you, but I just want to remind you not to over think anything! <3 I can understand slang used by Australians, and I'm sure everyone can too! Don't worry, I'm sure everyone has moments when they think very low about their books! Just keep editing and I'll pray you'll be fine! :)
ReplyDeleteI can figure out the Aussie slang!
ReplyDeleteI'm the opposite. I feel my story is crap when I write it and then feel better during revisions. Maybe we should split the difference?
Oh, my. I struggle with the same kinds of things. I think we all do to some degree. But you know what, get it on paper and then go back and polish it, catching as many mistakes as you can. After that, a few good crit partners or beta readers will let you know where your problem spots are. Then you can fix them and polish again. That's just part of the process. Other writers will understand, because we all have blind spots and weak areas when it comes to our work.
ReplyDeleteHang in there. :)
IWSG #179 (At least until Alex culls the list again. :P)
Wow. I totally get where you're coming from. I've always wanted to write a full length novel myself, and have all these great ideas, but just like you, I too have that same dreaded question of, "what if no one else wants to read it?" But even though it's really cliche, it's still a great motto: You never know until you try. The only thing to do is to get through the process, and give it a try. I think every author goes through what you're going through at one point or another, but don't let it get you down!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by,
@ Livin' Life Through Books