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| Brought to us by Alex J. Cavanaugh, sensei and founder of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. |
Just want to share the conversation I had Sunday evening, because I know I'm not the only one whose had it. Scene: friend from school/church comes to visit and is getting an update on our goals (K). Other participants, cousin (C) and sister (A).
K: So, how is your writing? When is the book coming out?
C: Right, everyone forgets Deborah's been writing a book for like the last 10 years!
Me: Well, I started writing it on my break before college.
C: And how long ago was that?
Me: ...Well, 12 years.
A: Wait, you've been writing it for 12 years!?
Me: Well, as I was saying, I started it before college, WENT to college, and then finished writing right after, but when you have beta readers and editors look at it, it still needs work.
A: She's probably editing it to death and doesn't need to.
C: Right.
Me: But anyway, I'm entering it into a Twitter contest this week, because that's the thing nowadays, but I also want to query it to agents who will help find a publisher.
C or K (not sure anymore): You should probably just submit it straight to a publisher.
C or K: Eliminate the middle man.
-_-
So anyway, the IWSG question this month is: What was your very first piece of writing? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?
My first piece of writing was in a plain white book they gave us in the first grade. They told us we could write about anything. I wrote about my big sister and did some awful illustrations lol. I have zero idea where that little book is now.
I hope to get around to some other blogs this week, so see you soon. :)
12 comments:
The first piece of proper writing I did, I took with me on a college course for creative writing. What followed was 8 years of restructuring and re- editing until my beta readers proved I'd got it right. Then i let it collect dust because I don't see it as the book I want published but the book that taught me "how to write" if you like!
I also don't like to be stuck in the same world with the same characters as it becomes a little obsessive for me and then i can't imagine ever writing another story (and I really didn't want to be this one trick pony). The other thing i worried about was, if it took me years to write one, would it take me another 8 to write a sequel? What if an gent asked gave a one year deadline and I couldn't do that because I'd never even written a complete draft in a year?! So that's also what I set out to do, learn how to draft faster.
My next story took me 4 years, not as fast as I would have liked but still half the time. Then my third took me a year, so I got there in the end :)
But that little book lead you to today, and that's a good thing. Happy IWSG Wednesday, Deb. I wonder if our friends will ever fully understand what it means to write. I'm glad you stopped at 12 years. Good luck finding a publisher.
Glad no one knew I was writing except for my wife!
Hi Deb,
I really understand. I am sitting here smiling because I get things like, you mean you have been writing on that book for seven years? People just don't understand and especially family and friends that writing is not like going to MacDonald or Burger King.
All the best in your endeavor and keep writing.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
Lol! Oh, how reality hurts. I cringe whenever someone asks how my writing is going. I love your first MS answer and that you still remember what it was about.
Yes, when I get out of this rut, I definitely want to shorten my writing time.
Thank you, Joy! <3
In hindsight...
THANK YOU. Shalom!
Cringe dot com. lol Thank you.
Depending on the drawings your sister might be glad your old masterpiece is missing. Yeah I don't get writing questions that often from family.
Love the recap of the conversation :-) The way I look at it is that good things take time.
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