Hi Everybody! Welcome to the show! Today I'm your cohost along with TB Markinson, Shannon Lawrence, Stephanie Faris, and Eva E. Solar and don't forget Kargrande-rustler, Alex Cavanaugh! (Insert raucous cheering.)
We're here to celebrate our victories and share the agonies of writing (hopefully you are experiencing more of the former and less of the later).
For the last month, I've had my nose (fingers?) to the grindstone, pumping out a short story, or novella if you want to get technical, due to hit the hallowed halls of Amazon.com next month. It wasn't a pretty process, but I met the first deadline and sent a (hopefully, please God), decent draft to my editor. This after I swore up and down never to let a deadline sneak up on me again. (Just like I swore not to touch that bag of M&Ms I bought for my daughter, but guess how that turned out?) I haven't heard back anything yet, which could mean the thing sucks eggs, my editor is busy, or it blew her mind so much she doesn't know how to respond. I'm guessing number 2.
Speaking of short stories and deadlines, the IWSG is having a short story contest (details here) with a deadline of Nov. 1. Some of the judges are literary agents. Hmm. Wouldn't you like to have one of your stories read by them? Of course! And here I am, fussing around with my 24K whopper (yeah, when I spew, I really let 'er rip) with a release date of . . . Nov. 1. Well, criminy.
And just to make it more painful, the contest's genre (alternate history, parallel universe) is right up my sci-fi writin' alley. GAH!! (Bang head on desk.)
Depending on when the final draft of my super-sized short is submitted, I might have to give this contest a go. The word limit (6K) won't be a problem, obviously, but it's not about the quantity, folks, it's about the quality.
So how's it going for you? Are you an overwriter or underwriter when it comes to word count? Entering the contest?
Need the IWSG link list? Click here.
Bummer the timing isn't good for you. I doubt the draft you sent your editor sucks eggs though. Especially if it had your snarky humor in it.
ReplyDeleteNow, go buy two more bags of M&Ms.
Congrats on finishing the novella. Probably #3, blew her mind. I've learned to make my first drafts better than I used to and don't over-write as much as I used to do.
ReplyDeleteSusan Says
Don’t you just hate when that happens? When you swear things and they manage to sneak up on you anyway? It gets me all the time, smh. As for word count I’m more under than over. And I’m still debating about entering amongst a number of other things like, NaNoWriMo, sigh. Thanks for co-hosting today and good luck with your editor and novella.
ReplyDeleteUnderwriter! I got my start writing short stories (40 published) and graduated to novels when the short story market dried up. Oh, I have to push myself to find 80,000 words, when I really want to write 50,000! Nice post, and good question, Tamara.
ReplyDeleteThe waiting part is the toughest. Keep your mind occupied. Stay away from the M&Ms, and turn the tunes loud. Dancing worked for me. Thanks for co-hosting, Tamara! Happy IWSG Day.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the waiting is the most brutal part of writing. And M&Ms are never ever safe around me.
ReplyDeleteI totally hear your insecurity. That's how I felt about my last novel, and my editor was pregnant at the time to make things worse. Painfully pregnant. You know what those hormones can do... Anyhow, turns out it was the best book I'd written to date and she didn't have much to say because it was that good. Regardless, if yours is in a poor state, that's what the dang editor is for, right? To help you get it into shape. Sending cheese and happy thoughts. Life is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm always underwriting! I must go back and add words to all my novels. But I don't do short stories, because they always turn into full length novels. Hmm. Weird. :)
ReplyDeleteThe M&Ms--that's funny. I remember my mother would never buy ice cream for us because she always ate it!
ReplyDeleteI'm usually overwriting (same with M&M's...over indulging.) I don't have too much trouble paring back the word count, but one would think it would be easier to keep things tight from the start. Just not my style. However I do enjoy poetry forms with strict limits on syllables, etc. I guess the fence around the yard keeps me hemmed in. But if left to roam the grasslands, chances are I may not come back for a while. Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteI think you should go with the idea that your editor was so blown away by your amazing work that she's stunned speechless. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yum on the M&Ms, especially if they're peanut.
I'm definitely an overwriter. Good luck on your novella, I'm sure it doesn't suck eggs!
ReplyDeleteHoly Cats, you're not very busy are you? LOL. :P
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting!
Author of Wilder Mage at Spirit Called
Facebook Wilder Mage
I tend to overwrite word counts, but get it down after editing. I still haven't written anything for the IWSG contest, but really want/need to! Congrats on finishing your novella though!
ReplyDelete- Madilyn Quinn @ NovelBrews
I bet it blew her mind. She hasn't contacted you because she's still passed out from the awesomeness of it.
ReplyDeleteI tend to underwrite, but I only write novels, not short stories. I love the contest's theme, but most of my ideas only fit into novel-length fiction (and occasionally novellas) -- it's a shame, because fantasy and sci-fi are my genres!
ReplyDeleteNot going to enter, sad to say, but not only do I 'only' read scifi, I'm trying to finish current wip, so no time to try something new. However, I can't wait to read it when it comes out, the anthology that is! Good luck! And thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteI tend to get right on the word count I want most times. Did one up for the iwsg contest, whether or not it stinks we shall see lol
ReplyDeleteCongrats on hitting your deadline! Pre-release time is always so exciting. I love the thrill and the potential of a new release. Good luck. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteHey Tamara! Thanks for the heads-up about the link. I'll send a quick email when I get a minute. :)
ReplyDeleteI tend to be an underwriter, unless I'm lucky enough to NOT have some crisis or other diverting me. The first half of this year was amazing; the second, not so much. Hoping the remainder proves fruitful. If all goes well, I'd love to participate in the Anthology, but it's up in the air right now. Enjoy the rest of your IWSG and thanks for co-hosting with me! Eva.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on co-hosting. As for writing, I consider myself to be a writer that writes more words than needed. That's okay with me because I like to edit as tightly as possible, so many of my words fly out of the manuscript.
Shalom,
Patricia
I really really really really wanted to enter this contest. I love short stories, but finding time is my biggest complaint right now. Looks like I won't be able to submit anything at this time. But I did think about it. I've been doing so much blogging lately, I have neglected my own YA short story series that I've been trying to finalize. So much to write, so little time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting, Tamara. I'm more of an underwriter. My 1st drafts look/feel like a screenplay (maybe I should write those--nah), just dialogue and stage directions. I have to go back and fill in the descriptions (which I suck at) and emotions (even suckier).
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Diane
IWSG #94
It's too easy to get in a state about people's reactions to our work before they've had a chance to read it! Done that myself plenty of times. Hope the editor loves it and you're fretting for nothing.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same boat, waiting for the precious word from my publisher. I thought I could be cool and not check my email six times a day. Go ahead and get yourself a bag of goodies. You'll wear off any calories just fretting over the decision and probably more deadlines. Good luck. Blessings
ReplyDeleteI've never had to work with a looming deadline and don't think I'd be able to perform well. I have my fingers crossed for you! Thanks for co-hosting! :)
ReplyDeletePromises to ourselves never hold up, do they? I'm definitely an overwriter. Trouble is, it's not until the editing rounds that I realize where the problem lies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month's IWSG!
Thank you for co-hosting IWSG today, Tamara. I vote for number 3, the mind blowing one. Best of luck with that. I am not entering the anthology contest. Maybe next year. I submitted a short story for a mystery anthology set in Hawaii; am waiting for my UPS delivery of book of poems I wrote to celebrate my birthday; have the editing feedback from manuscripts for two novels sitting here staring me in the face. Always writing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting the IWSG, Tamera! I'm hoping it's #3 re your editor! I'm an overwrite and have to cut, cut, cut! As of now, I'm not in the short story contest! Maybe like you, I'll give it a go! Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for co-hosting! All the best with your entry. Maybe your editor is so into the book, she doesn't want to stop reading. At the moment I'm an underwriter:)
ReplyDeleteI was excited for the IWSG contest. I had a story I wrote a few years ago I thought was perfect, and I remember it being pretty good. Then I took it out last week and realized it was hot garbage.
ReplyDeleteOh well, I don't have time to write another now, and have other things to concentrate on.
IWSG October
I'm not much of a short story writer, but I think the contest sounds awesome for those who are!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your project. It'll be #3, I'm sure. I love short form too. Short stories are fun to write. If only there were enough publishing venues for them... Wishes, wishes. Thanks for hosting the #IWSG for us this month.
ReplyDeleteHi, Tamara, nice to meet you, and thanks for co-hosting. Congrats on entering the short story contest and good luck!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've always been a procrastinator so things tend to always sneak up on me even when I say they're not going to! I'm sure your story doesn't suck eggs :P
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
Hi Tamara! Thanks for visiting and co-hosting! I'm working on a short story for another anthology that my friend is putting together. We'll see how this goes. My novella was just under 30K...I tend toward writing long, so keeping things short is a challenge for me.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a serious overwriter, but with novels I tend to fall short and have to fill it in during revisions. Good luck getting everything done! I'm a complete procrastinator, too. Actually, I either get something done immediately or last minute. No in between.
ReplyDeleteI overwrite intentionally because it's easier for me to take away than to add to stories to make them fit parameters.
ReplyDeleteI bet she's passed out somewhere from the glee of being a part of the amazing story you've written.
Thanks for co-hosting this month.
No, I'm not entering. It's not in my genre and it's been ages since I wrote a short story. Hope the rest of your week is less stressful. Thanks for co hosting!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your editor is just busy :) I tend to overwrite, but I've been working on that.You should give yourself some time to try to write a story for the contest and see what happens. Either way, you'll still have a new story. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteI over world build and prevaricate with under and over writing as a whole, depends on the story. Not sure yet, if I will enter life stuff keeps interfering.
ReplyDeleteJuneta Writer's Gambit
I over world build and prevaricate with under and over writing as a whole, depends on the story. Not sure yet, if I will enter life stuff keeps interfering.
ReplyDeleteJuneta Writer's Gambit
Congratulations on your novella. Here's to good news from the editor.
ReplyDeleteYou're sure to hear something from your editor soon.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I tend to underwrite, moreso now that I try to keep the purple prose to a minimum.
Yay to your short/novella. I tend to underwrite and need to go back and fluff everything up. Then I go too far and need to cut down again. Never ending circle.
ReplyDeleteStressin' a bit Tamara :)
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to enter this contest, but I don't think I'm going to come up with a good idea in time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month.
Heather
I think of myself as writing at the right length for each book. That's how I know certain earlier drafts are overwritten, since they're much longer than the majority of books in that particular series. It's kind of odd how my most overwritten books, in most dire need of editing, rewriting, and restructuring, are all over 100K, whereas I deliberately wrote and plotted the door-stopper sagas at that length.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to enter that contest, but the only alternate history I've ever written is my WIP. I'm not sure I could extrapolate anything into just a short story from that.
Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteDeadlines make me panic. I can't handle them. I'm supposed to finish a novella as well, and I'm starting to freak out. I suppose freaking out won't get it written though...
Best of luck with your contest!
I'm sure it doesn't suck eggs. I'm quite a procrastinator myself and deadlines make me panic, but I seem to get my best work done when under the pressure of a looming deadline. Best of luck to you and thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteI tend to underwrite, and 6k words is a big number for me at this point in my life, but I still hope to get an entry in the contest. Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for co-hosting Tamara! I am such a stickler for deadlines and my publisher has been missing them for 3-months now. So frustrating!
ReplyDeleteI have never, ever written anything alternate history or parallel universe, ever but I think I am going to challenge myself and do it!
Good luck!
Oh deadlines. How I love/hate deadlines. What I find about them is that I work to them REALLY well. for instance, if I have one, I space out my time, figure everything out and build a plan of attack.
ReplyDeleteThen I take that plan, add a bottle of tequila, run the blender on high and serve it to my writer friends as "Tears of the Author." It's surprisingly good. Usually, I make deadlines by the skin of my teeth, and nothing is going to change that. I'm not able to participate in the Anthology contest due to time constraints as well. shoot, I'm pushing my luck by talking about NaNo this year.
I'm a flash fiction junkie... so definitely an underwriter!
ReplyDeleteHey, I vote number #3 - mindblowing all the way!!
Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG this month!
I tend to be an underwriter, which means I have to go back in and add things later. As for the contest...go for it! "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take."--Wayne Gretzky
ReplyDeleteGood luck with everything.
ReplyDeleteEntering the contest, I think. Just got the edits back but haven't looked at them yet. That positive attitude could change! LOL
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your goals, sounds like you've got it all under control!
Great post as a host this month! It seems you're very busy and doing the right things. Good luck and keep up your head of steam.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a major overwriter - I've written books over 150K and been perfectly fine with that. >_< I've gotten better about it, and now it seems like everything I write is too short. Can't win...
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your novella - here's hoping it actually is option 3. ^_^
I used to overwrite and now I have gone in the opposite direction and subsequent draft consist of adding details and description. Good luck with your novella.
ReplyDeleteI've been a non-achiever this year when it comes to word count. Dry spell has lasted since February, but I'm working on getting back into it very very soon.
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