Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Insecure Writer's Support Group



November is here already? What happened? It's time once again to release our writerly fears to the world. Many thanks to our host, Alex J. Cavanaugh and his amazing co-hosts: Tonja Drecker, Diane Burton, MJ Fifield, and Rebecca Douglass!




November 1 question - Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? Have any of them gone on to be published? 

I've never entered NaNo, but I am starting a new novel, so I'll be writing like mad this November. Good luck to all who are undertaking this challenge!



Image: clotho98June 1860 Godey's Lady's Book Fashion Plate


It's been hard getting into the world of my new story. For so long, I've been editing and tweaking a novel set in 1859-60 with a female protagonist. I've been spoiled, in a way, to work on something that is already developed and polished. Starting new, this time with a male protagonist set in present time, is jarring.




At this stage, I have to fight the urge to wrinkle my nose in disgust and keep typing. It's been ages since I faced the blank screen, a multitude of possibilities all clamoring for attention, and only a thin outline to corral these ideas into some sort of order. I keep telling myself that it's not fair to compare this new novel with the old, at least, not yet. It's a newborn right now, and honestly, newborns are beautiful, perhaps for what they represent, but a wrinkly, bald, and squalling creature can sometimes be something only a mother could love. 




While I attempt to raise this new book baby, I'm querying the older one, which comes with a huge stinking diaper lode of insecurities. Am I querying the right agents? Will I get any requests? Will I ever hear from the people who have requested pages? It's a slow, painful process with an uncertain end. 


Image: CJ Sorg


To have a little fun, I'm doing a bit a marketing by using my 5 free days from Kindle to promote Heart Stopper and Other Stories. First I joined Patricia Lynn's Trick-or-Treat Blog Hop yesterday. It's such a wonderful idea: giving away free e-books as treats. Luckily, this book fits the season since the title story takes place this time of year. In particular, November 1, or  The Day of the Dead, is woven throughout the plot. 


This collection will be free through November 4. (Click here if interested.)


How's your writing life going? Did you enter the IWSG anthology contest this year?

31 comments:

  1. Good luck with your new story! I know it's intimidating but also exciting to be starting something new. And good luck with the querying too. I hope you get some requests soon!
    Thanks for the free book - that's awesome!

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  2. Working on something new is the best thing right now. Keep your mind off that slow query process.

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  3. Those first drafts are downright scary, but necessary, so we can move on to editing. Good luck with all your endeavors.

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  4. Good luck with your November writing goals... and with the query!
    Happy IWSG Day!

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  5. Pat on the back for starting a new novel and for staying the course even when you're not happy with each word. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

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  6. A new novel- that's scary-fun. But the querying process? Gives me shivers. Good luck with all your endeavours.

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  7. What fun! Keep going Tamara and good luck with the querying. Don't get disheartened with the process. The right person will accept your work at the right time - even if it doesn't fit in with the timeline in our own heads :)

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  8. Nice images, especially that diaper-load of insecurities. For me, if the blank screen isn't working, I go make the outline bigger. Sometimes it even works ;P
    —Rebecca
    My IWSG Post

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  9. You can do it! Plunge in and go for it.
    Good thing mother birds love baby birds because they are ugly.

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  10. A new story can be intimidating to write, especially if it's quite different from your previous work, but remember it's a first draft. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just written. :)

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  11. Good luck with the new book and the querying!

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  12. Isn't that what they say? While querying one book, write another. Good luck with all of it.

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  13. Wishing you lots of interest in your old project and enjoying the new one. We can't sit around waiting for news. First, it's a waste of time. Plus, it will drive you crazy. Good luck with both.

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  14. Good luck with queries and working on the new book! Sometimes I wish I had something new to work on but I should probably finish the old one first...

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  15. Wow! You're doing a lot. Good luck on the queries. Fingers crossed for you. And I'm now facing blank pages too after years of revising. Good luck with your November writing!

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  16. Not sure if you're a Panster or a Plotter, but have fun with this new book baby! This is the creativity overload stage (one of my favorites).

    Good luck with your queries! At least you're sending your stuff out there :)

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  17. Best of luck on your new project!

    Heather

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  18. I'm doing NaNo for the first time in my life and I do hope it gets published one day! I'm writing book 2 of my trilogy and editing book 1 and I'm already hyperventilating about querying it! so I think I know how you feel Tamara about the stinky lode of insecurities. Good luck! Can't wait to read your post: "I FOUND AN AGENT! "

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  19. Good luck with the queries and the new story! It is a nail biting process, but I think working through it is the only way to do it.

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  20. Yes, moving from one story setting to another can be unsettling. Your character, your setting, and especially your voice can all change and it takes a while before it feels comfortable again.

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  21. What a lovely comparison of a new story with a newborn baby, and so true.
    Good luck with your query process.

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  22. Good luck with the new story and with querying.

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  23. Never give up on your wrinkly newborn although it's difficult to look it in the words [on the page, that is]. I have the same problem when I start a new YA short story project. Where do I go? What do I say? Who does what? That's what we at IWSG are here for, your collective shoulder to lean on. All best to you.

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  24. Editing is so much easier than that blank screen, but words will come. Good luck!

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  25. All the best with the querying, Tamara. It can be a gutting process. I finished my Nano last year, but am staying away this year because I'm deep into revisions.

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  26. Best of luck switching gears with your protagonist, and I hope you find success with your querying!

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  27. Hope your short story collection is doing well. Always loved the cover of that one too.

    That's a great analogy, of a new novel as an infant. I'm struggling to keep my head above water during this year's NaNoWriMo, and I hear you. Even though not knowing what's coming up is how I normally write, it's always scary as hell. Which leads to too much procrastination, often as not.

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