Feb
The Many uses of WIPs
No, not those kind of …
Stop! In the name of…
Well, it isn’t love, people. What is it? That pile of papers under the bed, behind the door, and in boxes and cabinets seems to be growing no matter what happens.
Forgotten works in progress in one section. The finished manuscripts exiled to another. It’s one of those times in life where going up is down and down is up. Everything seems to stop.
More like a door stop. That’s what manuscript number one used to be, but now it is somewhere behind the door. When is it safe to recycle it? How does one move on? Finishing up manuscript numbers 2 and 3. That’s how… they still hold a place on a shelf up off of the floor.
Now what? Submit again? Totally stop all production? Deciding to become a human door stop seems to be what happened.
Perhaps building up the quality of production (aka learning the craft) is the way to go. Knowing this and actually learning how to make dreams come true is definitley hard yet more rewarding than I originally thought.
This was plan A:
Submit to as many contests and editors as quickly as possible.
Plan B:
Hang onto the feedback. Read it once or twice. Submit some more.
Plan C:
Knowing that plans A and B were not actually plans but really bad actions. Bonus: There was excellent feedback.
What plan are we at? Was there ever a plan? I am thinking no and that it’s time to finally make one. Maybe to make use of the retired door stops… to apply the craft… to start a fresh project or two… in hopes that they won’t turn into paper airplanes, bff of dust bunnies…
So how to take that first step into really writing for the first time in my life? Even though there is proof that I have been for years? Sure some of it’s good and some of it’s crap, but I just figured out how to write what I’ve been wanting to write. Now I don’t know what to do with it all. Is this a writing block or a writing stop? Do the WIPs have a chance for something other than that scary spot behind the door?
So while I finish up this post with `my `dd helping me to type… SO sorry. I am running out of time, and can’t proofread… and now she is helping haha…
My question is: How do I jump back in again? Submit to contests? Submit to editors? Is there a good way to jump in again? So far I am happy with just learning. Maybe I will just know when I’m ready?
Thanks guys!
Good one, Laura. I have a “door stop”. I don’t think I’m going to do anything with it at the moment, but I’m not getting rid of it either. LaDodd said somewhere - Squawk Radio, I think, that she has kept her first MS that is like 200k words long! If you think your door stoppers are worth it for down the line, keep them. That’s my humble opinion.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:45 amThis is the year I’m dedicating myself to the craft, and I’m also submitting to my first contest in November of this year.
Laura, I hate that you aren’t writing. I loved your writing style during the contest. I think when a story line hits you, you’ll know you’re ready. Or maybe blow the dust off of a doorstop, give it a quick read and see if anything you have learned will help it or motativate you to finish it. I am finding when I go back and read some of my wip’s over, that a fresh idea will spring to mind immediately. Best of luck, and I hope you don’t give up writing, you have so much talent.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:35 pmHi Isabel and Terry Jo~!
Thanks for responding. And Terry Jo, thank you for your kind words. I really need to decide which way I want to focus my efforts. Your comment helps a ton, you have no idea!
Isabel… that’s funny about the Dodd door stop… lol! Well, who knows if she used it as a door stop. lol. Anyway it is a good idea to hang onto everything. It’s nice to talk about writing with other writers…
February 21st, 2007 at 6:02 pmLaura, glad I could encourage you. Sometimes, we all need a cheerleader in our corner rooting for us. I know you will figure out what you want to do and excel at it.
February 21st, 2007 at 6:42 pmwho knows if she used it as a door stop. lol. Anyway it is a good idea to hang onto everything. It’s nice to talk about writing with other writers…
You’re right, we don’t know what she did with it, but still. This is what is all about, Laura sharing our experiences.
So what do you when you get stuck? When writing do you stick to a schedule? Baby permiting lol
February 21st, 2007 at 6:52 pmReading some new books always seems to help me get my juices flowing. Not a keeper you love and cherish–that pedestal is too high. But try out a new author, either newly published or new to you. See if you don’t get that “Well I could do at least as good a job” feeling. If you don’t, then try and figure out why the book really sticks to you. Then grab a page, write a few lines, and see if you can’t tuck some of that mojo into your own lines.
And I’m with everyone else. You need to write!
Isabel, your first contest!!!! How exciting! Do you know which one? Given the time frame, is it THE contest? Huh huh?
February 21st, 2007 at 7:11 pmYes, it’s THE contest. *G* That’s why I’ve been stressing out the last few weeks b/c I want to get my plane off the ground, sorta speak.
Good idea on reading new books, not just by the veterans but the debut authors who can teach us what agents/editors are looking for and buying these days. It’s a good way to see what debut authors are “allowed” to do vs. the established ones.
February 21st, 2007 at 7:36 pmI think reading debut authors is a sound idea, for exactly the reasons Isabel gives (and not just because I’m about to be one, LOL). The grand dames can write their own ticket, but what are the new gals on the block getting away with (and which publishers are buying them?)?
As for what your plan should be, I think that depends on where you think you are in the scheme of things. I entered a contest a month my first year in RWA. I’m not sure I learned anything much craft-wise from them, but I sure learned a lot about reader/genre expectations. Once I thought I had a solid idea of what I was doing, I quit entering contests and focused on editors and agents.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:27 pmLaura, you know those retired works you have hidden are sometimes later published, so keep your head up on that! And even if it doesn’t ever see the light of day, keep it as a reminder of how far you’ve traveled in learning the craft. From time to time, get it out, dust it off and read it. Be prepared to be amazed, because you’ll see how much you’ve changed. Then tuck it safely back into the corner and be thankful you’ve come a long way.
As for what to do until then, well keep at it! Keeping writing them, perfecting them and sending them out. You will never get a bite unless you toss out the bait.
I wish you best of luck!
Isabel, I think it’s awesome that you plan on entering that contest. I plan on entering a lesser (but not less important to me) contest. Not because I see the contest as a great way of getting published, although they do have a great track record for their finalist getting published, but I want the feedback. Then I can move forward with my project and bring my diamond to a nice shine before sending it out to agents and editors.
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:50 amKalen, congrats on getting your work published. It always gives me hope when I hear someone else eased through that door. What is your book and when will it be out? Congratulations, you must be so so excited.
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:04 amYou guys rock. This is all such great advice~! I feel alot better about where I’m going now.
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:33 amI’m taking in the advice as well, lol. Kalen, congrats on your debut. If Kalen doesn’t get a chance to respond to your question, Terry Jo, here’s the info on her debut, Lord Sin
http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Sin-Kalen-Hughes/dp/0821781499/sr=8-3/qid=1164052589/ref=sr_1_3/104-4294414-0462326?ie=UTF8&s=books
Keep going working on those books ladies.
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:44 am