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| IWSG |
Hello everyone,
Another month has come to pass and the weather is cooling, thankfully, and since the IWSG post is today, I wanted to write again about a writer’s conference that I am a
part of, an organization whose motto is: Writers Helping Writers.
And since that’s what we do here as well on the IWSG site, I thought it something to reiterate. We are writers
helping writers. I’m a part of IWSG because I need to feel I’m not alone in my
writing world, and this blog “Hop” helps me feel I'm a part of something bigger than myself. When I attend a
writer’s conference I feel that way as well. At the FWA Annual Conference, and
some of the other conferences I’ve gone to, no one looks at me like I’m crazy,
or with condescension. They actually “get”
what I’m talking about, and tell me their crazy stories about the writing life as well. Don’t get me wrong, my family and friends are wonderful and
supportive. And yet they don’t live in my “writer-world” and that’s why writer’s
conferences are so important to me. I
dream of one day being a keynote speaker at one, or giving an all day workshop
to aspiring writers, or both!
In the meantime, the IWSG October 5 Question is: When do you know your story is ready?
Answer:
When my eyes are blurred and my head can’t read through it one more time.
No, really,
once my editor has gone over it, once I’ve done the changes and gone over it at
least three more times, then I give it out to the world. This usually only
happens after about 20-25 drafts. Not completely full drafts, but since the
method I use after the story is “done” is a seven part process in itself, I repeat
it again once I have it back from my editor.
However, if
you mean: when do I stop “writing” the story, well, each story is different. I
take them one at a time, and usually they will tell me when I’m done and it’s
time for the slog work. And you…?
Feeling super that I’ve made it to number 55 (OMG!!) on the IWSG list!
Woohoo! My first post on IWSG was in 2013 (I posted once I think, and then got
serious in 2014). OMG again. As I said before, I do love it here. Thank you
Ninja Captain for giving us this space…
The awesome
IWSG co-hosts for this month are Beverly Stowe
McClure, Megan
Morgan, Viola Fury, Madeline
Mora-Summonte, Angela Wooldridge, and Susan Gourley!
Please go and visit and thank them for co-hosting!
This is a great community; and I agree, non-writer friends and family are a valuable support system, but don't fully get what goes on in our heads. I think we can get lost in revisions and rewrites; gotta just make the jump at some point and call it good.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! I don't know if I'd even be blogging if it weren't for IWSG. I agree that it takes dozens of drafts to get your story in the best shape possible.
ReplyDeleteOne day I'm going to have to get to a writer's conference and meat some authorly-types in person. I know plenty of writers online, but for all I know you're all bots. I need to meet some real people. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHave fun a the conference!
IWSG October
Only other writers get us.
ReplyDeleteClimbing the IWSG are you? We'll see who gets to number two first, you or Chemist Ken.
I have to laugh about moving up the list. I think I was #314 when I started. Now I'm 66. Wow. IWSG is a great place to be. Thanks to everyone who helps me feel like I belong here. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about this group and writing conferences. It's so nice when you find your people, isn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteI was a member of FWA years ago. I'm going to rejoin next year so I can go to the conference that they do each October. I'm looking forward to it. Maybe I'll see you there. :D
ReplyDeleteWorkshops are fun to do. I've got a couple coming up this month.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa - well done ... you seem to have the right process for yourself - while doing workshops must be enlightening ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI had to go look. I'm number 40! I didn't realize I had fallen into the lower digits. I suppose that shows tenacity!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! That's a good question to answer. I always use the vague, "I'll know when I know." Sometimes what happens is, I start to notice diminishing returns with my infernal tinkering...that if I keep going, I'm going to make things worse, not better.
ReplyDeleteI have taken a break from IWSG for now, but it's always fun to come back and visit from time to time. Take care!
Congrats, 55. I like your take on the when are we done. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I love this place to for talking shop with people who understand. Congrats on getting to 55!
ReplyDeleteBeing among people who are like me is also one of the reasons I am in the ISWG. Family and friends can't understand. They sometimes look at my highs and lows and think what wrong now. Here at ISWG I know all of you understand.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
Congrats on clawing your way up to #55. I'm a newbie with the group, and my super-high number reflects it. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a writing conference before, but I'd love to someday. My husband is as supportive as he's capable as being, but he doesn't even read fiction, let alone have any understanding over why in the world I spend so much time writing it. (And reading it...)
Sounds like you have a process that works for you. I have no idea what number I am. I'll have to go look. Enjoy your work with the conference!
ReplyDeleteHi! I enjoy being around other writers a whole lot, myself. If I didn't have the internet and IWSG, I wouldn't get much chance, though, since I'm in a small town, and there really aren't a lot of us.
ReplyDeleteI'd be really curious to know what makes up a draft for you, if you ever have time to talk about that in more depth.
Eyes blur... that sounds like I felt after publishing my debut. Once the story's done, there's even MORE reading that comes with checking the formatting, etc. I never thought I'd get sick of my book, but I nearly did. LOL
ReplyDeleteYES, it's all about stories! Period. Whether they are fiction or non-fiction. I will add, snappy dialog, concise writing, and real sense of the characters.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting IWSG this month.