It's IWSG time!
Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer's Support Group serves to give writers a place to air their insecurities and support each other. Anyone can join. Simply click on Alex's name and sign up, then post the first Wednesday of each month.
This month's co-hosts are: Natalie Aguirre, Kim Lajevardi, Debs Carey, Gwen Gardner, Patricia Josephine, and Rebecca Douglass.
We're in my favorite time of year, though it's been so hot and rainy that the trees haven't really started changing near our cabin in southern Colorado, but they're changing farther up north. Temperatures are still in the 80s right now, so this was not a year where we saw our first snowfall in September. I'm not placing any bets on October.
I finished the first draft of the big project I was hired for, so now comes the waiting part for edits or a rewrite request. I definitely proved to myself that pantsing or "discovery writing" is where it's at for me. Preparing an outline in advance then trying to stick to that outline is simply not how my brain works, but it was required for this, so just another aspect of the learning experience. The entire thing has been very interesting.
And, of course, until that final acceptance, I remain insecure about the whole thing.
But while I wait, it's back to finishing up work on my March release. My first novel will be coming out March 2024. More news in the coming months, but it feels nice to be so close. Add it to the list of insecurities! Once I have more info, I'll likely be putting out a call for help getting the word out.
Until then, I have Gary Robbe's new release. Not Buried Deep Enough was released this past Monday, October 2.
What are you feeling insecure about? Are you a pantser or a plotter? Have you ever had to switch to the other? How did that go? Have you checked out Gary's book?
May you find your Muse.
15 comments:
Mostly I'm a pantser. Chapters come from thin air and I have to write with that flow and then figure it out later where to put it. But I'm working on a sequel and I need more structure knowing I can always rearrange. I haven't checked out Gary's book yet....but will. Exciting about your upcoming release.
I'm a pantser. I do find myself writing the story chronologically, but I have to write one chapter before I can figure out what happens next. Afterwards, there is an enormous amount of editing. I wish I could outline. I think it would save me a ton of time, but that's not how my brain is wired.
I hope they like what you produced. We all have our styles. I could not write without a detailed outline.
Good luck with the project! I simply can't do the outline thing either. In high school when we hand in outlines for the essays we were going to write, I had to write the essays first, then go back and do the outline :)
Too many insecurities to count these days! I've got a new series in the works and that's terrifying
Shannon, I'm a pantser by nature. Outlining reminds me too much of my high school years but I'm finding that I need to a bit of both. I started out writing on the fly but realized I had no real plot, character base or plot twists. I have held on to the "off the cuff" stuff to use at a later date but need to have some type of outline to use as a guide. I am learning about so many writers through IWSG and must say, Gary Robbe is a new name. My list of must reads is growing beyond control now that I have joined up but time will slow to a crawl during the winter month's so I hope to start reading as much as I can from the members of the group and those that are introduced.
I'm a big panster. The most plotting I do is write a vague outline of what I want to happen next only so I don't forget in case life gets in the way and there's a huge chunk of time between writing sessions.
I'm not a plotter either, but writing to order in that way sounds like it would be an interesting experience for sure. Fingers crossed for an acceptance.
I'm a discovery author with a side of plotting(planster) and I think there are benefits to each method. I just can't follow a strict outline well.
Congratulations on your book!
That's wonderful you were hired to write. I hope it's exactly what they wanted.
Total and utter pantser here, but trying oh so hard to get into plotting. I tend to star pantsing just to see if there's enough there to make the effort to go against the grain and plot.
@DebsDespatches posting today from Fiction Can Be Fun
Congrats to Gary. And congrats to you on the big project. I've never tried working for an outline. Sounds like a challenge/
Perfect timing for his book. Good luck, Gary!
Anna from elements of emaginette
Good luck with your big project. Hopefully it will work out well for you.
Thanks for sharing my book on the blog! I've tried outlining and/ or plotting and it has never worked for me. I guess that makes me a pantser. It definitely makes writing stories a bit more exciting! Good luck with the project!
A plotter all the way. I pantsed a manuscript that took so long to unfold and edit, that I will never do that again. I do get some fresh ideas as I write the plotted story, but always check to make sure it fits and how the bread crumbs would lead up to or away from that new idea. And best of luck to Gary with the release!
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