Tuesday 6 February 2018

IWSG (February 2018)


Thanks to Alex J. Cavanugh and this month's co-hosts: Stephen Tremp, Pat Garcia,Angela Wooldridge, Victoria Marie Lees, and Madeline Mora-Summonte

I am so insecure this month! I haven't been able to get myself into a writing groove this year. My WIP lies dormant on my computer and my protagonist has been desperately trying to escape the clutches of an owl witch since December! (Sorry Esme I will come back to you really soon, hang in there and don't give up on me!) I am only probably about 10,000 words from the end of the first draft, which is so close. 

I've been feeling down on myself and my writing I suppose  - berating myself for my lack of success, thinking I'll never quite be good enough to get there. I need to reconnect and get to the end of the draft. I enjoy the editing and re-writing process so if I can push through the rest of the  first draft I'm sure I will feel better about myself and my writing. 

Onwards and upwards . . . 

IWSG Day Question: What do you love about the genre you write in most often?

I mainly write middle grade (8-12). I love writing for this age group as they are open to so many ideas and the themes in MG books are increasing wide and varied. I have read and admired so many fantastic authors of MG over the last year, it is definitely alive and well! Most of my stories include a fantasy element or magical realism. I am also a huge fan of myth and folklore and a lot weaves its way into my writing. 

30 comments:

  1. I'm sorry Suzanne you're going through a tough time. I suppose we all get them and have to "Ride Them Out".
    Take care.
    Yvonne.

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  2. MG books sure can go anywhere indeed. Have to keep on keeping on!

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  3. My sympathies, Suzanne. I think we've all gone through that. I had a WIP that I got stuck on in about the last third of the book. I recently started a class and the teacher gave us an assignment to make a chapter outline of the whole book. But not the kind of outline that kills you. Just three sentences, maybe four at most. How does it start, what happens then, how does chapter end and lead to the next. Well, it took me about a week to work on it. But now I know what to do about the part that had me bogged down. It's really amazing. Try it. You don't have to be inspired to do it. But after you've done it, you'd be surprised at how inspired you are to get back to the book. Good luck.

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    1. Thanks, Elizabeth. Thanks for the advice I think I might give this a try.

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  4. I love writing MG and YA fantasy too. Oh, you're so close to being done. You can do it! Maybe just set a goal of 15 minutes of writing a day or on the weekends just to give yourself a little writing time to move forward. I love editing more too, but have edited what I've written and must tackle the blank page.

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    1. I think I just need to get started, I'm determined to finish so need to push on! Thanks, Natalie.

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  5. An owl witch? I'm intrigued! So sorry trying to reach the end of this book has been so aggravating for you, though. (I definitely have days like that with my own projects.) Hope you're able to find some inspiration to churn out the last 10K words you need!

    I'm also a huge fan of mythology and folklore, so I think it's really cool how you weave that into your writing!

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    1. An example of me making up my own folklore! Thanks for the encouragement, Heather.

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  6. Those final words will come. Don't get stressed and just let it happen.

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  7. Don't give up. Just write something: anything! It will all work out in the end.

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  8. You'll get there! Don't expect the words to be perfect, that's what editing's for. Good luck!

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  9. I can relate. I didn't do much writing at all last year, and only wrote during the first few days of January. I'm struggling to get back into it big time.

    And owl witch sounds really neat, though.

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  10. Push yourself, Suzanne!! Only 10k. You can do it, and then you'll jump for joy. Remember that saying the first draft is crap, then the real story begins to shape up, or something like that. Good Bones for the first draft and then you can edit away....

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  11. Good luck getting back on track with your writing! I know exactly how you feel, I've been struggling to get back into the groove for months now. You can do it!

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  12. You certainly can, Suzanne. I berate myself a lot for not finding time to get back to my memoir about going to college with 5 kids in tow. We need to breathe and just keep at it. At least that's what I try to do. All the luck, my dear!

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  13. So maybe just start by writing a short story or day in the life of a character--just for fun. I find once the words get flowing, all trepidation disappears. You've got this!

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  14. I feel exactly the same way. I haven't been able to get into a writing groove and I've been pretty down because of it. Hope you get back into it soon. You're so close to the end!

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  15. You'll do it. If you don't believe in yourself--believe in me. ;-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  16. I hope that your writing mojo returns soon! You are so close to the end...just hang in there... you can do it!
    Writer In Transit

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  17. I hope you feel more encouraged soon, Suzanne. You can do it.Think of how much happier you'll be when you finish the last page.

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  18. Oh, boy, do I know know you feel. I'm about 10K away from finishing my suspense/mystery. Sadly, I started it 3 years ago. Worse: I remember when I thought 2 years was horrendous. I hope you get back in the grove soon, Suzanne. It's not good to feel down on ourselves. Have a piece of chocolate every day. I swear it helps.

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  19. Myth and folklore are fun to weave into a story I'm currently working these themes into a setting of the year 2099 but the myth and folklore come from visiting alien species.

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  20. Hi Suzanne - you'll sort things and the words will come ... give yourself a break completely without worrying?! Take care and all will be well - cheers Hilary

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  21. Just like Esme, hang in there and it'll all work out, hopefully. I do find writing the ending can be daunting as you try to tie everything together in a way that is both neat and exciting, but it's a great feeling when you do get there. And if it's not right, the editing stage will take care of it, which you say you enjoy. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks, Nick. I have managed to add another couple of thousand words this week. Creeping forwards!

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  22. I have fantasy or the paranormal in all my stories. Life is too boring without them.

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    1. Keep on writing even if it's a short story. That's what I'm doing these days.

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    2. Thanks for visiting Stephen and for your kind words. I visited your blog but my comment wouldn't publish for some reason. Keep on writing too!

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