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The Insecure Writers Support Group posts the first Wednesday of the month. It is a place where writers can write about their insecurities without feeling threatened. If you're reading this as a writer and have any insecurities about your writing, join us. Every month we have a new question to answer. This month's question is:
When do you know your story is ready?
My story is never ready! I rarely think it is good enough for others to read. Even after I see it in print, I often agonize over whether I should have done or said something differently. For years that mindset held me back. I hid behind ghostwriting so I could follow my passion of writing without accepting full responsibility for my work. It was someone else's obligation to give it the final edit and okay.
That is one of the reasons I love the IWSG. My fellow writers encouraged me to stop editing, accept that I have given it my best, and proceed to the next step whether it be sending my manuscript to an agent, editor, or self-publishing.
Don't get me wrong editing and polishing are vital steps on the way to publishing a story or article, but I do tend to over-edit my work. Once I find myself changing something that says the same thing, and not necessarily in a better way, I stop and send it off to await judgment by the masses--or at least by my half dozen fans. ;-)
Excellent question for this month. What is your answer? Do you send off your manuscript with confidence or do you hesitate and make another pass at it--or two or three?
That is one of the reasons I love the IWSG. My fellow writers encouraged me to stop editing, accept that I have given it my best, and proceed to the next step whether it be sending my manuscript to an agent, editor, or self-publishing.
Don't get me wrong editing and polishing are vital steps on the way to publishing a story or article, but I do tend to over-edit my work. Once I find myself changing something that says the same thing, and not necessarily in a better way, I stop and send it off to await judgment by the masses--or at least by my half dozen fans. ;-)
Excellent question for this month. What is your answer? Do you send off your manuscript with confidence or do you hesitate and make another pass at it--or two or three?
I feel the same way about my stories in print - I still think they're not ready!
ReplyDeleteI have to make myself let go and move on or I'd be stuck forever on one manuscript!
DeleteExcellent post Valerie, That's the point when you either need another perspective or you're really ready and just procrastinating (knowing the difference between the two helps too ;) )
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela! I think I'm guilty of procrastinating in addition to my insecurity.
DeleteWhat an excellent answer. When I read my older works, I cringe. Looking at them now, I would never think they were ready but the publisher did.
ReplyDeleteI look at some of my stories/articles from years ago and cringe too, but they were published anyway. I guess it just reinforces the advice to let your manuscript go, send it off, and move on. I do believe that writing style or story development has changed. Generally speaking, I think books used to start slow and build. Today, a books has to grab the audience in the beginning or the reader moves on to another book/author.
DeleteI'm so glad you've found confidence in the IWSG! Yes, no story is EVER perfect. There's a point where we just have to wish for the best and put it out there.
ReplyDeleteI finally agree. It's difficult to let go, but at least I have a chance of publication if I send it out there. So far, no-one has knocked on my door and asked me to give them my latest manuscript so they can read and publish it. ;-)
DeleteThere seems to be a consensus on these posts today. There's the "never ready" camp. And the "let others judge" group. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting. I'm trying to make the rounds to see what others are saying. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteAt some point you have to stop editing and just get it out there. That's one of the hardest things in the world to do. It's great that you've taken the plunge!
ReplyDeleteI'm still hesitant, but I've tried to back off the over-editing and let go. It's working to some degree. I suppose I need more confidence and that comes with just doing it. I hate rejection, but I'm learning to not take it so personally thanks in large part to IWSG. It's nice to know I'm not the only one out here who is insecure about their writing.
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