The free website to help new writers to develop, and to help talented writers get noticed and published Books
   
Rip it up and start again... << Return To Main Site

 Welcome to the YouWriteOn Forum

**2012 News Random House & Orion Editors to continue free reviews of YouWriteOn Top Ten Writers each month  - publishers of many of the world's bestselling authors 

YouWriteOn Authors' Hall of Fame Congratulations to our many authors achieving sales and signings successes through  Waterstones, WHSmith and others! View Hall of Fame
     

YouWriteOn Message Board > Literary Forums > NEW - The Hopes, Dreams & Broken Schemes Forum Help Search Recent Posts
Rip it up and start again...
Page 1 Start New Topic Reply To Topic
SusieHolmes
 07 Dec 2011, 18:27 #136585 Reply To Post

I've just read the new mini-critiques for the winners of Octobers (I think) top 5. There is not a single one there that seems positive. It's all a bit depressing.

Because...I've had the same thing happen yesterday. After winning a competition to have my first chapter read by an editor, the feedback feels like it has flatlined my work. Although it wasn't completely negative, the amount of rewriting that would be needed feels overwhelming, so I'm tempted to bin it and start on something else. But chucking several months work away can't be right can it?

I know one person can't make or break your work, but what if you totally agree with everything they say, and can't figure out whether it's worth the effort to try and patch it up?

Who else has been in this position where your writing has flatlined and how have you fixed it? (I know you have, Kazz )
Cinnamon
 07 Dec 2011, 20:15 #136590 Reply To Post
If you can't work out whether it's worth the effort to patch it up, maybe that's a sign to move on to something new?

Sometimes the best thing we can do is tuck an MS under the bed and start again.

On the other hand, it was just the first chapter and it's just one person's view...
This post was last edited by Cinnamon, 07 Dec 2011, 20:16
E-asy Peasy?
sod
 07 Dec 2011, 21:27 #136594 Reply To Post
I felt the same way some months ago (not through proffessional feedback) but feedback on this site, which I think is just as valuable. I didn't work on it for months and thought I'd just get rid of it, but then I suddenly started to work on it again and have pretty much changed the opening chapters. All the changes I have made is because of the feedback I've received.
Hope this helps.
Lisa.
Malcolm
 08 Dec 2011, 04:16 #136608 Reply To Post
When I feel overwhelmed by something I'm writing, I put it aside.

Moving on to something new doesn't necessarily mean binning what you've got, especially if the reviewer had positive things to say about it.

Put it away and work on something else. Go back to it later and it will probably look much less hopeless than it looks now.
This post was last edited by Malcolm, 08 Dec 2011, 04:18
No stars. No charts. Just crits.
safiaadam
 08 Dec 2011, 06:15 #136611 Reply To Post
Totally agree. And in the meantime, read, read, and read some more. I mean published work from experienced authors - no better way to learn, or indeed to realise that maybe your work isn't so bad after all.

Whatever you do, don't give up - these things are sent to try us.
Follow your bliss
fleursdemontblanc
 08 Dec 2011, 08:04 #136616 Reply To Post
The novel that earned me seven rejection letters is on a memory stick. The completed novel that got me an agent but no publishing deal is on another memory stick.

Currently, I'm thrashing my third novel and every now and then I write a short story to get away from it.

There are four full memory sticks on my desk - two years work. I'm not 'ripping' anything. I still think those first two books were good ideas - I just didn't write them well enough, or the timing wasn't right - whatever.

Maybe one day I'll go back to them. Maybe I won't. When I'm satisfied that the third book is as good as I can get it, I'll submit. If it fails, I'll probably begin number four. And some more short stories. And so on. I don't intend to stop.

Chin up,
Celia
'A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction' Virginia Woolf
rinkytink
 08 Dec 2011, 10:03 #136630 Reply To Post
I wouldn't get too down about it-that particular reviewer is just telling it as she sees it and she's not as indulgent as we may tend to be on here. I've seen two or three people make the transition to fully fledged writers on here, but they came along with completed "products" which the publishers were then able to package up and sell on with minimum effort. Then you can just side-step the whole thing by self-pubbing which wasn't an option a few years ago. You'll know whether to tell a story or not, because it won't leave you alone, it will keep cropping up and grabbing your attention, intruding into your life as if it has a life of its own.
Quote: SusieHolmes, Wednesday, 7 Dec 2011 18:27

I've just read the new mini-critiques for the winners of Octobers (I think) top 5. There is not a single one there that seems positive. It's all a bit depressing.

Because...I've had the same thing happen yesterday. After winning a competition to have my first chapter read by an editor, the feedback feels like it has flatlined my work. Although it wasn't completely negative, the amount of rewriting that would be needed feels overwhelming, so I'm tempted to bin it and start on something else. But chucking several months work away can't be right can it?

I know one person can't make or break your work, but what if you totally agree with everything they say, and can't figure out whether it's worth the effort to try and patch it up?

Who else has been in this position where your writing has flatlined and how have you fixed it? (I know you have, Kazz )


Only an "s" stands between laughter and slaughter.
kazmojazz
 08 Dec 2011, 11:02 #136633 Reply To Post
Quote: rinkytink, Thursday, 8 Dec 2011 10:03
You'll know whether to tell a story or not, because it won't leave you alone, it will keep cropping up and grabbing your attention, intruding into your life as if it has a life of its own.



Totally agree with that, Jo.

Have a feeling your story won't leave you alone, Susie. Don't be downhearted. The sting will fade and you'll know what to do, I'm sure.
browser1
 21 Dec 2011, 21:49 #137628 Reply To Post
Quote: kazmojazz, Thursday, 8 Dec 2011 11:02
Quote: rinkytink, Thursday, 8 Dec 2011 10:03
You'll know whether to tell a story or not, because it won't leave you alone, it will keep cropping up and grabbing your attention, intruding into your life as if it has a life of its own.



Totally agree with that, Jo.

Have a feeling your story won't leave you alone, Susie. Don't be downhearted. The sting will fade and you'll know what to do, I'm sure.


Seconded. Stories are persistant little buggers, I'll give them that.

As for ripping it up and starting again, I think that you're over-reacting. Why destroy something that you've put many loving hours into creating? I've made numerous false starts over the years (including one that went to nearly 75 pages before I abandoned it), and I still have each and every one of them. Sure, they weren't up to spec when I look back at them now, but still - the amount of pleasure I derived from the creation process was immeasurable. So, there was no way in hell I would throw them away. I'll keep them and go back to them - maybe in a few months or years. But at least they will be there when I do go back. Keep the head up and keep creating. That's what we were put here to do!

SusieHolmes
 21 Dec 2011, 23:07 #137638 Reply To Post
Thanks to all with your supportive messages.

I was pleased to have that editor's review, because it brought such clarity to my writing. I've decided to shelve that book for now, partly because I was getting my knickers in a twist with it, and have started something else and letting the previous book mulch a bit.
I don't consider any of this a waste of time, or that I'm an undiscovered genius and how dare anyone not acknowledge this. I think I wrote half a book that was fundamentally flawed, and that showed through. Live and learn!
Page 1 Add To My Topic Watch List Start New Topic Reply To Topic
Server Time: 24 May 2012, 00:54

Powered by Zarr Forums

5 Database Read(s) - 0.281 seconds

 

Adverts provided by Google and not endorsed by YouWriteOn.com.