Question for My Fellow Writers. . .

[changeyourstars8]

Okay, so I'm currently in limbo.

Not writing-wise; that's going great. I've got several projects going, both solo and with my cowriter. Getting that writing off the ground, though . . . a bit more problematic.

I submit things to agents and publishers, never gotten anything back other than "Thanks, but not what we're looking for". I go about 60/40 between "sooner or later you'll find the right place; just keep trying" and "why bother? You know what the answer'll be".

I've found out over the years that I work best when I don't work alone. Not necessarily writing with someone else (though that's my favorite way) but at least with someone reading along as I write, for batting character backgrounds around and letting me know that they either like a new development or hate it or want to know exactly how stoned I was when I came up with that idea. It's more fun that way, but I also know it's because I basically don't trust my own judgment. :-P And I'm working on that, but while I'm working on it I've let more than one thing fall by the wayside because with only myself to 'discuss' it with, I lose interest. Also, there's the problem of the Annoying Little Voice gleefully chattering on about how project of choice is just a waste of time, anyway, because if it wasn't then it would've gotten some feedback by now. However much I logically know it's wrong, that doesn't always help.

Obvious answer? Internet. Which is where my second problem comes into play: when I first started posting some writing several years back, someone decided to steal it and claim it as their own. Again, working through the paranoia. I know a lot of people who write amazing fanfiction, but I'd rather have something fully mine. Work up a project with the sole intent of putting it up on my site?

I don't know. This is less of a question and more of a Random Babblings of an Insecure Writer. ;-)

Comments

[finniscs.livejournal.com]

How many times have you sent out? I think unless its 'hundreds' you/we/me cant really get an idea of whether we should keep doing it or not. It sucks that it takes so much time to send out.

I know Im part of your problem. Im so sorry that we're on different levels of 'desire to write' for these past few months. Its gotta be really frustrating for you. I keep wishing I could get on fire for it again but I realized I have to get myself well before I can even think about writing that way again. I think maybe it will be getting better. I sure hope so.

I dont think you should be afraid of writing fan fiction/posting yours stuff out there. someone can steal it where ever it is, even on your site. what about a lj writing project for you, like we did with mirror?

feedback is good-- it will help you be a better writer-- as well as boost morale. for that you could get involved in some internet critique groups.

I know I need to get excited about things again. I get excited when we're actually writing but inbetween I have no motivation. its not just for writing, its for everything. bleh. its got to get better at some point.

you are a good writer and you need to keep writing and you need to post and send out. A. Lot. its a lot of work. its time consuming. but until youve got hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of rejections, its still worth doing.

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

I've lost track of how many times I've sent out. I know I've been doing it since I was about eighteen. So . . . eight years?

I know part of it is just the fact that with Kaylee still being so little, I've got a lot less time, so the idea of sending stuff to agents and publishers seems a lot more daunting than it does normally. That doesn't help. LOL

And you're not part of the problem-- you've got some stuff that you need to work through and that's not your fault. :-)

I dont think you should be afraid of writing fan fiction/posting yours stuff out there.

k! I think I'm going to take one of my finished projects and post it chapter-by-chapter ((see my email to you)). *G* We'll see what happens!

[finniscs.livejournal.com]

we will indeed see.

:-)

and I cant believe the writing I got done when I had three little ones AND the daycare kids running around. tho most of it was done way late at night.

was I crazy or what?

maybe thats why my memory is so fried now. I used it all up with a gazillion storylines at once!

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

LOL

And way late at night, huh? *debates about how much sleep I actually need* ;-)

[theaarauth.livejournal.com]

I am probably a month or two (realistically) away from re-sending my stuff out again and I am really nervous about it!

I also am VERY selective about who reads my stuff, at least initially because I have had so many people in the past downright steal my "entire ideas" and become prosperous with them, in my place. NOT cool. However, I do run my story by a handful of readers (locally) to see where I am at.

Once your book is published if people try to steal your ideas, at least it's clear it was your idea first! To freely post your work is to take a risk that someone (who has no agreement with you) to borrow ideas/concepts/and word plays from you before you even get a chance to publish them yourself. And you may not ever even discover it was done, or be able to prove that it was due to how they cleverly change your idea enough to not be plagiarism. That has been my experience.

I like having a few people I trust to bounce ideas off of, whom I come under a mutual respect agreement with. It works well for me so far. ;-)

---THEA RAUTH

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I generally don't mind who reads my stuff-- so long as it's fanfiction or something else I'm not thinking about trying to get published someday. If I want to send it off to an agent, though, then I get twitchy about who sees it. :-)

Good luck with your projects!