Wednesday, October 5, 2016

#IWSG: How do you know your story is ready?


So, the prompt for this month's IWSG is right down the dark alley of my insecurities: How do you know your story is ready?

I have a history of mild overconfidence and it has definitely bitten me in the butt before--embarrassing me by having my work in front of people when it wasn't really ready. When the kind-hearted publisher or editor has to say something diplomatic like, "Maybe you should go through this manuscript one more time to clean up the inconsistencies."

Then again, constantly waffling and second-guessing yourself isn't going to "get 'er done" either. You can easily devote your entire life to a single piece that way.

So, like everything, it's finding a balance. Perfection is the enemy of the good. And if you want to make a career of writing, as I do, you have to finish things--and you can't take ten years per project either. We need something between slapdash and OCD. 

What's been working for me is a two-pronged tactic: utilizing first readers, and knowing when to put it down and walk away for a while.

When I'm writing something new, I LOVE it! I think it's the best thing ever…until I hit the first snag. Then I think it's all garbage. Un-rescuable. A stupid idea in the first place. 


Then, I find my way past the snag and I love it again…until I hit the next snag. But I've learned to persevere. That the most important thing about a draft is finishing it. Making it good is what second, third, and fourth drafts are for. 

My first readers (I use a few different groups of people, depending on what I'm doing, where I am, and how much time I have to get it write: online writer friends, real life critique group with a schedule, the husband and older daughter, etc.) are often there for me in the middle of that process. Helping me see the things that are good in something I might only be able to see the flaws in. Letting me bounce ideas off them or pissing me off by being right. I'm so lucky to have them!



The "walking away" advice is some of the best I've ever gotten. You don't do yourself any good banging your head against the wall. You do stupid things in that mindset, like deleting whole manuscripts or slashing and burning indiscriminately. So, when a piece of writing really isn't working for me, I put it down. I take a walk. I write something else (because I write every day… even on days that I can't make progress on my main project). I call my mom. I watch bad TV (it really helps: I know at least that my writing isn't *that* bad). 

So, how do I know when it's "ready"? 

I read it again after a pause of at least a few days…longer if the piece is really personal. If it still mostly feels good and right, it's time to stick a fork in it and call her done. If it doesn't, I'm usually calm and distant enough after that pause to be a little dispassionate and manage to throw out the nasty bath water without also losing the baby. 

If I can't find the problems for myself, I go to some of those first readers and see what they have to say. Often, it's not that they tell me what to do, but something in the conversation will be the click that puts the gears back on track and I get my A-ha! moment and fling myself back at the keyboard with gusto. 

I often wish writing was more like baking, where you could literally poke it with a toothpick and know that if it comes out clean, you're ready for primetime. But these are the best tests I've found. It's still a game I play by feel. 

What works for you? Whether it's writing or some other creative endeavor, how do you know when you're done? 
_________________________________
If you're not already following #IWSG (Insecure Writer's Support Group), you should really check it out. The monthly blog hop is a panoply of insight into the writing life at all stages of hobby and career. Search the hashtag in your favorite social media venue and you'll find something interesting on the first Wednesday of every month.

17 comments:

  1. Perfection for writers is a dream. An unattainable one. All you can do is write and edit to the best of our abilities, and with help, and then let our stories go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reaching for perfection is why one person can work on a single projects for decades. There does have to be a point when you let it go.

      Delete
  2. I have written novels that took years and I have written them in a few months. I don't know if one way is better than the other. We just have to trust our instincts. Afterall, we are the creators.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My shortest one (in time) so far was 9 months in first draft. And the rushed-ness of that showed in how much hard work was required in the future drafts. But, yes, I agree that it's a project by project thing. There isn't a set amount of time that's right.

      Delete
  3. I also experience that same overconfidence...and then the paranoia, the insecurity, the worry. It's quite a life we've chosen ;)

    Here's my October IWSG post: Top 10 Ways to know if you're ready to share your writing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wheeee! (puts hands up on the rollercoaster ride)

      Delete
  4. I think we feel it in our gut and that's when we can let it go. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the scary part. My gut has been wrong before!

      Delete
  5. Exactly what Anna said. My gut tells me when the story is done. Good post, Samantha.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your point about constant waffling really hit home today. I am a terrible waffler. I am beginning to think that if a project isn't working, move on. It will still be there when I finish another one and come back to it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It gets a little trickier when there are external deadlines to meet, but I'm pretty good about working far enough head to leave time for waffling and setting aside if need be.

      Delete
  7. I totally love everything till I hit a snag too! But I'm getting better about not getting into the pit of despair every time I get stuck. Great post. I've rushed so often that that's usually what I've been guilty of, but waiting till it's perfect can be just as bad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're always looking for that perfect middle road, aren't we?

      Delete
  8. Yeah, I guess being a writer is kind of like announcing to the world that you're crazy becuase you choose to be. But seriously, I get it. In the end, we have to write our best and then let go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's a quote about writing being a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia . . .

      Delete
  9. I can relate to the struggle. I alternate between thinking I've written something amazing and seeing nothing but flaws.

    It can be so difficult to get out of that negative mindset once you're in it. You're right--the balance is hard to strike. I'm glad you've found your way through it.

    ReplyDelete