tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post1386071551858966990..comments2024-03-28T11:13:13.409-04:00Comments on Balancing Act: IWSG: The Anxiety of Finishing ThingsSamantha Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-75775438612313575812015-03-15T17:30:22.348-04:002015-03-15T17:30:22.348-04:00I've been there on the research thing…that'...I've been there on the research thing…that'll be my demon to fight in the sequel to Cold Spring. Some research is needed, but I'll probably do more than is needed. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-14051371327993891802015-03-13T16:46:30.528-04:002015-03-13T16:46:30.528-04:00I also have fear of completion! Happens with every...I also have fear of completion! Happens with every novel. Right now I'm knee deep in research for this particular novel and I haven't written in about 3 weeks. Just research, and I feel like I'm spinning my wheels here. I know it's about time for me to just get to it, and just finish the darn book, but you know, more research, says my fearful, procrastinating brain. Good luck to you. I hope the end of March sees your completed, awesome novel. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06317095707905133969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-86903931333383704322015-03-09T20:19:27.207-04:002015-03-09T20:19:27.207-04:00That's it, exactly, Jennifer! Setting a deadl...That's it, exactly, Jennifer! Setting a deadline is helping me stop tinkering uselessly. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-821184987533108302015-03-07T21:09:58.250-05:002015-03-07T21:09:58.250-05:00It's (probably) done until you get the feedbac...It's (probably) done until you get the feedback from editors/agents. <br /><br />I think we all get to a point where our alterations occur just so we DID something with the darn manuscript. You know, where you swap out words using a thesaurus just to undo 95% of them? We tend to lose sight of "meaningful" or "better" changes when we're dragging our heels.Jennifer Ruth Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04699005759754946494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-48063542918384671882015-03-05T15:43:58.281-05:002015-03-05T15:43:58.281-05:00The problem I have with matching the vision on the...The problem I have with matching the vision on the page and in my head, is the one in my head is usually not complete. I discover the rest of it while I'm writing it! You may have hit the key though-"I was done with them." It's not some external factor that decides. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-69253570780937830192015-03-05T15:40:31.509-05:002015-03-05T15:40:31.509-05:00Here's to "done"!Here's to "done"!Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-20551462093550213272015-03-05T15:34:55.460-05:002015-03-05T15:34:55.460-05:00It's entirely possible to tinker with a single...It's entirely possible to tinker with a single piece forever, striving for some imaginary sense of perfection. I hope you get there too on your current project. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-82475925427307218092015-03-05T15:33:42.231-05:002015-03-05T15:33:42.231-05:00LOL. I have found my beta readers through online w...LOL. I have found my beta readers through online writing groups. Pretty much, it's been a "give one, get one" scenario. In January, I participated in the Write-a-Thin at Women's Fiction Writers Association. IN the conversations there, I found two other women who were going to have beta-ready novels in February. So, we traded. I read theirs and they read mine. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-81809658865230002002015-03-05T10:03:47.686-05:002015-03-05T10:03:47.686-05:00Jeez, what a hard thing to know. Honestly, I proba...Jeez, what a hard thing to know. Honestly, I probably threw my babies into shark infested waters way too early. But I figured I was done with them when the vision in my head matched what was on the page. I don't know... does that mean the end? Either way, good luck to you and your soon-to-be-release!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-72957776830579406082015-03-04T21:24:34.880-05:002015-03-04T21:24:34.880-05:00It's hard to say "DONE" for just abo...It's hard to say "DONE" for just about every step in the writing process. I'm so close to being done with editing my novel I can smell it, feel it, taste it. It's almost here. <br /><br />What a powerful word, "almost". "Done" is ten times more powerful.<br /><br />Good luck!<br />Tanya Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993489244795453045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-58685051010740811502015-03-04T18:57:49.842-05:002015-03-04T18:57:49.842-05:00This is hard for me too. I tend to go through mult...This is hard for me too. I tend to go through multiple betas and revisions and still not really know if I'm finished.<br />I really liked what you said about a near miss.<br />I think that's a good description for the manuscript I'm not sure what to do with. But I need to try and see if I can fix it and finally, truly finish. Thanks for the inspiration!Jennihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13139361928785566916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-41333478611870369262015-03-04T18:46:04.972-05:002015-03-04T18:46:04.972-05:00This post is especially timely for me. I'm wor...This post is especially timely for me. I'm working on another rewrite, and it seems like a lot needs to be cut. But does it really need to be cut, or am I being too critical because it's mine?<br /><br />I don't have a beta reader, but I could really use one. I know how to find beta fish, but not beta readers. Maybe there's a store where beta readers swim around in plastic bags. I must find it.J.H. Moncrieffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18045467689291025137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-20224041505746957912015-03-04T17:11:51.375-05:002015-03-04T17:11:51.375-05:00I'm trying to streamline my process. It means ...I'm trying to streamline my process. It means a lot to me to get my work "out there" sooner, and since I'm going traditional in the form of small press, the process is already somewhat long--I don't need to make it worse by dithering. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-2954404952777098182015-03-04T16:29:22.374-05:002015-03-04T16:29:22.374-05:00I have that same photo on my background (well, it&...I have that same photo on my background (well, it's in my cycling folder of motivation).<br /><br />I am a deadline person too. I, too easily, get sucked into an editing loop. <br /><br />I've got a strict editing structure. I go through three rounds of edits, one round of Beta readers, and a professional editor. Then I'm done. If I can't get it right by then, I'm just spinning my wheels. <br /><br />But that's what work for me. I know a lot of people that dabble in several projects and do several rounds of edits and several rounds of readers. <br /><br />Everyone has their own process.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15112453424639639466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-15948806755691229042015-03-04T13:28:13.832-05:002015-03-04T13:28:13.832-05:00I guess that feeling of dissatisfaction is a good ...I guess that feeling of dissatisfaction is a good sign in some ways. It means I care a great deal about the quality. I'm hopeful that setting the deadline will get to stop tinkering though!Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-31051144406974250242015-03-04T12:00:09.639-05:002015-03-04T12:00:09.639-05:00I think it's a good idea to set that deadline....I think it's a good idea to set that deadline. It's so easy to pick our work apart and doubt it, and incredibly hard to put it out there and say "This is good enough." As I've heard multi-published authors say again and again, "It will never be done to your satisfaction. You have to just let it go."Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-81648115577337345652015-03-04T11:02:18.693-05:002015-03-04T11:02:18.693-05:00Thanks, Karen. I agree that finishing is way hard...Thanks, Karen. I agree that finishing is way harder than beginning. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-44044686403531201542015-03-04T11:01:48.501-05:002015-03-04T11:01:48.501-05:00Thanks! It helps that my beta reads have become pr...Thanks! It helps that my beta reads have become progressively more positive. That must mean it's ready, right?Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-5310506779195862292015-03-04T07:47:35.233-05:002015-03-04T07:47:35.233-05:00Finishing really is the key to success! I needed t...Finishing really is the key to success! I needed this reminder today, so thank you for sharing your thoughts and insecurities about something that can be a lot harder to do than beginning.Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378428503220197256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-50981468289482931032015-03-04T06:29:24.136-05:002015-03-04T06:29:24.136-05:00LOL--it is known. :D Hopefully your end of March p...LOL--it is known. :D Hopefully your end of March plan works out. <br />Sometimes I feel like I'll never finish. There's still so much to figure out. I just keep chipping away at it and hopefully at some point I'll realize it's done. <br />Sarah Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481750127533816819noreply@blogger.com