Wednesday, December 4, 2013

IWSG: Writing for me

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I used to roll my eyes at those writers...you know the ones. They'd complain about deadlines and bad reviews and how much they wished they could go back in time to before they were published. I'd hear them ramble about how they just want to write for themselves again, when it was enjoyable and fun. I thought it was all a bunch of BS. Be grateful you have a book deal, I thought. I'd trade my cozy write-for-me status for theirs in a heartbeat.

Yeah...well.

Today all I want to do is crawl into bed and write something for me, for fun, and who cares if no one else ever reads it. But I can't. Because I'm doing the revision dance and trying to please everyone and their mother with this dang book when sometimes I just want to go back to when I first wrote it and relish the magic it held for me. Oh, the magic's still there, and the story and characters still make me happy. I'm not even complaining about the work, because I know these revisions have to be done, but I assure you, the eye-rolling is no more. Because to you afore-mentioned writers...I get it now.

Something else I never thought I'd say: I actually like a One Direction song (at least until next week when it's all I've heard on the radio for hours on end). I know, what kind of sell-out have I become? :)

23 comments:

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Same with me, this song was just too good. Just keep writing Ilima and know that someone will enjoy your work.

Robin said...

I'm not at your point quite yet, where I really get it, but I try to remember Emily Wing Smith from our first WIFYR when I'm on the verge of eye rolling.

You will rock this revision...I know you already are. ((((hugs))))

Diana Wilder said...

Wonderful song and great post! I think the feeling 'I have a lovely story and it's all mine and I'm letting it grow and enjoying it' is maybe the most delicious thing in writing. Immediately delicious, anyhow. The moment you have to let the thing go, put it out there, show it to someone else... That's hard.

The revisions will be great, and at some point someone completely unconnected to you, who has never read anything else you wrote will pick up a copy, read it and totally get it and you.

Thanks for expressing it!
Diana at About Myself By Myself

Donna K. Weaver said...

Ah, yes. I feel your pain. And yet, like with your real-life children, we continue to do this over and over again. Somehow, once we get that book all up and purty, we forget the bad parts. Good luck!

Love that song.

Rachel Schieffelbein said...

It's funny how our feelings change as we make our way through this business. Good luck with revisions! :)

Chrys Fey said...

Oh yes, I was one of those eye-rolling aspiring writers. And now I totally get it. Writing is harder than most people realize, and doing it as a career is even harder than that. I wish for the days when I wrote all day long for the sheer pleasure of it. Sadly, I haven't done that in years. And I haven't written anything in weeks because I've been dealing with the other side of writing: editing and marketing.

Good luck to all of us! lol

Julie Flanders said...

I totally understand this sentiment! I am thrilled with my publisher and ecstatic to have my books in the world but it also brings a pressure that I didn't really expect and sometimes have trouble handling. Great post and it's nice to meet you through the IWSG!

SK Anthony said...

Great post, this business sure has crazy ups and downs! You got this though, best of luck to getting through this and not driving yourself too crazy in the process :) hugs!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Writing for ourselves is such a different world. That's why I never planned on more than one book. I didn't want the pressure. Why I am now working on a fourth one, I have no idea!

Deanie Humphrys-Dunne said...

Ilima, if you love what you're doing, the passion shows in your work. There will always be people who don't support our efforts, or those who moan over every detail. But pay them no mind. If we appreciate our talents and use them, we will feel fulfilled.

Laura Clipson said...

Good luck with your revisions! At least you acknowledge how lucky you are to have a deal :)

Suzanne Furness said...

Even though I am not in this position (yet!) I can understand what you are saying. I guess it's when the writing becomes a job and deadlines kick in that you lose a part of why you started in the first place. Good luck with those edits.

Tammy Theriault said...

I heard that song, and the radio was saying I think more people will like it because it's more mature. I love the snow! and maybe just a short story will give you a fix!

Jolene Perry said...

YES.

And the pressure hasn't released - at least not for me or anyone I know. It changes...
it goes from pleasing an agent to pleasing an editor to pleasing the people who read your book so more people will read your book so your agent will be happy with you and your editor will be happy with you and and and...
Can you tell what space I'm in right now? lol

Michelle D. Argyle said...

It's crazy all the things that change once publication happens. I'm finally coming full-circle in a way and just taking all of 2014 to write whatever the heck I want and just for me ... because since my writing life pretty much fell apart, I can do that now. So I guess silver linings, eh? I'll take it. I'm sorry you're feeling this way, and I do hope you get to a point where you can write a project just for you again. :)

David T List said...

I'm not rolling my eyes... But I am anxiously awaiting my own deadlines and disgruntled editor!

Suzi said...

Oh, you silly writers complaining all the time. Stop whining because at least you have a book deal.

FYI: I'm only saying this in hopes that it gets me a book deal--or well maybe an agent first So then I can write my own post about regretting my words. :)

Jack said...

I know how you feel. Deadlines and editing over and over again is painful. Writing is great, but sometimes editing leaves a lot to be desired.

Johanna Garth said...

It's the whole shoe on the other foot feeling, right? :)

And the funniest part about this whole post was the 1D comment, and yes, I kinda like that song too!

Jennie Bennett said...

One direction has their good moments too! And you know I have a thing for boy bands, even if most of them are Korean ;)

I kind of know what you're talking about though. I'm still writing for myself, but I feel pressure to put out something for everyone else becasue I'm trying to get a deal. Maybe it's too early to feel this way, but i would like to write something without even the fleeting thought that someone else will read it someday. Try as I might, that's never going to happen again.

Emily R. King said...

I read this and thought I commented! Oops.

I hope your revisions are going well. I think you should write something for you next! Maybe thinking/plotting/dreaming of another project will help you get through this one. Hugs!

Kelley Lynn said...

Oh my gosh, you're like the third person today who has said this, "I actually like a One Direction song" I'll have to listen to it now. :)

So far I haven't reached this 'I really wish I could write for me' phase yet. You should take a day for just you though. Just one :)

Sarah Allen said...

I've got a cousin who adores that song :)

Sarah Allen
(From Sarah, With Joy>