Good morning, good afternoon friends, how are you? I hope your week was great! Today I’m going to talk about writing…or well, not really writing. Camp NaNoWriMo started 17 days ago. Are you participating? Are you LOSING YOUR MIND YET? Because I am. So…let’s recap on 17 days of #amnotediting craziness.
There’s something I realized, right in the first days of Camp NaNoWriMo : writing a book is a LOT of fun. It’s exhausting, it takes so much time, you feel like your brain is exploding and your fingers can’t do anything other than typing like crazy on your keyboard. But it is A LOT of fun. Because you’re taking ideas as they come, you’re making everything your own way, you’re writing, writing, writing. If you decided to write your own story for Camp NaNo, I hope you’re experimenting this crazy, overjoyed feeling of making a story come true under your fingertips.
Editing. Editing is NO FUN AT ALL. It makes me cringe every second I think about it, it’s like offering me brussel sprouts on a silver platter. NO THANK YOU. I committed to edit my NaNoWriMo story from November 2015. 62 528 glorious words coming right out of my brains (Don’t ask, I have NO idea how I did this.). But where do you start where all you can do is stare at your WIP and wonder HOW you did that, and HOW you’re going to go from there? Should I rewrite the whole damn thing? But then, HOW do I know if I’m making it better, or just DAMN WORSE and ruining everything? Where do I begin, where do I end? This has been the story of my life for the past 17 days. Staring and wondering. Losing my mind about it.
I was prepared. I was EXCITED to start. I even re-read my whole WIP beforehand, and I thought to myself “oh, okay, well there are plot holes and things that need to be fixed, but it’s not that bad“. I can’t believe I actually thought that, because right now, the more I look at it, the more I think that it’s getting bad, and bad, and UGH why. Then, I thought to myself, the key of this, is ORGANIZATION. I took my damn 62 K of words, and divided it by scenes. I took some notes about scenes that need to move, some that I might eventually have to delete. Then, I stared again for another two days. Took my outline from last November. Did some more starting. I STARE A LOT AT MY COMPUTER BECAUSE CONFUSION.
So right now, I don’t know anymore. If I should rewrite the whole thing, let it rest again for another year or two, forget it because never mind, it’s just a book. Or if I should try harder. Rewrite. Take this thing down, break it in a billion pieces. Write it in English, write it in French, put it on Wattpad, ask you guys if I’m going crazy (because I must be, right?) Is it good, is it bad? I do not know. How do you know when something’s worth pursuing, or when you should just give up? I’m starting to become philosophical here, so I might as well just stop here. And get back to that blank void, hoping that somewhere, someday, I will know where to start and where to end that story I want to tell.
Gosh, you’re loosing your mind on that thing hahaha! But I know you’ll eventually get it to the way you want it to be if you don’t give up on it !
I gave up on writing a looong time ago because, well because I don’t know, it just didn’t feel like something I wanted to do anymore and I don’t really miss it! But YOU do love it and you should keep on writing even if it seems crappy to you, just keep playing with it until you are happy with your story, even if it takes years.
Haha, I’m actually okay, because I’m taking some distance from it so I don’t lose my mind so much. I’m just kind of always wondering what I’m supposed to do, haha.
Ohh, well if you don’t miss it, then I guess that’s okay! I really do love it, there’s nothing like it really, and I think I should just keep on no matter what. But some days, it’s so, so hard to write, ahah.
Thank you so, so much for the support <3 <3
Yeah that’s a good thing or it’ll start feeling like a chore, and we don’t want that to happen, do we ? hahaha.
Well, yes I guess, but it was such a big part of my life few years back that I just wonder what happened.
You’re welcome, I’m here for that <3
Oh no, we really don’t want that to happen, ahah. It was exactly the same for me, I just stopped writing at what point, but last year I missed it too much and decided to get back into it again, and it was all for the best. I hope I won’t lose that feeling of loving writing 🙂 You really are the best, thank you <3
My my girl, have a break, have a kitkat…. I mean that was cheezy… 😛 Anyway, it looks like your mind is exploding so yes you definitely need a break, and take some time before thinking about it. Then it’ll help you to look at it with a fresh start and a new perspective I guess. Or… we can both try editing together after Camp NaNoWriMo in July? In that way we can encourage each other and keep going. Just don’t loose hope! Because you can definitely do it! 😀
Hahhaa, it was, but thank you, that’s so sweet of you ahah <3 <3 You're so right, it would really help me to take a break with this writing. OHh, actually that would be great to have someone by my side editing as well, <3 Thank you, really <3
You’re welcome! We can definitely do it together! 😀
I would love that <3
WOOOW. You can do it!!!!
Thank you, so, SO much! I know I can sometimes it’s just not, well, the right time I guess! 🙂
I’d say English, you can get more help from the community that way. Because others can read it and help you.
And yes, definitely, I need to write in English because I would love to have some feedback, I know you guys are THE best at this <3
I would love to do nanowrimo some year but I am not very confident in my writing yet. I do not even think I would know where to start tbh! I am so impressed that you managed to write so much 🙂
I think you should just let someone else, that you know will be honest and that you can trust, read what you have written and help give you some perspective on what you are doing. Whenever I stare myself blind at what I am doing and I am unsure, this is what I do. I am sure that what you’ve written is a lot better than you think. We are always our own worst critic right? 🙂
To be honest, to this day, I still have no idea how I did this. I think outlining the whole story before really helped me, and well, NaNoWriMo and its crazy rhythm really forces you to write, push words out of yourself everyday, and that was a good kind of pressure. The pressure of editing, well, not as good ahah. 🙂
You’re right about this, thank you so much <3 I think I will do that, we are our own worst critic, I especially am hard with myself ahah, so I hope I could get some new perspective with this. thank you so much for your support and your sweetness, Josephine! <3
Sometimes I think writing was just invented to make us go crazy.
Editing is so hard. I have only really intensively done it on short pieces of writing, I can’t imagine doing it on anything long (which is why I am continuing to ignore my NaNoWriMo novel, haha). The thought of it makes my brain go melty.
I think you should keep going with it though, for what it’s worth. Everybody says it’s all in the rewriting, and a lot of them had to survive it in order to say it.
Ahahha, oh I think the same way, I think it’s just made to make us go completely insaneeee.
Just the thought of editing makes me sad, ahah, it’s just honestly so hard, and I have no idea where to begin. Editing short pieces of writing must be easier indeed 🙂
You’re really right about this, I don’t want to give up either, but maybe it needs some more rest. Thank you so much for the advice! <3
Maybe there are some books you could read that might help? I haven’t actually read it, but people are always going on about Stephen King’s one.
Thank you so much, I heard quite a lot about that book as well. I might check it out. Thank you, really, <3
I can relate to the staring haha. If you’re excited about this story, if you don’t want to let it go, then don’t let it go! I’m sort of in the middle of the editing proces; I say sort of because as I started to rewrite the first draft it became very very different, so I’m not sure if I’m editing or writing anymore XD (well right now I’m longingly staring at my document but I know I have to get back to schoolwork soon) It might be easier to just rewrite it (and you don’t have to completely rewrite it!); start off with a ‘fresh’ start organisation-wise, but I’m not sure. WHERE ARE THE EDITING GENIUSES WHEN YOU NEED THEM. Anyway good luck! If it’s frustrating you too much, maybe you should take a break and rest a bit and try again ❤
Thank you so much for the advice, you’re so sweet! <3 I think thats what making me uncomfortable, I worked so much on the first draft, but ut's just meant to be completely rewritten maybe, and it breaks my heart, I can't bring myself to do this hahaha. But thank you, I really think I will try again when I have some more time as well! <3
Haha that’s understandable! Maybe you don’t have to rewrite it at all though. Just do whatever works best for you! 🙂
Yes, you’re right, I just need to figure out what’s best for me. But I reallt dont want to give up! I hope your editing:rewriting is going well! 😀
Yes don’t give up! 🙂 Thanks, whenever I have the time I brainstorm/write a little bit, but I can’t wait till school is finished so I can write all the time 😀
Oh, well at least you have motivation to write things down when you have a little bit of time, that’s great 🙂
You could try giving it to a friend to read – a fresh pair of eyes who have never seen the story pick up mistakes and improvements much better then you would yourself, even if you haven’t looked at it since last year!
You’re right, really, I think I will do that. I need a fresh pair of eyes on this story, because I can’t look at it myself anymore, ahah 🙂 Thank you so, so much for the sweet advice! 🙂
Anytime 🙂
Holy cow. Okay, so #1 BREATHE it is all going to be okay, I promise! #2 At least you are trying and seem to be getting somewhere. #3 62000 words is AMAZING and it seems like you have a lot to work with.
I think I would have someone else read it and give you thorough notes about every little thing so that way you have somewhere to start.
I am currently writing my first WIP, but am only 6500 words in. 🙂
Good luck!
You are the sweetest person ever, I swear. Thank you, I really needed that. I think I will make someone read my work as well, to give me new perspective on things 🙂
Ohhh, well that’s already awesome, and what are you writing about, if I can ask? Good luck for everything! 😀
If you need someone to read and give lots of constructive suggestions, I can. 🙂 I feel like every time I try to explain it it sounds really lame, but basically it is a mix between time travel and teleportation because time travel is too messy, but I wanted that sort of element in my story. There are a crap ton of subplots too that I am starting to regret… Haha 🙂
Aww, well that’s so sweet of you, thank you so much, I’ll keep that in mind <3 <3
Ohhh, well that sounds really good, I'd love to read a snippet or something! 😀
Thank you! I will think about maybe posting some sometime. 🙂
Awesome, please let me know if you do, I wouldn’t want to miss that! 🙂
I HATE EDITING! PLAIN HATE IT! I barely ever feel such strong negative feelings towards anything, but editing is torture. Dividing it into scenes is a good idea though. I did something similar, but I put all the chapters on flash cards and then talked them through with my editor/cousin. We discussed what should be changed or stay the same in each chapter. When there would be chapters added and others crossed out or switched around. I mostly used the first rewrite (which I am still not done with) to get the story straight. The second rewrite will be about language and flow. Sorry for babbling on. Editing is apin.
P.S. Love all the Nick gifs!!!! <3
THANK YOU, and please don’t apologize, I’m glad I’m not the only one struggling with editing, ahah. I think I might do that, but I think I’ll push back as well when I’ll do it, because I don’t have enough time to really focus on it as much as I would like to 🙁
OH YES, the Nick gifs are the best, he’s so funny, ahah 🙂
I haven’t touched any of my writing in months … it’s a shame and it’s so difficult to balance. On the one hand you’re supposed to let it sit for a bit, but you aren’t supposed to just leave it there forever hahaha
Oh yes, it’s so difficult to balance with everything. Hahaha, yes, it would be too bad to let our glorious work get forgotten… It would be way too sad. That won’t happen though, let’s believe we can do this…someday, ahah.
Yes, someday will have to do!
Gaaaah, I meant pain …
Ahah, I got it, I could even feel the pain in your comment 😛
my advice? put it down or a week. you’ll know if you should really continue it based on whether you’re passionate about it–whether you can’t stoop thinking about it or if it pains you to set it aside. if you’re truly passionate about the project then it’s 100% worth pursuing, if you’re only so so about the project then maybe set it aside for now and come back to it later, if you vehemently hate it with a burning passion, then maybe it’s time to chuck it. hope this helps, i’m sure you’re doing much better than you think 🙂
Thank you, so, so much Lila, for your sweet comment and your help, that means a lot to me. I will definitely follow your advice, I think I need to set it aside for now, maybe come back to it in the summer, think about it a bit more. Thank you! <3 <3
glad i could help 🙂
Wow it sounds like your having a hard time with editing your novel. Maybe take a step back from it for a while, or see if there’s anyone who can give you a fresh perspective on it. It must be pretty challenging, I guess writing something for the first time is pretty much just pouring the ideas out onto paper in any kind of order but going back and trying to fix everything, clear up the plot holes and, well, anything you don’t like is that much harder (I haven’t ever really edited anything I’ve written, is it obvious?)
But still you’ve past the half way mark, that must feel pretty good 😀
It’s NOT obvious at all that you haven’t edited yet, because you perfectly understand the struggles of it, ahah. Writing for the first time is just so thrilling, but trying to fix things is much, much harder, maybe because I’m nervous to break all of my story to pieces? But I guess that’s a necessary part, as well. Thank you so much Beth for the support and advice! 🙂
I don’t have the patience for editing. I’ve tried on things I’ve had to do for work and my dissertation at uni and my god, it’s worse than writing the thing in he first place! I definitely agree with you about how writing everything for the first time is so thrilling, but going back and editing is definitely an important part of the process (a part I’ve always skipped!) it must be hard but I guess you’ll end up with something better at the end, no matter how much you need to break the story into pieces.
That’s all right, I’m wishing you luck for the rest of the month ❤️
I guess yes, what I need is more patience, and trust in what I wrote as well. Editing is such a hard process, never thought it would be so hard! Thank you so much, I’m going to need your full support ahah <3
I would love to eventually participate in NaNoWriMo but I have no clue where to start or what to write…..I wish I participated when I was back in college when I had more ideas and creativity ? good luck with editing….I think when I was in school my trick was to print it out…take a step back from the piece then after sometime over coffee go over it with a red pen ? i work quite manually, and i guess its not very ecofriendly ? not sure if that would for u
Oh, I’m sure your creativity and inspiration is still in there somewhere, maybe it’ll come back someday 🙂 Ohh, that’s a good idea, thank you so much for suggesting it, I might try that 🙂 Thank you!<3
Hence I travel to retrieve my missing creativity and to find my inspiration ? sometimes we get tunnel vision when we have been reading the same thing over and over one too many times hence the need to step back. The printing, sometimes it’s good to go back to the basic ? hope it works out for you ?
Oh, travelling is the best for that <3 I wish I could get away right now, ahah 🙂 You're definitely right, thank you so much for your sweetness and the advice <3
Ok- step away from the manuscript! :p I can only speak from my own experience and everything you’re saying sounds familiar- the “arghhh what did I write phase”. When you’re in that mood *you must not try to edit*. It’s also not a good idea to edit when you think everything is hunky dory- cos then you just won’t make any changes- the optimum mood to be in is *businesslike*- because editing is more a mind exercise than a creative one. There are times in writing when it’s all about the inspirational spontaneity and then there are times when it’s all about being methodical. For me, editing is more of a mind exercise and about being analytical, rather than creative. I’ve learnt (from experience- trust me, I’ve butchered my share of manuscripts in angsty confusion) never to touch my books when I’m in that kind of mood. My advice: go write a poem, or a diary entry, or something- get all that angst out your system, then come back to it.
Again, that’s just my two cents- what works for me won’t work for everyone. (gah- look at me going on about editing again- I must be mad!)
On the plus side, you seem to be on the right track picking out the bits that will and won’t work- that’s the best way to go about it. And most importantly- if you loved the first draft then hold onto that- both the positive feeling and as much of the manuscript as possible. Trust your instincts- if your instincts are telling you there’s something good in it then they’re probably right.I don’t know the story/book, so I honestly couldn’t tell you if it needs to change drastically, but I can tell you that a positive first reaction is usually a good thing- cos the most important thing is that *you* love your story. Don’t let self doubt spoil it.
Good luck!
THANK YOU. Really, thank you so much for this wonderful comment, it’s really helpful <3 I really think that editing is a mind exercice, and something we really have to do like work, a bit, and while writing spontaneously was a lot of fun, it's kind of hard to put myself in this different mood.
But, I don't know, I have a feeling that there are things I need to keep, that this story is still worth something. I didn't know if that feeling was worth it up until now, so thank you, I really think I'll hold on to that <3 Thank you so much for all of your support! <3
You’re welcome!! I’m so glad you found it helpful! I know what you mean- I guess I get round that by writing other things at the same time as editing. (yay multi-tasking :p ) Yeah it is a bit more like work- but a good kind of work, cos it’s somewhere between using your analytical (review-y type) brain and the methodical brain for plotting (if that makes sense?)
Well that’s exactly how you should feel! You should always hold onto that central part of your story that made you feel happy and that clicked the first time you read it back- because it is worth something! That’s the soul of your story 🙂 I’m so glad that helped!!
You’re very welcome <3 So glad I could help!
Thank you again, really, your comment just completely remotivated me, I feel more like getting into this manuscript again thanks to you now <3
Yayyy I’m so glad!!!! <3
What would I do without you, probably, lose my mind ahah
hahaha
Editing is hard! Hang in there! I can definitely sympathise – I’m editing now and I go from ‘this is so fun, I like my story’ to ‘what was I thinking?! I can’t write!’
All the advice I can offer – because it helps me – is not to worry about what someone else would think. It’s your story. I also like writing chapters from different points of view sometimes, to think about them differently.
The important thing is, don’t stress over it! Maybe take a break for a week or two, just until you feel excited about working on your draft again?
Thank you so much! I had no idea it was this hard, and I don’t know what to do with my story anymore. I have been taking time off it, I really want to take it back, but I don’t know how, or where to start. It’s terrifying, because I don’t want to lose this thing either, ahaha. Thank you so much for the sweet advice, Annika <3
It always helps me to know the ending to my story – because it usually changes a bit from what I planned when I started the draft. I like to edit the ending, then go back to the beginning and see if it moves quickly enough to the action, if the characters are interesting enough to me, if there’s some kind of sign of what’s to come… That kind of thing? I really don’t have very helpful advice, but maybe taking a break is good. You can work on some new ideas for a bit, and then go back? <3
Well believe it or not, you are VERY helpful, really! I think I don’t have time and enough courage to get back to it, but I will someday, when I’m in the right mood and ready to kick some ass again, ahah. I’ll keep your comment in mind when I go back, this is very helpful, thank you! <3
Aww, you’re so sweet! Take a break but don’t be scared to get back to it once you’re in the mood! <3 Let me know if you want to talk about writing/editing at any point! I'm doing it too, so I get how hard it is!
That’s so sweet of you, I’ll remember that for when I want to get back to it, thank you so, so much <3
Omg I LOVE how you described how hard writing is. I tooootally agree. *shrieks* IT IS MIND BLOWINGLY HARD. And exhausting. Everytime I finish writing I just want to sleep for 9000 years. XD And I hate hate editing. It’s so hard to edit because there’s so much more pressure to get it right, yes?!? GRR. But sometimes it’s good to let drafts sit. Like I tend to let mine sit for at LEAST 6 weeks. (Usually, um, 2 years? haha. Just kidding…but really.) If I go back into writing it too soon then I get sick of it and lose all motivation.
PS I think you know if it’s worth pursuing by how much you love it. ;D That’s why I distance myself from my books for at least a month so I can figure out if I DO love it or not.
CONGRATS ON FINISHING THOUGH. YOU DESERVE CONFETTI AND CAKE.
OHH I am so glad you agree, you’re my spirit animal when it comes to writing. Does that sound weird? Yes, probably. But you can write SO many things and just, I am a HUGE fan. Thank you o, so much Cait <3 You're right, I think maybe I haven't let this draft sit for enough time, and I need to leave it alone a bit more. But I feel it in my gut that it could be something heartbreaking and I really want to pursue that. Hopefully I will! THANK YOU so much for the wonderful advice and the sweet comment ! <3