The Word Cloud

7 Comments

• 

  by Weens 1 year ago

  Welcome back. Where have you BEEN? I'm working through and revising/rewriting my first draft. I've got to the point where I'm working on chapters I haven't read since they were first written. I'm appalled at how BAD they are, but as you quite rightly pointed out, they are a first draft. At least I have the story down on paper, all I have to do now, is mould it into something better, something readable. Who ever said this writing lark was easy, doesn't know what he or she is talking about. Sometimes, I wish I hadn't learned the 'rules'. My book might not have been any good, but at least I was happy.
• 

  by Elysia 1 year ago

  Heya Weens! How the devil are you? I've been off finding myself... sort of. I realised I was doing a lot of talking about writing, but not actually writing itself, so I gave myself a good slap, said 'stop buggering around' and grounded myself for a few weeks - basically, until I got back into the habit of writing every day, I wasn't allowed to come here. Now I've managed to double the word count on my current ms, I thought I deserved a reward for being a good girl, and so here I am ^^D
  
  I've actually got to the point where I don't read back much now - I used to read back everything I'd written and then spend 3 hours fixing that, meaning I never progressed. It was a turgid merry-go-round of self-loathing and bitterness that I've worked hard to get off - now I read back the last paragraph to orientate myself and off I go, writing what is technically utter tripe, but I'm much, much happier for it. I'll probably regret it once I come to edit, but hey, I'll deal with that later... *grins*
  
  I'm definitely with you on 'the rules' thing, too. Life was so much easier when I just wrote what I thought was fun. Okay, so it was overwritten rubbish full of ever no-no in the book, but like you said, at least I was happy!
  
  Good luck with the editing - just think, you're (kind of) almost there! *hugs*
• 

  by Weens 1 year ago

  You're getting the story down on paper (or disc) and that's the most important thing to do I think. Once you have it down, you can do your revisions as required, but I find if I revise as I go, I lose the flow. Let it rip, you can always change it later.
• 

  by Robin 1 year ago

  I'd just like to lend my support to the noble cause of writing crap. One of the hardest things for a writer to do is accept that the first draft will be shocking and just get that draft finished.
• 

  by Liss 1 year ago

  Good for you! I too have given up trying to be perfect the first time. Screw ittttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt x
• 

  by Wrathnar the Unreasonable 1 year ago

  Ely: you're too hard on yourself (which, by the way, I regard as a hallmark of talent; it's the ones who think they're wonderful who never get any better). I've read a lot of your stuff, which you worry is over-written etc, but I've found that it flows beautifully, and is vivid, interesting and utterly engrossing. Don't worry so much! Your stuff is way, way better than you think it is! Just keep writing - you're doing great!
• 

  by Steve 1 year ago

  We actually have an excited terrier that does that to us every morning and every time we come back in from somewhere. It's grand to be welcomed that way, but it does get right on your tits after a bit.
  
  We've all got different approaches to writing and editing. But no one can revise nothing.
  
  There's a common sequence amongst some Cloudfolk:
  
  1. Stop buggering about on the Cloud for a self-imposed period.
  2. Force yourself to write any old junk down - just as much as it as possible.
  3. When you can't face the revising bit, skulk back to the Cloud.
  4. Eventually, after pokes and shuffles, get a bit of it in some sort of order.
  5. Slap it up on here somewhere and see what other good writers think.
  6. Encouragement is usually forthcoming... and you're away.
  
  Long process, but it's loads better for me to have smashing folk right here when I need 'em - the hardest bit for me was dragging myself away for a couple of months.
  
  Welcome back, Ely.