I have recently joined The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG), whose stated purpose is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Where we can post our thoughts on our own blogs. Talk about our doubts and the fears we have conquered. Discuss our struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling.
Plus, a question is posed, and this month's is: What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?
Well, the first piece of writing I had an aim to publish was way back when I was 11 years old. Having grown up watching British and American Sci-fi and Fantasy TV and film, Dr Who, Star Trek, Star Wars and some others which have been consigned to the dark vaults of history, I wrote a sci-fi extravaganza of bold young agents in an intergalactic (possibly interdimensional, I don't think I was all that clear on that point) force who fight the worst of the worst baddies with their laser pistols and psychic powers.
Well, as you can imagine, I am very, very glad the internet did not exist when I was 11 and that rather purple set of prose is now consigned to my very own 'history' drawer never to see the light of day again. :)
However, I did really, really want to publish it when I was 11, but, rather than send the manuscript to anyone, I sent letters of inquiry to publishers (I found their addresses on their books) to ask how to go about getting published. Some of them were wonderful people and took the time to write back. I can never say how grateful I am to those folks who took those few minutes to put together some words of encouragement that kept me, a child, interested in publishing. I didn't publish anything else until ten years later, when the internet gave me access to fanfiction mailing lists, but I have never forgotten those letters.
What came of your first pieces, my fellow insecure writers, did they lead to anything, or were they just good practice?
Insecurities:
What's been bothering me for a while is that I'm not writing enough and I'm not achieving my goals. I haven't published a novel since The Burning Web, and I think I'm getting anxious, because I am getting close to finishing another, which is the sequel to Night Blood, but I've been close to finishing it for over a year!
I have been writing; blog posts mainly, which includes this year's A to Z Challenge, where I planned out an entire detective novel, The Case of the Cursed House. I have 2 novels over 50% complete, Ghost Blood, and an extended version of my novella, Bonds of Fire, plus I have a rewrite of the start of Sacrifice of An Angel to do. I think I'm getting anxious because I have so many irons in the fire, and now I just need to pick one and knuckle down and do it. Maybe that's what I need to do, admit to myself that I've been prevaricating way too long and get on with things. I'm going to write a list here and now:
Now let's see if I can keep to it - I'll post an update next month.
Well, the first piece of writing I had an aim to publish was way back when I was 11 years old. Having grown up watching British and American Sci-fi and Fantasy TV and film, Dr Who, Star Trek, Star Wars and some others which have been consigned to the dark vaults of history, I wrote a sci-fi extravaganza of bold young agents in an intergalactic (possibly interdimensional, I don't think I was all that clear on that point) force who fight the worst of the worst baddies with their laser pistols and psychic powers.
Well, as you can imagine, I am very, very glad the internet did not exist when I was 11 and that rather purple set of prose is now consigned to my very own 'history' drawer never to see the light of day again. :)
However, I did really, really want to publish it when I was 11, but, rather than send the manuscript to anyone, I sent letters of inquiry to publishers (I found their addresses on their books) to ask how to go about getting published. Some of them were wonderful people and took the time to write back. I can never say how grateful I am to those folks who took those few minutes to put together some words of encouragement that kept me, a child, interested in publishing. I didn't publish anything else until ten years later, when the internet gave me access to fanfiction mailing lists, but I have never forgotten those letters.
What came of your first pieces, my fellow insecure writers, did they lead to anything, or were they just good practice?
Insecurities:
| Wittegen Press |
 |
| $3.99 | £2.87 Amazon | Other |
I have been writing; blog posts mainly, which includes this year's A to Z Challenge, where I planned out an entire detective novel, The Case of the Cursed House. I have 2 novels over 50% complete, Ghost Blood, and an extended version of my novella, Bonds of Fire, plus I have a rewrite of the start of Sacrifice of An Angel to do. I think I'm getting anxious because I have so many irons in the fire, and now I just need to pick one and knuckle down and do it. Maybe that's what I need to do, admit to myself that I've been prevaricating way too long and get on with things. I'm going to write a list here and now:
| Wittegen Press |
 |
| $2.99 | £2.32 Amazon | Other |
- Finish Ghost Blood Draft #1
- Rewrite the start of Sacrifice of An Angel
- Finish Bonds of Fire Extended Version
- Take The Case of the Cursed House plan and turn into Draft #1
Now let's see if I can keep to it - I'll post an update next month.
I love that they took the time to write back and help foster your growing desire to be published! How awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely of them :)
DeleteThat is so cool that they wrote back to you with encouraging words! I'd love to see your A to Z blog posts turned into a book. It was fun to watch you develop the plot and characters during A to Z and I bet it would be a fantastic book. Cheers - Ellen
ReplyDeleteI know, they were wonderful people :)
DeleteThanks for the encouragement, I will get to writing that book, I am making a promise to myself.
What a great stories about the publishers writing you back! It's so cute to think of an 11 year old taking the initiative to contact them like that. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you joined the IWSG - it's great to meet you!!
They were awesome folks to write back :)
DeleteNice to meet you too.
Hi Sophie,
ReplyDeleteWow! You got real comments on your rejections letters! That's fantastic. I'm glad they are fuel for your muse too. My letters were always bland thank yous with comments about how someone else might like it (lol).
I hope you keep to your schedule. Sending warm thoughts your way.
Cheers,
Jo-Ann Carson (blog: http://wp.me/p25Rtf-24i)
Some folks were really kind to at 11 year old :)
DeleteThanks for the support, I'm hoping going public with the schedule will give me the kick I need to actually do it.
I wanted to be published when I was 12. haha Then when I rewrote that first book, I wanted to be published (again) at 17. I sent queries out and crashed and burned. My book was NOT ready. lol Ah the eagerness of a kid, huh? Thing is, kids nowadays can self-publish and because they rush they could be publishing their crappy stories. ANd may come to regret it as we would have.
ReplyDeleteKids today certainly have the chance to crash and burn in public - not sure if that is a bad or good thing. I know when I discovered the internet and got up enough courage to publish (fanfic) I was really grateful for the more experienced writers who gave me hints and tips and, in some cases, deep feedback on my pieces. Fanfic writing, at least on livejournal, was a very supportive place, I don't know now, because I don't spend enough time on Tumblr or Wattpad to know if it's still as supportive. I have heard some terrible stories recently about groups of 'fans' trying to police what they think are the 'right' pairings in their fandoms and what they think is acceptable fic, and basically trolling writers who they don't agree with, which is just so wrong.
DeleteThat is amazing some of them took the time to respond to you. Good thing I never got that far with my first story, at least not at that age.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fast writer either. I wish I could churn books out every six months. But it's all right if I can't. So don't stress not getting one out there fast enough.
I don't think I made it by last month, but welcome to the IWSG!