I don't like leaving something unfinished. So, I do think I would have to finish my story, and try to get it published. If I wasn't successful, I would try again, but with another story.
Each story I write my craft improves, so that motivates me. But, I think timing and luck are definitely a part of success, and those things are out of my hands.
26 comments:
Amen! I agree 100% Rachel. No writing is ever a waste, we learn from every word. I think it is great to write stuff that is publishable, but even if it isn't it is still our story and worth our time, and you never know...
Oh this is tough... For me, I might skip to the end and write the final scenes, just to have some closure. But I do see the value in craft-improvement writing. Good question!
(And nice to meet you!)
This is a challenging question.
I think I'd have to keep writing. My children read them, and they are my most important audience.
Yep. Because I love the story and have to know how it ends. I probably wouldn't revise it, though.
Yup! Writing even the most craptastic book is excellent training. Now would I write to the required word count? Probably not. I'm pretty lazy. :P
Without question. I fall in love with my characters soon after I start writing. In some cases, months before! I couldn't imagine just leaving them hanging.
Yeah, I would write it still. It's the same as when I was painting. You consider the audience, you don't create in a vacuum (not possible, I think) but you don't necessarily think someone will buy the work, or represent you. Creating any art is an end in and of itself. I echo what's already been said, it's never a waste.
I (don't tell anyone) am a believer in writing the crappy novel. Or to say it more tactfully, the learning novel.
If you don't finish your crappy novel then you don't learn all the steps, you don't learn from your mistakes, you don't quite learn.
So, yes, I will still finish my crappy novel and then I will have learned what I need to do to write my not-so-crappy novel
;)
Awesome question! I'd finish it, because like you said, so much is learned from the process. Sometimes, those unpublished works are a necessary part of refining our craft, so we can publish that breakout novel. Not to mention the joy gained from following our passion, no matter what the end result ;-)
Yes I would! I think writing for the sake of being published is quite soulless. Do it for the love of writing, or you're doing it for the wrong reasons.
This is a very fascinating question.
I, too, will continue writing because writing is an expression of the soul, and most of us do it to explore it--to feel it...to believe in it.
There is nothing better than that.
Yes, I would continue writing and then I would self publish.
You know what? I would. Each one is a learning experience. I have to think I'll get better for the next one.
That said, I hope the next one I query is THE ONE.
Good luck with your manuscript!
What an excellent question! Yes, I would continue writing on if I felt passionately about my plot and characters, because sometimes I just have to get something out of my system before I can move forward. And as one of my favorite book characters say, "Error can point the way to truth." And what if the crystal ball were wrong?
Michelle
I loved reading all of your comments. Your passion for writing is inspiring! I look forward to reading your questions on your blogs.
:)
Yes, I would. I've written several books that I never even tried to get published. Mostly they were gifts for my children. I've also been a songwriter all my life and most of the songs I wrote were just for me. Actually, trying to get published is just an idea I've had recently.
Nice to meet you! I'm now a follower!
Laura
laurabwriter.blogspot.com
I agree, no writing is a waste of time. My current WIP is also cathartic.
I'm following you now.
Yes! I would definitely keep writing. I love it. When I started writing a year-and- a- half ago the idea of being published never entered my mind. My husband patted my shoulder and said we'd print the book up ourselves to have on our bookshelf. It was a cute new hobby. Now I'm on my sixth novel. Not sure how that happened!
For me, writing is so therapuetic! I would have to keep writing or I'd be lost; I would lose part of myself. Plus, I didn't start this journey JUST to be a published author, but it would be some very sweet icing on the cake. So yes! I would still write.
I think that people who are serious about writing have a passion for it that extends far beyond just wanting to skip to the glory of publication. You have to enjoy what you're doing...even during the troughs as it's your passion that helps to pull you up to the top of a peak again.
You know I THINK I know what I would do, which is still write, but not with as much of a pending deadline kind of attitude. I love to write. I did it when I was younger with no thought of ever getting published so I think I will always be that way. I guess I will never know for sure though since I don't know the future. Maybe that is a good thing:)
Well, I write because I have a story to tell. I will tell it to the best of my ability and when I can no longer make it any better, I will stop working on it.
Whether or not it will ever see the light of day is beyond the point.
(I'm a fellow BlogFest participant and a new follower.)
I just had a chance to look at some of your artwork, and it is beautiful! I'm an enthusiastic new follower. :)
Michelle
Thanks everyone! Michelle thanks for your kind comment about my artwork!
Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier!
Great question and I hope my answer would be yes, but I tend to be goal oriented so I might just write the fun scenes or I might finish the first draft and stop there. Or I might just think the crystal ball had to be flawed and keep on going because I believed in my story! How's that for vague?
I might have answered this differently a while ago, but I love the act of writing so much, I don't think I'd be all that bothered.
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