The critique group matchmaking is going well. I’m accepting e-mails until the end of the week, so if you know anyone who’s looking for a critique group, send them my way.
With all of this matchmaking, I totally forgot to do Monday Me. Oops! Some of you have asked how my writing’s going. Well, I’m starting over. Again. I’m okay with that, for the most part. The rest was practice until I found my voice, which I’ve now done. Unfortunately, that means changing a lot since I decided another character was better suited as the killer. The stalker I was using just couldn’t go dark enough because… Well, I’ll just leave it at that in case I change my mind and go back to the original killer.
While it’s frustrating to have to start over (this will be my second time), I love the story and characters too much to drop them just yet. They deserve a real chance and until I had my voice, I couldn’t give that to them. I figure if Allison Brennan can admit her first 4 novels will never be published, then I’m okay with accepting I have to rewrite this one again. Even bestsellers had to practice before getting it right. And since I’m going to be one of them some day, I don’t mind taking the time now to figure it out. Besides, I’m excited about this new killer. Very. Sick. Puppy. Now, all I need is the time to write… But that’s a whole other story.
Have you found your voice? How did you discover it?
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We must write alike. I do the same thing with coming up with something better and making the change but I know that no amount of planning or out-lining would have gotten me to the better story. I always have to write the bad first, like its just a step in the process.
ReplyDeleteStarting over is tough, but it's great that you're being so positive about it.
ReplyDeleteFinding my voice was about putting my personality (or my character's personality) into words. There wasn't any magical formula involved, just a lot of writing. And I know that I write best in short bursts of 1,000 word scenes. After that, my voice needs a creative break.
I always have to start over, too, and I'm still finding my voice. I hope you have better luck this time! Good for you, for not giving up on these characters and this story that you love. :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Lynette for persevering!!
ReplyDeleteStill Looking. Must feel good.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you feel confident with your choices. I'm still not sure if I'm writing in the right genre. :) Good luck with the rewrites.
ReplyDeleteI'm finding my voice now.
ReplyDeleteI also have to do some rewrites. Good luck with yours!
I think I've found my voice. It's tough to know when to start over, to figure out what's worth saving and what to cut. Good for you for making those hard decisions. You'll probably feel better for it in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI'm still finding my voice, too, but I LOVE the genre I'm writing in. So I'm heading in the right direction!
ReplyDeleteit takes guts to start over - good for you! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, but I think I'm still looking, lol. The right genre. I've been wondering myself on that subject. My shorts are dark fiction, but only because of the spirit and ghost elements. The novel I'm working on for NaNo also contains spirits, but deciding rather it is dark is hard for me. I don't see it as dark but I guess other may. I have the same trouble with my shorts, they don't seem dark to me either. Guess if you have the darkness in you, it may be hard to see.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your restart. Keep Writing.
I think it took my first book to find my voice. It was a dark story, but I kept throwing in humor and sarcasm, so I discovered my style is lighter and more casual than I originally thought.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're coming in to yours. I'm looking forward to reading your revisions. :)
Way to stick with it! I too had a practice book that helped me find my voice.
ReplyDelete