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It doesn't work that way. You have to write the right story for you. The one that burns in your head. The one that wakes you up in the middle of the night. The one you want to read.
When it's finished...then you can worry. About if your mother will share it with her church group before she notices all those f-bombs. Or if your kid's friends will read that sex scene you threw in. Or if your husband recognizes he and the villain share a few (minor) annoying traits.
But not now.
Now it's just for me.
Note: This has been a post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Join us. Let's be insecure together.
Yes, yes, and yes!! Totally agree Marsha.
ReplyDeleteYou have to write the story that -you- want.I made the mistake of not doing this last NaNoWriMo and it wound up biting me in the rear...I never finished it because it wasn't a story that I, as a reader, would want to read.
Great advice!
*gollum face* Blogger just ate my damn comment. Blah!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, what I was saying...That is how I write my first drafts too. I write it for me and try not to worry about what anyone else will think. If my critique partners later balk and tell me I'm a depraved lunatic who should be locked up, I might consider revising. :))
You said it!
ReplyDeleteNot sure if my comment posted or not, but I agree...hmmm computer glitchies!
ReplyDeleteExactly! Great post, Marsha. Thanks for reminding me why I'm doing this. =o)
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right - we have to write the story, not the socially-acceptable accepted novel everyone expects from us. The stories deserve better. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's so simple, but the idea to write what you want gets easily pushed aside when you try to get published. And we get frustrated when that 'magical' feeling we got from writing isn't there anymore.
ReplyDeleteI write because I have to. There. Simple.
Great post, Marsha! So glad I found your blog.
Very good advice! My problem atm is that there's no story in my mind burning to get out. Five moths and counting. My CPs are prodding, and I'm trying to force myself to come up with an outline for something. I wonder if it will be good...
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I so agree with this.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree, and it makes it even funnier when my mom reads them. She can't stand the vulgarity, but dammit, she still makes an attempt to read them, and I appreciate the effort.
ReplyDeleteThis is so completely true. I used to struggle with this a lot, which eventually led to me not writing at all. It was something I had to get over. It's only fun if you write what you want to write and not try to predict trends or popularity.
ReplyDeleteMy best stories are the ones I wrote cuz I'd want to read them. It really is the only way!
ReplyDelete