Wednesday, February 4, 2015

ISWG: Being a Writer Means Having a Large Trunk



I attended a writer’s retreat last month. One of the first things we did was go around the room and shake hands with everyone, saying, “Congratulations.” As the presenter, Darcy Pattison, pointed out, we’d all just finished a novel. That was a big accomplishment, something to be proud of.

It wasn’t much later, though, that I was sitting in my small group and we were talking about how long we’d been writing. I was embarrassed to admit the truth:
“This is my fifth novel.”

Why was I embarrassed, even after I’d just been congratulated?

I think it has to do with the fact that I see those other four novels as failures. Yes, they may have gotten some requests, even some positive feedback, but I just see the nos.

I don’t see the fact that I finished five novels, some of which have been rewritten more than once.

I forget that often when I tell a nonwriter friend that I’m a writer, I hear, “I’ve always wanted to write a book.”

In that moment, I forget this profound truth: just by finishing a book, I’d done something that most people want to do, but never accomplish.

At the end of the retreat, Darcy Pattison read an excerpt from Art and Fear (David Bayles & Ted Orland). One thing she read in particular stood out to me: “The function of the majority of your artwork is simply to teach you how to make the small fraction of your artwork that soars.”


My early novels—most of them will never see the light of day again. They most likely will not be published, at least not in their present form. But that doesn’t mean they are wasted.  I couldn’t have written number 5 without them. And if it does soar—it’s because of all those words I wrote before it.


Do you have manuscripts you have trunked? Are you embarrassed or proud of them?


If you haven't heard of it, here's a little about The Insecure Writer’s Support Group


 
Purpose: 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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

21 comments:

  1. I think it's great you finished 5 manuscripts. I've only finished one and spent years trying to revise it to make it right only to put it in the drawer for now.

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    1. But I'm sure you've learned so much from all that revising. I spent several years editing my first book only to put it in the drawer, so I understand.

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  2. That's right - most people never even write one.
    Besides, those others were practice and they got you to book number five.

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    1. Thanks, Alex, for your encouraging words! That's what I'm hoping for.

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  3. Wow, I love that quote from Art and Fear. When I look back at my trunked novels (four complete ones and many half-finished ones) that's exactly how I see them. Writing them got me to where I needed to be. Hang in there--you are on your way!

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    1. Thanks, Anna, that's incredibly encouraging!

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  4. Nice. Yup, I've totally got trunked novels. Of course the perfectionist in me intends to pull out each one and polish it until it's publishable...one day. I completely agree. Every finished novel is a win.

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    1. I'm the same way. I think I can still fix those old ones, but the problem is that the new ideas are calling me more...and I'm a different writer now.

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  5. That's the second time this week I've read that quote! I must take it to heart. So glad you had a chance to go to Darcy's revision retreat. You're well on your way ... Congratulations on the four trunked novels!!!! They are definitely an accomplishment. I only have two.

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    1. How cool that that quote is making the rounds. Thanks for the encouragement, Vijaya!

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  6. Oh, Jenni, this is such a wonderful post and so perfect for me! I'm well into my fourth novel and so far, none of the other three have seen the light of day. I've queried two of them (still am) but in all honesty, I have no idea if they'll be published. It's frustrating and overwhelming at times. But I love how you said you couldn't have written #5 had you not written the other four. I guess that's what I need to tell myself. Even if those novels are never published, they aren't a waste. Thanks for such an inspiring post. :)

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    1. Thanks, Kristin! I'm glad to know it inspired you. Sometimes I think I'm writing these posts just to talk myself into thinking about my insecurities in a different way.

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  7. That is a really, really good point - there is major accomplishment in finishing, isn't there? It's just that I want them to be READ, too! I have one finished novel and I'm still hoping to get it published someday...I'm just not ready for the trunk!

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  8. I love that quote from Art and Fear! So true!
    I remember reading a book on writing from Stephen King and realizing the mountains of writing he did before he found success. Art (and writing) is a craft that only practice can achieve. I'm guilty too of thinking that everything I write should come out a masterpiece, which is completely illogical. A concert pianist didn't get that talented by sitting down the first time and playing.

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  9. This is so true. I think every writer (well, every writer who wasn't published right off the bat) has gone through this. I know I have, and like you said, it's hard sometimes to remember all that we've accomplished just by getting to "The End." Even though I sometimes think of myself as failing for not getting those first few manuscripts into the right hands, I still love my characters from those early books. And I definitely agree that every sentence has helped me get to where I am now in my writing. Great post!
    Ninja Girl

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  10. I have hundreds of short stories and a novel that will never see the light of day. But that's okay, I put in a lot of time writing them.

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  11. I have one completed trunk novel and one half-completed trunk novel - one sci-fi, and one historical, and they both have potential to see the light of day . . . eventually. :) Our earlier projects definitely help our later ones.

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  12. I do have 'starts' that were trunked. I keep saying I'm going to do something with them. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Sometimes it's better to start fresh, but I know I'll fight to save what I can. All are part of me.

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  13. As writers, we so often down play our accomplishments. You really said it wonderfully here. We all hear that 'everyone' wants to write a book, and the majority of those folks have no idea how difficult the entire process is from idea to print. I'll shake your hand, too. :)

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  14. I really get this. I so often forget what I've accomplished because all I can see is how much someone else has accomplished. But writing one book is an accomplishment. Writing five even more so. Some days even getting a chapter done is a big accomplishment. :)

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  15. Wonderful post. I have many trunked novels--I believe more than ten--that will never see the light of day, but they were great practice. I had to write those before my published works could happen.

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