Trust the Process #IWSG #AMWRITING
[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here
Thank you to our awesome co-hosts this month: Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!
Check out our IWSG homepage for recent news and events. And as always, thank you to founder Alex J. Cavaugh 🙂
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This month, I’ve decided to go my own way with my own insecurity–trust in a new fluid writing process.
When I write, I always have a plan from the beginning, middle to end, and all the details in between. I use excel and plot out the moon patterns in a month, the days of the week and where every character is in the story during a certain point in the plot. I define the plot points, and then finally, I start to write.
Not this new draft. Now, I’m biting my nails totally insecure. This new draft is more of an organic process. I still have the end in mind, but my outlining techniques have changed. I did create the first 6 chapters with my editors approval. Then something interesting happened. She told me to stop. She told me to write. I admit, my energy was there. I was hearing the dialogue, seeing the scenes. Plus, one of my writing friend’s who connected me with my editor, mentioned I should always listen to the editor’s every word of advice. So I have. But now that I’m well past these 6 chapters, my initial excitement has morphed into creative release mixed with a gripping fear all at once. A true sense of the experience of a roller coaster? That pretty much sums it up. I guess since this is the second/sort of third draft, and I do have a great sense of my characters, maybe it will be okay? *scrunching up face and clenching hands *
I know my editor believes. I believe in her. I just hope I can believe in me, and continue to allow the process to lead.
Any thoughts on how you begin a second draft revision process? I’d love to hear it.
Posted on March 4, 2020, in Uncategorized and tagged Erika Beebe, trust in the writing process. Bookmark the permalink. 26 Comments.
Cloud Nine Girl 
I always plan everything out so the thought of free-falling is scary. You’ll have to trust her and just soldier on.
I love that advice Alex. Thank you 🙂
I think it’s great that you’re embracing a new (and scary) approach! When I’m ready to tackle revisions I get a big bag of chocolate and plod through it line by line. I find it motivational to give myself a sticker or a check mark for each scene I complete.
Oh! I love that Ellen. I am going to try the check marks and the chocolate 🙂
I’m still trying to finish a first draft. I have major writer’s insecurities. They saw with the first draft you should write, that you’re telling yourself the story and it doesn’t need to be perfect. But I’m such a perfectionist that it’s hard to just right even though I have an outline and a bunch of notes.
Thank you for your honest reflection Christina. I am a perfectionist too. I may sit down this weekend and finish the outline 😉
Just hang on to the creative joy and listen to your editor.
Thank you Diane. It’s been a huge learning experience so far 🙂
I agree with Diane! Just write, and listen to your “writer” self, as well as your editor!
Thank you Lisa. I have learned so much 🙂
Good luck with this organic process. I like that description. I tend to be a discovery writer. I usually generally know a few things that’ll happen in a story and how it’ll end, but the story and the characters frequently take me in direction I’d never imagined. I’m considering writing a cozy mystery series, and that’s not gonna work. lol
Thank you Donna for being so encouraging 🙂
I do as you do–map out everything in Excel. It would scare me to death to just write. Fingers crossed it works well for you!
Thank you Jacqui 🙂
Sounds scary and thrilling, but I’m glad you have someone there you trust and can back up your actions. That’s awesome!
That’s awesome that you’re finding a new way to write that works better for you. Sometimes we have to do that to be a better writer. Glad it’s working for you.
So your safety net is gone and you are swinging in the air like a trapeze artist. I don’t doubt your scared, but they think you can do it. It’s time to prove them right.
Personally, I think you’ve got this.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Thank you for the chuckle Anna. You’ve said it exactly right 😉
You got this. Cheering onward.
Thank you so much for your encouragement Juneta 🙂
Writing without a rough outline – that’s totally scary. I need to know where I’m going with the story before I even start. Not details, but directions. It take guts to do what you do now.
I think my guts are fizzling. I may sit down this weekend and just tie all the loose ends together 🙂
Your current technique sounds a bit like the NaNo approach. That worked for me when I committed myself to the writing and the results were kind of fun. Never had the resolve to go back to finish the story and edit what I had, but that’s my own weakness as a writer. I’m sure you are doing better than I.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I appreciate you sharing your story with me 🙂
Well done, Erika, to have got so far. Well done on your detailed planning. One of my problems is I can’t plan. But I know that, from my own experience, once you’ve got that first draft done, you can be more organic in your approach. Good luck.
I think you described my regular process. I have a beginning and end in mind and a general idea of scenes etc. but I never really know how they will play out until I start writing. My outlines aren’t excel perfect…more like a ten page synopsis loaded with and thens and or maybe this or that could happen.