Finding the Good Enough

Insecure Writer's Support Group--November Edition

Better later than never, right? Just been a hard few weeks so I am a bit behind.

A little bit ago, my teacher for Technical Editing mentioned a good, professional writer can see when something is good enough. And that sounds pretty spot on, in my opinion.

Writers can go through so many editions, rewrites, editing, double-checking, and overall suffering from the lack of perfection. But I don't think a work in process can ever really reach the level of perfection. I'm not sure that level exists for anything in the world. If one was to constantly aim for that they will never be ready to let go of their project.

17, 50, 98 editions and years later and it's still not to the level you want....it's because one hasn't been able to see the 'good enough' and move on. Can anything really ever be perfection? As covered in a previous post, I just don't think it can. An author will just need to know when the project is good enough to submit.

And just because you send it off doesn't mean that it is gone out of twitchy fingers forever. We all know it takes an astronomical amount of luck to get accepted by agents/publishers instantly. You will probably have time to keep learning and to edit a little. But during Spring, I listened to a short-story author speak at the school and he said that there are works that have been published that he could've gone over multiple times, forever perhaps. But he had sent it in and it was published and it was very well received.

OK, I think we can all agree that there needs to be a time where you say "alright, that's good enough" but how on earth do you get to that? If anyone knows an actual answer, please share! I can only assume it is just about training and just pushing the project away.

Perhaps it is just about getting excited or impatient and sending the work in? Though that sounds a bit risky, it does give you a chance to branch out and try to get it read. But if you're rejected, you just started the learning process early and maybe you will be lucky enough to be told what is wrong.

But what if you don't want to send something in before you know that you have reached that good enough? Well, there is the pickle. It could be very personal and whenever you feel that you are ready, however that moment might not hit everyone.

I would say, you probably should rewrite the story more than three or four times and shouldn't re-edit more than MAYBE seven (overall). Once you start reaching those numbers, you might want to step back and start sending them in. In general, if these numbers make you uncomfortable, I would keep it all under the number 10. UNLESS you really do need to completely change up your story, you shouldn't be going overboard like that.

Now is this the right now? More than likely not. This is just my personal opinion.

In truth, I think you must set up a personal limit. Tell yourself you will NOT go over 10, 12, 15 editions or rewrites. Once you reach that number, you will let it go. Maybe you will come back to it, maybe it will be accepted and publishing, or just maybe you need to step back from it for a while and move on to another project.

Now, just to let you know, I am not saying be lazy or not try. Work hard on your project. Give it the love and attention that it deserves. If this is your dream, work hard to make sure that you reach that dream.

Just don't let the haunting thought of perfection control you from ever sending out your work. Just take a deep breath and take the plunge into sending things out once you think you have reached "it's good enough".

Am I Crazy?

I think so.

You know, I notice (and have been told multiple times) that I don't vent. I tend to keep things to myself. In truth I hate venting. I always feel, sorta, worse afterwards. But I don't seem to express my own fears, doubts, and insecurities and it seems a bit unfair that I seem to talk about how to fix problems when I don't have the courage enough to stand up and say "I, personally, have this problem".

Anywho, my problem is school and lack of time. I no longer have that depression, but I am taking on a lot of things this semester that is really overwhelming at times. It is good to have a lot of things for a Senior; bulk up the CV, make connections, make friends, and have life-long experiences. So, I'm not necessarily regretting my choices so far, but man I am wondering a bit if I am biting off more than I can chew.

Just to give you an idea of my semester:

I am taking six classes: French 3, Old English, Romantic Literature, Ancient Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, and Technical Editing. And let me tell you, French 3 is horrible. I struggle with languages terribly, so being required to take a class where the teaching doesn't fit everyone's needs is pretty difficult. And in all honesty, we think this class was a main cause of my depression fit earlier this semester.

And this opens up to another thing: I am trying for a 4.0. It doesn't look possible because of French (curse you foreign language requirement) which was pretty upsetting to myself (this also ties back to trying to let go of being perfect). But everything else I am aiming for an A in, which takes a lot of time.

Then, there is my huge health/weight goal. I am trying to lose about 40 pounds before May. I'll just come right out and say I have high cholesterol (thank you genetics....and cheese. curse you cheese). And have been overweight for the majority of my life. I made it a goal to get my degree as healthy as I can be and this also takes time. I try to work out multiple times daily, training to start running, eating healthy...it takes time and studying to be healthy! I also got a work-out addiction from my dad, we don't seem to function, sleep, or feel refreshed and happy without sweating sometime during the day.

And then there are the extracurricular activities. I am the historian for Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor Society) and the president of the Creative Writing Club. And the club is sort of restarting so I am working together with some people to make it really organized and strong, trying out a lot of new ideas, and forming up new procedures and forms. I'm also a tutor for philosophy and english (though so far, I'm only being used for Logic) and working with a career counselor to put together presentations for students who are interested in going into the publishing field.

Also, working on making career connections. Trying to land an internship/mentorships with a teacher for next semester. Applying to all sorts of places for careers. Looking to apply to publishing companies for internships or doing teaching programs. I have been going to many meetings and dinners to get information and make connections. I seem to have one twice a week!

And I am doing all of this while trying to get my second edition of my WIP done, have two blogs (this and a cooking one), get myself and my writing noticed, and have somewhat of a social life with my family....while resisting buying loads of fall boots (curse you gorgeous boots).

It is a frantic semester with something new every week. But, I guess that is life, right? When writing, we're going to have to learn to do it while balancing so many other things. Guess this really could be seen as a great training. I'm getting a lot of experience for jobs and what an adult needs to face.

I suppose there is no real topic or theme or discussion for this one. Just thought I would try something new and see about venting? I'm not sure. I'm still not too good at this! But, I'll keep trying if it works out positively for me.

To survive in laugh, gotta remain positive and think that everything, or most everything, that I do now can really help and affect my future. Trying my hardest now might mean great things for me really soon. So I will keep trying hard, keep a smile on my face, and think of what this will mean to me later on.

Little hard work won't kill anyone after all!

Awards!

Thanks to the wonderful and generous Candilynn Fite, I have been given the Booker, Be Inspired, Liebster, and Fabulous Blog Ribbon!

For the Booker Award:

The Rules: This award is for book bloggers only. To receive this award the blog must be at least 50% about books (reading or writing is okay)

Along with receiving this award, you must also share your top five favorite books you have ever read. You must award 5 bloggers, with booky blogs you adore.

My Top Five

This is hard, I am unsure if these are for sure my top ones or not. But these are some I really love and strongly urge for those who have not read them to read them! They are in no particular order and some are more based on author and series.

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret

The FBI series by Catherine Coulter

The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien

Thank you so much for these. This means just so much. I really can't express how much this means! 

Randi Lee

Katharina Brendel

Andrea Teagan

Gina

Simon P. Clark

Sunny Smith

There are so many people out there that has such great, wonderful blogs! Hope everyone enjoys the awards!! And thank you, Candilynn Fite again for these! They mean so much!

The Liebster Award

Thank you Andrea Teagan of The Enchanted Writer for this amazing honor. It means a lot and has come as a huge surprise. It means a lot for you to give me something like this.

“Rules” For the Award:
1) Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog
2) Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you
3) Copy and paste the blog award on your blog
4) Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less
5) Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog

Randi Lee: Her blog The Emotional Process of Writing a Novel. She is the whole reason I am here and has been such a big support for me. Her pushing and encouraging words have always been an inspiration. I swear I cannot give her enough credit, awards, or thanks for all she has done. Her blog is also amazing and is the for-sure place for anyone to go and get some writing advice.

Jennifer: And her blog A Creative Exercise. I am just recently starting looking through blogs and finding others like me. She has a great blog with a fun style, embracing and discussing insecurities, has strong goals, and personal words. There is some pretty gosh-darn good writing there. I might be a newbie to her blog, but already I can tell she deserves this award.

Von L Cid: And his blog The Growing Writer. Another blog I am starting in. Another who appears who have started blogging very recently. The posts have great inspiration, he enjoys taking part in projects, and has a web book! Definitely another one meant for this award.

Gina: And her blog Diary of a Writer in Progress. With a title like that, how can you not be interested? She has a horror-novella out called Perpetual Night that is getting wonderful reviews and she appears to like supernatural (calling out to my interested, yet cowardly side) and has some great links and reviews of books. She is so close to the 200-follower mark, I just had to give her this award before then! It is more than obvious she deserves it.

Sunny Smith: And her blog A Splash of Ink. Really, so many of you have such great titles for blogs it’s impossible not to be drawn in just to see what is going on! She has some great posts

Katharina Brendel: and her My Writing Journey. Ms. Brendel, you gave me blog-envy. Beautiful and amazing on the blog itself and what is written. You my good sir…ma’am will be providing me a lot of enjoyable reads in the near future, that I am certain of. Thank you for following me and for your great words of encouragement. It is a great honor!

I also have to thank the new group I just joined: The Insecure Writer Support Group. It is because of this I have been able to find more people who share my likes and doubts. And more people to follow and get a lot of very needed advice. A highly recommended place for anyone on the path of writing.

Andrea Teagan, thank you again so, so much for this award. It means so much to me. And thank you Insecure Writer Support Group for introducing me to so many other amazing writers and bloggers.

(P.S: If I somehow mess up your name or gender, PLEASE forgive me. Me and technology/websites do not always get along. Typically I need to be holding Randi's hand to find my way through places like this. Look what I did all by myself Randi!! :D )

The Fandom Inspiration

Have you ever had something that you just loved? Did you jump into the Harry Potter bandwagon? You knew all the spells, watched the interviews, and knew what they bought with their money? What about Lord of the Rings? How about Star Trek or Star Wars?

Recently, I have become a fangirl over the new Avatar series Legend of Korra and been reintroduced to my love for Harry Potter. And I find that when I have something that I really enjoy, really get excited about, I feel more inspired. After watching the episodes or the movies, I get an itching to write. I want to be able to create a world, story, and characters like I am watching. It is amazing how being a super fan (aka a proud dork) over something can light up some amazing fire and inspiration.

It makes me remember that I started writing when I was moved by the anime I was watching. Just wanted to make stories and worlds like that. Though in all honesty, I wanted to join in on those worlds. It brought me into fanfiction and got me to writing.

These are inspiring folk who do something outside of novel-writing (like Avatar) and/or reached past the art of writing and brought characters to the silver screen (like Rowling). Just watching what they are able to do gives me hope and drive to try and reach for that level as well.

Is there something that you have been a fan of that really inspired you to pick up the pen or go to your computer and start writing?

Quick shout-out to my friend Randi Lee! Once again, she gave me a wonderful shout-out and I can't thank her enough for it. I feel like she gives me far too much credit. Thank you Randi for your kind words!

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Weekly Workshop

A Place No Longer There

You need to write about a place that is no longer in existence. Did it get wiped out from a flood? A volcano? Zombies? It doesn't matter how it was destroyed, only that you need to write about it without saying straight-forward how it met its end. You need to tell a story about the place itself while alluding to its demise. It can be a real place from your memory, like a school that was torn down, or it could be fake, like a city that was eaten by a swarm of bugs.

The No Reaction Pain

In the post previously mentioned, I talk about stepping out of your box and commercializing yourself. It is an uncomfortable step to get known and have your work read. It is through this process that you can meet with some uncomfortable and upsetting feedback that could hurt even the most strong of person.

But sometimes it is not because of the negative reaction you will receive. Rejection can be a hard pill to swallow, but after realizing everyone goes through such a process, that it is simply another step in becoming a writer, it isn't too bad. Rejection can be made into a game even. The "How Many Rejection Letters Can I Get" game. A little cynical, but can be used into a positive light. Because the rejection is helping you get stronger. You are learning from it and getting advice and ways on how to get better.

There is also something humbling and professional about being rejected. It is a sign that you are becoming a writer, you are stepping into the world and facing its tough reality. There is sense of pride that should come with rejection. Your work has been read and you have a reaction from it.

Rejection can be something good and this good side can help ease the ego-bruising pain.

No Reaction, that is where the big crusher comes in. It is one thing to get a negative reaction from your story, it is another thing entirely to get nothing at all. How does one progress without hearing the positives an negatives from others? How can there even be a solid grasp on if you have something good when you can't get anyone to read? Or if they are reading, not telling you anything about it?

This is a big painful part of writing anything. Even those of us who are shy and hermit-like still want our work to be read and to get something from the public. When it feels like there is nothing but an awkward silence, you are left with your own self-doubts and mean words of criticism

Here are some words of advice on how to deal with this No Reaction.

1) The first step of advice I can give you is to not be too discouraged no matter how hard it is. An important part of being a writer is to maintain a positive, stubborn attitude. You have to always be willing to listen to advice and change at times, but I don't think you should ever give up and not let anyone ever tell you to either. If this writing project is worth something to you, that's all that matters.

2) The next thing is a bit of what was mentioned before: you have to get yourself out there. If one site is not giving you any attention, move on to the next site. And the next and the next. You are bound to catch the attention of someone. It just might be a long process because there are so many people out there fighting for attention of the masses. If a site doesn't work, maybe it is time to go out into the real world, away from our hermit lives and our Internet and just get people to read it and get their reaction. Might have to corner a friend or family member, but it is a good step.

3) This is important: time to follow great words, "do unto others as you would have done unto yourself". You are NOT the only one who feels ignored and that your writing isn't being given the attention it deserves. Go out there and find people like you and give their story some time of day. Give them the advice, critiques, and words of encouragement you are looking for. You will learn a lot about your own writing, possibly gain readers, and earn yourself karma. It is also never a bad thing to help out a fellow writer.

4) Sometimes a No Reaction IS a reaction and can be taken as a critique. If a person doesn't have something to say, positive or negative, it might not mean your writing is bad but that nothing stands out. It might be time for you to read over your work, study the work of others, and see if there is something (as harsh as it sounds) bland in what you have. Check over different parts of your story, because just one part of a story can have a great affect on it overall. Is there something off within how you are writing it? Maybe check the main character and see if he or she doesn't stand out in the way you want. Maybe there is something off or cliche in the story itself? There are so many things that can make a good story not stand out the way it should.

5) While painful, No Reaction is not the end of the world for you and your writing. It is just another step that some writers have to take while they grow and mature. Just keep trying and you will get past this hard moment. Trust me.

6) So many things can be molded into a positive. Make this another one of those things. Use a No Reaction and make it into a game like the Rejection one. Or see it as a challenge and that you can only get better from here. Don't let it get you down or stuck.

I bring this up because it happens very often. I started to feel it when I was looking at my own blog and the reactions I was getting. I started to go down the road of self-pity and harsh criticism when I realized how pointless and wrong that path is. I'm not the only one who goes through this, it's not the end of the world if something isn't given any sort of attention. It just means that other steps need to be taken to get the reaction that I want. I need to worker harder on my part to make a great impression.

You all can do it too! Don't let the No Reaction get you down! Much like the Rejection, take it and make it into something positive and use it to your own advantage.

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Weekly Workshop

Here I want to suggest some writing workshops for people to take that might be a great help to their novel or just writing in general. Some of these will be things I've made up, read from a book, or learned from a class. If it will be of any service to any one out there, I hope it will be used!

Workshop: The Secret (prt. 1)

Take your story, or a story you have written in the past, and sit down and have a conversation with a main character. Within this conversation you discover they have been keeping a secret from you, the author. It can be life changing, it can be very simple, but the point is it is something you had no idea was part of your character.

You can write out the conversation you have with them, just the secret itself, or write out the secret within the story itself and have it be reveled to you that way. The point is for you to dive deep into the mind, personality, and life of your character and bring out something new you were not aware of.

Commercialize Yourself

The reason I am writing this blog is not just to express myself or vent, it is to find a way to get my novel known and for people to be interested. To be honest, this blog isn't just about a creative outlet. I am here, also, to commercialize myself and get my name out there.

While it doesn't seem as pure, there isn't anything wrong with this. Most write so that their words can be read. But this is a competitive field that requires luck and a lot of outside work. An author will need to be willing to push some of their hermit ways to the side and get out into the public. How else will people learn of it? You will have to be the one to start the fire of interest.

And this can be hard for a lot of us. To be a writer is to be an artist. And while everyone isn't the same, there is a certain amount of ego and shyness that many artists seem to share. A writer has to have some ego to take this route, there has to be some sort of belief that what you are writing down should be read by at least a few. But, most don't seem comfortable in releasing so much about themselves and their story into the public. It might be a need for perfection, fear of rejection, or any number of things.

The point is, unless you have fabulous connections and recommendations, you're probably not going to get noticed instantly. To catch the eyes of publishers, agents, and audience you will need to put yourself out there to some degree. Go forums, join writing sites, and make your own blog if you don't feel comfortable leaving your room. Join clubs and have friends, classmates, and colleagues read and critique your work if you do feel comfortable with it. You will need to do something.

So, that is one reason why I am here spewing out philosophical, round-about, life-story stuff. I am trying to get myself known. I want people to read and be interested in myself as a writer and the books that I might be writing. You never know who might be reading after all.

It is thanks to my great friend randi lee that I know this. She is a woman who knows what she is talking about. Go and read her blog for great advice on what it takes to write.

Writing & its Magic

I am Paige Lollie, a rookie in the art of writing. Though I have written fanfiction and other items for many years, I don't feel like I have begun to master this ability. However, this is a dream of mine and one I have held on to for just about as long as I can remember.

It is a dream to be able to create using words. It is a mystical and magical ability that takes luck, talent, and training. The words need to be balanced; right for the story, perfect to yourself, and be able to bind and elevate an audience. The sense of right or wrong, good or bad seem to get lost within this special art. There isn't a simple answer to anything one wants to do. If you can do it, if the magic is there, there are no rules.

But finding this elusive magic is like remembering your dreams. Sometimes it's vivid, easy, and right at your fingertips. Sometimes it's muggy, has missing parts, and is as frustrating as writing an essay on math (something I hope to never experience). And other times it just simply isn't there.

I want to be able to find my magic, work on and hone it, bring it to life, and see that the dream of these words getting published come to life.

This here will be my training ground. I am to work and rework items. Bring in news, advice, rants, and observations. Aim for immortality among people while experiencing crushing, and humbling, blows of defeat. This here will be my way in working towards that dream.

Within "The Dream Words" I am aiming for perfect and messy, balance and chaos, life and death, and everything dramatic and laid-back that is in between. This will be a writing haven for myself, and perhaps others, during the day.

With this I hope to make tears, laughter, hope, inspiration, and entertainment. I want everyone who read what's in here to feel something.

That's what writing is about after all!

So, please enjoy yourself here. Hopefully the emotions, entertainment, and magic will be coming your way.