Thoughts on writing

[lar_laughs]

So, yesterday was horrible. I haven't felt that particularly tender about my writing ability since... since... last November 11th. I swear, it's a curse of the 11th! I've had people tell me they outright don't like a fanfic I've written (not many times but it has happened) and I haven't gotten into nearly the funk I got in yesterday.

Why do people think writing is something that needs to be alone? How do writers even do that? I try to surround myself with at least two or three people I consider "first readers" when I'm writing originals. This has changed over the years but it's always two or three people I trust. I hand over the "pages" as they're written and I wait for feedback. Otherwise, how do you know what's working?

Aster told me she didn't want to say anything to me this year (we had a bad NaNo last year with me getting off track and she was afraid of jinxing it this year) but I assured her that I needed to hear things from her. Not edits but just general thoughts on how it was going. Between her and Beth, I have two really great readers who have given me AWESOME feedback. Nothing more than "Oh, I really like the way you took the character here" but I need to know what's working or what isn't. Last year, Aster said, "I"m confused with this part" and I ignored her. Hindsight tells me that's where the fic started not working. I'm not ignoring her this year!

My first readers are like a dousing rod. I'm looking for the correct path and they let me know when I'm getting close. Originals are such fickle, silly creatures. They can slip out of your grasp so easily! I always worry that I"m doing the story in my head justice. What if I ruin it? What if it's not good? What if... what if... what if.

But it's an addiction. I love fanfic but originals are what really drive me forward. To be the sole owner/creator/god of a world and characters and plot is heady stuff!

And yes, I did this post instead of writing. I'm still skittish about getting in my document today. *sigh*

Comments

[duskblue.livejournal.com]

I currently only have one first reader, but she's been my first reader since I was 17. OMG, that's 13 years. LOL. (and I only know her online!) It's great to have someone who knows the ins and outs of your writing throughout the years! And I agree that these readers are important.

I wish I had a 2nd one, but good ones are hard to come by... especially when it comes to original fiction. Finding someone who will read WHATEVER I write is hard. I'm glad I have one person at least! :D

[lar_laughs.livejournal.com]

I was lucky to find Beth who is a co-worker in RL. I talk about my writing non-stop but she was one of the people who pushed me to show it to her (in a nice way). She doesn't care for much of my fanfic but I do show her a few things now and then. She's been a god-send where this story is concerned. Seriously, she's getting a paragraph all her own in the dedications! She has listened to me moan about this thing for eight months and has offered such good advice and ideas that I feel as if I should give her 10 percent ownership!

Those types of people are very rare, though. I have people who will let me ramble one about my writing but very few will read it and then comment.

I feel very blessed on this project to have THREE people. Ipo is busy with a NaNo of her own and won't be reading until the other side of the month. And then Aster who I"m never letting go of for an instant! I'm keeping her FOREVER!