Hi Shoni, thanks for putting it all out there and hopefully finding that you’re not alone. If I had a fraction of your courage and drive then I might have pushed through to pitching for publication by now. You’re much more persistent than I’ve been, although I have a sci-if novel(la), a non-fiction and a poem that keep nagging me to write them decently. Just one of each and if I got them done to a point I’m happy with, that would be something. So some solidarity with you there and I’d like to keep in contact for mutual support. The FWC is a good start - I’m pushing on with that, but not sure if I’m doing it right yet…
Thank you, I appreciate you reading and commenting. Pretty sure there's no right way, just have to carry on. My main motivation is to do justice to the story I think. I'm interested to learn more about your drawing project. Something I've never been good at, intrigued to think it could be learned.
Thanks Shoni, Yes, doing justice to the story seems a good thing. More power to your fingers on that one. I can talk about the drawing project till the cows come home, and could even send you some draft material to give you a better idea of what it’s about. Latest idea I’m working on is serialising the key learning themes in Substack and having the drawing theme illustrate (!) the conceptual points.
Please keep going. Walking this fictional high-wire can't be as hard as swinging from a trapeze. And you're doing both. That's gutsy - know what I mean?
It’s obvious that something is pushing you to write and even if it’s scary, you should listen to your heart. Maybe your writing will never be published or maybe it will but I don’t think it matters. You are writing because you must and I think you’re learning about yourself while you are writing .
That's a beautiful comment, Liz, thank you! I will certainly push on, and enjoy myself despite all my moaning! I try not to moan, but sometimes it escapes haha.
Just wanted to offer you a bit of solidarity. I'm feeling a lot of the same things you're expressing here. I am trying to tell myself that engagement isn't the most important thing, it's creating something that you yourself love. If others like it too, then that's good. If not, then I just tell myself it wasn't to their taste, not that it isn't good.
So I think the advice of writing for yourself first is really good advice, even if I'm not always good at taking my own advice. Your idea of writing stuff privately with no intention of publishing it is a good one. I might try that.
Thanks Evelyn, I'm glad you could relate and maybe even take away something actionable, makes me glad I shared. I'll push the same advice back to you as I'm hearing throughout here - keep going, you're learning more than you know! xx
I find Substack not conducive to reading serialised fiction. I also know, the way I write, I couldn’t publish as I went along. All the good stuff happens in the edits, months down the line. But keep on writing in any way that makes you happy.
Yes, it's tricky, hence that constant niggle that I'm doing it all wrong, but I can't second guess everything I suppose. Traditional publishing is out, and self publishing is a future maybe. I'm already on the nth edit, so have a good idea where it's going, even if it needs more depth still. Thanks for your support, it means a lot.
I tend to save up my entries of yours to read when I can give them the focus they deserve, but I’m still out here reading and cheering for you. I always appreciate your candor in posts like these and will continue to be impressed by writers like you who persevere through the hard times and the humbling times. Keep going.
I've been revisiting your serialised version of Kyron (and enjoying it) but keep getting jammed up on the Continue button, which says Substack is down.
Hi Shoni, thanks for putting it all out there and hopefully finding that you’re not alone. If I had a fraction of your courage and drive then I might have pushed through to pitching for publication by now. You’re much more persistent than I’ve been, although I have a sci-if novel(la), a non-fiction and a poem that keep nagging me to write them decently. Just one of each and if I got them done to a point I’m happy with, that would be something. So some solidarity with you there and I’d like to keep in contact for mutual support. The FWC is a good start - I’m pushing on with that, but not sure if I’m doing it right yet…
Will do (need to figure out how to do that here; Slack I think I can do, but not sure if I can attach a file there. Every day’s a learning day…)
Thank you, I appreciate you reading and commenting. Pretty sure there's no right way, just have to carry on. My main motivation is to do justice to the story I think. I'm interested to learn more about your drawing project. Something I've never been good at, intrigued to think it could be learned.
Thanks Shoni, Yes, doing justice to the story seems a good thing. More power to your fingers on that one. I can talk about the drawing project till the cows come home, and could even send you some draft material to give you a better idea of what it’s about. Latest idea I’m working on is serialising the key learning themes in Substack and having the drawing theme illustrate (!) the conceptual points.
Sounds cool. Feel free to send a DM, here or in slack 🙂
Please keep going. Walking this fictional high-wire can't be as hard as swinging from a trapeze. And you're doing both. That's gutsy - know what I mean?
I do - I actually thought about writing a post comparing the two. Might still...
I'm kinda stuck myself - it happens. I keep turning the cube, looking for way in - no choice but to keep at it!
For sure. Glad we have others around who can relate and we can support one another.
It’s obvious that something is pushing you to write and even if it’s scary, you should listen to your heart. Maybe your writing will never be published or maybe it will but I don’t think it matters. You are writing because you must and I think you’re learning about yourself while you are writing .
That's a beautiful comment, Liz, thank you! I will certainly push on, and enjoy myself despite all my moaning! I try not to moan, but sometimes it escapes haha.
Just wanted to offer you a bit of solidarity. I'm feeling a lot of the same things you're expressing here. I am trying to tell myself that engagement isn't the most important thing, it's creating something that you yourself love. If others like it too, then that's good. If not, then I just tell myself it wasn't to their taste, not that it isn't good.
So I think the advice of writing for yourself first is really good advice, even if I'm not always good at taking my own advice. Your idea of writing stuff privately with no intention of publishing it is a good one. I might try that.
Thanks Evelyn, I'm glad you could relate and maybe even take away something actionable, makes me glad I shared. I'll push the same advice back to you as I'm hearing throughout here - keep going, you're learning more than you know! xx
I find Substack not conducive to reading serialised fiction. I also know, the way I write, I couldn’t publish as I went along. All the good stuff happens in the edits, months down the line. But keep on writing in any way that makes you happy.
Yes, it's tricky, hence that constant niggle that I'm doing it all wrong, but I can't second guess everything I suppose. Traditional publishing is out, and self publishing is a future maybe. I'm already on the nth edit, so have a good idea where it's going, even if it needs more depth still. Thanks for your support, it means a lot.
You’re not doing anything wrong. Just learning as you go like we all do. Keep doing whatever feels right. x
Thank you Ros
I tend to save up my entries of yours to read when I can give them the focus they deserve, but I’m still out here reading and cheering for you. I always appreciate your candor in posts like these and will continue to be impressed by writers like you who persevere through the hard times and the humbling times. Keep going.
Thanks Heidi, I will. Little by little.
I've been revisiting your serialised version of Kyron (and enjoying it) but keep getting jammed up on the Continue button, which says Substack is down.
Oh weird. Did you try turning it off and turning it on again?? 😂