Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Two Weeks of Learning

I've learned a lot over the last two week.

As you may remember, I was fortunate enough to have my query letter posted for critique on MSFV. I received a lot of good feedback and I learned that my query isn't as good as I thought it was. Put simply, it's FAT. It needs to slim down, trim up, and SHOW ME THE BEEF!

I was also lucky enough to have my query picked as one of the Authoress's top 5 which meant that I was able to post the first 500 words of my manuscript. I got a ton of quality feedback on this as well, some of it difficult to hear, all of it important. After these exercises and some serious thought, I've figured out 3 big issues with my story.

  1. My Setting is Confusing - My story is supposed to be set on some other world (which one isn't supposed to matter) at some unknown time (when isn't supposed to matter) which bears a superficial resemblance to ancient Rom. Unfortunately, it appears that the world I've created is TOO similar to ancient Rome. Every beta reader that's read the story has ended up confused because the world seems like ancient Rome but the characters (and their mannerisms, language, etc.,) doesn't fit in ancient Rome. My setting is taking my readers out of the story because they're trying to figure out when and where the story is set. I need to make some serious changes to show that the story is not set on our world, past or present.
  2. Genre Confusion - This problem is directly related to the first problem. It seems that, largely due to the setting, the first part of my story comes across as historical fiction or historical fantasy rather than epic fantasy. I've put in a lot of thought about this and actually, with the exception of some exotic critters and one non-human character, there isn't a lot of fantasy in my epic fantasy story. With some minor changes it could easily be historic fiction or even science fiction. I need to add/clarify some story elements to further define my story, even if that definition isn't what I originally had it mind.
  3. My Story Starts Too Late - Crap. Ever since I started paying attention to writing blogs I've been aware of one of the cardinal sins that every writer cautions about: starting your conflict, your actual plot, too late in your story. I thought I heeded this warning. I only included NECESSARY BACKSTORY...except that maybe I didn't. Even if it my backstory is necessary, it should be worked in later in the story. I need to re-work my beginning.
As you can see I've decided that my story needs some serious work. On the one hand this is exciting because I think I've identified several important ways to make my story a lot better. On the other hand, I really liked the idea of being done with this story. I know, until your story is published there's no such thing as "done". But I liked the idea of finally, after 5 years (I've been working on it off and on since 2007), that my story was finished. Which brings me to one of the most important things I learned this week.

I have this...idea...expectation...whatever, that my story SHOULD be done. Five years is a long time to work on a story so it SHOULD be done. I just turned 30 so my story SHOULD be done. I have other stories I want to work on so this story SHOULD be done.

Or should it? There are no external expectations or demands for my story. There is no logically derived deadline. All of these "shoulds" are arbitrary. They're constructs of my imagination. They're a glitch in the matrix.

My story is done when it's done, not one word before. Whether I choose to continue working on it is a different issue. But there is no should.

Do you let "shoulds" creep into your writing? Can they be a good thing? What do you think?

16 comments:

  1. I understand the desire to be done. I've been working on my story consistently (almost daily) for three years.

    I also share your problem with genre confusion. It's a fantasy. I think. But a mild one. Is there a term historical fantasy? I don't know what to claim in a query and I worry a lot that agent's will get confused and pass.

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    1. I think "historical fantasy" is a thing. Check out the wikipedia page for the fantasy genre and it gives all kinds of sub-genres. Maybe you'll see one that fits your story!

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  2. Shoulds are never good. They're nothing more than a way to sabotage yourself. By saying that you "should" do something, you're basically telling yourself that all other options are invalid and unsatisfactory, and you decide that by... what criteria exactly? It's usually by some unrealistic expectation. Expectations are not meant to create rules for activities, they suck at guiding you.

    So yeah, I never go by "shoulds". Only by "want tos", "would love tos" and "OMG, this is even better than Oreos dipped in unicorn milk!"
    And trust me, only few things are better than Oreos.

    Don't worry, Adam. Recollect your energies and dig back into the story. Everything you've done so far is very valuable, no word is ever wasted. :)

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    1. Yup, I agree (about the words and the Oreos). I've got a few projects to keep me busy until I'm ready to get back into this one. I'm revising my screenplay and I have a couple short stories that need written.

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  3. I think "shoulds" are a distraction... they put unnecessary pressure on us that isn't healthy for our work. It's hard, but we literally need to focus on each individual word at a time... let the pressures of other's success around us go... I've totally felt the pressure of watching my peers get agented and the urgency for me to be in the same place. But that doesn't help me or my work at all.

    Focus on the story. And it's SO great that you have a good eye with where to take your MS. Where to cut, switch things around, etc. It. Will. Happen. As long as you zone in and put the chair time in. You've got such a great blog, Adam. I enjoy all your posts!

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    1. Thanks Morgan, I appreciate your support. I know what you mean about shrugging off others success. Not that I won't be totally stoked when your ballerina story gets HUGE!!!

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    2. Huge? Pfffft. Heh, I'm just trying to make my mom proud :P

      You rock, Adam. I'm excited to see YOUR success, because it's coming :)

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  4. I didn't think it started too late at all... the protagonist is the baby, isn't he? How can you start earlier than that?

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    1. Ha! Good point!

      I meant that the conflict that drives my plot doesn't start until later in the story than it should. Even though I love some of the early scenes, I need to figure out a way to work them in later or loose them.

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  5. A writer needs patience, lots of it, and there is no way you are ever going to stop learning. Just keep on going, keep submitting and make changes as and when you agree with the points being made.

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  6. Oh the shoulds. Someone should Dr. Seussify a story about the invasive Shoulds.

    Just keep working on the story, Adam. It sounds like you've got an interesting story that just needs some more work.

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  7. I feel the exact same way. I feel like my story should be done too. Everyone else seems to be so much faster than me. Glad to know I'm not alone.

    Hang in there. We just have to keep reminding ourselves that this is not a race. :)

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    1. Actually, I generally finish last in races too. I'm pretty slow... :)

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Love to get comments!!!