I'm still a youngling in the writing space. Eventhough I've done a lot of scriptwriting, I feel writing a novel really demands some kind of a voice.
Now, I do write in first person, so I have to lean more to the characters personality, but I'm trying to stay true to my own writing style. I have a sarcastic voice so naturally a sarcastic charcter was a given.
Thanks for your great articles, they are a great inspiration for a newcomer like me.
I had to leave a somewhat toxic critique group, there was so much pressure to get rid of my voice because it stood out too much—according to them. It was making me feel really bad about myself as a writer, and up until I joined that group I had been keeping everything I wrote to myself, I had only just got the courage to share my work for critique. Then I started talking with people outside that circle, more like minded to how I felt about writing, to realize not only should I NOT stifle my voice, but I should even LEAN INTO it. Is it always successful? No, but it's way more fun. Years since leaving that group, I now have 2 self-pubbed books out (and they sound completely different to one another!) plus all the stuff I've shared here. I love experimenting and I love that some folks have picked up what I put down. If everything I wrote had to sound the same, or sound like someone else, well, that would really suck the joy out of it.
That's amazing! It can be hard to find the right critique group - glad you figured out that one wasn't working for you. "Is it always successful? No, but it's way more fun." <--and THAT is how we avoid burnout as writers!!!
I can't thank you enough! You've aleviated so many of my fears and concerns.
I'll post more questions or clarifications later if that's cool. I want to take time to go through your critiques agian. But they are extremely helpful and got the old gears ah turning.
Also, I love the picture of the city at night you put at the intro. Really captured the mood!
Thanks so much, Michelle. The idea of looking at all those names in the acknowledgements of books has stuck with me. I’m going to remind myself to think about how much help people have with their books, and not to compare my early drafts to published books. It’s something I know well but so easy to forget. x
Thank you for this post! It’s exactly what I needed to read right now, since perfectionism is stalling the completion of my first fiction book. Cheers!
This is a familiar feeling. Particularly when I am drafting, I am careful about who I read. I can't read people who lead me to thoughts that I'm never going to be 'that good' and I'm not 'that writer' so nobody wants to read this.
I'm still a youngling in the writing space. Eventhough I've done a lot of scriptwriting, I feel writing a novel really demands some kind of a voice.
Now, I do write in first person, so I have to lean more to the characters personality, but I'm trying to stay true to my own writing style. I have a sarcastic voice so naturally a sarcastic charcter was a given.
Thanks for your great articles, they are a great inspiration for a newcomer like me.
I'm so glad it was helpful, Martin! And for what it's worth, I love a sarcastic protagonist. :)
I had to leave a somewhat toxic critique group, there was so much pressure to get rid of my voice because it stood out too much—according to them. It was making me feel really bad about myself as a writer, and up until I joined that group I had been keeping everything I wrote to myself, I had only just got the courage to share my work for critique. Then I started talking with people outside that circle, more like minded to how I felt about writing, to realize not only should I NOT stifle my voice, but I should even LEAN INTO it. Is it always successful? No, but it's way more fun. Years since leaving that group, I now have 2 self-pubbed books out (and they sound completely different to one another!) plus all the stuff I've shared here. I love experimenting and I love that some folks have picked up what I put down. If everything I wrote had to sound the same, or sound like someone else, well, that would really suck the joy out of it.
That's amazing! It can be hard to find the right critique group - glad you figured out that one wasn't working for you. "Is it always successful? No, but it's way more fun." <--and THAT is how we avoid burnout as writers!!!
Michelle,
I can't thank you enough! You've aleviated so many of my fears and concerns.
I'll post more questions or clarifications later if that's cool. I want to take time to go through your critiques agian. But they are extremely helpful and got the old gears ah turning.
Also, I love the picture of the city at night you put at the intro. Really captured the mood!
You're welcome!! I'm so happy this was helpful. Please ask away anytime, and/or submit the revision if you like! :)
Thanks so much, Michelle. The idea of looking at all those names in the acknowledgements of books has stuck with me. I’m going to remind myself to think about how much help people have with their books, and not to compare my early drafts to published books. It’s something I know well but so easy to forget. x
Yes!! It really is easy to forget how much work (and how many sets of eyes aside from the author’s) go into a published novel!
I adore this and I can never hear it enough. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thank you for writing this!
Thanks so much, Amy!!
Thank you for this post! It’s exactly what I needed to read right now, since perfectionism is stalling the completion of my first fiction book. Cheers!
I'm so glad it was helpful!! Just look at that first draft as a lovely lump of clay. :)
This is a familiar feeling. Particularly when I am drafting, I am careful about who I read. I can't read people who lead me to thoughts that I'm never going to be 'that good' and I'm not 'that writer' so nobody wants to read this.