Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Oh the places it went... or didn't #IWSG


Hi everyone! 


It's time to share our thoughts, insecurities, and encouraging words. Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh and our co-hosts for keeping IWSG going. For those who aren't familiar with Insecure Writer's Support Group, just follow the link. It's a wonderful group



This month's question:


What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?

My first piece of writing was a middle grade fantasy titled Book of Shadows. A year or three later, the title changed, the plot shifted, it had a new beginning, and the characters were renamed. The thing I remember most about that time was the positive feedback I received from agents and editors. It didn't land me an agent or a publishing contract. Every few years, I'd dust if off and try polishing it up. But it wasn't quite working. So, this year I tossed the plot and started fresh. It's the novel I'm currently working on. 



I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was perfect for an #IWSG post...



When it comes to writing, I'm sailing through quiet waters right now. My agent is looking for a home for a couple of my books, I have two novels I'm working on, and a couple of idea I hope to flush out one day. With work and family, that's all I can handle right now. Although, I do need to make more time for marketing my published books. I keep pushing marketing off, because I'm in a nice flow with that MG fantasy I mentioned above. And, well, let's face it, writing is so much more fun than marketing. 


In other news: 
Last month, I shared tips on writing for a young adult audience.  If you missed that post, you can click here to check it out.


How's your writing coming? Have any cool marketing tips? Are other things keeping you busy? Where's your first piece of writing?



33 comments:

  1. Sounds like you have your hands full. My first piece is a dust collected. Sailing through quiet waters is a good thing. May the tide be in your favor.

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  2. Great job re-imagining that story! Love, love that meme from Pinterest.

    Writing is SO much more fun than marketing.

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    1. It's been fun re-writing it. Glad you enjoyed the quote. :)

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  3. Writing will always be more fun than marketing, so I can see why you're putting it off. I've gone back and reworked the plot of my very first piece of fiction so many times, it's probably been ten years since I first started it. One day, it will be finished.

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    1. So true! The first draft of my mg was ten years ago, too. I hope you have fun if/when you go back to your first piece of work.

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  4. Sounds fun to come back to an old story and start anew. I hear ya on the marketing thing! But I just finished my latest novel so it's time to focus on that.

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  5. It's really great that you're able to restart one of your old stories. I have a few manuscripts hidden away in drawers. Not sure if I'd have the courage to go back to them.

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    1. This story has a special place in my heart, I wasn't ready to completely let it go. The re-write is working, too. Always a plus.

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  6. I'm thrilled that you're still working on it...I talk about doing the same for my first book in my post. :) Yours sounds like something I'd like to read. Keep writing!

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    1. You should go back to it. The re-write is really working for me. Thanks for the encouraging words.

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  7. I'm off to check out your YA post. I like the quote too. So true when I think back to stories that didn't work, and how much I learned from writing them.

    Here's my August IWSG post on my first novel attempt (note I said ATTEMPT). YA Author Stephanie Scott IWSG August

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    1. I hope you find it interesting. Off to read your post.

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  8. I love that quote. So what remains of your original book? That's what I want to know.

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    1. The characters and their world remained. And at a very high-level the main conflict is the same. How I introduced the characters and their journey is very very different now.

      Glad you liked the quote.

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    2. That's awesome. I have one book that's like that. It was a NaNo project. (Learned my lesson there...)

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  9. Sometimes completely rewriting it is best. Worked for me!

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    1. It's hard to admit, but it has been a good thing for this story.

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  10. I love the quote and the fact you keep reworking your first story. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  11. I agree. Writing is so much more fun than marketing.

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  12. Congratulations on going back to your book that you had laid aside. I love your quote and agree with it and your posting this month has given me strength to keep going.
    All the best.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Patricia

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  13. Sounds great, Cherie. Keep going! Wishing you a super month and continued success.

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  14. That's great that you're dusting off this old manuscript and making it new. I really like the quote you shared--so very true!

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    1. I thought it was a great quote too. Thanks for stopping by!

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  15. My first crack at writing something for publication is sitting in a half finished pile of printed pages, handwritten notebooks, and disks for computers that no longer exist :D
    It was my third try at writing a complete novel that landed me an agent, and eventually sold.

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    1. The very first version of my MG, along with a couple short stories I wrote for practice, were written with Lotus Word. Sadly, Mircosoft Word couldn't open the files. Those stories are long gone too.

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  16. Depends what should count as "the first piece of writing." The first I wrote with the intention to publish, and had the audacity to submit, was a seven-thousand word chapter book I called a picture Book. That was because I also had the temerity to illustrate it. I still love that unpublishable thing.

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    1. As you should! I think many writers have a special place in their heart for their first story no matter how good or bad it was.

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  17. I wrote a short story while I was in university. It had all the usual beginner mistakes and a few I think I invented. I sent it out once and when it was (rightly) rejected, I was so discouraged I didn't write or submit again for several years.

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    1. Oh no! That's awful you got discouraged, but wonderful you started writing again. I made plenty of mistakes too. It's made me a stronger writer.

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