I've been working on the same WIP, no the same prologue for almost two years now. I've entered it in contests and got critiques. My crit partners have bleed all over my pages and it was even critiqued by an agent. All had great things to say. And with every critique I made changes. I thought it was almost finished. In fact, I had a writer friend look it over and she said it was excellent. Then I took the opportunity for a free critiqueby another writer/critiquer friendand it was obvious there was still room for improvement.Now, I guess this WIP will be marked as the major LEARNING WIP because I am learning so much. But I'm wondering, will it ever be ready to get published? Honestly, I've seen some pretty bad fiction published. They could have used a dozen critiquers to help improve the prose, but when is enough really enough?
I love the new edit I just got and will make changes as I see fit, but when will it be ready to be sent out again? It's been rejected by many of the big houses, so obviously it wasn't ready. But when will it be, and when will I know?
Being a writer can be so frustrating at times. I want to learn, but in my humble opinion it takes a lot of money to learn. I've already spent probably a couple hundred (not including conferences) on this one WIP, and it's still not ready. [shaking my head] It's really enough to make me want to through in the towel.
But I can't. I'm a writer.
[Sigh]So what's your opinion? When do you shelve your WIP and move on. It might be easier for me if I didn't have such conflicting opinions about my WIP! If I knew it absolutely stunk, I'd shove it in a drawer and lift my hands in defeat. But two years on the same prologue? I haven't even finished the WIP, yet. When is enough, enough?
3 comments:
Oops, sorry Gina! I hope my critique didn't drive you over the edge! :)
Your question is a good one, though. I think it has to do with why you are writing that particular story to begin with. If it's because you are passionate about the story and feel it must be told, then I guess you keep at it until it comes together for you. If you are writing it for a more commercial reason, there's no point in holding on if you get a better idea or a new opportunity.
We all have those manuscripts, though. I have been exactly where you are with this manuscript--as recently as this spring, actually. Thought I had a long-time manuscript nailed, finally, only to have it utterly ripped apart---by a professional editorial panel, no less. Yeah...that was a blast. :)
I've been struggling with this for a while now. My WIP, my first WIP, is tucked away on a computer disk. Some days I go back and read and immediately see what needs fixing. I think I'm ready to send it out, but I'm scared that the minute I do, I'll remember something or find some glaring errors. Meanwhile I'm working on my second project. Sometimes moving on to something else will give you a fresh inspiration for the first.
I had to peek at your comments, hoping for the same encouragement/answers. I've not sent mine anywhere, as I'm still on second draft revisions. I keep waiting to be added to a crit group at ACFW and nothing's happening...since I applied in May. Is that typical?
I've had so many other writers tell me that they've long ago consigned their first manuscript to a dark hole beneath their bed...surely not all first books are destined to become fodder for the dust-bunnies?
What I think I identify most with your post, is that there are plenty of duds out there that get published. I don't care if they are established authors and can get away with it. It's enough to make you wonder if it's really worth it.
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