As a new writer, I often feel alone and conflicted: “Am I doing it right? Does anyone else ever do this? Am I delusional to think this will work?” Yet, the more I pay attention, the more I realize others are asking themselves the very same questions I do! Wouldn’t it be nice to know you are in good company? The point I’m trying to make here – if you find yourself questioning your process – that makes two of us!
* Do you ever work on multiple manuscripts at a time?
Sure do. In fact, I think most writers do. I have two projects going at the moment (hint, they are listed in the GOALS section on the left). New ideas still intrude on my time, once in a while, but I simply create a folder for them, and set them aside . It is my understanding that as long as you can discipline yourself to make progress, it doesn’t matter how many manuscripts you are running.
* Do you ever skip around?
That’s the only way I know how to work. Apparently, I can’t follow intended sequence of events. If I’m working on the chapter that needs a dialogue, but I feel compelled to work on the description, I just make notes *insert a dialogue about…*, and move on. Sometimes I skip whole chapters, again, leaving myself notes *Chapter 11 – meeting with Dodo birds*.
* Do you ever write while doing something else?
80% of the time. I’ve stopped thinking of it as a bad thing. As long as I’m making progress, it’s all good. There are days I need a quiet room to get anything done, and then there are days when I have my TV running, and browsing Facebook while typing only once sentence at a time.
* Do you ever work on a story without knowing the ending?
Yup. I have an idea for the Dragonfly Island, but it is not set in stone. I just know that my conflicts needs resolution, and there aren’t that many choices: “He either does, or he doesn’t”, and “they either do, or they don’t”.
* Do you ever go for a long time without touching your manuscript and then pick it up months later?
Well, if you were following this blog, you know that I just came out of 6 months break. It just took me a couple of days to pick it up where I left off.
* Do you ever feel shy about sharing your writing with others?
Hillarious, I know: I want to be a published writer, yet I feel mortified having to share my writing. I did promise my significant other the first read, but that’s it. At the same time, I don’t mind posting short excerpts on the blog, or getting advice on AW Forum. The feedback I get is extremely helpful.
* Do you ever doubt your skill?
All. The. Time.
* Do you ever think your plot is no good? cheesy? boring?
I do. I simply try not to dwell on it, or I’ll never finish.
* Do you ever dream about being published?
I’m not without an ambition. I very much hope to find an agent, get a deal, and have a faithful following of readers.
* Do you ever set writing goals that you don’t meet?
According to my first schedule, I should have been done writing, rewriting AND editing, both manuscripts I started last year. I’ve learned to let go, and the only thing that matters is the answer to the following question: Am I making progress? I still set goals, make deadlines, and strive to stick to the intended word count, but I have learned to be more reasonable with my demands of myself.
* Do you work on your query and research agents even though your manuscript is far from finished?
Ok, I confess, I do that. But I do try to keep myself in check – how much time do I spend on writing vs. looking for ant agent? I am very aware of the fact that unless I finish my project(s), I will never have a need to send out that polished query to my perfect agent.
* Do you ever feel alone?
Sometimes. No one else, I know in real life, writes. However, I feel lucky to have access to the on-line community of writers. You know, the kind that reads this blog.
