Wednesday, June 7, 2017

IWSG: Implementing Technique

Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day! The first Wednesday of every month is when insecure writers (or just people who want to keep in contact with writer buddies!) gather for a blog hop to talk about our insecurities as writers and other writerly awesomeness. If you want to join, click on the link.

Many thanks to our host, Alex J. Cavanaugh and his co-hosts this month:  JH Moncrieff, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Jen Chandler, Megan Morgan, and Heather Gardner!



This month's question is:

Did you ever say “I quit”?
If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?

I have never said "I quit". I spent years wanting to write and putting it off because I didn't have time. Once I made the serious effort necessary to move forward, I couldn't stop. Although the effort was serious, the result wasn't great. It was "okay" writing, just lacking experience. I wrote and self published two YA novels and a 3-novella YA series. I received some good reviews, mostly from friends, but the books didn't sell. When I go back and read them now, the newbie writing mistakes glare out at me. 

I didn't quit, but I started over.

Yep, I unpublished my books. It was tough stepping back (okay, more like several huge leaps back) after all my effort. But I started over. I'm working on a new novel armed with more experience and knowledge of how it's done. Even though I know the rules and tricks of the trade intellectually, technique isn't always easy to implement and perfect in the seamless way necessary to hold a reader's attention. 

But I have high hopes my new book will be better!




What about you? Did you ever quit writing?
Do you find it difficult to implement technique?

28 comments:

  1. Unpublishing your books must have been a tough decision. I cringe when I look back and read some of my earlier work. Nothing's ever perfect when you first start out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was tough but necessary. I may go back at some point and rewrite/re-edit/republish. But for now, I'm just moving forward.

      Delete
  2. Oh yes, I struggle with the technique too. Glad you are sticking with the writing. It's a learning curve and persisting is so important.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really true when people say to practice, practice, practice! I've also come across some really good craft books too, that has helped a lot.

      Delete
  3. Bet that was a difficult decision. But you know so much more now - you can still edit them and publish again if you want.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do know a lot more! Onward and upward and carry on!

      Delete
  4. Unpublished? Wow. Painful, but if it was the right step, it was the right step. Way to go, pushing into the future and starting again!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sometimes I wonder if I should unpublish my first books, but I have yet to do it. I did it with Snapshots temporarily because I decided it needed another edit and a new cover, but that was it. The books get bought and have had strangers review it favorably, so I think they're good enough to keep up. I wonder if a lot of writers feel the same about their earlier works.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think a lot of us question our first books, because the more we write, the better we get, and those first works aren't always what they can be.

      Delete
  6. Starting over is sometimes necessary. I started over with a series when I got stuck and thought I was doomed to not write again.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's a brave and impressive thing to do, to unpublish your work. Mine would have to be awfully bad for me to do that, because I'm pretty much shameless. :-P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! It could be that maybe-possibly-probably my insecurity is getting in the way ;)

      Delete
  8. Unpublishing would be a hard decision, KUDOS to you, for not opting for easier. Starting over is the smart thing to do, besides look at all that wisdom you now have to work with. Thanks for hosting.
    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was tough but a long thought out process (cuz that's what writers do, LOL).

      Delete
  9. You are amazing, Gwen! I love Indigo Eadie, btw. Please keep her alive! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Tyrean, I love Indigo too. She's awesome and deserves awesome writing. LOL.

      Delete
  10. That's a tough decision. I loved your stories about Indigo. They were very sweet and fun.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gwen,
    Thanks so much for sharing this one. I have this book I pulled because I should never have self-published it and it really is looming like this dark shadow over me, like Never Again. I guess I've been avoiding thinking about it but your admission is helping me to think about it differently as something I DO need to move past somehow. Thanks for sharing this!
    Anne from annehiga.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I considered quitting twice, but each time, I realize I can't. Then I'm nose to the grindstone again.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Deciding to unpublish must have been a tough decision at the time, but I'm a great believer in listening to your instinct. I love your Indigo Eady series.

    ReplyDelete

  14. shareit apk download
    shareit downloads
    download shareit
    download shareit apk
    shareit Another great thing that is being introduced alongside this latest update is improved transmission compatibility.

    ReplyDelete

Yay! You left a comment! I love comments.