Blogging about LTUE and book reviews and blog fests has been fun, but I'm ready to get back to what I was talking about before.
Writer's Intuition. Remember that? If not, you can read my other intuition posts here, here, and here.
Of course, where Writer's Intuition really counts is in the actual writing. Writing a first draft is not easy for me. I go rather slow (no NaNoWriMo feats for me). I edit as I go. But I don't always consciously think about what's going into the story. I have to just tell it the way I want it told and trust myself to know what's right for that story. I want to point out that I have had to learn to trust myself. I had to develop that intuition.
I'll give an example. I wrote a novel in 1998, and after getting a bunch of rejections, I put it away. For ten years. (I have probably talked about this before.) My friend asked to read it. I told her, "Sure, but it's probably really bad." She read it and assured me it was not really bad. I read it too. I was shocked. Amazed. I loved that book. I couldn't believe I had just set it aside and forgotten it. I had forgotten how much work I put into it. How much I loved the characters. And the plot. Yes, it needed revising. It needed tightening and changing. But for the most part everything the story needed was there. In some cases I just had to bring it out or adjust it.
So, trust yourself. You know how your story should be told. Know the rules, but don't bind yourself down with them. Let your Writers Intuition guide you. Yes, you will still have to revise. You'll need your intuition then too. But you have a story to tell, so tell it!
22 comments:
Interesting. I tend not to trust my intuition on my new novel because of all the rejections I got on teh last one. You've inspired me to do better.
I absolutely love this post, Angie!!! Such the advice I need to hear right now. I have a hard time trusting my instincts about my writing and especially about revising, but I have a gut and I need to learn to listen to it better. To trust myself.
Thanks for the insight and for sharing your experience--I'm going to put it to use in my own life. XO
You have great intuition and you are a very talented writer so go get 'em girl!!! The time for publishing your novel is now! Love, Mom
I love it! Let your intuition guide you, don't second guess yourself. It's so true, and yet sometimes so easy to forget!
You're right, Angie. A writer has to have a good measure of trust in their work. No, it's not ever going to be perfect, but it's rarely as horrible as a writer might try to convince himself/herself that it is.
Thanks, Mom. I appreciate your belief in me. =)
Lisa, it can be easy to forget. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Terry, it's so, so true. Hope your novel is coming along well.
Great advice. Thanks for the inspiration!
Great advice, Angie! Sometimes I read my own work and think it's sooooo bad. And then the next day, it's not so bad anymore.
Thank you, Beth and Aubrie. =)
It's nice to have a positive boost of enthusiasm about writing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Excellent advice.. it's so true... but all too easy to forget :) Thanks for the wonderful reminder.
I’m not a NoNoWriMo kind of writer myself. My way of writing may be all over the place, but I get the job done.
I very much like this Angie: “Know the rules, but don't bind yourself down with them.” Great advice!
You're welcome, Cathy and Lindsay. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Love this post. I see so many people get all panicked about writing rules, and do's and don'ts before they give their novel a chance to get off the ground. I'm in what I now feel is a fortunate camp (despite the hours revising) where I learned to trust the story I told, before I started to learn all the technical stuff.
Now I just roll through and get that story down and hope I remember all the ways I need to "tighten" it all up in the end.
Excellent advice, and something we ALL need to be reminded of from time to time.
what a wonderful post, and I agree with everything you've said here, Angie! I think that's how it's going to be w/Debut Novel. It's in the drawer, but I'll get back to it. Wonderful to find hidden gems just needing polish~ :o) <3
NICE post! I think a writer needs to learn the "rules," but also needs to have the artistic freedom to break them. Actually, I think the rules allow writers to "break rules gracefully." (If that makes sense, LOL!)
Ah, I love you Angie. And this was a fantastic post. Just what I needed today when I took a big leap because it felt like the right thing to do. ((hugs))
It's always fun to reread your own writing and discover that it doesn't stink. Thanks for the uplift. *goes off in search of dusty manuscripts*
Thanks for stopping by my blog. :)
Yes, I love when I discover it wasn't so bad after all. Thanks, Wendy.
Good point Angie, you have to go with your gut in writing - especially in the first few drafts - then a little time gives you the perspective it needs to bring it on home!
Thank you for stopping by, Jan.
My most 'powerful' post are from my intuition every time!!! Great post and so glad that 'we' both listen to our intuition when we write!! Love it!!
Hugs,
Coreen xoxo
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