ISWG July

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh as a place where writers can talk about their insecurities once a month, and receive encouragement and support from other writers.


This month my insecurities mostly revolve around Camp NaNo, specifically using it to write my dissertation. I'm hoping to get it done by the 19th, which means about 700 words a day. I got 1400 on Monday, since I knew I wouldn't be able to get any writing done yesterday (I went shopping for the holiday, exciting!) so I've had quite a good start. 

I'm trying to just get the first draft down, whether I think it's terrible writing or not, but I still can't help being insecure about it. Wondering whether my ideas are good enough, or whether I can put them across into stories successfully, or whether I'm biting off more than I can chew. 

However, I do know from past experience that my writing doesn't tend to look any good until I go back to revise and edit it, so knowing that makes it easier to just get my thoughts down, ready to edit while I'm away, and throughout August. 

I'm also slightly worried about actually getting it done before I go on holiday, since I'm still doing 35 hours a  week at work and I've got my blogging and everything still to concentrate on, but last year I managed 1600 words a day for Camp NaNo, so 700 is easy, really. I should manage ok :)

Comments

  1. Alex J. Cavanaugh3 July 2013 at 12:47

    Just write. Edit later. It will be fine!
    After NaNo and BuNo, yes, seven hundred words is much easier.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tonja Drecker3 July 2013 at 14:47

    I like Alex's 'Just Write!' Would make a great T-Shirt :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dani3 July 2013 at 14:57

    I like you word count goals. Goals are good... so is the motto "Just Write". Keep up the great work! Yay, holiday.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Morgan3 July 2013 at 15:54

    Oh, you're rocking it, Laura! Keep pushing. I'm proud of you for doing this!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Outcast3 July 2013 at 16:06

    700 words a day sounds seriously intense but at the same time you're already doing amazing and I hope that you just keep on continuing with it Laura, best of luck with it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. David P. King3 July 2013 at 16:15

    That is a super manageable goal. I try to clock in at least 1,000 a day, five days a week. If more follows, more power to the count. You'll make it. Just keep it cool - it's hot outside! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cherie Colyer3 July 2013 at 16:47

    I have to get my words down and come back and revise too. :) Good luck on meeting your goals, 700 is a manageable number, you can do it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Suzanne Furness3 July 2013 at 16:52

    Keep going Laura, you're doing really well. Worry about the editing later on, get that first draft under your belt.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ELAdams3 July 2013 at 17:02

    700 a day sounds do-able. I tend not to set word-count goals because I'll inevitably end up writing more some days than others, but it's good to have something to aim for! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Julie Flanders3 July 2013 at 18:04

    You're already off to an amazing start. I'm sure you can get it done! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Michael Di Gesu3 July 2013 at 19:00

    Sounds like you are off to a great start! I know you can do it, Laura....

    ReplyDelete
  12. SK Anthony3 July 2013 at 19:29

    I think the 700 a day is an attainable goal. No worries about editing... write, write, write! You will do it and you will make it great! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Susan Gourley/Kelley3 July 2013 at 20:20

    Sounds like you have a good plan. My first drafts are nothing to brag about.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nancy Thompson4 July 2013 at 00:02

    Yes, the MOST important thing is to get it written down. Then worry about revising it to make the idea work. Of curse, I' about the worst person to advise on time management. I spend all mine marketing. UGH!

    ~ Alex's #3 minion

    ReplyDelete
  15. Krista McLaughlin4 July 2013 at 02:26

    Just remember that it's a first draft. You can revise later, the important part is getting it done and then tweeking it. You can do it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Donna B. McNicol4 July 2013 at 04:35

    Definitely keep writing and save the editing for later. Worked for me in both Camp NaNo and NaNo, each of which produced a book. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Shannon Lawrence4 July 2013 at 07:44

    Good luck while you work on this! Sounds like you're doing well, so far. Having a specific goal should help you go a long way. And I agree...just write! I always do better when I edit later.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse

    ReplyDelete
  18. Annalisa Crawford4 July 2013 at 13:15

    700 words a day sounds completely realistic. I never edit as I go, it's much better to get the words down and see the shape before you start to refine it. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Unknown4 July 2013 at 16:17

    Did a camp NaNo last summer. Despite my fears, I accomplished my goal. I agree with Alex, "just write". You can edit later. :) Good luck!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jeff Hargett4 July 2013 at 22:47

    Yes, yes, write now, edit later. :) Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Unknown5 July 2013 at 05:19

    Best of luck in completing camp NaNo...and your dissertation. 700 words a day is totally doable! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Mark Means5 July 2013 at 20:22

    It's great to have goals, but remember that they're flexible. Don't break your 'writing back' by being too rigid. Keep on going, though! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Tyrean Martinson7 July 2013 at 20:36

    Way to go! Keep writing! Believe in yourself. Your ideas are good! :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Mina Burrows8 July 2013 at 20:35

    Camp Nano's tough. Stay strong. :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WEP August - Change of Heart

Image
So I actually wrote this piece for April's WEP, but I was ill so didn't get to post it in the end. I'm quite glad, as it suits this month's theme so much more. Change of Heart ‘Are you ready for this?’ Paul asked. Brian nodded, trying to steady his shaking hands. ‘You’re the only one who can defeat him,’ Molly said. ‘We believe in you.’ She stepped back to join Paul. Brian balled his fists as he looked at the huge stone doors before him. He took a deep breath and pushed them open. Before the doors closed, Brian glimpsed Paul and Molly turn and begin to walk away. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness inside. With a whispered word he created light in the palm of his hand, raising it so it would light up the room. It was empty apart from another doorway, much smaller than the first, hidden away in the corner. Brian marched through it and found himself in a large chamber, lit by many flickering candles mounted along the walls. Someone stoo...
Read more

IWSG

Image
The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh as a place where writers can talk about their insecurities once a month, and receive encouragement and support from other writers. It's such an amazing group, it even has its own website now, which you can visit here . This week I'm a co-host! Be sure to go to Alex's page and visit the other people who are co-hosting.  I had such great plans for my writing this month, but not one of them came through. There were three short stories I wanted to get written, and I also wanted to get back to my NaNo edits, but none of that happened. I still have a little time for one of the short stories, though; it's for Kyra Lennon's cat anthology , and it's due Friday! Not much time to do it, but I made a commitment and I will follow through with it!  Even though I haven't got much writing done in the last month (or the couple before that!) I'm not going to let it get me down. I...
Read more

A is for Arachne and Arlee!

Before I get to my Greek Mythology part of this post, at the request of Alex J. Cavanaugh  (great idea by the way, Alex!), I'd first like to thank Arlee Bird for coming up with the challenge in the first place. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be taking part in this amazing experience every year. Thanks, Arlee! This is one of my favourite tales from Greek mythology, so naturally I chose it for my first letter. Arachne was the daughter of a shepherd, and was famous for the beautiful tapestries she weaved. Nymphs would travel from all over to see her work, and to watch her weave. One day, a nymph asked her if her talent was a gift from the goddess Athena. Arachne protested, saying her skill was all her own, and that her weaving was better than Athena's. Athena heard of this, and challenged the girl to a weaving contest. Both sat at their looms and began to weave, nymphs gathering round to watch. Athena weaved a tapestry based on the glories of the gods, showing the...
Read more