My online writing course is going well so far. It's a lot like a normal writing workshop, only we post our writing assignments and feedback on a discussion board and meet once a week to chat online about our work.
Today I submitted the third section from my novel - the first fifteen pages of chapter three. I'm nervous. Nobody has read this chapter. Two people read chapters one and two last year. I did a lot of substantive editing on those chapters, but chapter three hasn't been through a deep edit and is by far the roughest chapter in the novel as it stands. I struggled with writing this chapter more than any other. I know it needs a lot of work, but I'm at a loss where to begin. 
Sometimes feedback helps cast the writing in a new light and I know exactly what to do, other times it makes me want to crawl in a hole and hide. There's this urge in writing workshops to give others your best work so they will tell you how good it is, but the real challenge comes in submitting work that you know is not your best.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Nerve
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Be brave and take what you can get out of the feedback. You're making progress! V. proud of you.
Excellent news Angie, good on you. {{Angie}}
You are right about people always submitting their very best writing. I think it's a great idea for you to submit something you haven't polished yet. It might help shortcut the revision process, especially since you are having difficulties with this particular chapter.
It is scary opening yourself up to opinion. But I'm sure it will be worth it.
I really like the new banner at the top of your blog.
Kat :-)
Good luck Angie, I'm sure your bravery will pay back several times over.
Kristen, trying to be brave and hoping for some helpful insights. Thanks. :)
Hulla, thanks sweetie.
Chad, our prof suggested we first submit the polished chapters--which I did the first two submissions--and then delve into the ones we're struggling with.
Hopefully hearing how others read it will give me revision ideas.
Kat, it is scary, but I think I'm finally developing that thick(er) skin.
Thanks!
Yvonne, let's hope so! If nothing else, I'm preparing for the next step of sending my work out. (Eek!)
You are an amazing writer and I have no doubt it will work out! Love you.
Zmunda, that means a lot coming from someone who has seen some of my, um, more embarassing moments.
xx
Post a Comment