Though eager to join this group, I was worried about sharing all my
writer insecurities. That’s the reason I kept putting it off for so long with
the excuse that I don’t post on Wednesdays.
I think 2013 is going to see a bolder, stronger and more determined me,
so here I am with my first post for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I even
tweaked my blogging schedule for it. As I have reduced my posting day to
Fridays, I will now post on the first Wednesday of every month so that I can be
a part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and get loads of support from you
all.
IWSG meets on the first Wednesday of every month to support and encourage each other and share our insecurities. If you want to join click here.
IWSG meets on the first Wednesday of every month to support and encourage each other and share our insecurities. If you want to join click here.
One of my biggest insecurities regarding my writing is that I am unable
to stop worrying that my writing is not good enough. Like the protagonist of
the book I finished writing recently, Rahul, the nine year old boy feels he is
not good enough for his parents who are overachievers, I too feel that my writing
is no great shakes.
I always feel every other writer
writes much, much better than me in terms of plot, language and voice. This
thought was further entrenched in my mind when I started querying my Middle
Grade Fiction in 2011. Though every agent who read the query and the sample
pages praised it, cynical little me brushed it off with the thought that they
were being polite. If they thought it so nice why couldn’t they offer
representation was my argument.
As the rejection letters piled up, this thought was further cemented in
my mind. Even though one of the agents asked me to keep her in my mind for my
next book, I didn’t believe her. I was like maybe she had nothing else to say.
This year I hope to overcome this habit as it is seriously affecting my
writing and querying. I would like to have more faith in myself and my writing.
What’s your biggest writing insecurity? I am both curious and eager to
hear about it.
Good for you in planning a focused effort in writing for 2013, Rachna.
ReplyDeleteI confess that I will still be scattered and inefficient. I need to get to work on that.
Welcome to the IWSG! (And the sign up list is on a page on my blog.)
ReplyDeleteTime to overcome. Those agents want to see something else. Write it and let them know. You can do it!
Welcome to the group - I'm new this month too.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that's stuck in my mind about agent rejections is, sometimes your work can be awesome, but if it's too similar to something they're already trying to sell (or just sold), then they have to pass. Please take their feedback as praise of your writing... and definitely get back to the one who wanted to be kept in mind!
Rachna, I look upon you as a mentor and honestly just write what I feel about and you keep on supporting me! So I am a worriless soul when it comes to writing :) Have a lovely New Year with scores of achievements under your belt!!
ReplyDeleteRachna, rejection from rejection letters is over rated. They don't bother me any more. I may go with a smaller press for my fourth book later this year, then try to work my up from there.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours!
Welcome to the group!
ReplyDeleteOne of my biggies is worrying that, if I go small or traditional pub, I won't me able to meet deadlines due to family and work obligations. I struggle so much just to find time to write!
And I worry about quality, too. We all do.
I've come to decide writing good fiction a combination of natural talent, learning the craft, and finding one's target audience.
Best wishes for 2013. :)
IWSG #137 until Alex culls the list again.
Hello Rachna, I'm following the Insecure writers link.
ReplyDeleteI suffer setbacks when I read great books. I compare myself instead of honoring whats special about me. I'm happy to meet you because I too like to connect with other writers.
I'mnew this month as well. I share your insecurities. Too long I was afraid of people laughing at my writing, and having someone say - hey you are good - was liberating.
ReplyDeleteNow I say, I own my writing. If you don't like it, I'll find someone else who does. Never doubt yourself, there is a place out there!
Hi friends, I am glad that I joined IWSG. The posts are making me realize that I am not alone with my million and one insecurities, other writers too are fighting their insecurities. Its going to be great getting inspired by all of them.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot of courage to say what you did. Kudos! I am not a writer as in I have not been published. Yet I can connect with the insecurities you have mentioned. I always feel my writing is not up to the mark.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great year ahead.
I share your insecurities. I always want to take things up a notch and I worry I'm not up to par. You're brave sharing this. I enjoy IWSG for this reason. I always find similarities between myself and other participants.
ReplyDeleteDon't brush off what that agent said--they really do mean it!
ReplyDeleteI often have the same insecurity. I'm not good enough. But you know what the great thing is? You can get better.
Every single writer worries their writing isn't good enough. It's part of what makes us who we are and how we get even better! At least that's what I tell myself when I'm having that worry.
ReplyDeleteThat's fantastic that they said nice things to you! Keep going. Don't stop. You're probably closer than you think.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how Alex does it either!
Rejection is an inevitable part of what we do. Some of the most successful authors of all time gathered a mound of rejection letters a mile high before finally getting their work into the right hands. But one thing that they all have in common is that they never stopped. They never gave up. If they had, they never would have succeeded. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteJ.W. Alden
Welcome to IWSG!
ReplyDeleteBeing bold is a great goal for the new year. Rejection happens, but that doesn't mean you're a bad writer. It just means the project wasn't for them.
Yep, I can relate to your fears. I suspect all writers feel this way, even established writers.
ReplyDeleteYay for joining IWSG!!
That's one of my biggest worries to; that its not good enough. I've been lucky to get a couple short stories accepted and published and every time the editors ask for re-writes I wonder how the story got accepted in the first place.
ReplyDeleteIts hard not to doubt our own abilities. You are getting good feedback on the queries at least.
.......dhole
That agent asking you to keep her in my is a great rejection! Of course, any rejection feels like a bad one, but I strongly suspect no one is going to say something like that without meaning it. Good luck! I lack confidence and have doubt in myself, as well.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse
Welcome to the group! It's hard to get rejections, but just know that you can't have failure without victory! My now editor says that just means your book wasn't meant for that particular person:-) Cheers to good news in 2013!!
ReplyDeleteRejection is a big part of writing. I think the agent meant it about sending the next thing. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteMany of us share the same issues you have with writing and querying agents. You just keep trying to do it better the next time.
ReplyDeleteI imagine the praise followed by the "no" is probably the most perplexing of all responses to quantify. That said, I'd take the praise part as a measure of validation. I'm sure most have learned how to say "no" without the praise if the praise isn't warranted.
ReplyDeleteBe a bolder you!!! Like that goal!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think having more faith in yourself is definitely important.
I struggle with that main fear of my writing not being "good enough." . . .I'm not sure what I'm measuring myself against . . and that makes it worse. I just have to write the best I can and trust and keep moving forward.
Typo errors and grammatical mistakes.
ReplyDeleteA bolder Rachana is a welcome thought.
Comparing your writing to others is never going to work. We are all so different in our styles, and writing preferences are subjective. Just keep submitting - you'll eventually reach the right agent or publisher.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us feel like this. I know I do - you're not alone! Look at it this way, we'll always be striving for improvement and not get complacent... but those agents didn't have to give praise. I would take it as positive encouragement, and definitely get back to the one who wanted to see the next book! All the best for this year!
ReplyDeleteHi, welcome to IWSG.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what my biggest insecurity is. At this point, I sort of feel that none of my writing (especially my shorts) are good enough to submit, and so I'm just trying to learn to write better and hope that I'll see it when it's time to get back into the sub game.