This month's awesome co-hosts are: Tamara Narayan, Patsy Collins, M.J. Fifield, and Nicohle Christopherson!
IWSG Question of the Month: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?
I keep all my old stories. On occasion, I'll go back and read one, and most of the time I come away laughing or stunned. It is shocking how far I've come writing-wise. Some of those old ones are really, REALLY bad. But I keep them around just in case I ever do want to rewrite one or take an idea from it for something else.
I have one character that has been with me for over a decade. I wrote a trilogy for her many years ago and queried agents with it. I had no idea how to market myself properly, and so it didn't get picked up. Plus the writing was not as strong as it could have been.
This character would not leave my head. A few years ago, I started to rewrite the trilogy. I couldn't get it right. I tried a half dozen different beginnings, but nothing was clicking. So I pushed it aside again.
She's still with me. I have a new idea for her. One I think will work. She'll have to get into the queue with my other stories, though. Yet I believe she's strong enough to wait around. Maybe not quite so patient, but she's going to make certain I write her story eventually!
I love those characters who stick around pushing for the right story. I have a few of those myself. And yeah...considering how long it takes me to do anything, they're really in for a wait. I hope they brought a book or two to help pass the time. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a novel - series actually - I return to frequently and revise. I think maybe that series is where I work out writing experiments. I hope someday to get it edited into submission quality, but I also know I'd have to find another experimental project to work on. Double edged sword there, lol.
ReplyDeleteSome characters like to stick around and bug you until you finish their stories! Hopefully you can figure out something for that character.
ReplyDeleteThat's fascinating that this character has persisted in trying to get your attention and write her story. Cheers - Ellen
ReplyDeleteI think she'll make herself know to the world soon enough.
ReplyDeleteHope you figure out a way to use that character who has been with you for so long.
ReplyDeleteShe'll get there! Keep at it. It's crazy to think how long our stories stay stuck in our heads!
ReplyDeleteI tossed a few old mss that I knew in my gut I wouldn't do anything with, but I kept a few that whispered to me not to let them go. :)
ReplyDeleteHow interesting, can't wait to meet her! Seriously! If she's been with you that long, she'll keep at it until you give her voice. Love it!
ReplyDeleteLove your writing - always!
Her story will come together when it's ready.
ReplyDeleteThank you, everyone! I love going around and seeing everyone's answers to the question. :)
ReplyDeleteMy old stories always make me laugh. It's nice to see that even in the early terrible days, the stories were still entertaining. It's also nice to see proof that I've grown. Cause sometimes I wonder. Lol!
ReplyDeleteI love that you have a character who's still around after all this time! She knows she's with the right writer. :) My characters tend to stick by me, too. I've had one I've been trying to find a story for since 2013. But we're on the same page. Her story is next. ^_^
Laughing or stunned--nice combo. I like how you acknowledge how much you've grown and need to do a little of that.
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Hi Christine - that's great you keep your stories ... and by the sound of it your story-muse will make sure you remember her. Also your son will enjoy reading Mum's stories at some stage ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI never throw anything away (Kind of obvious if you were to see my office). Even if I give up on a story or toss out a darling, I always keep a copy. You never know when you might need it.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice to know that someone else keeps all their old stories. I do too. In fact, when I'm revising a story, I even keep the passages I delete by pasting them in a word document and dating them. Then I put them in a folder.
ReplyDeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
Any character that sticks around that long is bound to have an interesting story. I can't wait to meet her!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, that queue just keeps growing, eh? I don't know which I have more of, time in books on the TBR list, or time in writing on the TBW list. (To be written.)
ReplyDeleteI love those strong characters, those ones who refuse to be forgotten!
ReplyDeleteLove it when a character haunts me! So much better than feeling abandoned by them, anyway. :/
ReplyDeleteNow I'm curious. It sounds like me with Being Human's sorta sequel. The characters are still there, but I have no idea how to start the story.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I went back to Indigo after starting a few other projects. I guess she wasn't done being my MC. LOL.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read her. We need to do another Author Spotlight feature on your series when you release book 7 or around that time. I'm starting you book 1 on my reading list now.
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
My ideas stew in my head for awhile. I also keep everything. You never know ifyou can repurpose some old writing or craft it into a short story.
ReplyDeleteSome of my characters have been with me for over a decade, too. (Including, but not limited to, Spencer and Jay. LOL.) Characters who stick around like that usually get their stories told eventually, even if it's not in a way you ever expected. Have no doubt that'll be the case for yours!
ReplyDeleteHow cool that your character just refuses to go away quietly. I have a feeling her story will be especially awesome once you get it out there. :)
ReplyDeleteIf a character or story won't leave you then the only thing to do is to write them/it.
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ReplyDeleteI'm curious to meet this character. :)
ReplyDeleteThe longer characters are with us, the easier it becomes to write them. It also makes it easier to go back and edit or rewrite rough drafts from earlier in a series, since you know these people much better now than you did years ago. It's like the difference between shooting the last scene in a movie first, before you know the character, and then deciding to go back and shoot from the start in order to understand the story and character better.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that character is not the type to leave you alone for long. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting that it was the character, rather than the scenario or the plot, that wouldn't die. I'm sure you'll find the right story to send her/him riding out into the world beyond your imagination. I'm with you--I never throw out old stories and story beginnings. Who knows what I might be able to pull out of those?
ReplyDeleteI have a few characters like that. One of them ocassionally kicks at my imagination .. and someday, maybe I'll get her story written right.
ReplyDeleteShe must really mean something to you. I hope the story works out and you feel proud :)
ReplyDeleteYou know, out of all the posts I've read today of people who looked back on old writing, I'm glad you said that you looked back and laughed. Because that's what I do, too. Some of my old stuff was BAD. But hey, it just shows how far we've come, right?
ReplyDeleteSounds like it's the story of your heart . . . those already deserve to be written :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much to you all. Here's hoping that the character is aging like a fine wine!
ReplyDeleteI've the same issue. It can be hilarious to see the progress of one's own writing over time. Often I wonder, what was I thinking? :)
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