Work Room - Week 9

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Welcome back to the Work Room!

The new topic is up http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/513841.html and I'm sure people need to shake off some of that extra holiday brain fuzz that has built up.

What is the toughest part of getting back into the writing groove for you?

Where do you want your writing to go in 2012? What steps are you planning on taking to get it there?

Comments

[noodledays.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure at this moment (about getting back in the groove), but I'll find out shortly I have a feeling. :o

first, yay! :D

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

Yay for you being first ;).

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

Oh, damn.

I am soo very tempted to make good use of that vivid dream I had two days ago. Because it was very illogically logical.

Mmm, mmm.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

So the hardest part is deciding whether the story is good enough because I have even written it down.

And everything that is too easy is inherently not so.

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

I know I've got the post-holiday fuzzies, but is there no due date on the topic post??

[poppetawoppet.livejournal.com]

ooh good catch. I fear shenanigans

[poppetawoppet.livejournal.com]

oh boy I could go so many places with this

(especially since counter-intuitive is my M.O. in life)

:D

(getting back into the groove is very hard. I've been writing the same fic since May and dammit I'm going to finish it, no matter how terrible the first draft)

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I was a little surprised too! But that's a good thing for me since I'll be able to think on it while at work and I might be able to start drafting ideas tonight, opposed to wasting valuable writing time thinking on the topic when it posts in the evening!

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

The topic just went up and my brain goes "uhh what?"

My brain feels dead at the moment. It needs to be woken up after this break and I'll be curious how everything plays out for me. I'm trying to do so many things at once...

Where do I want to take my writing this year? Well I want to get better, I want to stretch myself and I want to aim for publication. I need to gain more confidence, though I'm already doing better, I'm still harsh on myself. I also would like to start writing on a schedule on projects outside of Idol too, mainly a real novel. I just have to get the monkey brain under control and figure out how to live on 3 hours sleep every night to do so. How do people have a life outside of work? That and taking care of my dog is my life these days. I need more time for writing.

But first up... This topic. The vague ones always give me the most trouble. I could go anywhere and I can't get the brain to focus on any one thing in particular.

How do others handle that? How do you take a broad topic and turn it into an entry idea? My ideas are usually random and just hit me... But there's always the chance I'll get nothing. What do you do?

[michikatinski.livejournal.com]

Maybe think of the opposite of whatever the topic is and go from there?

I dunno. When I get stuck, it is not a happy thing. I get nervous. I twirl my hair. I bite my nails. I bark. I drink (no, coffee, really!).

Good luck, hon. :)

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

When's the deadline???

As far as writing is concerned, I have two pieces I need to get written this week, one a non-fiction piece on the Fairy Queen that's already been accepted in outline and I've done the research for, I just need to write it up and the other is a fictional piece that I'd love to get accepted but I have to, you know, write it in time for the deadline at the end of this month and with one thing and another, haven't had a chance to start it until now when I should really have got it done over Christmas. So whether I actually get back into Idol this week or use my bye comes down to whether I can get it written in time and when the deadline for Idol is... There's only so much brainstorming my brain can take which is a shame because I am liking the look of the topic this week.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I'm really curious about this Fairy Queen piece you keep mentioning... Will it be somewhere I might be able to read it one day? :)

[michikatinski.livejournal.com]

The hardest part of getting back into the writing groove when I'm not in it is writing the first word. If I can just get through that first immeasurably high hump, the gears will inevitably start turning, albeit slowly.

My goals for writing this year? To make it to the Top 150 of Idol, for one. :) I also made a new year's resolution to submit something--anything--for publication. I've always been too fearful of rejection to do it, even when I was told by well-published people that I ought to. This is the year I'm going to battle my phobia.

*parties in her pj's*

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on getting published. My goal is to figure out how and where to go about doing this. I'm looking for any advice I can get on that really... And I'm happy to help nudge you along as well :)

[genesisdesire.livejournal.com]

The toughest part comes from not second-guessing myself. Any time I lose my groove, it's the doubt that comes back the strongest.

I want my writing to go to a place that's at turns both illogical and outlandish, with strange turns of phrase and images and idioms, and then realistic and hard-hitting and relatable.

My resolution is to simply write more often. Every day things. Random fic. Even comments. Just write. That's where you start.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I'm bad at the second guessing myself. I find when I get into a good groove, all goes well. But a break? Or stress in RL? Or self doubts in other parts of my life? Those can all affect my confidence a bit. The break isn't so bad this time, it's more self doubts in other areas holding me up right now. I lose confidence in one facet of my life and I start second guessing everything I do :/

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

The problem with getting back in the groove is that I'm totally lost on what to write. Sigh. I need to figure that out and then I should be okay. I did do one of the free topics and I think that helped by me not taking a huge break in my writing.

[snack-size.livejournal.com]

The problem with getting back into the groove is definitely the doubt...I was close to elimination last time and don't want to be there again. I try not to think about placement and these sorts of things and just write, but it seems to nag at the back of my head.

As for writing this year - I would like to get published. I would like to stretch myself. I would like to write every day, even if inspiration does not strike. And, as above - I'd like to stop doubting myself.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

That doubting yourself bit... Man, I used to think everyone in Idol was so confident but me. I'm seeing that's not the case though. Everyone has those doubts. It's difficult when you put so much of yourself out there and people don't respond. I've been there.

Come into this part of the season with a fresh start. Things will be shaken up, you will likely see different people taking the lead and whatnot. Your standing before means nothing about where you can take it this week. I speak from experience since I would have been eliminated in week 5 my first season, but it was a non elimination round. I came back and made it to the top 20. Don't let the last poll dictate how you feel, instead use it to prove to everyone that you're more awesome than they gave you credit for before. It's tough, I'm guilty of letting poll standings determine how I feel about myself too... But it's early and there's lots of factors at play. You still can go very far :)

[rattsu.livejournal.com]

The toughest part of getting back into the writing grove is that I have a completely new project that is eating my mind right now. So maybe I will switch gears (and books) in LJI and go from sci-fi to YA crime. Maybe. We'll see.

As for where I want my writing to go... I want to get back to treating it like the real deal and not chicken out when things become too serious.

And that means braving a few things I've been putting off for far too long.

- Finishing my swedish book and sending it off to the publishers. It's maybe a week's job left on it, and I keep postponing since I write a lot better now, and I know it's gonna get turned down. But at the same time, I know I am shooting myself down, and it's just postage. A no never really hurt anybody.

- Getting a properly prepared letter to swedish agents done. We don't have many, but you never know. And it's good practice.

- Write more short stories. I got a nice little package in the mail where my new one is published (yay zombie pigs), but I need to finish a new horror story for the next issue of Eskapix, and get started on some mainstream ones to send off to the women's magazines that actually pays very good money for them. Just not my style really, but... money.

These are the things I really should do, because they can advance my career and make me money and damnit, I can do this.

And then, I'll just keep working on those two english books I am working on, and see what happens with my awesome secret guest star mystery collaboration.

It's gonna be a busy writing year I think...

[beldarzfixon.livejournal.com]

The tough part is just getting restarted, working those brain-muscles again. It's part of why I made a point of doing one of the "free" topics. Now that we have the rhythm restarted and a for-the-money topic out there, I can get the creative bits churning and will map out some time to write something and carry on from there.

I'm not sure how good I am at giving advice, but thanks to FB friends, here is some excellent stuff: 25 Things Writers Should Stop Doing (http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2012/01/03/25-things-writers-should-stop-doing/). I *highly* recommend you read it, even though a lot of it is for pros, you can modify his advice to the little writerly world of Idol -- and it may help if you eventually want to go beyond this as well.

[yuniebaby.livejournal.com]

That article is wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing it. ^_^

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

You're right about the holiday fuzz. Also: lack of confidence rears its head when I get out of practice. So the toughest thing for me getting back into my groove is believing that what I'm doing is good, and to believe in my ideas.

I have big hopes for 2012. I am working on my NaNovel, actually writing stuff and doing some research, wow! I want to make writing a priority this year. I'd like to be published and I'm looking into avenues on how to do that. I figure I've been too long talking about it.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

Lack of confidence seems to be a common problem after the break. I was right there with you until I just started writing. I'm feeling better now, but it's a tough monster to kill sometimes.

I'm also looking into avenues to get published. I'm thinking I'll start a post on my journal seeking advice, which might come in handy for those of us looking to do so. Maybe it'll be helpful for others like you too :)

[copyright1983.livejournal.com]

There's a rhythm to Idol that will take some getting back into--the seven day cycle of brainstorm, winnow, write, vote, read, vote, worry. :)

General question I've been wondering about during the break: Out of curiosity, I decided to look at some of my own voting stats thus far. If we define Vote-to-Average Ratio (VAR) as (votes received)/(average votes per entry) in each poll, my overall VAR this year is 1.024; that is, I'm just barely above the centerline.

I've written three entries (weeks 1, 5, and 6) that were "me-focused"; two were autobiographical, and one could have been. The other four entries (weeks 2, 3, 4, and 8) were "not-me-focused" and fictional.

Average VAR for "me" entries: 0.874
Average VAR for "not-me" entries: 1.125

Am I really that good at writing fiction, or that bad at writing about myself?

[snack-size.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting question, isn't it? I found I got more response for things I've written that were autobiographical, which is confusing for me, since I primarily think of myself as a fiction writer.

But does it really mean that it's one type or another that you're good it, or is it something to do with the subject matter? Maybe the fiction ideas were ones you were more excited about or invested in and so that translated into the story. And that is just one possible factor that could be at work. I'm trying to tell myself to focus on the idea and not whether it is one thing or another, but there is that nagging thought in the back of my head that says "don't write fiction! it won't get you anywhere!"

It's hard to tease it all out, for sure.

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

A fairly long time to write and a post-vacation week with far fewer responsibilities than usual suggest that this week is the week for my celebratory sestina. Except that immediately prior to my arrival, my work practically exploded into chaos and I find myself needing to learn my supervisors job without anyone to train me in it!

Here's hoping I'll be sane enough in the evenings to actually give the topic some thought, because a sestina is definitely not something to save until the last minute to write.

[myrna-bird.livejournal.com]

This prompt is a real toughie, I think. I can only hope that time will present an inspiration!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Oy. The toughest part of getting back into the writing groove is Just Doing It. :P

I'm still stumped about what to write for this one. Here's hoping inspiration strikes like that icon lightning bolt!

Also, for some reason I'm *still* not getting the vast majority of commentary and LJI notifications in my email box, and I'm not sure why - but it's damn frustrating, argh!

[jacq22.livejournal.com]

Just doing it...

That is what we need to remember, writing like everything becomes rusty with being neglected. So I am trying harder to write more (forget this week I really was rusty and just getting words on the page) But what about trying to polish it, make myself work harder, find better words, not just take the easy path? my new resolution. We shall see.

[michikatinski.livejournal.com]

Nothing is jumping out at me as a compelling idea, either for fiction or non-fiction. Counter-intuitive means I or my character doesn't find something intuitive, which means there's something unexpected, which means there's some level of surprise. I can't think of anything that doesn't make the main character look ignorant or boorish. ARGH.

*wrings her hands*

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

You don't have a real story where something you would have expected ended up being totally different? Maybe a place you'd expect to be horrible turned out to be great? Or an experience you expected to go one way and it took you by surprise? How about a job you always thought would be fun, but once you tried it, you realized it wasn't what you thought? (I've had those moments, thought maybe they would spur an idea in you!)

Or think of conventional wisdom or advice that perhaps everyone likes to give, but you (or your character) has am experience where that was not the best advice. Or talk about how you disagree with a form of conventional advice and why through your experiences. Does that make sense?

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

Finding the time. ;)

Interesting how many things I found to do offline during the break.

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

Where do I want it to go? Someplace nice. What am I doing? Hanging onto the end of the leash as it drags me wherever it likes like a ball of lint caught on the heels of idea's socks!

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

I really like this topic, but I am completely stumped.

[sweeny-todd.livejournal.com]

I aqm so glad I am in Aus, because I have not had access to the net for a week, so I am hoping to get it written before I go home tonight.. I think I have an idea, but I wish I had seen the topic earlier, as I like to let it stew a little.

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

The holiday fuzzies (in addition to the general year-round fuzzies I get) have refused to let go of my brain. For the second week in a row, I've got nothing. The only "idea" (and I used that word very loosely) is a meta-quickie sort of entry about how extended deadlines are "counterintuitive" to getting any given assignment done. I rather dislike that idea and don't think it would do well. That said, I have nothing else and no real time to work on the prompt tomorrow.

Would you recommend I do the meta-type entry? Or should I take my second bye and risk "bye-ing out" if the Dread Brain Fuzzies don't go away?

Thank you.

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Anyone want to be a last-minute beta for me?

[vaudy.livejournal.com]

I have time to give it a read, if you're still looking.