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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

IWSG - Half-finished WIP syndrome

Like taxes and debt, you can always rely on the Insecure Writers' Support Group to keep life interesting.

 
 
As always, a huge thanks to Alex "Jaycee" Cavanaugh, founder of IWSG and someone who amazingly, still puts up with the amount of teasing I send his way :)

This past month was rough from a life-ing point of view, let alone a writing POV, but frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.
Well, I do, of course, but my insecurity this month is kinda like the old saying about the glass being half full or half empty.

See, the first draft of my WIP is halfway done... and now I feel like I want to stop and start a new one.
Mainly because I haven't written a useful word in two months (excluding the 638 posts I did for the A-Z Challenge.)

So, do I stop and add Half-Wip to the growing pile of other non-finished WIPs, or do I boldly go where only one WIP has gone... the finish line.

Oh, the drama... the drama....


21 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Time to play little red engine.
Or we can play it for you.
We think he can, we think he can.
We KNEW he could....

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sometimes you have to go with what pulls at you hardest. Sometimes you have to stick it out. Only you can make that choice, Mork.
Asking God for a little guidance doesn't hurt either.

Bob/Sally said...

Personally, I always have a few manuscripts on the go, so I can keep writing if one isn't working for me at the moment. I find that a little distance gives me a fresh perspective, and helps get me excited for the story again.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Well, Mark...

It's like this. ARE YOU PASSIONATE about this project? You had INCREDIBLE drive for your memoir... do you feel the same about this WIP? If so, jump right in... if not, then spiral into you next project... And always remember, you can go back to finish the other the new one loses steam....

Yolanda Renée said...

You'll find your path, one word at a time... good luck!

Dianne K. Salerni said...

Sometimes, when that happens, I stop and go with the new idea if it's calling to me that strongly. To be honest, most of the time its appeal wears off and my old WIP will call me back. Turns out, it just wanted to stay hidden in my subconscious until it matured a little, and the new idea was just something shiny to distract me.

Once, however, the new one took over so strongly, I never looked back. And that was the way it needed to be, since the old WIP was weak -- and the new one turned out to be The Eighth Day. :)

Carrie-Anne said...

I'm also having a similar problem. I'm about halfway done with my current rewrite/restructuring, and it feels like I'm hitting a wall, no longer so passionate about powering through by the end of June. Instead, I'm more feeling pulled back towards another WIP.

Melissa said...

If a rest from it doesn't help, then consider switching to the new one. Writerly discipline has it's place, but, ultimately, you gotta write what you're inspired to write.

IWSG #126 until Alex culls the list again.

S.P. Bowers said...

Ah, sometimes, after big life changes, or moves, we've changed so much we can no longer re-connect to our WIP. Or we're just so drained of creativity that it's hard to get back into something half done. For right now, as you get in the swing of things, go with whatever feels right. Good luck.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I have no good advice on which way you should go. I usually have a basic outline of my book so I keep going to the end. Hope you figure it out.

Kimberly said...

That happened to me recently and I tried to get the new idea out of my head but everyone said to go with it while it's there! So I'm going to say the same thing because they were right! :)

Yvette Carol said...

Keep going!! It's only the 'hump' moment like Wednesday is hump day of the week, this is your moment when if you give in you slide backwards, but if you keep marching forwards you go over the top and the momentum picks up again. I believe in you!

Lisa said...

Go boldly young man, on to greater heights with your half done WIP. We all know you have it in you to finish. Those other stories can wait their turn! Hope life is easing up a bit on you now, and that you can see dry land... hugs from the south, Lisa @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

klahanie said...

Sir Gazza said...

WIP it good when you can, maaannn! Despite you subjecting my last two brain cells to ACRONYM ALERTS!, remember, good sir, all in time at your own pace. No pressure, just smiles and giggles and naked tap-dancing. Okay, technically not naked because you is wearing the shoes!

Take care, my esteemed friend.

Gary :)

dolorah said...

Wow, I have been with this delimma often. I don't envy you this decision :)

Joanne said...

double WIP. Start new WIP if you've got a great idea. That could get juices flowing and when you need a break, zip over to old Half WIP and kickstart it to the finish line. Easy for me to say. I'm finally finishing a book I started two years ago. Good luck

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Mark - as Michael says your A-Z was awesome and a great Memoir ... also you've had a lot going on with the move etc ... then that passport photo - crumbs I'd have added a few more chocolate dots for authenticity! But go with what's right now .. you can always come back and pick the others up ... Good luck - cheers Hilary

Al Diaz said...

Hello there, Mork. I've been thinking about you a lot these days. I even watched Lilo and Stich just to see the Hawaiian landscapes and imagine a certain dude with green cape and bald head dancing hula. As one that has piled up a lot of unfinished projects, I would say probably the best thing you can do is try to finish it, if you still feel passion for it, that is. If you don't like it anymore, probably you'll feel like dragging your feet to an unwanted chore. Is it the WIP that you are not interested on, or is it that other concerns are demanding all of your attention and killing your creativity? The answer to that would help you know which way to go. Dragon Hugs, my friend.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Finish line. Just do it. Word after word, grind through the pain, and finish.
Do I sound like a drill sergeant yet?
In reality, I think you know inside you what the best choice for this WIP is for you and for it. Finishing is tough, probably the toughest thing about writing a novel (at least for me), but it is so worthwhile - I can't describe it enough to really give you the idea, but trust me, it's worth the frustration, really.
however, having said that - short stories are nice, and sometimes a short walk away from a WIP is a good thing.
IDK - I have over 100 unfinished stories on my current pc, and only 4 finished novels and some finished short stories.

As always, best wishes in all and any of your endeavors - life-ing, writing, and everything! Blessings!

Carrie Butler said...

Can you outline one while you work on the other? It's a challenge and a half, but it helps get some of the ideas down!

Anonymous said...

I would say don't force it, but always keep it in the back of your mind. Sometimes WIPs work themselves out (I like this sentence lol).

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