It's the first Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for another Insecure Writers Support Group.
Due to health I wasn't posting much during 2014 and so it has been a while since I did an IWSG post.
Trying as I currently am, to get into the whole a post a day thing, means I am hoping that I will now be able to do these post every month and have a lot more to talk about.
I understand that today we are meant to be introducing ourselves a bit, so what can I tell you about me.
Well I am a writer, mother and wife. I have one book published called Insane Reno and am currently working on my second Novel. Rehabilitation girls among other things.
I live in a small village in Cornwall, UK, with my wonderful hubby, eight year old son Kye, two dogs, two cats and three bunny rabbits.
I'm disabled, so suffer a lot of pain on a daily basis and have very limited mobility due to a pretty serious back injury, but I am pretty good at managing my pain most of the time now/
I also have an anxiety disorder, which has gotten much worse since my disability, but I am working to build my confidence.
So. as I already mentioned my current work in progress, is Rehabilitation girls and I am really nervous about this one, mainly because the sample chapters that were put up on certain sites were so well received that I am now petrified that I will fail at doing the rest of the book justice.
I almost wish now, as silly as it may seem, that I had never posted up the sampled chapters, because every email I get begging me for more chapters makes my nerves jump that little bit higher.
I am by nature a very anxious person. My doctor recently stuck me on medication because of this and where others thrive under pressure, I freak out and want to run and hide lol.
This was always the problem with me and writing. Insane Reno my first published novel went out before I was ready for it too, but pressure from friends and family made me bite the bullet and do it and even though I got a publisher I still lack faith in myself and the result is that every time I look at Insane Reno, I want to rewrite it.
So my biggest fear I guess is that people will either force me to put RG out before I am ready or worse that I will never get to that point where I feel it is good enough.
Which quite frankly, sucks!
What makes it even worse this time is I have no editor and am relying on Grammerly to get me through that part and although my grammar has improved somewhat, even if I am a little sloppy in my blog posts, I am still petrified of messing up my novel simply because I lack the skills when it comes to grammar.
Which leads to other questions. Should I pay for a professional editor? How will I know I am being charged a fair price? Who's good?
And that's before we even start looking at publishers because my hubby thinks I need to get a better publisher this time, as he is not a fan of my current one.
No one tells you when you start out as a writer just how scary it will be, it all starts off so simple. A happy escape from reality that's for your eye's only.
Well that's all from me for now, I've got this post done in advance so I can spend Wednesday hoping around your posts and seeing your IWSG's. Here's hoping your feeling less insecure than me this month.
If you would like to take past in the IWSG post's then please check out The Insecure Writers Support Group you can also explore others post from there too.
Love and hugs
Joss xx
You're right about nobody telling us how scary this can be. You are not alone in your anxiety about finishing your work. If you're serious about getting a freelance editor, Google it, then check their prices. Most put them right on their website. Cheap isn't always better, though. Check out your local high school for a teacher who might help you. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane I really appreciate your comment and your great advice :)
DeleteI agree with Diane Burton. Check around for a good editor to help with your work. I hired and editor with my first book, and it was well worth it since I sucked at the technical side of writing, which I still need help with.
ReplyDeleteYeah I think an editor is definitely the way to go. It will give me more confidence and I need all the extra confidence I can get lol, Thanks so much for stopping by.
DeleteI know that anxiety well. Definitely hire an editor. It's worth it. Good luck and take care!
ReplyDeleteThank's Christine. I will do and I appreciate you stopping by :)
DeleteI know that "what if it's not good enough" anxiety. It's tough. I still feel that way about every single thing I've published/had published. I don't have an editor recommend, but I would look for one that mentions reading aloud work to find errors. I had a proofreader do that for me and it helped immensely with my second book. (She is a family member and not a professional editor, otherwise I would send you her info). Even though I have a good, working knowledge of grammar and own a few grammar books, I still make mistakes. It's part of the writing process.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Diane - finding a local high school teacher would be a great place to find an editor that might be willing to edit for a decent price, but you might have to have several conversations with them first to make sure that you are both on the same page.
Best wishes with your writing and life in 2015!
Thank you Tyrean for stopping by I really appreciate it. I really like the idea of finding a nearby high school teach that might help. I think it would make me more confident that they did indeed know what they were talking about :)
DeleteI'd say no paid editor until after some critters from the IWSG Critique group or another online critique group has had a chance. One group I belong to is Scribophile.com. Look me up if you join and I'll help you get settled.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure family and friends meant only to be supportive. Gently tell them to stand down. As a sister of accident and PTSD victim, I get it.
Here's my link if you'd like to drop by :-)
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
Thank's Anna, I could do with a good Critique group. So I will check out Scribophile and of course I will stop by your blog also. :) Thank's so much for stopping by and your great advice I really appreciate it.
DeleteI thank it is a universal truth that you can't be in a writer and not deal with fear and anxiety. Good for you for dealing with it along with everything else. You might thank about it this way, don't even have an option of not publishing you WIP. Plan for success. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI think I definitely need to try and think more positive, because self doubt really sucks, thank you so much for stopping by I really appreciate it.
DeleteI think it's normal to think what you've written is never good enough. The perfectionist in me always wants to tinker with it more. :-) Yes, I love living in the world I created and that part is fun and escape but getting it ready for the world to see? That's hard work. As for an editor. If I do indie publishing, yes, I would hire a professional. Part of that is recognizing I can't do everything. I learned a long time ago when to delegate tasks to those who are better at aspects of writing than I am. I use my critique group first then I let a friend, Beth Hill (A Novel Edit), who is a professional story content editor look it over. She's a good editor but excels in seeing the story and what makes it better and more market worthy.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best!
Sia McKye Over Coffee
I really like the idea of going to a Critique group first. I guess my fear is sending it to an editor and them just shaking their head in disbelief at how terrible my Grammar is lol. I think by going to a Critique group first it might help build my confidence for approaching an editor. I dunno just being Critiqued by other writers seems far less scary than the editor at least to begin with lol. Thank you so much for stopping by, I really appreciate it. :)
DeleteStart with some trusted beta readers. A professional editor will help you once you've gotten the story to the point of being the best you can do. It's worth it to put out a quality product. Ask for help. Give yourself grace for your nerves and energy level. You are worthy.
ReplyDeletePlay off the Page
Thank you Mary, people tell me all the time I should get Beta readers but I have never been sure how to go about that. I guess I feel like I am putting people out by asking them to read through my manuscript and I hate feeling as if I am putting people out. I guess that's something else I need to get over. Thank you so much for stopping by, I really appreciate it.
DeleteI am right there with you when it comes to the anxiety. That is why this group is so great. They are always extremely supportive.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Diane and Cathrina about finding an editor. They are extremely helpful people.
Elizabeth Hein - Scribbling in the Storage Room
It's so nice to know I am not alone in the anxiety. It has felt like it in the past so thank you so much for letting me know that I'm not and also for taking the time to stop by and comment, I really appreciate it. :)
DeleteI struggle with anxiety as well and you are so right, publishing can be really scary. I'm sure you will get RG ready and it will be a big success. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie. I really hope so and thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. :)
DeleteI've had my fair share of anxiety, so I get you. It really should be about what you want. While it's awesome you have readers calling for more, do what is right for you. Readers will read it when it's ready. Wishing you a very Happy New Year and sending healing vibes your way. :)
ReplyDeleteAwww thank you David. I really appreciate your comment and you taking the time to stop by and thank you so much for the healing vibes also :)
DeleteI personally don't use an editor, though I accept critiques as they're available. Since I've been writing for so many years, I've gotten pretty good at self-editing, a skill many modern writers seem to have lost. The key is to be honest about your work, and to recognize which books require a lighter hand vs. a more radical rewrite and restructuring. Ten or more years ago, I totally would've needed to work with an editor, but now I'm a lot more developed in my approach to writing and editing.
ReplyDeleteI dream of a day when I am more confident in my editing. Although I am not sure it will ever come. I was diagnosed as dyslexic as a child and worked really hard to fulfil my dream of becoming a writer and overcoming my struggles with spelling and sentence structure and the like. Grammar though just seems to much harder to get to grips with. Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by, I really appreciate it.
Delete'A happy escape from reality that's for your eye's only' is what I also thought it would be. Now, 4 years later, it's so much more!
ReplyDeleteSomebody once said to me, you build your story step-by-step, word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence, paragraph-by-paragraph. It stuck with me.
Looking for an editor? You should check out the tabs at the top of the IWSG website. There are some great services on offer.
Good luck!
Writer In Transit
January IWSG co-hostess.
Thank you Michelle I will do that and thank you so much for your great comment also :)
DeleteJoss, have you ever tried well-being mediation? If that's not your bag, please know that it really is a wonderful way to relax and to ground one's self. I especially love the Abraham/Hicks online well-being mediation for free thru YouTube. It's 15 minutes that never fails to help me. Blessings in 2015. Keep blogging, Joss.
ReplyDeleteI've not tried it no, but I will certainly take a look. Thank you so much Joylene I really appreciate it.
DeleteNice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI have hired an editor in the past, but she's in the US, so I'm not sure if that would help you. Do you want an editor to help you with content or line editing/proofreading? They're different. Also, if you want to sell this to a traditional publisher, I'd use beta readers only. No sense paying for an editor if the publisher might assign you one.
I need an edit for editing/proofreading? I went with a traditional publisher for my first book Insane Reno, I haven't completely decided what I will do for RG. I think I feel happier going with traditional publishing as it just gives me that little bit of extra reassurance that my work is good enough to be published. Although I wish I had the confidence to just trust myself and go for it. :)
DeleteNice to meet you! I'm glad you are feeling better. You have a lot going on. I say keep writing until you know that it's ready. Or until you feel you've lost your marbles somewhere. That's usually a sign to have someone else look at it. Don't feel pressured to show anyone before you are ready. =) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you E.Arroyo. I like that advice a lot. Especially the "until you've lost your marbles somewhere" Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment I really appreciate it. :)
DeleteFunny how our successes can be almost as frightening as failures. You aren't alone there--imposter syndrome is the formal name--you do something people really like and your think they must be mistaken or you can't do it again, but you can. Do it at your own pace, but you can do it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Hart I really appreciate your comment and you taking the time to stop by. It's nice to have a name for it too :)
DeleteProfessional editors range in price depending on the level of editing required. It can be anything from $10 to $50 per 1000 words. When you're looking, find out what authors they have worked for and contact those people to see if they were satisfied. We have a list of sites where you can find editors on the self-publishing page at the IWSG site.
ReplyDeleteThank's L.Diane, I will take a look. I really appreciate it.
DeleteI didn't get the memo that we were supposed to introduce ourselves...I'm sure no on will mind that I didn't. I have chronic pain too - back pain and nerve damage in my leg and foot. You get used to it. B complex vitamins can help with anxiety apparently...I wish I knew where I put mine.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how much editors cost. I think you have to ask yourself how much it's worth to you. As for people pressuring you to publish before you are ready, you have complete control of this. Don't let anyone else take that from you. That's the advice you would give to your kids, right? It's good advice for you too. Good luck with the blogging and the writing and the pain.
Thank you Tonja, You definitely get used to it. I've learned if it gets to much it's okay to shut down for a little while too and try to sleep through the pain. I struggled with that at first. I just felt so lazy. Thank you for your great comment and for taking the time to stop by, I really appreciate it.
DeleteThere's a lot of pressure on writers. A lot of it we put on ourselves. I think it's part of being a writer. We just have to continue being kind to ourselves. And don't release the story until it's ready.
ReplyDeleteThank's Lynda and thank you so much for stopping by I really appreciate it.
DeleteI'd say an editor is a good plan. Maybe ask for references and contact them? Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shannon, I really appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment.
DeleteI would certainly let a critique group look it over first. Then you can think about hiring a professional editor. I don't know what they charge or the best way to find one (I'm not at that stage yet), but I'm sure if you ask around other writers will suggest some.
ReplyDeletethank you, I really appreciate your advice and that you took the time to stop by :)
DeleteHappy New Year! I hope 2015 will be a wonderful year for you. I think you should take your time and find out what puts you at ease. Don't worry about what others want or say. You should decide when you are ready to publish your second novel. Wishing you the best. Thank you for visiting and following my blog.
ReplyDeleteThank's Murees, I will do my best to follow your advice
DeleteLynda is right: much of the pressure we put on ourselves. In Africa it is said: the jackals bark, but the lion walks on.
ReplyDeleteOthers can tell you how THEY would write, but you must write YOUR way.
Living with pain is truly a challenge. But from your words, I sense you have a valiant heart. You can do this.
No one thinks their novel is ready. A novel is like a child. There comes a time when you must trust what you have committed into the child and your novel, and let it go out into the world.
In HER BONES ARE IN THE BADLANDS, I wrote of the director, John Ford, who fled from being thought a sissy for his kind heart, and barked at those around him for so long that he actually killed his kind heart.
We fear rejection. Our words are ourselves without armor to protect us from the jibes of others. Emily Dickinson wrote poems ahead of her time, deep, reflective, beautiful. Harsh criticisms had her box her poems away. Do not do that with your words.
Your words are you. And you are unlike any other soul out there. You are a butterfly ... true, with fragile wings, but fly with all your heart and soul.
I am just over at my own blog. Come visit and talk. My email is in my profile. Have a beautiful new year!
Thank you Roland for your beautiful comment and for being so inspiring, I will definitely be popping by :)
DeleteAnxiety is a beast I know too well. Publishing without an editor is a scary thought but there are so many services out there these days that I'm sure there is someone out there who will be able to be fit with your needs. Good luck with your publishing. It sounds like you already have quite a solid fan base so stick with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lan, I really appreciate your comment :)
DeleteI'm sorry that you suffer from chronic pain, and limited mobility. It sounds like you haven't let your disability slow you down at all. You've already received lots of helpful advice about where to find a good editor. I agree that you should take your time, to make your novel the best that it can be. Good luck Joss! I look
ReplyDeleteforward to following you, and learning more about RG!
Julie
Awww thank you Julie, I really appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment :)
DeleteI 100% recommend you get a professional editor. It'll be worth the investment and you'll fell much more confident in the work you're putting out. You'll find hundreds of thousands of editors out there that can charge a variety of prices depending on experience, length of the work, and kind of editing you want. Do some research on google about the different types of editing and choose the one you're interested in. Then, I would recommend you search in your network of writer friends and friends of friends that write on the same genre as you do. You'll find tons of editors there and they'll come recommended by someone you know and trust.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your novel, it sounds like you are well on your way. Don't get discouraged!
Thank you Georgina and I will definitely do some research before diving in. Thank you so much for your great comment and for stopping by :)
DeleteAbsolutely, 100% find a professional literary editor and cooperate with them:)
ReplyDeleteI understand what you are saying about the pressure from others to get your books out. I finally finished my second book after being delayed over a year due to caring for my dying father and then my dying best friend. Everyone kept asking if the book was done and I just couldn't write.
Happy New Year!
doreenmcgettigan.com
Awww so sorry to hear about your father and friend. Sending you big hugs. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comment.
DeleteHey, another writer in the IWSG from Cornwall - there are a few of us now :-)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you should never feel forced to put your baby out there before you KNOW it's ready. Good luck :-)
Thank you Annalisa, Cornwall is such an amazing place to live I feel so fortunate everyday. I moved away for a few years to study but was so glad when I got to come back. No where is quite like Cornwall :)
DeleteDefinitely wait to release your book until you are happy with it. I do recommend working with a critique group and professional editor. Having the guidance of others only strengthens our stories. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you Cherie, I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment :)
DeleteThis business can be incredibly terrifying and incredibly rewarding too. If you're planning to go with a publisher, then you don't necessarily need to hire your own editor. A good publisher should have good editors working for them (there are bad and mediocre publishers out there too). You might want to consider critique partners. Find some people who trust to give you an honest opinion. I know I'd be lost without my critique partners. Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteThank you Cherie, I've wanted a critique partner for ages I'm just not very confident about putting myself out there :)
DeleteDefinitely take your time and do what your heart is telling you today. I have anxiety issues, and I know how hard it can be to step outside of those shadows. Wishing you all the best in 2015. Sad to say, I'm just now getting around to January IWSG posts. Hoping to do better about quicker comments for February's.
ReplyDelete