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Lost confidence
I have lost my confidence in writing since I read an article in a past Writing Magazine - October 2008. The article was Part Two: Perspiration mentioned that beginner writers write speech and then use a verb before or afterwards too much, like 'he said', 'she said', 'he replied' etc etc too much, instead of having a bit more life in speech. Is this true?
It has awakened me up to edit/change my dialogue when my first draft of my novel is completed.
Has anyone else had this problem when they first began to write?
Alana
It has awakened me up to edit/change my dialogue when my first draft of my novel is completed.
Has anyone else had this problem when they first began to write?
Alana
Comments
It's common to have crises of confidence when writing - particularly such a long piece - don't worry about it and don't let it put you off too long. Write what YOU WANT TO write in the first instance, enjoy it - the tweaking and improving can come later.
(((((((((((((((((((((((:))))))))))))))))))))))) - good luck!
I too suffered a severe loss of confidence in my writing, after reading an article about using adverbs and such, but thankfully, it came AFTER I'd finished my first manuscript...so, although it stunted my initial happiness and caused me to throw aside the manuscript for months, deciding it was definitely no good and I'd have to start something else, I dug it up a few months later and read it through, and found so many improvements I could make I was itching to get started on it again.
So, in a nutshell, just finish the thing first and then adjust and change it later; once you've set it aside for awhile the improvements that need to be made will jump out at you! Good luck, and keep on going! :)
It must be remembered that every author conjures their creation from within themselves. Every statement, although sometimes reflecting a majority opinion, can only be that individual's opinion.
As Kangaroo observes, until you have phrased your own words there will be nothing to criticise, judge or correct. As someone once suggested, go with the flow and don't worry about "right" or "wrong" until you have reproduced thoughts and ideas in visible form.
Write from your heart and soul, then edit with your head.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey.
I do have to say though, too many 'he said', 'she said' irritates the hell out of me. However, it's something that comes with experience.
Not everyone is good at dialogue instantly, it is a skill you develop. Knowing your characters helps because they will develop their own voices as you write, and you will find you don't need the he said/she replied etc.
Editing can fix a lot of it.
Trust yourself. :)
I do not know: I will not know.
It looked clever, it looked smart, it felt right to me. The editor said he began to get to the point of waiting for it to come so it spoiled the chapter. We removed them. He said she said is something we all slip into but on a major revision, which comes after you put the work away for some time, a month or more, you can easily remove. You can write without using any indication of who is actually speaking. One of my worst authors, one I have to completely rewrite, can do this, oddly!
He will say
"I told you so." Anne turned away, pouting.
that kind of thing, instead of saying "Anne said."
You see the difference? it can be done, it just needs thought but first, write the story. Then put it away. Then get it out and re read with a red pen in your hand or a highlighter and take out all the he said she saids and see how you can alter them.
'Write from your heart and soul, then edit with your head.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey. '
Lots of luck with your writing.
It's all about learning, even JK is still doing it (like to think so anyway). As the others said, keep going and it'll fall into place.
I do try and visit about once a week!
I endorse what other TBers have said, and the point I was driving at in my article was that you shouldn't try to find another word for 'said' every time anyone speaks, because you will probably end up with something that sounds really clumsy and contrived. If you're describing a conversation between two people, you don't need to use a verb at all for most of the sentences, because once one person has spoken it will be obvious that the other person is then replying. And you can work other words into the speech to reinforce this. 'What do you really think, John?' for example.
The other thing I'd suggest is that you read a lot - all writers should be prodigious readers anyway - but try to be analytical as well as enjoying the story. See how other writers handle dialogue and everything else. As several TBers have remarked, we're all learning as we go along.
Hope this helps.
James Barrington
Having recently undergone a confidence shakeup myself, it's been useful to think about just writing for the sake of writing. I've shelved all those dratted how-to-write books that cluttered my room because I took more time reading them than I did writing....if Shakespeare, Enid Blyton, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, etc had had to read writing books, they wouldn't have made half the work. So I believe in making a story an expression of the soul and giving it all my faith. Writing as much as possible is what will make writing improve, I believe.
In this month's WF Minnette Walters said "let your characters tell their story" - so don't try to manipulate it. I'm trying to do this, and I think it's working (although a deadline is a great motivator!)
It's no use just looking at my books - what I really want you to do is get out there and buy them! Ideally, several dozen copies of each.
The next ones out should be 'Payback', hardback by Macmillan about July 2009 and 'The Moses Stone' from Transworld as a mass-market paperback in August 2009. The latter's already listed on Amazon, though we've not yet finished editing it.
With very best wishes
James
Instead i said, I'd let them know when it was out, but I couldn't, just couldn't, say "and you'll love it"!
I just cannot toot my own horn. :(
You have to have confidence in your own work - if you're not happy with it, why should anyone else be? The problem is that, like many writers, you probably read something you've written and decide it's complete rubbish and of no merit whatsoever. I do this every time I write a chapter. Every single time. So you go back and tweak it, then leave it alone for a while. And the surprising thing is that when you look at it a second time, you'll probably find it's not that bad after all.
So when somebody asks you about your book, tell them the publication date, etc, and if you really can't bring yourself to say 'and you'll love it!', at least tell them you've had some good pre-publication reviews, even if these are from your husband/sister/pet dog/man down at the pub. But do try and talk it up a little, because every sale helps!
With very best wishes
James
My point is, Alana, that you learn as you go, and as long as you read as well as write, as much as you have time for, you are bound to get better. I would say that your rate of progress will be in direct proportion to how much writing and reading you can pack into your days. But practice has always been the route to success, hasn't it. It's not rocket science.
Still, if it's good enough for Dahl ...
I don't just write novels - 'Joint Force Harrier' (Michael Joseph/Penguin) is non-fiction, and 'The First Apostle' (written as 'James Becker') is in a different genre to the Macmillan series of books.
James
I know I have to accept the problem and I can edit it as much as I like until I think it is right for placing in the post with hope of publishing.
I am grateful James for your input to me as well as those who replied to you. As an experienced writer you helped me realise that I am not on my own.
Once again THANK YOU EVERYONE!!
Alana
Exactly!!
Stoopid ain't we?
Keep going Alana. x