This is my monthly post as part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, a great group of supportive writers, helping one another through our writing ups-and-downs.
There is also a great Facebook Community for more daily connection! More posts from the group are tagged on Twitter at #IWSG.
Monthly Optional Prompt: What do you love about the genre you write in most often?
Time for the monthly writing check-in. I’ve been working on my editing, and it’s coming along. I have a few people reading the chapters as I complete my first revisions on them, and the feedback they’re providing is really helping. It was scary at first, letting other people read this thing I’ve been working on for so long, but I’m glad that they are. The feedback is helping inform the edits I made as I continue along, and will help my next rewrite immensely. Now I just have to keep going – get myself to spend the time working on the edits rather than other things.
This story is fantasy, as most of the stories I write are (to answer the IWSG question of the month). I think what really draws me in about writing fantasy is the freedom it gives me. I can draw from historical elements, but also come up with my own way for things to run. I can create creatures that fit the needs of what I require. And I can make statements, analyse things that are happening in our world, or explore some universal themes without getting bogged down in questions of historical or modern-day reality. Because I tend to be over-critical of my own work I know I would spend a lot of my time looking at realistic stories I’ve written and picking apart if it is “real enough.” By throwing that expectation out the window I have the freedom to focus instead on creating my characters, the world they’re in, and the story they have to tell.
Which doesn’t mean I can’t still get things wrong. I’ve already proven to myself that just because it’s a world of my creation doesn’t mean I can’t worry that I’ve done it WRONG.
What? Me? Anxiety? Nah…..
But I am trying to push through that. When I feel like I’ve done something WRONG, I step back and figure out why I think that. What can I do to fix that – is it a matter of continuity in the world? Does something just not make sense? Why? What can I do to change that? Because when I’m writing fantasy I have the power to change the world so that I can say what I’m trying to say, and write the story the way it’s meant to be told.
Eclectic Alli 
It’s always nervewracking to share work! I think it gets easier over time but not EASY.
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World building is a challenge, and a good fantasy is always exciting. Glad to meet you on this IWSG Wednesday!
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Good for you. Just stepping out there and letting other people read your work is a huge step. However, the more you do it the more you find room in yourself to let in critique that is very helpful.
Wishing you all the best for your writing in 2018.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
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I can get hung up on asking ‘is it real enough’ in my stories. It also makes me laugh a bit because I have vampires and werewolves and all sorts of creatures in there, so should I really worry THAT much about how realistic it is? Yeah, to a point, but not to where it stops me from writing.
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Totally! Somehow the idea of magic and dragons, mystical creatures and gods interacting with my characters, I am fine with… but am I describing the political situation and social interactions realistically enough? 🙂
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Someone whom I feel did great at all of it is Michelle West (Sagara). Her ‘sun sword’ books especially are so complex politically and socially and culturally that I loved the series when i first read it. It’s worth a look for those intersted in excellence in fantasy worlds, I think.
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I also love the freedom of fantasy. And yes, it’s still possible to feel you’ve done something wrong in creating your own world. Don’t be afraid to change whatever your instinct tells you to. Personally, I want to feel I’ve done the best I can with a story before sharing it with others. You’ll find the right way to tell your story!
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Another super resource. Thanks a bunch!
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Feedback is the best way to grow. Some readers have wonderful vision. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
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The folks I’m having read right now are also writers — which is working great because they also understand where I am in the process so are giving me USEFUL feedback, rather than things like wordsmithing when I’m not at the word-smithing stage.
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But editing is haaaaaaaaaaaaard when you have other story ideas. :p Good luck!
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You know, that’s the beauty of having people read for you: they’ll help you see what isn’t working so you can make it work. There was a defining moment in my writing career when I went from worrying what people would say to hoping they’d be honest enough to actually cut the junk. It’s amazing how we change with time and experience, eh?
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Totally. I just know that I’m a super-sensitive person so have had to be careful in picking folks who will be honest but kind in their honesty, and who I trust to tell me the truth. Because otherwise I could easily get discouraged.
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