This current novel project will be coming to a close this year *raises hand into a pump fist* and I’ll be thinking about how I want to tackle my next project.
When I wrote what I call my “drawer” novels, I always wrote them in secret and showed them to no one. At that time, I didn’t even tell anyone I was writing anything.
With the novel I wrote that helped secure my former agent, I was actually in a workshop format and I wrote that book chapter by chapter with the help of my writer mentor and critique partners.
This current novel project has been a mix of both. I wrote the first third (which now has been totally rewritten) in the same workshop format with the mentor and critique group but then most of this novel has been written on my own.
I must say that I find working on my own — at least until the novel is in a state of revision where I know what it’s about — has been very helpful for me. Every novel is different though.
The good points of working on a novel in a workshop or critique group is that if you’re going down the wrong path, you may be able to get back on track quicker but then working alone you can get to your story in a more organic way and really figure out what you want for your novel without any outside interference.
So writer friends, how do you work on your novel projects? Do you let people see your work in draft or revised form? Do wait until it’s ready for a beta read? Do you find that it’s helpful or harmful to show your work before you submit?
Would love to hear how other writers do this.
Writing Together vs. Writing Alone
April 18, 2012 Read Comments
You’re reading my mind! I’ve been puzzling over this a lot lately in thinking about my next project, too.
I love getting advice from my smart writing friends, and honestly, I’m not quite sure how to put together a novel without it. But on the flip side, especially with my most recent book, some of the feedback I got really took me away from the story I was trying to tell. I finally feel like I’m on track now and my story looks like I originally intended it to. So… I don’t know the answer to your question. I feel like I need both wise advice to make my story the best it can be, but also free reign to go in any direction without judgement. I’m just not sure how to make that happen. Looking forward to reading the other answers you receive!
I think this is the catch-22 because for me at least when my novel idea is not fully formed, I can get distracted and the story can get away from me — although most of my critique partners usually have great ideas.
This is such a great question. I much prefer having an entire novel reviewed once I am finished with it and can not see anything else that I can do with it. At this point, I am open to suggestions. While I am writing, though, my mind is filled with tangled thoughts and considerations that I am still working out. There is no room for additional input. It only confuses me and knocks me off track.
Very exciting that you see a light at the end of your novel-writing tunnel! yea!
Tangled thoughts — I think this describes it perfectly. It takes me a while for me to get my story idea formed — especially with my day job, it can be hard to get back into its world consistently. But yes, the light at the end of tunnel is getting brighter and brighter!
I don’t show anyone until the first draft is finished and I’ve completed at least one revision. It’s too hard before then because I might not even be sure what I think about certain scenes, characters, etc. I don’t want anyone else tainting my creative process until it’s done. Once I can step away from my story and get emotional distance, it’s ready to show. That way I’ll be able to accept criticism and apply it as necessary to the manuscript.
This is the strategy I think I’m going to try with this next novel. With this current project, there were lots of missing pieces that I had to ponder and I’m glad that I sat with the problem on my own and figured it out. We’ll see how it goes!
I write and rewrite the major problems and then start asking for beta readers. I might possibly trade some opening chapters with other writers though. And after that I’m open to anything – more major rewrites or just editing.
I think for me when I write myself in a corner, it takes a while for me to figure out problems. It helps to get to solution on my own first and then let my critique partners take a look at it and see if it makes sense. By this time, I’m open too to other opinions.
My crit buddies don’t see my stories until they’ve been through a couple of editing rounds. I like to puzzle it out on my own – no plan, just the characters! :)
Ha, exactly. It’s just us and the little voices in our heads. Sometimes, it can be best to figure it out first on your own and then get our critique partners take on it.
I wrote a post about this recently, and have had a similar experience as you. With my current novel, I got a lot of feedback as I wrote the first half, then wrote the second half on my own. For my next book, I want to try writing the whole thing on my own and get feedback once I have a full draft. I’ll see how that goes! Like you said, each novel might have its own process.
Good luck finishing your current book! I’m in the same boat and I’m excited to get mine done and start something new. :)
I’m getting excited about the next project. I have a few ideas and it’s taking lots of discipline not to explore and try them out. Hopefully, I’ll be able to wrap this current project up and send it out to the world.
Good luck to you as you do the same. :)
I love to brainstorm with my friends when I’m stuck. However, they never actually read it until it’s ‘complete’ and has gone through my editing gauntlet. My crit partners or beta readers are one of the final stages in my editing process.
It’s so interesting to see how writer friends work. I think this will be my strategy for my next book. This current book was a hybrid of all kinds of feedback. :)
I learned my position on this the hard way. With my first novel, I was a part of a group. We submitted pages for review every month. I left each meeting feeling beaten and confused, because of the differing opinions on which way the story should go.
Now I totally write alone. I plot, write the first draft, revise, revise, revise, and THEN give it to my beta readers to read in whole. This is what works for me. This is how I know I’ve written MY story, and not a group version. My beta readers help me make MY story better, and that’s what I need.
That’s the key isn’t it? Getting to your own story. This is what I’ve learned during this current project.
I tend to edit several drafts first then send batches to my CP. She usually gets demanding and asks for the next batch before I’ve finished editing the one before that. For our current novels (the one that’s on vacation right now for me), we’re going to do something different. We’re going to do what we did before, but then beta read through them to get the overall picture and see what changes might still need to be made, knowing the end of the story. I also have beta readers who will see different drafts of the book. I prefer to send them out in waves rather than all at the same time. Sure it takes longer that way, but I find it works better for me.
For my current novel (the one not on vacation), by the time a beta reader got back to me, I’d already torn the book apart and resturctured it based on feedback from another beta reader. So the version the reader sent me was grossly out of date.
Thanks for sharing Stina. :) This is really fascinating.
I think sending a novel out to beta readers in waves may take longer but you’re better able to process it. I remember sending out a novel to 3 beta readers at once and it took a while to focus on all of the feedback. One at at time does seem better to tackle and absorb.