The awesome co-hosts for the May 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
May 7 question - Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?
When I first started writing for publication, I could write “all of the above,” but that’s not true anymore.
I don’t fear rejection. I just don’t like it. When it happens, I find a safe place to hang out for a while, then I set out again.
I haven’t failed because I'm still writing and publishing, so I can’t fear that.
Too much success? Is that possible?
But now we get to something that does keep me on the ropes. There are times I’m sure I’ll never write the story I want to because I don’t have the talent or ability, and I'll add knowledge because that's a huge chunk of what writing well is all about. I’m dealing with a lack of knowledge right now as I work on a new story that I want to write.
The problem is I keep running into barriers—gaps in what I know. My only recourse is to fall back on research, so I’m not making a lot of progress on the book, but my knowledge base has increased in several different areas: maritime research, cybersecurity, and Alaska. I've even learned how to make a wireless telegraph and a smoke bomb. You never know when you're going to need some of those.
I read a post by Jacqui Murray on research that inspired me to continue my efforts to learn as much about my topic as possible. You might enjoy reading her POST, if you haven't already.
If I manage to successfully combine all that I've learned into a cohesive story, I hope to come up with something that people will want to read. I'll probably be posting about this newest challenge for a while.
Now, I'm off to see how other members have answered this month's question.
Have a wonderful May!
30 comments:
I struggle with this all the time, and the fear of being "found out" if my research is not up to scratch. I always want to get on with the story, but absorbing more knowledge can't be bad.
Yes, research is always a constant.challenge, for you never know when you're done and when you think you're done, you're surprised with a new finding. I wrote an academic journal article and while waiting for it to be published a new book required me to make revisions, strengthening my own thesis.
A smoke bomb? That could come in handy you know.
Hi Lee - keeping going is the thing ... while failing doesn't happen - just another step forward. Research - I love it ... and Jacqui is exemplary in her approach to authorship - cheers Hilary
Thank you for sharing my fears, Lee. Excellent post. Off to read Jacqui's.
I’m so glad you’re still writing and I look forward to seeing what you come up with from this research! Bound to be interesting!
Research is life. That's my mantra in every class I teach. Without research, we flounder in any field, no matter how talented.
Thanks for the shout out, Lee! My newest research favorite is Grok, the AI. It's like talking to a friend you has endless knowledge, unlimited time for my crazy questions, and doesn't mind whatever I ask. Nice.
I think the research angle and the need to get things truly right is what has kept me from ever quite finishing the children's historical novel I've had in my files for years and years. It's hard, and I'm doubly hard on writers who get it wrong (sorry if that adds to your fears!), so I paralyze myself with the need for perfection.
It's good you recognize the research you need to do and are doing it. I think it's more a part of writing than we realize to be sure our stories are accurate.
Your post is inspirational. Thank you! I can't wait to read your next story; it sounds fascinating -- just from the research you're doing. And I found it interesting that (just as me, though I didn't speak directly to the IWSG question this month), different times call forth different reactions about how we feel as writers. Persevere! Write on!
Fortunately the Internet makes researching so much easier now.
You're awesome.
I hear you I once had a reader (heart surgeon, nonetheless) who read one of my stories contact me to tell me I had the part about the heart all wrong. Embarrassing moment.
That's another element in the rapidly changing world. What was right when you started writing, could be dated by the time you publish. Egad. It's a wonder any of us can do this. :-)
I have to work that into the plot. I'll let you know if I do.
One foot in front of the other. One word at a time.
I'm sure we all have these little nagging fears. However, I think most of us here deal with them and move on.
Thanks. I hope to find a way to use what I find out in some fashion, even if it doesn't wind up in the book.
No problem. I need to stay alert and get those facts straight. Hope you find a way to finish that book.
Indeed. I'm already on the hunt for some knowledable beta readers for this one should I actually finish it.
You had another important topic to write about. Thanks for always being such a supportive IWSG member.
Yes. And it's so interesting--sometimes too interesting and I get distracted. That's another way of saying I can put off writing the story that's giving me fits.
I liked your IWSG post. And it did give me the boost I needed to get into more research. I'll have to check out Grok. I haven't used it. Thanks.
It is easier. We just have to double check those searches to be sure they're giving us accurate information.
Wow. I haven't been awesome before. Thanks.
Love the post and of course the raccoon image, Lee!
Lee, I think your talent is off the charts.
Can you imagine trying to research before the internet? Eek
Researching is fun...except when you've written it wrong. I can go down the rabbit hole of research and when I come back out of it, I only use about 10% of what I read.
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