How do you feel about your work when writing it?

My current WIP a fantasy/spy/crime is in the very early stages but what I've started doing is writing sections of it. Leave it a day or two reread it and edit on the fly.

I have to say I am enjoying this approach at the moment my protagonist is evolving with each edit and I'm at just under 1000 words that does sound much but for me most of my work barely makes its past 500 words.

I feel that part of my problem has been not having characters I want to know more about and I love my protagonist at the moment one could say I am passionate about this story.
 
Azzagorn has just reminded me of something I have been doing this time. Because of writing group. once a week, I've been going back and editing a chapter at the beginning so it becomes readable. That I think is why this draft has been more successfu that previous ones because I've had the earlier story in mind as I've been writing the later story. It also means I know what needs changing and where. It's a technique I'm going to use again.
 
Mine just feels listless. Character A is told to go to this place. He goes. Comes back. Told to go to this place and bring back B and he does. Told to go to place D and he does. That's essentially what he does. Which is why I feel there is no plot. I think he's mainly moving because the plot demands it. Needs to go here because a war was mentioned taking place in this area and so on....
 
I alternate between "I really love where this is going and how it's turning out" and "I hate this, I hate myself, I should just quit writing..."

That switch can happen multiple times in a paragraph if I'm not in the groove. When I find it, though, I usually am too wrapped up in the process to think about it.
 
While working on a first draft I often have moments when I'm especially pleased by a line or a page, and just as often recognize that something I just set down is going to need more work later - assuming I don't cut it out entirely. I don't usually find myself sitting back from the work and thinking of it as generally good or bad while it's in progress. I suppose I'm too focused on making it work out to do that, which could be a problem of course. This doesn't worry me, though. My beta readers keep me honest.
 
Ragandar said:
Now, I am no musician, but wouldn't grammar rules and such fill this role for writers?
Try writing something that throws grammar out the window and see how many people are really willing to read that. I don't think you'd find very many that would be interested, hehe.
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Atonal music is like using the grammar of a foreign language.
 
Maybe it's because it's been so long since I've written the full first draft of anything, but right now, all my first drafts look awful. Paper thin and uneventful. That said, it's very early days, plus - and I'm sure many of you are the same - I tend to view my own work much more critically than others see it.
 
Stage 1. Exhilaration
Exciting idea, start filling out story planner. Run of ideas in Act 2, begin writing.

Stage 2. Concern
Realise that I'm not sure where the story's going. Return to story planner, fudge plot so I can get back to writing.

Stage 3. Panic
Realise that not only do none of the sub-plots work, but the main plot is looking decidedly shaky. Return to story planner. At this stage I've probably written in excess of 20,000 words in planning and 10,000 in the novel.

Stage 4. Misery
Now know the plot is on thin ice and I'm not sure I like the idea anymore. Return to story planner, of which I now have at least five.

Stage 5. Grit teeth
Reach the conclusion that I'm going to have to begin a complete re-write. New story planner, new character conflict chart, new plot outline, character Q & A.

Stage 6. Do I really want to be doing this for a living?
What was a modern fantasy is now a spy thriller with so many sub-plots I have no idea who's doing what, let alone what the story's supposed to be.

Stage 7. Keep plodding
What else am I going to do?

Stage 7. Epiphany
From the reams of planning notes a story appears. So what if wraps itself in knots, spy thrillers are supposed to be complex.
 
I'm on the same boat as many people, where you start off feeling great, masterful even. Then cringe, wallow and get down on your knees wondering how could i be so terrible. Then re-write and go through the same process again!

But the important thing is with each cycle I know I've learnt something/improved in some way.

But those moments of ignorance are bliss, I can write so much faster if I think I'm an undiscovered master wordsmith working my way into the annals of history.
 
Zebra Wizard said:
I'm on the same boat as many people, where you start off feeling great, masterful even. Then cringe, wallow and get down on your knees wondering how could i be so terrible. Then re-write and go through the same process again!

.
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What happens when you edit a piece?

I've just edited my opener for Black's Nest and whilst I liked it before it's so much better now. That is why I love editing it makes good stuff fab.
 
I ride the ups and downs roller coaster. While writing I'm my own biggest fan. When I edit I'm my own worst critic. But what hurts the most is when I think I have gold, put it out there for others to read, and get a bad response. It makes me want to turn in my keyboard for good. Since I haven't shared a lot of my work, I feel like the bad reviews have actually helped me become a better writer, but sometimes I think the damage to my ego is permanent.
 
AnyaKimlin said:
What happens when you edit a piece?

I've just edited my opener for Black's Nest and whilst I liked it before it's so much better now. That is why I love editing it makes good stuff fab.
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I prefer the editing bit, because of the same reasons you stated. I feel like im making a better product of what I wrote previously its just after ive edited and I let it sit, is when i start getting revelations on mistakes i overlooked.
 
Good editing is wonderful. Or at least the result is.

The chapter I'm currently working on is like pulling teeth. I need a better quality of beta reader. Writing is a more consistent pleasure for me.
 
But... Editing is the only real work involved! And I so hate working! :whistle:

I do love the result, though! (y)
 
I'll always just push on through no matter how I feel, but... I alternate between thinking I've got something I can really be proud of, and seeing myself as a fraud and a pretender.
All in all, it's both a battle and a pleasure ;)
 
I knew, before I put pen to paper, two things.
One, I was going to go through hurtful rejections.
Two, my chances of getting published were poor.
Bloody good thing I love writing ... for me.
 
I too tend to get caught up in the moment, and usually have to reread my scribblings the next day just to ensure I know what's going on. Getting caught up stops you critiquing yourself when you should be in the flow. I never consider my work to be groundbreaking or award-worthy anyway, just so long as it entertains the masses. But when rereading and redrafting you'll always come across some lines you're secretly proud of, and some so bad you weep for humanity
 
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