Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

 
Free-poster-sudg826a27-WEAKNESS

 

We all have them. However, I've noticed some writers think their strengths are their weaknesses and vice versa. If you read the fine print in red under weakness in the cartoon above, you'll see it says to "work out or remain weak". And that, my friends, is what novelists do. They keep working out their weaknesses in manuscripts that either get shoved in a drawer or taken to the basement and crammed in boxes or doted on until they find favor either with the writer or a publishing professional. What other choice do we have?

So. You want to know my weakness(es)? I'll tell you. In my estimation it's the points after A to F which will lead to X, Y, and Z. I roll into the story and then experience some confusion or meltdown before proceeding on pace to the end. It's filling out the plot. Being a seat-of-the-pantser, I rarely do any kind of external stimulus such as outlining, story boards, notebooks, or whatever highly efficient writers do to keep their stories on track.

Complexity. My life is rarely complex. Yeah, there've been some rough years with lots of confusion, hard times, struggle and strife, but those things are usually accompanied by intense emotional distress, not diverse complexities. So I tend to write for everyday people and invest a great deal of emotional crisis rather than the convoluted plot pieces which must be tightly knit together with the twists nearing the end. I'm not that clever.

Will you share your writing weakness(es)?

 

Lord, you know all my many weaknesses and yet you love me, you give me stories to tell, you saved my soul. You are the Wonder of all wonders. I'm desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

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5 responses to “Weakness(es)”

  1. Brenda Anderson Avatar

    One of my big weaknesses is writing that first chapter–Where & when do I begin the story? How much do I hint at? Do I have any info dumps? Are the characters interesting from the start? I’ll typically re-write a first chapter numerous times before my critique partners are satisfied.
    Plotting is also a weakness. My novels are character-focused so I tend to forget that readers want a plot too. 😉

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  2. Laure Covert Avatar

    My weakness: holding back from sending my writing “out there” to be judged, commented on, bashed, etc. A wave of panic assails me every time I submit. Will this ever get better?

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  3. BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ) Avatar

    Dialogue: Unlike those who listed this as a strength yesterday, my dialogue can get mundane. Oh I have my moments where I get on a roll, but overall I have to work very hard @ crafting great dialogue. This isn’t surprising–while I may blather on in blog post comments 😎 I am very quiet in most verbal conversations (get that from my dad).
    Too easy on my characters: I have a tendency to act like a goody two shoes toward my characters. It’s great to be kind & make life as easy as I can for real people, but bad in fiction. I just finished a 1st pass edit of a manuscript I drafted a year ago & I wrote numerous notes to myself to stop letting the characters get off too easy. I gotta learn to turn the screws.
    Writing process wise: I agree with Laure above on holding back from sending my work. I don’t ever want to slam a door shut that the Lord opens for me, but perfectionism is powerful suction.

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  4. Nicole Avatar

    Thank you all for sharing what you perceive as your weaknesses. I’ll start with you, Bren.
    I can relate to the plot gig being a weakness because I too write the character studies. And I don’t tend to view life as the complex plotting of the thriller/mystery/suspense novels I mostly read. That first chapter fear: not so much. Maybe I should!
    Laure, thanks so much for baring your “weakness”. First I don’t see it getting easier until it fails to matter to you. Until your determination outweighs the factors leading to your fears. So many rejections from professionals come because they can’t find a suitable place for your material. It isn’t always because the writing isn’t good. As far as those who judge, bash, and use unjust criticisms for your work: pick your spots. Not all professionals, and certainly not amateurs, will get your work. Like all of us writers, they have their favorite styles, voices, etc., and can’t always be trusted to understand yours. Hang in there, pick your spots and people to submit and allow to read your work. And keep writing.
    Brenda J., while I know it is the touted norm to increase the conflict with characters, I can say, from this reader’s standpoint, sometimes too much turns me off. In thrillers we come to expect it – hence, they’re “thrillers”, but c’mon, man, in an ordinary story, how much is real? If you bend toward the literary – even in westerns or historicals – too much action, conflict, blah, blah, blah, can be too much. JMO, BTW. 😉
    And about your dialogue, don’t you write historicals? Getting it right for the era would take real work. With your perfectionist tendencies I’m sure you’re underestimating your skills. Also, same thing I said to Laure: pick your spots and people carefully.

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  5. BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ) Avatar

    Yes, I agree–the conflict button can be pushed too far. It’s a balancing act.
    I also know there were a couple spots in my manuscript where I put myself to sleep. LOL!!!! I think it’s safe to say those need some conflict. 😎

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