Your WIP(s)

[JenNipps]

Think about your current work-in-progress. How would you describe it?

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The one I have in mind that is currently in development (characterization, problem, etc.) stages is tentatively titled "Confessions of a Fat Chick." Here's all I know of it so far (transcription and family stuff got in the way of it the past few days): Erin (MC) is overweight, having battled her weight all her life, basically. She is in her early-to-mid 30s and receives an invitation to her 15-year high school reunion in the mail.

[triceretops]

Hmm....interesting. I guess mine is an urban fantasy. Fortuna, the mythological Roman goddess of luck comes to visit a guy who has lost everything. She explains that she's had the bird flu, so she's late in giving him a good "alignment." The problem is, the maid of misfortune hates Fortuna and is going to put a pox of chaos and tragedy on the man everytime he's blessed by Lady Luck. It ends up being a mythological cat fight in hell between two goddesses over control of my MC's destiny. Chase scenes, magic, and killer minions with lots of exotic locations.

Tri

[JenNipps]

That sounds like it could be ripe with humor. :) It also sounds like something I'd like. lol.

How far along are you with it? (THis is just my curiosity.)

[triceretops]

Thanks, Jen. This one is definitely for the ladies. My lady luck goddess has only to walk through a doorway to get to her portal temple. She changes clothes and hairstyles like a cuttlefish changes colors. It's fun to make her so deadly alluring that she causes accidents, and garners unwanted proposals. When men put the physical make on her she thinks it is a form of Roman Greko wrestling and instantly throws holds on them, laughing maniacally. She's not as ditzy as Kidman was in the remake of Bewitched. But it's fun to do. I've learned a lot about women's clothes and styles for this one.

I thought about doing a story about my sister and her weight problem and calling it Jory, named after her. What a sad tale. For emotional reasons, I never began the script. I hope you finish yours.

Oh, and I'm 120 pages into it. I usually write SF, but this just spoke to me via a Sinatra tune I heard--Luck Be a Lady, so I brought her to life.

Tri

[JenNipps]

Now that sounds good. :)

I used to be able to say I wrote mainly fantasy, but since I've been branching out, I can't really say that anymore.

I hope to be able to finish this. It is going to be largely drawn on personal experience. My 15-year high school reunion is coming up this year (yikes) and, unfortunately, I have had problems with weight. So we'll see how it goes.

(And now I feel like I've said too much...)

[pdr]

I am always amazed how so many people can actually talk about their WIP in specifics and with great detail. It's nice to hear about your WIPs people, I like to hear what other writers are writing, but if I talk about my WIPs they will never get written. They become 'talked out' and I can't write them.

Perhaps it's to do with the way I find my most successful writing has come from only knowing a few scenes and one character, then the first draft is all about finding out what happens to whom and where and why and how! Maybe I need not to know in order to finish a novel or long story. I don't know, but it is annoying when a group of writers are chatting about their WIPs and I can't say a word more than vague generalities!

[triceretops]

pdr, believe me there's shame in not divulging your WIP. There is and was a saying that went: "Don't talk your book away." I only cut loose with my basic idea because I'm so insecure about it sometimes.

Tri

[JenNipps]

I am always amazed how so many people can actually talk about their WIP in specifics and with great detail. It's nice to hear about your WIPs people, I like to hear what other writers are writing, but if I talk about my WIPs they will never get written. They become 'talked out' and I can't write them.

Perhaps it's to do with the way I find my most successful writing has come from only knowing a few scenes and one character, then the first draft is all about finding out what happens to whom and where and why and how! Maybe I need not to know in order to finish a novel or long story. I don't know, but it is annoying when a group of writers are chatting about their WIPs and I can't say a word more than vague generalities!

pdr, generally, I don't talk about my WIPs for that same reason. But if I haven't actually started writing it yet -- like this one -- and I'm only in the planning stages, talking about it helps me to solidify some things. When I get to the actual writing of it, forget it, I don't say much of anything. :)

[JenNipps]

"Don't talk your book away."

I have done this so many times, you would not believe. I have no fewer than 4 unfinished stories sitting on my hard drive for this exact reason. That's, of course, not counting ones I did by longhand before I started typing everything.

[pdr]

Interesting you guys! (Goodness, I'm picking up more American vernacular.) Yes, Jen, like you I can verbally brainstorm an idea with all the 'what ifs' and 'suppose' and 'this then that' but then I must stop talking and write the story down or it's gone.

Aren't all writers insecure, Tri? The mental talking to I have to give myself to get my stuff off to market happens every time. Although I should know from previous experience that most of my stories will be accepted even by editors I don't know. Still I always dither and panic thinking they are not good enough, original enough, well written enough - you know - to go out to market yet.

[JenNipps]

I've moved from planning to actual writing. "Confessions of a Fat Chick" is officially started, as of a week ago. :)

[triceretops]

Aren't all writers insecure, Tri? The mental talking to I have to give myself to get my stuff off to market happens every time. Although I should know from previous experience that most of my stories will be accepted even by editors I don't know. Still I always dither and panic thinking they are not good enough, original enough, well written enough - you know - to go out to market yet.

Yes, pdr, I believe this is the norm rather than the exeption.

If I'm not atwitter about how good my concept is about a fresh book, I'm nuts and guilty over how I'm going to accomplish my WIP everyday.

If that isn't enough, I wonder if I've really done my job well enough when the book is finished, and when that isn't enough, I wonder if four or six revisions is enough to call it quits and send it to my agent.

Then I agonize over whether my agent will like it, and imagine that I've wasted four months of my life if he doesn't.

Then I worry about if he can get it read in it's entirety by an an editor, any editor, of any house.

Then I'm nuts over if the Editor is going to like it enough to ask me for a re-write for the project and resubmit.

Then I wonder if since the editor finally takes it, will it pass through the rigors of the marketing department (who have finally and absolute say).

Then I wonder if it will sell well enough to keep me hooked up with that house enough for them to request a series or future submissions.

Then, and then, and then and then. Brothers and sisters, it never ends--this self-doubt and oversensitivity we all share as writers.

I suppose that if I ended up with a best seller I would have something to ***** about or fret over, even though I'd finally made it!

Gak!

Tri

[pdr]

What a bunch we are! Still all the worrying must help us keep our writing of the highest standard?

[triceretops]

Got to agree, my friend. I think I function best when in the total throes of fear and abject terror! It's decidedly worked so far, eh?

Tri

[pdr]

I need peace, quiet and a tranquil place. Submitting or the family gallumphing around really put me off creatively.