Definitely keep them. "Trunk them" as Mur Lafferty (of the I Should Be Writing podcast) but don't throw anything away - you never know when you might want to use some or all of it. The novel I did for NaNo 2008 was the first I'd written so waffled too much but I liked the story so when everything is done, I'll go back to it. Not sure when (if) but it's sitting waiting patiently. Besides, the longer it's left, the fresher (hopefully) it'll seem and the easier (being positive) it'll be to edit.
Read them! Sometimes they'll suck, but sometimes they'll be amazing. You can tweak them a bit, and if you feel brave enough, show them to someone. Sometimes you're your own worst critic, and telling someone about your work can make you realize that you're not as bad as you thought.
Find a writers forum or group and post. I would find so eon you trust and let them read your work. It will unlock part of you and you will feel free to continue.
Revisit. You never know where the kernel of an idea exists. I've not been bashful to tell others that my first novel, A Body To Bones, was started thirty years before published.
Stuck away in a file drawer, uncompleted, it waited until my intervening life of marriage, kids, and working passed.
In retrospect, it was the best thing.
Try something like Authonomy. It's terrifying at first to show people your writing because you never now how they'll respond, but sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised, and if writing is really your calling, you're gonna have to develop a thick skin eventually.
You might have some very good stuff in there! Show it around and work on it to improve yourself as a writer. Things written are never wasted. You might remember what you wrote earlier somewhere and use it in your next story.
Hang on to what you wrote. You just might have some gems in there!
Keep those old stories, projects, notes and half-written articles. You never know when you might come back to them and they might be the key for your new character, or fill in the empty spot in your novel... Or you might use them as they were originally intended to be, a stand-alone project, when you have grown into the piece. Sometimes, as writers, we might come across a great idea but have not yet grown as writer enough to make that piece into what we see in our minds. Sometimes it is best to set it aside until we have the knowledge or enough experience to take it up again.
I suggest reading them again yourself, maybe do a rewrite. I'm assuming you've improved since you started writing those old projects, then from there see what your friends say, or post them online to get reviews.
I have two or three of my first stories I haven't really shown anyone yet, after eight years or so. But I do plan on rereading them, editing.... typing, then seeing what my friends think of them.
Personally, for me, I say "Write it, finish it, or trash it." and I don't like trashing what I create.
Join a writers' group. Take along some work and ask the members to read it. In my experience they're mostly a friendly, helpful and very constructive bunch of people. They can also help motivate you into creating new work. My own, Chorley & District Writers' Circle, regularly runs workshops to help develop writing skills too.
I'd advise you to re-read them. Chances are you'll find passages you'd change, correct and/or revise. And that's a good thing. It means you've improved and matured as a writer.
Now, tuck those stories back into that drawer or wherever you found them, and begin something new! Not only will it save spending precious time revamping old stories that may never sell, but it'll provide you with new material to submit to an agent or editor.
Either leave them where they are and move on or take the plunge and bring them out into the light.
Sometimes, our old manuscripts should remain unseen. They were the projects we worked on when we were learning the craft of writing, testing out our voice and finding creative ways to express ourselves. Only you know if they are worthy of showing someone now. And, believe me, you do know! If your gut is telling you to forget them, then do exactly that. If your gut is telling you something else, go with it.
I read somewhere, once long ago, that the first 100,000 words we write is for practice. I believe that is mostly true. Of course, there is always an exception and maybe you're the exception.
Start a blog and share your posts on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks.
Start showing ppl. accept criticism,but don't change for anyone. people either accept you for keepin it real of they don't,as long as you take pride in urself,thats all that matters. ur view of urself is how otheres will see you.
Pull them out and read them into a recording device. Then listen to what you have written with as cold and objective attitude as possible. Your work will tell you what needs more attention and what should be forgotten.
Go back and re-read everything you ever wrote. There are no magic formulas. It just takes a desire to write, to find a good story to tell, and to tell it well. Writing takes practice. It’s hard work and much like running a marathon. You have to stay focused and keep developing skills. Leaving your work for a while and then coming back to it can be a good thing because your mind has an opportunity to clear. You might also find your opinion changes in between the time you first sat down to write about a particular subject, and the time that has passed. Eventually you have to show someone your work. Pick someone you know will be honest even if their criticism is harsh. You'll become a better writer for it. |
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