Getting the Words Right.

Last week was a strange week for me, I had my final consultation for an hour by phone. Many things were said, so many I began to take notes, letting my helper simply speak and give me her ideas and feedback. On many issues we agreed which was a relief, I am so new to this experience that I kept waiting for her to tell me more. However when it came to a close I realised her words were true, at the end of the day the best critic is yourself, because you look to find fault and it is actually really hard to believe, when someone pays you a compliment. So armed with another plan I spent most of the week trying to edit and reorganise my work.

Unexpectedly, then I was introduced through a friend, to a lady who is a writer herself, discovering someone who is going through the same experiences that you are is so important, as you always need support. It is difficult to find anyone who wants to talk about writing and about all the issues involved for any length of time, unless it is someone equally passionate about it. So even though most weeks I have been a reclusive person, only venturing out for the odd weekly coffee with a friend. I did arrange to meet up, so excited to be able to talk shop.

Not only did I make a lovely friend but she inspired me to venture into the unknown. As a result I found myself taking a break from my novel and writing a short story, which I then submitted on Monday to Roar, who are actively seeking submissions for their magazine. It was a challenge, I was not sure I could take my head out of my novel, and create something new, plus I wanted to complete it fairly quickly so that I could resume with my long term project. Anyway, I managed to submit just under 5000 words I am not sure it is really any good, but I felt pleased that I was able to at least write something. Check out the web site below for submission guidelines.

Last week felt long and it occurred to me that writing is not a quick fix, I know every time I look at my work I think I need to make it better. It is a labour of love, and you need to have incredible stamina, because getting anything published is even harder, and I am beginning to worry that may never happen. The only way to continue is to improve and work harder. As always feedback is important, those of you who I have shared my work with, I do put myself out there, because I need to know what people think that way I can get better, I may not be quite there yet but one day, who knows!

Finally, I would love to start a writers group, it would be great to meet up locally to share our experiences and to be able to bounce ideas off one another, if anyone would be interested or knows of anyone please let me know, best wishes.

More than a half, maybe as much as two-thirds of my life as a writer is rewriting. I wouldn't say I have a talent that's special. It strikes me that I have an unusual kind of stamina.
John Irving

Interviewer: How much rewriting do you do?
Hemingway: It depends. I rewrote the ending of Farewell to Arms, the last page of it, 39 times before I was satisfied.
Interviewer: Was there some technical problem there? What was it that had stumped you?
Hemingway: Getting the words right.
(Ernest Hemingway, "The Art of Fiction," The Paris Review Interview, 1956)

www.roarmagazine.org   Check out this web site if interested in submitting short stories, poems closes 15th April.