So this morning I wrote a piece of children's writing for class.
The idea is that it's a stand alone chapter for younger children, but could be brought out with other chapters to make it a simple chapter book.
I was low on ideas.
But finally I came up with one - a shopping trip with a girl and her father.
I wanted to make it something different so my mind flew off into different directions that could make the story interesting, funny and most importantly, appealing to younger readers.
So off my story went, till I had something that I was pretty proud of.
Leaving it for a while, I continued with other work, so when I came back to edit it, my mind would be fresh with the story.
There was one thing in particular that stuck out in my mind - the story has no logic! It makes no sense and this could never happen in real life.
I got the idea all wrong, and my perceptions of what a fridge at the supermarket looks like is all wrong.
So now, I don't want to hand it in.
But I have to.
I cannot come up with other ideas (not at the moment anyway) and I know that whatever I do come up with, will probably suck just as bad.
But I must hand it in - for my whole class to see - a story that makes no sense and has no logic or reason behind it!
In my attempt to make it appealing for children, I have lost simple logic, making my story stupid and weak.
So, do I hand it in, and say 'hey, it's for children, it doesn't need to make sense', or do I not and it in at all. Hm, very tricky, and once again proves, that I truly am a writing coward.
*Also, no one else in my class has showed theirs yet (if they've done them at all) so I have nothing to go off, in how bad my story actually sucks.
Showing posts with label Cowardly Lion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cowardly Lion. Show all posts
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Writing Conundrum: A Piece That Doesn't Make Sense
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Being a Writing Coward.
If you're not aware, I'm in the precipice of being a writer...well kind of.
I'm a writing student at University, I write (almost) everyday, read a lot (thank you Uni readings) and...well...I just want to be one, OK? I don't need to justify it to you; though I was the one who started it.
Through Uni, they've given us a range of tools to get our works published.
Techniques on storytelling, writing and editing our work,
The expectations of publishers, the knock backs and the comebacks we'll have to deal with AKA preparation for the real writing world,
The chance to work with people in the writing industry, both locally and internationally and in a vast range of genres.
Another tool they have given us (well lead us to) are literary journals; magazines waiting for your unpublished, fantastic prose to print. Whether it's poetry, short stories, non-fiction; if it's good enough, they'll publish it.
The idea of an actual journal publishing my work is the most exciting thing I can think of.
Despite most of these journals being small, local, hardly read by anyone and not-for-profit - few journals pay money for your work; they don't have the funds - I still (badly) want my work to be in one of those journals.
I've had a look around and found a couple of local journals that encourage local writers. I think this is a good place for me to start.
I have even narrowed it down and after look at some (buying them is a good idea to get a feel of what they're after) I have even chosen which one I'd like to send my work to.
Yes; I have a piece of work waiting to be sent. I wrote it late at night weeks ago (I found out some news that made me angry and hence a good muse for my writing) and since then I've edited it, formatted it, read it over and over and if I had to be honest - I quite like it.
Then doubt creeps in.
I keep thinking that it's not good enough; that the editors will take one look at it, burst into laughter and send a "are you serious, this is the worst crap we have ever read" email back to me.
I know it's silly, and even if it is crap (which it is) they'd never put it in those words.
It's a horrifying thought, thinking that someone, somewhere (and being a small city, not far away from me) is looking at my work and deciding whether it's good enough for print - no matter how small that publisher is.
I have a deadline; submissions for issue 4 are due early March; if I don't send my work in by then I'll be kicking myself, and I will have the nervous wait of the next issue submissions (months away).
If I do send it in, I'll be kicking myself; what was I thinking; my work isn't good enough to be in one of those lit mags!
I'll never know until I try. The bottom line is; if I don't hand anything in - then it will most certainly never get published.
I just need to get over my Cowardly Lion act over writing:
"I do believe in books, I do believe in books, I do, I do, I do, I do."
I'm a writing student at University, I write (almost) everyday, read a lot (thank you Uni readings) and...well...I just want to be one, OK? I don't need to justify it to you; though I was the one who started it.
Through Uni, they've given us a range of tools to get our works published.
Techniques on storytelling, writing and editing our work,
The expectations of publishers, the knock backs and the comebacks we'll have to deal with AKA preparation for the real writing world,
The chance to work with people in the writing industry, both locally and internationally and in a vast range of genres.
Another tool they have given us (well lead us to) are literary journals; magazines waiting for your unpublished, fantastic prose to print. Whether it's poetry, short stories, non-fiction; if it's good enough, they'll publish it.
The idea of an actual journal publishing my work is the most exciting thing I can think of.
Despite most of these journals being small, local, hardly read by anyone and not-for-profit - few journals pay money for your work; they don't have the funds - I still (badly) want my work to be in one of those journals.
I've had a look around and found a couple of local journals that encourage local writers. I think this is a good place for me to start.
I have even narrowed it down and after look at some (buying them is a good idea to get a feel of what they're after) I have even chosen which one I'd like to send my work to.
Yes; I have a piece of work waiting to be sent. I wrote it late at night weeks ago (I found out some news that made me angry and hence a good muse for my writing) and since then I've edited it, formatted it, read it over and over and if I had to be honest - I quite like it.
Then doubt creeps in.
I keep thinking that it's not good enough; that the editors will take one look at it, burst into laughter and send a "are you serious, this is the worst crap we have ever read" email back to me.
I know it's silly, and even if it is crap (which it is) they'd never put it in those words.
It's a horrifying thought, thinking that someone, somewhere (and being a small city, not far away from me) is looking at my work and deciding whether it's good enough for print - no matter how small that publisher is.
I have a deadline; submissions for issue 4 are due early March; if I don't send my work in by then I'll be kicking myself, and I will have the nervous wait of the next issue submissions (months away).
If I do send it in, I'll be kicking myself; what was I thinking; my work isn't good enough to be in one of those lit mags!
I'll never know until I try. The bottom line is; if I don't hand anything in - then it will most certainly never get published.
I just need to get over my Cowardly Lion act over writing:
"I do believe in books, I do believe in books, I do, I do, I do, I do."
Labels:
Cowardly Lion,
Literary Journals,
Uni,
writing,
Writing prose
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