Audience

[alanajoli]

One of the things I love about blogging is that it's writing tailored for a particular audience. That audience may grow and shift, but it's easy enough to touch base with who it is that's reading what you have to say. It's instant gratification writing.

One of the things I struggle with in writing my fiction is that, with a few exceptions, I'm the only one reading it. (Volunteer readers have busy lives; I've been in the volunteer reader position myself, and I acknowledge that I'm actually quite bad at responding in a timely fashion. Or at all.) While I certainly write to tell stories that I'm interested in, I don't write just for myself. I'm miserable at keeping a serious journal.

I'm interested in hearing how other people get over that hump--particularly any NaNo-ers who are on this list. How do you balance the writing process with the desire for an audience? I know some people like to play close to their chests when they're writing, not showing anyone any part of it until it's finished. If that's you--what benefit does that particular style of writing offer?

I've finally started "Good Company" (the vampire story) today, in snippets, and I'm considering sending it to people who are already familiar with the character via e-mail, as I write, to see if the idea of the serial actually works for my writing process. (banana_pants and niliphim, this means you, so if you think it's a horrible idea, please, by all means, stop me.) I'll let you know if I decide to do so (and if it works!).

For those of you keeping track, I haven't finished "Rodeo." I'm only a scene or two from the end. Somehow my momentum on that one took a nose dive--but I'm hoping to get back to it next week.

Comments

[elven-wolf.livejournal.com]

That's actually a good question. I think, looking back, the first draft is very personal. It's very rough and not 'ready for prime time', so I don't show anybody.

The second or third drafts; by then I've started to lose that initial steam, I'm doing actual WORK as opposed to just blurting out this story that needs to come out of me, and at this point I usually try to show somebody just so I can get some feedback and by extension a reason to keep working.

The tough part is that Legacy of Olympus has received very little feedback, so I've been working blind. I don't know how bad a sign this is, but I've been working on it for so long that to stop now seems like a dismal failure on my part, because I know the story works. I just need to polish it off and give it the ending it deserves. But it can be disheartening to be writing to an empty room. I'm hoping to finish my NaNo quicker, do a second or third drafts but no more than that. But I also aimed for a quicker, faster-paced, less complicated story with NaNo in terms of world-building. I'm setting it in Harrisburg (my city), modern day, and making it more like a traditional Urban Fantasy. We'll see how that works.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

"so I've been working blind..."

*nods* I get to a point on some pieces where I'm so close to it, I can't see the story any more. That's when I know I've got to put it away. I think it's brilliant that you're working on a NaNo piece to give yourself some space from Legacy of Olympus--maybe it'll help you come back to it fresh!

[elven-wolf.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's the plan anyway. I always come back to Legacy, for better or worse it's become part of my life. I may never finish it, but I think part of me is almost okay with it to a point. Even if I do finish it, it may never see the printed page. But it's definitely been a learning experience and it's gotten me through some tough times. I'll definitely treasure it for that alone.

But once I'm done with NaNo (tentatively titled Gypsy Fiddle), I'll go back to it, pick it up where I left off.