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Crisis of Faith
Have you ever gotten to a point in your writing career where your critique partners believe you’re ready to rise to the next level of writing craft, but you’re not so sure?
That’s where I am now. Since Tuesday’s meeting, I’ve been struggling with whether to scrap the considerable work I’ve already done on my western romance novel, POLITE ENEMIES, or continue reworking it for sale. My face-to-face partners say to start again because I’m ready to bring the story to a higher level of craft. My online critique partners say that the story is entertaining and to get it out to readers who are waiting for my next novel.
My bi-monthly critique buddies want me to go back to the step-sheet outline and to rewrite the novel based on the craft level I now possess. On top of that, they say it’s time to take steps into new skill levels like indirect dialogue as a way of differentiating characters, a story world seen only from the point of view character’s eyes and no back story until it needs to be revealed.
Whew!
They have the faith I can do it. I’m not so sure.
To me this new level of craft feels like stepping off a cliff blindfolded. It’s only when I hit bottom that I’ll know whether I’ll bounce back and walk away safe and sound with a powerful story or whether I’ll crash land.
In the end, this crisis is as much about the reader as it is about me as a writer. Would my readers prefer an entertaining tale available now? Or would my readers wait until I learn the craft needed to write a passionate drama of human frailty and re-deeming courage?
As authors and readers, what would you advise? The Ainsworth coat of arms says “courage san peur” (fearless courage). Is this the time to step off the cliff?
JoAnnhttp://www.joannsmithainsworth.com
What a pickle! I am shiny new to this, so maybe I have no place to be offering up advice; but here it goes and if it helps? hooray! if not, just ignore it :)- I write in sequence of the story and I have had to go back and delete large chunks of sweat and tears because I’ve decided I wanted it to go a different way… and I realized that it was freeing. I write and write and if I am unsure of where it’s going or how it will read, I take comfort in the fact that I can always scratch it and start over if it is not what I want.
So, try the new skill out, if you don’t like it, it can always be reworked and tweaked until you do.
Thanks, Lainey. I agree that throwing chunks out can be freeing. I often feel like a sculptor—chiseling away the excess to get to the form inside.