Welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world.
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG
I'm honored io join the awesome co-hosts for the August 2 posting of the IWSG: Kate Larkindale, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence!
This month's question is: Have you ever written something that afterwards you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?
I did. In the sequel to my first book, I listened to my critique partner about the beginning scene. I always wanted to put back a scene she told me to take out. I left it out and have regretted it since Switched Too was published in 2012. I was a newly published author and didn't have enough confidence in my ability to tell a story. I should have listened to my instincts.Should I leave it alone after all this time or put the small scene back in?
If you feel strongly about it and it's not a hassle, put it back in.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
Thanks, Alex.
DeleteIf that was me, I apologize! When you reissue, that's the time to put back in those parts of the book you removed due to space or outside pressure. "Extra/additional content" is a great selling point to coax even those who've read the first version to rebuy to see what's new.
ReplyDeleteNo, it wasn't you. LOL Good point.
DeleteYou are a champ for co-hosting today. :-) Listen to advise but listen more to your instincts. You have to live with the results. Thanks for visiting me.
ReplyDeleteI think you should put the scene back in and reissue the book as a special edition. That way, you'd get to see the book in it's entirety as you originally wrote it, give your readers a little something nice, and get their reactions to it! Thanks so much for co-hosting today!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice.
DeleteSorry Diane! That anonymous comment above is me! Google continually signs me out each time I go to another blog. Sorry about that :) I know a lot of people don't like anonymous comments x
ReplyDeleteNo worries, Jen. Blogger can be such a pain.
DeleteWhen we're new, it is hard to figure out what feedback serves the story, and what we need to disregard because it is a disservice to the story. Some days, I'm still not sure. Forever evolving. If you are still having regrets, you should put the scene back.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Meka. I appreciate the advice.
DeleteThose decisions that lead to regret are so hard to live with. If you're still living with regret for deleting that scene, by all means, put it back in.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee.
DeleteYes, put it back in.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane.
DeleteIf you think it'll help the story, I say do it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
I love cohosting. Thanks for the advice.
DeleteConfidence is a big issue with me, since I don't have much. The funny this is most people thing I have it in abundance. Still can't figure out why. hehehe
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Anna, you are so funny. Even though I've been in this business for 25+ years, I still have times when I lack confidence.
DeleteIf you feel that strongly, you should put the scene back in. Thank you for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy cohosting. So many terrific posts.
DeleteI think things left/taken out are best left as they are. If desperate, write it as a flash fiction for a later collection! Thanks for co-hosting today :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice, Jemima.
DeleteI remember those early days in my career, too. But you now recognize that it was a lack of confidence on your part. Something, we all have to do. Thanks for co-hosting, Diane.
ReplyDeleteIsn't a lack of confidence insecurity? Great place to share that. Thanks, Joylene.
DeleteThat was a tough one, Diane. I took a lot of advice when I first started, but luckily (as it turned out), I was so far from finding my own voice, I didn't publish for over a decade. That gave me perspective on early advice. Can you publish that scene as a teaser for the book?
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, Jacqui. I never thought of that.
DeleteAfter all these years it still bothers you. By now, you've had plenty of time and experience to weigh the pros and cons. I suggest you put the scene back in. Once you’ve read all of our supportive comments, you’ll make the right decision.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month.
Cheers, @ Lynn La Vita</a
Here's the correct URL:
DeleteCheers, @ Lynn La Vita
I'm overwhelmed by all the advice. Thanks.
DeleteDear Diane - I did the opposite. I defied the advice and left in the several opening paragraphs I was advised to delete... not thinking that it was part of the 'Preview' given potential buyers on Amazon. Mistake! Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteOoh, that's not good. Thanks for sharing that.
DeleteI'd put it back in if you feel that strongly.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia. That it still bothers me should be a sign.
DeleteIf your muse wants it back in, I'd vote for putting it back in.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting.
Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Thanks, Sandra.
DeleteI guess it depends on how much it matters to you now and how much trouble it would be. But hurray for finding that level of confidence that YOU know what is right for your story. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Thanks, Samantha.
DeleteDiane, I'm not newly published, but I still don't have "enough confidence in my ability to tell a story." And believe it is good. Unless someone says they'll publish it.
ReplyDeleteAll best to you, Diane. Thanks for co-hosting!
Good thing we have IWSG to help us with our confidence.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting. If you still regret your decision and it's still bothering you, I think you should change it if it's not too hard to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice, Natalie.
DeleteNancy Gideon (above) has an idea I didn't know was possible. Go for it!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for co-hosting!
If it's been published then I think it should stay that way unless one releases a "New revised version" and even then I think it's a questionable move. But it's been done in the past by other writers so I guess it's up to an author if that's what they want. It shouldn't be done posthumously or anything like that.
ReplyDeleteLee
Thanks for your insight, Lee.
DeleteFollow your instinct. Put it back in.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous is Em-Musing. Sorry I didn't catch it before I replied.
ReplyDeleteLOL Thanks.
DeleteI remember being that newbie writer who listened to advice like a flag in the wind. Glad those days are done. I may not always make the right choice, but they're all my choices.
ReplyDeleteThanks a very good point.
DeleteAs someone relatively new to writing, I know what that means. To trust the judgement of others more than your own instinct. But there's always time to fix these things up.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sonia.
DeleteI think you should always trust yourself. You know your story better than anyone else.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Olga. Good advice.
DeleteIf it's already published I probably wouldn't put it back in, but is it something you could send out to your mailing list or post as an extra of some sort?
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Shannon. Thanks.
DeleteAh yes, listening to crit partners rather than our own instinct. It's a delicate balance.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is, Lynda. Thanks.
DeleteYou bring up a great point. I struggled with confidence, too, when it came to assigning weight to critique comments. It's definitely a skill that comes with experience. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteExperience is a great teacher!
DeleteSomething similar happened to me early in my career. I did part ways with the person giving the advice but I wasted lots of time in the debate.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Susan.
DeleteI vote for putting that scene back in. Critiques can be helpful; they can also affect a writer's confidence. It would be interesting to see how readers respond -- and you can write about what happens next month in IWSG! And now I'm curious. Which one was your first book?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice, Beth. My 1st book was Switched.
DeleteIf the book isn't published, put the scene back in. At the end of the day, it's your book, your story. Critique partners are great and I love mine to death, but at the end of the day, it's your story and the final decision has to be yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing that out, Kate.
DeleteGreat blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteI agree with some of the others above: if it's not published, put the scene back in. If it is published, move on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month. I think your instinct accounts for a lot. If its not published put it back in, if it is you could simply move on or put together a small digital of the change and why and post it in a newsletter or blog. Ultimately, if it doesn't have a huge impact on the overal story it becomes of matter of, "is this something you want for yourself?" Whatever your answer is will guide your decision.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a decision. Perhaps you could use the scene in a sequel to the book? Otherwise, if it bothers you enough, go for putting the skipped scene back and edit any other things that bother you in that book and pub as a second edition. I know when I read my books once after publishing, those crazy typos and punctuation marks shout at me. How did I miss them on the original edits??? PS--you may want to tweak a paragraph or even the whole chapter! Then have another book launch for it! Fun time!
ReplyDeleteHi, Diane! I'm sorry I missed you on the 12th Anniversary of the IWSG! I hope all is well with you! I could leap into your header and lounge on that gorgeous beach right now!
ReplyDeleteJust here visiting from IWSG and wonder if you're OK? Busy putting that scene back? I'm working on a reader magnet for the first time. Maybe that scene can be a prequel to encourage readers to join your mailing list? Wishes for a good September for you!
ReplyDelete