Comments on: When You’re Afraid of Your Own Story

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 02:34:34 +0000

Monique – it is isn’t it?? I’m not sure that ever goes away eh? Thanks for the faith, m’dear!

Kerrin – thanks! Trying to keep on it. 🙂

By: Kerrin

Kerrin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 05:03:29 +0000

awesome Jackie – own the story, don’t let it own you!

By: Monique DeVere

Monique DeVere — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 13:35:11 +0000

Oh, Jackie,

I hear you!

It's awful to second-guess everything you write. I wonder if it ever gets any easier? Popular authors sound so very confident about their writing, I have to wonder whether they ever have shaky moments. Well, that's what I used to wonder, until I say Maisey's comment.

Thanks for being so honest, Maisey! I found it refreshing and utterly motivating. :)

Best luck with your subs, Jackie. Can't wait to hear the outcome.

Hugs,
Monique
Author of humorous, feel-good romance

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 07:21:19 +0000

Maisey,m’dear, you are so right. Halfway is nuts. It has to be all or don’t do it. So here I am, swinging with everything (but not that kind of swinging..aaaand I’ll stop now). 🙂

By: Maisey

Maisey — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 04:35:40 +0000

FANTASTIC post, Jackie. I needed this too. I find very often my revisions are focused on the places I 'bunted'. I had an idea, but it was out of the box and it scared me so I went halfway and in the end, that doesn't work.

Swing with everything, then, even if you miss, you gave it your all. Cheesy, maybe, but it's very true. Because halfway doesn't get you there either.

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 03:44:47 +0000

Nina – you and I sound like we’re on the same kind of journey! I too had the ‘nearly there’ thing. Thought it was all on and then it was a slow slide down to ‘nowhere near being there’ again. So hard. My problem was my characters and making my conflict almost separate from them. So they were never believable and acted weirdly. It took me AGES to understand what the problem was and how I could do it better. Like you I think I’ve overcome it now, but then, I’ve probably made other ones. I guess that’s the nature of the beast.
But yes, I think I have got my spark back, and seeing your contest success, looks like you’ve got yours back too!
Keep me posted on how you get on. And yep, join in the handholding! It sure helps.

By: Nina

Nina — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:12:10 +0000

Hi Jackie
I think what scared me was that I had peaked at ‘nearly there’ and ‘Nearly There’ was the best I could do. With the result that I didn’t take all the feedback I had been given on board – even though I genuinely thought that I had. So I kept making the same mistake (not enough conflict) worse whilst losing the bits I could do.
So now I really hope I’m on the way to tackling conflict, am digging much deeper and am holding on to my voice. So whilst I am no doubt making new mistakes thats OK because it means I’m moving up the learning curve!!
Heres to you reclaiming your voice and believing in yourself – go for it!! And can I join in the handholding too please.
Nina x

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:46:13 +0000

Aimee – glad to help! Go carpe that deum…I mean story! 🙂

Madeline – Yep, you said it girl. Finish it, get it over with then sit on it. I guarantee that when you come back to it, you won’t feel that time has been wasted. Oh and let me know when you sub – I’ll need to handhold with someone. 🙂

By: Madeline Ash

Madeline Ash — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:11:32 +0000

I needed that pep talk, Jackie. I’m in the final scene of the final chapter of my book and just starting to wonder whether I’ve wasted the last nine months of my life on this story. I’ve believed in it the whole time and only now am I thinking that it’s useless, that there’s no point. After reading your post, I suspect it’s only because I’m getting close to the end, to actually submitting it, that I’m doubting myself. But I shouldn’t, and you’ve reminded me of that. I should just finish it and be done!

Thank you x

By: Aimee Carson

Aimee Carson — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:24:56 +0000

Wise advice for all of us. I’ve been shying a bit away from my own wip while working on revisions. Now I feel inspired to kick it’s butt. Carpe story, Jackie!! Go gettum, girl!