![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I'm in the midst of writing an auction story and in the planning stage of a sequel to my last story, Chasing Rainbows and... I've never been a one for posting WIPs; mainly because, when in full writery flow, my stories are a constant, ongoing thing... I write, I hone, write, hone, go back, edit, switch bits about, hone again, write again - etc etc (you get the picture?)
So - I'm not really sure what the advantages are of posting a WIP? Yet, I see quite a lot of you do, so... I guess I'm looking for advice as to whether this is A Good Thing - or not?
So - I'm not really sure what the advantages are of posting a WIP? Yet, I see quite a lot of you do, so... I guess I'm looking for advice as to whether this is A Good Thing - or not?
calm
Too cool for subject
You'll have to get the straight scoop from those who do it, like Bev. My feeling is, everyone is different. If you like input from other people, and chatting about it helps give you ideas, go for it. Since you do a lot of revision as you write anyway, it might fit right in with your style.
On the other hand, you may prefer to do those honings and revisions in private, and wait to present a more finished product. It's entirely up to you. But if you post your stories as WIPs, I'd warn potential readers. Like, "there will be a lot of changes between what you see here and the finished product. If you find that confusing, you may want to pass on by." Or something like that.
So, basically, posting is up to you, and reading is up to everybody else. That way, we're all happy. *g*
.
Too cool for subject
The first real WIP I posted to LJ was my third or fourth story, Revolution. I decided to post it as a WIP as an experiment, because I had a very clear plan of the story's structure, which (because it alternated between the present and the past) leant itself well to episodic posting. It was an experiment for me, because I'd never posted a WIP before, and wanted to see if I could carry it off.
Prevous to that, I had been much of the same mind as you - I tinkered with my stuff endlessly before it got posted, writing in a non-linear fashion.
Anyway, to my complete surprise, I found that committing myself to writing in a linear way, ended up producing a far better story. At the time I wrote it, I was more satisfied with Revolution than anything I had previously done. It really forced me to think and plan well ahead, and for some reason, that really worked for me.
Since then, I've posted lots of WIPs in my LJ. And they have turned out, for the most part, to be the stories I am most satisfied with.
Another added benefit is the feedback as you go along. I tend to friends lock (known as 'flock') my LJ, so I know exactly who is reading. I like it that my 'experiments' only go out ot a small-ish number of people. And it is nice to hear what people think - be it good or bad - in that controlled context. It is like having a whole team of betas.
The last, and probably most important reason for me, is that I hate to write in a vaccuum. I love to chat about what I am writing as I go along, and share it with others - even if the final version bears no resemblance to the LJ WIP. I like the sense of immediacy - I finish a part, then post it, then get comments. It's almost as good as haing a PPP here in my house, all the time ;-)
Too cool for subject
And I prefer to write in a linear fashion anyway. I tried jumping around and writing odd scenes once, and hated it. It didn't feel like the story flowed and grew naturally - it felt like I was forcing the story to go where I needed it to, to meet up with the previously written scenes.
At the end of the day, I'd say go with what makes you happy.
still thinking about it...
I can see how the ongoing comment would be useful. When I was writing in another fandom, I had a sometime co-writer who'd do just that (quite ruthlesly at times ) but that was just one person, and a co-writer at that.
I'm still not sure if posting a regular WIP would work for me. I do usually have a story all planned out before I start and am pretty disciplned about sticking to my story line, BUT - I do change things as I go along. The Rainbows story ended up twice as long as I'd expected because it took a sudden turn I wasn't expecting which I then had to incorporate into earlier chapters and I think this would be irritating for people reading a WIP (?)
Still musing...
Too cool for subject
If you're thinking about a WIP, why not give it ago and see if it suits your way of writing. As Bev said, some of her most satisfying stories have come out of WIP's.
Good Luck!
Too cool for subject
Whoah!!! But your writing is brilliant! Now you're making me nervous about bearing my metaphorical bottom in public...
Having said which, I've decided to experimentally have a crack at it. I'm setting up a closed community for the auction story I'm writing (principally so Sue, whose story it is, can't log in and see it ::G::). I can't guarantee to be a regular as RL is really getting in the way of important stuff like fic writing right now, but... if anyone's interested in watching the progress of my fevered ramblings - just let me know and OI'll add you to the list.
Too cool for subject
Epp, sorry, didn't mean to make you feel nervous. Nervous writing belongs to me :grin: and you'll do way better than okay. Even if I write until I'm 102, I think I'll always have some reservations about what I've written - human nature, I guess. But I say give the WIP a try and see how you like it and I'd love to be added to the list, if that's okay :0)
Oh, and thanks for the compliment. I'll try and live up to it before I turn 102 - LOL
Too cool for subject
Jess, I already invited you, but you may have missed it so I'll do it again.