I did the same thing with a draft or 2 on my HD I finished a few years ago. I revamped plots and plan to rewrite because my ability has changed so much. I have the same sort of creative processes so it's nice to see someone else who works similarly.
Can't wait to read the new Something Strange & Deadly! And the "There is no moral goodness in..." really resonates with me. Even after all this time, I gotta remind myself, it's ok not to write every day, or in the morning, or whatever other guilt-inducing thing other people swear by!
I loved Write Better-Faster! Took it in March, and I'm now on her Patreon. It was finally the right time for me. I have #34 Adaptability and #3 and 4 Consistency and Responsibility, so I'm like, the exact opposite kind of writer as you, Sooz. AND YET. Hearing all about how you tried new ways to be encouraged me to flex a little on my "I will write everyday and finish this book in order so help me God" past plan. It did work for two books and now I just needed to do things a little out of order. Plus the flexibility of seeing I can still finish a book even if I don't get to write every weekday has been helpful. (I am constantly bemoaning all the Life that keeps Lifing at me, and it's not near as bad as yours, but I want my life to be the exact same everyday, which you all might have noticed is not gonna happen.)
Also I have cut way back on my social media, and it was definitely not without some weeks of FOMO, but it has also been freeing.
Ah, I obviously have sung Becca's praises to high heaven and back -- and I LOVE that you were able to take the course! And I also love you now know your brain because you can point to my process and say, NO WAY. NOPE! Just as I can point to my friends who are high Consistency and Discipline and say NO WAY, NOPE! But even better, I love how knowing *their* strengths means I can better "tailor" my advice when they need it. Or just say, "Oh gosh, yeah. I understand now why that's a struggle for you. I'm sorry, man."
I love the idea of Destinations vs. Goals, and I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE REWRITING OLDER WORK!!! That seems just so gosh-darned FUN! What an amazing thing you get to do! I hope this is a trend that catches on, because there are so many books I absolutely adore, and would love to see different 'versions' of them. Seriousy, Sooz, I can't get over how cool this is.
Let me know if you want to chat about IngramSpark or KDP! I have definitely Learned Lessons this year, lol.
Thank you for “hard writing is not bad writing,” which I need to put on a post-it note above my desk, but also tell all my students! With AI the seductive time-saving horrible mess that it is, I’m so grateful for everything you say here about writing as a process that *takes time*!! Thinking and trying something and then trying something else, all the pains and thrills of discovery and experiment—none of that happens in an instant. And that’s how it should be!
Also, thrilled for all of your future works but especially Strange and Deadly—I really love the idea of getting to see Eleanor Fitt a bit older and (maybe!) wiser, after getting older myself reading your books! I’m currently reading Witchlight after rereading the series in prep and I truly think it’s your best book yet. Thrilling as always, but also so gorgeously written!!
This is absolutely, positively exactly what I needed to read right now. 😌 I've been noodling on whether I want to revise my debut, and your Strange & Deadly process has me feeling inspired.
I also recently had to throw the original timeline for my WIP out the window for reasons, and after a phase of resisting the hell out of what was happening (always productive!), it's been so incredibly freeing to just let the process take however long it takes. I mean, I'm sitting my butt in the chair and doing the work, but I don't need to magically speed things up! Which is good because I can't!
Anywho, thank you for sharing your process, and congrats on finishing two books. Woot!! 🎉
P.S. Hell yes to getting off social media. BEST decision I've ever made!
Hi Susan! Can you please talk more about your edits for Strange & Deadly? How’d you feel having to gut your magic system, expand your worldbuilding etc? I’m currently in a similar position after working on my novel for 5 years. Now I feel like I need to change my whole magic system and flesh out my characters, I’m adding an academy and creating new nations… (all in service of a much much better story) but a part of me feels…disappointed? Sad? I’m throwing away tens of thousands of words and scenes after five years of crafting this story and works but they just aren’t relevant for where I want to take the story. Are you experiencing that? Any advice?
Oh nice! I remember liking Strange and Deadly. Excited to see an updated version!
Thank you!!! ☺️
I did the same thing with a draft or 2 on my HD I finished a few years ago. I revamped plots and plan to rewrite because my ability has changed so much. I have the same sort of creative processes so it's nice to see someone else who works similarly.
It's always such a relief to meet others who write like I do! Like, oh yay! I'm not alone in these struggles!
Can't wait to read the new Something Strange & Deadly! And the "There is no moral goodness in..." really resonates with me. Even after all this time, I gotta remind myself, it's ok not to write every day, or in the morning, or whatever other guilt-inducing thing other people swear by!
YES, JESS!! We write how we write, and we've got the books under our belt to prove it!
I loved Write Better-Faster! Took it in March, and I'm now on her Patreon. It was finally the right time for me. I have #34 Adaptability and #3 and 4 Consistency and Responsibility, so I'm like, the exact opposite kind of writer as you, Sooz. AND YET. Hearing all about how you tried new ways to be encouraged me to flex a little on my "I will write everyday and finish this book in order so help me God" past plan. It did work for two books and now I just needed to do things a little out of order. Plus the flexibility of seeing I can still finish a book even if I don't get to write every weekday has been helpful. (I am constantly bemoaning all the Life that keeps Lifing at me, and it's not near as bad as yours, but I want my life to be the exact same everyday, which you all might have noticed is not gonna happen.)
Also I have cut way back on my social media, and it was definitely not without some weeks of FOMO, but it has also been freeing.
Ah, I obviously have sung Becca's praises to high heaven and back -- and I LOVE that you were able to take the course! And I also love you now know your brain because you can point to my process and say, NO WAY. NOPE! Just as I can point to my friends who are high Consistency and Discipline and say NO WAY, NOPE! But even better, I love how knowing *their* strengths means I can better "tailor" my advice when they need it. Or just say, "Oh gosh, yeah. I understand now why that's a struggle for you. I'm sorry, man."
And yet, "put away the phone" remains great advice for everyone. ;)
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the idea of Destinations vs. Goals, and I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE REWRITING OLDER WORK!!! That seems just so gosh-darned FUN! What an amazing thing you get to do! I hope this is a trend that catches on, because there are so many books I absolutely adore, and would love to see different 'versions' of them. Seriousy, Sooz, I can't get over how cool this is.
Let me know if you want to chat about IngramSpark or KDP! I have definitely Learned Lessons this year, lol.
Thank you for “hard writing is not bad writing,” which I need to put on a post-it note above my desk, but also tell all my students! With AI the seductive time-saving horrible mess that it is, I’m so grateful for everything you say here about writing as a process that *takes time*!! Thinking and trying something and then trying something else, all the pains and thrills of discovery and experiment—none of that happens in an instant. And that’s how it should be!
Also, thrilled for all of your future works but especially Strange and Deadly—I really love the idea of getting to see Eleanor Fitt a bit older and (maybe!) wiser, after getting older myself reading your books! I’m currently reading Witchlight after rereading the series in prep and I truly think it’s your best book yet. Thrilling as always, but also so gorgeously written!!
This is absolutely, positively exactly what I needed to read right now. 😌 I've been noodling on whether I want to revise my debut, and your Strange & Deadly process has me feeling inspired.
I also recently had to throw the original timeline for my WIP out the window for reasons, and after a phase of resisting the hell out of what was happening (always productive!), it's been so incredibly freeing to just let the process take however long it takes. I mean, I'm sitting my butt in the chair and doing the work, but I don't need to magically speed things up! Which is good because I can't!
Anywho, thank you for sharing your process, and congrats on finishing two books. Woot!! 🎉
P.S. Hell yes to getting off social media. BEST decision I've ever made!
Hi Susan! Can you please talk more about your edits for Strange & Deadly? How’d you feel having to gut your magic system, expand your worldbuilding etc? I’m currently in a similar position after working on my novel for 5 years. Now I feel like I need to change my whole magic system and flesh out my characters, I’m adding an academy and creating new nations… (all in service of a much much better story) but a part of me feels…disappointed? Sad? I’m throwing away tens of thousands of words and scenes after five years of crafting this story and works but they just aren’t relevant for where I want to take the story. Are you experiencing that? Any advice?