Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.
Optional Monthly Question: Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you’d forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming?
My writing surprises me all the time. Whenever I think I’ve written something really good or special, people don’t care for it. Whenever I write something I don’t think is really developed or good enough, people seem to like it. I’m not sure what that says about me or my writing.
I started writing a story once that I thought would have a happy ending but then I ended up writing a tragic one.
Every now and then I start a story with a beginning and end in mind and it actually comes together the way I planned. Sometimes that’s the most surprising.
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No personal updates this month. Not much going on.
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What do you find surprising about your writing?
Read any surprising books lately.
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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Renee Scattergood,
Sadira Stone,
Jacqui Murray,
Tamara Narayan, and
LG Keltner!!
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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #44).
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords
19 replies on “#IWSG August 2019: Surprises”
The unexpected keeps me writing. I don’t plan ahead. (Story of my life. lol) That vague idea percolating in my brain can develop into a fantastic story…or a dismal one. I think you have to follow your subconscious. I hope August is a great writing month for you.
Thank you, Diane. I think my subconscious is playing jokes on me sometimes, but I get what you’re say. 😉
That’s interesting how readers have the opposite reaction of what you expect. I only let my husband read my stuff right now, and he always says it’s good. Not sure if he’s the best critic, though!
Well, Sarah, you sound very blessed. My husband is terrified to read my work. He says it either makes him sad or scared (not sure what that says about either of us). I don’t usually go to him unless I’m desperate.
Maybe it’s the difference between writing for you and writing for others?
You may have a point, Alex. Unfortunately, that means when I write for myself it isn’t very good, but when I write for others I do better… I’ll take it.
When the plan comes together, it’s a shocker for me too. My characters usually run amok. 😉
Anna from elements of emaginette
I’ve got a pretty good handle on my characters, but sometimes I feel like the plot is playing tricks on all of us.
Hi,
I am radical about writing from my gut. if it doesn’t fit me, then I don’t write it.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I think I too strive to write from my gut, but my gut can sometimes be really wrong.
This is such a subjective endeavor. I understand exactly what you’re saying about people liking what you think isn’t good, but disliking what you think is. Sheeh! It’s enough to drive a writer to drink.
If you’re offering Rose, I’m interested in trying it… Oh the things we writers do in the pursuit of our love of writing.
Rose it is!
My stories seldom turn out as I planned but sometimes better than I expected. I like it when that happens. Happy IWSG day.
Oh yes. It’s the best feeling when things turn out better than expected.
I’ve had surprises similar to that. I think of Tsunami Crimes as my best work, but nearly everyone says Flaming Crimes is their favorite book, maybe because I put so much real experiences in it.
Another good point, Chrys. I think the stories that are more personal are the ones others gravitate to, even without knowing how personal they really are.
I can relate to getting unexpected reactions to our writing, Toi, although yours always reads as good or great to me. I suppose it depends in part on the reader, but in my case I get bewitched by my own prose.
Thank you Roland. I too enjoy your writing.