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Tag Archives: reading for a critique group

Writers’ Group and My Story…A Tale of Panic

23 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by Kathleen Palm in Thoughts

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

fears, hopes, reading for a critique group, Short story, taking a break from writing, thoughts, vacation, writer's group, writing

Today, I feel a bit fuzzy.

I’ve been working and working on a short story, and the best writing time hit in the middle of the night. A few nights going to bed at 3 or 4 am can seriously deplete your energy.

bigherosixfall

Yesterday I read that beat up draft of my unicorn story to my writers’ group. There’s something about this story I love, like LOVE LOVE. Is it the unicorn aspect, a unicorn with a dark twist? Maybe. Is it the theme that there is no happily ever after, only moments of joy that drive you to search for more? Maybe.

I want…I need it to be good. Submissions for the anthology open on September 1, and I would love to see it published.

So I was extra nervous to read it.

As in I thought I was going to throw up nervous.

glittercheerleaders

For your amusement, let’s visit the thoughts that went through my mind as I read…

 

Oh. Wow. Only on page two…this feels so long.

Jonstewartoverwhelmed

 

Geez, me, can you repeat that word any more?

hide

 

I think I already said something similar to that…DID I SAY SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT? Ugh. Repetitive much?

Elfcottonheadedninnymuggins

 

Oh. Yes. Too long. Dragging.

sherlocksigh

 

Tension…all the tension. Too much tension?

MLPeyetwitch2

 

Is anyone understanding what I meant there?

Minion1

 

That sentence…

avengerscapamReally

 

Hmmm…that scene, I thought I deleted it? Why didn’t I? SHOULD I HAVE DELETED THAT?

MLPrarityheaddesk

 

Everyone is really quiet…maybe they fell asleep…OMG THEY FELL ASLEEP THIS IS BAD!

sherlocksleepy

 

I’m sweating…I think I’m sweating. Do I smell?

Avengersthordisappointed

 

Oh. More words I obviously can’t live without.

DrWho9headdeskamy

 

Maybe I should go home and burn this.

flamethrower

 

Seriously quiet in here…no one is moving. I think I killed them.

littleshopofhorrorsseymourgasp

 

Aren’t I done yet? This is so long!

stitchfaint

 

Almost done. THEN WHAT WILL EVERYONE SAY??!?!?

Drwhodon'tknow

 

LAST LINE THANK GOODNESS I’M DONE!

LHotPolsenfaint

 

Of course as everyone commented, my brain spun a million miles an hour, deciphering what they said, translating their thoughts into what it meant for the story. What did they hear? What did they get from the story? What did they like? What did they not understand?

Did these words do the job I wanted them to do?

Yes. I had positive feedback. The story is there, I just have some problems to fix…problems I knew existed, because, dude, I do those things all the time. Repetition is a fun thing I do. Beginnings, not my forte, I need to add a bit. I think I have a good opening line and closing line…SO YEA THESE ARE IMPORTANT TO ME!

AND THE GRAND POOBAH OF ALL…the message was in there. Those listening got the point of the story.

muppetkermit-flail

Anyone else have similar experiences? Anyone else send work off to be read, or read it in front of people and feel like they’re going to explode? My guess, pretty much everyone. Our work, our art, is a bit of ourselves and we want to be liked, we want to be good enough.

This is a good thing. It makes us strive to be better, to learn. Now I will take what my notes and see what will help my story and what won’t.

But I’m not going back to revisions for a while. Like I said, my brain is mushy… *pokes it with a stick*…yup, mush.

And perfect timing, I leave for vacation on Saturday and will be gone for a week. So today and tomorrow will be me crossing the I MUST DO THESE THINGS BEFORE I LEAVE off the list. And because I will be out of the state visiting family, I will be absent from here.

HPwavinggoodbye

DON’T CRY I WILL RETURN!

Promise.

despicablemepinky-promise-o

Have a great week!

 

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Kathleen Palm, Author

Kathleen Palm, Author

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