Every month a question will be posed that may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Remember, the question is optional. You can write about anything that relates to your writing journey.
Let's give a warm welcome to our co-hosts, Tamara Narayan, Patsy Collins, M.J. Fifield, and Nicohle Christopherson!
This month's question is: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?
Indeed I have. I reworked a short fantasy into a novel. It has potential, but who knows when I'll get back to it.
I also reworked what were nothing more than a string of notes into my novel, A Lizard's Tail. The story idea dates to the mid-1970s, but I didn't begin writing the novel until around 2000. Then, I didn't get it published until 2014. So, to those of you who think you're taking too long to write your book, do not be discouraged.
It's never to late to begin,
and never too late to finish!
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Being Thankful
Today I'm thankful for the stories and novels I have completed. I'm also thankful for the ones that are still works in progress.
***
What are you thankful for? Ever reworked an old story to make it new? What's the longest it's taken you to write a novel?
You are so right that it is never too late to finish. I started writing my first novel around 1998 and published it in 2011. It is difficult to know sometimes if a story should be let go, though.
ReplyDeletewww.gail-baugniet.blogspot.com
I hear you. There are stories in my files that I still think about, but I don't think are worth the effort.
DeleteSometimes I do feel discouraged that I'm taking so long to finish my book. But you're right, it's never too late to finish! Just gotta keep writing.
ReplyDeleteYup, just got to keep writing. One word at a time.
DeleteHas it been that long since A Lizard's Tail? I must've fallen into a time warp since then.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it has!
DeleteI love seeing an idea from a long time ago come alive.
ReplyDeleteMe too. And there are so many waiting in the wings!
DeleteAwesome how an idea turned into A Lizard's Tail.
ReplyDeleteHi Bish! Yep, I've reworked an old story, and will probably do it again. Thank you so much for your comment on never being too late to begin or finish. Words to live by.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably work on some other old stories too.
DeleteI am thankful for the opportunity to continue to do the one thing I truly love, despite all!
ReplyDeleteYes, keep at it, eventually you'll get there, where ever it is you want to go! But do you know where that is? LOL
I'm a most excellent example of keeping at it even though I'm very slow. :D
DeleteWhew! Now there's a good stretch of time for you! Goes to show, never give up, eh?
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for a good night's sleep. Those are pretty rare lately.
Absolutely. Never give up! I figure if I can do, anyone can. Here's hoping good sleeps will become more frequent.
DeleteThose are all most excellent things to be thankful for!
ReplyDeleteIt's never too late! No matter how long the story has sat dormant.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteDoorways took me about three years to finish writing, so I think that's the longest. All of my other drafts were shorter, unless you count the breaks I take in between. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm so slow... it's the revising part that bogs me down and takes for-e-ver!
DeleteHi Bish - you tell the truth ... all writers should take note! But incredible your lizard's tale had such a long tail ... perhaps it got stuck in the drawer and just grew and grew .. but congratulations on getting it published - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteLOL! You said it, Hilary. He grew long tail. Considering how the story started and how it ended up...completely different!
Delete40 years? Wow – I think that must be an IWSG record! It's great that you believed in it enough to keep going and that it paid off.
ReplyDeleteWow, when you put it in numbers, that is a long time!
DeleteI'm thankful for IWSG and all its support and encouragement! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteThat is incredible! And a lovely encouragement. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chrys.
DeleteI love hearing this, Bish. As I read through this month's IWSG posts, I am surprised how many of us do keep track of old stuff and rework it. I've only read one so far who trashed hers.
ReplyDeleteI've also been surprised by how may haul out old material to work with.
DeleteNow that is a perfect quote!
ReplyDeleteIt's true, Lee. I'm proof!
DeleteLove your maxim: "It's never to late to begin, and never too late to finish!" I'm stealing it for my own.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Steal away!
DeleteAs writers, we are kept sane through our stories, so there's a lot to be thankful for in that department.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes indeed!
DeleteToday, I'm thankful for IWSG, and the encouragement of strangers who have become friends.
ReplyDeleteYes. Strangers who have become friends.
DeleteHi Bish, I'm thankful that I have travelled to distant places. As for reworking old material - I'm not a novelist, but - yes, I do it all the time for short fiction and non-fiction. (Although I can't get close to your time spans!)
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I just came from Margo Kelly's site with the same question. My 2nd book was actually proving ground for what I write now, at my other site (Susan Kane, Writer).
ReplyDeleteIn the blog world, I have met awesome writers whose skills inspire me.
Wow! So interesting to learn about Lee's family history. It was fascinating to read and amazing to think about all the moving and traveling her family did! Especially at that time. I can see this being a wonderful book- but imagine the research would be very time consuming (but so interesting).
ReplyDeleteI supposedly had one relative who was on the Mayflower- but I would really like to look into all of that, because you never know if it is really true or now. :)
Bish- Loved seeing you over at Lee's blog. I agree- the blogging community is amazing!
~Jess