Debunking myths on genetics and DNA

Wednesday, October 5, 2016


This is a monthly event started by the awesome Alex J. Cavanaugh and organized by the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Click here to find out more about the group and sign up for the next event. You can also sign up for the newsletter. Our cohosts this month: Beverly Stowe McClure, Megan Morgan, Viola Fury, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Angela Wooldridge, and Susan Gourley.

Hello All, happy fall and happy Halloween month!

First off, if you haven't heard about the anthology contest, check it out: the deadline is November 1st! Rules, theme and other important details on the ISWG page.


My post this month is going to be short and I apologize if I won't be able to reciprocate the comments until later in the week since I'm currently at a conference (and my presentation is today, wish me luck!).

October question: When do you know your story is ready?

It's hard to give an objective answer to that question since a story is ready when it "feels" ready. But since for a writer the hardest thing is to judge his/her own work, my strategy has been to write a first draft, then go back and refine, then go back and edit, then go back and send it to trusted beta readers. Sometimes a beta reader will come up with a suggestion that does not resonate, but most of the times, my trusted betas have good suggestions and after those improvements I usually feel that the story is ready.

How about you, what's your strategy?

9 comments:

  1. Good luck with your presentation!

    As for the when is it ready, I'm the worst person to ask... I tend to jump the gun.

    IWSG October

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  2. I hate to let go of my stories. They always seem to need something. When I'm just moving around commas and changing words, and my crit partner has made comments, I finally submit.
    Best of luck with your presentation.

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  3. Works for me.
    Good luck at the conference!

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  4. That's very similar to my strategy as well.

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  5. I think a balance between gut and feedback gives most of us an indication when our work is done. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  6. I basically work my edits down from revisions to proofreading. When I discover I'm only shifting punctuation around, I call a story done.

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  7. I agree that it's about feel. Generally, when I can re-read the work and not cringe or grab a red pen, it's probably ready.

    @mirymom1 from
    Balancing Act

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  8. I have a developmental editor who ALWAYS rips my book to pieces, and he doesn't see it until the 3 to 5th draft. That's the fire. From there on out it's just refining and smoothing.

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  9. Hope the presentation went well!

    My stories never feel ready, so I don't really have a strategy, haha. Yours sounds like a good method, though!

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