A WIP is a “Work In Progress”.
Some of us have one on the go while others have many. I fall into the ‘many’ category. It’s always been that way for me, ever since I first started writing almost forty years ago. I find that having more than one project keeps me from getting bogged down. I can come back to a WIP with fresh eyes after leaving it for a while, but that doesn’t mean I have to stop writing while I let one manuscript percolate.
This has been a useful strategy whether I apply it to novels, plays, or blog posts. Letting a piece sit and then coming at it with fresh eyes allows me to see its shortcomings but also its potential.
This seemed like an especially serendipitous use of the letter W since the month of November is also Nanowrimo—or “National Novel Writing Month”—something I participate in every year. One signs up to write 50,00 words, which is the size of a short novel, during the month of November. I must admit I am a bit behind this year, at least at the time of this writing, but I am ever optimistic that I’ll finish on time.
This year, I started out with a mystery idea called The Test, but I’ve actually been writing quite a lot of short memoir pieces as well, possibly inspired by Connie Inglis’s workshop at Fall Conference. They’re all anecdotal stories about the various places I’ve lived over the years. (I’ve moved a lot.) I plan to use them as future blog posts.
Other current WIPs include a homeschooling memoir, a memoir about my years teaching Drama called “Drama In the Boondocks”, a split-time novel about a hockey player who defects from the Czech Republic when it was still called Czechoslovakia (working title “Czech Out”), and a Sci-fi/paranormal piece which is still untitled.
Like I said, I like to have options!
What are you working on?
And now I best get back to trying to fulfill my 50,000 words before the deadline!
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Looking for gritty, thought-provoking faith-based fiction? Tracy Krauss’s novels combine romance with a twist of suspense and a touch of humour. It’s ‘fiction on the edge, without crossing the line.’ Also check out her many stage-plays at https://tracykrauss.com
Good morning, Tracy. Having a number of WIPs is the way I work, too. Just now, however, I'm determined to focus on just one to see it through. I am disciplining myself to stay away from everything else (other than blog posts.) Good luck on Nanowrimo!
ReplyDeleteSometimes our best strategies can backfire if it means we never finish anything!
DeleteWhat a great idea to write memoir pieces too. I love your practice of having several WIPs on the go. That's something I find helpful too.
ReplyDeleteBlessings on your NaNoWriMo, dear Tracy.
I hadn't planned on writing memoir, but it seems to be what's in my head, wanting to come out!
DeleteSounds like we have similar habits regarding WIPs, Tracy. Like Wendy, I love your idea of memoir pieces to be used in blog posts. Blessings as you work on the NaNoWriMo project.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alan!
DeleteLove this, Tracy! So important to let stuff stew for a bit. Thanks for the reminder. Just as we are WIP so should be our writing. Rooting for you and your NaNoWriMo!
ReplyDeleteI like that! WE are WIPs!
DeleteSeveral irons in the fire, as it were, is the way I like to work (most of the time). It's nice to have a few WIP options on the go. Your memoir projects sound interesting to me - I have found memoir a great genre to work on when we get to a certain age where we have a past to sort out or remember. It's a lovely way to wrap up seasons, figure out reasons, etc. Fingers crossed for a finished NaNoWriMo, Tracy!
ReplyDeleteThank you Brenda
DeleteThanks for your affirmation that several WIPs are the way to go--as long as we don't lose track or get sidelined altogether. And posting parts of our memoir also helps to finish what we're working on! NaNoWriMo for you--yeah! Go!
ReplyDelete