Finally finished a writing project that's been hanging over my head
@bagarad (14283)
Paso Robles, California
October 20, 2011 5:26pm CST
Since August 6, I've known I had to write this collections of memories mixed with history, videos, and pictures from the most special church I've ever been part of. Every day when I've been myLotting I should have been working on it. Day by day I've been piecing it together, and it's now posted. It feels so good to know it's finished except for occasional updates. I have promised it to all who were at that August 6 reunion, and even though I often didn't feel like writing on it, I knew I needed to keep my promise. So now it's finished and I feel such great relief. How do you feel after you finish a project that has dragged out for a long time?
One reason this dragged on so long was that all the ideas needed to incubate in my mind before I wrote anything at all. I had to write to people for permissions, memories and information and then see who would answer. I had to wait a long time for some. Then I'd discover another missing fact I'd have to track down when no one else has written about this yet on line. One night I talked to an old friend for at least an hour while we went through the ID's on the pictures we both had in a memory album for another reunion. It seemed the more I wrote, the more I realized how little I really knew about anything but my own impressions.
When you do a major piece of online nonfiction writing, what mental processes do you go through in the process of creation? How do you decide when you are finished? How do you feel when it's finally posted? Tired? Excited? Relieved? Something else?
5 people like this
9 responses
@SpikeTheLobster (6399)
•
21 Oct 11
Stress.
I always worry about what I've missed... 
2 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Stephen King gives out his work to a few friends and his wife to read and they tell him what changes are needed..I have no one, yet I hope by getting my one book published, that it will bring someone in my life to critique my second novel..
1 person likes this
@SpikeTheLobster (6399)
•
21 Oct 11
That's why a third-party edit is so useful (and so nerve-wracking), I guess - getting a complete outsider's point of view on what you've written can be really eye-opening!
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 11
I was feeling some of that on the way home tonight. There is a lot I left out. When you are talking about real people you know who will be reading what you write you don't want to share too much that is private and very much a part of who those people are, so it's like walking on eggshells. (Did I say too much? Will someone be upset his picture is part of the group picture? Should I have tried to be more objective?) But I know what you l mean. If it's something really important, you want it to be your best work. What I wrote this time was not my best work because I was too close to it.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Most of my writing is in religion of politics discussion but I save some of it, who knows maybe there's a book in there somewhere.. I do have a fiction book I intend to finish one of these days.. when the mood comes upon me to write something, non fiction of fiction based on non fiction, it like a pile of letters, words and paragraphs in a big pile somewhere above my head
and then I simply must straighten them all out in just the (w)rite way!
and then I simply must straighten them all out in just the (w)rite way!
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 11
Your pile sounds like what I have when I have to start doing my taxes? Nothing demotivates me like having to sort through a pile and organize information. I just want to write!
Nothing demotivates me like having to sort through a pile and organize information. I just want to write!
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 11
Finished one article and working on another. Sure wish I could get some inspiration for a poem, though.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
21 Oct 11
I don't know if I am qualified for answering this post, for one, any non-fiction I write is because I have to for school, and like Mr. King says, "writing non-fiction is torture" So when I finish writing my nonfiction, I feel relieved that it is over and I can write what I love, my "fiction" I have only written 2 fictional stories since I was in high school, one is the one I hope you got the link to read it in the PM I sent, I wrote in Creative Writing, and the second one, the one I want to publish. . . well that one isn't done yet, but I can't wait until it is..
So when I finish writing my nonfiction, I feel relieved that it is over and I can write what I love, my "fiction" I have only written 2 fictional stories since I was in high school, one is the one I hope you got the link to read it in the PM I sent, I wrote in Creative Writing, and the second one, the one I want to publish. . . well that one isn't done yet, but I can't wait until it is..
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 11
Well, I am feeling some relief. It's always nice just to have the process over.
@airkulet (2700)
• Philippines
21 Oct 11
Sometimes my laziness is the hindrance in writing. I've had a lot of ideas but I'm really not in the mood to write it down. But if I finished it I feel relieved too, it seems to me that it is my obligation to finish what I started and will feel a little guilty not touching it to finish.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 11
I have some works in progress as well, but it's time, not laziness that keeps me from them. I'm working on one tonight. It will sit finished until it's time to publish it for the HubPages contest in November. Better to write a few hubs ahead of time and keep working on them so there is not so much pressure when it's time to post them. I'd like to get 10 done ahead .
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
21 Oct 11
This is a lot like the non-fiction writing I have been doing, in that the reseacrh would be fairly similar. I started researching one side of my family history over ten years ago. As I am a descendant of a convict and an Aboriginal woman, it was very intersting, but very hard to research. I ended writing a 5000 word account. Part of it was published years ago.
Was this like a history of your church? Is it only posted online? Are you going to get it printed?
I have a good collection of photos to go with my "writing" and I had only been thinking about it yesterday. Like you, when I did the research, I would discover another missing fact.That is why I put off getting it printed for such a long time, as there are always facts to discover. I realised eventually that without visiting Melbourne or Canberra, it is unlikey that I will find any more info.
In my case, there is less benefit than putting it online as you did. There are too many elderly family members who want a copy.
So I have to find a program that wil help collate the info and photos in a good format.
Did you organise a copywrite for your writing?
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 11
Jenny, I'm not sure I understand your last question. This is essentially written for the people who have been associated with the church at some time. In twenty more years, probably no one will be alive who still cares about it, so online seems the best way to handle it. It's a Squidoo lens, because the platform lends itself to photo galleries, videos, polls, duels, and text with no pain. In a sense, the photos really belong to the whole group anyway, and a few were contributed by others. Almost everyone in the group has an email address, so they will have access. Getting a hard copy would be almost useless, and with all the color photos, the cost would be out of sight. Besides that, the videos can't go into a book.
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
21 Oct 11
I do take an ample amount of time when I do create articles. I am not one of those that spills out a quick article as I am very detailed and do like to get the sense like it is exactly the way I want it to be completed before I do release it.
When I finally get it posted it is like a great sigh of comfort. It is like the feeling of having accomplished something. I do get relieved but at the same time very proud and excited.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 11
It's funny. I tried to nap at the other house after I went to the post office today, and I still kept thinking if I should have said something differently than I did. Then I got home, read it again, and decided not to revise it after all. I will only revise if someone else sends additional information to include. I'm ready now to move on to writing entries for the HubPages contest. My excitement at completing the job has worn off and it's time to put this job behind me.
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
24 Oct 11
Well, I have never had to or wanted to write something of this nature. But the beginning process would be to get a list of things needed to complete the task. Like, names, places, pictures, video's, Historical facts, memories. With memories, I would start with my own, then I would contact everyone on the list and get their input. Remember, if you have a list of things needed, then all you have to do is go down the list. You know it's done when you have written the last sentence. I know that writing things like this cannot be that easy, but if you do it in an organized way, I feel it will move more smoothly. I total get not wanting to do something like that, because it involves commitment. But I am sure you feel awesome now that it is done. The worst thing you could ever do is to doubt yourself.
