I was talking to a friend today who is a firm believer that you should always have a backup partial waiting in the wings, when you get rejected in case the editor liked your voice, but didn’t like the idea. I agree with her, but I’m not sure I am organized enough to pull it off. She asked me if I had any partials lying around. I told her yes. I also have two full novellas and a single title in my files. I know that work sitting in my files isn’t going to bring in money, but I’m not sure I am comfortable with submitting the work as is. A lot of it was written several years ago. My writing style has changed a lot since then. So much so, I doubt it would be recognizable. Which brings up another question, do I have time to read through all that work and edit it to make it publishable? It’s a tough decision because I have new projects calling to me. Unfortunately, they aren’t all completely formed. My ideas come in pieces and wait for me to puzzle them together. 
What would you do if you had work lying around?
I can’t remember if I mentioned it or not, if I did, I’m sorry, but we went to see Ghost Town the other day. If you get a chance to see this movie, go. It’s so funny. Ricky is hilarious. I plan to buy it when it comes out on DVD.
Shiloh Walker had some good news today. Stop by her site and congratulate her on all her new sales. 
Way to go, Shi!
Tomorrow I’ll be playing at Romancing the Blog. Stop on by.
LOL… Jordan, I’ve NOTEBOOKS full of decent enough ideas, dating back to high school.
Getting them organized will take so much work, I shudder to even get started, although I know I need to.
Thanks for the congrats. September was a month from HELL, so the good news at the start of October is helping improve my outlook.
by Shiloh Walker October 2nd, 2008 at 7:03 pmLOL! Yeah, I find the idea of organizing all those ideas daunting.
Congrats again. I could use a little outlook improving myself.
by Jordan Summers October 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 pmI have some work laying around I haven’t had time to market. That’s coming up. I also have some partials that I could whip into submittal shape fairly quickly. It’s good to have stuff on the back burner.
by Charli October 2nd, 2008 at 8:06 pmI desperately needed this. Shudder. The past few weeks. Shudder.
by Shiloh Walker October 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmCharli, I agree. It is good to have stuff ready to go out the door.
by Jordan Summers October 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 pm(((Shiloh))) I’m glad things have turned around for you.
Here’s hoping you’re right. The last few months have been blech.
by Jordan Summers October 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 pmTrying to remember…
I have two complete novellas, three complete single titles, four partials, and about twenty three ideas for stories in folders on the hard drive.
And there they sit.
Will I rework them sometime?
by raine October 3rd, 2008 at 12:29 amDunno. There’s something in my brain that often struggles with the idea. “What are you doing?” it says if I try to revise them. “This story’s already finished!”
But yeah–having spare parts around the house is good.
I probably have about 4 decent proposal packages sitting around. At one time, I would’ve had all this out, but I’ve come to the understanding that for me that’s not a smart way to build myself. I want to have a career, not just sell books.
I have two projects out shopping now, in two different genres. When I sell them both, I will have enough work to keep me busy until 2011. I figure those proposals can wait until then.
by Vivi Anna October 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 amHi Jordan:
I’m not a published author so I don’t know if I should be responding to your post, but….
I’ve been a closet writer since probably the middle dark ages and have a number of short stories penned. A romance novel in the works and about 10 different characters rattling around in my brain speaking to me most of the time – no I’m not a diagnosed schizophrenic (I’m talking in the ‘muse’ sense here). I try not to respond to them verbally at least.
Procrastination is a wonderful thing isn’t it? Trouble is it never gets you to the goal you would like to achieve.
However, back to the question you asked. I’ve made a committment to myself to get at least one piece of work completed by the spring and put it out there and see what happens. Sometimes setting a timeline helps I think.
I’ve ordered ‘Red’ by the way, at Larissa’s recommendation and am looking forward to a great read.
Regards
by Lea October 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 amLea
I think you should definitely edit and put your older work out there. Let the agents and editors decide whether it fits their publishing needs at the time. A big part of the decision to do it or not rests with how excited you are when you review your material.
by BernardL October 3rd, 2008 at 10:52 amRaine, ***“What are you doing?” it says if I try to revise them. “This story’s already finished!”***
That’s almost word for word what my brain says. It has moved on and doesn’t feel there’s a need to go back. I’m not sure how to rewire it to look at the work in a new light.
by Jordan Summers October 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 amVivi, Like what Raine said, that’s the other thing that’s been running through my head. What are you trying to ultimately do with your career? Does this type of work aid that quest or detract? Of course I have to answer the first question first. Sigh.
by Jordan Summers October 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 amLea, My blog, contrary to what it seems like, is not just a writers blog. I welcome everyone’s opinion. You don’t have to be published. You don’t even have to be a writer. *g*
You do have a point about it ultimately being procrastination. I agree.
As for the voices in your head, you’re doing better than me. I answer them aloud all the time. *ggg*
Good luck with your deadline. They do help when you’re trying to finish work. I can work without them for the most part, but it does tend to take me longer. I think it still goes back to procrastination and feeling like the work is complete for me. It’s hard to dive in when you’ve more or less walked away.
Thank you!
by Jordan Summers October 3rd, 2008 at 11:37 amBernard, I find it hard to look at any of my work and not cringe. It’s not that there’s a ton of stuff wrong with it, but I can’t look at it objectively. I’m not one of those readers who goes back and re-reads her work. But you do have a lot of valid points. Perhaps I should let the publishers and my agent sort the work out.
by Jordan Summers October 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 pmI have tons of stuff lying around, anything from two-line “ideas” to complete-but-not-ready-for-submission novellas. [laugh/flail] Some I’ll probably never get back to, and some I plan to. In fact, one of them I definitely will — One of the novellas is an urban fantasy which is the basis of a universe I made up. There’s a follow-up short story that’s ready to go if the first one ever gets published, and one of my published shorts is actually set in that universe, although with completely different characters and geographically remote from the first batch of guys, to make it work as a stand-alone. I really want to get this one done, especially most of the rewriting will be to fix a pacing problem and it’ll probably gain enough verbage to be a novel, which would be cool.
I’m having to gird my loins to do a major remodel on this one story, but it’s the foundation of this universe and giving up on it essentially means setting aside the universe, which I really don’t want to do. So, into edit-hell we go. [wry smile] I do know what you mean about the mental resistance, though; I need to work mine over with a baseball bat and get it to shut up.
Angie
by Angie October 8th, 2008 at 12:17 pmAngie, Can I borrow that bat when you’re done? *ggg*
by Jordan Summers October 8th, 2008 at 4:34 pmSure, it’s even got my name on it. If only it had a GPS chip…. ;D
Angie
by Angie October 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pmAngie, *ggg*
by Jordan Summers October 8th, 2008 at 5:26 pm