Writing Blog Number 2 (continued)

by S🤦‍♂️

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #2348964

This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC

This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. It follows on from the old one, which is now full.

An index of topics from old and new can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"

Feel free to comment and interact. And to suggest topics!

Comments ·

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

BIG BAD WOLF is Lucky

Mar 2, 2026 at 8:17am
In response to "20260302 Writer Confidence"

Always something.

AbbyAG

Feb 27, 2026 at 10:35am
In response to "20260227 Giving Up On A Project"

I don't understand why they blocked you, Steve - Your answer was perfectly reasonable.

Abby

Danger Mouse

Feb 23, 2026 at 11:35am
In response to "20260223 Writing Scandals 7: The Salt Path"

Just be sure to stay legal in your own work, and be suspicious of everyone

That should save you.

Yeah, I can't make that button work either.

Schnujo's having school probs

Feb 23, 2026 at 12:53am
In response to "20260223 Writing Scandals 7: The Salt Path"

This is crazy, especially that some people see her as a "seeker of 'deeper truth.'" It is too bad that fewer memoirs were accepted because of this, but I can't blame the publishers for being gun shy.

Thanks for posting this -- interesting, as always! All the more reason to either not lie or self-publish your memoir. Lol

(I normally enlarge my font, but can't figure out how on the new toolbar. Lol)

Schnujo's having school probs

Feb 20, 2026 at 10:27am
In response to "20260220 Writing Scandals 6: Cait Corrain"

IDK if you're going to talk about the scandal with Sarah Mughal Rana and Lia Bloomingberry (or Blooming Berry -- IDK which is correct), but as soon as you mentioned Goodreads, since this is the only scandal I know about ATM, this is the one that came to mind.

(Note that he's talking about the 1st book in her series while holding up the 2nd. lol)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4zX1DQq9gQ

Here's a follow-up video to the 1st one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz-6X7iUk9U

Anyway, thanks for tagging me to be sure I didn't miss this! These scandals definitely don't make being an author seem all that great. lol I've heard Goodreads is a bit of a toxic environment already. I do know that their ratings are always much lower than Amazon's, which I always found odd/interesting. If I ever published, I'd focus on the Amazon rating because the Goodreads rating is just too upsetting. I've never seen anything on there rated at such a level that I would buy it. Eek!

But when I use the Amazon ratings and don't go below 4.5 stars, I'm almost never disappointed -- like maybe 2 books have disappointed me since not buying anything rated under 4.5 stars (unless it's part of a series or from someone here lol). It works for me. But who knows what else I'd love if I read lower rated books. Some (generally from a series) that are rated lower are also some books I've enjoyed -- maybe not as much, but I've still usually enjoyed them. But as money is limited for us all and books are virtually unlimited, I have to have parameters and the rating is definitely one I set.

Schnujo's having school probs

Feb 18, 2026 at 1:27pm
In response to "20260218 Monster Dictionary Update"

Well, part of me doesn't ever want it to and part of me is dying for it to so I can buy it!!!

I know you're VERY anti-self-publishing, but if you can't sell this to a traditional publisher, I REALLY hope you'll self-publish it...or just give/sell me a copy. Hahaha!

You've said you don't think a traditional publisher will ever want it, but I'm not sure that's true. Maybe. But also, writers (and people like me who pretend to be writers lol) will want it, so I think someone will buy it. Though it may have to be in volumes, like a set of encyclopedias. Lol

Jim

Feb 11, 2026 at 6:19pm
In response to "20260211 Schools In Writing"

Here is my experience in U.S. Schools:

In the States, Elementary School is grades 1-5 (or was, last I knew). Ages 7-12 (thereabouts)

Middle School is grade 6-8, ages 12-14

High School is grades 9-12, ages 15-18.

I was in Elementary School through the 6th grade and was excited to finally get to Junior High School. EXCEPT, that year was the year of the change. My Junior High School was now a Middle School, I attended the 7th & 8th grades only. Then High School, grades 9-12. Never went to College or University, joined the Navy instead.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Feb 11, 2026 at 12:28pm
In response to "20260211 Schools In Writing"

Good point. I have NO interactions with school kids. I have little interaction with Gen Z.

Regardless, there is no universal school system and no universal culture.

BIG BAD WOLF is Lucky

Feb 9, 2026 at 9:04am
In response to "20260209 Why I Write Horror"

Horror is a release.

AbbyAG

Feb 4, 2026 at 11:58am
In response to "20260130 7 Worst Types Of Plot Holes"

I've seen most of these, and they drive me nuts! On the other hand, I've probably unknowingly created some of them myself.

Abby

March 9, 2026 at 12:22am

#1110196

20260309 Idea Judging

Idea Judging

A couple of posts ago I mentioned I received a question from someone who has subsequently blocked me. This is the next one from them! FWIW, I have no idea why I was blocked, but she did it all of a sudden, including on Instagram, so I did something wrong… Allegedly…
How do we know if an idea is worth pursuing?

So, I am taking this to mean how do we know if it is worth our while running with an idea we have. Well, truth be told, we don’t know until we have written it. And – and I think this is very important – an idea might not be right for you but could be perfect for someone else.
So, anyway, I think these signs are tell-tale that the idea is not a good fit for you.
1) You get bored with it.
Maybe during the planning phase, maybe when you start writing it, but it bores you.
2) You cannot see any possible ending.
For Pantsers, this might hit later, but for plotters, that is a clear sign.
3) You struggle to fit characters into it.
The idea might feel good, but you just cannot get characters to fit it, so maybe use it as backstory or world world-building.
4) You are more into the world to be built than the story.
This can indicate that maybe you should just build a world and not force a story onto it.
5) It feels like it is too common.
While it is fine to re-use ideas (no copyright on ideas), if you feel it is overdone, then don’t add to it, as you can get bored quickly (see point 1).
6) It feels too convoluted.
This is especially the case for plotters, when their plotting is too much.

There are, however, times when it might feel like the idea is not going to work, but it could be the approach to the idea.
A) Don’t have a beginning.
You can come back to this later. Not a big deal.
B) Not all characters work.
This means some characters work, so change out those that don’t.
C) Have everything except the ending
Let the ending come. If everything else feels good, then the story should tell you the ending.

And I think that covers how a writer could judge the value of an idea.

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