I want to write. I want to start writing my new novel. But I can’t. Not right now.
This is not procrastination. This is not the usual fear of failure that stymies me at the beginning of new projects.
This is fallout.
Life has gone all Tennessee Williams on our asses, and it steals a lot of energy–psychic, emotional, physical, spiritual. I’m just not up to starting a massive project like a new novel.
But I want to write.
So I’m going to take another tack. I’m going to sidestep this emotional turmoil. Like one of the fiddler crabs on the shore where I grew up, I’m going to crab-walk to the side, and hit my opponent’s flank.
I’m going to rework an old story.
I know…it sounds weak. Rework an old story? A story in a genre I’m not really interested in anymore? It sounds weak and puny and pretty damned sad.
Well, right now, I am weak and puny and pretty damned sad, so this is just what the doctor ordered.
Here’s what it’ll do for me.
It’s a small project, so it won’t daunt me. I’ll be able to see the finish line from the starting gate, which will encourage me. I’ll be writing something, playing with words, laughing at what I used to think was good writing, and putting some of my newly learned lessons into practice. Even though it’s sci-fi, I like this old story, but it is a product of who I was and the writer I was back then–i.e., it’s clunky and rather simplistic in spots. I want to update it, make it more of a grown-up story, give it more depth. Most importantly, when I’m done, I will have written.
Last night, First Reader reread the original–neither of us remember the details of the story–while I mocked up the cover art. Around midnight, we discussed her opinions, noted the flaws, discussed what I wanted it to be, spitballed some approaches. Then I showed her the cover mock-up. I suggested some changes, but she said, no…the concept is good like it is.
Already I can feel the excitement growing within me. A new novel may be beyond my capacity at the moment, but this…this I can do.
Onward.
k
[…] is exactly what I hoped would happen, when I decided to put off working on my new novel and pick up a short story instead. The novel was too big a […]
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Hi again – sorry for the extra post, but I see I posted anonymously before. It was me … 🙂
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I don’t know why, but that happens to some comments from regular readers…
I like to remember that I have several options under the heading of “writing.” A poem, a vignette, running a couple of clustering exercises, even _reading_ can be a legitimate “writing” task. It’s not always or only the writing of a novel.
Once I’m really deep into the project, it’s important (for me) to keep going even if I’m having trouble–That’s where discipline comes in–but I have to be realistic, too.
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So true. You are right about writing has several options. And I think we do them daily and sometimes do not give ourselves ‘credit’ for what we have done. I tend to focus on what I wanted to accomplish and did not… but I usually do accomplish something!
Yes, I’m working on the ‘keep going’ part… deep breath… and focus. Thanks for sharing and reminding me this!
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Anytime. Of course, now with indie publishing, we can add “creating cover art” and “blurbing” to our list of “writing” activities.
Thanks for stopping by!
k
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As you know I can relate to this and talk about it often. Sometimes it’s easier to make excuses and NOT write (for me anyway) and just say this is too hard…but I like that you have options, you have a cure. I wish you the best and thank you for sharing this post!
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Good luck with your project! Consider following us on tumblr, we are gathering a group of writers who would like to complete their work as well. Hope to see you there!
-M.
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Thanks. I’ve done this enough times to know that I don’t write a book in 30 days, as your site promotes. I prefer to encourage folks to _start_ and _keep going_. Sometimes that’s hard enough to do, without the extended pressure of trying to write a novel in 30 days. Thanks for stopping by, though! I appreciate the comments and hope you find something of interest here.
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