I have several novels that I started and after 30 pages crashed on takeoff. I set them aside and started a new book. One had a great protagonist who made an appearance in a book I’m completing now. He’s no longer the protagonist but he’s a major character who gets lots of pages. He’ll probably return as a protagonist in a new book.
I found Lisa Cron’s Story Genius as a super helpful book. If you do the exercises she lays out to get to really know your main character’s backstory along with following her blueprint method for figuring out your book, there’s a much higher probability it will turn into a workable novel.
Patience is key as is willingness to start over if it’s not working.
Yes to all of this, Sara! I used to feel so defeated with drafts that ended up going nowhere. But now I’m like, meh. That was part of the process. It’s a twisted and fucked up process, but still a process.
Also, yes, never write something you don’t want to be writing. Because life is too short and also, what you write will suck.
Yes. There's a particular kind of non-attachment that I really need to nurture especially in the beginning. To not get into that defeated feeling which is such a drag on my energy.
Non-attachment is a good word. I try to think, “I’m writing this for me. I’m writing this to amuse and entertain myself. Or I’m writing this to get this the fuck out of my system.” Whatever the reason, I have to pull the blanket over my head and really believe that this is for me and so if it sucks, it really doesn’t matter.
It takes so MUCH PATIENCE. Thanks for saying that and the great reminders. Re: the bullet about resistance, not writing if you don't want to. The more I ignore something, the desire grows stronger. Has this ever happened to you? I'm trying to allow myself to write it in a sloppy rough draft kind of way, and then decide if I want to keep at it, revising and sharing in a public space.
Kind of. I guess it takes me a bit to understand what the resistance is about. Sitting with it for a bit to help determine if actually I don't want to write, cause that can be easy for me to say, but sometimes when I dig into it, it's more like I'm scared to write it.
Oh yes, that totally makes sense. I agree, if stepping back and not writing the thing makes the desire to write the thing grow stronger, then you're definitely on to something. It can be tricky to differentiate between resistance because it's hard and resistance because it's not the thing that your soul is meant to do.
I have several novels that I started and after 30 pages crashed on takeoff. I set them aside and started a new book. One had a great protagonist who made an appearance in a book I’m completing now. He’s no longer the protagonist but he’s a major character who gets lots of pages. He’ll probably return as a protagonist in a new book.
I found Lisa Cron’s Story Genius as a super helpful book. If you do the exercises she lays out to get to really know your main character’s backstory along with following her blueprint method for figuring out your book, there’s a much higher probability it will turn into a workable novel.
Patience is key as is willingness to start over if it’s not working.
Yes to all of this, Sara! I used to feel so defeated with drafts that ended up going nowhere. But now I’m like, meh. That was part of the process. It’s a twisted and fucked up process, but still a process.
Also, yes, never write something you don’t want to be writing. Because life is too short and also, what you write will suck.
Yes. There's a particular kind of non-attachment that I really need to nurture especially in the beginning. To not get into that defeated feeling which is such a drag on my energy.
Non-attachment is a good word. I try to think, “I’m writing this for me. I’m writing this to amuse and entertain myself. Or I’m writing this to get this the fuck out of my system.” Whatever the reason, I have to pull the blanket over my head and really believe that this is for me and so if it sucks, it really doesn’t matter.
Loved this post! I always have to remind myself to be patient, that my brain needs time to process and find a solution.
Uuugh whyyyyyy is it so hard to remember???
It takes so MUCH PATIENCE. Thanks for saying that and the great reminders. Re: the bullet about resistance, not writing if you don't want to. The more I ignore something, the desire grows stronger. Has this ever happened to you? I'm trying to allow myself to write it in a sloppy rough draft kind of way, and then decide if I want to keep at it, revising and sharing in a public space.
Do you mean ignoring something you actually want to write but aren't writing for some reason?
Kind of. I guess it takes me a bit to understand what the resistance is about. Sitting with it for a bit to help determine if actually I don't want to write, cause that can be easy for me to say, but sometimes when I dig into it, it's more like I'm scared to write it.
Oh yes, that totally makes sense. I agree, if stepping back and not writing the thing makes the desire to write the thing grow stronger, then you're definitely on to something. It can be tricky to differentiate between resistance because it's hard and resistance because it's not the thing that your soul is meant to do.
So, so tricky. Keeps things interesting that's for sure.