(A-Z Challenge: J)
I didn't want to start a blog because blogging meant I wouldn't finish my book. At least not right away.
Actually, make that "book" in quotes. It's actually a compilation of disparate pieces of writing that I churned out during NaNoWriMo this past November. It's a tangled mess, some written in first person, some written in third person. Part memoir, part fiction, it's basically a segmented collection of words with an identity crisis. And rather than patiently untangle, evaluate, and love it into form, I've been convincing myself that it's beyond help and therefore there's no point even going back to read it.
Yet it torments me—that evil little file sitting in my Dropbox folder. It's daunting enough that I'm not going to just open it up one day and peruse it over a salad. But it's also got my writing brain on lockdown, afraid to move on to any new exciting writing unless I either formally break up with my last project, or really give it a respectable push.
It's kept me in this purgatory of writing paralysis long enough. That's really why I started a blog. Not because I have a big vision for this, but to keep me writing regardless of what that foreboding collection of words is whispering in my ear.
A-Zers, why do you write?
Congrats on even doing NanoWriMo.
ReplyDeleteI write because sometimes it's the only space thats not tired of hearing my shit. ;) other times it's the perfect place to just get my knowledge and experience out there.
-Sylvie
Great that you've found your space to put your thoughts out there. Keep it up!
DeleteI blog mainly to track my goals and act as a history to look back on. I also blog because it is a more interactive internet activity than clicking on webpages.
ReplyDeleteTrue, a blog makes a great archive. Thanks for sharing that!
DeleteI have a manuscript like that. And now I blog, too, to keep writing and seeing where I might go next. I'm having a blast with the blogging. And this A to Z Challenge is teaching me I can fit writing in to nearly an facet of life--between frying eggs, dropping kids to preschool, tending house--and still write 600-1000 a words a day. I didn't think I could do that before.
ReplyDeleteCarey from abundance in the boondocks
It's amazing when you start and you realize you can actually pull it off, in the middle of everything. More power to you, and congrats on finding a new writing niche!
DeleteI have some great book ideas that just didn't quite work out once I started writing. I like to believe one day I'll take that same idea and come up with a completely different, great book, but it never seems to happen...I just have to move onto new ideas!
ReplyDeleteVisiting from the A to Z Challenge signup page. Great to meet you!
Stephanie Faris, author
30 Days of No Gossip
http://stephie5741.blogspot.com
Good for you for keeping on writing. I'm glad your new ideas are finding their way out into the world regardless of whatever's happening (or not happening) with previous book ideas. I bet a lot of prolific authors have had a similar experience.
DeleteHave you tried K.M. Weiland's book, Structuring Your Novel? She teaches you how to do just that in about 5 minutes flat. You can find all her helpful posts on her blog. You might be surprised when you string your bits and pieces together, using her guide, that there is more of a novel in front of you than you thought. :)
ReplyDeleteOoh, I hadn't heard of that book or her blog. Now I MUST go check it out. Thanks so much for the suggestion!
DeleteBlogging can be your tool to gluing it all together #a2zchallenge stop from http://4covert2overt.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI think that's my secret hope. Thanks for saying it out loud. Good luck on the second half of A-Z!
DeleteStopped by from A to Z. Always interesting to see another take on things and this was a good, short piece. In answer to your question "Why do you write?" For me, the answer is simple (as I've written 500-5000 words per day for the last 105 days as part of the My 500 Words Facebook community.) I write because nothing else makes me happier nor makes better sense of my feelings and random musings. I write because the task obsesses me. I don't even care if I'm any good or even if I'm read. Writing adds a droll significance to my life and keeps me out of trouble. I write as a public service. Before this, I just drove my family crazy! : )
ReplyDeleteWow, you've got some great momentum going. I feel inspired! Sounds like it's just the thing to keep you feeling good. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a note. :) Have fun with the rest of the A-Z challenge. :)
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