You are definitely not alone! It's hard enough to knock out a personal essay a week for Substack. It is damn daunting to try to flesh out the ideas that have rooted in our heads. And oh yes, I too have a couple of ideas that have been taunting me for quite a while. Have about 4 pages of each actually written down...
Oh my goodness, you're in my head! Let me introduce you to my main characters Silas and Mason, who've been living rent-free in MY head for about 8 or 9 years now. I understand all of this so, so well. I wonder if I can do the story justice, if the themes are out of my reach (does it even have a theme?). The need to make a living has taken over all my time right now, but then I hear about people who have less spare time than I do... and they write and publish books. Ugh. I hope I get to read your book, though. You'll make it wonderful.
Reading this gave me hope. I'm playing with an idea for a book in my mind for some time now, but kids and work and all these adulting things just get in the way. To publish a book one day is my greatest dream, but what if I try and I'm actually not good enough? It's comforting to know you're not alone in your doubts
Yeah. I've been there too. I've published 4 novels, but this onee is special. I first started it in 1986 when I was 40. Various starts failed to capture the flavor of the story. I didn't feel I was a good enough writer yet And guess what? I wasn't.
Now in my 70s, I developed the technical skill, and underestimate the empathy of it to describe the emotions of the characters. It perked, and cooked, and final boiled over into what I always dreamed it could be. Is headed for publication this winter.
Sometimes we need to let a story mature into a greater version of itself. And we need to mature as a writer who can give it justice.
Don't rush to publication until the story lives. If the idea has persisted for 30 years, it must be a good one.
It's not just you. I've been working on mine for 30 years. I've plotted it out and started with "Voyage of the Dawn Breaker." I didn't like the way it read, so I've started the refinement process and it became "Draoidh's cearcall." I'm on my third and final revision of the story and from here it will slowly sync up.
The three books of the LawKeeper's Chronicle taught me how to keep it moving forward.
I can't wait to get the main story fixed, and move onto the next part.
Some stories take years to manifest and never get completed (Throne of swords.)
And some stories don't get completed before the author dies. (Jordan's Wheel of time. Tolkien's little house of play.)
I wrote a good chunk of a novel many years ago and didn't finish. And now, the plot is implausible because of the way the world has changed. But your story can still live! I agree with your friend. Plot it out. There's great software made to help you do just that. Or use index cards and a cork board. Start small and say you just want to plot out the first two chapters, and see how that goes. You can do this!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a sec… There’s software that can help me organize this thing somewhere outside my brain!!? What’s it called!!? I need it. Maybe it’ll feel less overwhelming—and also help me close plot holes.
For the third or fourth time, I've started writing my book again. This is after countless thoughts, ideas, and voice texts have been captured and documented. While taking a short break (just now), I read this and had to giggle. We are all in this together. I'll agree to keep going if you will
This so completely me. Wondering if I can do the story justice, but the story is a memior-MY story. Will anyone relate? With it be helpful? Will it MEAN anything? And, I have over 300 pages typed. But what is relevant? Where do I begin? I pray you get to birth this into the world!
OMG! Your 30-year oddyssey is EXACTLY like the one I started 37 years ago. In that time I've managed to knock out about 200 pages. Same reasons: lack of confidence and clarity. I think I'll address this in a post of my own Saturday, including a link to your piece. Part of me is laughing but in larger part, I'm so sorry for you. We lost novelists need to stick together.
You are definitely not alone! It's hard enough to knock out a personal essay a week for Substack. It is damn daunting to try to flesh out the ideas that have rooted in our heads. And oh yes, I too have a couple of ideas that have been taunting me for quite a while. Have about 4 pages of each actually written down...
Oh my goodness, you're in my head! Let me introduce you to my main characters Silas and Mason, who've been living rent-free in MY head for about 8 or 9 years now. I understand all of this so, so well. I wonder if I can do the story justice, if the themes are out of my reach (does it even have a theme?). The need to make a living has taken over all my time right now, but then I hear about people who have less spare time than I do... and they write and publish books. Ugh. I hope I get to read your book, though. You'll make it wonderful.
Felt every word of this. I have a book too and I'm guarding it with my life. I get feral (in my head) if I think someone else is 'stealing' it.
Reading this gave me hope. I'm playing with an idea for a book in my mind for some time now, but kids and work and all these adulting things just get in the way. To publish a book one day is my greatest dream, but what if I try and I'm actually not good enough? It's comforting to know you're not alone in your doubts
Definitely in good company!
Yeah. I've been there too. I've published 4 novels, but this onee is special. I first started it in 1986 when I was 40. Various starts failed to capture the flavor of the story. I didn't feel I was a good enough writer yet And guess what? I wasn't.
Now in my 70s, I developed the technical skill, and underestimate the empathy of it to describe the emotions of the characters. It perked, and cooked, and final boiled over into what I always dreamed it could be. Is headed for publication this winter.
Sometimes we need to let a story mature into a greater version of itself. And we need to mature as a writer who can give it justice.
Don't rush to publication until the story lives. If the idea has persisted for 30 years, it must be a good one.
Ernie, THAT’S AMAZING!!! Congratulations!
You give me hope!!!
It's not just you. I've been working on mine for 30 years. I've plotted it out and started with "Voyage of the Dawn Breaker." I didn't like the way it read, so I've started the refinement process and it became "Draoidh's cearcall." I'm on my third and final revision of the story and from here it will slowly sync up.
The three books of the LawKeeper's Chronicle taught me how to keep it moving forward.
I can't wait to get the main story fixed, and move onto the next part.
Some stories take years to manifest and never get completed (Throne of swords.)
And some stories don't get completed before the author dies. (Jordan's Wheel of time. Tolkien's little house of play.)
Yeah, I definitely don’t wanna die with this in me
I wrote a good chunk of a novel many years ago and didn't finish. And now, the plot is implausible because of the way the world has changed. But your story can still live! I agree with your friend. Plot it out. There's great software made to help you do just that. Or use index cards and a cork board. Start small and say you just want to plot out the first two chapters, and see how that goes. You can do this!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a sec… There’s software that can help me organize this thing somewhere outside my brain!!? What’s it called!!? I need it. Maybe it’ll feel less overwhelming—and also help me close plot holes.
Scrivener is probably the best one for novelists. There's a learning curve, but there are plenty of YT videos to help.
https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview
Thank you!
The coach in me says you can’t be Tolkien or Martin if you don’t try.
The writer in me says….samesies.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
For the third or fourth time, I've started writing my book again. This is after countless thoughts, ideas, and voice texts have been captured and documented. While taking a short break (just now), I read this and had to giggle. We are all in this together. I'll agree to keep going if you will
Deal!!!
I can't wait to see what all you do - whether it's in a book or not.
Thank you, Zach!!
I actually started writing a book but it seemed too much to write my plot without creating a never-ending tome. It still lives in my head.
Maybe we need to workshop this!
This so completely me. Wondering if I can do the story justice, but the story is a memior-MY story. Will anyone relate? With it be helpful? Will it MEAN anything? And, I have over 300 pages typed. But what is relevant? Where do I begin? I pray you get to birth this into the world!
Same to you!
I’m going to try! I think… lolol
I'm at 2 decades and counting.
We’re in good company!
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
OMG! Your 30-year oddyssey is EXACTLY like the one I started 37 years ago. In that time I've managed to knock out about 200 pages. Same reasons: lack of confidence and clarity. I think I'll address this in a post of my own Saturday, including a link to your piece. Part of me is laughing but in larger part, I'm so sorry for you. We lost novelists need to stick together.
Yes, we really do.
I hope you make it happen, too! 🫶🏻 📖
Thank you, Elaine!