Well, you've done it again. You've left an amazing collection of comments worth reading over again. And I know your words of advice and encouragement (and empathy!) aren't ministering to me alone. I imagine you're speaking to an awful lot of I'm-the-same-boat writers.
And while I do thank you, Meg, for the huggles (I'll take those any time!), there really wasn't anguish in my "What are you willing to set aside?" question. It's a hard reality sort of question that we all need to face. And "set aside" doesn't necessarily mean "send to the compost heap." It might, but not necessarily.
My battle plan is--and has been--to shop this YA dystopic with everything in my being. Because this is the "one." I've known it for over two years now.
Yes, I've just written it over the past three months. (Still not at the end...trust me, you'll hear about it!) But the idea was conceived more than two years ago, and I kept pushing it aside. It always had that "this is the one you need to write" feeling. As in, this is the one that's going to launch everything.
Not that I'm pressuring myself or anything. Nah.
But yes, the "setting aside" needs to take place, without angst, without gnashing of teeth. And so it shall.
But not in the complete "setting aside" sense. Because I really am doing that major rewrite on my MG fantasy. I am just that passionate about it.
Why do there have to be other responsibilities in life besides writing?
No, really, that was rhetorical. I promise.
So thank you. And keep writing. I know that sounds so...trite. But you and I know it's not. Because it's when we stop writing that everything comes crashing to a halt--our creativity, our dreams, our business plans, our careers.
Yes. Keep writing. And you can start by sharing some of your Friday Fricassee magic. (Last Friday Fricassee until after vacation! W00T!)
Miss Snark's First Victim
Well go for it! And keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteI've got that same feeling about my YA fantasy that I've just started. It came from...well, I'd love to share it with you, but it would get into the realm of what I believe and all that, and perhaps here isn't the place.
But anyway, it's exciting to hear how you feel about this, and I look forward to hearing where it goes! (Especially since it's not in first person. ::conspiratorial grin::)
I agree about the other responsibilities. Like the writing and editing I have to do for my day job that keeps me from feeling like writing fiction when I get home.
ReplyDeleteThen there's that graduate degree I'm pursuing.
Oh, and children.
And sleep. Though I've almost forgotten what that is.
I know what you mean about "the one." I'm currently at the end of my rope with the novel I'm shopping to agents now. I love it but ... but. But I have a YA urban fantasy (no vampires, werewolves, etc.) and it feels like "the one." In fact, I'm having a hard time writing my current WIP because I want to go back and write the second book. Don't you love it when your characters resonate that deeply?
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for you comments, dear Authoress. I finished my science fiction novel but was advised to change the last chapter. I've been working on that for at least 2 weeks now, and finally realized why I can't get it to live. I wrote the entire novel by having only a vague notion of the plot and let the characters do what they will with it, and sometimes they surprised me, in a good way. I can't force my characters to do anything. They have their own motives and personalities and if I try to force them they turn zombie on me. So now that I remember that, I'm back on track.
ReplyDeleteThanks again.
Stop writing!?!?! While I'm not planning to write during the LA SCBWI conference in August (I'll be too exhausted by the end of the day to much of anything--except maybe read), I know I'll write when we go away for 11 days to the lake. I just won't be able to write for as long as I normally do. ;) Might even sleep in (I usually get up at 4:50 am to write).
ReplyDeleteHave a great vacation, Authoress.