Writing in the Face of Adversity

The world is crazy. We all know this and it’s all I see on my news feed. But, I’m not here to talk about what’s happening. Well, not exactly.

My only message today is to keep going.

I’ve been struggling to see the point lately. Being stuck in my house, cut off from work (work is usually my biggest motivator to write), and terrified about what the future might hold is not conducive to a creative atmosphere. Yesterday was really bad, where I slammed my laptop shut after struggling all day to crank out a single chapter and asked myself why all of it mattered.

Here’s what I figured out: It matters because it’s what we need. Right now, everyone is in the same boat. We’re all stuck in the house with little to do. The way I see it, people need the escape that comes with a good book. And, as writer’s with too much time on their hands, it’s up to us to provide that.

This week’s message was short but it is simple: Keep perspective, keep clean, and please keep writing! Your story might be the thing that gives someone a bit of relief in these trying times.

A Novel Idea

I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase ‘that sounds like a novel idea’. It’s a way of agreeing with someone or telling them you think they have a good idea. I’ve used it and heard it used before, but today I will be speaking about this saying out of context.

My editor recently posted something to Facebook that’s stuck with me. I’m paraphrasing here, but she basically said that you shouldn’t focus on writing a full novel every time- short stories and novellas are a great way to become established and get your name out there. And that was something I needed to hear.

When I plan a story, I like to plan for 50,000 words. Every. Time. There are projects sitting on my computer that I’ve put away because I couldn’t stretch the story. That’s not fair to myself or my writing. Basically, if I can’t force myself to write at least 2,000 words per chapter, I don’t write it.

It is wonderful to have that sense of accomplishment that comes with writing 50k. It comes with its own writer’s high that can be a bit addicting. But, we as writers have to realize that not every story needs that many words to be told. Novellas are extremely underrated. I read them all the time, so why is it a problem to write them?

The takeaway is that not every idea is a ‘novel idea’. It may just be a ‘novella idea’. And that’s fine! J

Hey Look Ma, I Made It!

If you’re anything like me, when you read the title it was in Brendon Urie’s voice.

There comes a time in every author’s life when they feel like they’ve ‘made it’. It’s different for every writer, but there will be some defining moment in which you truly, completely know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are an author. Won’t there?

For me, I thought it happened at my book launch for The Devil’s Maverick. Looking out at everyone, all of them interested in what I created, it was an amazing moment for me. But I don’t think it was the moment.

Now that the hype has died down and I am going through post-publication syndrome (see earlier post), I’m beginning to wonder when it will happen. Will I just wake up one morning, look in the mirror and say, “Yep. You’re an author.”? Will I be driving to work one day and have it suddenly hit and have a breakdown on my commute? I don’t know.

Maybe I won’t have that moment I hear so many authors talking about. Maybe I’ll need to find it for myself, validate my work in my own eyes. Writing is a journey, no matter the content, and there are many milestones to hit. And that won’t carry over to everyone because everyone’s experiences are different.

If I want you to take away anything from this post, it’s to celebrate the highs and persevere through the lows and know that, no matter if your published or a hobbyist, when you write you are a writer. As long as words are making it onto a page, you are a writer and no one but yourself can take that away from you.