Well, I started work on my third book in the Armoth Cycle recently, but I haven't been feeling it. I like the story, and I want to finish the series again, but I also feel the pressure to write something new. This same feeling applies to my Martin Mason series. I've written and done a lot of editing on the first books in each series. And while writing the other books is rewarding in a way, I can't help but feel it's not moving me closer to being published.
I have so many ideas floating around in my head. Characters, scenes, conflicts. But none of them ever seem to come together into an actual story. This leads me to wonder if I can actually come up with other ideas. What if I only have those two series in me? I've been working on the Armoth Cycle in various forms for more than seven years. The Martin Mason series has been on my radar for close to two years now. I love both these series, but if I want to get published, I need to write something new.
This also brings me to me tendency to want to turn everything into a series. I try again and again to think of ideas for standalone books, but they all turn into series. I'm a quick writer, so I can handle the workload of writing series, but I come once again to the whole publishing thing. I'm at a point in life where I feel so much pressure to make something come of my writing. I still want it to be fun, but I also want to know I'm truly working towards getting something published.
Maybe I'll do some more editing of the first book in the Armoth Cycle. I'm not sure about the opening chapter. I want to make sure it can really grab the reader's interest. I might also try to make the writing better in some places. I often feel like my writing is a little on the plain side. Yes, there's something good about being straightforward, but I don't know.
I'm not sure where this post is going. I just know I'm getting tired of working on the same projects all the time. I won't feel like a real writer until I write something else or get something published. It's like I have a creative block that keeps me from committing to any other ideas.
Any suggestions on how to get over this block?
Hi Ryan. You and I may have opposite problems. You write long things and I write short things. I find it hard to imagine sustaining the creative flow through a novel length book, let alone a series. Though I'm sure if I got into it I would find something unfolding...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, my suggestion is, have you ever tried writing short stories? Even flash shorts? For me, short pieces are easy but they do keep the words flowing. Trying that might give you some fresh energy.
Thanks. I generally don't write short stories, but maybe I'll give it a shot. You never know. Maybe I'll write something worthwhile. After all, my Armoth Cycle started as a short story I wrote for my high school creative writing class.
DeleteI have this problem too, most of my ideas want to turn themselves in serials. Maybe because I like stories that continue and the same characters or story themes and concepts continuing. Since I was little I always wondered how a stand alone movie I saw could or would continue. I'm still working on figure out this situation myself, so apologies for not have any advice. You can try short stories and see how you like them, but they aren't for everyone. I watched an interview with Ray Bradberry and he explained how he "can't do novels" only short stories. And then I watched one with R.A. Salvatore who said "I can't do short stories" only novels. Every writer is going to be different.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your frustration in not feeling like you're moving on. I've been stuck on my scifi/outer space/adventure serial since I was 17 and only have dozens upon dozens of unsatisfying drafts. I do want to work on something else and I may just put my scifi series on the side while I attempt to work at something else. I have a couple of science/fantasy stories I recently came up with(yes these are serials as well) and a sort of modern Indiana jones adventure series. Hopefully I can get at least some first or rough drafts finished throughout next year.
You seem to really want to pull through and I think you will. So far I like what you've gotten written, though I consider myself an amateur so I'm not sure if my opinion counts here. *shrugs*