Am I Awake?

Posted: August 4th, 2010 under writing.
Tags: book, novel, revision

I haven’t made a post in a while. My friends and family keep telling me this. There’s several million reasons why I haven’t posted in a month or so (and I won’t bore you with the details), but one of the biggest deterrents is the niggling thought Who am I to talk about how I do things, if the things I’m doing aren’t working? That thought has bugged me since I started this site. I need to do something about it.

It seems lately everywhere I look, I’m reminded that I haven’t finished anything in a while. So I’d like to complete something this year. It’s not like it’s going to be my book– No matter how much work I pour into it, it always feels like it’s 1/6th complete. I’ve even thought about abandoning this story and moving on to another (Sometimes a vast change is required to inspire movement.) but, no– I can’t do that, either.

So that leaves the short stories. I want to complete at least one of them by the end of this year, to the point where it’s ready for submittal … somewhere.

And the novel … I may have to set a hard date for being finished with my revisions so I have a date to work against. There’s a pretty good way of setting a hard goal and achieving that goal, something called dot-thinking, it can’t hurt to give it a try.

« « Brevity vs. Wit | Declaration » »

7 Comments »

Hey, Nick! Nice post. I have that thought, too, from time to time, only mine is more like Who am I to give advice when I’m not sure the things I’m doing are working yet. I’m working on my first novel, and I’m no expert at things. Still, though, I think there’s value in blogging about the process. (I usually just take the “this is what I’m doing, and DISCLAIMER! it might not work” approach, haha) It’s also comforting to know that there are lots of people out there who are still learning.

Good luck on your various projects! :) I’m sure they won’t stay unfinished for too long.

[Reply]

Comment by Kayla Olson — August 4, 2010 @ 8:15 pm
I think it’s definitely time to set a finsh date for the novel, and move on to the next project. You’ve spent enough time going over old work. Time to approach something new.

[Reply]

Comment by Merrilee Faber — August 5, 2010 @ 5:37 am
Kayla: Quite cheery! I see you’re going through very much the same things I am, only you’re much more communicative about it on your blog. I’m thinking you’ve got a great mantra there with your disclaimer, & it made me chuckle. Thanks so much.

Merrilee: Seems you’re using the ‘tough love’ approach. Thanks for that, too, because I’m in dire need of some tough love; structure; what-have-you. Of course ultimately I have to provide my own structure…. But maybe someday I’ll actually be under contract to complete something, then I won’t have to find creative ways to motivate myself.

[Reply]

Comment by Nick Enlowe — August 5, 2010 @ 11:45 am
I agree with Merrilee. Even if you put the book on the back-burner for a little while, and truly leave it alone, then come back to it, then at least you can focus on something.

I also completely understand what you mean. What with ‘Ran Red taking me a year to write, and then editing, and now I have to really go over it to change and scrap bits here and there, it’s taking forever. On top of that, is the actual process in which I approach it which is basically up to me, and that can be a flexible, if questionable thing. I’m not always at my best as my own boss, letting things go here and there, and as such I have not posted on my blog for some time. What do I write? What do I say? An update… on what? No advice, because I’m still wandering along… and so, yes, I feel your pain but You. Can. Do/ It!

[Reply]

Comment by Ryan G. Sanders — August 5, 2010 @ 2:55 pm
Echoing what everyone else has said: moving on to the next project doesn’t mean you are abandoning the old. You’re putting it aside for a time and that’s fine. You still have all that writing done and can always return to it when you feel strongly about the material again.

In the past (when I was producing a lot more writing than I am now T_T)I often found it easier to revise while working on the start of something new. The new idea had my spirits up, the creative juices flowing, and the motivation to sit at my chair and write for hours on end.

I hope you find inspiration around the next corner. :)

[Reply]

Comment by Laura — August 9, 2010 @ 9:02 am
@Laura: So working on something else might even help me edit my current book? What a paradigm shift! Looking at it this way, starting something new seems like a great idea. Thanks.

[Reply]

Comment by Nick Enlowe — August 9, 2010 @ 11:53 am
It’s possible, Nick. A third of the battle as a writer is finding the method and tricks that work for you. :)

[Reply]

Comment by Laura — August 9, 2010 @ 7:49 pm

~TrackBack URL~

Hey, Nick! Nice post. I have that thought, too, from time to time, only mine is more like Who am I to give advice when I’m not sure the things I’m doing are working yet. I’m working on my first novel, and I’m no expert at things. Still, though, I think there’s value in blogging about the process. (I usually just take the “this is what I’m doing, and DISCLAIMER! it might not work” approach, haha) It’s also comforting to know that there are lots of people out there who are still learning.

Good luck on your various projects! :) I’m sure they won’t stay unfinished for too long.

[Reply]

Comment by Kayla Olson — August 4, 2010 @ 8:15 pm

I think it’s definitely time to set a finsh date for the novel, and move on to the next project. You’ve spent enough time going over old work. Time to approach something new.

Comment by Merrilee Faber — August 5, 2010 @ 5:37 am

Kayla: Quite cheery! I see you’re going through very much the same things I am, only you’re much more communicative about it on your blog. I’m thinking you’ve got a great mantra there with your disclaimer, & it made me chuckle. Thanks so much.

Merrilee: Seems you’re using the ‘tough love’ approach. Thanks for that, too, because I’m in dire need of some tough love; structure; what-have-you. Of course ultimately I have to provide my own structure…. But maybe someday I’ll actually be under contract to complete something, then I won’t have to find creative ways to motivate myself.

Comment by Nick Enlowe — August 5, 2010 @ 11:45 am

I agree with Merrilee. Even if you put the book on the back-burner for a little while, and truly leave it alone, then come back to it, then at least you can focus on something.

I also completely understand what you mean. What with ‘Ran Red taking me a year to write, and then editing, and now I have to really go over it to change and scrap bits here and there, it’s taking forever. On top of that, is the actual process in which I approach it which is basically up to me, and that can be a flexible, if questionable thing. I’m not always at my best as my own boss, letting things go here and there, and as such I have not posted on my blog for some time. What do I write? What do I say? An update… on what? No advice, because I’m still wandering along… and so, yes, I feel your pain but You. Can. Do/ It!

Comment by Ryan G. Sanders — August 5, 2010 @ 2:55 pm

Echoing what everyone else has said: moving on to the next project doesn’t mean you are abandoning the old. You’re putting it aside for a time and that’s fine. You still have all that writing done and can always return to it when you feel strongly about the material again.

In the past (when I was producing a lot more writing than I am now T_T)I often found it easier to revise while working on the start of something new. The new idea had my spirits up, the creative juices flowing, and the motivation to sit at my chair and write for hours on end.

I hope you find inspiration around the next corner. :)

Comment by Laura — August 9, 2010 @ 9:02 am

@Laura: So working on something else might even help me edit my current book? What a paradigm shift! Looking at it this way, starting something new seems like a great idea. Thanks.

Comment by Nick Enlowe — August 9, 2010 @ 11:53 am

It’s possible, Nick. A third of the battle as a writer is finding the method and tricks that work for you. :)

Comment by Laura — August 9, 2010 @ 7:49 pm

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Am I Awake?

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