Jeff, I loved the authenticity about your writing efforts (refusing to use the word "process"). The struggle you have described probably fully explains why my own writing attempts have not gotten me beyond page one. I admire your efforts and I've found your two published works to have wonderful to read. I hope you'll continue the effort.
I've only completed 1 draft of a novel because I committed to winning NANOWRIMO 2023. I'd like to start outlining more but I always feel like I'm doing it wrong.
I have had such a similar experience! Every single book has come about in a different way. There is no such thing as "my process" because it changes every time - as my life changes, as my mental health changes, as my situation changes, as the weather outside changes, whatever! I HAD to draft a book from word 1 to polished draft in 4 months once, so I did it because I had to. But my process for that was wildly different than anything done before or since. Creating is so WEIRD, and for someone who also likes to know The Way, it's so hard! But that's what makes it rewarding, I guess.
FOUR MONTHS. That gives me a sympathetic retroactive panic attack. But I believe you could make it work. And yes, creating is WEIRD. Wouldn't have it any other way.
I couldn't tell you a process, really. And I think I've probably spent too much time asking others or reading about the "correct" process when I wasn't doing the important part of the process - putting words together to make sentences on the page/screen.
Except failure. I think I've fulfilled that part of the process. I'm glad to see you survived the same.
The only way to fail is to quit. And yes, I think we all look for the right process in the name of wanting to work hard, but sometimes it’s just procrastination.
Jeff, I loved the authenticity about your writing efforts (refusing to use the word "process"). The struggle you have described probably fully explains why my own writing attempts have not gotten me beyond page one. I admire your efforts and I've found your two published works to have wonderful to read. I hope you'll continue the effort.
Thank you so much! And if you need help getting past page one, you’ve got my number. It’s mostly psychological 🤣
Indeed!
I've only completed 1 draft of a novel because I committed to winning NANOWRIMO 2023. I'd like to start outlining more but I always feel like I'm doing it wrong.
It always feels wrong to me.
I have had such a similar experience! Every single book has come about in a different way. There is no such thing as "my process" because it changes every time - as my life changes, as my mental health changes, as my situation changes, as the weather outside changes, whatever! I HAD to draft a book from word 1 to polished draft in 4 months once, so I did it because I had to. But my process for that was wildly different than anything done before or since. Creating is so WEIRD, and for someone who also likes to know The Way, it's so hard! But that's what makes it rewarding, I guess.
FOUR MONTHS. That gives me a sympathetic retroactive panic attack. But I believe you could make it work. And yes, creating is WEIRD. Wouldn't have it any other way.
I couldn't tell you a process, really. And I think I've probably spent too much time asking others or reading about the "correct" process when I wasn't doing the important part of the process - putting words together to make sentences on the page/screen.
Except failure. I think I've fulfilled that part of the process. I'm glad to see you survived the same.
The only way to fail is to quit. And yes, I think we all look for the right process in the name of wanting to work hard, but sometimes it’s just procrastination.