How many of you started hitting the keys or picked up your pen again on the 1st of October? I’m happy to report that my prep work has begun. I know my posts have been quiet, but it’s for a good reason. I’ve been busy writing.
A story that was once several different stories that stopped and started merged into one. Never quitting after a block meant that those terrible first drafts actually improved over time. Progress and growth are good things to see as the months pass.
I’m writing to tell you that stopping a story or switching to another project is okay. Setting work aside isn’t a crime because some stories need more time to ripen. All those pieces that felt broken or like a dead end turned into a new genre. I’ve started to dip my toes into fantasy with some romantasy.
Why have a story with ordinary kingdoms when you can add extra human abilities and fantastical creatures? Let’s just say I’ve watched too many Harry Potter-style and werewolf movies this fall.
How far will I get? I don’t know. This year, I’m not going to obsess over page count. I’m just going to see where the pages take me. During Preptober, I will be playing with the direction of the story and a few alternate chapters to see which ones turn out the strongest. But I do know that I want my new novel to stand on its own without relying only on romance. I want the characters to feel so real that I’m crying my eyes out over the keyboard or laughing at what they say on the pages. That’s how you know a reader will connect with their personalities and that I’ve developed them enough.
My characters should also be hard to kill. What do I mean? If one of them ends up dying, then it should be painful as a writer because I don’t want to let them go. The same is true once a villain is defeated by the hero. I should rejoice with the characters. So, if some of you are wondering about my writing process, you can guess that it might get emotional. Crying over the keyboard is nothing new for me, and neither is furious typing when I feel their anger.
My rule is that if I can’t connect with my characters, then why would I expect anyone else to feel the same? It’s like you have to go to another place as a writer, and it can be exhausting if you’re doing it right. Feeling the ups and downs of your characters can take a lot out of you, but it’s worth it in the end.
As for my goals, I’m hoping to have the bare bones of a novel by the end of the year. My Preptober might feel like a never-ending story, but I still feel the calling. I’m also thinking of going the traditional route of publishing with this novel, which will extend the timeline, but that’s okay. Past experience has made me more patient and less intimidated.
I hope everyone finds their story this fall and has a lifelong writing journey so that our bookstores stay full. I’ll be busy at my keys.
Until next time, write silly if you find that you can’t write anything at all!
Imagine Inspire Create: 52 Weeks of action and gratitude is available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09S6XCLFY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_Q7MHM9CFBSASDG56YMJQ
Get closer to your writing goals with my Writer’s Journal filled with writing prompts and exercises. You can find a copy at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0931QRL7C/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_VTHN0QSHXRYK6RJ1XSWQ.
Yoon Ju
