THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF Writing
a Fictional Book
"IT'S A LUXURY BEING A WRITER,
BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."
AMY TAN
BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."
AMY TAN
One day, you just sit down and write
6/20/2016
Many times, I would read a book, or see a movie, and the character that would rise above every obstacle, no matter how difficult, and eventually win, always moved me. I always wanted to know what that truly felt like. To push further than I had ever dared, leaving all of my fears behind me.
Though I have many thoughts when it came to stories, none made it further than just that, thoughts. However, one day, I was compelled to go a step further. I do not know why this day, after all of my years, was the day that I began to write, nothing great mind you, but at least it was something. I wasn't concerned any longer, whether or not I was going to sell this piece of fiction. I was more concerned with completing it, from start to finish. I had no expectations as to how many words, or pages, but I started and was obsessed with writing. As I wrote, I became increasingly interested in where it was going to take me. So it began, a character who worked his whole life, played by all of the rules, after several years sold his company and retired. Life sent him a younger woman, and all the rules he lived by changed. Shallow, maybe, but I found the process fascinating, as the characters began to take shape. What started out in one direction, traveled in a completely different direction by time I completed the first draft. 75,000 words and 199 pages later, I learned to follow them one day at a time, and watched in amazement, as they evolved. When it was finished, I realized I have lived my life somewhat the same way. I live one day at a time. I am human, I have made mistakes, but I can't change what has happened. The past is the past, the future, well I can guide it somewhat, but I can't live waiting for the future. The only important part of my life is this very moment. In my third book, my character development improved considerably. I had one character that carried the past around like a two hundred pound bag of rocks, and eventually it killed him. Writing a book, or a song, is a process. Just like life, it is a process, and one that takes time to develop. It takes years to develop a craft, and if you work at it day after day, you can only improve with time. THE FIRST STEP - DESIRE
6/19/2016
The most difficult step when taking any journey is the first one. Without it, nothing is possible. And so it begins, the decision to write a fictional book. Over several decades, I started and stopped the beginning of many stories. Some got as far as several chapters, more often than not, some only got as far as several pages. Unfortunately, too many never made it past several words.
To myself, I was the epitome of the "frustrated writer." Convincing myself that unless it was a great book of fiction, destined for numerous accolades and awards, why bother. At least that is what the voices in my head told me. The first ones that I encountered said, "Don't try, you are not that good." If I got past them, and I started, then the next voice said, "This is absolute garbage, no one will read it, let alone buy it!" Next up, if I continued into the abyss, "Do you realize how many hours you've spent with this? What 50, 100, 300 hours, and still you're not finished? Stop already." One day, something happened, and I keep joking that my brain is about ready to explode. After all of these years, I sat down at the computer keyboard, and months later, I completed three novels. The first one, in its final draft, is 199 pages, and 74,000 words. The second one is about the same, while the third is closer to 250 pages, and 90,000 words. I realized after I completed the first draft of my first fictional book, that it is a lonely journey, which when completed reaps great personal rewards. The story I am about to tell, is one that resonates in all of us. We all have one thing in common, and that is for all of us, one morning, one sunrise, one breakfast, lunch, and dinner, will be our last. For me, I just want to make absolutely sure, that when the final moment in my life approaches, I do not look back and regret because I was afraid or I was convinced that I was not good enough. I do not know at what point one goes from hack, to writer, to author, to self publish, but I do know that every step of the way has been the greatest journey of my life. I begin........... |
AuthorRobert Stephen. Archives
September 2018
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