Hurry! Write the book or else it's gone!!!!

By Link the Writer · Oct 15, 2009 · ·
  1. I just realized something. I may not have all the tools I need to craft a fully-fledged novel yet. I have the basic understandings of it, and have the "Do-Nots" logged in, but in most part...I'm still clueless.

    I mean, take my "Heridon Copper" mystery series. I don't even know how to construct a proper mystery plot, creating the right kind of suspense so that A) the characters aren't just wandering around aimlessly and B) the readers don't figure out who did it half-way across the book.

    I think I should not write just yet. Perhaps wait a few more years, maybe even ten years to hon my craft, come to understand what makes a mystery story and what's been done to death already.

    But I'm afraid. Afraid of one big thing:

    1) Heridon Copper will have been written by someone else.
    What if, after the ten years or so that I hon my craft, it's too late? Someone else already took my ideas and worst, their main characters are exactly like my own main characters? What if, just when I am about to write the first draft of "Heridon Copper", I look in my bookstore and find that it had already been written. I feel like I need to rush, that I'm in a race to get "Heridon Copper" out before someone else.

    How long should I wait? How long should I put it off?

    Basically...I don't feel like writing anything short of "journals" and term papers for school. I don't want to write a novel yet because I don't think I'm ready, yet I feel like I have to race before someone else prints out "Heridon Copper".

    So, what are your thoughts?

Comments

  1. Lavarian
    If you want to be a writer, you simply must keep writing. Don't wait a few years, just keep going. If it's crap, than rewrite it. Make your friends read your stuff and give you an opinion.
    Write. Rewrite. Rewrite. Rewrite.

    When practicing your writing, don't concern yourself with the big picture. Just write scenes. Don't write a story idea. (beyond the most basic message you want to give) Write SCENES. The scene comes first, then the story molds around it. I can't tell you how many times I've written out a story idea, then began with a scene only to have that scene change my entire story idea to something completely different than my initial idea and wind up turning into something else entirely as I wrote more scenes.

    I wouldn't worry about someone already writing what you've got. You can always change anything at any time with a simple rewrite.
  2. Phantasmal Reality
    Like Lavarian said, just keep writing. Don't worry about someone else beating you to it; you could torment yourself forever about that stuff, and chances are someone else has already beaten both of you to it in some way, shape or form (main character, antagonist, basic premise, etc).

    Write scene by scene if that helps you, but I recommend doing an outline to help organize your thoughts. Never treat it as concrete though: it will likely change as you write more. I like to always have an end in mind though, to help give me some direction. There are many paths you can draw between point A and point B, and therein lies enough flexibility for me (and if the story demands a different ending, then point B will change).

    Just keep writing and try not to worry too much about the problems. First drafts are meant to be rough. Take comfort in the fact that you can rewrite and edit as much as you need. :-D
To make a comment simply sign up and become a member!
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice