Hello, me again. I haven’t been blogging much recently. Not at all, really. I have all sorts of boring excuses reasons but here we are so let’s just forget about my absence and get to work.
I’d like to say that all the time I haven’t been blogging I’ve been writing The Novel. But I haven’t. I’ve gone through at least three more novel ideas since I began the last one, believing each shiny, sparkly new story is The One. I’ve started a crime fiction, a dark comedy, a book about religion and a collection of horror shorts. They all have their merits. I’ve spent time working out characters and plots, getting timelines straight in my head, researching settings, the routines of postmen and the process of canonising a saint…But in reality, these have all been excuses, ways to procrastinate and avoid actually writing The Novel.
I am my own worst enemy.
I’ve spoken a lot about my other stories, told various people about them in great detail. In many ways I’ve bored myself. I’ve spoken about the story for so long I feel I am done with it and have no enthusiasm to take it any further.
What a scunner.
So this time, I’m keeping my idea to myself. The story is between me and Wind, my protagonist. I’m not even sure exactly what her story is yet, but she keeps popping into my head at unexpected times, nudging me and pointing out people and objects that are important to her tale.
I hope I can finish this one. I hope that my energy and health – and interest – hold out until it’s done. We shall see.
Am I alone in this approach? How do you set about telling your stories? I’d love to know.
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