Member-only story
What’s wrong with Me, the Writer?
Why am I not writing — or indiepublishing that edited book?
I just finished The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess, It’s a bout a young editorial assistant (MUCH younger than I) who wants to be a writer but is always bemoaning that fact that she’s not writing. I thought that bemoaning sounded like me.
But I am writing I tell myself — I’m writing on Medium and just recently wrote almost 1000 words on a short story (or is it a novel?) that started with a scene I had in my head before I got out of bed.
It seems to be moving along even though I have to idea where it’s moving along to.
I’m not much of a plotter. I’m a pantser — I pour the words out without worrying about where they’re going. And then I print it all out and go through it, making notes on scenes to delete and scenes to add and the need for a time line — what year is it happening in and what’s going on in that year that would be important to the story — that’s when I do my plotting.
I did that recently on Secret Lies — women’s fiction about a woman who unknowingly marries a gay man. He marries her to “prove” he’s not gay. The women of my generation were drug into the closet by a men we fell in love with and ended up with a fake marriage and low self-esteem — at least I did.
And the other book — a paranormal humorous mystery is still sitting in files — even the second book of the series that’s about 2/3 finished.
I’ve heard the idea that someone wants to “Have written” instead of wanting to write. I think I’m the opposite. I like my almost daily writing for Medium and the comments.
And I’m afraid of success — I should be so lucky. If I’m good can I keep being good? Would I want to?
