Ahh, What to do?
A thought has struck me recently, and now that it has, it won't go
away and is leaving me a bit conflicted and unable to make a
decision.
Basically, my old, finished story was always intended to have a follow up. A sequel. I had somewhat consigned it to the mental waste-paper bin, but after sticking it online, and getting some good feedback, it feels like it would be relevant again, a positive project to follow, so to speak.
But well, there are pro's and cons to following such a project.
The Pro's:
- It's something i already have about 80% planned out.
- I know that characters and world very well already. I can settle into the project very easily.
-To this end, it could be the tonic i really need to get my groove back.
- My inner artist is a bit unhappy to leave this whole thing unfinished, now that people can read it.
- I'm fairly convinced it could be a good story.
The Cons:
- This thing is all but dead. The finished product will only find a limited audience that might actually care.
- To this end, it's going to be very time consuming.
- It's possibly not going to do much by way of expanding my horizons, and getting my creative brain working new angles. It's a bit of a comfort blanket.
- It will irretrievably use up a character I personally feel might be my best ever. She fits best with this particular story, but I could always keep her in the cupboard until i find some other place she fits in the future.
So the question is, What should I do? To I got for it, or is my time better spent elsewhere? Am I just clinging to and old, comfortable, easy idea? Or will this finally get me back into my groove?
Can anyone give me any useful advice here? I would be as grateful as ever!
Basically, my old, finished story was always intended to have a follow up. A sequel. I had somewhat consigned it to the mental waste-paper bin, but after sticking it online, and getting some good feedback, it feels like it would be relevant again, a positive project to follow, so to speak.
But well, there are pro's and cons to following such a project.
The Pro's:
- It's something i already have about 80% planned out.
- I know that characters and world very well already. I can settle into the project very easily.
-To this end, it could be the tonic i really need to get my groove back.
- My inner artist is a bit unhappy to leave this whole thing unfinished, now that people can read it.
- I'm fairly convinced it could be a good story.
The Cons:
- This thing is all but dead. The finished product will only find a limited audience that might actually care.
- To this end, it's going to be very time consuming.
- It's possibly not going to do much by way of expanding my horizons, and getting my creative brain working new angles. It's a bit of a comfort blanket.
- It will irretrievably use up a character I personally feel might be my best ever. She fits best with this particular story, but I could always keep her in the cupboard until i find some other place she fits in the future.
So the question is, What should I do? To I got for it, or is my time better spent elsewhere? Am I just clinging to and old, comfortable, easy idea? Or will this finally get me back into my groove?
Can anyone give me any useful advice here? I would be as grateful as ever!
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10 Comments
Just an idea.
You could write it anyway- as a side line to another more marketable project, then should you ever get published (as I hope you will do) then you can pull these two novels out of your sleeve.
From what you have said above. I get the feeling that the actual story has, in your own mind, passed its use by date but the girl and certain plot elements still hold your interest.
Maybe then it would be possible to take the elements of the girl, and the other character, that truely fascinate you and combine them with the plot elements in a different and, to you as a writer, more challenging setting?
I persoannly feel that its a mild form of torture to try to write a plot in which you no longer have an interest. And it is ultimate a waste of effort anyway because I just can't make it work. What you need is the right vehicle for her and then she may fly.
My usual antoidote to this is to just work on something else and let things brew in the back of my mind as they will.Sometiomes I'm suprised what emerges in the end.
Which is nice. Usually he just tells me to start fires.
I would suggest the most important thing for you to do is write, whether it's this project or something else entirely. Any writing will expand your creativity, it will make you a better writer - better in the sense of being more proficient and improving your skills.
I read this last night in a 3rd whiskey moment and decided to keep my counsel. This morning it still makes sense. It's a bit pragmatic, but you are clear your other story isn't going anywhere, but you have a friend in your character. She isn't used up. You've just invented a friend. I see no reason why you have to treat this as a sequel, move time up or consider her done. Take some time, round off the personality traits, get to know her better and set her in a new story. Just the way she is.
Why not?
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