I’m scared. Seriously. For the last few days, I’ve tried to write. But I haven’t been able to because of this fear. You see, I made a 2016 New Year’s Resolution to write a full manuscript by the end of the year and since then, I haven’t been able to write anything.
It sucks.
This may not be a big deal for some of you, but I’ve never finished writing a complete novel. (Unless you count my jumbled NaNoWriMo mess from a few years ago, which I don’t.) Writing an entire manuscript is a big deal for me.
You may wonder what I fear. Cliches. I’m so scared that my first book will be filled with cliches. In 2015, I overcame many personal obstacles to writing, but one of them remains strong: the idea that my story has to be “original.”
What does that even mean? Has anyone ever written something “original?” Both Harry Potter and The Hobbit were based on ideas from Norse mythology. Star Wars was influenced by Akira Kurosawa‘s 1958 film The Hidden Fortress. Hell, even Star Wars: The Force Awakens cannibalized itself and based the story on Star Wars: A New Hope. (They both had a Death Star, but they were different sizes!) So, if J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, and George Lucas can do it, then what’s MY problem?
A few things are helping me manage my fear. First, in my experience, to conquer a fear, a person should run TOWARDS it, instead of AWAY from it. Well, with the exception of fire. And cliffs. And rabid animals. Hmmm…. Maybe I should phrase this differently.
Let’s try again. Last year, I started to get over my fear of rejection by embracing it. Perhaps I should do the same thing with cliches? Just write a book of cliches. Maybe it should be called “Charlie Weaver and the Book of Cliches.”
Hey! Is it a sign that it sounds like “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?”
What’s that I hear? I think my wheels are turning again…… 😉
A Writing Mama's Journal 
Oh, Taara, it is soo good to hear the freshness of your voice again! I have much to catch up on, but this… This brought a huge smile to my face, as your writing often does! Does it truly matter that there are a finite number of themes to embrace when writing a novel of human experience? Especially when your voice, your humor, and your perspective are so uniquely and expressively you? I look forward to every word you write! So please, let go, and let the magick begin again! Happy writing in 2016!!
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Happy New Year, Lisa! I hope you enjoyed the holiday season with your family. Did you do much writing? Have you already published a book? Your writing is beautiful. As for me, yeah, it’s time to write a book. I’ve been yammering about this for decades and finally started to annoy myself. I appreciate your words of encouragement. I’m just nervous, but I’ll try to “let go” and write! Thank you!
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When I wrote my first novel (albeit a short, 120-page one for middle grade readers), it helped for me to do a general outline, but then to concentrate on one chapter at a time. That way, it didn’t seem nearly so overwhelming. And if something is out of sync, you’ll catch it during one of your many edits.
As for the cliches, I wouldn’t worry about them. Write the book you really want to write, tell the story that only you know, and it will be as unique as you are!
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Thank you, Ann. I really do need to draft an outline. I just keep staring at the first chapter and it doesn’t feel right. Your comment just pushed me into doing it! 😉
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