Sometimes you just gotta let some
of your writing go.
of your writing go.
One of the projects I worked on this past twelve months was
my version of a Hunger Games trilogy. So
yes, I know what some of you are thinking. Jumping on the bandwagon.
Oh so derivative. Once again copying because he has no original ideas.
my version of a Hunger Games trilogy. So
yes, I know what some of you are thinking. Jumping on the bandwagon.
Oh so derivative. Once again copying because he has no original ideas.
Here’s the thing—there are reasons why I came up with this
idea and loved it. Maybe I’ll share them one day. But it’s the same reason I
wrote and self-published my love story called Every Breath You Take. There was a story I kept thinking about and I wanted
to tell it. So I put it in the box of The Hunger Games. Though this version would be Thrasherized, which
meant an interesting version written by a Christian author who’s trying to be
mainstream but can’t quite make it that way.
idea and loved it. Maybe I’ll share them one day. But it’s the same reason I
wrote and self-published my love story called Every Breath You Take. There was a story I kept thinking about and I wanted
to tell it. So I put it in the box of The Hunger Games. Though this version would be Thrasherized, which
meant an interesting version written by a Christian author who’s trying to be
mainstream but can’t quite make it that way.
So I planned. I outlined. I story-mapped. I created
characters. I came up with titles. I came up with a series title and subsequent
novel names.
characters. I came up with titles. I came up with a series title and subsequent
novel names.
Then I began to write. I wrote. I wrote more. I rewrote. I
scrapped some and wrote more.
scrapped some and wrote more.
I spoke to two significant publishers about this series
idea. Both were interested.
idea. Both were interested.
I worked on a proposal and included pages. Meantime I ended
up writing about 20,000 words.
up writing about 20,000 words.
Most novels are around 100,000 words. Most YA novels (which
I was going for) are shorter.
I was going for) are shorter.
So yeah, I was well on my way.
Like I said, I spoke to publishers about this. Thought long
and hard. Reworked it. Worked on it more.
and hard. Reworked it. Worked on it more.
And then . . . .
Then I let it go.
Here’s the reason. My heart was just not in it.
Now some of you might think, with all the novels I’ve been
publishing, I’ve been like this little James Patterson-wannabe churning out
novels for the Christian market. But it’s not true.
publishing, I’ve been like this little James Patterson-wannabe churning out
novels for the Christian market. But it’s not true.
Every one of the books I’ve ever worked on—every single
one—has been told with my heart and soul at
the forefront. I’ve never dialed it in. Sure, the writing might have been
subpar and the storyline might have suffered but I’ve always given each story
my all.
one—has been told with my heart and soul at
the forefront. I’ve never dialed it in. Sure, the writing might have been
subpar and the storyline might have suffered but I’ve always given each story
my all.
But with this Hunger Games-esque series, I didn’t feel it. It felt fine. Everything was . . .
fine. But I don’t go for fine.
fine. But I don’t go for fine.
The Solitary Tales aren’t fine.
Sky Blue wasn’t fine.
Isolation wasn’t
fine.
fine.
All of those are pieces of me. Flawed and broken but still
beating with a racing heart.
beating with a racing heart.
So 20,000 words into this project and countless hours, I
shelved it. It’s done.
shelved it. It’s done.
I might use some of the characters. I really grew to like
them. I might use some of the scenarios and ideas. But the story as I wanted to
tell it is done.
them. I might use some of the scenarios and ideas. But the story as I wanted to
tell it is done.
My point in saying all of this is to encourage you to
sometimes—if you absolutely have to—shelve your story.
sometimes—if you absolutely have to—shelve your story.
Some people work on something and beat it up until it’s
black and blue. They write and rewrite and rework and redo. But sometimes
they’re just literally beating a dead horse.
black and blue. They write and rewrite and rework and redo. But sometimes
they’re just literally beating a dead horse.
It takes a lot of strength and willpower to get back up on a
horse. But to get back up on a different horse,
knowing the last one has gone on to meet its maker.
horse. But to get back up on a different horse,
knowing the last one has gone on to meet its maker.
They’re just words. I’ve said that before. So what if you’ve
invested countless hours? It’s just practice. They’re just words and it’s okay
if the world never sees them. Don’t let that stop you. Don’t let that hold you
back.
invested countless hours? It’s just practice. They’re just words and it’s okay
if the world never sees them. Don’t let that stop you. Don’t let that hold you
back.
There are stories I don’t want to give up. No way I’ll give
them up. There are a few that I’m going to let the public see, one way or the other.
No doubt. But I’ve been doing this thing for a while. I’ve seen over
20-something novels see light of day.
them up. There are a few that I’m going to let the public see, one way or the other.
No doubt. But I’ve been doing this thing for a while. I’ve seen over
20-something novels see light of day.
Still, I can look at a project and let it go.
Sometimes, you simply gotta say enough. Sometimes, you simply have to let go and start over.
It’s okay. I do that over and over and over again.
It’s okay. I do that over and over and over again.
God knows I’m trying to earn money at this writing thing.
God knows I need money. But there’s no
way I’m going to throw something out there simply to publish a book.
God knows I need money. But there’s no
way I’m going to throw something out there simply to publish a book.
These collaborations—my heart and soul are in them. Look at Paper
Angels with Jimmy Wayne. Remember the idiot
character in the story about to have twins and freaking out? Hmmmmm. I don’t
know but he sure sounds familiar.
Angels with Jimmy Wayne. Remember the idiot
character in the story about to have twins and freaking out? Hmmmmm. I don’t
know but he sure sounds familiar.
Every one has had my heart and soul. Warts and all. None of
them are perfect, but they all have me. They
all that chunk of my life that I want them to.
them are perfect, but they all have me. They
all that chunk of my life that I want them to.
I have more coming. Lots more, God willing. Don’t think I’m
just writing to please contracts. I’m trying to push myself. I’m trying to
plunge to the depths. I’m still an amateur trying to perfect a master’s craft.
I’m still just learning. But I’m giving it my all. I’m bleeding and struggling
and suffering. Okay, that’s a bit dramatic, but somedays it sure feels that
way.
just writing to please contracts. I’m trying to push myself. I’m trying to
plunge to the depths. I’m still an amateur trying to perfect a master’s craft.
I’m still just learning. But I’m giving it my all. I’m bleeding and struggling
and suffering. Okay, that’s a bit dramatic, but somedays it sure feels that
way.
So far, I’ve never done a book where my heart hasn’t been in
it. Never. Not even that God-awful ghostwriting project I got. I put everything
in it I could and I even did it on my own terms. I grit my teeth and shut my
mouth and do my work and give it my all.
it. Never. Not even that God-awful ghostwriting project I got. I put everything
in it I could and I even did it on my own terms. I grit my teeth and shut my
mouth and do my work and give it my all.
So yeah, publishing takes a long time. Yeah, I’ve heard it
all before and I know because I worked 13.5 years in it and realize that
sometimes, publishing is all about hedging your bets. It’s all about bluffing
and buying time. It’s all about hesitating and getting lucky. It’s Las Vegas
baby and what happens in publishing stays in publishing. I know all that and I
still gotta do the work I do because I have this little family to support.
all before and I know because I worked 13.5 years in it and realize that
sometimes, publishing is all about hedging your bets. It’s all about bluffing
and buying time. It’s all about hesitating and getting lucky. It’s Las Vegas
baby and what happens in publishing stays in publishing. I know all that and I
still gotta do the work I do because I have this little family to support.
But at no time have I dialed it in and at no time have I
done it for the money. Look at my lotsa-everything brand. Think that’s all
about trying to sign a contract and make some money? Yeah, right. At least I
would’ve stuck in one genre.
done it for the money. Look at my lotsa-everything brand. Think that’s all
about trying to sign a contract and make some money? Yeah, right. At least I
would’ve stuck in one genre.
I’ve typed a storm away tonight. Sorry about that.
Sometimes, you gotta let things go. That’s my point. I’ve done it before and
I’ll do it again. Regardless of what happens and regardless of what point I’m
at in my career.
Sometimes, you gotta let things go. That’s my point. I’ve done it before and
I’ll do it again. Regardless of what happens and regardless of what point I’m
at in my career.
I’m lucky to be a full-time writer. But I also work my butt
off. I also think I’m an average writer trying and hoping and striving to get
better. But I can type like the wind and I got my heart and soul in the middle
of my fingertips and I’d rather be a comma than a full stop.
off. I also think I’m an average writer trying and hoping and striving to get
better. But I can type like the wind and I got my heart and soul in the middle
of my fingertips and I’d rather be a comma than a full stop.
I end on that note. Both with a wink to Coldplay and a nod
to my Hunger Games trilogy I called The
Paradise Trilogy. It’s gone. But I’m not. I’ll never be as long as I’m
breathing and have half a mind in my dense skull. And oh yeah—it’s dense. Just
like Rocky baby.
to my Hunger Games trilogy I called The
Paradise Trilogy. It’s gone. But I’m not. I’ll never be as long as I’m
breathing and have half a mind in my dense skull. And oh yeah—it’s dense. Just
like Rocky baby.
Gonna fly now. Just wait and see.
That's rough, but I understand what you're saying. Took a lot of will power. Maybe it was the right decision, but you can still take parts of it and use it in other stories where it feels less forced. It wasn't for nothing. We keep reading your books because you make the right decisions.
I appreciated your honesty in this post. One thing that really makes a book enjoyable and worthwhile is when it touches my life on two levels. One….is it entertaining? Two…..was it worthy of my time? What did I learn from it?
As I put my book on the back burner, I found a new story I could really dive into! It feels great. I know I am not finished with my first story, just frustrated and needed a break.
I do not think you are giving yourself enough credit when you say you are an amateur. No way! 🙂
Great post…
-Elizabeth
Very cool. It's hard to let go, but being good storytellers means we can always tell another good story if the one we were working on didn't work out. Thanks for sharing this! (:^D – RAD
Can I say thank you for not being James Patterson? I lost any kind of awe for his seemingly prolific publishing schedule when I read that he outlines the stories and someone else writes them, but he basically gets all the credit. What a crock. I haven't thought any Patterson novels I read were even that great. I'd rather read things an author believes in and that comes from the heart, and isn't churned out because they've learned how to write like a machine.