Monday, December 5, 2011

Shelving a Project You Love

I've wanted to be a writer since I was little, and began to understand that I could actually make up my own stories instead of having to read the boring ones assigned to me in school. But as I got older I put that desire aside because it wasn't 'realistic'. I attempted to write again in college, but found myself floundering in self criticism. It wasn't until my second kiddo was six months old that I started to seriously write again. Why? There was a story that had been gnawing away at my imagination for some years, and I knew if I didn't get it down, sooner or later it would drive me to insanity.

So, with the self doubt ever looming to chop me to bits, I began my journey. A month later the idea for Fire and Ice came in to play (yes, I am one of those annoying writers that NEEDS to work on more than one project at a time in order to sustain my writing mind). A couple months into the writing gig I decided it was time to do some research, because...well, I thought I might actually try and publish something some day. It was then that I came across those two dreaded words: query letter. I'd never heard of such a thing, but looked into and naively thought 'it can't be that hard'(if only I knew!). After the initial search,I wanted to know more about the market. I learned of trends, what was selling what was not, how difficult it is to get an agent (pretty much near impossible according to quite a few people), all those things that wrench your heart with fear and crush your confidence with reality. I realized the story I was working on, the one I loved, was going to be a hard sell, especially in the YA market(it's a scifi/fantasy).

I never once thought of writing for adults, I've always known that YA is my niche. So did I want to make my characters older for a better chance at publishing? Not really. The story didn't work if the characters were older. So, with reluctance in every click of the keyboard, I disembarked from my story. It was hard, but I knew that it just wasn't the right time for it. I focused instead on Fire and Ice. I don't believe in writing for trends (although my previous few sentences might suggest otherwise). Every so often a story so different from what's 'hot' at the moment will come along and make us rethink the whole market when it exceeds expectations with its success. Knowing this, I still didn't feel that it was the right time for my story.

Over the last few years I've started and shelved several projects. Such is the way of the writer. But that one story is always nearest to my heart. Why? Because I love the characters, the world that they live in, their journey. But most of all I love it because it got me writing again. This story might never see the light of day, but I'll never be able to fully let go of it because of that reason. Every now and then I'll open up the document and work on it, just for fun. At first it was hard to put it away, but it became easier over the years. Especially once I started to fall in love with Fire and Ice, and once I realized I had more than just one story in me. I have MANY (maybe too many. I'm a little ADD with the amount of projects I try to take on at once). In end I'm happy with where I am as a writer. I'll continue to grow and learn. Some day I might even land an agent. And maybe, just maybe, a day will come when this story can finally spread its wings and fly into the hands of an eager reader.

19 comments:

  1. It is so hard to do this. I've had to do it twice so far (but I still hope my first manuscripts will see the light of day :))
    Just wanted to pop by and tell you I've given you two blog awards!
    Hope you have a great week,
    Ninja Girl

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  2. I think you should finish it. You can never know the outcome of a book beforehand, and trying to guess at the market will just drive you crazy. Good luck!

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  3. You can always shelve a project for a year or so while you're working on something else, then come back to it.

    I find that works best for me... 'cause it's normal to lose perspective.

    by the way, someone else (not me) blogged on a similar topic today:

    http://chantelesedgwick.blogspot.com/2011/12/write-what-you-love.html

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  4. That first book is always so special, isn't it? I've shelved mine, too, but I keep going back and revising it every now and then. :)

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  5. You were right! Our posts were very similar today! :D Nice to meet you!!

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  6. Shelving a project is seriously so hard. I've done it before when I hated something, but last year I shelved a project that I LOVE. I did it because there is a problem with it. I could write the thing five times and not fix it. So for now, it's shelved.

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  7. I have more than one completed manuscript shelved. Sometimes I come back to them to give my muse a rest from a current WIP, tinker with them, then return them to the shelf.

    As for trying to gauge the market. A amazing agent once said "There is always a market for awesome!" Write what you love and the rest will fall into place.

    Side note -- I write YA Spec Fiction/ Sci-fi. Market is not as cold as you may think. :) So keep trying; I'd hate to see you give up on a genre that you love.

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  8. I've put a book aside and came back to it later. It helped a lot, but it's hard to let go.

    All the best with the rest of your work.

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  9. thanks, guys! I really do love the story and i plan on coming back to it...someday.

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  10. Shelving projects is so hard. But you still love it, and it still brings you pleasure, so who cares if it's just for you for now? That's the best kind of writing! And I'm so jealous of your writing ADD - I wish I could work on more than one thing t once. But I put all my eggs in one basket, which can be intense and disheartening if that basket collapses!

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  11. I agree that's it's really hard to do this. I do better at shelving short stories, but novels are difficult to let go. I get involved in the worlds so completely, I feel like I destroy someone's universe when I shelf them.

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  12. It's hard shelving a project, but you kept going and are writing something that you love.

    Keep going Prerna, keep writing!

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  13. I'm a novel bouncer too! It depends on which one is speaking to me that day. :)

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  14. I have a project just like this. My characters are the wrong age, but the story and the characters are so near and dear to my heart. It's been shelved, but I do like to read it every now and then.

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  15. I sheleved a project recently. It was hard - saying goodbye to sometihng I'd spent so long on! But my heart just wasn't in it anymore, so I don't plan to go back to it any time soon. Maybe someday . . .

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  16. You're posts feel like they've been pulled from my head. Every time. lol. Self-criticism is something I suffer from heavily, but the important part is to know when to shelve and what to write to keep YOU happy. Good post :)

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  17. I also have a few manuscripts shelved--more than I want to think about.

    I think it is wonderful that you feel like opening it sometimes and typing away. The wonderful thing about being a pre-published writer is that we can work on what we want when we want. So open it and have fun!

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  18. I agree with all those who say write what you love. If this story wants to fly then give it wings and let it go. Even if it doesn't get published you've still given it substance and life and that's worth so much.

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  19. I have a whole collection of manuscripts at different places in the process. I love that. There's always something tapping me on the shoulder for some attention. I think every story we finish is a treasure, no matter where it ends up.

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