Fear Itself…Or Something Like That

Posted on May 23, 2008 by  



So. Since our editor was interested in seeing more of the world we created for CRY SANCTUARY, Bree and I started on the sequel this week. By “started” I mean we fleshed out a basic plot line, discussed characterization, and wrote six thousand words.

Six thousand words that sucked.

It was slow. It dragged. It was painful to write. We started the story in the wrong place, not to mention the fact that we were telling the wrong story, anyway.

So we started over. Yes, just like that.

I used to resist giving up on something, even when I felt it wasn’t working. Now, I’m starting to realize that little voice is useful. It’s telling me something I need to know. It’s instinct. It is possibly the most useful tool I have as a writer.

So, why do I ignore it?

Mostly, I am afraid of having to scrap thousands of words. I am afraid that Bree won’t agree with me–that she’ll love what we’ve written and feel hurt or confused that I hate it. I am afraid of finding out why those words needed to go…and having the answer be that I suck at this entire thing and should get another job.

Fear. It does a lot of things to cripple us, doesn’t it? It makes us not submit that manuscript, or maybe not even start it. Because the idea is stale, or our writing isn’t good enough, or we don’t have enough time to do it justice.

Today, I am ignoring fear.

I am starting over.

It’s actually sort of liberating.

And, because I have been way too serious just now, have a hot picture of Jeffrey Dean Morgan:



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