Decades later and I am no closer to publishing my first book than I was when I was sitting in my high school chemistry class writing in my Garfield notebook. It still comes down to excuses as to why I don’t write, and now I have even more excuses than I did before, so it just makes it easier.
However, I have more story ideas than I ever had before, so a lack of ideas is not the issue! Sometimes I think that having too many ideas may be hindering me because there are too many ideas flying around my head that I just can’t get them to focus long enough to get it out and down on paper. I have this little notebook that I keep in my bag, so it is with me at all times hoping that when the moment strikes I’ll have everything I need to draft and write. To my credit, there is quite a bit already in it. Lots of half drafted scenes, character and setting descriptions and general ideas.
About a year and a half ago, I posted on Instagram a potential first (-ish) sentence for five different story ideas that I have and asked my friends and family to vote on their favorite and then that’s the story I would focus on writing first.
Here are the five sentences I posted:
My whole life I have found myself in a series of precarious and completely inconvenient predicaments; however, how I found myself here is pretty much a mystery to me.
The flash is blinding, the scream is ear-splitting, the pain is unbearable and no matter how badly I try, I cannot open my eyes and end this repeating nightmare.
The first time my father took me to Giddindale I couldn’t sleep for three days, certain that the moment I closed my eyes the ‘monsters’ would come and steal me away.
I got this. I can do this.” Carter repeated the phrase over and over in her head as she put on her uniform and put her hair in its custom ponytail. Students only have one shot on Evaluation Day and by all that is holy in the sea, Carter was determined to be noticed.
Jax quickly closed the door behind him in an attempt to keep the below freezing windows out. “Jax!” His mother exclaimed almost breathlessly as she entered the hallway. “I think it came. There is a message for you in the teledec.”
Looking at these now and knowing the stories in my head, I would completely rewrite #5. So, the question is which one do you like best and which one do you think won the vote?
Well, true to my word, I took the winning sentence and started writing. I even have 1,992 words written into a Google Doc. But, I haven’t touched it in over 18 months. I think I’m worried that it isn’t going to live up to the level of perfection that I have set for it in my head. I know what I want the story to be, I know some of the big plot moments, but I’m worried about the valleys between the peaks. Will I successfully get from point A to B?
It could also be that the stories for two of the above sentences keep dominating my thoughts. I simply have to buckle down and figure out what I want to do, and that’s really hard!
I want to:
Read books and write reviews
Maintain my bookish website
Continue co-hosting my monthly podcast, Speaking LITerally
Work my day job that pays the bills
Be a good mom and wife
Exercise from time to time
Sleep every now and then
Write for my other, personal blog
So, I will again leave you with the question…. Which of those first sentences do you find the most interesting, engaging, or compelling? I almost think I need to have a fresh start with my writing and begin something new. I’ll give you one final piece of information - the genre of each:
Dystopian
Fiction
Fantasy
Dystopian
Sci-fi
They would all be considered young adult. It is after all what I read the most of, and I work in a high school so it really is what I know best! I did purposely leave out which sentence won the last vote on purpose, but don’t worry…I’ll include it in my next post.
Leave me a comment with your choice…and what are some of your strategies for getting focused?
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Brand New Website for book lovers: www.tinyurl.com/desertbookshelf It has links to my podcast Speaking LITerally, book reviews, breaking literary news, games, links to small business and more!
Speaking LITerally podcast! Our monthly misadventures into all things literary. Separated by the Atlantic, Liz and I come together in our love of reading!!! Find us wherever you listen to your other favorite podcasts! Click here to find us on iHeartRadio!
If you are really bored you can read about some of my personal adventures in life raising two teenagers and loving a husband who is fighting Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and all the lesson I learn along the way. Educate This.
3 really has me curious and seemed super original.
I vote for #3!