The subject/title line is
not frivolous. There are writers who feel they have one book in them, and after
writing it (published or not) they have done the deed, had their say, and the
bucket is empty.
I had that feeling with my
first work intended for publication. A philosophical chapter book a la The Little Prince that I mistakenly
thought was a picture book.
I couldn’t imagine ever
writing another story. What more did I have to say?
No one offered to publish
it, and I choose not to re-read it ever again. Mostly because I know now it was
not ready for prime time by any measure, and I don’t want to be stuck in the
mental space that made me write it in the first place. The state that asserted
I have said it all.
It was a strange state
lasting a few months, and once I got through it, the faucet just kept running.
Sometimes it trickles and other times it gushes. But the game changer is that I
know I will never run out of stories worth telling.
Even when I can’t think of
any, I know they are there, just beyond the horizon, waiting for the rising sun
to reveal their shape.
It’s called being alive.
6 comments:
What a wonderful way to feel! Definitely words from a true writer.
Timely post for me. I have two PBs coming out sometime this year, but I think I've written my last novel. I just don't feel like spending 3 or 4 years on such a project. I do, however, still have lots of PB manuscripts that I keep rewriting and occasionally submitting. Meanwhile, I'm loving playing with illustrating, and one of my 2022 PBs will include art by moi:) Still telling stories, only with pics rather than words I guess. Cheers!
I have zero books in me. I enjoy writing, but I know I can't write a book. Maybe my feeling will change one day, but for now, I'll stick to shorter pieces.
Love,
Janie
How interesting...Little Prince type book! I hope you polish it up for the rest of us. I recently read The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Macksey and the world needs more of these philosophical musings sort of books. I'm glad your faucet keeps going. Mine too...
Lovely post. I think it's that first book that makes you think, "Is that all there is?" And then when new ideas trickle in, you realize, "No, this is how it's going to be." Some ideas will grab you, some won't, but the ideas will keep on coming.
Lovely post. I think it's that first book that makes you think, "Is that all there is?" And then when new ideas trickle in, you realize, "No, this is how it's going to be." Some ideas will grab you, some won't, but the ideas will keep on coming.
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