"Book II" Has Had a Rocky Start, But It's Fine and I've Learned From It
I’ve had a hard time getting the second book moving. I’ve written two versions of the first chapter, the second of which is unfinished but close to being done. However, I think that neither of them hit in quite the right way, but I like things about both and may actually work out a way to combine them.
It’s getting started on a project that’s always the hardest for me, and I assume most writers. However, once I have the foundation for a book established in a way that I like, everything else normally just flows out of me and rather quickly.
I think that my current problem is due to two things.
The first, is that I was ready to jump into my second book, as soon as my first one was done. I decided that I should take a break for at least a month, letting my ideas marinate and develop in my head over that time. I think that was a mistake.
The reason why it was a mistake is that I didn’t need that month. I should’ve struck while the iron was hot, as I was full of motivation and had momentum on my side. Besides, it would’ve taken a month or more to write the first draft and at least that would’ve been done by now, giving me time to massage in ideas that would’ve developed or came to me through the process of writing it.
Looking back at writing Dan the Destructor, I took a graphic novel script and adapted it into a novel format. My initial goal was just to get it adapted into a new form. After completing that first draft, I had other ideas that I felt could be worked in fairly naturally. In the end, I did just that and it improved the story quite a bit.
I think I initially had the wrong takeaway, as I thought that simply having time to think about the story and all its details was more important than action. I now know that action is better and that the rest will come more easily while doing the action part.
The second problem was actually a product of my first problem. Now that I have had time to think about it, I’ve overwhelmed myself with too many ideas and with that, a loss of focus on what’s most important. While I know the objective of the book and how it needs to play out, starting it has become somewhat of a roadblock. I’ve thought myself into a corner, creatively.
I’ve been weirdly fixated on questions and issues that don’t need immediate answers or resolutions. These are things I’ve been stuck on, while mulling over what takeaways one might have after reading the first book. I have a lot of time to work these things in, though.
I’m actually okay with these wrenches being thrown into the machine because I’m learning how to produce more satisfying results by managing my time and creative output better.
At this moment, I’m not where I’d like to be, but I’ll get there and I’d rather get there and do things to the best of my ability than to try and force something out that I’m not happy with.