The State of my Writing

Instead of writing a post before editing tonight, I’ve decided to take a break between chapters.  The next chapter is good, but it’s going to take some effort to clean up and bring to the level of my standards.  Now is a good time to sit back and gather my strength for the next bit of work.

So, where am I with my writing?

Literally, I’m at a Starbucks.  Not the one I’d been attending with Michael.  This one is a little bit bigger, and stays open a little bit later.  I used to like to work here back when I wanted to make Stormbreaker Software a thing.  Now, it’s a decent place to work on my fiction when I need to get out of the house and surround myself with productive white noise.

The question isn’t about my physical location.  It’s about my life as a writer.  What am I doing?  Where is this all going?  Have I given up yet, or am I still plugging along?

I’m continuing to edit The Repossessed Ghost.  The more I work on it, the more excited I get about it.  It’s a good story!  It isn’t perfect.  I don’t expect it to be a New York Times best seller.  But it’s good!  I really think anyone that likes Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files will like my book.

The first draft of The Repossessed Ghost came out to be a little over 60,000 words.  Too short to sell through the traditional route.  The first draft had been 24 chapters in length.  In the second draft, I’ve been expanding places and adding story elements that should have been here from the beginning.  I’m currently on chapter 25.  I think there are about 15 chapters left.

What am I going to do with it when its done?  What am I going to do with myself?

I’ll submit it to my writer’s group.  They’ve seen part of it already, and they seemed to enjoy it.  I’ll give it to some other readers, and make sure it is as good as I hope it is.  I’ll do another draft, though I imagine the third draft will not be as deep as the second has been.

Then I’ll need to make some decisions.  I’ll try to get an agent.  If I’m successful, and the book gets picked up, great!  If I’m not, then I’ll need to find an editor.  I’ll need to find an artist.  And then I’ll need to self-publish.

I’ve already written a book that sits in a drawer.  I’m not going to do that with this book.  The Repossessed Ghost deserves a chance to be in front of readers.

That says more about where I am with my writing life than anything.  I have confidence in my work.  I’ve beaten my fears, and my inner editor.

Progress is slower than I want, but I am still progressing.  And when I’m done with The Repossessed Ghost, I’ve got a couple of other books to finish.  And if The Repossessed Ghost really takes off, I’ve got sequels in mind.

I don’t need to make a ton of money with my writing.  I don’t need to be famous.  But I would like this to be my career, and I really want people to enjoy my stories.

So I’ll keep going, and see what the future holds.  Who knows?  Maybe I’m doing exactly what I need to do to make my dreams come true.

One thought on “The State of my Writing

  1. Hi Brian. Please take the following word in the spirit of goodwill. I have read your article and I would like to make a suggestion. When you say ” I don’t expect it to be a New York Times best seller” you could be wrong about that, try thinking that it could be a New York best seller. Then there’s the words “if I’m successful”, I would have said “when I’m successful”. Believe in yourself and what you are achieving, which is more than most. I hope you will take this message in the spirit that I write it to you in that keeping a positive message in your words whether spoken, thought or written will wire you up for success. I love watching Ghost adventures and Ghost asylum so I am interested in our subject matter.

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