It's called Meet Virginia and is the tale of a very unconventional psychic and her many adventures with demons, vampires, octopus aliens and greek gods. Technically, it's only about half of what the book is actually supposed to be but after spending an entire month doing nothing but writing this book, I printed it out, attempted to edit it and haven't touched it since. It's been over 7 months since I finished and I have yet to start the second half or even really edit/rewrite said book.
When I started Virginia it was simply as a challenge to myself. Could I, in 30 days, write a 50,000 page novel. The answer to that question is: why yes, yes I can. Was the product the greatest masterpiece in all of my creative history? No. Was it a learning experience as a novelist and writer? Yes. So in the end, I am still pleased with the book and hope to return to it some day soon, perhaps get an editor, edit it and try to submit it for publication. If that doesn't work than I'll probably just release it as an e-book as I am too proud and love Virginia too much to let her sit in a corner of my room in a sad black binder.
I have started on a new novel project thing that I am extremely excited about. I am simply going to refer to it as Walkers and that is all you're getting out of me.
Though what I do want to talk about is the creative process and how extremely bizarre it is, at least to me. When I was in school and I got novel ideas, a lot. I wrapped myself up in the mythology of this world I was creating. I had folders filled with calendars and zodiacs and religions and Parthenon and magic systems and character sheets, there were character sketches (even though I cannot draw to save my life), and maps. I spent so much time working on the mythology that I didn't even take the time to write a story outline. By the time I started writing I had no idea where the story was going. Back then I was not a novelist, I was a world creator. I made worlds, I made history but the stories and the plots never seemed to make sense.
The farthest I ever got into a novel was right after my mother passed away in 2008. I started working on a novel (another one I hope to return to one day) called God Slaves. It was my mega fantasy epic. Again, I hope to return to it someday with a clear mind and the ability to rewrite everything. I wrote around 100 pages or so but again, I went into this story with the mythology written out, maps, character designs, a full on governmental system with its own laws and clauses and circles and cliques and races. But there was no plot. Sure I was older than I was when I was a freshman in high school writing about a witch who turned a dragon into a frog on accident (no, really) but I still lacked a sense of guidance. I had a general idea of where I wanted God Slaves to go, but I didn't really ever say, "Yes. This is what is going to happen." because I tried the age old writing rule of "write what you know". My characters were brash, chain smoking, constantly swearing unlikeable people. Not that the people I was hanging around were unlikeable, but to a general audience they would seem unrealistic. I was in a strange place that year and though the writing helped me get past a lot of terrible things that were happening to me, it was no where near my best ability.
Virginia was the first time I had sat down and written an outline. An honest to god "This is what is going to happen" outline. I had never done this before, the concept was foreign to me. It felt wrong, out of my nature, taking the creativity out of it. But, it obviously worked. I spent less time on the mythology and more time on the outline, which, by the time I finished the book was changed completely, hence the massive edits and rewrites that will take place when I do decide to return to it.
And now I have Walkers. This fantastic and loving story where I am blending together what I love to do and what I need to do. I spent an entire night writing out the mythology of this world, then I went into the characters and then I realized I didn't have a plot, at all. I had this group of fantastically bold and vivid characters that I was already in love with but they didn't relate. And then I spent a good hour with a friend of mine, talking it out. And now, I have a basic outline. Each section and chapter written out as to the general summary of what is going to happen. I'm not saying there isn't a possibility it will change, (Virginia sure as hell did), but it's something to follow and makes it easier not to get lost. My favorite part about this experience are the papers I thumb tacked above my computer screen and I occasionally get a new idea and scribble it onto whatever white space I can find.
So why did I title this Creativity High? Because I am on the slow burn crash off of that peek. I stayed up far past when I should working on this idea. I wrote a good 2000 words for the first section and then promptly passed out. And since then my progress as slowly declined. I don't have NaNoWriMo there to motivate me. I have to do this by myself. And that thought it terrifying to me.
Even if this is what I want to do with my life, it still worries me when I start attempting to write something without things like NaNo to push me. I want to write books. I want to write as many books as I possibly can muster before I go. Though I've written one, I have a feeling Walkers is going to be amazing. I just have to find out where the source of that creative high comes from. I have to figure what triggers my brain into saying, "OH GOD! WE HAVE TO WRITE RIGHT NOW!" and probably start disconnecting my computer from the internet while I write. But if I want to know how large kumquats get...I have to have the internet...right?
I could go on about how I doubt my skill as a novelist and how insecure I feel sometimes about my writing, but I'll spare you on that. I am, thankfully, proud of what it is I try to do. I haven't made a single dime off any of my stories or novels yet. And as much as I want to say, "This is not about the money." It kind of is. As an artist of any kind making money off your creations is what allows you to continue creating. If I wasn't working full time as a tech support rep and instead working full time as a writer and getting paid the same amount, I would be the happiest boy in the world, turning out as many novels and I could muster. But getting to the point is where it gets tricky.
And now, it seems, I am rambling and obviously procrastinating from continuing on on Walkers. So I'll stop here for now and get back to work...or go to bed. Whichever I fall into first.
If anyone knows where to get creativity sparks, feel free to share. I'd surely like to find them.
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