Where Does The Time Go – No Really?

Is there a cave somewhere where time goes to hide away?

How is it November already? Wasn’t it just June? Or February? This year has absolutely flown by. I feel like it was only weeks ago that I decided to sit down with a bunch of old projects, those first drafts that I’d written ages ago and somehow forgotten about, to try and figure out what I could salvage.
At the time, it seemed like kind of a daunting task. I wanted to start new things, I wanted to write fresh stories, but at the same time, I felt like I couldn’t neglect those things I’d started way back when.

After all, the first drafts where already written – how difficult could it be to whip them into shape?

All in all, I sat on four major projects. I’ve written about the whole process at length previously, here, here, here, and here. The short version is that I’ve gotten through three of them, one got rejected (by a publisher I really hoped would pick it up), one got picked up by Inked In Gray, whom I’ve previously published At The Gate with, and one got picked up by an entirely new, Norwegian(!), publisher. Also, I’m back to shopping around for a buyer for that first project. I just feel like it deserves to come alive somewhere!

But if you’ve paid attention up till this point, you realize there’s one project missing. The fourth. The biggest. The one I was so happy I was able to start working on in June, because I figured it was going to take a little while.

Now, I know I’ve been busy, so it’s not like I haven’t been doing anything, but I didn’t really think it would take this long. I mean, is it really November already?!

Thing is, this fourth project is doing my head in. I’ve been through it with a fine-tooth comb twice now, and I feel like I’m getting nowhere. I’m not feeling it. I like the story, and I think it’s engaging, exciting and cool to read, but there’s something missing that I can’t put my finger on. I have alpha readers who look through my first drafts, give overarching comments on the major plot lines, and help steer me in the right direction, but in this instance we’re finding it particularly difficult.

The problem probably has most to do with the theme of the story. You see, it’s a science-fiction mystery-thriller thing, where persons are able to move throughout their world in a way that confuses things. (It’s essentially time travel, okay? You got me.) This makes for a lot of fun scenes, because things that happen, or can happen or has happened, might happen again, or not at all.

Which makes for a really cool story, but a ¤#”¤¤! pain to edit.

A second reason for the issues I’m having is that I wrote the whole thing off the back of a short story that never led anywhere, and I pants’ed my way through a first draft that while it had some great general ideas, and goals, and plots, was very open-ended and loose.

So now I’m wading my way through the very painful task of making it all make sense.

I love it though. Don’t get me wrong. But considering how fast, efficient and successful I was with the three previous projects, the ones I actually managed to whip into shape in record time, and submit, and hear back about, I wasn’t really prepared to still be struggling with this one in November.

(Also, it probably doesn’t help that I keep distracting myself with writing and submitting short stories every other week).

I won’t complain! It’s fun to have things to do, and even more rewarding when projects keep being picked up and people love my stuff. But honestly, where the hell does the time go? There must be a cave somewhere where it goes to hide.

What have you been up to this year? Anything new and exciting on the horizon? Or are you working your way through old manuscripts like me?

Let me know in the comments!

And as usual – I’d love it if you took time out of your day to check out my books. Whether it’s crime thrillers, psychological horror, or sci-fi and fantasy short stories, I’ve got you covered. And as an indie writer, I appreciate every single one of my readers, even if you just have a browse, maybe you send a link to a friend who would love my books. Honestly, everything helps, and I’m eternally grateful.

You can find all my work right here!

Trey Stone’s Books

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