First Milestone
I didn’t think I was going to but I have.
After I published and promoted my 8th novel (“Hillsend”) just before Christmas, I took my usual summer break (Southern Hemisphere). I hoped that a plot idea for another novel would occur to me and that it would inspire me to begin writing a 9th book during the colder months of the year.
I experienced the angst of failure right through to autumn. I'd resurrected some old plot ideas but they seemed no more appealing to develop than when I’d first jotted them down. There may not have been anything wrong with the ideas but none could be developed into the sort of story I wanted to write.
Even after the new plot idea came into my head, out of the blue, I procrastinated, feeling doubt about my ability to produce a new and reputable novel at my advanced age – and that may still prove to be the case.
Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I knuckled down and started sketching out the main characters. Ways of beginning the story kept popping up in my mind after that. I didn’t have a middle or an end but at least I could get started. As usual, the characters have gained a life of their own and the story has taken off.
It wasn’t easy to force myself back into rigorous work habits and my first few sessions of writing were shorter than I was accustomed to, but they’ve increased as the story has developed and grown irresistible to me as the author.
No firm title yet. Publication date? Maybe late 2015 or early 2016.
www.thomaswdevine.com
After I published and promoted my 8th novel (“Hillsend”) just before Christmas, I took my usual summer break (Southern Hemisphere). I hoped that a plot idea for another novel would occur to me and that it would inspire me to begin writing a 9th book during the colder months of the year.
I experienced the angst of failure right through to autumn. I'd resurrected some old plot ideas but they seemed no more appealing to develop than when I’d first jotted them down. There may not have been anything wrong with the ideas but none could be developed into the sort of story I wanted to write.
Even after the new plot idea came into my head, out of the blue, I procrastinated, feeling doubt about my ability to produce a new and reputable novel at my advanced age – and that may still prove to be the case.
Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I knuckled down and started sketching out the main characters. Ways of beginning the story kept popping up in my mind after that. I didn’t have a middle or an end but at least I could get started. As usual, the characters have gained a life of their own and the story has taken off.
It wasn’t easy to force myself back into rigorous work habits and my first few sessions of writing were shorter than I was accustomed to, but they’ve increased as the story has developed and grown irresistible to me as the author.
No firm title yet. Publication date? Maybe late 2015 or early 2016.
www.thomaswdevine.com
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