Write a book and get it published

even though I haven’t noted my progress lately. I have lots of notes and character development potential. An interesting and unique plot. It’s just not building up in pages even though I have written out various scenes from different parts of the plot. I have been working for a year on what I now realize is the final half of the book. I’m now working on the main character’s early life. I realized that if I don’t develope an early life for her then the rest of the story won’t be as strong.The readers need to understand why she makes the choices that she does and what made her who she is.

My friend has completed her novel except for the editing. We’ve been working on this project for years. she self published her first book before it was ready. I’ve read the first chapter and it is like a different person wrote it. There’s a few mistakes here and there but nothing overwhelming. Helping her keeps me motivated on mine.

Because of copyright issues, I hesitate to talk about the topic of my story. right now it appears that I am writing for a young adult audience. The idea started off as about an recently widowed lady but my ideas for the granddaughter have developed a life of its own. I wasn’t certain how to write about her but this resource book practically makes Trudy whisper about herself in my ear. As I skimmed through the book, I started writing down notes last night as the story began pulling together. Today I’m doing a little research about things Trudy tells me that she needs that I’m not familiar with. I know what she wants—her goal. That’s the most important thing to know. The rest is hooking together her adventures to reaching that goal and how it impacts her grandma.

This goal isn’t a priority until I get some more important things out of the way.
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
- Goethe
He’s right but I need to put that energy into grad school and getting well right now.

I tried to write an opening scene but I got stuck. I found that I needed to add characters to build up scenes to reach the point of my end goal.I’m wondering if I should just keep writing by the scene of my pants or try to plan in more depth. More than anything I need to relax about the writing process. I’m such a perfectionist that it is difficult just to write fiction. Nonfiction seems to be much easier for me.

I am developing ideas on how to set up my opening scenes on my fantasy novel. I’ve been reading Jim Butcher’s suggestions on Live Journal on how to set up scenes. it has really helped me revamp how I’m going to write it. The way I was working before I couldn’t figure out how to show instead of tell the story. I think I have a workable formula now. I feel very encouraged. Reading the reader forums at Amazon is also helpful. Now I just have to write something down and get all this out of my head!

I have character and plot sketches for two fantasy novels. I have the skeleton of a book of poetry. I have blogs on my thoughts on God and life, etc. I’d also liket to have illustrations. I’m afraid of self-publishing because of a friend’s bad experiences. Yes, she got the library of congress number and a isbn but the only one who made money was the publisher. She had to buy her books, market and sell them. It was a year of hard work that didn’t pay off.

I guess this goes back to my difficulties with being sensitive about not being approved of by everyone. I know that people will find something wrong with it. I would be devastated. I can hardly bear to have my work critiqued in a writing workshop. Somehow I’ve got to toughen up if I’m going to be everything I want to be.