The Challenges of Me

So for many reasons, writing is difficult. First off, I believe you have to have a talent for it. It's not something that can really be learned. You can learn techniques and you can learn structure and the like but to be an actual writer that people want to read, it's gotta be something you can't get from books. Then of course there's the difficulty of actually writing a book. The actual sit your ass down and hammer out 50K+ words that are coherent, make sense and don't make people want to scratch their eyes out. You have to forgo other pursuits, put things on backburners, in some regards lead somewhat of a monastic life. I have always strongly believed that my being single is a curse but in this one regard, it's a blessing. Although, if some crazy deity came down and offered me one or the other, a lot of pondering would be had, that's for sure.

Writers are notorious for having lots of self doubt and I'm no exception and what I've realized is one of the most difficult things about writing, at least for me, is I believe my work sucks. Not that it does, don't get me wrong but I've come to the realization that when you're writing a book and going over passages and rereading chapters and changing things here and there and plotting the future chapters, there's no newness, there's no excitement, there's no surprises. So as I read my stuff I'm practically drop dead bored and since I'm replete with self doubt I automatically think it all sucks.

Except this time. For some reason, I'm really enthralled with the story and my progress and where it's going. As a self proclaimed procrastinator this is the most I have ever written for one project. I have tons of stuff, 10,000 words here, 15,000 words there but not for one single project. I have one friend who's been reading this as I write it and giving me suggestions and he tells me it's pretty good. I don't know, maybe I'm finally turning a corner. I'm shooting for getting the book released in the middle of July and then I'll immediately start on the second one. It's been a fun, albeit difficult ride but I can't wait to get my book out there and let it stretch it's legs. Hopefully it doesn't pull a hammy.