(no subject)

[felis_ultharus]

I had a very relaxing day so far, today. After the Great Cleanout of Closets and Cupboards yesterday and the day before, various sundries are covering my alarm clock, so I did not set it. That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

Mulling over the novel, I keep coming to the same difficult conclusion. No matter how many times I rewrite it, there's still the same tension in it that I can't resolve. And that is that I can write it one of two ways: 1) a way that would interest other people; or b) the way it has to be written, but that other people would find boring.

It's not that I doubt I have talent. That's just it. I know how to write a good short story, I believe. And I think I know how to write a good novel. The problem is, I couldn't write this novel that way without destroying it.

I'm not shelving it permanently. It's still a pleasure to write. It's been my anchor of sanity these past four years. But I don't think I'm going to try and publish it. I've come to a point in my writing where I think I can get published and actually start the uphill climb to a career in this. But it's not going to come with this book -- it'll have to be another.

This morning, I started building the structure of another novel, one I think will actually interest people. I've written a page and a half so far. I think I'll continue writing both simultaneously.

In the meantime, I'm planning to submit two short stories to the CBC contest, and I've only got one written so far, so I have to get on that.

Comments

[jc2004.livejournal.com]

I have kind of the same problem but at the opposite edge of the spectrum. When I write a novel, I have to choose between the way it needs to be written and ways of reigning it in so that it won't be so interesting that it gets itself banned or puts itself outside of any mainstream markets. I think I'm destined to have a hardcore loyal small cult following rather than being a mainstream author. Can you find a compromise between the two states? That's what I'm trying to do.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

I sometimes get that, too.

I just don't want another angsty, navel-gazing novel, just because there are enough of those out there, and when I read one, I feel like I'm being asked to be the author's psychiatrist.