This is a request for help.
I want to write. More accurately, I want to write stories. Great stories, in fact. A week ago, I had the privilege of hearing the Neil Gaiman speak as part of a the Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series in Syracuse. (If you missed it, I wrote about it here. And may have drunkenly gushed about it for a moment here.)
I am approaching my 100th post on this blog. I am happy with that body of writing. I’ve written things which I think are poignant, insightful, geeky, or otherwise entertaining. But the thing that I have most aspired to- writing stories- is the thing that I’ve done only barely.
A significant portion of my writing has documented my longstanding fear of failing at this thing that is important to me. For years before I started this blog, I avoided anything remotely related to the idea of writing because of that fear. (Again, here you go, if you missed it.) I’ve made real progress on conquering that fear. I think that I’m finding my voice as a writer.
BUT- I’m not producing much in the way of stories. I have snippets, ideas, themes. I struggle with focusing on character versus plot. I don’t feel like I’m making progress on this essential piece- I want to write stories.
So this brings me back to my opening line…
This is a request for help.
Starting the writing- well, I feel like that has gone well. But I’m at that part where making progress seems so much harder. Any thoughts or advice? Help a starving (metaphorically, not literally) writer out!
TMPinSYR 