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- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
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Hello Kingdom Friends!
So I’m going through a bit of a writing crisis right now… lol. And if anyone has advice, I would love some encouragement!
As you guys know, I’ve been working on my Biblical fiction novel, The Apostle’s Sister, for months now. I’ve finished the first draft and now I’m doing the second. (It’s from the perspective of St. Paul’s sister, who is mentioned in Acts 23:16.)
Work on the second draft has gone really slow and discouraging lately, and a few days ago I had an idea for something that might encourage me to keep going. It was a novella from the perspective of Paul’s youngest nephew (also mentioned in Acts 23:16), and I started working on it. I was really enjoying it because the nephew is my favorite side character, and I find it so interesting to write from the point of view of a child.
Anyways, as I kept working, I kept getting more and more ideas that excited me. And now I feel that maybe this won’t be a novella at all, but may be a full-length novel. For some backstory, the nephew is the sister’s adopted son and raised by both her and Paul. I started getting a bunch of exciting ideas of having his biological parents and sibling come into the picture. And about him getting swept into this huge drama with his sister who he doesn’t realize is his sister, etc.
All this to say (sorry for being so long-winded 😂) that I kind of want to experiment with this new idea that MAY be a novel. I love writing from the point of view of children, and the nephew is just such a fascinating character. It’s so fun to see what he really thinks of his apostle-uncle. The idea of his biological family coming back is really interesting to me, and I want to explore it.
But I don’t know if I should. There are plenty of reasons why I shouldn’t. Like, I’ve been faithfully blogging about TAS. And I’ve had some amazing beta readers who have given so much of their time to reading it, and I don’t want them to think their work was for nothing, you know? I’ve made a commitment to start querying agents for it when I’m a high school senior (which is only like a year and a half away), and if I start experimenting with these new ideas it will set me back on my goals for TAS. I don’t even know if this new story is something that could be publishable or not, or if it will even reach 50k words. And my goal is to have a publishing contract before I graduate high school. (Which I’m already worried I won’t achieve.)
So my question is, should I go for this new thing and see where it takes me? Or is it just one of those distractions/excuses writers get to not work on their novel? I’m not saying I’m going to give up on TAS and make this my primary project, because that’s definitely not my plan. I just want to know if it’s okay to experiment on the side, or if I should work strictly on my novel and not stray.
I’m really sorry this topic is so long! I am so so grateful if you made it down here, seriously! If anyone has advice, I would really appreciate that.
@joy-caroline You should go with the new thing! I don’t think it’s an excuse to not work on your novel; it’s a break, a refresher. They say to work on two projects so that you can always procrastinate on the other one. (And you’re looking at someone who likes to juggle in between 4 or 5 projects at a time…)
You should definitely go for it! You’ve worked so hard already, this could help refreshen your creative spirit!
Lately, it's been on my brain
Would you mind letting me know
If hours don't turn into days- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
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@joy-caroline I don’t see why not! I think that it would help you balance writing TAS and would be a great addition to your story, like a companion novel!
- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
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Thanks! That makes a lot of sense. If I’m always writing something, then I won’t feel like I’m procrastinating so much 😂 And I’ll be productive at the same time!
By the way, the poem on your signature, or tagline ?? I have no idea what it’s called, but anyway the poem is so interesting!
- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
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@gracie-j
Thank you so much! That’s a great idea! I never thought about it balancing my work on TAS, but now that I am thinking about that, it sounds good!
@joy-caroline Ah they’re lyrics from a song called “The Moon and Sixpence” by a Christian band called Falling Up! They’re my favorite band and quite underrated; most of their songs aren’t explicitly Christian but have a lot of metaphors and stories within, which is one of the reasons why I like them so much.
Lately, it's been on my brain
Would you mind letting me know
If hours don't turn into days- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1379
Cool! I’m actually so glad you mentioned that, because I’ve been struggling to find awesome new music. I’m getting kind of tired of listening to the same things over and over again. I’ll have to check out Falling Up!
@joy-caroline DEFINITELY go with the new idea! I’m a big supporter of working on whatever is sparking your inspiration and excitement. Of course, your beta readers’ work wasn’t for nothing; you can always take breaks from projects and come back to them. And if you’re still wanting to finish TAS and get it ready for querying while still playing with this new idea, just set some clear daily goals for it so you have a distinct path and something to keep you on track. 🙂 And if this new idea doesn’t end up being publishable, that’s okay. You learn from every single story you write, whether or not you share it with the world.
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.com- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
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THANK YOU!! Daily goals sound like a great idea. If I do that, I think I can still have fun with a new idea while working on TAS.
Thanks for saying that! It is true that you learn from everything you write. I’m going to try and see how this goes!
@joy-caroline Yay! 😀
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.com@joy-caroline
So first off, I completely understand your dilemma. In fact, it has been one of my top (if not my number one) problem that I face a writer.
I had a novel that I’d been working on for six months. It was a fantasy and I had had my pen pal and a few relatives beta reading it for awhile. I was getting a little winded in writing it, when I was inspired by a photograph for my WIP, The Snow Warrior. Thence I started in on TSW immediately and I loved everything about my cast and the setting and I finally produced the first draft last November (still stumbling through the second draft however… sigh).
But the point of that is, is to write the story that your passionate about. I don’t mean, don’t write your story because it gets hard or you reach a boring part. I mean, if the story sticks with you and you keep thinking up bits and pieces throughout your day to add to it, that is a story worth going after.
That doesn’t mean that you’ll put aside TAS forever, (I still take notes and tweak my fantasy novel, I know I’ll return to it). But forcing yourself to write the one you feel dedicated to instead of the one that is pulling a spotlight over itself, probably will stop up the creativity faucets and isn’t as much fun to write.
(Speaking from personal experience and from others experience).As for beta readers. Their help is never for nothing. They are not helpful solely because they are helping your WIP (which they do), but I believe that their biggest purpose, effect, goal, etc, is to help make you a better writer. So they are never for not.
So yes, I think you ought to go with the novel and characters that keeps nagging at your brain to write more about itself.
And I love the sound of your novel idea by the way. It even sounds like it would make a great duology.Anyway, I hope all that I was helpful or at least a little bit.
The best a writing wishes:)
@joy-caroline
Sorry, it took so long for me to get here, but you should TOTALLY TRY OUT THIS NEW STORY IDEA!!!!!! It’s good to take breaks from projects and write other things!! And whether or not it’s something you can or can’t get published doesn’t really matter! I’ve written tons of things I don’t plan to publish! Was those things a waste of time? Nope!! We grow as writers by WRITING!!! And I’d never think I’m wasting my time beta reading for TAS!! Like with my Robyn Hood story I’ve got people critiquing, I don’t know if I’m ever even gonna write a second draft for it, much less publish! But the feedback I’m getting for that is helping me in my other writings ’cause I’m seeing the same problems!!! Feedback helps you all around, not just for a specific story!!!!!! If you wanna work on this new story, GO FOR IT!!!!!! I’m cheering you on all the way!!!!!!!!!! It’s okay to break from TAS for a bit!!! <33
God gives His hardest battles to His strongest soldiers.
TeenWritersNook.com- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
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Wow! There’s so much wisdom in this reply. Seriously XD
Thank you so so much! I think I’m going to try the new idea – like just write a quick first draft and see if I like it enough to keep pursuing it. If I don’t, then that’ll be okay! Because there are no certainties about this project like there are about TAS – I don’t even really know if this project will reach novel length.
Thank you! That’s an idea. I’ve actually thought of writing a sequel.
- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1379
Aww, thanks! I think I am going to try this new idea and see how it goes. I’ve actually heard you’re supposed to take several weeks off from your first draft (which I definitely didn’t do) so maybe I should try that now and use the time to see where the idea takes me.
Thanks! Everybody’s replies have been encouraging, so I think I will go for it.
@joy-caroline
Your welcome:) I do the same thing in writing. I had put TSW aside for a little while at one point to write my short story EverHappens. But now that that finished, I’m back with writing my WIP. Sometimes working on another project will even generate more ideas for your main novel:)
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