When I was a new writer, I believed all I had to do was figure out how to write a story and then every story I wrote after that one would be easy.
Yes. Stop laughing. I truly thought that.
On Saturday, I finally finished the first draft of Seeking Vector. This cyborg story is supposed to be released in September. The release date is in serious danger because I am ONE MONTH behind schedule.
Why did it take an extra month to write?
I don’t know.
Vector is an established character. I love him, find him fascinating. His story made me cry a couple of times but it wasn’t an overly emotionally draining story to write. The plot wasn’t super complicated. I can’t point to any one reason why Seeking Vector was grueling to write.
It merely was.
I had to force myself to write EVERY single day and EVERY moment during those days. There were no ‘Woot! I’m in the zone. Words are flying’ moments (During the writing of it. Now, ironically, as I revise it, that is happening.). Every word was a struggle.
I was told if that ever happened with a story, I should discard it. It won’t contain the magic reading buddies crave. That’s not true. Seeking Vector is filled with magic. Not every reading buddy will love it, of course. I don’t think that’s possible for any story. But Seeking Vector will be the favorite story in the series for some reading buddies. I feel that in my gut.
I’m glad I wrote Seeking Vector. It is a story I’m proud to share with reading buddies.
If you’re struggling with a story, I’m not telling you to stick with it. Every story and every writer is different. But know that it still has the potential to be a GREAT story.
And there’s nothing wrong with you as a writer. Grueling stories are part of this wonderful career. They happen to all of us.
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Dark Flight
His mission. His challenge. His forever.
Orol, the Refuge’s second-in-command, has been given what he believes is a simple mission—escort two human females to the settlement. The winged warrior arrives at the meeting site to find one of the females missing and the other aiming a gun at his head. To rescue the first, he must capture the second. Once he has Rhea in his talons, however, he realizes he never wants to let her go.
Her enemy. Her captor. Her everything.
Rhea doesn’t trust anyone. She certainly doesn’t follow commands issued by a gorgeous flying male with glittering eyes, a beautiful face, and a seductive touch. Orol is dominant, edged with darkness, and determined to find her sister. Rhea will do anything to prevent that, even if it means playing sensual games of submission with her powerful enemy, seducing him into forgetting everything except her.
Dark Flight is a STAND-ALONE SciFi Romance set in a gritty, dark world.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Flight-Refuge-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07124941B/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Flight-Refuge-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07124941B/
Apple/iBooks/iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-flight/id1242494643
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-flight-cynthia-sax/1126484675
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dark-flight-3
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/727350
I’m glad you were able to get Vector’s story done, and I really know what you mean about grueling books…but would nearly 400,000 words and 9 versions of the story be a sign that it should be abandoned?
Or simply that I’m over thinking things and not letting emotions into the mix for the story?
Really curious about your response.
Thanks,
Q
Congratulations on finishing your book! That’s a HUGE accomplishment, one to be proud of!
When I find myself in that ‘should I abandon this story’ place (and I find myself there quite often), I’ll put the story aside for one or two weeks and work on something else. It is normal to hate our stories after a while. We spend so much time working on them.
After the set aside time period, I’ll read the story as though I’m a reader (I find printing the story out gives me additional distance from it). Do I love it? Is it magical? Do I laugh? Do I cry? Do I get turned on (in the case of sexy stories)? Do I FEEL?
Often I’ll also see places where the story could be tightened or scenes that don’t add anything to the story.
If you decide to do this, after the read-through, you might wish to ask yourself, “Is this story best told as one long story or would the reader benefit from reading it in parts?” A 400,000 word story is 1,600 pages long. That length can be intimidating for many readers PLUS very few readers will be able to read it in one sitting. That means they’ll be taking breaks. As the writer, you know best where a reader should take a break.
If you read the story through and you don’t like it, perhaps you still need more distance from it or perhaps it’s time to start a new story. Don’t delete this story! I find no piece of writing is ever wasted. I will often rework scenes from dead stories in to-be-published stories.
If you have any questions or want to talk privately, send me an email at CynthiaSax@YMail.com . I’m always here for you.