#2 Manuscript Update: Building a World of My Own

Ever since this night several months ago, I’ve been preparing the foundations for my first fantasy novel. I’ve written and self-published two poetry books, but the switch to fiction has proven to be a game of its own.

Slow. It’s been a slow process—partly due to feeling the daunting magnitude of such a project, but also because I’m determined to not force this thing. I want inspiration to flow freely, to find me in my dreams and in small moments as I’m going about my day. And it has, to some degree.

This slow and curious approach has offered me one main character and the details of her city. I can also feel another main character, and another, and the journey that will find them. I can see specific turning points. Sense the mood of the story. But as has been my battle over the years, I have yet to discover a proper plot.

Story ideas find me through small, vivid visions, similar to daydreams or remembering moments from a movie. Scenes come to me easily in detail, but out of context of the whole story. I grew up with a shoebox under my bed, stuffed with short blurbs and endless ideas, but I rarely ventured past the first chapter because I never knew where I wanted the story to head.

Now as an adult I’m wondering if it’s a lack of discipline or faith. Do I need to be firm and outline my book from cover to cover before putting pen to paper? Or do I simply need to write, and keep writing, so the story unfolds before me page by page?

I think the approach is personal. I know writers on either side of this debate, and just haven’t quite figured out my own flow.

The only way forward is to actually take a step forward, so, I’m determined to keep showing up at my desk each week. I’m trying to move my efforts out of my head and into my manuscript, and am beginning to nudge that word count higher and higher.

I’m still very much messy with this process, and don’t have a clue on what feels like the “right” direction for me. I’ll keep you posted as I learn, grow, and hopefully work my way towards a completed manuscript.

Forward, onward!