Am I Trying to Do Too Much?

[Freakconformist]

I have been feeling called to write for a while now. It's kind of calling where God says, "Oh so, you want to be a writer, now? Okay, go ahead and start writing something."

However, I seems to be having a problem concentrating on one story line. As a result after two years of plotting and creating I have yet to write I chapter I'm completely happy with. Here are the various stories I keep bouncing in between.

One plot line I'm not horribly serious about, but I keep coming back to regardless, is the PBI story arc. This has the greatest potential to develop into a series. It's a superhero based graphic novel, with agents from the "Paranaturals Bureau of Investigation" learning to work with the "Naturals" in order to stop the bad guys. It would be directed toward pre-teen/young adults with the purpose of teaching tolerance, social injustice, and team work.

The second story is a fun little romantic fantasy, again directed toward young adults. It's about a particularly docile troll who makes a mean chicken soup who shows up under the castle gate one day. All he asks for to pass is one ingredient for his cooking pot. From everybody except the Princess, the only thing he'll accept from her is her hand in marriage. (So imagine every evening the King sitting at the end of the drawbridge having a pint of ale with the troll as the Princess huffs at the other end yelling at her father about associating with monsters and stuff. Sounds hilarious, right?)

The third story line is a bit more mature. It's more like a Gothic mystery (romance?). An unemployed journalist, with limited options takes the job of researching and writing the history of a small, would be tourist town in northern Wisconsin. Unfortunately, because of various accidents and fires a good deal of the town's history is hearsay and mystery, and all of it surrounds the founding family that is believed to be cursed. Of course, the town is safe now that the last descendant of the family died 40 years ago. That is, until a hansom stranger walks into town claiming to be the heir of the cursed family's fortune. Is this guy legit? Is he really cursed or is there something else behind the accidents that suddenly start throwing our heroine's life in danger?

The fourth story is really just based off a dream that I recently had. It's more like an artsy graphic short story that I already have some thumbnails drawn up for. It's kind of like "ships literally passing in the night" type story. It's about a woman sitting in a coffee shop telling her friend about a dreams she has where this guy just kind of shows up and starts watching her dream. She is fascinated with the idea that she has been crossing paths with her soul mate in her dreams. Her friend convinces her that the idea is just too "coo-key, new age, mumbo jumbo" to even contemplate and they get up to leave. Even as she does one of the waiters comes around the corner, and like in the dream, they make eye contact. She shakes it off as he watches her walk out the door. (It's artsy, I know, lol)

Lastly, I've been contemplating doing a blog. Kind of a "The Modern Church as I See It" layman's blog. I've been to a lot of small churches and I've seen them do a lot of things, whether because of tradition or just because people are people, that gets swept under the rug and ignored. Things that hurts the new christian, things that hurt the church financially, and things that hurt those who are trying to help. I feel strongly that some of these things should be addressed, even if I'm only shouting into an empty room. Sometimes it's best to just speak what God has put on your heart, and He'll make sure the right people hear it.

So, do any one or two of these things sound remotely interesting? Any suggestions on how to concentrate on just one at a time? Suggestions are helpful.

 

[miss-a]

I honestly think it all comes down to prayer and letting the Lord choose what you focus on. I have a number of things in the works and have had for years, nothing finished. But recently, it came clear that I needed to get one finished and which one. I really think the realization came from seeking first the Kingdom of God, His presence and His will. It wasn't like I heard an audible voice or had a vision. It just got clear.

I know for me, for the longest time, I thought being successful as a writer would bring me peace and the life I wanted. I think spending lots of time focusing on Him helped me learn and live in the peace that is knowing He brings the peace and withholds no good thing, it freed me up. I didn't need to write or be accomplished anymore, and that freed up the creative flow.

I hope helps some. Here's a link to some teachings that really helped me.
Freedom Classes | Gateway Church

And also the book by A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God.

Best to you,
a

 

[Freakconformist]

You know, soon after you wrote this I've started working on the second story.

Funny enough, it's gone from "a cute short story" to a full blown, three part fantasy trilogy with a mysterious plot to take over the kingdom, the princesses' werewolf lady-in-waiting and her father's pack being taken over by an evil magician, and the Troll's brothers (5 human princes from the next Kingdom over) coming to the rescue. It's amazing what can develop in 5 days.

 

[mojoboy31]

If four stories is doing too much, then I've been way over my head almost since I began writing. I have three fanfics started, and probably somewhere around ten original works going. I focus on one at a time, but when I get stuck, it's hard not to go, "I had this great idea the other day..." And then either start something new, or focus on an older work.

Stephen King said, "The first million words you'll write are crap."

It doesn't really matter how good one's idea is if their prose isn't very good. And good prose can only come through practice, practice, practice, practice. I wouldn't worry about doing too much. I would just try to make sure that I write *something*. No matter what that something is.

 

[TheGuide]

Before I started writing, most of what I've written over the years were already developed stories inside my head. You should just pick one and stick to it. Then write your next book, and so on.

If this is really your gift, then you should be able to fully execute your project with ease. Now your first story idea sounds great. It may help get your imagination going if you not type the first draft, but write it, i.e. pencil to paper. For me, starting out this way, the story literally was writing itself. It was mind blowing. Try it and keep me updated on my contact page @ bigroost.com.

 

[grandvizier1006]

Yeah, you've got too much going. I tried to write multiple fanfics at once, and now I'm writing none of them. I either finished them or had to put them on hiatus and write original stuff!

 

[Pink Spider]

Focus on the 3rd story!