Writing is a scary thing. I love coming up with ideas. I love editing. But the bit in between is a huge mountain I’m right at the bottom of. Transferring those ideas onto the page is so difficult. I have a great story. I know it’s a great story. I’ve talked it through at great length with a few people and discussed the general gist and the characters with a few others. Everyone has been captivated and excited about the idea I verbalize. But putting that idea into a blank word document is terrifying. What if I don’t do it justice?

I’m on my third version of the first chapter. Each time the story, the setting, the characters, the situations they encounter are all the same. The way the story is told is in a different voice. The problem is that I have been overtaken with worrying about length of chapters, detail of explanation. Questioning the proportion of characters talking versus narration. Wondering what’s the accepted way to go about this. Which is just laughable. Usually I don’t worry about ‘how things should be done’. My approach in life is that I’m at A, I know where B is and I get there in my own unique way. For once I find myself distracted by worries of getting from A to B in the ‘right way’.

I’m finding my voice, the voice of the story. It needs to be authentically me, and true to the story. If I try to write in a style that doesn’t fit me then everyone will see right through it. The story will lose all integrity.

I’ve already invested so much in this. In my characters and my story. They deserve to be brought to life. And I would be forever disappointed if I didn’t do that for them.

I am glad it’s not writers block. I know what happens next, I know what happened in the past that got them to this point. I know in more detail the story I need to tell in chapters two and three.

So now I need to leave the thoughts and fears at the door and just write. The whole point of proof reading is for others to ask the questions that will help polish off the story. I am lucky to have enough offers to achieve perfection by the time they all finish (whilst trying to avoid too many cooks syndrome!)

What I need to accept is that right now it doesn’t have to be perfect. It is never going to be perfect. It needs to be a start.

There you go folks. Another reason to get a blog. It’s a cheaper version of therapy! Thanks for listening. Now I must write!!!

Thanks to tomswift46 for the image