A friend recently told me about Three Worlds Press and their Sea Mist Anthology, and I decided to go for it. Submissions are due on 2/15/15, which gave me almost two full weeks to work on my idea. Lucky me, a concept came to mind very quickly along with the basic plot - just enough for a plotster like me (combo of plotter with a little pantser mixed in for fun). I felt raring to go.
So why the heck did I find myself stalling only a quarter of the way through my story? And then again another twenty-five hundred words later?
I was in the midst of big time frustration. I thought maybe I'd take a break, let it simmer, but with a tight deadline, I really couldn't afford the time. I shared my angst with my trusted sisters (you know who you are, ladies), and was seriously considering dropping the whole deal. But I hated the idea of abandoning my concept. So, what to do?
Then it hit me. I had my concept, my plot, and my female main character all mapped out. But the male MC - there was the rub. My story was falling flat because I had failed to develop my male MC. The good news is, it came easy once I knew what I'd forgotten. Fast forward three days, and my draft is done.
As an author it's too easy to lose confidence, to give up, or give in to writers' block. I might have totally abandoned this project if I hadn't remembered the basics. I have no idea if my story will be accepted by Three Worlds, or if anyone will read it except me and my amazing critique partners, but I pushed through and that's something I feel really good about.
So why the heck did I find myself stalling only a quarter of the way through my story? And then again another twenty-five hundred words later?
I was in the midst of big time frustration. I thought maybe I'd take a break, let it simmer, but with a tight deadline, I really couldn't afford the time. I shared my angst with my trusted sisters (you know who you are, ladies), and was seriously considering dropping the whole deal. But I hated the idea of abandoning my concept. So, what to do?
Then it hit me. I had my concept, my plot, and my female main character all mapped out. But the male MC - there was the rub. My story was falling flat because I had failed to develop my male MC. The good news is, it came easy once I knew what I'd forgotten. Fast forward three days, and my draft is done.
As an author it's too easy to lose confidence, to give up, or give in to writers' block. I might have totally abandoned this project if I hadn't remembered the basics. I have no idea if my story will be accepted by Three Worlds, or if anyone will read it except me and my amazing critique partners, but I pushed through and that's something I feel really good about.
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