I still remember the blogpost in January 2008, when I first posted some informations about my project. I did know the main characters, I did know, how the story should go on. And now, one and a half year later, I’m still at the same point. Isn’t that disappointing?
Well, it could be. But I know that the idea is great. That I’m able to write a wonderful story. Maybe it’s just that I have an awful writer’s block. And, that’s far more horrible: I’m a perfectionist. The first two chapters have been written so many times. And everytime I get back to the project, I’m unsatisfied with my own words.
Heather asks me, whether it will be a fiction or a non-fiction story. It’s an easy answer. The book (with the title: Full distance. Closer to you) is a fiction story. It’s very autobiographic (I’m unable to write somthing non-autobiographic, unfortunately), but I think, all my memories and experiences are great for that kind of story. And what is it all about?
There’s Noah. That 20-year-old guy, who will start a whole new life in a whole new city: He will begin to study in Vienna. And days before the first trip to Vienna, he isn’t quite sure, whether it was the right decision. But in the train, he met Emily. A wonderful young woman, who just starts to talk to him. They get the possibility to talk for more than an hour, but then their paths go seperate ways. But they will meet again. And from these days on, this will be their regular meetings. But you only will know much about Noah’s life. Emily’s life will be a secret. We just know those things, she shares during the conversations with Noah. And in this train, there will be friendship, love, silence, jealousy, conflicts. And you will be there, together with Noah and Emily.
Does this sounds interesting? I don’t know. But I like the idea. Maybe just because I was inspired by Before Sunrise, that wonderful movie about two people (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy), who meet in a train and stay one night in Vienna. My plans for that book? Maybe 40.000 words. My “record” are 70.000 words, which I reached with my first book project the places you have come to fear the most (what a nice title), but I think: 40.000 words are perfect for that kind of story.
And what do you think? Would you read that kind of story? And do you have any secret recipe to stop my writer’s block?
photocredits: w00kie | flickr
Filed under: Future, Life, Literature , Before Sunrise, book, closer to you, Emily, Ethan Hawke, fiction, full distance, Julie Delpy, Noah, non-fiction, perfectionist, story
That sounds like an interesting story.
As for the writer’s block (I hate that term, I don’t believe there is such a thing, because you can always come up with something), how do you feel “blocked”? Is it a plot point, something with one of your characters?
What I’ve found to be the best remedy when I feel stuck is to grab a new sheet of paper or open a new document file, and just write. Write anything, so long as it is connected with your story. It could be notes, brainstorming, or a scene from much later in the tale. Eventually, sooner or later, something you write will sort itself out and just present itself as the perfect solution.
Thank you!
Well, I have the problem, that I’m not able to write for hours. I start again and again, write the first few chapters, and when I get back to the document file (days or weeks later) I’m unconfident with my own words. And then … yeah, I start a new file.
But I’ll work with your strategy. Because it’s very interesting: It needn’t to be always to right words, the first chapters, it could be just a note, too. Thank you for that help!
You’re very welcome, and I hope it helps.
I don’t have hours to write either; usually I seem to get about 30 minutes, if that, but once in a while I’ll get the chance to just sit and type.
Another thing to remember is, you don’t actually have to be ‘writing’ to be working on your story. Just thinking about it, about your characters & your situations helps too.