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Experiment's result
12 years ago
General
Now that the last chapter of last story has been out for more than a week, and that I rested some, I feel ready to examine the results of this writing experiment. I wanted to try committing with something bigger, heavier to write, yet fun; both for the sake of it and to "build up some muscle" for future works.
I'm pleased that I managed to meet this goal, although only barely: the third part was hard to write and I had to simplify and strip some planned things out. To get the full story I wanted, I would have needed one extra chapter and some further editing... but I was reaching my stamina's limits.
Still, it's written, it's a complete story and I'm not _too_ displeased with it (usual perfectionism and harsh inner critic applying here as usual). So, not perfect, but good! It was also a good exercise to better pinpoint what caused me difficulties: basically, when I'm immersed in a story I'm fully in it. I'm working on it non-stop, I'm thinking about it non-stop (including late in the night when I should be sleeping)... I have a hard time letting it go until entire completion, which is probably due in great part to the fact I know I'll start mercilessly judging what I wrote the instant I give myself the time to do so. I need to tame this and discipline myself into a more sustainable pace.
One discouraging point, on the other hand, is that this story was both the one I put most work into and the one I got the least readers' returns about... One likely cause is that novel-sized texts are intimidating, but I'm in the dark about the others. I'll need to toughen up in terms of motivation as well if I want to get better, and not let the (quite normal) silence stop me.
I'm pleased that I managed to meet this goal, although only barely: the third part was hard to write and I had to simplify and strip some planned things out. To get the full story I wanted, I would have needed one extra chapter and some further editing... but I was reaching my stamina's limits.
Still, it's written, it's a complete story and I'm not _too_ displeased with it (usual perfectionism and harsh inner critic applying here as usual). So, not perfect, but good! It was also a good exercise to better pinpoint what caused me difficulties: basically, when I'm immersed in a story I'm fully in it. I'm working on it non-stop, I'm thinking about it non-stop (including late in the night when I should be sleeping)... I have a hard time letting it go until entire completion, which is probably due in great part to the fact I know I'll start mercilessly judging what I wrote the instant I give myself the time to do so. I need to tame this and discipline myself into a more sustainable pace.
One discouraging point, on the other hand, is that this story was both the one I put most work into and the one I got the least readers' returns about... One likely cause is that novel-sized texts are intimidating, but I'm in the dark about the others. I'll need to toughen up in terms of motivation as well if I want to get better, and not let the (quite normal) silence stop me.
You don't have to apologize, I can't hold it against anyone to shy away from long texts, especially on screen (I did my best to make the format as comfortable to read as possible, but it has its limits). Beside, reading a story should be a pleasure...
Rather than unfairly blaming the "lazy readers who won't flock toward me", I'll point my accusing finger at my utter and absolute lack of talent at "selling" my work. This, and how rarely active I am.
Anyway, it was nice of you to take the time to write that you care. Most appreciated! :)
As for the intimidating length, I wish I could find a way around the issue. It's especially frustrating when I keep getting comments along the lines of "the length nearly repelled me, but once I actually started to read I finished it in one go and, in fact, I wish there were more".
I considered splitting things, but I don't think it'd work for me: my stories have a certain structure and a random slice doesn't "work" on its own, plus I'm not sure a big set of less small texts is less intimidating than a small set of big ones...