I’ve been working on a book for quite a while now. Four years actually. The idea is there, the concept is there, I have my theme. What I’m missing is the “who cares?” part. I’m subjecting my characters to a series of trials…for what?
So, I returned to my theme, adjusted the plot line, tweeked the series of events leading to the end and tried again.
I set it aside for a month and came back, saw the weaknesses, fixed them and continued working.
It’s been a solid month and a half now of working through this story and I have successfully created a pile of utter crap. Oh, why am I sugar-coating it? It’s fly-infested blech ontop of rotting filth. I was pushing the story too hard trying to make it work. The story was shoving me back. I won with a quick stroke of the Delete button. Poor manuscript never saw it coming!
But I still love the idea. I need to write a story with this theme. The concept is strong. But my story is all wrong. Now that I’ve stopped crying about my failed attempt, I’ve hit the delete button, freed my computer of 54,000+ words. This is not the first time I’ve done this. Gateways began over twelve years ago under a different title with different characters. I deleted over 28 chapters that time – and I’ve never regretted it! Now that I’m free of this most recent deleted story, I’m ready to start over.
Except I’m not going to…not yet.
I have another manuscript almost finished. According to my plot outline, I have four more chapters. I hope to finish that before my editor sends me changes for Unforgettable Roads</em>, and two picture books being illustrated that will need work when the artists are finished.
I’m thankful that I have other projects to work on since this latest manuscript has completely flopped.
And that is my point: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
As a writer, an artist, it’s a good idea to juggle a few things. If something falls through, you have something else ready to work on. In my dream of becoming a writer, I’m hoping that when someone reads Unforgettable Roads, they’ll come to me and say, “Wow! This is wonderful. Do you have anything more?”
“Why yes, I do,” I’ll respond and hand them the next manuscript.
Dreams are what we make of them. I will not delete my dreams, but I will gladly delete efforts that keep me from reaching my goals of writing great stories.
I will come back to that concept and theme, but not right now. Other stories are calling and I’m listening…and hoping that someday you’ll be reading them 
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