Green Where You Water It

An experiment of writing a story longhand from start to finish.

Read the rules of the challenge here: Writing Sumarian – Episode 1 – Rules & Introduction

This Week’s Lessons on Writing a Story Longhand:

A little bit at a time and it’ll get done

I think it was James Clear, writer of Atomic Habits, that gave the best advice: don’t set a daily goal based on what you can get done on your ideal day, set a goal you can get done on your worst day. This was one of those days. Not for any reason aside from the fact that I just did not want to work on the same story at all. I usually like switching between projects and shiny object syndrome is a thing for me. (And what a thing, my God. All those idea bunnies hopping around, practically begging to be played with. And you have to play. You’re just a mean person if you don’t.)

Buuut because the task was so small (just had to get through 1 page, das all), I forced myself to approach the same story again. It wasn’t bad actually. I could’ve kept going and racked up on the pages, but then decided to leave it for next week. (Maybe it’ll help me be more enthusiastic about working on it? *fingers crossed*)

Oh, and this insight I had from reading “Keep Going” by Austin Kleon also helped:

The fact of the matter is that art takes time. Writing a story takes time. Be ready to piece apart the work and enjoy each moment you spend on it, without worrying about the end. Yes, envision the what you want it to look like in the end, but know that it will take a series of steps to get there. Making art is about enjoying each of the individual pieces you create that will eventually add up to the whole of what you envisioned. 

Quick Summary of Pages

A bit of Flora’s backstory. How she met & fell in love with David. Why she didn’t end up with the Priest originally. Why she left the Queendom. Why that area in particular (i.e., the village) is always circled back to. Events that occur there: Flora meets David. Celest returns to the area. Sumarian’s human mother’s help for Flora. Flora’s transfer of Sumarian. Flora (or the panther) dropping in on Sumarian from time to time throughout the years, until the transfer of powers in the sewer.

To be honest, a part of me kind of regrets sharing the story now. I wasn’t worried about anyone stealing the idea…there are so many ideas out there in the world and there so many ways you can tell a story, what would it matter? But it’s just the fact that a lot of the fun secrets will be out of the bag if I do ever get this done and published. Oh well, I guess. Can’t stop the trainwreck. Best to strap in.

Pages for the Week & Inspirations Encountered

Without further adieu, my pages for the week & any inspirations encountered:

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Posts in Series

1. Writing Sumarian – Episode 1 – Rules & Introduction
2. Writing Sumarian – Episode 2 – Arrows & Boxes
3. Writing Sumarian – Episode 3 – Patience & Secrets
4. Writing Sumarian – Episode 4 – Chronological Plotting
5. Writing Sumarian – Episode 5 – Trust the Process (+ a Free Desktop Wallpaper)
6. Writing Sumarian – Episode 6 – Cheat if You Must (+ a Free Desktop Wallpaper & New Beat Drop)

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