With the help of a friend of mine I have finally launched my blog. I never considered the amount of work that was involved but I have been informed that I wouldn’t have been able to do it on my own, at least not in the time frame that I set myself; 1st January 2010.
If you have read the introduction on my home page you’ll know that I have set myself a goal for 2010: get published or fail spectacularly! Self-made promises are easily broken, forgotten and consigned to the recycle bin of the mind. Twelve months later they are rescued and reissued, usually to face the same fate as before. So, how can I guarantee that this year will be any different for me and my resolution? You’re looking at it.
I decided late in 2009 that I needed to find a different form of motivation; I needed witnesses but not just anyone. Disclosing to friends or family usually ends with the reply, “We’ll see.”, or that embarrassing admission to the question, “So how are you coming on with your book?”. Creating a website and dedicating it to my struggle is, for me, living in a glass box. I can’t not do it. So, here is my blog. Testament to efforts.
Anyone who is web savvy will know that a website only works if it has visitors. When it comes to blogging, the blog needs subscribers. I have been advised to set up Facebook and Twitter accounts to help attract traffic. All new to me so over the next few days I will create these online profiles. I also thought about joining a writer’s group so there’s something else on my to do list. So begins the mechanics of keeping my promise, but what about the writing?
I have been writing for years and have completed works of fiction. Am I any good? I need to watch my spelling, grammar and punctuation and I also need to expand my vocabulary. I have distributed my work to friends and family and received positive and constructive feedback but have failed to hand it over to a professional for their opinion. By professional I mean literary agent and I have been informed that I need one of those if I want to get into print. Fear of rejection is my Kryptonite.
I have two story concepts I would love to develop. Both have been floating around for years and are in various stages of development. I believe that both stories are worth telling, otherwise they would have stopped echoing inside my head long ago.
A little like my annual resolution I rescued the first, dusted it down and I have decided to reevaluate it. I don’t have a title, protagonists, antagonists or even a plot, but I have the concept and its this concept that I will explore and develop here, through this site.
The second story has a title, characters and a plot. I even have a first draft summary. The problem is which of the two gets my attention first or most. I suppose it is wise to focus on one thing and not divert energy across two objectives. Also, as I hope to progress through this project, life outside it goes on; family, friends, work and the rest.
So, I have chosen which of the two I should develop and as I already have a structured treatment I it will be the second of which I spoke about. Its title I will reveal later but for now I will refer to it by the name of its main character, Frank.
And so my journey starts. I hope you will enjoy following it as much as I will enjoy living it. Please be patient with me as I figure out this whole blogging phenomenon. I should improve with practice. Until the next time, thanks for reading.
great post as usual!