by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
I’m so desperate that I often find myself chatting up random people about my novel in an effort to get some sense of what to do with it. I spoke to a bartender recently and she gave me some insight that helped with a crucial element of the project — what the fuck is this story about?
That has been a real problem to date. There is so much going on with this novel that I have struggled to figure out how to start it. I just didn’t have a handle on context. I was really having a lot of problems figuring out the open scene because I didn’t know what to focus on to give the reader some sense of the nature of the story.
But something the bartender said helped, I think, to give me just a nudge of direction so I can begin to work on writing this novel in earnest again. This second draft is turning out to be significantly better than the first, but, as I mentioned, I’m doing all of this in a vacuum because I have no friends and no one likes me….so it can be tough at times.
This project has taken much, much, much longer than necessary simply because I just haven’t had anyone to bounce ideas off of on a regular basis. I don’t have a “Reader” in other words. I think I need to do more reading myself if I’m going to make this the best story possible.
It is going to be interesting to see if I come out the other side of the project with something compelling enough that it can catch the attention of a literary agent. I worry a lot about how much of a drunk crank I can come across as to literary agents. But you take yourself wherever you go. I’m too old to worry too much about changing or hiding who I am.
I am who I am and if you don’t like it, fuck off. wink.
I do wish I still had enough money floating about to be able to go to New York City once a quarter like I used to. Those writer’s retreats were really relaxing and energizing at the same time and give me a lot of motivation to get something done so I could continue to dream about being a successful novelist and, as such one of those smug “bi-coastal” people who laugh at people in Iowa as they bounce back and for between New York City and LA.
Keep the faith.
