Staring Into the Headlights

[vulgarweed]

Well, the novel pitch I made to Carnation got a big green light. (In the words of one of the editors: "please pour this story directly into my eyes.")

SO it looks like The Adventure of the American Cousin is going to happen! Bitter twice-widowed Hiatus!Watson is going to Chicago, because not-really-dead-yet!Holmes has gotten in over his big dumb head. The titular American Cousin is a serial killer and necromancer. Honestly the idea of a confrontation between Sherlock Holmes and H.H. Holmes seems so bloody obvious I really can't believe that no one else has written it - has no one really done that yet? HOW?!? Oh well, my version is going to have magic and steampunk tech, and SH and JW are totally gonna bang in the Murder Hotel.

There's just one little problem.

I CAN'T WRITE ANYMORE.

OK, this is probably an exaggeration. But it doesn't feel like one. I have so many stalled-out WIPS - stories I need to write, stories I want to write, stories that are promised - and yet here I sit, staring into the abyss. And the abyss stares back into me and says, "you used to be pretty good at this but you suck now."

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Congrats! You don't suck now! I was thinking about your novel idea yesterday when I was re-reading the short story "A Terribly Strange Bed." If you need extra horrors for your story (not that H. H. Holmes didn't think of enough on his own) a bed that squishes hapless guests is a pretty cool one. I believe in you! You can do this!

[donut_donut]

a confrontation between Sherlock Holmes and H.H. Holmes seems so bloody obvious I really can't believe that no one else has written it - has no one really done that yet? HOW?!?

I don't know of any either, though I'm far from an expert in Holmesiana. But I agree, it's hard to believe no one has done it, given how many Holmes/Jack the Ripper stories there are. Plus the irresistible name-doppelganger angle!

I was a bit thrilled when BBC Sherlock at least made reference to H.H. Holmes and the strange coincidence of their names, though obviously they couldn't have them meet.

[ilthit]

No wonder considering the upped pressure. I'd say make a detailed synopsis, add detail until its almost a manuscript, then write it out. And a tip from another author: don't tell people details or write drabbles about the juicy bits because you will lose drive when the creative pressure is released this way. Leave that for the writing.

[teaforlupin]

Jude and I believe in you and are cheering you on!

[silverfox]

*hugs* I know that feeling. But most of the time when I re-read what I produced a few months later it turns out not to be as bad as I thought after all. Just start with the first draft and keep thinking that it doesn't have to be good yet. You can improve it when editing.

[unreconstructedfangirl]

That's awesome, and you can totally do it... But I know exactly what you mean, feeling that you can't. What I've found us that there is no cure for that but DOING IT. You can. You absolutely can. I can't wait to read it.

[luthien]

I know that feeling. But you can write. Just get one word on the page. And another. And another, until you have sentences and paragraphs. They're not anything like as imperfect as they seem to you.

You don't suck. It's a great premise. Enjoy it and write your first word - and then keep going.

[write_out]

SH and JW are totally gonna bang in the Murder Hotel

Um, HELL YEAH!

Such exciting news! Huge congrats to you! This is such a fantastic idea and I can't wait to read it. You will more than do it justice. You can do this! You WILL do this!

[ancientreader]

I'm in the middle of digging myself out of a miserable dry hole, so I feel you, oh boy do I ever. I have the impression that writing has come pretty fluidly for you in the past, too, which I think must make the experience even harder on you. Anyway, for what it's worth I agree with all the advice you've gotten so far. It's been true for me that if I can drag five words out of myself, I can drag ten, and if I can drag ten I can drag twenty. That might be it for the day, but it leaves me feeling a whole lot better than if I'd dragged nothing, and maybe the next day I can drag fifty ... And it's been going better and better, this after months of just. fucking. NOTHING. I have so much faith that if you keep dropping the bucket down into the well you will get water. xo

[espresso_addict]

The abyss is wrong.

[verymorstan]

the abyss is full of shit, and anyway, your writing's none of its damn business. <3

also CONGRATULATIONS and i am so excite for you.

[lovetincture]

Go you! The feeling that you can't write is so awful, but I 100% believe in you. <3