World Building - The Struggle was Real

[Malik]

Not sure whether to post this under World Building or Writing Questions.

I went digging through my old writing boxes a few days ago looking for notes on the sequels I'd started long ago. I posted a picture in a thread on Writing Questions, showing the inside of a box marked "BOOK II."

In another box, this morning, I found my original manuscript from 1987, with hand-jammed chapters and corrections, some of them made by me, and some made by my high school English teacher.

In the same box I also found a 3.5" floppy with a version from the early 90's, a plotting flow chart for a sequel, and sketches and maps, including a sketch a buddy of mine made of my MC using me as a model.

There's a lesson in here, someplace. If you can find it, let me know.

Right now my hands are shaking as I leaf through all of this. I am stunned at the amount of work I put into this project, and I'm ashamed of myself for ever giving up. I literally forgot about all of this for several years. I built a whole world and then turned my back on it.

My editor starts work on the manuscript for Book One next week. I have the cover art finalized and we're tweaking the title text right now. The last phase will be budgeting out the marketing, which I intend to do while we go through the final editing process.

I'm aiming to release in October, roughly 29 years after finishing my first draft.

 

[Fluffypoodel]

This looks like an incredible journey you've been on. Best of luck to you!

 

[FatCat]

Ask yourself if what you have is ego resigned in dormant heroisism, or if this collection needs expanding because the thought of not doing so would be a waste of effort.

It's an odd comment for me, because I look back so frequently to over come words said. I honestly believe there's no editor alive to see beyond trend, so where does that leave you.

 

[Malik]

Ask yourself if what you have is ego resigned in dormant heroisism, or if this collection needs expanding because the thought of not doing so would be a waste of effort.

It's an odd comment for me, because I look back so frequently to over come words said. I honestly believe there's no editor alive to see beyond trend, so where does that leave you.

Stories exist because they need to be told. 90% of what I wrote back then is crap. But the ideas and the stories are still clawing their way toward daylight. I'm throwing them a rope.

 

[FatCat]

I suppose the slack of rope thrown indicates real expectation. An obsession forgotten and found isn't discovery. I'd rather say it's a foundation onto further success, which you seem to have gained. Congrats.

 

[AndrewLowe]

That's an impressive looking MC :wink:

Glad you made it back!

 

[Carolyn]

Wow, what an incredible re-discovery! My hands would be shaking too! I'd say the Universe is definitely sending you a sign to pick that piece back up and finish it!

 

[Asura Levi]

Looking at your photos I just realise how a seemly durable digital storage can be 'outdate' by far older technology.

I wonder if you were able to read whatever is in the floppy disk, for they will simply stop working and their drivers are a very rare sight nowadays.

As for me, the closest experience I had, was to find, lost under subfolders of subfolders, the beginning of a story I did not remember writing. I know it was me because I the names were mine. But the whole plot was a re-discovery. Sadly, I haven't ever finished it.

 

[Malik]

Thanks all.

Sorting through this stuff is insane, BTW.