A few months ago, one of my son's friends posed the question, "If you only had a week to live, what would you do?" The first thing that popped into my head was, "Finish my novel." Now, seriously, if I really only had a week left, I wouldn't worry about the novel, right? I'd spend my time with the people I love. But when the people I love went to bed, then I'd finish my novel. I mean, if I've only got a week, I'm not going to waste any time on sleeping!That little thought came back to me when I was deciding what to work on now that I've finished the Christmas story. See, I have these two novellas I want to write. They will be companions to my novella, "Consecrated." That novella is a prequel (I really hate that word, but that's what it is) to my novel, Defenders of the Covenant. The novel I finished earlier this summer is a sequel to it. And the thing is, I haven't sold Defenders of the Covenant yet. I realize I could be completely wasting my time by creating an entire flipping series based around this novel that I haven't sold. But you know what? I don't care.
The thought came to me that if I were to die tomorrow, what would I regret not having written? I'm not trying to be morbid. But when it comes to living each day to the fullest, well, there are things I think I want to say. Stories I want to create.
So, I'm starting on the first novella tonight. It's titled "Renegade." I'm excited.
What about you? Do you have something you would regret not writing while you still have time?
33 comments:
since i have a hard time telling people what i really think about them good or bad face to face i would write it on my blogs then have them printed up & sent to each family member so they could have it after im gone every family member would get a copy of the entire blog
I think I might regret not writing a couple of the trilogy ideas floating around in my head. But it's hard to say.
Good luck with the novella.
I would regret not finishing my series book.
I'll always have more to write. So, does that mean I should never die? Cuz that would be a cool side-effect of all this writing...
Well I agree with the sleep part, I could stay awake for week if I knew I was going to die, right?
I would regret not having written a letter to each of my family members to tell them what they mean to me.
Good things to ponder in the right perspective, of course:)
Blessings,
Karen
Aww! I'm SO with you on this and I'm not even sure that's healthy lol! Lord just let us write some books before you pluck us off the planet! Have a great weekend Angie!
Nothing wrong with writing works that are related to each other. If they stand on their own (such as a prequel might) you can try to sell both at the same time. One finds a home, the publisher just might be interested in the other(s).
Your question made me think of Mitch Albom's Five People You Meet in Heaven, where the five people Eddie met picked their heaven inwhich to wait for him.
Great Post!!!
There are so many stories, but the ones I want to finish the most are: The Crystal Sword, and Incorporated, and Great Glory - three very different novels in three very different stages. Then, after that, if I really wasn't sleeping, and could type faster than light, I might finish The 12 Days of Christmas romance . . . maybe. Romance still makes me kind of turn green, and say "urgh" when I try to write it.
I love this post Angie!
I don't know what I'd need to write before I die. Haven't really thought about it! But of course ... NOW I will! Thanks a lot! ;)
Love your attitude - you inspire me.
Is it funny that I would want the same thing? To finish my book? I'd better get working on that thing. =)
Tiff, that sounds like a great idea.
Lisa R., I hope you are working on it.
Lisa G., that would indeed be a cool side effect of writing. :)
Terry, thanks for the encouragement. The prequels do stand alone, and I've got the first one submitted already, so here's hoping! I tried to make the second novel stand alone more or less, too.
Tyrean, I think a 12 Days of Christmas Romance sounds fun!
Thanks for stopping by the blog, everyone!
I met a guy at the Surrey International Writers' Conference in the lunch line up who wrote the first three books in a series (against all conventional wisdom) before he got an agent. Then when he got an agent and a publisher they brought the books out one after another over a series of months. So, you never know ...
P.S.: you are going to live for a very long time!
Hi Angie. I have this urge to hug you. I hope you don't mind a cyber hug. LOL I need to write. WRITE. ;D That's what I would regret. I have so much inside and I feel like I waste too much time doing other things instead of actually writing my novels.
I'm glad to hear that it does happen, Jan. And, yes, I plan on living for a long time yet!
Hugs to you too, RaShelle.
I love this post, In fact, I'm going to base my next post on it and link to you. :-)
Thank you, Rosslyn. :)
I think your blog is interesting.
Hey you, hey you. Now we're into something new. Can't you feel it like I do? C'mon shout it out. Hey you.
YES! I have a few things on the back burner, and yesterday, when washing dishes, another idea came to me. I don't even remember it because I thought, "Not another one! I don't want to abandon my current WIP!"
What was that idea?
I'm glad the question gave you the kick to start. Good luck!
Congrats on starting your novella! That's a great question to ask yourself, because it puts the whole writing thing into perspective. My dad used to tell me to play the flute like it's the last time I'm ever going to play.
Hi, Lauralee. Thanks for becoming a follower!
Aubrie, your dad's advice is great. You play so beautifully too.
I want to finish too! Thanks for the reminder to stop procrastinating :)
I agree! Besides, how could you leave this earth with a story half finished and put your children through the torture of not knowing how it ended? That would just be cruel.
I would regret not finishing my two wips.
An interesting premise...not sure if I'd have any regrets, though. Certainly, it would be sad not to have finished whatever project I was working on at the time (at the moment, my third Aston novel), but the way I figure it, if it was meant to be finished, I would have been kept alive longer.
Todd, I think that's a great attitude. It's nice to have no regrets. I'm excited to see your third Aston West novel.
I'm with you on this Angie. No sleep for the writer on her death bed (morbid, I know)!
I think if you have a book in your heart, you should write it, no matter the circumstances. If it comes from the heart it's going to show, and that right there is what sells a novel (well, one factor anyway). I say go for it! Good luck and may the muse be with you! ; )
oh gosh - i have too many stories i want to write. even if i live a long happy life and grow older than dirt, i'll still never write them all.
thanks for sharing your thoughts and wisdom with us! i have an award for you at my blog!
Thanks, Lindsey. "May the muse be with you." I like that.
Amie, it's nice to have so much that you want to say! Thank you for the award.
Angie, first of all I have to say that I love how you comment to everyone with what they say. I think that is cool. I also can finally become a follower since my computer has decided to play nice and let me actually see the buttons to do so. I really like you post and it makes me think I would love to at least get the basis of my story finshed even if it still needed mounds of editing and rewriting. great post!
Thank you, Debbie! Yay for becoming a follower. I appreciate that! Good luck with your story.
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