So...I had an idea about 10 years ago for a sci-fi novel, or rather series of sci-fi novels. I jotted down some notes, and let it simmer in my mind for a long while. I had never written any fiction previously.
Almost two years ago, I really said: I'm going to do it. I said I will set aside one hour every day to work on this project, and just make it part of my routine. But because of the nature of my concept, I needed to learn more. So most of the time, I took that hour to read. I read about 20 nonfiction books (on futurism, on disease, microbiota, the immune system, superintelligence, space colonization, Islam, African history, and more) and then about half as many science fiction novels that explored similar themes and concepts. I registered for this site at some point.
Maybe six months ago, I said: time to world-build. I used that daily hour to start organizing thoughts, notes, and ideas. I kept up with it, and I enjoy it. And I think I finally wrapped that up. So now I have about 18K words on (future) world history, about 35K words on an encyclopedia of relevant topics for the world, and 25K words related to character and plot notes.
I know the major conflicts and plotlines: Not chapter-by-chapter, wanting to allow some flexibility, but the major conflicts, the climaxes of the various acts, details of how the struggles of the plot will relate to each of the characters' personal arcs. I have fairly good ideas for dozens of scenes, and have some concept of how they will flow causally from each other. I even have a clear concept of the first chapter (even the first line and first few paragraphs!), how it opens, and how it leads to the inciting incident.
I didn't want to get trapped in forever planning, and I didn't. As of yesterday, I put a pin in it. I said, this is all the world-building and outlining I planned to do. Now is the time to write.
Word count: 0
I'm the cliche at this point of a guy staring at a blinking cursor on a blank document. This (planned) post itself is probably the most on-the-nose method of procrastination yet.
On one hand, there is some buried ecstasy in me about getting this far. But on the other...there is this specific type of fear that is very unlike most others I've experienced. Existential, probably, but with some tinge of exhiliration or ecstasy. Who am I, and what have I been doing with my life? I just need to take one step to start figuring it out. And here's step.
So that's where I am with my novel. Not one word written, but with a freight train of momentum right behind me.
I don't call myself a writer yet. I haven't written a line. Maybe that will change by tomorrow. Maybe by next week. Definitely by the end of the month. I think I'll be OK.
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