I've seen this idea once or twice but would love a perspective on my situation.
Nearly every time I start writing an actual novel (I've written and published articles literally in the thousands, but a book is my final - and scariest - frontier), I have repeat nightmare visions of someone else finishing nearly the same book, then of me being turned away by a prospective publisher because "we have a similar idea in the works already."
This actually happened to me today pitching an article, but I mean...that was only an article. It's a good article, but it literally took me an hour and a half. That's it. I didn't invest weeks, months or years in it. On the other hand, I really did think that one was original. It's already written, actually. Hope nobody's sensitive the wording here, but it's called "Sorry, Ma'am, But Your V*gina Has Expired" and it's a series of anecdotes about post-menopause. It has a very specific theme running throughout and I was just plain gobsmacked that somebody else has an "overlapping" (the editor's words) article right now about it, but I digress. The point is, as of this morning's rejection it's happened with an idea (more on this below) that I truly did think was unique...so now I'm REALLY scared.
Anyway...I have always stopped short of continuing a book because of this fear. It's a devastating one to me because I've always felt that when I was able to publish a book, I'd have "made it" for real, so if that's taken from me, well...yeah.
My stomach is in knots just thinking about it.
My current book involves the supernatural but also a specific issue. I haven't seen similar books. What's more, it's deeply personal for me, as some of it is, in a semi-hidden way, autobiographical.
Anyone else feel this way? Am I garnering bad ju-ju for myself? Am I just "avoiding," and this, subconsciously, is how? I DON'T want to "rush" my book just to get to the finish line first or something...I want to take my time and really explore. Each idea in the book, each scene, has a lot of emotional impact for me so I write, stop, write, stop. No rushing. But I have this constant fear. It literally keeps me awake at night.
Ideas, anyone?
Nearly every time I start writing an actual novel (I've written and published articles literally in the thousands, but a book is my final - and scariest - frontier), I have repeat nightmare visions of someone else finishing nearly the same book, then of me being turned away by a prospective publisher because "we have a similar idea in the works already."
This actually happened to me today pitching an article, but I mean...that was only an article. It's a good article, but it literally took me an hour and a half. That's it. I didn't invest weeks, months or years in it. On the other hand, I really did think that one was original. It's already written, actually. Hope nobody's sensitive the wording here, but it's called "Sorry, Ma'am, But Your V*gina Has Expired" and it's a series of anecdotes about post-menopause. It has a very specific theme running throughout and I was just plain gobsmacked that somebody else has an "overlapping" (the editor's words) article right now about it, but I digress. The point is, as of this morning's rejection it's happened with an idea (more on this below) that I truly did think was unique...so now I'm REALLY scared.
Anyway...I have always stopped short of continuing a book because of this fear. It's a devastating one to me because I've always felt that when I was able to publish a book, I'd have "made it" for real, so if that's taken from me, well...yeah.
My stomach is in knots just thinking about it.
My current book involves the supernatural but also a specific issue. I haven't seen similar books. What's more, it's deeply personal for me, as some of it is, in a semi-hidden way, autobiographical.
Anyone else feel this way? Am I garnering bad ju-ju for myself? Am I just "avoiding," and this, subconsciously, is how? I DON'T want to "rush" my book just to get to the finish line first or something...I want to take my time and really explore. Each idea in the book, each scene, has a lot of emotional impact for me so I write, stop, write, stop. No rushing. But I have this constant fear. It literally keeps me awake at night.
Ideas, anyone?
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