Okay, so here's the deal, writing can hard and writing can be easy. Somewhat easy anyway when you're having fun at it. I've flapped my mouth before about work ethic, not waiting for the muse, but power through, get it done, so on so on. But there comes a time sometimes when you have to say fuck it, this isn't working. I'm probably way past that, just to stubborn to admit it, till now.
But I made a decision today that was not an easy one. I have decided to shit can some 30.000 words of a novel I've been working on. Or not working on. At least for the time being. There's some good writing in there so I saved a draft to nag at me like a missed opportunity or maybe come back to it later. But I'm done beating my head against the wall on this thing.
It's a fuckin western, 1st problem. I'm more of a contemporary writer, so I've discovered. Although I love western movies and reading westerns, I've found out, I don't much like writing them. To much research. guns, horses, etc etc. So fucking boring. I hate research. And the conflicts, again, boring, and over used. All the character attributes seem cliche and one dimensional. The setting, shit, I have no idea what existed in 1899 Oklahoma, as far as towns, roads, technology. Again, research, Ughhh! Not interested.
That pretty much covers problems 2, 3, 4, 5. And that's more than enough for me.
I have never felt so disconnected with a story and it's characters as I have this one, this, fuckin western.
So, I felt it was time to put it aside and work on something that's been developing in mind like a movie. The way it should be. A cast, a beginning a middle and an end, although distant, misty and flexible, it'll come unto it'self as I go. It's there, all there, all I have to do is type it out. It's something I think will be dark, yet humorous, sexy, but classy, sleek but gritty. And best of all...It'll be fun, can't wait to get started. And that's how I've felt about all the books I've written up to this, fuckin western.
Hell I'm even thinking about it while I'm writing this, fucking western, so it must be right.
Right?
I don't even know why I'm sharing this, outside of venting and maybe seeking some closure and validation. I mean I've written 60.000 word drafts in 12 weeks before. I've been working on, and, ignoring this project for almost three times that long. It's become ridiculous. This fuckin western.
I don't know. New territory for me.
So how about a question? What do you think?
Have any of you readers ever picked up a copy of something from a favorite author and thought, 'what the hell is this? This is a genre my writer shouldn't be writing in.'
And this probably a stupid question but,
Have any of you writers had a hard time putting aside a considerable amount of writing and moving on, or did you power through, finish it, then move on? Ever had your own, fuckin western?
I think the thing that was bothering more than anything is that I have developed a body of work with a certain feel, certain voice, although sometimes rural, sometimes urban, I think it's identifiable as mine, and this book I was writing was not me, wasn't fitting in. Not with me, my personality, or with any of my other work.
So what do you think...readers and writers, should a writer push himself to explore new frontiers even if he doesn't want to?
There's a part of me, the working man, that feels I should. There's also a part of me, the artist, that says, fuck that. If it ain't fun, don't do it.
I ain't writin no fuckin western.
