Those of you who are aspiring writers (and probably a few of the established as well) know what I’m going to be talking about here. No, it’s not your WIP. This is that one project that has been tucked away in the back of your brain, nibbling away at your imagination, patiently waiting for its day to come. You’ve not spoken of it to a single sole because…frankly…you’re not sure if you can pull it off. Its breadth and scope frighten you so much that anytime it creeps into your forebrain you shake it off and push it back into its shadowy corner.
So, how do I know about this if nobody talks about it? Because I’m a writer…and an average-Joe, no different than a lot of writers…so naturally I would expect that if I have a Project X then most everybody else does as well. I imagine for some there’s no name for their project -- because it’s barely a cohesive collection of ideas loosely tied together into a plot -- and for the others all they might have is title and a broad concept. That’s where I’m at. I have a title, and a general notion of what the book could be, but I’m scared to death of it.
In my case I lack the confidence to tackle Project X, for several reasons. The first, it’s a genre I have never written in before, Adult SCI-FI/Horror. Secondly, it will require a level of research beyond what I have previously devoted myself to, and time availability will be a factor. And finally, until I have a couple of published books under my belt I don’t believe my voice will be strong enough to tell this story.
What about you? Do you have a Project X? Care to share anything about it here today? Let me take a bold step and lead the way. The title of my Project X is – Apollo’s Ghost.
Did you know I was holding a contest during the A-Z Challenge? You can read all about it HERE.
I might be odd for this, but I never keep a story in the back of my mind for long. Right now I have one stewing, but only because I'm trying to work out some necessary detail...
ReplyDeleteI have a project X. It's about a dystopian society(which now I write), living in a bubble city (researching) and a mutant population (throw back to caveman- researching). The cause of the mutation overuse and consumption GMO altered food (researching). Like you said a lot of researching which I do not have time for.
ReplyDeleteI hope someday you are able to write your story.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a professional writer at all, but I've had a project x in my mind for donkey's, a very long time indeed, and I've not done a thing to nurture it because everything seems to be too overwhelming in getting it out of my brain and on to paper. Every time I mean to start, I come across a brick wall and it takes so much time trying to break it down. So I guess it will continue to be a project x for awhile longer.
ReplyDeleteI honestly can't say I have one big project I've been carrying around for years. I have a lot of ideas, but if I don't work on them, they join the general ideas bank which sloshes around, overlapping each other a little bit.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great title! I can never come up with titles first. Heck, I can barely come up with titles after the story is done, LoL! I have two Project Xs. Will I ever write them? I hope so!
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
After reading your AtoZ Posts for 24 Letters now, I would certainly NOT call you an 'Average Joe' writer. Thank-you for putting a label..'ProjectX'..on that 'SomeDay' writing. It's good to know I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteAs a Short Story writer, my ProjectX will be an Anthology. I've been doing Genealogy research for sometime, and I'm very close to writing my first Family ProjectX Anthology.
My Letter'X'...TeXas Our TeXas Quilt
Sue CollectInTeXasGal
AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee
I think you could pull it off. You definitely have the horror aspect down pat.
ReplyDeleteI do have an idea and basic outline in my head for another book. Even know the title. But it's rather straightforward at the moment. I need to apply a lot of 'what ifs' to the story and give it some twists if I hope to make it above average.
I used to have Project X but then I decided to just go ahead and start working on it anyway. It can be very helpful to keep me working when I need a break from my WIP.
ReplyDeleteI do have a project X! And like you, I know I'm not ready yet to write this story. But the more I challenge myself the sooner I'll be ready so...back to my current wip - which is definitely giving me a run for my money!
ReplyDeleteYou know, it really would be fun to write another book some day...maybe a Project X lurks in my subconscious...
ReplyDeleteI have a project x that involves four novelette fiction stories. I'm just not sure I'm ready to dive back into fiction yet.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand this post. I have a project X just waiting for the right something. The abstract is down and I even have a title. Like you, it's not in the genre I'm published in, but I honestly feel that if I ever get the nerve to write it, it will be the best thing I have ever written. No pressure. Maybe we should make a pact to stop the excuses and just go for it.
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed your post, DL. I don't know what is holding you back from publication, but I hope you keep trying because I think you are more than ready. Just Y and Z to go.
Yes, Project X is lurking in the shadows... it's a daunting prospect.
ReplyDeleteWriter In Transit
Yeah, mine is a screenplay. Two of em actually. something that started out as a short story that I think would be better adapted to the screen than a novel. I've taken screenwriting classes and am reading all of the books, but this looks way harder than writing a novel.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of projects waiting around but no X project.
ReplyDeleteI think your thinking here is kind of Freudian.
Yep, got a good way to murder someone, not sure if I'll write a thriller or take care of the spouse. I'll have to see how much he annoys me...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really intriguing premise. And research is always so important especially in something that is this detailed. Don't be afraid of it DL... when the time comes you will write this story.
ReplyDeleteI have an m/g realistic fantasy on my back burner. I have NO time for this yet, but I want to write this story. But first I need to get my film noir novella written. As my blogs keeps reminding me ... In Time ...
I hear you.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to write the great American vampire / werewolf novel. With real monsters. Not the sparkly sappy ones. :)
It's a little too big for me right now, but, just right now.
Heather
I've developed a yearning to resurrect some long-shelved characters and write their stories again from the beginning, in the way I couldn't as a much-younger preteen writer. I'm no stranger to writing 20th century historical sagas, but I haven't written anything 18th or 19th century in so long. I'll need a lot of research to get back into the swing of those once-familiar eras. I created their respective leading characters when I was all of 5 or 6 years old; surely the fact that I never forgot them, even after over 20 years of being shelved, means they were meant to be.
ReplyDeleteI started working on my Project X this year. It's been a good seven or eight (or possibly more) years since the idea first started nibbling at me, but for the longest time I didn't feel I had the writing chops to pull it off. Finally I decided that if I muck it up beyond redemption, I can always start again. We'll see how that goes…
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your Project X!
The A-Z challenge has inspired a new project for me. Through my V post - Victims of war -http://www.shazlex.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/victims-of-war.html, I have found a contact who had a relative in the same battalion (who left Australia on the same boat) as one of my relatives, during World War 1. My project now is to trace every man from the one batallion who left Australia for War on that same boat. My goal is to determine what happened to them all, find photos and living relatives. Then put together into a story for a future ANZAC day.
ReplyDeleteI've got enough Projects Xs to start a whole new alphabet... Hmm, that gives me an idea of what to do for May lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting the Challenge, DL
Jemima at Jemima's blog
I'm writing my project X now. It's been percolating a long time inspired by two literary psychological thrillers, one I read as a teen, another I read twenty years ago. It's taken a lot of time to gather the courage to write outside genre. Although I'm including snippets in the A to Z Challenge, none of them reveal plot, and I've discussed the story with no one, including my agent. I want the initial draft to be mine alone.
ReplyDeleteVR Barkowski
Good luck on your project X. Stretch your wings! Visiting from A-Z
ReplyDeleteI've thought of projects that I don't feel I can handle at the moment. There are some ideas that would consume me. lol
ReplyDeleteOMG, it's like you wrote this just for me. I've had an idea kicking around for a few weeks, but it will require so much world-building that I'm a little bit intimidated. Okay, a LOT intimidated. Good luck to you on Apollo's Ghost. Sci-Fi and Horror sound wonderful to me! I'd love to read it! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm in exactly the same situation. I have to do so much research, and it's actually my first full-on novel. The main difference from your situation is that it is in my favorite genre, but it's definitely a style I have not written before because of the fact that it's so much longer that what I normally write. All of my ideas tend to become short stories because I get bored of them so quickly.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking this could actually become a series. One of my problems is trying to figure out which aspect of the idea I want to tackle first. Each time I start the story, I begin going off on one of the tangents, and then that one leads to another tangent. I have to figure out which story to focus on for my first novel. If that works, I can always go back and take on the other tangents for a series (or not).
#atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com
I'm in there with several others. My project X has been simmering away on the back burner for ten years in which I've done a little reading and taken a few notes. Finally, I took the plunge, and while taking THIS challenge! It has required a tremendous amount of research and has caused much stretching of wings, but think it will be worth it.
ReplyDeleteHi Don .. lots of interest here - I too have projects that will come to the fore in 2013 ... now I can settle into them .. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteSure, I'll bite! I have done a bit of work on my Project X though, so maybe it doesn't quite count. I handed in a very primal portion of what I would like to someday be a larger work as the final project for a creative writing nonfiction course in university about 3 years ago now. I haven't looked at it since. It's title is Welcome to my Normal and my story about growing up with a mentally ill mother. Someday, maybe, it will be my masterpiece!
ReplyDeleteB from http://brandysbustlings.blogspot.ca/
Love the idea of a Project X! I've had one for a few years now. Afraid to try it because it's set in another author's world...
ReplyDeleteAlso a screenplay. We'll see...