This writer asks me: "I want to finish the book, but don't want to finish the writing."

Alle psychoanalyzes a writing question.

Author Bob Seay

Bob Seay asks:

I've written 4 novels, each 55K to 60K words. My 5th is currently at 65K and it feels like it will take about 40-50K to finish the story. I have not moved the story forward in almost a month.

I want to finish the book, but I don't want to finish the writing.

As long as I'm working on this novel, I can say, "I'm working on a novel." But what do I say when I finish this? I think I am stalled because I don't want to lose the feeling that I am a writer. I may not be writing at the moment, but I have a book in progress.

What happens when I lose that?

Alle sez:

Thank you for making yourself so vulnerable in asking this question, Bob. I think the quandary is one a lot of us experience.

I have two thoughts:

First, we are writers whether or not we are writing at that moment. The time I’ve spent between books as well as the time spent staring out a window, not entirely sure what I am thinking about, both those phases are just as much a part of my writing process as when my fingers are flying across the keyboard.

Secondly: it fascinates me to no end that this, your most prolific undertaking by many thousands of words, is where you’ve bogged down. My immediate thought is that there is something about this story that moves you in a way none other of your books has.

I am guessing you are in block because you are about to make the biggest break through of your writing life, thus far.

Just keep at it! Only five minutes a day. If you can hit it for five minutes a day, that time will grow of its own.

And remember: once any manuscript is in its first draft, it will have to undergo deep revisions, then edit upon edit before the author has a publishing-worthy draft. You have lots of time left with your story.

Please keep me posted!