Taking a Step Back (Updates and Rambles)

Hey, everyone.

This post was not planned whatsoever. It may be a bit ramble-ish and jumbled, and for that I’m sorry. I’ll get right into it.

I don’t know how long I’ve felt like this, but for quite a long time, I’ve felt like I’ve been in a writing stand-still. Nothing’s really moving. I don’t feel like I’m improving as a writer, and none of my projects are getting done any time soon. I don’t know if I’ve been obsessing to much over only a couple of books and not moving on, or what, but they’re just not getting done.

Now, I know that some people take many, many years to complete a writing project. Tolkien took 10+ years to finish The Lord of the Rings, and I don’t believe that’s counting the many years he spent world building!

But I don’t really like it. I have so many writing ideas, and the ones I’m working on are some of the first books I ever wrote which have been re-written and re-written again. I love the stories I created when I was ten or so, and I love the characters. I don’t want to give up on them and move on. But…I also don’t want to work on one book for ten years before finally publishing it, feeling absolutely exhausted, and then looking up and realize I have nothing but a bunch of scattered notes for new story ideas.

I’m not sure what to do. I want to publish, but I’m not sure that I’m old enough or wise enough to pursue that.

Now, you might be thinking, “But you’re all ready a published author, Caleb! You published A Silence in the Shadows last June, remember?”

Well, yes, technically, I did. Looking back on it now however, after nearly a year, I’ve realized that…well, it may not have been the best thing.

I hate going back on what I’ve done. I hate saying I may have been mistaken. But…it might be true.

Now, I’m not saying I regret publishing that novel. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t erase it from the past. However, would I do it again? Probably not.

It was a wonderful learning experience, it was so much fun (and so very stressful) and it didn’t turn out too bad, but…let’s just say I don’t think I was ready for publishing a full-fledged novel. Perhaps publishing a short story for practice would have been okay, but definitely not a novel for…well, professional selling.

Now, when I say that, do I think I’m ready now? No.

That’s what this whole post is about. I think I want to take a step back. I want to take some time to evaluate my larger projects that are in the works right now, see where they’re at, and how long it’ll take for them to complete. I want to reorganize a little bit, think about how I want to continue in my writing journey, and perhaps start a new story–brand new, one I’ve never written before.

I don’t think I’m going to pursue publishing another book for quite some time–probably at least a few years, until I’m a little older, wiser, and know what I’m doing. Until then I’ll write my books, edit them, plan, and grow.

But that’s all another piece of the puzzle. Right now I just wanted to let you all know where I’m at, what I’m thinking, and how I’m doing.

If you have any advice on how I might be able to continue writing and finish stories better and more efficiently, or maybe you just have some encouraging words, that would mean a lot to me if you’d leave a comment down below.

Will this affect my blog? No. I don’t believe so. I’m still planning on posting every single Saturday, like I have since this blog was established! 😀

Well, I guess I’ve said it all. Just wanted to let you all know where I’m at and what I’m thinking.

Thank you all for reading, I appreciate you so much!

By the way, happy Easter everyone! Jesus has risen!! I hope you all have a great day tomorrow, even in these stressful, trying times. 😀

Until later,