Pictures, Stories, & Rabbit Trails. A writer's dilemmas.

One day, many years ago, my sister-in-law gave me a picture of her new baby. (Side note, the baby is now married and in the army.) As a new aunt, I wanted to do right by this precious picture. I put aside what I was doing and went to buy a new frame. Once framed, I went to put it on the shelf. Nope. The shelves were dusty. Everything came off the cases; yes, these are a wall of shelves and glass cabinets. Then, of course, everything going back up had to be cleaned and polished. An entire day later, my original task had been abandoned, and the 4 X 6 photo sat on the shelf. I don’t even remember what the original plan was, but it was sidelined and never completed. 

Why am I telling you all this? Because I’m metaphorically cleaning the shelf again.  

As I’ve previously talked about, I’m working on an “epic” fantasy. Let’s talk about the genre of fantasy. There are varied types of fantasy. According to https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-complete-overview-of-fantasy-subgenres, there are eighteen subgenres of fantasy. And there are crossovers. In my brain, it’s all very complicated. To me, fantasy and paranormal are anything outside of what I consider normal.  
According to some, High Fantasy is otherworld, and Epic is earthbound. That seems the simplest to me, and that is what I’m running with. Except, wait. What about my Agent Sam Carter Mysteries? Are they paranormal? Sure. The three books are outside the normal. Are they epic fantasy? Well, they take place on earthside. But they have magical beasts and off-world influences. There are also mythical critters. I think I’m developing a headache. Before it becomes full-blown, let me move along. 
Shield-Mates of Dar. Okay, this one is easier. They take place in an imaginary kingdom. There are shifters, but not like the paranormal shifting of werewolves and the like, so I’m comfortable with leaving this series as High Fantasy. 
 
Uh oh, the headache is coming back. What about Lake Unami books? They are contemporary stories in the real world of Earth. The main characters’ lives, however, are touched by otherworld beings. Think guardian angels. Ach, what’s an author to do? Move along. 

Getting bogged down in issues like this steps right into the path of productivity. It’s important to recognize the rules of writing. That said, it’s also important to step outside the box to a point. I’m working on a true high fantasy trilogy. Or is it a four-book series? See, this is what I mean. Instead of writing the darn story and then worrying about it, I’m concerned it’s too long. Then another “rule” does this move the story along? I hit the proverbial wall with this one recently. Now, I’m not talking about backstory and information dumps. I believe I have a handle on that for the most part. My thoughts were about why I was writing a scene, and doubts crept in. The forward trajectory of the manuscript screeched to a halt. The voice in my head started to speak, and she wasn’t nice.  

Many of you know what the term impostor syndrome is. For those who are going, “huh,” here is Oxford’s definition: the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills. 

My voice was telling me, “This is stupid. You’re a mess, and so is the story. Hopeless.” And it’s a little true. Drafts are a mess. Then, the light bulb went off in a way that made sense to me. I’m playing chess in these books. Getting all the players developed, making connections, and setting the stage for the ultimate climax takes a ton of work, especially in fantasy.  

So, I’m slapping that voice upside the head and kicking her to the curb. I can’t let her criticism affect moving ahead. That will be my editor’s job eventually. Right now, my job is to keep writing, dodging the rabbit holes so I don’t break something, and continue shoving the negative voices out until it’s time for constructive criticism. 

What sort of things gets in the way of you accomplishing what you’ve set out to do? 
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Oh, by the way, the picture and shelves are dusty again. 

​And if you haven't read them yet, the series is on sale for a limited time.  
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B4CBD46Q
When the supernatural strikes, there's only one team ready to uncover the truth. Agent Sam Carter and the experts at G.A.S.P. dive into eerie encounters, chilling hauntings, and cryptic puzzles—armed with sharp minds, unbreakable bonds, and just a touch of bravado. Mysteries beware… the hunt is on!

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